First published in 2021 in Great Britain by Barrington Stoke Ltd 18 Walker Street, Edinburgh, EH3 7LP www.barringtonstoke.co.uk Text © 2021 Alan MacDonald Illustrations © 2021 Elissa Elwick The moral right of Alan MacDonald and Elissa Elwick to be identified as the author and illustrator of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in any part in any form without the written permission of the publisher A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library upon request ISBN: 978-1-78112-941-8 Printed by Hussar Books, Poland This book is in a super‑readable format for young readers beginning their independent reading journey.
For Johnny Maynard
Contents 1 Something Down Below
1
2 Pass the Parcel
17
3 Baby on Board
27
4 Follow the Basket
37
5 Raining Potatoes
50
6 Shipmates All
62
CHAPTER 1
Something Down Below The Salty Herring bobbed like a cork on the sparkling sea. On deck the pirate crew were doing what they loved best: lazing around.
2
Stinky McFlea snored in a hammock. Irish Stew, the ship’s cook, was reading a cook book (100 Things To Do With Fish). Long Johns was playing Noughts and Crossbones, while Nitty Nora was knitting herself a stripy swimsuit. In his cabin, Captain Sprat tried on the smart feather hat he’d bought yesterday when the ship was in port. All was calm and still until …
3
“MAA‑WAAAH!” … a strange wailing noise broke the peace. “What was that?” asked Long Johns. “I heard it too,” said Nitty Nora. “Shh! Listen, mates!” They all listened hard …
4
“MAA‑WAAAH!” There it was again, this time so loud that it woke Stinky McFlea, who fell out of his hammock. “Maybe it’s some sort of fish?” said Irish Stew. “Like a whale,” agreed Stinky McFlea. “A whale that keeps wailing.”
6
“That’s no whale,” said Nitty Nora. “If you ask me, that be a ghost!” “Or a huge hungry sea monster that gobbles up pirates,” whispered Long Johns. The cowardly crew turned pale and drew closer together. None of them had ever faced a ghost or a sea monster. Even the sight of a rat sent them running for cover.
7
The captain came up on deck. He waited for them to admire his smart new hat, but no one did. “What’s going on?” he asked. “You all look like you’ve seen a ghost.” “Not seen one. We heard one,” replied Nitty Nora. “Or a sea monster,” said Long Johns. “It sounded like it came from below.”
8
“Rubbish! You’re making it up,” scoffed the captain. “We all heard it, Captain,” said Irish Stew. “Well, if there is anything on board we’ll soon find it,” said the captain. “Search the ship from top to bottom!”
9
The crew took mops and rolling pins to fight off ghosts or monsters and began to search. They opened hatches, poked in cupboards and peered under hammocks. Then they crept below to the store room. There they heard the wailing again, which made them all jump. “MAA‑WAAAH!”
11
“Right then, are we pirates or mice?” said the captain. “One of you open that door.” No one moved. “Can’t you open it, Captain?” begged Long Johns. “I’m the captain, I give the orders,” snapped the captain.
12
The pirates pushed Stinky McFlea to the front. If anything would drive a sea monster away it was the smell of Stinky’s feet. Slowly Stinky turned the handle and the door creaked open. The pirates crept into the dark room, their hearts beating fast. A strange snuffling sound came from a basket on a shelf.
13
“Strike me, mates, that’s my shopping basket,” whispered Irish Stew. “Is the sea monster in there?” Stinky McFlea lifted the blanket on top of the basket and peeped inside. “Blow me down!” he cried. “It’s a bloomin’ baby!” “A BABY?”
15
All the pirates crowded round, keen to see. There in the basket lay a baby kicking its chubby legs and looking up at them with wide blue eyes. “MAA‑WAAAH!” it cried.