Barry came running towards me, brandishing a gun.

“Here, Mr. Casey! I found this over there. Maguire said to ask you if it’s yours. Is it?”

“Aye, Barry. Hand that over. You shouldn’t be holding it – you might hurt yourself.”

“Oh, it can’t hurt me, Mr. Casey. I took out the bullets.”

Barry reached into his pockets and pulled out a handful of bullets, grinning unabashedly at me.

“Hand those over, you rascal.”

He did and then scampered off towards Maguire, who was currently making the last of the stowaway pirates walk the plank. As I was reloading the bullets, I suddenly remembered my father’s sword.

“Oy, Barry!” I called out to the boy. When he turned towards me, I asked, “Was there also a sword by where you found my gun?”

The boy shrugged his thin shoulders in response. “Don’t remember, Mr. Casey. You want me to go and check?”

“No, no, don’t worry. I’ll go see if it’s there.”

I walked up to starboard and found Bertha standing there, gripping the rail. Her face was bathed in tears.