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Rose went down to the hold and told Haley the news; they were part of the crew!
"What did you say?" Hal asked Rose, after she told her.
"You didn't hear me the first time?" Rose gaped at her friend, "I practically blew out my own ear drums I yelled it so loud."
Hal shook her head and grinned, "I only wanted to hear you say it again!"
Rose laughed, "Alright, WE'RE PART OF THE CREW!" she screeched once more.
The two girls got their things, and headed up to the deck.
The sailor who had almost found them stared as they passed by. The girls looked at his shocked face and then at each other, trying not to laugh.
Once they reached the crew's quarters they found that a section of the cabin had been curtained off for their privacy.
"Good," said Rose firmly, "He saw to it that we were properly accommodated."
Hal threw her extra clothes and a blanket into one of the hammocks. "This is probably the most enjoyable place I've ever stayed."
Rose thought about this remark and came to the same conclusion.
Hal curled up in her new bed and fell asleep immediately.
Rose however was not so easily adjusted to her new living quarters; she lay in her hammock trying to find a comfortable position. She rolled onto her back and fell right out onto the deck. Rose swore like a true pirate and picked herself up off the floor.
Hal groaned and stretched in her sleep, rocking her hammock gently.
What did I get me self into? Rose asked herself grimly, she stretched, to work out her stiff muscles.
"Yo, ho, yo, ho," she muttered to herself, pulling on some breeches and a heavy sailor's jacket.
"Pour me another ale..." Hal moaned into her blanket.
"What're you talkin' 'bout?" Rose laughed at her sleeping friend. She strode out onto the deck and didn't bother to be quiet, because Hal was a heavy sleeper.
Rose stood at the rail of the ship for a long time, looking out at the dark water, shimmering slightly in the moonlight. Yawning, Rose turned around, and ran right into a solid figure. Stifling a scream in her hand, Rose realised there was nothing to be afraid of.
The man she had collided with grinned, showing off several gold teeth, "Me name's Joshamee Gibbs, an' I 'spect ye're Rosie Sparrow." He leaned into the light to get a better look at her. "Yep, just like 'im, the spittin' image of ole Jack."
"Rosie?" She directed this question more towards herself. "Is that what he told you all that my name is?"
"Well," Gibbs chuckled, "he was plumb drunk when told us about ya'. He boasted summat 'bout ya' killin' off and plunderin' an entire village."
Rose laughed, in spite of her annoyance, "I didn't kill anyone or steal anything, though I probably will in the very near future."
Gibbs frowned, "What d' ya' mean? We reckon we won't see any ships worth plunderin' for 'bout two weeks more."
Rose shook her head in disagreement, "No," she looked out to sea once more, "We're being followed."
Gibbs, chuckled, "That's naught but an old fishing boat, out on a night sail." He patted Rose on the shoulder. "I've been at sea longer 'an you've been alive, do me a favour an' don't try to say I'm wrong."
Rose laughed haughtily, "Sir, I daresay, since you've been at sea so long, that means you are not very likely considered young anymore. Am I correct?"
Gibbs, wondering where this conversation was heading, scratched his chin thoughtfully. "I suppose, yes."
"Then I conclude that I am right, and your eyes are failing you." Rose patted Gibbs's shoulder and walked away, fighting back giggles at the man's puzzled look. She strode briskly up to Jack's cabin door, and rapped sharply.
"Jack, wake up!" she called through the door.
A moan of annoyance answered her, but she heard no movement inside.
"Up!" she yelled louder.
"Alright!" came the grumpy reply.
She heard mumbling inside, and a sleepy, "Get the door, would you?"
The door creaked open, Anna-Maria stood in the doorway yawning, "Yeah? What do you want?"
Rose glared at her, "I want to talk to my father."
Anna-Maria groaned, "Okay, fine. Jack, Rosie wants to see you."
Rose stepped into the cabin and saw Jack wiping his face with a towel.
"Please tell me you didn't wake me up to tell me you had nightmare." Jack grumbled sarcastically, "'Cause if this is going to happen often..."
Rose pushed his shoulder playfully, "Oh please, did you forget how old I am? I'm almost sixteen, most girls my age are already married."
"Oh," Jack sat in a leather armchair and stretched out his legs, "Sorry Rosie me girl, didn't know in the first place. Tried to estimate but..."
"Alright, you can shut up and listen now-and stop calling me 'Rosie'."
Jack shrugged and bit into an apple.
"Look," Rose told him, "I saw a ship that looks as if it's following us, Gibbs said-"
"Oh, you met old Gibbs did you? Extremely gullible, did you know that once-"
Rose silenced him with a disapproving look she had learned from Amos. "Now then," she crossed her arms, "Gibbs thinks the ship I saw was just a fishing boat, but I highly doubt it. The wind is not in our favour it's in theirs. I think you'd best have a look Jack."
Jack munched noisily on his apple. "Suppose it is a fishing boat and you woke me up for nothing," said Jack; even though he knew that no fisherman would venture out this far in the Caribbean.
"Well if it is you can make me walk the plank," Rose sneered.
"Okay, but it was you who said it Rosie."
Rose led Jack to the point where she had first observed the ship, "Well," she said, gesturing towards the ship on the horizon, "What do you think?"
"What do I think?" he asked himself, then called to the crew that had gathered around them, "Run out the guns!" Then turned to his daughter and smiled, "No plank today love."
