Peter and the Starcatchers

Slank questions Preston and Harbuckle. After they reveal that Black Stache is after the Wasp, Slank has the pirates thrown in the brig.

Peter goes to Molly, knowing her father is on the Wasp and assuming she must be worried. Peter asks Molly about the trunk, and Molly tries to warn him, but Mrs. Bumbrake interrupts them. Peter overhears a group of sailors discussing the floating rat. Alf believes the story because of the floating feeling he had when he touched the trunk. Peter tells Alf that he also believes, and Peter and Alf confess their mutual desire to know what the trunk contains. 

Black Stache calls a meeting with Smee and Storey, the crew captain, in his disgusting cabin filled with flies and rotting meat—it hasn’t been cleaned since Black Stache made his cabin boy walk the plank for touching his model ships, which he uses to plan his pirate maneuvers. The Sea Devil is gaining on the Wasp. Black Stache gives the order to “Raise the Ladies”, and privately thinks that it is now “Time for the kill” (84). 

Molly sneaks on deck on a moonless night to meet a group of porpoises swimming near the ship. Molly communicates with Ammm, the leader of the porpoises, but struggles with the “squeaks and clicks” of the porpoise language: She greets Ammm by saying, “My teeth are green” instead of “Hello” (88).

Molly tells Ammm as best as she can that a “bad man” is hunting the Wasp, and that “Box on Molly ship” (89), though Ammm cannot make out the word “box” through Molly’s poor command of the porpoise language. Molly hears voices approaching and hides. Two sailors see the porpoises and remark that the sea creatures must have “Not a care in the world” (90). 

Peter and James saw Molly’s conversation with Ammm while on deck to search for more food. Peter sends James back to the boys’ cabin and confronts Molly. Molly denies communicating with the porpoises and insists, “There’s nothing going on” (94). Peter senses Molly is lying and declares he will discover the truth for himself. Molly threatens to tell Slank if Peter tries to look at the trunk again. Peter angrily retorts that “not all the rats on this ship are four-legged” (95). Peter resolves to solve the mystery with Alf instead. 

Before dawn, Leonard Aster talks to Ammm, who delivers Molly’s message that the Wasp is being hunted but cannot communicate Molly’s message about the box. Leonard tells Captain Scott that a pirate ship is pursuing them, claiming to have this knowledge because he is “on a mission for the Queen herself” (99). Captain Scott is incredulous; he has seen a frigate nearby flying the Union Jack, but believes that even if the ship is an imposter, it can never catch the Wasp. Captain Scott agrees to sail faster to appease Leonard just as a sailor arrives with news: A ship flying the skull-and-crossbones pirate flag is gaining on them. On deck, Captain Scott marvels at the pirate ship’s sails, which resemble “an enormous black brassiere” (102). Leonard declares that Black Stache is coming for the Queen’s treasure, and Captain Scott prepares for a fight. 

The next morning, Peter and Alf make a plan to break into the room with the wooden trunk. Slank keeps the trunk heavily guarded and threatens to feed anyone who dares to investigate to the sharks. Peter tells Alf that because he has nothing in England and nothing to look forward to in Rundoon, “If there’s something wonderful on this ship, I want to know what it is” (105). 

Leonard and Captain Scott watch as the Sea Devil continues to gain on the Wasp. Leonard demands to be lowered into a rowboat, along with the black trunk, making himself into a decoy. Leonard believes Black Stache will go for the trunk instead of the Wasp, which will put the Sea Devil in sight of the Wasp’s cannons. Captain Scott is reluctant, believing that the maneuver will be fatal for Leonard. Leonard suggests that Captain Scott fire flaming arrows at the Sea Devil’s sails.

On the Sea Devil, Black Stache watches Leonard board a dory with the black trunk. His British prisoner confirms that the black trunk contains the Queen’s treasure. The Ladies catch fire, shot with flaming arrows. Captain Scott also watches Leonard, wondering what is “worth dying for” (112). Leonard feels for a gold locket under his shirt as he is lowered to the sea.

Black Stache cuts the Ladies loose and debates whether to chase Leonard or the Wasp. Captain Scott admires Black Stache’s ruthlessness from afar and wonders whether he has time to stop the Wasp and prepare the cannons. Both captains have the same thought: “Nobody understands how hard it is, being captain” (114).

Black Stache throws his British prisoner overboard to bait Leonard, correctly surmising that “A proper Englishman would never leave another Englishman to drown” (116). Leonard rows to the British sailor’s rescue even though it will give Black Stache time to fight the Wasp and come back for the trunk. The Wasp’s cannons miss the Sea Devil. Leonard and the man he rescues try to push the trunk overboard to keep it from Black Stache, but it is too heavy to move. The Sea Devil pulls up alongside them.

Black Stache gets the black trunk onto his ship, but it is filled with sand. Seeing Leonard’s shock, Black Stache concludes that the trunk containing the real treasure is on the Never Land. Meanwhile, Captain Scott decides to board the Sea Devil before the pirates can board the Wasp. The Wasp rams the Sea Devil, and Leonard leaps overboard as a school of porpoises swims by. Black Stache defeats Captain Scott and takes control of the Wasp.

Ammm brings Molly the news that Black Stache captured the Wasp and is now pursuing the Never Land. Ammm reassures Molly that the other porpoises are swimming her father to land; he will come for Molly and the wooden trunk soon. Molly tells Ammm to tell Leonard to hurry. Molly, afraid to face danger alone, decides that she will need an ally.