Note-Well, I better explain myself. What goes on in this chapter was, um....well, okay, my friend Itha Arrowland, another great fan-fiction author, and I got together and totally cracked up while making up a plot for a Master and Commander story.

This may explain the "shark with the seaweed." It was based on Itha's dog, I really don't know why, but we thought that up. For all you science geeks (including Itha) I know sharks really don't play fetch with seaweed, thank you. I'm not as stupid as I might sound. The rest...well, let's just say Itha and I spent some time on it. I'll post the original notes I took, too.

So, yes, I do also know this chapter is whacked, odd, and totally hysterical-well, maybe not so hysterical...

Jack-It's funny enough.

Me-Well, I like criticizing myself.

Jack-Do I care?

Me (fuming)-I should think so! I dedicated the story to you, after all!

Jack-Oh? You didn't have the decency to say so.

Me-Fine, I say so now.

Jack-That's not good enough.

Me-Shut up, you spoiled baby, and take what you can get.

Jack-Don't they say that in Pirates of the Caribbean? I resent that.

Me-SHUT UP!

Jack-Yessir. .....................................................................................

Jack was swimming for his life. Normally, he didn't mind the odd shark, but this one was coming right at him, mouth wide open. It butted his feet, and he kicked it hard, but it kept coming.

Suddenly, the mouth was right before his eyes. Jack closed them and waited to die.

And waited.

And waited.

And waited.

And opened his eyes.

The shark was still there, mouth open. It glared at him and flicked something onto his head. Jack removed it and stared at it. It was a ball of twisted, tangled kelp, heavily marked by shark bites.

The shark was staring at Jack expectantly, almost. It nudged the kelp and swam off a ways, still staring at Jack. Jack, incredulous, though it was acting like a dog-of course! It seemed like it wanted Jack to throw the ball to play fetch, just like a dog. Jack knew that this would be the most dangerous game of fetch he'd ever played, but he had to.

He trod water with no hands and threw the kelp as far as he could. It landed with a splash and, being so waterlogged, sunk like a stone. In a flash, the shark had dived after it. Pullings and Mowett had caught up with Jack by now, and they kicked out for the ship as fast as possible. Jack was swimming with his face in the water, but stopped when he bumped into something.

Not another shark! Jack thought desperately. He looked up, and there before him, holding a large spear, was Jimjara in a canoe. The cannibal was sporting a large bump on his forehead where Jack had knocked him out and didn't look happy to see him at all.

He raised the spear, snarling, "Now you will pay, you foolish worm!"

Suddenly, the water exploded beside Jimjara's canoe. For a wild second, Jack thought it was cannon fire, but it was the shark, seaweed clenched tightly between its huge jaws! Its enormous body dropped on the canoe, splitting it in half, and Jimjara screeched wildly for a second before being swallowed.

The shark disappeared. Jack signaled frantically to Mowett and Pullings, calling, "Quick! There's blood in the water! It'll be after us if you don't hurry!"

He was beside the Surprise now, and several ropes dropped down. Jack grabbed the nearest and flew up the side, pulled by willing hands. Blakeney was instantly beside him with Stephen approaching at a run. "Are you all right, sir?" Blakeney asked anxiously.

"Fine, Blakeney, fine," Jack said impatiently. "Fetch me a glass, will you?"

Six telescopes were offered at once by various people. Jack took one and watched Pullings and Mowett, who were paddling for their lives. They looked like they had been shot from a cannon they were going so fast.

Several ropes were dangling over the side, ready for the two officers to grab. Jack gulped when he saw a couple fins following them with deadly purpose.

"All hands to the guns!" Jack bellowed. Everyone rushed belowdecks and began loading the cannons. Jack gave the order to fire at will at the sharks.

As soon as they saw cannonballs flying in their direction, Mowett and Pullings ducked down in the water. Stephen, who knew this kind of shark, shouted, "Keep swimming, the both of you! Don't stop! Just stay low!"

They followed his instructions and were soon aboard. Jack came bounding up to greet them, all smiles. It was only then that he noticed the French ship alongside them.

Blakeney stepped forward, pushed by the other midshipman. He handed Jack the French captain's sword ceremoniously. "Sir, I surrender to you the symbol of that ship's command," he said solemnly.

Jack took the weapon without looking at it and stood tall, facing Blakeney. "I thank you for what you've done, William Blakeney, and the Doctor too. You have proved yourselves very capable and trustworthy men," he replied. "To honor this, I would like to promote you, Blakeney, to the position of second lieutenant."

Blakeney's eyes widened. "Thank you so much, sir!" he gushed. "I'm honored, really, I am!" He caught a stern look from Mowett and hastily corrected himself. "Er, I mean, thank you for this honor, sir. I really appreciate it, and I will do my best in my new position."

Jack smiled. "I'm sure you will, Blakeney. Now, let's go home, shall we?"

Stephen looked up at the tropical sky thoughtfully. "Yes, let's go home," he murmured to himself.

THE END

I know, I know, I didn't want it to end either! Well, I suppose it had to, but don't worry, sequel's coming up! I want to work on my Redwall story for a bit, but I am most definitely making a sequel! Thank you all for your patience and kind reviews. I had a great time with this story, and I can't wait to do the next one.