Sebastian Darke: Prince of Pirates by Philip Caveney Read Free Book Online Page B

would just be polite to drop round and make sure everything is all right. Not that a Golmiran would know anything about manners.'
     
'At least I know that passing wind in front of others is rude,' snapped Cornelius.
     
'In Golmiran society, perhaps,' said Max. 'But in buffalope society it's considered the height of good manners to let out the occasional trump. Why, back on the plains of Neruvia there was one buffalope who—'
     
'– could play tunes!' finished Cornelius. 'Yes, we've heard about him, time and time again, and I'm sure he was a very talented fellow. But rude or not, the fact remains that we're not going to call in at Sebastian's place.' He glanced at Sebastian. 'Unless, of course, you really want to.'
     
Sebastian shook his head. 'A detour would cost us a couple of extra days' travel,' he said.
     
Max snorted. 'So what's the big hurry?' he wanted to know. 'If this blooming treasure has been lying around for so long, a few more days isn't going to make a lot of difference, is it?'
     
'Maybe we'll visit on the way back,' said Sebastian; and the tone of his voice made it clear that as far as he was concerned, that was the end of the matter. He wasn't sure why he was so reluctant to visit the home where he'd grown up. Perhaps it was that he'd only been gone a relatively short while. Or perhaps it was simply that he didn't want to have to go through the ordeal of leaving his mother a second time.
     
The truth was, he was feeling decidedly strange. Ever since leaving the forest he had been experiencing a powerful aching sensation deep inside; and whenever he closed his eyes, his head filled with the vision of a pair of tawny eyes gazing intently at him. He realized that he was still under Leonora's spell, but try as he might, he could not seem to shake off the longing that filled his heart and soul.
     
Max, meanwhile, was incapable of remaining silent for long. 'So we're really going through with this madcap idea?' he said.
     
Cornelius smiled. 'It would appear so,' he said calmly.
     
'And you actually think that this treasure – the treasure of Captain Aspidistra – is genuine?'
     
'That's Captain Callinestra ,' Cornelius corrected him. 'And of course I don't know for sure. But that's the gamble we're taking; that's the excitement of the thing!'
     
'Huh!' Max shook his huge head. 'You'll forgive me if I don't get too excited. The only thing that would fire me up right now is a barrel of fresh pommers. And to be honest, it sounds like a load of old mulch to me. I've never heard of this legendary Captain Alan Extra.'
     
' Callinestra! ' barked Cornelius. 'And his exploits are legendary. Why, my father used to tell me tales of his adventures when I was only little.'
     
'So quite recently then,' said Max.
     
'You watch it, shaggy – there's a limit to my patience!'
     
'My father told me the same stories,' said Sebastian, making an effort to join in the conversation. 'When I was disobedient, I was told that if I didn't shape up, the ghost of Captain Callinestra would come sneaking up in the night and take me off to work as a slave aboard his pirate ship. I tell you, I soon got my act together once I'd been threatened with that.'
     
'Yes, but you see, they're only fanciful stories,' argued Max. 'He's like the Snipper, something made up to keep youngsters in line.'
     
Sebastian and Cornelius were looking baffled.
     
'The Snipper?' echoed Sebastian.
     
'Yes, a legendary beast supposed to haunt the plains of Neruvia. If a young buffalope had been misbehaving, the Snipper would come in the night, lop off his tail and take it home to use as a skipping rope.'
     
Sebastian and Cornelius exchanged amused glances.
     
'Well, point taken,' said Cornelius. 'But stories about the good captain are told everywhere. Anything that well known must have some foundation in fact. Why, it is said that his treasure hoard has been looted from the merchant ships of the known world and that it is hidden in some remote spot,