CHAPTER 3

            That night, under cover of darkness, Greenbelly, Albert and Ross rowed silently across to the Purple Hamster and crept quietly up the ladder.  Nobody was on the deck and everywhere seemed deserted.  But, what the sly pirates didn’t know was that someone was watching them with small, beady eyes.     

            Chicory was on watch, and had gone to fetch a cup of water from the barrel which stood behind the mast.  All of a sudden the air was filled with the shrill squealing of a distressed pig.  Oink!  Snatching up an oar from the rowing boat, Chicory sneaked along the deck , keeping out of sight until she reached the Captain’s cabin, then very carefully she went inside.

            “Cap’n wake up” she said, shaking Cactus awake.

            “What is it now Chic?”

            “Listen to Oink!  Someone’s on deck!”

Cactus threw on some clothes and grabbing her cutlass, followed Chicory on deck.

            The sight that awaited the two pirates made them stop in their tracks, and their appearance had much the same affect on the crew of the Sea Slug.  For a few seconds everybody stood still, frozen to the spot; nobody moved a muscle.  And then, with a yell Cactus leapt towards Greenbelly, and the fight began.

            While Chicory battled with Ross, who had armed himself with a long stick, Captain Cactus took on Captain Greenbelly.  As the cutlasses clashed, Greenbelly moved forwards and forced Cactus to lean backwards over the wheel.  Then Cactus pressed forwards and Greenbelly stumbled and fell in a heap.  Chicory got a nasty clout on the back, which made her bend over, but she regained her balance and dug the end of her oar into Ross’s stomach. 

The air rang with the clash of the cutlasses and the thwack of Chicory’s oar against Ross’ stick.  Round and round the deck they fought, yelling and grunting, and all the time Oink was squealing in the background.   But the other pirates did not notice Albert vanishing over the side of the boat, until he gave a piercing whistle.  Abruptly, Greenbelly and Ross drew back and hurried after Albert. 

Stunned, Captain Cactus yelled “You haven’t heard the last of this Greenbelly!” and sat down heavily on the deck.

            “That was a good fight!” said Chicory, slumping down next to her.  “I enjoyed that!”

Suddenly, Cactus shot to her feet.

            “The package!” she shouted, hurtling down the steps and into her cabin, with Chicory hot on her heels.  But the Very Important Package was still safely locked in the big trunk where they had left it.

            “What were they after, Cap’n?” asked Chicory, all at once worried at the answer.

            “The pig!” they said at the same time.

            Captain Cactus and Chicory hunted all over the Purple Hamster for Oink the Pig but he was nowhere to be found.

            “Boiling icecaps!” exclaimed Cactus, kicking a sack of onions, which spilt and rolled all over the deck.  “Greenbelly will pay for this!”

            “Do you realise, Cap’n” said Chicory, picking up the onions, “That Oink actually raised the alarm when we were boarded?”

            “You mean, like a watch-dog? asked Cactus.

            “Or a watch-pig” added Chicory, with a grin.

            “That seals it” said Cactus, slapping her leg.  “Oink stays!  Right!  This calls for action.  We must make a plan, but first, let’s get some sleep, Chic.”

The two pirates went back to bed.  But while the Captain was soon snoring, the Ships Girl was awake.  She had an idea!

            Later that day, when the sun was at it’s hottest, and she knew the Captain would be taking an after lunch nap, Chicory crept off the ship and rowed towards the Sea Slug.  She had a plan to get Oink back where he belonged.

            Chicory scouted around the outside of the ship.  She could see the three pirates lounging around on the poop deck, and the pig was also asleep, nearby.  Rowing quietly along to the bow, Chicory attached several strings to the boat and set them alight.  Tied to the strings were firecrackers, which she hoped would draw Greenbelly and his crew to the front of the ship, so that Chicory would have time to grab the pig and row away.

            Soon the firecrackers went off with a deafening noise.  Captain Greenbelly, Albert and Ross all woke with a start and ran towards the bow, bumping into each other and falling over.  Chicory quickly climbed on board and grabbing Oink lowered him over the side to the rowing boat.  That made him squeal, which brought the pirates running back to the stern, bumping into each other and falling over again.  Greenbelly landed on top of Ross, knocking the air out of him, and Albert’s eye patch became twisted around, so it covered his good eye, and he couldn’t see.  He scrambled up, pushing the other two aside, but as he was blinded he flailed about, grabbing Greenbelly, which made them all go down again in a tangle of arms and legs.