trait."
"Does that mean there were other pirates in Captain Jack's family?" Ethan asked eagerly.
"Captain Jack preferred to be called a buccaneer," Jared said sternly. "And while I do not believe that
there were any more in the clan, I fear there were several descendents suspected of engaging in the
free-trade."
"What's the free-trade?" Hugh demanded.
"Smuggling," Jared explained dryly. "Captain Jack's family seat was on the Isle of Flame. It's an
exceedingly beautiful place but very remote. Robert, show us where the Isle of Flame is located."
"Here," Robert said enthusiastically. "Off the Devon coast. See? There's a tiny dot right there."
"Very good, Robert." Jared said. "As you will see, the isle is an excellent site for smuggling. Convenient
enough to the coasts of France and Spain, yet quite remote from the authorities. The preventive service is
seldom seen in the vicinity and the local inhabitants may be counted upon not to talk to outsiders."
"Tell us about the smugglers," Ethan said.
"No, I want to hear about Captain Jack's plan to cross the Isthmus of Panama first," Robert said.
"Yes, tell us about the buccaneers' scheme to capture a Spanish galleon, Mr. Chillhurst," Hugh said
eagerly. "You can tell us about the smugglers tomorrow."
"Very well," Jared agreed. "But first you should know not only how idiotic the notion was, but also how
dangerous. The Isthmus of Panama is extremely treacherous terrain. It is densely forested and filled with
many strange and deadly creatures. Many men have died trying to reach the sea on the other side."
"Why did Captain Jack and his crew want to cross the isthmus in the first place?" Ethan asked. "Why
didn't they stay in the West Indies?"
"Gold," Jared said succinctly. "Captain Jack had a partner at the time. They had heard tales of the
legendary treasure that Spain was routinely transporting from its colonies in America. The two
buccaneers decided to see if they could slip across the Isthmus of Panama with a band of men, capture a
Spanish ship or two, and get rich immediately."
"Bloody hell," Robert whispered in awe. "What an exciting venture. I wish I could have been with
Captain Jack when he made the trip."
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Olympia could stand it no longer. The words legendary treasure and buccaneers dazzled her. She was
as enthralled as her nephews by Jared's tale. She opened the door very quietly and slipped stealthily into
the room.
Ethan, Hugh, and Robert were grouped around the large globe that stood near the window. They did
not look up as Olympia crept into the schoolroom. Their entire attention was riveted on the globe.
Jared was with them. He had one hand on the globe. In his other hand he gripped his dagger. The point
of the blade rested in the region of the West Indies.
Olympia frowned at the sight of the dagger. She had not noticed it during the past two days. Jared no
longer wore it strapped to his thigh as he had when he arrived. She had presumed he had packed it away
in one of his trunks. But this morning he had obviously brought it into the classroom and there was no
doubt but that he held the old blade with a certain casual ease.
He looks altogether dangerous, as usual, Olympia thought as she studied his grim features in the morning
light. If one did not know him better, one might be rather wary. But she was getting to know him very
well indeed because he had taken to joining her in the library after dinner in the evenings.
Jared had immediately established a pleasant habit of sharing a glass of brandy with her before retiring to
the old gamekeeper's cottage. Last night he had read for a while and then talked at some length about his
travels. Olympia had hung on every word.
"Are all tutors as widely traveled as yourself, sir?" she had asked.
Jared had given her an unreadable look. "Ah, no. I have been rather fortunate in that regard. I have
worked for some
"Does that mean there were other pirates in Captain Jack's family?" Ethan asked eagerly.
"Captain Jack preferred to be called a buccaneer," Jared said sternly. "And while I do not believe that
there were any more in the clan, I fear there were several descendents suspected of engaging in the
free-trade."
"What's the free-trade?" Hugh demanded.
"Smuggling," Jared explained dryly. "Captain Jack's family seat was on the Isle of Flame. It's an
exceedingly beautiful place but very remote. Robert, show us where the Isle of Flame is located."
"Here," Robert said enthusiastically. "Off the Devon coast. See? There's a tiny dot right there."
"Very good, Robert." Jared said. "As you will see, the isle is an excellent site for smuggling. Convenient
enough to the coasts of France and Spain, yet quite remote from the authorities. The preventive service is
seldom seen in the vicinity and the local inhabitants may be counted upon not to talk to outsiders."
"Tell us about the smugglers," Ethan said.
"No, I want to hear about Captain Jack's plan to cross the Isthmus of Panama first," Robert said.
"Yes, tell us about the buccaneers' scheme to capture a Spanish galleon, Mr. Chillhurst," Hugh said
eagerly. "You can tell us about the smugglers tomorrow."
"Very well," Jared agreed. "But first you should know not only how idiotic the notion was, but also how
dangerous. The Isthmus of Panama is extremely treacherous terrain. It is densely forested and filled with
many strange and deadly creatures. Many men have died trying to reach the sea on the other side."
"Why did Captain Jack and his crew want to cross the isthmus in the first place?" Ethan asked. "Why
didn't they stay in the West Indies?"
"Gold," Jared said succinctly. "Captain Jack had a partner at the time. They had heard tales of the
legendary treasure that Spain was routinely transporting from its colonies in America. The two
buccaneers decided to see if they could slip across the Isthmus of Panama with a band of men, capture a
Spanish ship or two, and get rich immediately."
"Bloody hell," Robert whispered in awe. "What an exciting venture. I wish I could have been with
Captain Jack when he made the trip."
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Olympia could stand it no longer. The words legendary treasure and buccaneers dazzled her. She was
as enthralled as her nephews by Jared's tale. She opened the door very quietly and slipped stealthily into
the room.
Ethan, Hugh, and Robert were grouped around the large globe that stood near the window. They did
not look up as Olympia crept into the schoolroom. Their entire attention was riveted on the globe.
Jared was with them. He had one hand on the globe. In his other hand he gripped his dagger. The point
of the blade rested in the region of the West Indies.
Olympia frowned at the sight of the dagger. She had not noticed it during the past two days. Jared no
longer wore it strapped to his thigh as he had when he arrived. She had presumed he had packed it away
in one of his trunks. But this morning he had obviously brought it into the classroom and there was no
doubt but that he held the old blade with a certain casual ease.
He looks altogether dangerous, as usual, Olympia thought as she studied his grim features in the morning
light. If one did not know him better, one might be rather wary. But she was getting to know him very
well indeed because he had taken to joining her in the library after dinner in the evenings.
Jared had immediately established a pleasant habit of sharing a glass of brandy with her before retiring to
the old gamekeeper's cottage. Last night he had read for a while and then talked at some length about his
travels. Olympia had hung on every word.
"Are all tutors as widely traveled as yourself, sir?" she had asked.
Jared had given her an unreadable look. "Ah, no. I have been rather fortunate in that regard. I have
worked for some
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