Captain Sharkey

Name: Captain Sharkey
Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

The narrative unfolds in the aftermath of the Spanish Succession War, where privateers, having lost their purpose, turn to piracy. Among them is Captain Sharkey, a notorious pirate whose brutal reputation instills fear across the Caribbean. Captain Scarrow, a merchant captain, is relieved to anchor near St. Kitt's, hoping to escape Sharkey's wrath. He encounters Hiram Evanson, a survivor of Sharkey's attack, who shares harrowing tales of the pirate's cruelty. As Scarrow learns of Sharkey's impending execution, he feels a mix of relief and curiosity. The Governor of St. Kitt's, Sir Charles Ewan, boards Scarrow's ship for a return to England, and the crew celebrates Sharkey's fate. However, unbeknownst to them, Sharkey has escaped execution, having been marooned by his own crew due to his violent behavior. He disguises himself as the Governor, infiltrating Scarrow's ship with the intent to reclaim his life of piracy. Sharkey's cunning leads to a tense confrontation aboard the _Morning Star_. Scarrow and his crew are overpowered, and Sharkey reveals his true identity, leaving Scarrow bound and gagged. As Sharkey prepares to escape in a dinghy, Scarrow manages to free himself but finds his crew's boats scuttled, leaving them stranded. Meanwhile, Copley Banks, a sugar merchant whose family was murdered by Sharkey, seeks revenge. He outfits a ship, the _Ruffling Harry_, with a crew of outcasts and pirates, determined to hunt down Sharkey. Banks's plan involves disguising his ship to lure Sharkey into a trap. After several encounters, Banks and Sharkey form a temporary alliance, unaware of their shared history. As their partnership develops, Banks plots to exact revenge on Sharkey for his family's demise. During a drunken revelry, Banks reveals his true intentions, capturing Sharkey and preparing to execute him. In a final act of vengeance, Banks rigs a cannon to explode, killing Sharkey and his crew. The story concludes with Banks escaping into the jungle, having avenged his family while leaving behind the remnants of Sharkey's reign of terror. The narrative explores themes of revenge, the nature of piracy, and the blurred lines between villainy and justice in a lawless world.

By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle · First published 1897 · Genre: Adventure, Fiction, Historical Fiction · 3 chapters · 19,029 words

First lines

When the great wars of the Spanish Succession had been brought to an end by the Treaty of Utrecht, the vast number of privateers which had been fitted out by the contending parties found their occupation gone. Some took to the more peaceful but less lucrative ways of ordinary commerce, others were absorbed into the fishing fleets, and a few of the more reckless hoisted the Jolly Rodger at the mizzen, and the bloody flag at the main, declaring a private war upon their own account against the whole human race.

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Captain Sharkey is listed on Textopian as a novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, dated 1897 CE.

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Work type: Novel
Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Date: 1897 CE
Language: English
Genres: Adventure, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Action, Sea Story
Length: 19,029 words
Structure: 3 chapters, 252 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

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Similar titles

Genres

Adventure — The plot revolves around high-seas adventures and pirate themes.
Fiction — The narrative is a work of fiction, creating imaginative scenarios and characters.
Historical Fiction — The story is set in a historical context, reflecting the era of piracy.
Action — The book features action-packed sequences typical of pirate tales.