The Buccaneers' Code by Caroline Carlson Page A

across the sky as well?” She shrugged. “I suppose there are a few mysteries even a governess can’t unravel.”
    They walked back toward the fire, where the rest of the pirates had gathered with their drinking bowls and their tales of adventure. The gargoyle was telling the crowd howhe had managed to rescue Miss Pimm from the Mutineers’ clutches, though his story was more than a bit embellished around the edges. “If you’d truly bitten a sea monster on the nose,” said Hilary, “I’m sure I would have noticed it.”
    The gargoyle gave an embarrassed sort of cough. “You must have been taking a nap.”
    â€œSea monster or no sea monster,” said Captain Wolfson, “that battle at Tilbury Park was the most fun I’ve had in years. My men and I truly enjoyed swinging in through the windows.”
    â€œOf course!” said Hilary. Now that Wolfson mentioned it, she distinctly remembered seeing pirates in furs raising their swords against Blacktooth’s mates. “You’re one of Cannonball Jack’s friends, aren’t you?”
    Wolfson nodded. “We met when my ship was caught in a storm near Pemberton Bay. Cannonball Jack guided me and my crew to safety. When he wrote to me last summer and said that he needed my help in return, I was happy to lend a hand.”
    Hilary poked at the coals with the tip of her cutlass. As much as she longed to ask the northern pirates for their assistance against Captain Blacktooth, the thought of enduring yet another rejection was almost too humiliating to consider. Still, she thought, it would be more humiliating by far to show up in Queensport Harbor on the day of the battle without any supporters by her side. “I hope you won’t think I’m foolish for asking,” she said,“but I was wondering if you might be able to help us again. We’re looking for pirates who are willing to go into battle against Captain Blacktooth, and we’d be honored if you’d join us.”
    Wolfson looked around the fire at his mates. Then, to Hilary’s dismay, he shook his head. “We’re freelance pirates,” he said. “We don’t have anything to do with the League’s affairs, and we generally like it that way. Why should we involve ourselves now?”
    â€œGo on,” Charlie whispered. “Tell them why!”
    Hilary frowned. She didn’t have the slightest idea what was likely to win over Captain Wolfson and his crew. She supposed she might promise to supply them with unsinkable ships and vast stores of herring, but bribery was Blacktooth’s strategy, not hers, and she wasn’t eager to resort to it. Besides, hadn’t Claire once said that all a good leader truly needed was passion? Hilary hoped very much that it was true.
    â€œYou might not care for the League right now,” she said, “but if I’m in charge of it, I’ll do my best to change things. I won’t dismiss well-meaning pirates, or force you to help me take over the kingdom. And as for treasure—well, I can’t blame Blacktooth for loving it, but I’d give up all the loot in the Royal Treasury in a moment if it would help my crewmates, and I’m quite sure he never would.”
    Wolfson used his shirtsleeve to wipe the grog from his beard. “Interesting,” he said.
    One of the other pirates raised his hand. “If ye take Blacktooth’s place, Terror, will ye still host the annual picnic? I’ve always been wantin’ to go, but I’ve never been allowed.”
    â€œOf course I’ll host it,” said Hilary at once. “It’s only fair. All pirates on the High Seas should be able to have picnics now and then.”
    â€œSo they should,” said Wolfson, “but trying to replace Captain Blacktooth is a tricky business. There are plenty of scallywags who still remember how Blacktooth came to win his presidency. You’re too