The Empty Chest!

    When we last left Captain Hawk and the crew they were in great danger. Pirates had taken over their ship (the Golden Lobster) during the night watch. The entire crew was captured and bound and only The Captain himself was left free to move around. He stood at the helm of the ship with Scarlet Soul-catcher, captain of the pirates. Throughout the centuries pirates captured other ships to steal the goods that they were carrying. These pirates had been quite disappointed when, after long hours of searching, they had found nothing of real value on the Golden Lobster.
    As with most pirates these men had no patience. Some thought they should burn the ship with the crew still aboard, while others began demanding to make men walk the plank. Soul-catcher, however, decided this ship must carry very valuable treasure and that it was hidden aboard the ship. Captain Hawk had tried to explain there was no treasure of that sort on the ship but Soul-catcher would not hear it. Threatening to give into his men’s requests, the leader of the pirates demanded Captain Hawk produce some real treasure to save the lives of his men.
    Reluctantly The Captain went into his cabin. Soul-catcher smiled a big toothy grin a few moments later as The Captain returned dragging a large chest behind him. Soul-catcher was anxious to remove the lock and open up the chest to receive his treasure, but before he could move towards the chest, Captain Hawk spoke up. “Inside this chest is one of our greatest treasures. Find it and do with us as you like, but if you cannot find it, you must let us go.” “And why would we agree to that?” demanded the leader of the pirates.  “Because if you don’t” began The Captain holding up a large key, “I will throw this key into the ocean. It is the only one which unlocks this chest, and forcing the chest open could damage the treasure inside… do you really want to risk that?”
    Soul-catcher pondered this a moment before reluctantly nodding his head in agreement. The head pirate then said “Very well then Captain…. we have an accord.” The Captain tossed the key to Soul-catcher. Not liking that The Captain had spoken out like that in front of his men so boldly Soul-catcher added, “If I find any treasure in this chest and it isn’t empty like you said, then I’ll make each of your men walk the plank!” This made the Captain’s mates very afraid. They looked back and forth to one another anxiously as they waited for Soul-catcher to open the chest. The head pirate put the key into the lock on the chest. Slowly he opened the lid of the chest and…“CHEAT! You cheated me…” he cried. “There never was a treasure in this chest and you’ll all walk the plank!” With that Soul-catcher and all the other pirates aboard the Golden Lobster drew their swords. The mates were very nervous now. They didn’t want to walk the plank and were shocked that the chest was empty. They heard the Captain say one of their greatest treasures was in the chest, and while they didn’t know what it could be, the Captain was not known as a deceiver since the days of his dramatic conversion experience!  As the pirates  moved to take the Captain he calmly held up his hand and said, “I told you that you would think the chest is empty… do you want me to show you the real treasure now?”  After some arguing, cussing and swearing of pirate oaths Soul-catcher and his men finally decided to allow the Captain to show them the treasure in the chest promising to make the mates suffer twice as much if The Captain pulled any more ‘tricks’. The Captain once again made his adversary agree to let him and his men go once they were satisfied that the treasure existed.
   
    Throwing back the lid of the chest once more, Captain Hawk pointed to some letters and numbers inscribed on the lid of the chest. These markings spelled “John 3:16”. The pirates were now very confused and once again divided as to the meaning of their discovery. Some thought it was map coordinates while others felt quite sure they were directions on how to find a guy named John who had lots of treasure. Very patiently The Captain explained to the men that John 3:16 referred to a verse of ancient scripture with a deep and profound meaning.  John 3:16 reads For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” The Captain explained to the pirates that while they had committed many hateful and violent crimes, they could be forgiven and one day  live with God in paradise and peace. Some of the pirates believed that day, but others  wanted to make the crew walk the plank. To everyone’s surprise, however, Soul-catcher himself came up to Captain Hawk with tears streaming down his face. He asked, “You mean to say that a dirty ole salt like me can be forgiven?” “You can…” the Captain replied.  Soul-catcher’s heart changed that night and leaving his profession of piracy, high crimes and misdemeanors he became a great Fisherman!  We‘ll hear more about Soul-catcher in future Captain Hawk® tales...