Skull and Crossbones
It must have been about eleven o’clock in the morning of that third day when all four of the ship’s company were at the lookout place at the northern end of the island. The mate was sewing a button on the boy’s shirt, and as the boy was inside it, she was finding it difficult. The captain was busy with some string, trying some of the knots in The Seaman’s Handybook . Able-seaman Titty was lying on her stomach in the heather, now and then looking through the telescope at the woody point that hid Houseboat Bay and the houseboat of the retired pirate.
“It’s still in there,” she said.
There was a loud bang and a puff of smoke showed above the woody point. Everybody jumped up.
“It must be fighting the pirate,” said Titty.
“I told you he had a cannon,” said Roger, squirming in the hands of the mate.
“Let’s go and help,” said Titty.
Just then a small sailing boat, with one sail, shot out from behind the point. She was about the same size as Swallow , only with a white sail instead of a tanned one. She was sailing close-hauled against a southwesterly wind.
The little boat sailed right across the lake on the port tack, and then came about and headed almost directly for the island.
“There are two boys in her,” said Titty.