The next few days passed with no curious sailors invading 'sacred dwellings', until one evening. Rose and Haley were eating hard dry bread and drinking old rum when a sudden noise startled them.
"Bloody hell! When did that ole' crate get there?" This man was definitely not Robert, who by now knew his way around, and would not have stumbled over the crate.
Rose eased herself slowly into a corner where she would not be visible if the man brought down a lantern. Hal followed reluctantly, hoping that her movement would not draw the intruder's attention to her.
The man kicked the crate out of the way and, to the dismay of the girls, lit a candle. He walked around muttering to himself for a few minutes, and then saw the abandoned rum and bread.
"Rats?" He asked himself doubtingly. "Naw, rats don' eat like that." He grinned with satisfaction, "I jus' knew there was stowaways on 'dis ship." The man set down his lamp and began to look behind large boxes. "I knows you're here," He called malevolently, "Come out!"
When no stowaways gave themselves up, he roared in frustration, and stomped out calling behind him, "Wait 'til da Cap'n finds out 'bout dis, you're as good as dead now mates."
Rose knew this would not be so if Jack saw them with his own eyes, but on the other hand, he might give the order to do away with the stowaways without even taking the time to speak with them.
"Hal," said Rose, nudging her friend who was at this point shaking violently.
"W-what?" Hal stammered.
"I think I have a brilliant plan."

As Rose stepped boldly out into the light of the slowly sinking sun, all eyes were upon her. Whispers followed behind her as she made her way toward the Captain's cabin.
Robert sauntered over and walked casually with Rose. "So," he inquired with a smile, "what's the plan this time?"
Rose looked at him superiorly, but said nothing.
Robert, annoyed at not having his question answered, walked away sulkily.
The boy does have his good points. Rose thought, but then focused her attention on the cabin that lay ahead of her. She knocked, suddenly timid.
"Aye?" Came Jack's voice from within.
Rose tried to make her voice sound like Robert's. "It's Robert, Sir."
Apparently, it was a good imitation because Jack invited 'Robert' in.
"Ahem," Rose cleared her throat and Jack looked up from the apple he was munching.
Jack dropped the apple and took his feet off of his desk. "Rose? What the-"
"Let me explain," said Rose, rushing a little. "When I was little I always wished I knew what it was like to sail, and be on a ship, but do you know what my dream was? It was to be a pirate- oh please Jack don't look so stunned. Anyway, my mother thought it was a stupid idea, and Amos thought it was rubbish. But I knew that it was my calling, and now I know why: being a pirate is in my blood."
When she had finished, Jack frowned; he knew he couldn't fight with reasoning like that. "Well," said Jack, toying with a comeback, "We all know what your mother's old profession was, is that in your blood too, love? We wouldn't want you 'distracting' the crew now would we?"
Rose protested, "That's different, you numbskull."
"How?" Jack asked playfully.
"Because I say it is." Rose waited for another sarcastic response, but it didn't come.
"Well then," Jack smiled, "Who's to argue with that?"
Rose grinned with satisfaction, "Does that mean you're not going to send me back?"
"Well, seeing as it wasn't me who brought you here, it shouldn't be me who makes you go home." Jack grinned also, showing the resemblance between father and daughter.
"Good," said Rose joyfully, "Cause I brought a friend along too."
Jack laughed, "I figured as much." He scratched his chin, thoughtful. "That's were you're the most like me I think, always picking up friends in odd places."
"What d' you mean?"
Jack sat back in his chair and put his feet on his desk, "I'll tell you the story later, but for now, you'll need a better place to stay than the hold."
"Oh, but it's really not that bad down there." Rose protested, even though she did not care for her and Hal's current accommodations.
"No," said Jack, "You're my daughter, aren't you now? It's my responsibility to see to it that you're properly housed."
Rose shrugged. He did have a point. "Will I be staying with the crew?" she asked, hoping she would not receive special treatment because she was Jack's daughter.
"Well, I suppose that's our only option, there're only two cabins anyway. My cabin, and the crew's cabin, what'll it be?"
Rose pondered this a moment, then made her decision.