Jack

I scurried quick over the sand, looking over me shoulder for the large oafish gentlemen who hadn't taken too kindly to my expertise at card playing. I doubted whether he was swift on his feet, but it's best to anticipate as opposed to underestimate. It's always been a sound policy so why second guess that what works?

Sure enough, Mr. Snaffoam-strange surname to be sure, but not the most unusual that I've seen-was jumping down from the rocks with his mopmaking, muscular henchmen with somewhat questionable mental facilities. It's a wonder he ever managed to steal my ship. Of course, it's a wonder that those two Navymen actually helped save it, so I suppose fortune likes to keep things balanced.

I picked up my feet a bit quicker after that, looking behind to ensure they stayed at a safe distance, and flopped face down into the sand. I lifted my head spitting out the crunchy bits of coral and sand. I looked up and found myself staring at a decapitated feathery fowl. Before I could account for the strange phenomena, I was thrown on my back into the sand, in some sort of strange way of holding down an already bemused pirate.

They released me after what seemed to be a considerable amount of time to be without air. I sat up, flexed my fingers and assured myself that I was functioning properly. One shake of my head, placing my hat on it's rightful place and I squinted up at the two who had tripped me. "Oh, you three."

I ought to have known I suppose, falling from the rigging, screaming about apples, dead rats, butchering perfectly good coats, and such nonsense always seemed to fall my way when they were around. Ah then... of course, there is the small, insignificant issue of my ship being stolen-again thanks to two deserters...Who now were responsible for my literal fall from graceful...erm...running.

"I apologize for their atrocious behavior." spouted the one who had worshipped Cotton's parrot. I turned my head to see that Snaffoam and his were gaining fast. I leapt to my feet and the three pulled me back down again.

"No, no, they'll catch you!"insisted Oliver who took it upon himself to wrench off my coat. "This isn't exa-"

"Take off that sash and belt!" hissed Jon, Oliver and Charlie attempted to just that. "WHAT MAY I-"

"Disguise! You know that ol' hat? Speaking of which..."Jon nodded towards mine. I looked up at it. "Oh, alright."

I removed it, they quickly snatched it away throwing it under my coat that was spread out like a blanket. The sash was untied, the belt, baldric were unbuckled, boots flopped, vest shrugged, pistol, compass-all were thrust under the coat. They hurried me over and the four of us sat on the lumpy thing. Gazing once again at the strange feathery thing I was inspired. I snapped my fingers at Jon, "Give it here, then-if you please."

I held out my hand and he readily relinquished his strange hat. I pulled it over my head and surprisingly it was able to accommodate my mane of hair. We took up five playing cards apiece and stared intently at them.Out of the corner of my eye I saw Snaffoam emerge from the rock formations and scan the beach with his eyes while his crew stumbled their way out of the boulders.They trudged down the beach slowly in bewilderment at a lack of a footprint trail. I had taken care to run in the wake of the waves. I smiled, coughed and shifted slightly to squash the bulge of assorted articles.

"Oy, you theres!" bellowed one of them when they were two feet away. "You sees a coated man wi' a brown hat and walks funny?"

" Nah, don't see anyone like tha'." said Jon imitating his questioner's accent and laying down his cards face down to answer. "Di' ya see one like tha' Charles?"

"Undoubtably not, Master Green. I see no person that fits that description here." sniffed Charlie dismissively."I've been here for quite some time."

"I saw someone like that-" piped Oliver. We tensed. "-in Charleston, but that was months ago. "

"Oh." shrugged the henchman. Snaffoam came forward, "Tell me honestly or-what is on your head?"

"Wards off evil spirits. " I said matter of factly, tapping it. "Bargained off of a traveling sea witch. I'm to wear it until the next full moon or the All Knowing One will not grace me with his presence." He didn't even look at me so strange was the fluffy thing or the story. He turned to his men.

"He's back hiding in those rocks!Get after him!" They blinked, he rolled his eyes and added. "Please." They swarmed up and over the rocks and he charged in along after. I returned the feathered hat and we stayed playing our game. Nonsense did always seem to happen when these three were around and for once, I was grateful for it.