‘Here we are. Away ye go, me hearties,’ boomed Captain Rascal. ‘Away ye go,’ echoed the parrot. Pippa leaned forward but even when she scrunched her eyes up she couldn’t see a thing. How the Captain knew they’d arrived at the entrance to the tunnels was a mystery to her. ‘Where do we get off the boat?’ she asked. ‘Over there,’ replied a friendly voice. A light shone behind her. Pippa turned and saw one of the polka dot pirates carrying a lantern attached to a long pole. ‘Here, take this,’ said the pirate pony. ‘Thanks,’ said Pippa. In the light she could see that the tunnel ceiling was quite low so she slipped from Stardust’s back. The pirates had lowered the gangplank and it was resting on a rock. Pippa went over and held the light so that Stardust, followed by Diva and Harmony, could see to get off the boat. When it was Pippa’s turn the plank creaked as she placed her foot on it. Pippa stood very still. She gripped the lantern tightly as she plucked up the courage to walk the plank.
