PIRATES AHOY!

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 38, 14 February 1931, Page 2 (Supplement)

PIRATES AHOY!

(By Sylvia Brose. ]0 Fencarrow Avenue,

Ittount Edcny .ago 15.)

"Do or die!" thundered Bobby at his small sister, "Do or die, I say!" ' June began to whimper. At the age. of four, you are easily frightened, and Bobby looked so threatening. Bobby threw down his wooden sword in disgust. "Now what is a fellow to. do with a sister like you?" he inquired, thrusting Jus hands into his pockets. "You can't even die dccently!" Juno smilecl at him; She- was rather relieved that he wasn't a pirate any longer. Bobby her a scornful look and stalked majestically away. "Heave-to, my hearties," roared the One-eyod Terror, erstwhile Bobby, resplendent in red-inputted handkerchief, brilliant.,sash and a black slide over one eye, "now we'll have some fun," and ho glarfed evilly from his one eye. "Drag the traitorous -coward hither." All around him, his pirate crew sprang to do his bidding. About ten of them seized the captive. The captive was no pirate; in fact, he looked remarkably like June. "Traitor!" roared the Terror. "This; very morning I thundered at you to do,' or die, and you neither "did 1 nor 'died.' Now you shall suffer for your; ■sin." (Oheers from 1 the bloodthirsty crew.) "No choice shall I give you," •deepening his voice to -truly strike > terror to the heart of his victim, "you shall walk the plank!' J (triumphantly, amid more cheers from the. crew). The captive began to whimper. He didn't really understand what it was all about. "I shall not be moved to pity," bellowed Bobby, "you shall die!"; "To the plank, to the' plank!" (from the; pirates). "Aye, hasten her up," growled the Terror. Shivering, the captive walked along the plank, but just as he was giving a last despairing look to Heaven, Bobby suddenly discovered that it was he who was walking the plank. Yes, there was no mistake abotit it, there was June herself grinning cheerfully at him, safe on .board. "Hey!" squealed Bobby. It wasn't particularly he thought, to be on the verge of a watery grave. However., mustering up the last remnants of his courage, he said aloud, fI I shall die like a man, an' a pirate, too, aqyway'!" (Loudest cheers of all from crew). He gave a tremendous leap. 'Ugh, how cold tlie water was! "Blub — blub — blubcty!" spluttered Bobby, sitting up with a start. "Lookout, silly—blub—you're making me all wet," which was perfectly, obvious. He had rolled out of bed on to the floor, and June was standing over him gurgling delightedly and squeezi-i* the big ■sponge down his neck. His sponge, too! Pirates, ugh! - '