Free Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome Page A

they landed. They crashed against them.
    JOHN. The whole island is full of rocks, Titty.
    FLINT. Let’s spread out.
    NANCY. Be on your guard, everyone! There could be land crabs or alligators or enemies of all kinds!
    PEGGY. The treasure may be buried beneath hundreds of dead men’s bones!
    TITTY. Or the pirates might have set traps and snares! We may all lose our lives finding it!
    SUSAN. Do be quiet, Titty. You’re making it worse.
    CAPTAIN FLINT. Anything, anyone?
    PEGGY. A load of smelly old fish bones.
    ROGER. Victims of the harpy!
    JOHN. I don’t think there’s anything here.
    NANCY. Wait a minute – what’s this?
    They rush to where she’s standing by the water. She holds up a scarf – rather wet and muddy .
    TITTY. It’s one of theirs! The pirates were wearing those! This must be where they came ashore. I must have been moored just over there.
    JOHN. You were, come to think of it.
    CAPTAIN FLINT. Excellent. An excellent clue.
    TITTY. So they pulled the chest this way, across this shingle and then… and then…
    PEGGY. Did they dig a hole?
    TITTY. I didn’t hear much digging.
    SUSAN. So where is it, then?
    PEGGY. Look! Tracks!
    They rush to her .
    JOHN. They are!
    PEGGY. Something was dragged this way.
    NANCY. Something heavy.
    ROGER. Follow them!
    They do so .
    PEGGY. This is where they stop.
    TITTY. Nothing. I don’t understand.
    SUSAN. Wait a minute, what’s this?
    She picks up a torn piece of paper .
    ALL. What does it say? What does it say?
    SUSAN. ‘Aca… pul…’ Half of it’s missing…
    NANCY. ‘Acapul’… It doesn’t mean anything.
    JOHN. Acapul… co! Acapulco!
    CAPTAIN FLINT. Acapulco! It’s one of the labels from my trunk! Now we’re really onto something!
    PEGGY. It must be buried.
    ROGER. Perhaps they put a big X over the spot! All look for an X!
    NANCY. But if Titty didn’t hear much digging…
    CAPTAIN FLINT. Nowhere obvious to hide it.
    JOHN. Unless… What happens when a big tree falls down?
    TITTY. It leaves a big hole! The tree! The tree!
    They all rush to the dead tree. Behind it, its roots sprawl up into the air, leaving a big hole at the base .
    JOHN. Lift all the stones away!
    They do so. Suddenly the trunk can be seen .
    TITTY. It’s here!
    ROGER. We’ve found it!
    CAPTAIN FLINT. That’s it all right! My cabin trunk! I say!
    SUSAN. I don’t believe it.
    NANCY. Hurrah!
    ALL. Hurrah! Hurrah!
    PEGGY. All help get it out.
    They pull it out of the hole. It is a large trunk covered in labels from all CAPTAIN FLINT ’s travels around the world .
    ROGER. It’s got a huge padlock.
    CAPTAIN FLINT takes a key from his pocket and opens it. He lifts out his precious manuscript .
    CAPTAIN FLINT. Good as new.
    JOHN. So you weren’t dreaming, Titty. I’m sorry.
    SUSAN. So am I. Really sorry. I should have believed you.
    TITTY. Apologies accepted.
    ROGER. Not very interesting treasure.
    CAPTAIN FLINT. Oh, there’s treasure and treasure. Able Seaman, all of you, I can never thank you enough. And this changes everything. The crime is solved. And you, who were once the suspects, are the heroes of the hour.
    ROGER. Will the policeman take the sign down?
    FLINT. Oh, yes, Ship’s Boy, I’m sure he will.
    PEGGY. And can we attack your boat now?
    FLINT. Attack my boat? I tell you what, tomorrow will see the greatest sea-battle of all time. The Battle of Houseboat Bay!
    ALL. Hurrah!
    NANCY. You do mean a real battle? You will defend yourself to the death?
    FLINT. I most certainly shall. I shall be ready to repel boarders and sink both your ships. The scuppers will be red with blood.
    ROGER. Crikey.
    FLINT. Shall we say, three o’clock?
    JOHN. Three o’clock it is.
    PEGGY. I hope you’ve got a good plank.
    FLINT. Now, can I borrow the Amazon , Captain Nancy, to get this back to my ship?
    SUSAN. But what are you going to do about the real