“Whatever’s happened?” mumbled Mart her mouth full of candy. “You act like you were struck silly.”
“I’ve found something out!” Sidney spoke in a sepulchral whisper though their voices could not have been heard by anyone on the wharf. “Lav, who is Jed Starrow!”
Lav stared at her in wonder.
“Why—why—he’s Jed Starrow. That’s all. Fellow ’round town. Owns the Puritan, that new schooner.”
“I believe—” Sidney spoke slowly. “I believe Jed Starrow is a—pirate!”
At this Lav and Mart broke into loud laughter. But Sidney stood her ground, not even flushing under their derision.
“You can laugh. But I know—I know—instinctively. I sometimes do know things like that. I guess it’s an occult power I have. And, anyway, Cap’n Davies hinted as much.”
“Oh, Cap’n Davies—he’s always snoopin’ round for trouble. We have plenty of rum-runners and I guess lots of things get smuggled—but pirates—”
“Captain Davies distinctly said pirates—” insisted Sidney who had not sufficient experience to properly classify rum-runners and smugglers. Anyway, pirates sounded more exciting.
“What’s started all this?” asked Lavender.