Bob Temple - The Golden Age of Pirates: An Interactive History Adventure

For the best You Choose experience,
view in portrait (vertical) orientation.

YOU are living in a time when pirates rule the worlds seas. Will you fight them or will you join them? What kind of life will your choice bring?

In this book, youll explore how the choices people made meant the difference between life and death. The events youll experience happened to real people.

Chapter One sets the scene. Then you choose which path to read. Follow the links at the bottom of each page as you read the stories. The decisions you make will change your outcome. After you finish one path, go back and read the others for new perspectives and more adventures. Use your device's back buttons or page navigation to jump back to your last choice.

YOU CHOOSE the path you take through history.

You live in a time of discovery, adventure, and travel. Thousands of men spend their lives on the high seas. Pirates roam the waters, looking for attack and steal from merchant ships. But they do it with the permission of their country. Navy ships chase pirates, trying to keep order on the vast seas. A life at sea is dirty and dangerous, full of great risks and great rewards.

Pirates roamed the sea, chasing merchant ships and their valuable cargoes.

In the late 1400s, European explorers first traveled to the New World now known as North America and South America. Since then, European countries have built colonies in the New World.

Merchant ships travel back to Europe loaded with gold, spices, jewels, and other treasures from the colonies. Other ships carry slaves, most of them kidnapped from Africa.

Pirates sail small, speedy ships that take them to islands and waterways other ships cant reach. Pirates look for riches to capture, and they dont care who gets in their way. Pirates are only out for one cause their own.

You scan the horizon from the shore of your Caribbean island. You believe life at sea would be exciting. But you know about the dangers, too. Get on the crew of the wrong navy ship, and you might be treated horribly. Join a pirate or merchant crew, and every meeting with another ship could be your last.

Gold Spanish coins were just one type of treasure pirates would risk their lives to capture.

You see a ship moving toward shore. It could be a navy ship, coming to recruit new sailors. It could be a merchant ship, bringing goods. Or it could be a pirate ship, full of men with robbery on their minds.

As the ship sails closer, your excitement grows. A life at sea can be dangerous, but thats the life youve chosen. Its time to set sail.

The ship is flying the flag of Englands Royal Navy. It has come to recruit new men into service. You know this means volunteers would be eagerly accepted. Other able-bodied young men might be forced into service too.

You thought you wanted to join the navy. But is it really a good idea? You could end up on a ship where you are mistreated with little chance of escape.

Ship crews faced danger from storms and attacks at sea.

What will you do? Will you volunteer to serve the Royal Navy, or run and hide?

Youve heard stories about the horrible conditions on navy ships about cruel captains who starve and beat their crewmembers. But you dont believe them. You desperately need a job. Now one is landing right at your feet.

You run toward the navy ship as it docks. As you cross the gangplank, you almost crash into a tall, muscular man standing at the rail. He grabs your arm.

Who are you and what do you want? he barks.

Take me to the captain! I seek to join the Royal Navy, you answer.

A slow, sly smile spreads across the mans face as he lets go of you. A volunteer, eh? Well, I guess youll do. Follow me.

As the ship heads back out to sea, you quickly discover the true nature of your captain. He puts you to work at the most backbreaking jobs. You clean the ship, man the sails, and rarely sleep. And you keep your eyes on the horizon for pirate ships. This isnt the life you hoped for. Still, you remind yourself that you are serving your country.

Days turn into weeks. Weeks turn into months. Your filthy body aches from the hard work. Your belly aches from lack of food. Your captain keeps the crew in line with severe punishments.

One morning, you spot another ship on the horizon. Its difficult to tell what kind of ship it is. Your captain orders that your ship head in its direction.

Pirates small, quick sloops (right) easily overtook the slower navy ships.

As you get closer, you see that the ship is a sloop. The black flag of the small, quick ship gives away its identity. Its a pirate ship! It appears a battle is at hand.

You have heard stories about the horrible conditions on navy ships. Backbreaking labor, little food to eat, and beatings from cruel captains are common. You want no part of it. Seeing the ship edge closer, you know that you need to hide. If you are caught, you will be pressed into duty.

As you run away from the shore, you spot a local tavern. The bartender there is your friend. Hes an older man, so he will not be forced into navy service. You hope he will help you.

You burst through the door. As your eyes adjust to the dark room, you see there are few people inside. All the young men have gone into hiding. A few older men sit at tables, drinking ale.

Public places like taverns were good spots to find men to force into navy service.

You call to the bartender. The Royal Navy is near, you say. Can you help a friend?

The bartender offers you a seat at the bar. But you think hiding in the back might be a better idea.

Bring it about! the captain shouts. Your captain wants the ship turned toward the sloop. You grab the riggings to adjust the sails and turn the ship.

The sloop inches closer. It is much smaller than your ship. Smaller ships are usually fast. But this ship is moving very slowly.