The Adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow

Dead Men Tell No Tales

The following morning, Port Royal was shocked. Late the previous night The Bachelor's Delight approached the coast in flames. Few people knew that Captain William Dampier worked for the Crown and had been recruited by Governor Woodes Rogers. Admiral Davenport and Duke James Nottingham were a few of those people.

Davenport went with his men on board once the fire was extinguished. The bodies of the pirates were almost completely burnt, the headless body of the captain still tied to the main mast. One of the officers handed him the note. He read it and kept it to himself. He told his men that someone was killing pirates. He asked them to be on alert for any unknown ship.

He didn't tell them the truth. He knew some of his officers would go to the tavern and after drinking some glasses of rum they would let others know that someone was killing pirates. At least, he could use this to scare those crooks and make them willingly work for the crown for protection.

He went to Duke Nottingham's office and let him read the note.

"We must inform Governor Rogers. Send one of your men to let him know."

"I will, Sir." Davenport left.

* * * * *

As he predicted that same night some of his officers got drunk at the tavern and their tongues got loose. Jack was talking about what he had seen when he was returning to Port Royal to his father and uncles. They didn't believe the officer's version. To them, this was a feud between two pirates. Both ships displayed Jolly Rogers.

"What I don't understand is why they changed The Bachellor's Delight's Jolly Roger for a Red Ensign [Red ensign = a British flag]," Jack stated. That was a mystery they all wondered about.

At that moment, Fermin entered the tavern and ran to Jack's table. "Hello, Captain, What's all the fuss?"

"The officers are telling that someone is killing pirates."

"Oh, be careful, Sir! Gabriela told me to bring you this week's cookies. She also told me to invite you to dinner sometime this week. She knows it is your birthday, but she doesn't know when you will be free. Let us know when you are available, Captain. Please, take care of yourself while sailing, Captain. Goodbye, Captain, Gentlemen!"

"Here ye have the other jar. Goodbye, Fermin."

"Goodbye Sailor!", Edward said.

Edward looked at Jack. "She sends ye a weekly supply of cookies, Jackie?"

"I can't help what that lass does. She sends me a jar of cookies whether I want it or not."

"But ye brought the empty jar, and now she is having dinner to celebrate yer birthday? Are ye good friends?"

"Nah!"

"If ye choose to lock yer heart away, ye'll lose her fer certain, Jackie!" Edward told Jack.

Jack opened the jar and smelled the cookies. He picked one and took a bite. He offered his relatives some cookies.

"She's a great cook, Jackie. Yer mom will be happy fer ye." Uncle Jack said. Jack ignored them.

* * * * *

At home, Gabriela was sewing a new pair of pants while anxiously waiting for Fermin to return with news about the repercussions of her exploits against Governor Rogers' privateer.

She was disappointed to hear the officers spread the word that 'someone' was killing pirates. This wasn't something against pirates. This was retaliation against privateers, buccaneers, and corsairs! She needed paper and a printing machine. The following day she would send a message to Governor Gregorio Guazo y Calderón Fernández de la Vega. She needed to be prepared for next time. For the moment, she had to make some posters to hang in conspicuous places and pirate ships. The Terror of the Seven Seas was not an enemy of pirates but of privateers, buccaneers, and corsairs.