continue my duties as surgeon until we reached a neutral port, to earn my keep and the safety of the remaining crew who hadn't joined. But I knew that we would have this argument again.
The captain allowed me to keep my hammock in his cabin for the remainder of our time together. At first I thought it was because he wished to convince me by proximity to join him. But it didn't take me long to realize that he was protecting me from Noseless Bill.
5
Of the nature and business of piracy.
Pirates are a lawless lot, at least where the rules of civilization are concerned. Any ship is fair prey, crews that resist are cheerfully massacred, and cargo and sometimes ships are taken. The Brethren of the Coast have their own code, with some variation from captain to captain and ship to ship. These were the laws that Captain Baltizar and his men subscribed to:
I. Every man has a vote in affairs of moment, except during engagement with the enemy; has equal title to the fresh provisions, or strong liquors, and may use them at pleasure, unless a scarcity makes it necessary, for the good of all, to vote a retrenchment.
II. No person is to game at cards or dice for money aboard ship.
III. To keep their muskets, pistols, and cutlass clean and fit for service.
IV. No boy or woman is to be allowed amongst them. If any man were to be found seducing any of the latter sex, and carried her to sea, disguised, he was to suffer death.
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