A few moments later the three men came back, dressed as cleaning ladies.
‘The Queen won’t be back for ages,’ said Princess Jane.
‘You don’t need to wear the masks today.’
2
‘Ahoy there!’ came a cry from outside the castle.
‘We are a gang of very dangerous pirates, hiding behind a rock..’
Princess Jane peeped over the castle wall.
‘Where’s your ship?’ she asked.
‘We’re saving up for one. Now give us your treasure.’
‘No!’ shouted King Harry.
‘Then we will make you walk the plank,’ yelled the voice.
‘Have you got a plank?’ called the King .
‘No. We’ll throw you to the sharks, then,’ shouted the voice.
‘There aren’t any sharks round here,’ called Princess Jane.
‘Look,’ shouted the voice.
‘Just hand over your treasure.’
‘We can’t give them the Royal Treasure,’ said King Harry.
‘Because the Queen has locked the room and she has the key.’
‘We will have to fight them,’ said Princess Jane.
‘Fight?’ said King Harry.
‘You mean us?’ gasped Captain Smith and Captain Jones.
Princess Jane took out her telescope and looked at the rock.
‘I can only see three pirates. They don’t look fierce, but they are dirty.’
‘Dirty! Said King Harry.
‘The Masked Cleaning Ladies know about dirt. We shall need hot water, soap, polish and duster.s’
‘You can’t start cleaning now,’ said Princess Jane.
‘Ah,’ said the King. ‘This is a very special cleaning job. Captain Smith, go and polish the big shield in the main hall. Captain Jones, you must the floor. I shall run a nice, hot, soapy bath.’
‘What shall I do? Asked Princess Jane.
‘You keep them talking,’ said the King.