Though she had been irritated with him that morning, Jocelyn was now grateful that Dirty Bob had put so much effort into improving the speed and agility of the Hook’s Revenge. They might not have been pursuing a merchant ship as he’d intended, but they were doing a fine job of keeping ahead of Calypso’s Nightmare. For a time it looked as if they would outrun her, but Blind Bart heard their pursuers jettison their cargo and supplies, lightening their ship. Krueger began to gain on them.

Jocelyn was thunderstruck at the news. “That’s insane! They’ve thrown out everything? Even their barrels of fresh water? If the winds die down, they could be stranded out here for days. How will they survive?”

“I’ve sailed with Krueger,” said Dirty Bob. “I know his methods. Without food or water aboard, the men have no choice but to catch their prey. When they do, they’ll have our supplies.”

“We can’t allow that to happen. We’ll have to do the same ourselves. Mr. Smee, order the men to throw everything that is not nailed down overboard.”

Nubbins tried to show a brave face as his food supplies were tossed from the ship, but when his favorite crepe pan hit the waves with a splash, he couldn’t stop a tear or two from spilling over. Jocelyn wanted to assure him that she would replace it once they got back to land, but with no gold, how could she? Still, they had to escape, if they could. Lives were at stake—and to some people, lives had as much importance as a crepe pan.

Having tasted Nubbins’s crepes, however, I’m not certain I’m inclined to agree.

Notwithstanding their efforts, Calypso’s Nightmare continued to gain at an alarming rate. Jocelyn asked Roger to consult his map, hoping to find some way of escape.

“We are rather close to a ships’ graveyard. Looks like the wreckage is from a reef, not far under the sea. When ships try to cross it, it probably tears out their hulls, leaving them stranded.”

“I don’t see how that would be all that helpful,” Jocelyn said. “Wouldn’t we have the same problem?”

“It will be dangerous, but the Hook’s Revenge has a far shallower draft than Krueger’s ship. We may just be able to get through. Could be our only chance.”

Jocelyn ordered the heading change. Before long, the first ghostly outlines of wrecked ships appeared on the horizon, splintery ribs and rotted beams cast about like the skeletal contents of a plague pit.

Dirty Bob and One-Armed Jack rolled up a portion of the mainsail, causing the ship to slow, to ease navigation through the dangerous passage. The water was quite clear, and Jocelyn could see to the bottom. Bloodred coral formations reached toward them with sharp, bony fingers. As the ship passed over a particularly shallow area, Jocelyn felt them scrape and scratch along the hull, like an animal wanting to be let in. Much shallower and they would be torn apart. Jocelyn felt certain Krueger, in his larger ship, would be unable to pass.

Would you be terribly disappointed to discover the girl was wrong? You would? In that case, I’m happy to report that she was.

Krueger’s devil ship rolled right over reef after reef, crushing the razor-sharp coral formations under its reinforced hull.

“All right, men, that’s enough!” Jocelyn commanded. “It was a valiant try, but we must now change our tack. Strike the sails! Drop anchor and show our broadsides. Ready the cannon! We stand and fight!”

Jim McCraig and Evie worked together to lower the remaining sails, slowing the ship further. One-Armed Jack and Roger dropped the anchor. The Hook’s Revenge turned about, bringing the starboard side to the oncoming ship.

Jocelyn wiped her sweaty palms on the front of her jacket. “Wait until they get into range and fire!” she commanded.

One heartbeat. Two.

They were silent, watching with mounting tension as Calypso’s Nightmare drew steadily nearer. When it was within range, Jocelyn gave the order. “Fire!”

Smee relayed the order through the open hatch. “Fire, Jim!”

Jim’s aim had improved by leaps and bounds since their last sea battle—but not enough. The cannonball dropped harmlessly into the sea.

“I think he might’ve splashed them, though, Captain,” One-Armed Jack said, motioning toward the enemy ship with his newest arm, a whaling harpoon. “That should help, right? Fighting with wet clothes could cause them to chafe.”

Jocelyn ignored him. “Wait until they start to turn; that will give us a bigger target.”

Smee passed the order on. They waited. The Calypso’s Nightmare drew ever closer.

Evie stood wide-eyed and gripping the railing, though Jocelyn hardly noticed her. She was watching Krueger. He stood at the bow of his ship, his eyes locked on Jocelyn. His white scar stood out against his sun-browned face. It looked as sharp and dangerous as the knife that had made it.

When he was within spitting distance (Jocelyn tested, hitting a lanky pirate on his gangly arm), Krueger ordered the crew to drop the sails and anchor. His ship began to turn.

“Fire at will!” Jocelyn cried.

“Which one of them is Will?” One-Armed Jack asked. No one responded.

Smee repeated Jocelyn’s order to Jim McCraig. This time the man’s cannonball found a target, glancing off the side of the hull. The wood splintered, but there was little damage. Still, he hit it! His cries of joy echoed through the hold. The morale of the entire crew flew higher.

“Hit him again, Jim, between the wind and the waves!” Jocelyn commanded.

Jim fired again. His shot was high, crashing into the railing and rolling across the deck. The ball bowled over a half dozen hard-bitten pirates as if playing at ninepins. The rest of Krueger’s crew did not bat an eye. A few men started swinging grappling hooks.

The Calypso’s Nightmare completed her rotation, bringing her cannons into firing position. Krueger gave the order to fire. His ball connected, punching a hole high in the side of the Hook’s Revenge.

“Mr. Smee, go belowdecks and give me a damage report. Everyone else, ready your arms”—Jack opened his mouth to reply, but Jocelyn cut him off—“or arm, for heaven’s sake!”

“Captain Jocelyn, may I have a sword?” Evie asked. “I think I could swing it enough to help.”

Jocelyn had nearly forgotten the girl was there. What would happen if she were killed? Jocelyn had to keep her safe. “No!” she replied. “It’s too dangerous! Go below deck!”

“Why? You’re here. Roger is here.” Evie put her hands on her hips. “I’m older than both of you. I’ll fight and do my part.”

Jocelyn let out an exasperated breath. “I can’t let anything happen to you!”

“I didn’t know you cared so much.” Evie beamed at her.

Jocelyn squirmed. “I don’t. I mean I do. But it’s complicated.”

“Friendship always is. But you’re my friend, Jocelyn. I will fight for you.”

A lump formed in Jocelyn’s throat. What was she going to do about Evie? She would have to figure that out later, once they were free of Krueger. “Bob!” she called out. “Arm her!”

He muttered something about tea parties, but gave the girl a deadly-sharp dagger. She ran to the railing and brandished it. “You dogs will pay for your attack upon young Captain Hook!”

The rival crew hooted and jeered. “Are you ready to dance, little lady?” one called out, waving a wicked-looking cutlass in her direction.

“I am! I’ll lead!” she called back.

“Good one, Evie!” Roger called.

Jocelyn gritted her teeth, annoyance flaring. “This is no time for chitchat!”

One of the men swung his grappling hook. It landed on the railing next to Evie. He leaped from his deck, swinging over the water, and hit the side of their ship with a thud.

“Oh dear!” Evie cried. “He’s climbing up!”

Jocelyn rushed forward, but the older girl was quicker. She brought her dagger down on the rope, slicing through as if it were made of butter. The pirate fell harmlessly to the sea. “That’s right!” she shouted. “Who else needs a bath?”

Nubbins smelled under his arms. “I think I might.”

“Not you, Nubbins!” Evie said. “I was talking to them!” She motioned toward the enemy pirates.

“Oh. Them. Right.” He raised his voice. “Yeah, who needs a scrubbing? You can borrow my bathing cap!”

The men’s reactions were more confused than anything. Each one stopped what he was doing and stared. Finally one broke the silence: “Keep your stinking bathing cap!” The rest of the pirates growled and shouted curses. Only Krueger remained calm. He held up a hand, quieting his men, then issued his most terrible command yet: “Enough play. Board her.”

The crowd parted, allowing passage to several men carrying planks long enough to bridge the gap between the two ships. Large iron brackets were affixed to the planks’ ends. Before Jocelyn could formulate a plan, the men used them to hook the two ships together. Krueger’s crew began to swarm over the makeshift bridges.

“Stop them!” Jocelyn yelled, but there was nothing left to do. There, in the ships’ graveyard, beneath the chill shadow of other fallen vessels, the Hook’s Revenge was overrun.

All was lost.