29The Poll Parrot Runs Aground

All aboard for the transcribed premier production, the crews of the Paul Parrot. It's time for another exciting yarn aboard a whaling ship in the year 1860, so reef in your sails and listen. In our last episode, the Good Ship Paul Parrot, with all our friends aboard, Johnny, Sue, Dickon, Captain Dalton, Ezra Grange, and old Paul Parrot himself,

was overtaken by the Wiley Privateer, Captain Carsh, who with several boatloads of men boarded the whaling vessel to search for their diamond. Karsh has heard about the diamonds from some sole survivor of the catastrophe on Galtow Island, who is now aboard his ship.

But just who this is, he will not tell. Captain Dalton knows his crew is hopelessly outnumbered, so he does not fight. But he still will not give up the diamonds and threatens to fight to the last man if they are fired upon.

At this point of deadlock, a lovely young girl comes aboard the ship from Karsh's vessel to see what is going on. She is Karsh's fiancé, and she is very angry to find that her betrothed is really a privateer.

Carsh forces Captain Dalton to send Hollings, the Paul Parrot's latest recruit, with ten men back to his own ship, the Afrikana, as hostage. But just then a terrific storm sweeps down on them, and the two ships are swept apart.

Then a great wave smashes the Paul Parrot's rudder, and she is left to the mercy of the gale. Our story picks up just where we left off last time, and Carsh and Captain Dalton are still arguing.

All except the able demon gets below, the decks are almost awash. Mr. Gray, think Johnny and Sue and the young lady and get to my cabin. The rest of you guys! I'm telling you, I'm taking over here.