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Come here!”
    Tom went to where the men were sitting. The man who had called him wore velvet and lace and fine leather boots. He wore a hat with purple feathers. A thick, red beard covered half his face.

    â€œNow here is a sight I never thought to see,” he said. “Here is a lad with hair as red as my beard! Where do you come from, boy?”
    â€œFrom England, sir,” said Tom.
    â€œWhere do you go with your grapes and water bottle?”
    â€œTo the house of Captain Land,” answered Tom.
    The man sat up straight. “Is Captain Land your master?”
    â€œI am my own master,” said Tom.
    The man burst out laughing. “You are not afraid to speak up, I see. No more was I afraid when I was young. Good day, lad. Get along with you. We may meet again.”
    Tom and Benjy went away.
    Benjy said, “You must not be so bold.”
    â€œDid I say something wrong?” asked Tom.
    Benjy did not answer. He said nothing more until they were back at the house.
    Captain Land was lying in the hammock. Benjy told him, “Captain Red is here.”
    â€œAh,” said Captain Land, and a strange look came into his eyes.

11. Captain Red
    That night the crew of the Sea Bird camped along the beach. The next day they were ready to clean the ship. They ran her close to shore. With ropes they pulled her over on her side and tied her to a tree that grew near the water.
    Captain Land kept to his house. He had a fever, he said.
    Benjy told Tom, “It is island fever. Always it comes to him here. But he is soon well again.”
    Benjy and Tom took turns staying with Captain Land. Sometimes, when Benjy was at the house, Tom walked along the beach by himself.
    He found a little bay where waves came up over the rocks. It was hidden from the rest of the beach by sand hills. He liked to sit there and look out to sea.
    One day a man came upon him in the little bay. It was the man with the red beard.
    â€œHalloo!” he called. “Why are you hiding there?”
    â€œI am not hiding,” answered Tom.
    â€œIt would do you no good if you were. Anyone could see your red head a mile away.” The man came down over the sand hills. “I want a word with you, English boy. How did you come to this island?”
    â€œI came with Captain Land,” said Tom.
    â€œWhat brought you and Captain Land together?”
    â€œI was on an English ship,” said Tom. “I was bonded against my will. Captain Land kept me from being sold.”
    â€œAnd now you are your own master,” said the man.
    â€œYes, sir,” said Tom.
    â€œThen you shall sail with me,” said the man. “There is my ship across the harbor. I sail tomorrow.” He began to laugh. “What a pair we will make—I with my red beard, you with your red head!”
    â€œAre you not a—a pirate?” asked Tom.
    â€œThat I am, and one of the best,” said the man. “Captain Red, they call me. It is a name men know and fear around the world. Do you want adventure, English boy? I’ll show you adventure. Do you want gold? You’ll see more gold than you can count, and maybe some of it for you. Speak up, English boy. Has the cat got your tongue?”
    â€œI was only thinking,” said Tom. “Adventure and gold may be very well, but not—not the rest of it.”
    â€œNot the rest of it?” Captain Red frowned. “What do you mean?”
    â€œNot the life of a pirate,” said Tom.
    â€œWhy, it’s the best life there is!” cried Captain Red.
    â€œNot for me,” said Tom.
    â€œYou’re a strange one. You wouldn’t be bonded. The life of a pirate is not good enough for you,” said Captain Red. “What do you want?”

    â€œI want to go back to England,” said Tom. “My sister is there. I want to work and make a home so that we can be together.”
    Captain Red asked, “How will you get back to