Sam turned as white as the sails. "Running the gauntlet is REALLY nasty, guys. The pirates form two lines, and you have to run between them."

"So?" I said. "That doesn't sound so bad."

Sam continued. "Yeah, but as you run by them, each pirate hits you with swords, knives, metal rods — anything they can get their hands on."

"Okay," I had to agree, "THAT sounds bad."