Episode 36 - Landfall
10th day of March, 1640.
"DAMMIT! THAT OL'BASTID HAS BEATEN US TO THA SWAG!" barked an irate Henry Morgan as he spotted the Grey Ghost riding anchor off shore.
The pirates looked on in desperation as the Grim Reaper approached the island.
"Don't ye worry yerself, thar, lads. Thar's only one way off that thar island, and I's lookin' at it," replied Coggy, as he calmly scanned the Grey Ghost's deck through his spyglass.
"Aye, Ol'Man only has a 'andfull 'o swabs wit 'im too," said La Foot, "We'll soon relieve him of all dat nice shiny gold."
The pirates felt a little easier.
"Whadda ya see, Cog?" asked Moose.
Coggy continued to scan the deck of the anchored ship.
Scratching his head he passed the spyglass to Moose, "Tis tha weirdest ting, Moose... thars not a soul in sight" he said.
"Maybe they's below decks, counting tha loot" replied Davey Jones.
"Or maybe thars so much of it, they's still in tha jungle diggin' it up" added Quinn.
"Ney lad, they's already dug it up," revealed Moose as he glimpsed the scattered pieces of treasure shining in the sunlight on the beach.
"So where tha bleedin' 'ell are they?" asked an uneasy Morgan.
The Grim Reaper reefed her sails and slowly drifted towards the anchored ship - dropping anchor 100 yards off her starboard side.
"I reckon's we should go 'n take a look, Coggy" said Moose.
"Hmmm, maybe we should. But it could be a trap 'o some sort" replied the cautious Captain, "I don't like it - tis too quiet"
"Aye, mate, thars somethin' not quite right 'ere" added Morgan.
The pirates continued to scrutinize the Grey Ghost, beach, and jungle for a few minutes.
"Damn, we can't sit 'ere all day... we hasn't come 'all dis way just to go sightseeing" called an agitated Coggy.
"What tha 'ell... lets jus' blow tha bastard ta bits 'n get ashore," added the impatient La Foot.
"Lieutenant, fer once I agrees wit yew," added Tew.
"Right, get tha cannons ready, I's gonna sink tha Ol'Bastids ship 'n be done wit it" announced Coggy.
A few moments later, the Grim Reaper opened up with a 50-gun blast of double shot, aimed straight at the Grey Ghosts hull. The ship was instantly holed and began to sink in the shallow water...
On the other side of the island, Captain Arturo Venganza gave the order to weigh anchor, "That's the signal - get those sails aloft" he ordered.
Meanwhile, in the Dutch ruins, Ol'Man and Cyclone gave a wry smile to one another on hearing the explosion.
"Tis show time, me darlin'" he said, as he gave his wench a kiss before telling the waiting soldiers to prepare themselves.
"Tha Ol'Bastid has no way off dis island now" said Tew, as he watched the ship slowly list to her portside, "I's gonna cut that swine in arf 'n feed 'is gizzards to his friggin' wench" he added, much to the enjoyment of his mates.
Quinn quickly took down the flag he had designed many weeks before, "I's wantin' ta bring this beauty with me, fer tha occasion - thats if'n ye don't mind" he said, as folded the flag neatly.
"Aye, lad, we'll be honoured ta 'ave it wit us when we finally gits hold 'o tha loot" replied Morgan.
"Right then, lets git over thar," announced Cog, as the eager pirates clambered aboard the open launch.
"Yew lads stay wit tha ship - just incase" called Coggy back to his men, "Pirate Jim - yer in command till we gets back"
"Aye friggin' aye, Sir!" replied the overwhelmed pirate as he looked forward to his first command.
Within a few minutes, the open launch made it's way past the smouldering wreckage of Ol'Man's ship and onto the beach. The pirates wasted no time in disembarking and wading through the shallow water towards the scattered treasure.
"I wonder why they left some of it 'ere, like this?" asked Davey Jones as he scratched his head.
"Who cares? Thar 'appens ta be a lot more than that somewhere's in thar" said Moose as he nodded towards the jungle.
"Arrr, tha foolish Ol'Swine as been kind enough to cut us a path to tha swag" said Tew as he began to follow the path cut by Cyclone and the soldiers earlier that day.
"Tew, don't be so eager!" called Cog, as the Admiral headed off in search of Ol'Man.
"I wants me a piece 'o that Ol'Bastid before 'e gets chance ta hide" replied Tew as he disappeared into the jungle.
"We better keep it quiet, lads. The Ol'Git may of heard 'is ship bein' sunk 'n tha yeller bastids could ambush us," said La Foot, in a hushed voice.
"Yew lot stay here, I'll catch up to tha Admiral," called Coggy as he quickly followed Tew.
Morgan walked over to the chest of coins, "Right, we may as well get this 'lil lot aboard tha launch while we's waitin'" he said, as he began dragging the heavy chest along the sand towards the boat.
Moose grabbed a handful of coins and quickly followed Morgan with the loot, while Quinn and Davey Jones sat on a palm tree log, opened a bottle of rum, and waited...