Crown of the Cowibbean by Mike Litwin Page B

he handed Dakota an orange bandana with white polka dots. “It’s your disguise.”
    â€œA disguise on top of my cow disguise? This is silly.” Dakota took the bandana from Chuck. “This looks familiar. Isn’t this the bandana from the post outside the Leaky Tiki? Did you steal this?” he gasped.
    â€œIt is from the Leaky Tiki, but I just borrowed it. We’ll bring it back,” Chuck said. “Tie it around your head. All sailors wear bandanas on their heads. Unless you’re the captain. Then you wear a hat.”
    â€œIs this your plan?” Dakota asked nervously. “What if we get caught?” Marco’s first mate Ribeye looked awfully big and mean, and Dakota didn’t like the idea of making that one-eyed bull any grumpier.
    â€œWe won’t get caught,” Chuck said as he folded their copy of The Daily Moos into a very fine-looking paper hat. “Marco will be busy talking for hours. Besides, we’re not going to take anything. We’re just looking . If anyone asks, just say you’re one of his sailors.”

    â€œWhy do you get to wear a hat?” he asked Chuck.
    â€œWe only have one bandana,” Chuck said, putting on the paper hat. “Plus, it’s my idea, so I get to wear the captain’s hat.”
    They looked out at the wharf. Many cows were milling about, tending to the small boats on either side of the dock.
    â€œThere’s no way this is going to work!” Dakota said in a hushed whisper.
    â€œSure it will! Just talk like a sailor,” Chuck whispered back. “Arrrr, matey!” he said in a loud pirate voice as he marched out on the pier. “It sure be a good day for sailin’, aye?”
    â€œAye, aye, sir!” Dakota shouted back. “Ummm….Yo ho ho and a bottle of milk!” Dakota’s face turned red under his cow mask. He felt incredibly foolish. Cows all over the harbor watched curiously as the two phony sailors marched by, but no one questioned them. Chuck’s plan was working! They continued their loud parade all the way to the end of the wharf.

    The Swashclucker may have been the biggest ship in the harbor, but that was only because all the other boats were so small. Up close the ship was squat and dumpy. Its sides had been repaired so many times that the patchwork of planks nailed to its sides looked like big wooden bandages. At the top of the mast sat a rickety crow’s nest with a tiny orange flag waving from it. It really wasn’t very fancy. But as far as Chuck was concerned, it was amazing.
    â€œThis is such a bad idea,” Dakota said as they climbed on board the ship’s main deck. “I don’t think we’re going to find anything here but trouble.”
    â€œWeren’t you listening to Marco’s stories?” Chuck asked. “Even if he’s only done half the stuff he says, this boat should still have treasures all over it! Let’s look for that sea snake’s head he was talking about! I bet it’s in his quarters.”
    They made their way to Marco’s cabin, which looked a lot like a chicken coop. Chuck swung open the door with excitement. He thought the room would be filled with ancient artifacts and mystical objects, glittering jewels and gold coins…maybe the sea snake’s head would even be mounted on the wall!
    But the cabin was not at all what Chuck expected.
    There were no treasures. There were no jewels or prizes or coins. The only golden thing in sight was a warm light that came through the windows, highlighting a globe, a spyglass, and measuring tools on a table in the middle of the room. In the corner was a roosting perch where Marco would stand as he slept. The wall on the right displayed a collection of swords. The wall on the left was covered with maps and charts. It looked like a great place to plan an adventure. But it was no treasure trove.
    â€œOkay,” said Dakota. “Where’s all