Everyone’s heads turned as shouts of pure, uninhibited joy erupted from the dock. Orange saw in the distance, on the harbor, the ship that had captivated millions.
The Esquirer.
A parade was taking place down the gangway that had been dropped from the ship to the harbor. The crew was chanting: “Brave and triumphant that he be! To fight a pirate so easily! A storm that caught her in the wave, Captain Mortimer is so brave!”
“What on earth is going on?” Mrs. Dixon glanced over at Mrs. Peabody frantically. The rhyme repeated itself, the volume growing louder and louder as the crowd caught on and chimed in.
“Brave and triumphant that he be! To fight a pirate so easily! A storm that caught her in the wave, Captain Mortimer is so brave!”
“Phelinda look! They’re carrying him!”
Mrs. Pea
