Ahoy Mates! Dive into another ‘History Hunter’ story The Unlucky Pirate by MARK GREENWOOD. Discover more about the life of Captain Kidd, a ruthless privateer from the seventeenth century.

Read on for an extract.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Captain Kidd is a figure shrouded in myth and legend. Hired by the King of England as a privateer to capture pirates who were attacking treasure-laden ships, he was eventually accused of turning rogue and becoming a ruthless buccaneer himself.

His notoriety endures because of the legendary hoards of gold, silver and precious stones said to have been buried by him. But did pirates really bury their treasure? And how much of Captain Kidd’s treasure is still waiting to be found?

The truth is out there.

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EXTRACT

Ghosts haunt the banks of the river that snakes through the heart of London. The Thames once teemed with frigates, schooners and ships of war. Wapping, the riverside settlement, was home to residents who made their living from the famous waterway – fishermen, sailors, boatbuilders and smugglers.

On certain days, the cobbled streets echoed with the clip-clop of horse and cart and the slow march of a sombre procession. One by one, convicted pirates descended the stone stairs that led to the gallows. Sobbing confessions and pleas for mercy could be heard above the slap of waves at Execution Dock.

On 23 May 1701, the condemned are mostly unknown wretches – with one defiant exception. Hands bound behind a scarlet coat, his notoriety has drawn a raucous crowd. They guzzle beer, jeer and hoot. Some pick pockets as they elbow closer to the ‘conquered beast of prey’ riding in the hangman’s cart. A sea of pox-pitted faces closes in as the cortège rumbles over the cobblestones.

‘Where did ye bury ye treasure?’ they shriek.

The convicted pirate inhales a whiff of wine and frying fish. He once frequented the waterfront taverns in this humble maritime community. Wapping is the home of his uncle, the fishmonger. He lodged there, in the home of Mrs Hawkins, a distant relative of his wife.

For him, the river held the promise of adventure. It led out to sea, where fortune beckoned. But fate has played tricks on this unlucky pirate. Accused of crimes he swears he did not commit, he is painted darker than any bloodthirsty buccaneer who forced a victim to walk the plank.

As the rough hemp noose tightens around his neck, the pirate strives to maintain his dignity. He takes in one last glimpse of the bobbing ships, the jungle of hulls. He hears the familiar fluttering of sailcloth, the creaking of ropes in a forest of wooden masts. He sighs for the shame he has brought upon his wife and the sorrow of leaving his children fatherless.

The wooden block is kicked out from beneath him. The short rope snaps.

‘Tis a miracle,’ onlookers declare. ‘Spare his life.’ Their pleas are ignored. Cloaked in mud from where he has fallen, the pirate is yanked back up the ladder, onto the scaffold. The sad spectacle of a second attempt puts an end to his disgrace.

Slowly, the crowd disperses. But the Lords of the Admiralty have not finished with this wicked pirate. As was the custom, he is tied to a slimy post. The tide will rise and fall three times before his waterlogged body is cut down and coated with tar.

Downriver, his corpse is suspended in an iron cage known as a gibbet. On wintery nights, when the sou’westerlies blow, the eerie sight serves as a warning to would-be pirates. But this wretch’s inglorious end is the beginning of a legend. Long after his bones have rotted to dust, he will be remembered, not for his crimes, but for the dazzling treasure he left behind.

Read an extract from History Hunters: The Crystal Skull here

Read our review of Lucky’s Star here

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mark Greenwood is a history hunter. He enjoys searching for lost explorers and glittering treasure, delving into baffling mysteries and investigating famous cold cases. His award-winning books examining history and multicultural themes have been honoured internationally.

Mark often teams with his wife, illustrator Frané Lessac, to produce books that promote an understanding of multicultural issues, such as The Legend of Jessie Hickman. Their other books include Ned Kelly & The Green Sash (winner of the WA Young Readers’ Book Award and Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Notable Book). Mark’s middle-grade stories include the History Mysteries book series, such as The Wonder Horse, The Deadly Diamond, and The Crystal Skull.

Visit Mark Greenwood’s website

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Read more on the publisher’s website here.