“Pirates ahoy, pirates ahoy!” Crackers screeched. “Arrrk!”
“The feathery flapper is correct, mateys,” the pirate said. “I’ve sailed around the coast of Florida-arrrrgh, the shores of Canada-arrrrrgh—even the seas of Africa-arrrgh for treasure-arrrgh!”
The boys and Reilly stared at the pirate.
“Um,” Frank said, “do we know you?”
The pirate took a sweeping bow. “The name is Plunderin’ Pete,” he growled. “Teller of tall tales and judge of the Talk Like a Pirate Contest.”
“A pirate is judging a pirate contest?” Joe asked. “Awesome.”
“You’re going to love my song-and-dance number, Pirate Pete,” Reilly said as she began tapping her feet. “It’s not just good—it’s spectacul-arrrrgh!”
Chet ignored Reilly as he asked, “Were there really pirates in Bayport, Pete?”
“There were and still are-rrgh!” Plunderin’ Pete replied. “Haven’t you heard about the notorious Captain Scurvydog?”
“Captain Scurvydog?” Jason asked.
Reilly stopping tapping to ask, “Who’s he?”
“About three hundred years ago Captain Scurvydog made Bayport his port of call,” Plunderin’ Pete explained. “He fancied the town and decided to come back . . . and back . . . and back . . . to this very day.”
“To this very day?” Frank repeated.
“You mean,” Joe asked slowly, “Captain Scurvydog is a ghost?”
Chapter 2
GHOST TOWN
At the word “ghost,” Plunderin’ Pete’s one uncovered eye lit up. “Aye!” he said. “The ghost of Captain Scurvydog comes back to make sure buried treasure isn’t dug up by landlubbing scoundrels.”
“Buried treasure?” asked Reilly. “You mean like the prize for the Talk Like a Pirate Contest?”
“Buried treasure is buried treas-arrrrgh, lass,” Pete replied.
“Polish yer doubloons, matey!” Crackers screeched. “Arrrk!”
“Doubloons?” Reilly asked. “What’s he squawking about?”
“Doubloons were ancient Spanish gold coins,” Jason explained.
“Gold coins to them,” Plunderin’ Pete cackled. “Pirate booty to me!”
But Chet was interested in something else. He tilted his head as he studied Plunderin’ Pete. “This Captain Scurvydog,” he said. “Is he a good ghost or a bad ghost?”
“Scurvydog is a good ghost,” Pete answered.
“That’s a relief,” said Chet. “I was afraid he—”
“Until someone digs up a pirate’s treasure,” Pete cut in. “Then pity the poor soul who faces Scurvydog’s wrath!”
All the kids stared at Plunderin’ Pete.
“And now, me hearties,” Pete growled with a smile, “it’s time for this pirate to claim his free doughnut.”
Plunderin’ Pete adjusted his eye patch, then headed toward the doughnut shop.
“Just great,” Chet complained. “I’ll bet he’ll get the last Bavarian cream.”
“Who cares about doughnuts?” Jason exclaimed. “There’s a ghost named Captain Scurvydog around, and he’s a mean dude!”
“Don’t worry, Jason,” Frank said. “The buried treasure in the contest can’t be cursed.”
“Yeah, it’s not like the treasure chest will have pirate booty inside,” Joe told Jason. “Probably stretchy frogs and tubs of slime.”
“You guys!” Reilly piped up. “Jason does not have to worry about the buried treasure.”
“Why not?” Jason asked.
“Because,” Reilly said, jutting her chin out, “I’m going to win the Talk Like a Pirate Contest—not you!”
Reilly turned and walked away, her sparkly shoes tapping on the sidewalk as she went.
“How do you say ‘diva’ in pirate talk?” Chet complained.
“It’s okay,” Jason said with a small smile. “I don’t believe in ghosts. Not really.”
The boys went to get their doughnuts. They also got to check out more Pirate Palooza activities, like a pirate stick-on tattoo booth, a sponge sword fight, pirate jewelry crafts, and more tall tales by Plunderin’ Pete.
But soon came the event everyone was waiting for—the Talk Like a Pirate Contest!
“Break a peg leg!” Joe called to Jason as he and Crackers hurried to join the other contestants.
Frank, Joe, and Chet squeezed through the crowd near the stage that had been set up for the contest. Hector Alvarez, the owner of Double Doughnuts, was stepping up to the microphone.
“Ahoy, Bayport Buccaneers!” Hector boomed. “Let’s raise the roof and a Jolly Roger flag for our first pirate-talking contestant—Phil Cohen!”
The Hardys’ friend Phil ran onto the stage. Talking like a pirate, he described his latest pirate invention: a gadget for detecting metals and buried treasure.
“Arrgh,” Phil growled as the gadget beeped over a coin dropped onto the stage floor. “Be the first on your galleon to own this dead-reckoning thingamajig!”
“Woo-hoo!” Joe cheered for their friend.
Next up was Chet’s sister, Iola Morton. Her imitation of a pirate principal got big laughs and applause.
“There will be no substitute teachers walking the plank,” Iola declared. “And no stashing doubloons in your gym lock-arrrrghs!”
“I kind of hope she wins,” Chet admitted to Frank and Joe as his sister left the stage. “I heard there’s candy in that treasure chest.”
More pirate talkers took the stage. Finally it was Jason’s turn with his collection of pirate jokes. . . .
“Hey, Crack-arrrghs. What did Captain Hook get on his report carrrrd?” asked Jason.
“Raaak!” Crackers answered, rolling his feathery neck. “High Cs, high Cs!”
“Crack-arrrghs?” Jason asked next. “Why can’t pirates play carrrrds?”
“Arrk!” Crackers squawked. “Because they’re always standing on decks.”
Joe could see Plunderin’ Pete laughing at Jason’s jokes. It was no surprise that Jason and Crackers got the biggest cheers as they left the stage.
“Who can top that?” Joe asked.
“Maybe her?” Frank said.
Music blared as Reilly tap-tapped onstage. She was followed by more dancing kids dressed in sparkly pirate costumes too.
“Cheese and crackers!” Chet exclaimed. “It’s like she brought her whole dance class!”
Reilly’s feet were a blur as she tapped across the linoleum dance floor laid out just for her. Spreading her arms, she began to sing, “Why walk the plank? Kick up your heels and dance instead!”
The chorus of dancing pirates tapped behind Reilly as she belted out her song. After the big finish, Reilly took a bow. She then pretended to be surprised when her little brother Sam walked onstage with a bouquet of roses.
“Thank you, Reilly Voorhees,” Hector said as the dancers tapped offstage. “It won’t be easy, but it’s time for Plunderin’ Pete to pick the winner.”
Plunderin’ Pete grabbed the mike. Gazing at the audience with one eye, he growled, “And the win-arrrgh is . . . Jason and his first mate, Crackers!”
Frank, Joe, and Chet let out a cheer as Jason ran to Pete with Crackers on his shoulder.
“Congratulations, me hearties,” Pete said. “For talking
