Mad Jack Meets his Fate

Avast me hearties and thou shalt hear, a tale of gold and diamonds clear, of Spanish Doubloons and Pieces of Eight, and how Mad Jack and crew met with fate. Three months out of Fez, sailing southwest, a big blow came up, put them to the test. Paddy and Sean tried with all their might, to keep ropes and sails from taking flight. The Gypsy Queen was sailing full bore, barely escaping a terrible lee shore. With the storm now over they felt forlorn, rigging in shambles and the sails torn. Anchored in a cove, they knew not where, to rest a bit and effect repair. Mad Jack led the way, first on the sand, selecting a campsite for his weary band. Peg Leg Bill got up to scout a bit, when something in the sand, his wooden leg hit, only half buried they found a chest, from a long forgotten Pirate's quest. The chest was so old it was covered with moss, Ben snapped the lock and gave it a toss. The wondered 'What's in it', maybe nothing but scum, Doc guessed maybe an old bottle of rum. They opened it there, too brittle to tote, and out fell an old, leathery note. "From Georges Lafitte; Notice to thine own self. Don't forget the rest on the shelf." Two days were spent counting doubloons while eating fish with Abalone spoons. Mutumbo's eye spyed a ledge jutting out, up on the mountain, he went to scout. Summoning the others with piercing calls, to what he found on the shelf, behind the falls. Too small to walk through, this hole in the rock, they crawled in, lit a torch and received a shock. The light glinted off a pile of Jewels, sending rainbows into glistening pools, gold bars stacked high and on top of them lay, beautiful, shimmering silks from Cathay. Not on a map, not spake of in lore, twenty trips wouldn't do to move this store. All repaired an loaded with food in full measure, they brought aboard what they could of the treasure. Aye, Fate, indeed 'twas riches untold, stashed in a hideaway, forgotten gold, lost in time in a place faraway, to get there it takes a year and a day.Fate isn't always bad. MJ. Written January 15th, 2002 © on Jan 15 2002 02:12 AM PST   0 • 10