 The National Broadcasting Company presents another in the stories of famous stories for the young of all ages. Adventure Ahead. This week, a tale of piracy and courage in the days of Napoleon. Based on one of the classic books by G. A. Henty, master storyteller of another generation, titled One of the Twenty-Eight. And now, Adventure Ahead. The year 1812. The clouds of war hung heavily over England. The armies of Napoleon threatened all of Europe, and everywhere was trouble and unrest, even on the sea. For in those days, the oceans were beset with pirates, pickeroons, corsairs, who sailed with death before the mast and laughed at law and order. Drink of the party, friends! Here's to our ship, the belbany, the fastest driver here to float. No British man or will ever catch your hand. And what about the captain, eh? What about Captain Kelly? Captain Kelly! Here's to the greatest buccaneer of us all, the Captain Kelly, King of the Sea. That's what they call me, King of the Sea. I could have run out, fight at his ship afloat, and have no man alive or afraid of. Why, right now, we're afraid into the channels under the noses of the English and the French, too. Twenty guns, and eighty men, and our twenty-eight boys to the innards, the world in ours, men. To kill, to steal, to do it as we please. Yes, they were a swathe crew of renegades, marauding buccaneers, sailing under the Jolly Roger. But for young Ralph Conway, he wasn't thinking about pirates that afternoon at his mother's cottage near the seas. Yes, Mother. Why, you didn't waste any time getting home from school? I'm anxious about my fishing trip tonight, Mother. Mr. McDonough stopped by, said his boat would be ready about nine o'clock. Good, I'll be there. In Howard School today? Oh, just fine, Mother. Only a few more weeks to go, and then... You still want to join the army, Ralph? Oh, yes, Mother. I want to go over on the continent like Father did, and fight against Napoleon. Oh, son, you're too young to be a soldier. I'm sixteen. Sixteen? Is that an age for dealing with men, dangerous men, fighting men? I'm not a child, Mother. Someday, perhaps, you will be a soldier, a brave man like your father. But for now, you have much to learn. Yes, Mother. I want you to be careful, son, on these little trips with Miss McDonough. There's so much trouble on the water, so many ships about. Pirate ships, men of war. I'll be all right, Mother. Nothing will happen to me. All snug off, then? Yes, Mr. McDonough. Good. The helpful doing old fisherman having a lad like you along, too. Especially on a black night. Certainly is dark and cloudy. I missed rolling in from the ocean, too. I should think you'd be lost out here, Miss McDonough. How do you know which way you're sailing? Oh, instinct, lad. Instinct. We'll get back to the village, all right? I hope so. Keep your eye lifted, though, lad. Not many craft about these waters, but we might tumble against one. Watch out for lights. I don't think I could see a ship's light in this mist. No. And what's worse, ships nowadays don't always carry lights, either. Oh, I thought they had to. There's a law, a sea law. Aye. But in war times, it's not always convenient. What do you mean, Mr. McDonough? Well, a peaceful merchantman don't want to show her lights, too. Any privateers that may happen to be cruising about. And you can be sure the pirates don't sail with lights. Oh. Yeah, sea folk prefer risking the chance of running into each other rather than be caught by some privateer. And are there any pirates here on the channel, Mr. McDonough? Are there? Well, it's hard to say, lad. You dare? Probably not. Oh. But there's, uh, apt to be a merchantman around. But better keep a sharp watch for lights. Yes, sir. We'll start bringing in our nets in a few hours. That'll keep us busy. So we start for sure. Or to get a fine haul of fish, Ralph. I hope I can come out again with you soon. Well, I don't see why not. That'll be fine. Well, you like the sea, do you, lad? Oh, yes, Mr. McDonough. I wish I could sail the seas in a big ship. A regular wind jammer. Oh. I thought you wanted to be a soldier. Well, I do, sir. That is mainly, but it's exciting out here on the water, even if it is so dark. Listen. Yes? Listen. That's a ship. A ship near by, lad. Yes, I hear the noise, but I can't see. Here it is. They're coming right at us. Look out, lad. It's bearing down on us. No lights! Look out, Ralph! Help! Mr. McDonough! It's McDonough! Here's the water! Help! Here's the water! Help! Over here! Help! Good ducking, but he's still alive. Meet his throat and throw him back in, I say. Looks more dead than alive. He'll come to all right. Easy now, lad. Easy there. Oh. Where am I? Right. He's just a boy. Looks to be strapped enough. Probably could do more work aboard this ship than you, Pedro. He'd better not get in my way. Easy, lad. Easy. The water. What? Where am I? It's safe enough, lad. You're aboard ship. You've boarded down on us, our boat. Mr. McDonough, where is it? You're the only one I managed to save, lad. Someone else in your boat? Yeah, it's a fisherman. We must save him. Too late for that, lad. Never find him in this mess. And you save me? Aye. But who are you? My name's Jack. I'm just another... well, just another hand aboard the Bell Marie. I'm most grateful to you, Jack, for saving my life. All right, lad. As soon as you can put me ashore... Put ashore? Oh, yes. You'll never be put ashore in England from this ship. You're aboard the Brigantine Bell Marie. The Bell Marie? Under what flag? The Bell Marie flies no flag. A privateer? Aye. And since you've cast your lot with ours, best we go below and meet Captain Skelly. This is our visitor, eh, Jack? Aye, Captain Skelly. Just as I fished him out of the wort. Well, lad? Yes, sir? Explain why you ran down my ship. What, sir? You ain't deaf. What, sir? I was in a boat, a small boat, a fishing smack with a friend of mine, and you ran us down. What's that? Nobody called it Captain Skelly. If I say you ran into the Bell Marie, you ran into the Bell Marie. But that's not the way it happened, why, it was... You don't look like a fisherman, not in those clothes. No, sir, I'm not. I was only out for a night fishing, and I was caught in the woods... What's your name? Ralph Conway. From Dover, Captain Skelly. Aye? Well, it'll be a long time until you see Dover again. I'll mark you that. But, sir, can't you put me ashore somewhere? Ashore? Bell Marie, don't put into any port for passengers. Why, there'd be British men at war down on us before we hope to. But my mother, sir, she'll be worried. Oh. Jump overboard if you like. That's one way of leaving the Bell Marie. Aye, Jack? I'll even provide a plank so you can walk over the gunner. If you want, you can stay aboard. What do you mean, sir? Uh, a cruise shorthanded. We, uh, had a few accidents with some of the men. Right now, we can use a good strong lad. But do you mean... do you mean to be a pirate? Pirate be blowed. We've got an old hand for overhauling merchantmen. Doing the dirty work. What we need are able seamen for the long trip ahead to the Indies. The Indies? Domingo, Jamaica, Tortugas, our 28th trip. Think you're one to burst? Well, I... Mine is not the choice, sir. Eh, it'll make a man out of you. It will, sir. You learn a lot about the world aboard the Bell Marie. Yes, sir. And you'll find the buccaneer the instance betters landsmen think. Of course, we don't mind killing or stealing, and we have to. For the board ship, we've got our own law and order under my command. As long as you do your work and don't try to escape, you'll be treated fair and square. Yes, sir. Take him for a jack. Sling a hammock for him. Aye, Captain. I'm turning him over to you, Jack. He's in your charge. Aye, aye, sir. And I expect you to make a seamen out of him. Right along there, Conway. Break out the spinnaker. Yes, sir. For the heart of the lost. Since they are. They are. Yes, sir. Conway. Yes, Captain. From now on, you're assigned to stop at once. Well, Ralph, what do you think of the Belmere after a month at sea? Oh, she's a fine ship with all her canvass out, but moving fast. Privateers have to be fast, lad. And the Belmere is the lightest and fastest of them all. Oh, Captain. Aye. Fix the deck for action. Aye, sir. We'll lay two and wait for merchantmen beating up in the southwest wind from Greece. Not in here. Rich prizes, those ships. Ha, ha, ha, ha. Mr. Board ship today, Ralph. I thought pirate ships were always fighting, wandering. Well, not always. Big ships like the Belmere wait for big prizes. Oh, I see. Captain Skelly's after waiting here for merchantmen loaded with gold or silver or silk. Seems strange for a ship to be laying two without a square of canvas when the wind's blowing fresh. Yes, but we'll be fast enough underway when the captain's sights are likely prized. You'll see action soon enough, lad. Why, we'll probably overhaul and slip a dozen ships before we reach to Tugas. Our destination? Aye. It all seems terrible to think about Jack. Stealing, killing people. Yes, yes, it would to you. I'd have to get used to it, even though I hate it. You seem to be a decent sort of seamen, Jack. How did you get to be a pirate? Well, lad, five years ago when I was just an ordinary seamen, the French threw me in prison on a thumped-up charge and I escaped. A prison? Yes, I was desperate. But after that, I had no sea papers. I had to work at something. And since I knew no other trade, it was either this or that. But I don't like it, lad. Any more than you do. I thought you felt that way. I'll have no part of their dirtiest work, looting, killing. I'm here mainly to keep the ship on the sail. Just like you. I still dream of escaping. So do I, Jack. But I can see it won't be easy. You're right, lad. Of course it would be free if a British man or war would overhaul us. But that's not likely. As long as Captain Skelly sails the bridge. The ship's been lucky not to have been captured or sunk by a warship. It's not luck altogether, lad. Whatever else he is, the captain's a real sailor. Oh, a sly one. And with our great spread of canvas, there's not a ship afloat that can overtake us. Yes, a Belmarie's a good ship. Fallen into bad hands. That crew, Jack. They're so brutal. Yes, Frenchmen, Moors, Portuguese, Indians, and Ceylon, half-cats. Every man has that with an oar as a knife or a belaying fin. What about the captain? He's a vicious, bloodthirsty man when he's around. Jack, you think he'd kill me? If he caught me trying to escape? They're thinking about escaping. Yes, and every day since I've been aboard the Belmarie. Is there a way, Jack? Not an easy way. I must get back to England. Some way, somehow. Patience, lad. Wait till we reach the Indies. Then take your chance. Is there a chance, Jack? Is there? A ship on the starboard. A pride ship, Jack? Likely. Yes, there she is on the horizon. Hi. Ah, must be a merchant man. Look, I'm here. Look, our campers will overtake her. And when we do, I'll make them wish they'd never run from Captain Skelle. And the cannons! Captain, there's the rendering. They've struck their flags. Well, give them a blow, I'll find it away. Break that deck and send us down. I'll keep the gold check. It's all right, I'll take your chance. What's wrong, Jack? Can't wait. Not taking a share of the spoils? No, Captain. Well, if you don't want your gold, I guess the rest of the crew can use it. Airmen, help yourselves. And when we reach Tortugas, there'll be even more money and spoils to divide among you. And listen, we're using the islands as a rendezvous again. The safest port in the world. And no British man award a float will ever catch a fare. The island of Tortugas. It's not very big. No. Just one hill rising up at this end of the island. Aye, that's a landmark for the Belmeree. A landmark? There's a concealed channel. A narrow inlet at the base of that hill. Yes. A narrow passage leading to a small harbor. The only protected harbor on the island. But I can't see it from here. No, the entrance is well hidden. So is the harbor. Why? The Belmeree can lay two for weeks if we want. And never worry about a man award. Don't the British warships know about it? No, they patrol these waters once in a while, but they suspect nothing. Amazing. A secret harbor. Big enough to hold five or six ships the size of the Belmeree. It doesn't seem possible. Looking at the coast from here. You'll see a lot of things your eyes won't believe after we sail through the narrow channel. What do you mean? Storehouses. Buildings. Sheds. Filled with a loot from a hundred ships. Gold. Silver. Precious gems. Spices. Silks from the Orient. Why, Captain, Kelly's been using the spaces around a woofer over 15 years. And all the loot is stored right here on the island of Tortugas. I can't get cargo. I haven't got all day lively. Hi, Captain. I want to talk to you. Come into my cabin. Now then, Conway. Yes, Captain. As soon as our boot is unloaded, I'm sending most of the crew ashore for a day on dry land. And you and Jack can join them. Thank you, sir. But don't be getting any strange ideas in your head, young men, about running away. That's keeping from the Belmeree. No, sir. It's strange to me you have no stomach for a pilot's life. There's not much you can do about it. We saved your life two months ago in the Channel. And for that, you owe us a debt. You understand? Yes, sir. I expect to keep you a prisoner on the Belmeree until that debt is paid. Attempt to escape, and I'll catch you and kill you. It seems like we'll never reach the top of this hill, Jack. I never knew it was so high. Belmeree looks awfully small back there in the harbor. Aye, lad. She's a long way off. But from the way Captain Skelly talked this morning, I expect he's got his spyglass on every move we make. Aye. You still thinking about escaping? Every minute I'm awake, Jack. But I suppose it's hopeless. Aye. It is that. Well, almost to the top. Aye, almost. We ought to be able to see a great distance from up here. Aye, but there'll be nothing to see but miles of ocean. Why, there isn't a... Jack, Jack, look. Eh? A ship. Look, a ship. A ship? It is a ship. A man of war. Standing toward the island, too. What's going on? Iron and British. British. What's she doing here? I don't know. Do you suppose they know about the Belmeree? How could they? They must suspect they're dropping anchor. See there, Jack? Aye. No, that's strange. But they're not putting over a boat. Then they can't know about the hidden channel in the harbor. No, perhaps not. But they could be told about it. Eh? If they knew about the Belmeree and the secret harbor, they could attack and capture the pirates. And we'd be free, Jack. We'd be free. But how can we tell them? Everyone on the Belmeree can see us up here. We can't signal the warship. No, but there must be something we can do. Well, I... I... No. No, lad. That's our chance of freedom out there, Jack. We can't stand by and do nothing. But, Ralph, the only way to reach that man of war is through the channel the way the Belmeree sailed in. That's true. And Captain Skelly's mounted guards on each side of the entrance and if we tried to slip through, the men would see us fire on us. Yes, in the daytime they would. But what about after dark? After dark? We might get through. It's too risky, lad. Besides, if we did slip through, the warship might be gone by nightfall. That's a chance we'd have to take. But it's worth it. I... I... I don't know. I'm afraid. I'm willing to try it, Jack, if I can get a long boat from the harbor beach. Are you with me, Jack? I... I want to go, lad. But I'm afraid to break away. Afraid of what they'll do to me. Captain Skelly and the crew, if they caught me. Then I'm going alone, Jack. Tonight. I must get to that man of war. I only wish I had your courage. You won't tell. You won't tell where I've gone. No, Ralph. You can trust me. And more than that, I'll see that you get a boat. You took me aboard. That's the whole story, Captain Arnold. Hmm. I see. You must believe me, Captain. I've had no part in the piracy, and neither has my friend. But... But your story is incredible, young man. How do I know that you're telling the truth? Sir, I've risked everything to come aboard this ship tonight. It took me nearly three hours to roll that short distance. From out of prison to freedom. You must believe me, sir. Else why should I want so to return to England? Well, I... I don't know quite what to say, Master Conway. But if what you say is true, it may be fortunate indeed that you found your way out to us. How do you mean, sir? My ship's only mission is to search out privateers, pirates, and free booters. And I've been after the Belle Marie for over two years. But because she's so sleek and fast, I must admit, I've never even caught sight of her. And this is your chance, sir, to capture her before she can spread canvas and get away. This time she's fairly trapped. Hmm. And you say she's hidden in a sort of sheltered harbor that can't be seen from a distance. That's right, sir. How many men aboard her? Roughly sixty, sir. About twenty were lost at sea or killed by Captain Skellig. Sixty men. Fifty of my crew should be an even match for them. Tell me, Master Conway. Yes, sir. Would you lead me and my men through the concealed inlet to the Belle Marie so that we could attack and capture Skellig and his cutthroats? Why, of course, sir. Good. I think that will prove your loyalty to the King and earn you a passage back to England as well. Oh, thank you, sir. We'll get underway within the hour and make use of two important weapons. Darkness and silence. Yes, sir. I plan to attack all points at once to take every one of these scoundrels alive if I can for chains at the yard are not every one of them, sir. Eh? Oh, oh, your friend. Yes, sir. If you could spare Jack, he's a good man. I'm asking you again, Jack. I'm asking you again. Yes, Captain. What happened to that boy, Conway? I watched the two of you this morning up on the hill. I need to be talking something. Where did he go? What happened to him? I don't know. I can't tell you. I'll make you talk. Just be this nice. Speak up, Jack. For the last time, I'm asking you. Where's that boy, Conway? I'm asking you for the last time. And for the last time, I'm still saying. I don't know. Well, Jack, if it takes cold steel to loosen your tongue. Oh, no, you don't, Captain Skelly. Hey, hey, what's this? Now, if you made it. Yes, we're here, Jack. I'll leave you with that knife, Captain. Conway, I'll kill you for this. No, I don't think you will, Captain Skelly. Your days of killing and thunder are over. Take him, men. I do. And back. Well, Master Conway, it looks as though we've taken the whole ship without so much as firing a shot. Hell, the whole ship. I'm afraid so, Captain Skelly. But you'll never take me out of my way, and I'll... He's dead, sir. Yes, Highland. We've saved the government the expense of bringing the renegade to trial. And you avenged the death, Captain, of hundreds of innocent men. Aye. Thanks to young Conway here. And I might say, young man. Yes, sir. If there was ever any doubt of it, I think you proved yourself a man tonight. I have, sir. You have indeed. Thank you, sir. I was a boy once myself. And I have an idea. You'll do just as well in the army when you get back to England. They need men like you. Thank you, sir. Well, I wouldn't be surprised if you were right there in fighting with the troops that finally whipped Napoleon.