The South since 1865 Book

Whenever I open a Captain Pugwash book the theme tune, which I think is 'The Trumpet Hornpipe', runs through my head. This time was no different!

In this adventure Captain Pugwash has his men on deck doing some singing practice but they aren't doing very well. 'You'll never make good pirates unless you can sing a sea shanty properly,' declares Pugwash. So little Tom, the cabin boy, plays the tune on his concertina and the men make more of an effort to sing well.

Meanwhile Cut-throat Jake, Captain Pugwash's worst enemy, and his terrible men are hiding in their ship on the other side of the island, preparing to raid Pugwash's ship. The singing drowns their approach and so Jake and his men are able to climb onto the deck without being heard.

They sneak up at the back of Pugwash's men and join in the singing and Pugwash suddenly realises that there is more noise and there are more pirates. Discovered, Jake and his men then attack and the deck becomes awash with fighting pirates. Unfortunately Pugwash's men are not very good at fighting and are soon all trussed up but Pugwash escapes and climbs to the top of a mast out of the way.

Jake shouts up that he will climb up too and throw Pugwash into the sea but Tom offers him a large saw to saw through mast, thus saving him the trouble of climbing. Tom then assists Jake to saw while Pugwash thinks that his last hour has arrived. Then down comes the mast but the end is not what is expected ... does Pugwash escape? And what happens to Jake?

The exciting climax tells all!