Mad Jack Strikes Again

The captain pulled himself on shore, his head aching and muscles sore, he'd lost his gold his pride to boot, his foes had struck, he couldn't shoot. To save face he told a story, of Mad Jack and all his glory, in his delusion he believed, it was Mad Jack made him berieved. Soon the captain set sail again, new load of gold and crew of men, in confidence hoped not ot hear, the call "MAD JACK", his greatest fear. He sailed along, the third day out, when from the crow's nest came the shout, "Ship to port at a half hours sail, she's coming about, shall I hale?" A black ship came out of the mist, the captain stood, fear clenched his fist, terror gripped all like the Black Death, Mad Jack glowering like MacBeth. "Ahoy there mates do you have rum? We'll buy it for a tidy sum." In fear he thought he heard "Shoot gun" wet his pants and began to run. "Give 'em the gold out of the hold, its your death if you act too bold." Mad Jack looked on in disbelief, just asked for rum and smoking leaf. Jack thanked them all and tipped his hat, thought, 'Gave me some gold, fancy that'. In the captain's fear and his haste, he hit a reef, laid his ship waste. The men jumped ship, Jack save them all, left them at the next port of call. The captin stayed, his ship was lost, second mistake with a heinous cost. To save more face, Jack's legend grew, captain said, "He's slaughtered my crew." In truth the captain lost his grip, told a tale of this fateful trip. Written March 4th, 2002 © on Mar 04 2002 12:13 AM PST   0 • 10