How Copley Banks Slew Captain Sharkey

Name: How Copley Banks Slew Captain Sharkey
Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Copley Banks, a prominent sugar merchant in Kingston, suffers a devastating loss when his family is killed by the infamous pirate Sharkey. Consumed by grief and anger, he withdraws from society and eventually decides to take revenge. After two years, he prepares a ship, the _Ruffling Harry_, for a slaving venture, but his true intention is to become a pirate and hunt down Sharkey. Banks assembles a crew of notorious outcasts, dismissing his loyal sailors. He transforms the _Ruffling Harry_ into a formidable vessel, ready for piracy. The ship becomes known for its ruthless exploits, rivaling Sharkey's own ship, the _Happy Delivery_. The two pirates eventually cross paths, and despite initial hostility, they form a temporary alliance, engaging in various acts of piracy together. As their friendship develops, Banks conceals his true motives from Sharkey, who remains unaware of Banks' personal vendetta. After a series of successful raids, they celebrate their camaraderie with a night of heavy drinking. During this revelry, Banks seizes the opportunity to confront Sharkey about the murder of his family. In a calculated act of vengeance, Banks binds Sharkey and prepares to execute him. He rigs a cannon to explode, intending to kill Sharkey and his drunken crew in one swift act of retribution. As he lights the fuse, Banks reflects on the depths to which he has sunk to achieve his revenge. He escapes with a mute steward, watching from a distance as the _Happy Delivery_ is destroyed in a fiery explosion, finally avenging his family's death.

By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle · First published 1893 · Genre: Adventure, Historical Fiction, Action · 5,841 words

First lines

The Buccaneers were something higher than a mere band of marauders. They were a floating republic, with laws, usages, and discipline of their own. In their endless and remorseless quarrel with the Spaniards they had some semblance of right upon their side. Their bloody harryings of the cities of the Main were not more barbarous than the inroads of Spain upon the Netherlands -- or upon the Caribs in these same American lands.

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How Copley Banks Slew Captain Sharkey is listed on Textopian as a short story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, dated 1893 CE.

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Work type: Short story
Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Date: 1893 CE
Language: English
Genres: Adventure, Historical Fiction, Action, Drama, Thriller
Length: 5,841 words
Structure: 1 section, 73 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Genres

Adventure — The plot revolves around piracy, sea voyages, and the pursuit of vengeance, which are central themes in adventure literature.
Historical Fiction — The story is set in a historical context involving pirates and the Caribbean, reflecting the social and political dynamics of the time.
Action — The narrative includes intense confrontations, battles, and a climactic showdown, characteristic of action genres.
Drama — The emotional depth of Copley Banks' character and his transformation from a merchant to a pirate captain adds dramatic elements to the story.