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A Pirate's Life Is Anything But Easy

While Bertha went back into the kitchen, the men took over the nursing duties. The two men killed during the fight, Pat Hewes and Jim Crowley, were given a solemn burial at sea. It was always difficult losing any of our men but a pirate’s life is anything but easy.

Those who were lucky enough to survive the fighting lay in makeshift cots in the hall, their assorted limbs bandaged and/or propped up. Bertha’s sewing kit was much in demand. Joseph sheepishly admitted to my father and me that he’d been wrong to berate her for it.

“You’ll have to make it up to Bertha, Joe. She’s sensitive despite her tough shell.” My father laughed when he blushed. “Never say you’ve developed feelings for her, old man!”

“I may be old, but there’s fire in this heart still, Mr. Williams!”

I left the two men to their discussion and went outside to see what I could do to help. Maguire was making some pirates walk the plank, many of them with suspicious lumps on their heads. I suspected a frying pan to be the cause of those lumps.

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