The Spooky Adventures of Boo Bangles the Ghost: Book 2 - The Treasure of Far Hollow

By Laurence Knighton

Rumors abound in the early days of Far Hollow, brought about when outsider Horatio Longs takes up residence in an old shack left behind when gold-fever dwindled to nothing. Because he dressed like a seaman, it’s quickly assumed he must have been a pirate and, as anyone knows, pirates always have hidden treasure. For years after the old seafarer died, the glitter of gold urged curiosity seekers to uncover the rumor, only to discover a truth they hadn’t bargained for.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Laurence Knighton
• Release date: Dec 12, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465890436

Laurence Knighton

Born in the Rocky Mountains under a loaf of wry bread, Laurence (Larsky) Knighton is a graphic designer and illustrator by trade, having written and illustrated Disney's 'Donald Duck' syndicated daily comic strip for years before its cancelation in the American market. Still illustrating and writing fun, entertaining stories, he resides in Boise, Idaho with his handsome plush-stuffed black Lab 'Buck' who never sheds, barks, or runs away.

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The Spooky Adventures of Boo Bangles the Ghost – Book 2

The Treasure of Far Hollow

Book 2

by

Laurence Knighton

Smashwords Edition

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PUBLISHED BY:

Laurence Knighton on Smashwords

Razzlesnacks – Book 1 Tales of Tossledowns

Copyright © 2011 by Laurence Knighton

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Chapter 1

The tall sailing ship maneuvered across the open sea faster than the gusty wind could push. Slicing through choppy waters like a sharp boning knife easily cutting through fat, the fleet vessel tacked to face the western horizon where a dark silhouette with full sails fled in desperate haste.

The pursuer was once an English merchant ship carrying stores of sugar and tea for trade in the new America. The heavily laden craft was taken by force off the outer shores of the Carolinas before it could reach safe harbor. It was a bloody encounter on the churning waters that day which took most of the crew to their maker. Those who remained alive were spared and set adrift to endure the rigors of the vast sea, and fate.

Renamed the ‘Bloodship’, the hijacked ship now carried a lawless breed of men: plunderers and murderers with a manic will for freedom that only comes with a brisk sea wind at their back to avoid capture for their horrendous deeds.

With a sinister skull and crossbones pennant boldly displayed atop the highest mast, the pirated Bloodship was a scourge of the high seas. It was a symbol of lawlessness that made even the strongest seafarer weak at the knees. Outfitted with an arsenal of weaponry that rivaled the best battle craft of its day, the swift vessel had already endured a dozen bloody skirmishes and the sturdy hull proudly displayed splintered scars of combat as proof. The ship and its crew were an evil force to be reckoned with and soon the fleeing craft on the horizon would find out why.

At the helm of the Bloodship, watching with a steady eye, the captain’s cruel mouth shaped a sinister, toothless grin. He knew there was no way the helpless ship they pursued would escape. Already it had lost precious distance.

A dangerous sea-rogue with the heart of crushed stone, the captain wasn’t as famous as the likes of the notorious Black Beard. Yet, he was just as ruthless in the unlawful plunder of trading ships that dared sail the sea-lanes without protection. Overly mean, spiteful, and always hungry for inflicting punishment when it pleased him, he led his crew with two iron fists and a merciless killer’s hot glare. Highly skilled with a pearl-handled cutlass and a deadly shot with the two double-barreled flintlock pistols kept in his belt at the ready, he had a low tolerance for disobedience and no one dared challenge his leadership—at least, none that lived to tell.

Just off the starboard bow, the chase was coming to an end. Within the hour another battle would begin, and should all go well, there would be plenty of rotgut rum to go around.

Celebration was near at hand.

Visions of blood and glittery booty flooded the captain’s mind. He barked a terse order to prepare for boarding and an eagerly obedient hum of excitement spread amongst the seasoned crew.

"Winds blow free on the salty seas

And so shall all of we

To do what we choose

And take what we will

Till there’s no more