Attack on the High Seas! Read Online Free Page A

Tell me where be the rest of the treasure or I’ll sink this Rat to the bottom of the sea!” he demanded. His voice was even scarier than his face. It gave me the shivers just hearing him.
    We had snuck over to the far side of the ship and were hiding behind a tall stack of barrels. “We need to do something quick!” I said, peeking through the tiny space between the barrels. “Or Fish Face is going to make the crew walk the plank.”
    â€œArrr! I say we run out there and toss Cap’n Fish Guts back into the sea,” Aaron said. He stood up and was about to run out. I had to grab his sleeve to hold him back.
    â€œThere’s too many of them,” I said. I tried counting the pirates from the Filthy Sails. There were lots. I’m not sure exactly how many because I lost count at eleven. But I knew it was lots. “We need to set our shipmates free first.”
    â€œBut how are we going to get to them?” Vicky asked. “They’re surrounded.”
    Vicky was right. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t come up with a plan.
    â€œAvast! I’ve got an idea,” Inna said. “First, we need a distraction. Someone has to get those stinky pirates’ attention so the rest of us can untie the crew.”

    Aaron jumped up. “I’ll do it,” he said. Then he started to swing his arms around like he was swashbuckling.
    â€œMaybe someone else should do it,” Inna said.
    â€œAye! Someone who isn’t addled in the head,” Vicky agreed.
    Aaron crossed his arms. “I can do it. I’ll prove it,” he said.
    I held up my hands. I had to stop him. They’d turn him into shark bait for sure. “Um . . . we need you to help untie the crew. You’re the best at untying knots,” I fibbed.
    â€œAye? I am, aren’t I?” Aaron said. He held his chin up high. “Okay, I’ll help.”
    I wiped my forehead. That was a close one. And for once, I didn’t mind Aaron thinking he was the best at everything.
    Gary tapped me on the shoulder. “Pete, I’m not very good at untying knots. But I’m very, very good at distractions,” he said.
    Vicky rubbed her forehead. “Aye, you can say that again,” she said.
    â€œGood! While Gary’s doing that, we’ll sneak around and free Rotten Tooth,” Inna said.
    â€œRotten Face!” Aaron moaned. “Why do you want to free him?”
    â€œBecause he’s the best pirate on the ship, whether we like him or not,” Inna said.
    â€œAye, Inna’s right!” I agreed.
    Then we all put our hands together and whispered our pirate cheer:
    â€œSwashbuckling, sailing, finding treasure, too. Becoming pirates is what we want to do!”
    I gave Gary a little nudge. “It’s time to set sail,” I said.
    â€œAye,” Gary said. Then he started crawling to the other end of the deck. He hid behind barrels and crates until he made it all the way without anyone seeing him.
    â€œHow are we going to know when he’s distracting them?” Vicky asked.
    But I didn’t even have to answer. Because just then, we heard a loud AH-CHOO ! All the pirates turned around to see where the noise came from. Then there was a big, giant CRASH as Gary tripped over a rope and knocked down a bunch of barrels.

    â€œThat’s how!” I said. “Let’s go!”
    With all the pirates distracted, we rushed over to where Rotten Tooth was tied up with the rest of the crew. “Arrr! I’m glad to see you sea pups!” he said.
    â€œAye?” we asked.
    â€œAye!” Rotten Tooth said. “Untie me so we can send Cap’n Fish Face swimming back to where he came from.”
    â€œAye aye!” I said with a big smile. For once, Rotten Tooth was treating us like real pirates.
    I hurried behind the mast. I saw the rope and found where it was tied. My mouth fell open. My eyes went all wide. “Oh no!” I