Summer in Enchantia Read Online Free Page A

food piled high.
    “We’ve found it!” hissed Nutmeg.
    They walked into the hold, looking round in amazement. It was dark under the deck, but gradually their eyes adjusted to the dim light and they saw how far back the room went and how full it was with stolen goods.
    “How are we ever going to get all these things back to shore?” said Rosa.
    “If we could get the treasure back on to the beach then I could use my magic to transport it to the palace,” said Nutmeg. “But I don’t know how we can get it off the ship.”
    “What are we going to do?” said Rosa.

    There was a harsh laugh from behind them. “That’s just what I would like to know!”
    They swung round. King Rat was standing there, flanked by One-Eye and Scarface. “I thought I heard someone sneaking down here,” he snarled, his red eyes furious. He turned to One-Eye and Scarface. “Grab ’em and shove ’em in the brig!”
    The two pirates charged forward.
    “Quick, Nutmeg!” Rosa shrieked.

    They ducked around the pirates. The burly mice couldn’t move anywhere near as fast. Heart pounding, Rosa darted away from their outstretched paws and nimbly dodged round King Rat. He tried to grab her, but missed and yelled in frustration.
    Rosa charged up the stairs with Nutmeg on her heels.
    A pirate with a gold earring was about to roll another barrel of bilberry wine from the main mast up to the front of the ship.
    “Stop those boys!” hollered King Rat from inside the hold.
    The pirate saw what was happening and began a running jump over the diamond-filled treasure chest but just in time, Rosa darted forward, grabbed the lid and flung it upwards like a shield. The mouse hit the lid and bounced off.
    “OW!” he shouted.
    “Quick, Rosa!” Nutmeg gasped. “Let’s try and get in one of the rowing boats!”
    But even as she spoke, One-Eye andScarface came charging up the steps from the hold. “Not so fast, you little squirts!” Scarface growled.
    “The buckets!” Rosa said, spotting the pails of dirty water that they had been using earlier when they were scrubbing the decks. She grabbed one and Nutmeg grabbed the other and, pirouetting round, they flung the dirty water at the two mice as they appeared at the top of the steps. One-Eye and Scarface both spluttered and fell over in surprise.
    Two other pirates had heard the commotion and were running towards them now. Nutmeg threw her empty bucket at one of them. It banged into his knees and he turned a somersault and fell on his backwith a yell. Rosa chucked her bucket at the other and it fell over his head. He staggered around shouting, “I’ve gone blind! I can’t see!”
    “Get to the rowing boats!” Rosa gasped to Nutmeg.
    King Rat appeared at the top of the steps. “Stop right there!” he roared and, pulling out his cutlass, he charged towards them.
    Rosa grabbed the nearest thing to hand – a small barrel of bilberry wine. She shoved it on to its side and gave it a massive push to roll it quickly towards King Rat. The ship obligingly moved in the water as if the sea were getting rougher. As the ship rose upwards on a wave, the deck tilted and the barrel increased in speed.
    “Whaaa!” King Rat shouted as the barrel thwacked into him, knocking the evil rat backwards, straight into the open treasure chest! He popped his head up. He was covered with sparkling stones.

    Despite her fear, Rosa giggled. He looked very funny!
    The pirates, who had all come running by now, caught sight of him and started sniggering too.
    “Stop it! Stop it! STOP IT!” yelled King Rat furiously, his eyelashes twinkling with diamonds. “Get those boys, or it’ll be nothing but ship’s biscuits for dinner for the whole year!”
    At that threat, the pirates roared and charged towards Rosa and Nutmeg, hands out. They were coming from all directions. “There’s only one thing for it. Up the rigging!” Rosa shouted. She leapt to the main mast and start to climb the rigging as quickly as she could.