Blood and Brine

The captain squinted through his long-glass. He pointing out over the stern.

"Ship! Heading our way," the captain bellowed.

"Pirates?" The first mate asked, frowning.

"Luck hasn't been kind recently," the captain replied, swinging to the deck. "Let's hope not."

The captain raced to the stern for a clearer look at the approaching vessel. His face split into a grin.

"Not pirates, a merchant ship," the captain pronounced.

A raucous cheer went up from the crew; they immediately set to changing course. The captain tugged on a line releasing their flag, a white skull on black cloth.

"Weapons m'hearties!"