"…and neither the lad nor the ‘orseman were ever seen again… In fact ‘tis rumoured that the ‘orseman chased him through the Gates of Hell," Gibbs finished dramatically and reached for his mug of rum to roars for more from the other pirates in the Tavern. "T’is someone else’s turn for a ghost story," he said, wiping his mouth.

The pirates looked around at each other in the flickering reflections of the firelight, each trying to guess who would go next in the telling of a ghost story on All Hallows Eve.

"I’ve a tale to be heard if ye’ve a mind to hear it?" a voice said from the darkness.

A screech of wood across stone drew winces from those still sober enough to feel their teeth on edge. The sound of a single foot hitting the ground closely followed by the hollow tap of a crutch echoed in the dark room and after the round of tales already told, feeling a little spooky to the gathered men and women.

"The name’s Silver… Long John Silver and a mug of something to wet me whistle with would help greatly in the telling of this tale," the elderly figure said, hopping forward to sit down on one of the chairs beside the table. As he settled himself one of the barmaids pushed a mug of rum across the table towards him.

"Now the tale I’m about to tell ye were told to me by a Gypsy in Bristol about twenty year ago. There I were in my own little tavern ‘The Sign of the Spy-Glass’. T’is situated just along the docks from the Old Anchor Inn if you’re ever in need of a drop of rum. If I ‘member rightly it were the same day as I were taken on as the ship’s cook for the HISPANIOLA and just before young Jack Hawkins came through my door. The Gypsy just looked me in the eye hoisted his tankard in a salute and started to tell this story." Silver paused, taking a swig of rum to dampen his mouth and throat.

"It seems that there were this pair o’ childhood sweethearts who were to be married. Everything were goin’ well for ‘em, their parents not only approved but were givin’ ‘em a good start in life…And what’s scary about that do I hear ye say?" John asked, looking around at his audience.

"Well, one of the weddin’ gifts was the promise of a ship to be built for ‘em… to ensure their future it was told. The lad had heard of a boatbuilder the likes of which none has ever heard of then or since, a gypsy shipwright who could build the finest ship so well as to almost give it life," he said, glancing around at the faces highlighted by the flickering light.

"The lad finally tracked down the aforementioned shipwright and then tried to get him to build one for him, he refused of course…" Silver said, pausing in the telling.

"Why did he refuse?" Gibbs butted in quickly.

"Well, he were a strange ‘un that shipwright on account of havin’ Gypsy blood and he said that the cost was too much for anyone to bear, but the lad promised him anything if he’d build a ship for him. So he complied with his request and started by layin’ the keel on a fine spring day. He then hand carved all of the parts before fitting them together with nary a space between the pieces and each part fitted like a hand in a glove," he continued. "As time went on the lad noticed that his girl was starting to ail and when he asked about her health she told him that it was to be expected as in eight months time there would be an auspicious occasion, the delivery of an heir. His joy was heard streets away and as he stayed with her and prepared for the next few months, he forgot all about the ship other than in a general way," the pirate said reaching out with a hand to shift his tankard from one spot to another.

"Time passed and the girl got bigger as the child grew within her and in that distant boatyard the ship also grew larger. But as time passed the lass got weaker and not only the lad worried, her parents and the midwife also grew fretful until eight months later the lad got a letter from the shipwright asking if he were sure he still wanted the boat. The lad wrote back saying that more than ever he wanted it and to continue with the construction as in the future it would be his way to secure his family’s fortune." John stopped and took another sip of rum.

"After a time the gypsy contacted him about the carving of the figurehead and he asked if the image of his wife could be used. That way even if he was far away he could see her every day and be reminded of their love; the gypsy agreed and told him if all went to plan the ship would be completed within weeks." John swept a look around the quiet tavern, taking in the sight of those making a ward sign with their fingers against bad luck.

"The time finally came when the boy’s girl was due. She was so weak she couldn’t speak let alone produce a live heir and, as predicted by the midwife, she died and the child died with her. The lad was inconsolable with grief and for some weeks barely left the house. Until a letter arrived from the shipwright saying he’d completed the ship several weeks before and all that remained was a name for his ship. The lad finally stirred from the house and with some of his friends journeyed to the yard where his brand new ship was dry docked. His first sight of the ship took his breath away, she almost seemed alive to him," Silver stopped to look at the rapt faces watching him.

"The lad finally cornered the shipwright and asked how much did he owe for such a fine ship. The gypsy just looked at him sadly and told him the bill was paid in full. The boy was astounded as he knew full well that no coins had ever changed hands, so he asked him how the bill had been paid and when he heard the answer his companions had to restrain him from committing suicide. The Gypsy Shipwright told him that such an undertaking required a soul and that the lad had said he’d pay ‘anything’ for the ship" John said watching as his mug was refilled with rum.

"And when ye’re next onboard the Black Pearl at midnight on All Hallows Eve keep watch on the stern of the ship carefully, and ye’ll see Jack Sparrow with his long lost love, Pearl in his arms." Silver finished, leaning back in his seat and looking at Gibbs over the top of his tankard of rum.

"After the Gypsy told me that yarn back in Bristol twenty years ago he vanished like a will ‘o the wisp in the night. One moment he was leaning against the bar in the ‘Spy-Glass’ and the next he’d gone and no one ever encountered him again. And since that day every time I hear someone say they’d give anything for something I tell ‘em that tale," John said setting his tankard down on the table and watching the superstitious expressions race over Josiah Gibbs face with amusement.

The crackle of the wood in the fireplace behind them was the only sound in the inn as the full depth of Jack Sparrow’s despair and sorrow became apparent and the reason why he had never given up over that long ten years roaming the Caribbean, never ceasing in his quest to catch and kill Barbosa to retake his ship again.

His beloved Black Pearl.