Mischief at Sea

    The large group climbed the stairs up on to the roof of Blackbeard’s Castle. And in the process, Daniel got separated from his family. But he didn’t care. He was imagining himself on a pirate quest.
  ‘Ladies and gentlemen,’ said the tour guide, as Daniel ran to the edge and peered off into the distance. ‘We are now standing on the medieval structure of Skytsborg, positioned on the top of Government Hill, overlooking Charlotte Amalie. Of course, Skytsborg tower is more commonly known as Blackbeard’s Castle…which was erected in the 17th Century as part of the Danish colonial government’s attempt to protect the island…the only fortified tower of its kind in the Caribbean…’
  The crowd made various impressed noises. Daniel stood back from the edge, wondering what he had missed.
  ‘Unfortunately, there is no evidence that pirates inhabited this tower at any time…’
  The crowd made various displeased noises. Daniel joined in.
  ‘But legend does tell us the following. The mere sight of Blackbeard’s substantial black beard was enough to scare the majority of his victims into laying down their arms without a fight. If his prisoners surrendered peacefully, he would take their navigational instruments, treasure, loot, weapons, and, of course, rum. They were then free to sail away. If they resisted, however, then the crew would be marooned and the ship burnt to a cinder…’
  The crowd made more impressed noises. Daniel joined in.
    As the Nugents and Kramers walked outside of the tower, amongst the world’s largest collection of pirate statues, Daniel slipped in behind his father to give himself the privacy he desired.
  ‘I think the lady was wrong,’ he said quietly.
  ‘Why?’ asked Michael, surprised by his son’s statement.
  ‘There were pirates here, I’m sure of it.’
  ‘How do you know?’
  Daniel pointed to the old canons, lying in their mounts, flanking Blackbeard’s Castle.
  ‘They must have been! It’s so obvious.’