Colin and the Magic Bookmark Read Online Free Page A

Sammy, Jakie, the Twitches and of course Bosun Buller clambered one last time up and down the rigging and collapsed laughing on the wooden deck.
    â€œWell done, everyone!” said Colin. That’s the end of the story. And so they went home.”
    â€œWho’s won?” shouted somebody.
    â€œAll of you,” said Jakie.
    â€œYes,” said Colin. “All of you have won and your prize is that you get to go home.”
    â€œWhat? We don’t have to be pirates any more?” asked Big Lennie.
    â€œThat’s right. You know how to sail the ship, so sail it home. You can share out among you whatever treasure or money is on board.”
    â€œWhat!” roared Captain Twitch, leaping up out of his chair. It had just dawned on him how much trouble he was in.
    â€œWhat!” screamed Electra even louder.
    They both moved at once. Quickly drawing his sword, Twitch slashed it viciously at Colin, but at the same time his arm twitched to the right and the swordpoint stuck firmly in the wood of the cabin door. With both hands he frantically tried to pull it free, until a sharp snap of Colin’s whip made him yelp with pain. He licked his sore fingers.
    â€œYou scurvy upstart!” he howled.
    Electra had also launched herself at Colin. She was brandishing a large dagger encrusted with jewels.
    â€œHow dare you attack my darling Papa!” she squealed. “Kill him! Kill him!” she shouted to no one in particular. The crew ignored her. Just as suddenly her squeals of fury turned to squeals of pain. Sammy had darted forward and bitten her ankle. She stumbled and tripped on the folds of her long dress. Like her father before her she found herself lying on the deck in a filthy puddle, but this one was a puddle of black oil. She lay there twitching and screaming with rage. Her father cowered, twitching, next to the cabin door.
    â€œColin called to the crew, as he picked up Sammy and patted him, “Come on, lads.” He pointed at the two Twitches. “Lock them in the cabin and take turns to guard it. Big Lennie, you are now the captain of this ship, so sail her home.”
    All the crew cheered. Buller had been locked in the hold with the rats.
    â€œI think you will find there is a reward for the capture of Captain Twitch and Bosun Buller, that is, when you hand them over to the prison authorities.”
    Again the crew cheered. Jakie was jumping up and down excitedly because he was going home.
    Big Lennie stepped forward. “Thank ee, thank ee, sir, but we don’t know your name.”
    â€œMy name is Colin and I come from another place and another time.”
    â€œThank ee, sir,” repeated Big Lennie and shook hands with him.
    â€œFinally it is time for me to go,” said Colin. “You enjoyed the captain’s birthday party. You have learned how to be happy again. Goodbye, my friends.”
    Everyone rushed forward to shake Colin by the hand and to make a fuss of Sammy. The last was Jakie, who hugged Colin and Sammy.
    â€œGoodbye, Colin. Goodbye, Sammy,” he said. “I know what I am going to do, when I get home. No more sailing. I’m going to organise parties with lots of games and fun, and people will pay me very well for it. Some of my friends will help. You showed us the way.”
    As he raised his arm for a final wave, Colin realised that he was back in his armchair with Sammy lying on his lap.
    â€œThat was some adventure,” he said to himself. “Did I dream it?” Then he looked down at his right hand. He was still clutching the whip that he had taken from Bosun Buller. The bookmark glowed warmly in his pocket.
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Colin of Sherwood
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    Colin had so enjoyed his adventure with the pirates that he couldn’t stop smiling.
    Mr. Jellysox said, “ You are in a very good mood today.”
    â€œYes. It must be something I’ve read.” Colin could hardly wait to find out what would happen the next time