Swallows and Amazons Page #3

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[Titty:
]

But you're pirates too.

That's why he hates us.

He knows what pirates are.

It's time for the parley.

I'm John Walker,

Master of the Swallow.

Susan, Mate, Able Seaman Titty

and the Boy Roger.

I'm Nancy Blackett,

Master and part-owner of the Amazon.

The terror of the seas.

This is Peggy Blackett,

Mate and part-owner of the same.

Her name isn't Nancy really,

it's Ruth,

but Uncle Jim says

the Amazons were ruthless.

I'll shiver your timbers

if you don't stop chattering Peggy.

Let's be allies

against Captain Flint and all the natives.

You see,

Captain Flint used to be friendly,

but now he's worse than any native

because he's writing a book

and he says he hasn't time for us.

If we're allies it doesn't matter

who the island belongs to.

You see,

there ought to be two marks,

but two white crosses

would be too easy for anyone to guess.

So what's your other mark, then?

This tree here.

When you want

to sail into the harbour,

keep the cross here and the tree

in a straight line

and you'll come

clean through the rocks.

[Peggy:
] He bought the parrot

in Zanzibar.

He's been all over the world,

you know.

Mother said he was the black sheep

of the family.

Last year he came home

and he said he'd gathered enough moss

and meant to settle here.

Mother's his sister, you know.

Last year he was one of us

and even bought us Amazon.

This year he said he was writing a book

and refused to join in.

He's in league with the natives.

We've tried everything to wake him up,

but it's no good.

It's ended by him forbidding us

ever to go near him.

- Did he really fire at you today?

- No, that was us.

lt was the most marvellous banger

left over from last November.

lt was a jolly good bang.

Let's plan a combined attack

on Captain Flint.

- Who'll be captain?

- I will, of course.

John's our captain.

[Peggy:
] There can only be one captain.

- Then it should be me.

There are more of us Swallows

than there are you Amazons.

Let's fight for it.

We'll try and capture each other's ships.

That'll be good practice.

Whoever wins will be flagship.

We'll win.

But where do you keep your boat?

You go north

across the wide open sea

till you come to our river.

- The Amazon.

Then you'll see our boathouse,

and that's where we live.

The only trouble is the Amazons

know the lake much better than we do.

Yes, like those marks

in the harbour.

If there was only something

we could do and they couldn't,

that would be a help.

Got it!

Leading lights.

Roger, go into our tent

and get the lantern.

Oh, and bring a hammer

and two large nails.

Look.

There they are.

[John:
]

Are they in line yet?

[Susan:
] No, the top light's

a little to the left of the lower.

[John:
] Sing out

when they're above each other.

[Susan:
]

Left a little.

Now!

Left.

Keep left.

Right.

[Boat scrapes on pebbles]

We've done it!

This will win us the war.

The Amazons think

they're safe from us at night.

[John:
]

Oh, well.

No war today.

- We can row.

- Too far.

We'll have to wait until tomorrow.

We can do something else instead.

- What?

- We can go and explore.

- Where?

- Over there on the mainland.

[Titty:
]

lt must be Niagara.

We could get a barrel

and bounce down it.

[John:
]

Not today!

[Roger:
] It's a real forest.

[Titty:
] A jungle, almost.

[Susan:
]

We'd better keep together.

[Roger:
]

It's almost as good as a monkey.

[Titty:
]

If only there were some parrots.

[Bird pecking]

[Roger:
] Woodpeckers.

They'll do.

They're savage parrots.

They're saying "Pretty Polly"

in savage language.

[Roger:
]

Look, a Red Indian wigwam.

[Old man:
]

Hello, you.

Come to have a look, have you?

[John:
] Good morning.

[Sighs]

Oh, it's blowing up a bit.

Want to have a look inside,

do you?

Folk generally want to.

[Titty:
]

May we?

[Coughs]

[Old man:
]

Sit down.

[John:
] Do you always live here?

[Old man:
] Aye.

When we're burning charcoal

someone has to keep the fire down,

like, day and night.

That way the charcoal is smooth

and black and good to use.

For artists to draw masterpieces with?

[Laughs] That's right, lass.

Try a bit.

Would you like to see

what we keep for luck?

What is it?

A snake.

Would you like to see it?

[All:
]

Yes, please.

You're sitting on it.

[Titty gasps]

[Laughs]

[Old man coughs]

Young Billy!

Dad been showing you around,

has he?

[Roger:
] ls he your son?

- That's right.

[Roger:
]

He doesn't look much like a son.

[Man:
] There.

Come on.

[Snake hisses]

[Snake hisses]

ls it safe to touch?

I wouldn't.

Never go near an adder.

Mind how you're stepping

in the woods.

There's plenty about.

If you happen to step on one,

he'll bite.

But he'll get out of the way

if he hears or sees you.

Oh, look there.

A little bit of a hole.

Out he comes.

Like the adder, is fire.

- Are you camping on the island?

- Yes.

You had those Blackett lasses

with you yesterday, hadn't you?

We saw their little boat.

I can remember when their mother

and Master Jim used to come up here.

They were no bigger than you are.

The man on the houseboat?

Aye.

Captain Flint.

We're going to fight with him.

Quiet, Roger.

You know, Dad,

I think it'd be a good thing

if we let him know what folks are saying.

Aye, you're right.

[Wind blowing]

Will you be seeing those lasses again?

Yes, as soon as

there's the wind for sailing.

What's wrong with today?

Well, this morning on the lake

there was a dead calm.

Never mind.

You tell them to tell their Uncle Jim.

- But they can't, they're at war with him.

[Man:
] They'll tell him right enough.

You tell 'em to tell him

that Young Billy, that's me,

sent him word to put a good,

strong padlock on that houseboat of his

if he's gonna leave it alone at nights.

Down in the pub there's

too much talking about

that houseboat

and the valuables inside.

There's plenty of wild young lads

that are up to anything

without thinking twice.

We'll tell them.

Thank you very much for having us.

[Titty:
] And thank you so much

for letting us see your lovely serpent.

- Goodbye.

- Goodbye.

[Roger:
]

Goodbye.

[Old man:
]

Here!

Thank you.

- Goodbye.

- Bye.

[Susan:
]

In!

In!

In! Pull!

In! Pull!

In! Pull!

Go on,

give it your back!

Go on, pull.

In! Pull!

In! Pull!

What is it, John?

How can I give a message

to Captain Flint?

He's our enemy now.

"Called to tell you that you had jolly well

better leave my houseboat alone.

Once is quite enough.

No joking.

James Turner."

[Titty:
] But we never touched

his horrible houseboat.

He is a beast.

You'd better go and see him, John.

Let's go and sink

his beastly houseboat.

No, Susan's right.

I'll go and explain

and give him his message.

And he's used my crayons too.

Now, look here,

did you find my note?

Yes.

- Can you read?

- Yes.

- Did you read it?

- Yes.

I told you to leave my houseboat alone.

Now you're here again.

- Clear out fast!

- But I never.

And if you've got

any more fireworks,

the best thing you can do

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