About a week later, the voyage was ready to start
A light jazz tune was being played amongst the rocks near the island.
The pirates were fooling around with a tied up and blindfolded Jim, who they were throwing amongst them as he tried to escape.
Jeremy, Hector, Tim, Sara and Pierce were playing their instruments in the rocks, wearing pirate outfits.
"Hey, dudes?" Hector called. "I can't figure out whose side we're on! Are we with the pirates or the dog captain?"
"Hey, man, don't worry about politics!" Jeremy replied. "Just play the gig!"
"Yeah, never get involved with politics. It's dirty," Pierce agreed before wailing on his drums.
The pirates continued to torture Jim, spinning the poor boy around relentlessly.
Finally, two of them grabbed both his arms while a third took the blindfold off of him.
Jim gulped as he tried to get his breath back.
Long John Silver stood before him in full pirate captain uniforms. He grinned evilly.
"Easy, Jim," he grinned. "Tis all in good fun! Pleased I am to initiate you into our enterprising…um…company!"
The pirates laughed.
"It entitles you to all the benefits thereof," Long John added.
"I don't want any benefits!" Jim cried, trying to free himself.
Long John got in real close.
"This is a one-time special offer, Jim, lad," he whispered. "Say no and I will be forced to terminate our relationship," he said, pulling out his sword for emphasis.
Jim continued to shake his head.
"You're nothing but murdering pirates," he spat.
"PIRATES?!" Long John shouted, making everyone jump. "HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!" He quickly sobered. "Pirates. Oh, Jim. If that's what yer thinkin'…you're dead wrong."
Then he began to sing.
LONG JOHN: When I was just a lad, looking for my true vocation, my father said, "Now son, this choice deserves deliberation. Though you could be a doctor, or perhaps a financier, my boy, why not consider, a more challenging career?"
PIRATES: Hey, ho, ho, you'll cruise to foreign shores!
LONG JOHN: Sing it, lads!
PIRATES: And you'll keep your mind and body sound by working out of doors!
LONG JOHN: True friendship and adventure are what we can't live without!
PIRATES: And when you're professional pirates…
BUCKY: …that's what the job's about.
"Upstage, lads! This is me only number!" Long John ordered, allowing the others to clear the way.
LONG JOHN: Now take Sir Francis Drake. The Spanish all despise him! But to the British, he's a hero and they idolize him! It's how you look at buccaneers that makes them bad or good. And I see us as brothers of a noble brotherhood!
PIRATES: Hey, ho, ho, we're honorable men, and before we lose our tempers, we will always count to ten.
LONG JOHN: On occasion there may be someone that we have to execute.
PIRATES: But when you're a professional pirate…
ZERO: …you don't have to wear a suit.
The pirates all glared at him.
"What?" Zero asked.
HAGAR: I could've been a surgeon. I like taking things apart.
BUCKY: I could've been a lawyer, but I just had too much heart.
ZERO: I could've been in politics 'cause I've always been a big spender.
NEW YORK PIRATE: And me, I could have been…a contender.
The pirates laughed. Bucky just rolled his eyes.
LONG JOHN: Some say that pirates steal and should be feared and hated. I say we're victims of bad press. It's all exaggerated. We'd never stab you in the back. We'd never lie or cheat. We're just about the nicest guys you'd ever want to meet!
As they hummed the tune, Long John turned to Jim.
"Well, look at us, Jim! We're a festival of conviviality!" he laughed.
"Yeah!" Zero laughed. "Congeniality!"
"Conviviality, stupid!" Bucky snapped.
"Yeah, that's what I said!"
Bucky groaned.
Squire Satchel, Dr Garfield and Odie lowered another longboat that contained Captain Snoopy, Calvin and Hobbes.
"Lowering boat, O Captain, my Captain!" Squire Satchel said, lowering the boat.
"Excellent," Snoopy replied. "Watch the ship. If it gives you any back sass, send it to bed without supper. Cast off, Mr Odie!"
"Bark!" Odie replied, and he let the rope go.
Calvin and Hobbes began rowing.
"Thanks for coming, boys," Snoopy said.
"You kidding?" Hobbes grunted. "Jim's family!"
"Yeah," Calvin agreed, "and he still owes me ten bucks."
Hobbes glared at him.
Calvin smiled sheepishly.
Long John walked amongst the pirates, not taking his eyes off Jim.
"Tell the truth, lad," he said, still grinning. "Do you really think the captain and the squire are planning to share the treasure with the likes of us?"
Jim didn't answer.
"Can't here ya. No?"
Long John seemed to get angrier with each hobble he took.
"And we being the rightful owners," he added through his teeth. "Flint's own crew, who shed out own blood getting it here!"
Then a maniacal grin spread across his face.
"Join us, lad!" he cackled. "Donate your compass to the treasure hunt and get a full share!"
And the song resumed before Jim could answer.
PIRATES: Hey, ho, ho! It's one for all for one! And we'll share and share along with you and love you like a son! We're gentlemen of fortune, and that's what we're proud to be! And when you're a professional pirate…
LONG JOHN: You'll be honest, brave and free, the soul of decency! You'll be loyal and fair and on the square, and most importantly…
ALL: And when you're a professional pirate…
LONG JOHN: You're always in the best of company!
And the song finally ended on an assortment of horns.
After a pause, however…
BOOM!
A cannon blast was heard from the ship that made them all jump.
"Down!" Long John shouted.
"There!" Jim smirked. "Captain Snoopy coming to rescue me!"
Long John smirked back.
"Don't get yer hopes up, laddie," he replied. "I've taken the liberty of hiding a few of my best men aboard. If a second round follows, it means they've taken over the Hispaniola, and I'm the new cap'n."
The pirates laughed slimily.
"Now then…"
And Long John held a hand to his ear.
They all listened.
BOOM!
Jim's head jerked up.
The pirates cheered happily.
Long John merely shrugged.
The pirates on board the Hispaniola pulled their cannon back aboard, and they finished tying up Squire Satchel, Dr Garfield and Odie.
Once that was done, they left tied to a post in the brig.
Dr Garfield glared at them, and then at the other two.
"Alright," he grumbled. "Which one of you dumb mutts forgot to load the guns?"
Odie pointed at Squire Satchel.
"Well…?" Dr Garfield asked.
"Well, I thought someone might get hurt," Squire Satchel said sheepishly.
Dr Garfield grunted. He pondered where it all went wrong in his life.
"Well, who's for Eye Spy?" he sighed, resigning to his fate.
Odie barked happily.
With a swift swing from his sword, Long John cut the ropes that held Jim's hands.
"I'm the only friend you've got left in the world now, Jim," Long John said, putting his sword away. "Let's dig up the treasure together, eh? Shipmates, remember?"
Jim didn't reply. He just looked hurt.
"We'll be needing your compass, though," Long John continued.
"No," Jim said.
Long John sighed. "I be takin' it either way, Jim," he said.
Jim sighed, and he reached into his pocket and pulled out the compass and handed it to Long John, who swung it triumphantly on the end of it's rope.
The pirates cheered.
"Come on then, lad!" Long John laughed. "Let's not waste time!"
And they marched onwards.