CHAPTER 4

            “Avast!” yelled Captain Greenbelly, as they scrambled to their feet again.

            Just as Ross reached her, Chicory grabbed a sack that was lying on the deck and swung it at him.  Ross staggered backwards, but kept his balance as Greenbelly and Albert dodged out of the way.  Chicory climbed down the rope and started to row back to the Purple Hamster, as fast as she could.

            Meanwhile, Captain Cactus had been having a nice dream about being asked to dinner at Government House, when she was woken by a loud bang, then another, and then another.

            “Boiling hailstones!” she exclaimed, jumping up.  “Chicory, where are you?"

Cactus could see that something was happening on board the Sea Slug, and grabbed the telescope just in time to see Chicory rowing away, closely followed by Greenbelly, Albert and Ross.

            As Cactus watched, Chicory rowed and rowed.  She had never rowed so fast in all her life, but she was getting tired, and soon she would be caught.  Just as the crew of the Sea Slug were gaining on her, there was a mighty BANG, and a cannon ball plummeted into the water between Chicory and her pursuers.  Looking up, Chicory saw Captain Cactus standing by the cannon on the deck of the Purple Hamster.  Another cannonball zoomed overhead and plopped into the sea.  Greenbelly’s boat stopped, and he stood up.

            “Alright, Cactus” he bellowed.  “You win this time, but I’ll get you before the year’s finished!”  And with that parting shot, he ordered his crew to row back to the ship.

            That same evening, safely moored in the port, Captain Cactus and Chicory put on their best clothes and prepared to deliver the Very Important Package.  Cactus took out her orange and pink headscarf and began to tie it around her head.

            “Must you wear that thing?” asked Chicory.  Cactus stared at her.

            “You really don’t like it, do you, Chic?” she said.

            “It’s ok on board ship” Chicory said diplomatically, “but not to visit the Governor!  Why don’t you just brush out your plait instead?”

Cactus smiled and picked up her hairbrush.

            A few minutes later they set off up the long winding path which led from the harbour to Government House.  Captain Cactus knocked on the door, which was opened by a tall, skinny man in a black tailcoat.

            “Yes?” he inquired, looking down his long pointed nose at them.

            “Captain Jasmine Cactus and Chicory Spear to see Governor Smedley” said Cactus.  “We have a package for him.

            “I’ll see that he gets it” said the butler.  

            “It’s to be delivered in person”, Cactus told him firmly.

            “Very well, follow me.”  The butler led the two pirates down a long corridor to an enormous conservatory, where they found Governor Robert Smedley watering his plants.  Cactus had imagined him to be an old gentleman, but was surprised to find that he was only a little older than her.  He was tanned and had a warm smile.   “Captain Jasmine Cactus and Chicory Spear, Sir” the butler announced.  “They have a package for you, which they insist on delivering in person” he finished, with a sideways look at the visitors.

            “Ah! Wonderful, wonderful” said Governor Smedley, rubbing his hands in anticipation.  He shook hands with Captain Cactus.   “Thank you.  I’ve been looking forward to this!”

He took the package and began to unwrap it eagerly.

            “Might we be permitted to know what it is that we have carried, Sir?” Cactus asked politely.

            “Seeds!” said the Governor, smiling gleefully.

            “Seeds?” exclaimed Chicory.

            “Of course.   It contains rare vegetable seeds, onions and carrots, etc.  Varieties which haven’t been grown for decades.  They could have been stolen.  There’s a big market out there, you know”.  Governor Smedley paused for a moment then asked “Would you care to stay for supper, Captain?”

            During supper, throughout which the butler seemed to be scowling every time Cactus caught his eye, Governor Smedley told them more about his gardening, and his fondness for vegetables in particular.  They told him the story of Oink's capture and rescue.  Chicory explained how she had used the firecrackers, which were left over from the New Year, to cause a diversion, and how she had lowered the pig over the side on a rope.  Cactus told how she had fired the cannon so that Chicory could get away from Greenbelly and his men.  The Governor thought it was all very amusing.

            “Onion seeds!” said Captain Cactus later that night after they had returned safely to the Purple Hamster.  “I’ve been protecting onion seeds!”

            “At least we got paid” Chicory reminded her.  “Now we can paint the ship purple.  And I brought Oink back!”

            “That was a great rescue plan, Chic” Cactus congratulated her, “Couldn’t have planned it better myself.  What was in that sack you got, anyway?”

Chicory smirked at her.  “Onions!” she said.

            “Well I never” said Cactus.  “You not only brought home the bacon, but the onions as well!”