Chapter 3

James walked with purpose down the beach, softly muttering to himself. "What a night! I'm dead tired." He heaved down the chest off his shoulder, thumping into the soft sand, and paused to ponder. "So tired, in fact, that I'm not remembering the directions off of that map all to clearly. Hmm. Let´s see…first, there was something about an anchor…" He looked around and caught sight of the big anchor from Gabriel the Horrible's ship buried in the sand, close to the docks where the Gorine was berthed. "Aye. Now, let´s see…how that go again?" James mumbled to himself. "'At Gabriel the Horrible's anchor, you're to count eight hundred steps." He blinked at the sound of that. "No…that can't be right. Let me think…hmm, maybe it was only eighty steps then, eh?" He shook his head, not believing that figure either. "No, that makes no sense either. Ah, so most likely it'd be eight steps then. Of course it would!"

James hefted his chest back on to his broad shoudlers again, squared himself to Gabriel's anchor, and started to count off the eight steps, after which he stopped in his tracks. He looked down hopefully, but didn't like what he saw. "Well, there's no treasure here obviously," he mumbled. "Now, er, just how did the rest of that go then, I wonder?"

As James pondered his problem, he didn´t see Kim, who had been silently following after him. For, after she had been sent back to her house by her mother, Kim had taken the opportunity to dress in her normal clothes again, and when the coast was clear, she had ran like mad to the Gorine, where she now was sitting up in the Gorine´s crow's nest. For her post, she coud see everything just fine.

James smiled, suddenly remembering what had been eluding his tired mind. "Of course! How could I forget? That's right…it said, 'In the middle of the rocks, under the sand, lies the gold that's soon to be yours.'" He smiled as he saw a formation of huge rocks piled up in the sand. Moving over to the formation, he looked about for the likliest spot and began to dig, mumbling to himself as he did so. "Well, it looks as if I'm going to be here all night, so it does." But, then he stoped as his spade thunked into something hard. "By Neptune's Beard…I've found something," he exclaimed softly, then cleared the loose sand away to find a wooden hatch. He worked carefully for a few moments, using his hands to clear the sand from the hatch. Once he had it's entire surface clear, he slowly opened it wide. He looked inside and smiled a big grin when he saw the large wooden, iron-bound chest lying inside the wood lined hole. "Bloody hell! No longer am I but a humble sailorman…why now, I'm a bonafide millionaire!" He reached down, and with a straining grunt, heaved the heavy chest out of its hole (and believe you me, that took some time…for after all…all that treasure wasn't light…no, not by a long shot!) and laid it down beside the chest bearing the false 'treasure'. "Mercy! I just wish I coud see that Captain Drakken's face when he opens this here treasure chest," James said, with a soft laugh.

Just as he said this, the sound of a cannon firing rang out over the Cove. James whipped his head around, and turned pale as he saw Aunt Katherine come running down towar him yelling, "James! James! The pirates…they're coming!"

James yelled back. "Aye, Katherine…I heard. Now, come and help me with this chest…for I want to far far away afore those pirates come ashore."

Now, while the two adults got themselves, as well as the treasure chest, safely into their houses, Kim continued to sit up in the Gorine's crow's nest, unable to do anything but hide from view. It wasn't too long before she heard singing and peeked out to look out toward the sea. There she spied a longboat, and it wasn't too long before she recognized the young pirate, Ron, as well as that other older pirate that had helped him steal the map from James. Those two were at least familiar to Kim…however, in the front of the boat, wearing a black Captain's uniform, resplendent with gold epaulettes and piping on his jacket, was a fearsome looking man with a pale blue-white face. That, Kim knew, had to be the legendary Captain Drakken. The Captain's ebony hair was worn long in ringlets---at least that was the case for the hair not tucked up under the black tri-corner hat emblazoned with a golden skull and crossbones upon its right side. He waved a pole bearing the dreaded Jolly Roger in one hand, as he held aloft a torch in the other. Kim began to hear him singing his very own song, with Ron and Jim chiming in on the choruses:

The Pirates are coming

Sjørøverne kommer

We sailed from the Carribean

(Vi seilte fra karibien)

And anchored up tonight

(og ankret opp i natt)

We have heard an old rumor

(Vi har hørt et gammelt rykte)

About a fabulous treasure

(om en helt fantastisk skatt)

Ron and Jim smiled happily and sang along

Captain Drakken

(Kaptein Sabeltann)

Is a dangerous man

(Er en farlig mann)

Drakken interupted and sang alone again

Now I can smell gold

(Nå kan jeg lukte gull)

Therefore are we rowing to shore

(derfor ror vi inn mot land)

Hiv o´hoi

(Hiv o´hoi)

Soon the treasure will be ours

(Snart er skatten vår)

So we can relax

(Så kan vi ta det rolig)

The next hundred years

(de neste hundre år)

So we can relax

(Så kan vi ta det rolig)

The next hundred years

(De neste hundre år)

We sail across all oceans

(Vi seiler over alle hav)

And create terror and horror

(og skaper skrekk og gru)

When you see the black flag

(Når du ser det sorte flagget)

It´s too late to turn

(er det altfor sent å snu)

Through Fire and water

(Gjennom ild og vann)

We row everyone

(ror vi alle mann)

But I who come first is named

(men jeg som kommer først heter)

Captain Drakken

Kaptein Sabeltann

Hiv o´hoi

(Hiv o´hoi)

Soon the treasure will be ours

(Snart er skatten vår)

So we can relax

(Så kan vi ta det rolig)

The next hundred years

(de neste hundre år)

So we can relax

(Så kan vi ta det rolig)

The next hundred years

(De neste hundre år)

We won´t travel further

(Vi reiser ikke videre)

Before the treasure is aboard

(før skatten er om bord)

When we rob or plunder

(når vi røver eller plyndrer)

It´s no "dear mother"

(er det ingen kjære mor)

Captain Drakken

(Kaptein Sabeltann)

Is an dangerous man

(er en farlig mann)

Now I can smell gold

(Nå kan jeg lukte gull)

Therefore are we rowing ashore

(derfor ror vi inn mot land)

Hiv o´hoi

(Hiv o´hoi)

Soon the treasure will be ours

(Snart er skatten vår)

So we can relax

(Så kan vi ta det rolig)

The next hundred years

(de neste hundre år)

So we can relax

(Så kan vi ta det rolig)

The next hundred years

(De neste hundre år)

Their grim and bold song concluded as the prow of the longboat ground ashore on the sandy beach. Kim, peering over the rim of the crow's nest, watched as the pirates dragged the longboat---with Captain Drakken still aboard---ashore. Jim smiled at his captain. "Aye, Cap'n! This here is Middle Cove, a right bonny place, so it is."

Drakken only smiled and looked carefully around. He then smiled and pointed over at the anchor. "Middle Cove, ye say? Why, so it is. Ar, and this must be Gabriel the Horrible's---may he rot forever, that dog!---anchor," Drakken proclaimed, slapping the rusty anchor soundly with his big hand. Jim took up a position on Drakken's right, and was holding the map, while Ron stood on his left, and was holding a spade. Drakken, who was holding the guttering torch, looked about himself, clearly thinking.

Drakken broke his silence a moment later, grunting. "All right, Jimbo me lad. Starts to readin'," he ordered.

Jim, obviously very excited, re-opened the map, then opened his mouth…then stopped, realising something. "Er, that's the problem, sir. I---um…can´t read, Cap'n, sir," he said sheepishly

Drakken turned and growled irately at this. "Worthless scalawag!" he growled. "You're a sorry excuse o' a landlubber, an' that's for certain." He glared at the quivering Jim a moment before he turned to Ron then. "Grr, you read it then, Ron. (Once again I know Drakken doesn´t know Ron´s name but it´s my story I can do what I think is best)

Ron nodded, tooked over, and took the map from Jim's nerveless fingers, reading simply. "At Gabriel the Horrible's anchor, you count eight steps," he announced, looking up at his captain.

Drakken growled softly under his breath again, and pushed at Jim. "Well…you heard 'im…get started then!"

Jim turned quite pale, but tried his best to comply with his terrible Captain's orders. "Aye, Cap'n sir! Um, one, two, three, er, um five, eh…seven, then nine, er, eleven, then, twelve, and thirteen…then eight!" he counted…not accurately it seemed, but with forced gusto.

Drakken looked fairly ready to strangle Jim right then and there, but lowered his twitching hands, and montioned for Ron to count off the steps, which he did, starting to walk, counting out his steps aloud. "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven…and eight!" Ron counted, his foot coming down to mark the spot when he had counted eight.

Jim, his cheeks glowing a bit red, moved over to Ron's side. "Eight," he mumbled.

Drakken (suddenly full of fury) starts commanding. "Aye, yeh scum, continue yer reading!"

Ron figured it best to follow Drakken's orders right that very moment, so he wisely continued. "In the middle of the rocks---under the sand---lies the gold that's soon to be yours," he read aloud.

Drakken gave Jim a very nasty look, commanding, "Well…yeh dog, start to digging! Or, perhaps, you're too thick-headed to do that too, eh?" he snarled.

Jim and Ron wasted no time, and picking up their spades, commenced digging…that is, until they too find the sea chest buried there.

From her spot Kim smiled, watching this silly band of cutthroats. Let´s see how that big and scary buccaneer Captain reacts to this, she thought to herself with a grin from her hiding spot.

Jim laughed in pleasure, clapping his hands. "Aye, look, Cap'n! We found something here, Captain Drakken, so we have!"

Drakken smiled at that welcome news. "Aye, I knew it! That Shego lass laughed, an' told me it was another dead-end, and there was no way she was going to go ashore for this! Ha! Well, all I can say is too bad for her! I knew we would find the trove, because it had to be me, Captain Drakken, King on the very Seas what would find Gabriel the Horrible's treasure!"

Jim and Ron looked away, and rolled their eyes at one another behind their Captain's back, but when he turned back, they were quick to smile and Jim added, "Yes sir, it couldn't be no one but you, Captain," he assured the bad-natured Captain.

Drakken smiled a moment, just before turning back into his big, bad, and mean self again. "Jim! Open the chest…afore I peg out of excitement!" he commanded.

Jim reached down, withdrew the chest from it's resting spot, heaved it on to the sand, then threw open the chest, not bothering to look inside of it. "It was always the Captain that's going to have the first peek," he muttered to himself, disappointed.

Drakken laughed triumphantly...well, that is, he did until he looked down into the chest. "WHAT IN THE NAME OF MOTHER DRAKKEN IS THIS? THIS CHEST IS FULL OF OLD FISHING NETS!" he bellowed in his rage.

Kim laughed behind her hand from where she sat, until Drakken drew his pistol, cocked it, and pointed it toward Ron. "Somebody has fooled me, and that's yer fault, Ron," he deduced in his own perverse logic.

Jim (afraid of being mistaken as his accomplice) used the rolled up map as his own gun, and followed right behind Drakken, who started walking as soon as Ron started backing away, his left hand in the air, his right index finger pushing the Captain's pistol barrel off its mark, to make sure his boss won´t shoot him.

"Now, look, Cap'n…I haven't done anything wrong. As true as my name is Ron," he vowed.

Drakken snorted. "In that case 'buffoon'…would yeh be so kind as to tell me please what's just happened then?"

Ron turned quiet.

Drakken smiled evilly. "What's that then? You don´t know? Well, lad, I do. You, Ron, have been duped by a bunch of simple landlubbers, that's what's happened! Though, tell yeh what…I be a fair man, so I am…so I'll be givin' you one chance to get me treasure back. Listen well, laddybuck…I´ll be comin' back at sunrise, mate…an' I expects to be seein' me treasure when I arrive, do yeh understand?"

Ron swallowed hard, and nodded. "Remember, laddie…the sun rises quick in these parts, do you understand," Drakken reminded the miserable Ron, then laughed maliciously. "Before you know it, Ron…so yeh best hurry, mate." He clutched his pistol in his hand, and Ron nearly fell into the water. "Hmm, maybe we should let you walk the plank instead, Ron my boy," Drakken suggested. "As I remember, them sharks always seem to be very hungry, me lad."

Jim laughed too. "Yeah, very hungry," he said, trying to fawn at Drakken, to stay in his good graces.

Drakken and Jim then left, going back to their ship, leaving Ron to sit down, rubbing his now aching head. "How in the world am I going to get that treasure back before sunrise?" he groaned into his hands.

Kim having seen everything, couldn't help but to feel bad for the young pirate, and decided to come down from her spot in the crow's nest and down to the deck to join him. When she stood right behind him, she spoke up. "Excuse me, but…are you okay?" she asked solicitously.

Ron looked up, then back and saw the pretty Kim standing there, pity for him in her deep green eyes. "Why should you care, girlypants?" he asked, not liking the fact that she cared what happened to him.

Kim scowled, not liking his manner of addressing her. "Because you're looking pretty forlorn sitting there, 'laddie pants'," she informed him with a grin.

Ron didn´t have a lot to say to that, and grunted. "What's with you, anyway, girl? Don't you have anything better to do than worrying about other people's problems?" he asked, irritated at his present circumstances.

Kim smiled and sat herself down next to Ron upon the barrel. "Ah, that´s better. At least now you admit you have a problem…that's a start, so it is," she pointed out.

"Perhaps so, but if it is, it´s the start of a lot of misery," Ron said, forseeing nothing good coming of his predicament.

Kim smiled and laid a hand upon Ron´s shoulder. "I think you see this a bit more darkly than it really is, you know. Problems only exist to be solved, I hope you see," she told him, her ever-present optimism nearly contagious to Ron.

Ron shook his head. "No, I'm afraid you don't know the half of this, miss. It´s not ordinary at all to get yerself into trouble with Captain Dra---"

Kim interrupted him before he could continue. "I may know more about it than you think. I've been sitting up in the crow's nest of that ship over there…and overheard every little word you all said." She stepped off of the barrel and smiled at Ron over her shoulder. "The help you need just might be nearer than you´d ever think, laddie pants," she teased.

Ron looked up and over at her. "Help? You mean there's someone here that can help me?" Ron asked, incredulously…looking about for this mysterious benefactor.

Kim smiled. "Aye. A person with friends need never sit alone with his or her problems, boyo," Kim told him, nodding her red-haired head positively.

Ron grinned, then moved over and took Kim´s hands in his own. "Please, Miss…if you know of anyone who can help me out of this scrape, I'd be most grateful, so I would," Ron pledged to her.

Kim smiled again. "Do you know…I like you much better already. You don´t need to sit there alone and wait for this Captain Drakken of yours," she informed him, and, just after she said this, she began to sing:

Friends

Venner

When you feel all alone

(Når du føler deg helt alene)

When everybody runs away

(Når alle løper forbi)

When nobody in the world listens

(når ingen i verden hører)

To what you have to say

(på det du har å si)

When problems

(Når problemene)

Grow higher than the mountains

(vokser seg store som fjell)

Then you need help from someone

(da trenger du hjelp fra noen)

Other than yourself

(Utenfor deg selv)

Firends love to stick around

(Venner er gjerne tilstede)

When there's a party at your house

(når det er fest i ditt hus)

Friends can share your happiness

(Venner kan dele din glede)

And cheer in the triumph inebriation

(og juble i seiers rus)

But friends that stay

(men venner som blir)

When others leave

(når andre går)

They give you support

(som gir deg sin støtte)

They understand and believe

(som tror og forstår)

Those are the friends

(Det er venner)

You shoud keep

(du skal ta vare på)

When everything has gone wrong

(Når det meste har gått på tverke)

When nothing is like before

(når ingenting er som før)

Then you know that it is friends

(da vet du at de er venner)

That knock upon your door

(som banker på din dør)

Let the others go away

(la de andre gå bort)

To do what they want

(for å drive med sitt)

A friendship has to tolerate hardship

(et vennskap skal tåle motgang)

Without becoming torn

(uten å bli slitt)

Firends love to stick around

(Venner er gjerne tilstede)

When the party's at your house

(når det er fest i ditt hus)

Friends can share your happiness

(Venner kan dele din glede)

And cheer in the triumphant inebriation

(og juble i seiers rus)

But friends that stay

(men venner som blir)

When others leave

(når andre går)

They give you support

(som gir deg sin støtte)

They understand and believe

(som tror og forstår)

Those are the friends

(Det er venner)

You shoud keep

(du skal ta vare på)

Ron and Kim held hands and smiled at each other…friends at last (hmmph! took them awhile to get there though, didn't it?). Now as the two smiled at one another, that was when Aunt Katherine and James the Red appeared out from their houses. Katherine looked over to her daughter and then to the gangly pirate boy who she recognized at once. "Dear Kimmie…have you lost what little sense you've had? Do you not recognize that boy beside you?" she demanded, displeased.

James also looked over at Ron and reacted, his face coloring. "Aye, Katherine. You've got the right of things, you do. He's that young pirate wretch that must of been helping that wretch that stole my treasure map from me." He frowned, his hand gripping the hilt of his cutlass before he drew it, its steely rasp making Ron's eyes grow wide.

Kim moved between Ron and James. "No please! Please stop, James…you are wrong! Well, I mean you are right, but please, he has changed. Oh, please listen to me!"

James and Aunt Katherine looked at one another in surprise and disbelief. James turned toward Ron, his face not kindly at all. "Oh really? Tell me now, Kim dear, has a miracle just transpired then?"

Aunt Katherine added her two sense then (whole heartedly on James side, this go round!) "Oh, aye…miracles do happen very rarily these days, my dear," she offered.

Kim stamped her foot, irked that the two adults in her life, who hadn't seen what Ron had to go through, could be so prejudiced against the poor youth. She clenched her small fists tightly, and said, "I can look after myself quite well, thank you."

Aunt Katherine, not to anyone's surprise, was quite shocked over how her much loved daughter was behaving just now. "Kimmie my love…" she replied, understandably shocked.

But Kim wasn´t giving her any time to say anything else. "Look, Mother…this boy´s name is Ron, and pretty soon, just after the sun rises, we'll all be expecting Captain Drakken returned to get that treasure."

Aunt Katherine turned from shocked to dread. "Oh my goodness gracious! Then it is we that need a miracle, not this rude pirate boy!"

Kim looked over to James who sighed heavily before turning to Aunt Katherine. "Now, don't hold it against me now, Katherine…but, I´m rather afraid that your Kim is right this go round. We must stick together, one and all, if we're going to beat Captain Drakken."

He turned toward Ron, who looked---quite understandably---unsure of the big sailor's intentions…until James spoke to him then. "Now, lad, we promise to help you, if you will promise to help us three."

Ron, thankful to receive friends when he most needed them, nodded eagerly. "Of course! I´m amenable to anything…just so long as it keeps me far away from Captain Drakken and his revenge."

James nodded at that, a plan already forming within his head. "Rigth then! I've got me an idea," he said. "Gather round, and listen closely," he added, then whisphered plans into the others ears. Their plans made, James and Ron head off to look to their tasks, leaving the girls to stay behind. Kim sighed once, then started to swing on the swing, as Aunt Katherine began to sweep the ground. Kim looked over at Ron and smiled before she started to sing:

To wish for a man

Ønske seg en mann

I know a boy that is good and nice

(Jeg kjenner en gutt som er god og snill)

My boyfriend if he´d like

(min kjæreste hvis han bare vil)

He can look at me long

(Han kan se på meg lenge)

joke and laugh

(spøke og le)

But if I look upp

(men møter jeg blikket)

He looks away

(titter han ned)

I wait forever

(Jeg venter bestandig)

Hope and believe

(håper og tror)

Sending him thoughts and friendly words

(Sender han tanker og vennlige ord)

To wish for a man

(Å ønske seg en mann)

Won´t help at all

(Hjelper ingenting)

If he doesn´t like the idea

(Hvis han ikke liker tanken på)

To wear the wedding ring

(å bære giftering)

To live on a dream

(Å leve på en drøm)

Might be all well and good

(er sikkert vel og bra)

But if he asks

(men hvis han bare frir)

He´ll get my 'yes'

(skal han få mitt ja)

Aunt Katherine smiled over at her daughter, glancing over as the boys goes past them. She grinned happily as James bussed her cheek. Ron shook his head as he passed by right behind him, laughing. As the two moved on, Katherine too began to sing:

I know a man

(Jeg kjenner en mann)

That´s big and strong

(som er stor og sterk)

A marvelous guy

(en stilig fyr)

Yes a masterpiece

(ja et mesterverk)

I turn glad when he comes

(Jeg blir glad når han kommer)

Sad when he goes

(Trist når han går)

My heart is jumping

(Hjertet mitt hopper)

And banging and belt

(og banker og slår)

But even when I´m flirting

(Men selv når jeg flørter)

Dances and laughs

(danser og ler)

He walks away

(så går han ifra meg)

And nothing happens

(og ingenting skjer)

To wish for a man

(Å ønske seg en mann)

Won´t help at all

(Hjelper ingenting)

If he doesn´t like the idea

(Hvis han ikke liker tanken på)

To wear the wedding ring

(å bære giftering)

To live on a dream

(Å leve på en drøm)

Migth be god and well

(er sikkert vel og bra)

But if he asks

(men hvis han bare frir)

He´ll get my 'yes'

(skal han få mitt ja)

The boys appeared soon after then, and laid down a sea chest. As the reality of what they are about to do dawned, Kim heard something. She leaned over the bannister between James' house and the sea. "He´s a coming," she warned and rushed over to the others.

James, Kim, and Aunt Katherine tied white handkerchiefs over their mouths and let Ron tie them up around a pole (although not very tightly), as though they were being held prisoner. Ron then winked at Kim and the others, then resumed his gruff pirate persona once again.

Captain Drakken and Jim rowed ashore, beaching their long boat not far away from where Ron and the others were. As the fearsome Captain and his crewman approached, Ron gestured clandestinely for the others to start making some noise, which they began in earnest. "Help, help, help!" the two ladies cried out, as James struggled, apparently in vain, at the ropes binding them all.

Drakken sauntered up before where Ron stood, then smiled. He then whipped his head around to the two protesting women and firmly ordered them to shut up. Ron, behind Drakken, frowned at his harshness toward the two ladies, but said nothing. He then moved between Captain Drakken and Jim. "Here you are, Captain…the treasure of Gabriel the Horrible!" he proclaimed.

Drakken smiled in appreciation. "Aye. Well, well…you do continue to surprise me, boy," he observed, turning to Jim. "Jim lad…open the chest before I peg out from excitement!"

Jim smiled, feeling important, and went over to open the chest. As he does so, he frowned at something he saw. Puzzled, Jim narrowed his eyes, and put his head down into the chest, where a moment later, a loud bang was heard followed by a pall of thick acrid smoke. When Jim pulled his head out of the chest---and the smoke cleared, of course---his face was as black as Captain Drakken's uniform.

"Help! Help, I've been exploded! I've been exploded!" Jim shouts, getting to his feet and running wildly around.

Captain Drakken might not of been the sharpest buccaneer in the Carribean, mind you, but he knew a set-up when he saw one. He stripped off his jacket, and gave it over to Jim to hold---once he had stopped running around, that is. Drakken then laid his hand on the leather-wrapped hilt of his cutlass, and drew it swiftly.

While all this chaos was going on, Ron took the time to release the others from their confinement, and tossed James a trusty sword. "Avast, you scurvy dog!" James cried, his face reddening as he rushed the startled pirate Captain.

Drakken brought his wicked cutlass up to parry, and a wild sword fight began. Captain Drakken could be called a great number of things, but a poor swordsman was not one of them. The two chased one another up and down the pier again and again, their swords clanging and sparking. After this had gone on a good long while, James began to tire, and Drakken managed to force James to trip, and spill into the water. Right then and there, it looked like the battle had been lost by our band of heroes…well, that is, until a rescue came in the form of a most surprisingly bold Aunt Katherine!

Armed with her stout and trusty broom, she dashed forward toward Captain Drakken and commenced to beating him soundly about the head and shoulders with her broom. Whomp! Whomp! Whomp, went Katherine's whirling broom, forcing the startled Drakken back, and back again, until he was forced up against the side of the Gorine. Precisely below just where Kim and Ron now stood.

And, when Kim deftly slipped Captain Drakken's hat off…his long curly tresses came along with it! "A wig?" she gasped in surprise. "Who'd of thought that the terrible Captain Drakken wore a wig?"

Ron roared with laughter, then grabbed Kim by the hand and pulled her after him as they both ran down the gangplank of the ship. By the time they reached the pier, James had climbed back up and was now engaged in a running duel with the wily Captain Drakken once more.

Kim and Katherine winced and worried as the air was filled with the clash and clang of the two opponents whirling blades. However, this time around, it was James skill that won the day…and he managed to wrest Drakken's cutlass from his hand and toss it into the waters below. "Yield, dog!" James challenged, the razor sharp point of his cutlass just below Drakken's own chin.

Drakken was stunned by this development…so much so, that he saw his death at the point of James' sharp sword. He dropped to his knees before the old salt and cried, "Mercy, mercy! I never really meant to harm you, James the Red."

James snorted, not believing him for one moment. "Ha, that's rich! If you ask me I think you cause more than enough damage here in the peace-abiding Middle Cove, Captain Drakken," James declared, his sword now pointing at Drakken's chest.

"Aye, mayhap I have at that," Drakken conceded, due more to the terrible look on James face than any real remorse. "Now, Captain…how is that me and mine can make amends to you and yours?" he asked.

James smiled to hear that. "Well, that's easy enough, laddo. Just you listen. You're taking your mate and leave this place, set full sails to that scow of a ship o' yours, and never return to the Middle Cove again."

"Done!" Drakken answered, absurdly pleased with the ease of James' terms. "Allow me and Jimbo here to---" he never finished though, as James interrupted him.

"Not so fast, matey…" James pronounced, smiling, loving being able to do this to the two blackguards before him. "I'll be a-keepin' yer longboat…for all me troubles, don't you know. So…to reach that ship of yours…why, that'd be easy, wouldn't it?"

Drakken paled as he began to realize what James had in store for both Jim and himself. "You wouldn't!" he croaked, Jim just staring at him, absolutely clueless.

"Aye! I would. So, you know what to do, Captain. Walk the plank and jump into the ocean," James ordered, prodding the kneeling Captain with the tip of his cutlass meaningfully.

Drakken stared up into James relentless eyes. "Walk the plank?" Drakken parroted, not believing his own ears.

Jim, who is also on his knees beside his Captain, the point of Ron´s sword poking him in the chest, nodded affirmatively. "Aye, Captain…and jump into the ocean."

James laughed, his victory complete.

Drakken pointed shakily toward the sea where he could plainly see a dark grayish-blue fin slicing through the waves. "Nay! There be sharks out there, James the Red. You'd not cast us to the sharks now, would yeh?"

James smiled and nodded, grinning mischievously. Now, perhaps it should be pointed out that all of the people who called Middle Cove home---which Drakken of course didn't know---knew about Old Swampteeth, Middle Cove's one and only resident shark. The shark was friendly because of the fact that it had only two teeth in its head, and was therefore just about as dangerous as a dead snail. Now, of course, none of the pirates knew this. "Well then, Captain, I hope you can swim then…real fast like," James laughed, seeing the two pirates gulp. He prodded Drakken, while Ron prodded Jim. "Now, on yer feet, and gets to jumpin'!"

Slowly, most reluctantly, Drakken shuffled out on to the plank, made a quick silent prayer, and jumped into the ocean with a splash. James smiled at the sight, but saw out in the corner of his eye that Jim had tried to dash away…only to be brought up short by Ron and his sword.

"AND NOW!" James bellowed loudly, before turning to Jim. "Now, laddy buck, it be your turn!"

Jim shook like a leaf at the thought of the shark out there…just itching to have the chance to eat him…whole! "B-b-b-b-b-but, I don´t can't…I just can't," he stammered.

James smiled, then shook his head in disappointment. "Ah, now…come on, Jimmy, my boy…that's a good lad," James told him prodding him along with pokes to his rump with his sword.

Jim edged out shakily on the plank, then cried something softly that sounded a great deal like 'Mommy!' before he too jumped out into the ocean. And, as the pirates began to swim away, the heroes began to sing their song of victory:

Never give up

Gi aldri opp

Let´s rise up at once

(La oss reise oss nå)

Dance and laugh

(danse og le)

Because even giants turn small

(for selv kjemper blir små)

When they fall to their knees

(når de faller på kne)

Now they douse

(Nå kaster vi loss)

And sail away

(og seiler av sted)

It helps figthing for

(det nytter å sloss for)

Peace and freedom

(frihet og fred)

Never give up

(Gi aldri opp)

Fight, if you can

(kjemp hvis du kan)

Never trust a simple tyrant

(stol ikke på en ussel tyrann)

Now it is the bells of freedom

(nå er det frihetens klokker)

That ring

(som slår)

The fight is over

(Kampen er over)

And victory is ours

(og seieren er vår)

We can sing it again

(Vi kan synge igjen)

Yelling it freely

(rope det fritt)

Captain Drakken's men

(Kaptein Sabeltanns menn)

It feels good to be rid of

(er det godt å bli kvitt)

The coast is clear

(Kysten er klar)

Lay your weapons down

(legg våpnene ned)

We know what we have and exult because of that

(vi vet hva vi har og jubler for det)

Never give up

(Gi aldri opp)

Fight if you can

(kjemp hvis du kan)

Never trust a simple tyrant

(stol ikke på en ussel tyrann)

Now it is the bells of freedom

(nå er det frihetens klokker)

That rings

(som slår)

The fight is over

(Kampen er over)

And victory is ours

(og seieren er vår)

Ron walked over to James, who looked out to the sea, glad that once again his home was safe. "Hey, James…are we going to open that chest?" Ron queried the older man.

James smiled and turned toward his friends. "Well, my friends, do you know what?" he stated. "I think that this victory of ours deserves a singing of my old song."

"Oh! May I sing it, James?" Kim asked. She really did love that song.

"What song would it be, Kim?" Ron asked, not sure himself.

"Well, Ron…when James first moved here he wrote a song that he sings each and every time he's done something that makes him miss the ocean. It, well, sort of reminds him of why he decided to settle down here in the first place, you understand," Kim explained.

James smiled, nodding. "Right you are, Kim. So…if you please, do me the honor and sing it for us, would you?" he asked.

Kim smiled, and did as he asked, singing:

This is home

Her vi bor

Then we raise the flag

(Så heiser vi flagget)

Whit a big hoorah

(med et høyt hurra)

Now we are going to live

(Nå skal vi leve)

And feel fine

(og ha det bra)

The sun goes down

(sola går ned)

Behind distant mountains

(bak fjerne fjell)

The day is over

(dagen er over)

Soon it is night

(og snart er det kveld)

We have traveled

(Vi har seilt med sola)

From east to west

(fra øst til vest)

We love the sea

(borte er bra)

But home is the best

(men hjemme er best)

the world´s full of beauty

(det er mange vakre steder)

If we wan´t to rome

(på vår jord)

But we know that we belong here

(men det er her vi hører hjemme)

This is home

(her vi bor)

Here we stay together

(Her holder vi sammen)

When we turn small

(når vi blir for små)

Those who have friends

(den som har venner)

Are strong as few

(er sterk som få)

Give me your hand

(gi meg din hånd)

And be my friend

(og vær min venn)

The day is over

(dagen er over)

And we´ll meet again

(og vi møtes igjen)

We have traveled

(Vi har seilt med sola)

From east to west

(fra øst til vest)

We love the sea

(borte er bra)

But home is the best

(men hjemme er best)

the world´s full of beauty

(det er mange vakre steder)

If we wan´t to rome

(på vår jord)

But we know that we belong here

(men det er her vi hører hjemme)

This is home

(her vi bor)

End

AN: OK first one in the Triology is finnished. I got two links if you are interested in knowing more about this childrens musical:

The homepage translated to English ofcourse:

http/ site whit all the songs from the triology:

http/www.barneselskapet.musiconline.no/shop/displayAlbum.asp?id5800

The songs in number 1 are these:

Pinkys sang

Vi må ikke si et ord

Vi vil finne gull

Sjørøverne kommer (Hiv o´hoi)

Venner

Ønske seg en mann

Gi aldri opp

Her vi bor