The Island of Gold My dreams of finding the secret route have gradually dissipated from my thoughts these past

few days. It feels like it has been over a year since we embarked from our home in Portugal, but I continue to tell my men everyday to not lose hope. However, Im beginning to doubt my own optimism. The last time the Goldenrod touched land was over two weeks ago. Finding any signs of civilization would give us newfound desire to continue our search. A little after sunrise one morning, a sailor by the name of Jacob began howling in joy like a lunatic. I see an island! About a couple miles up north! he shouted. Everyone including myself rushed up to the deck excitedly to where Jacob was jumping up and down. The clear and sunny sky made it possible to discern all the verdant features of the island. Exotic trees standing over fifty-feet tall circumscribed most of the island and everything beyond it was invisible to the naked eye. Set sail to the island, my lads! I ordered my men. Yes, Captain! they responded enthusiastically. We landed ashore and before long, half the crew was already exploring the outskirts of our oasis. The sand across the beach was as white as pearls and the water that washed up against it was as clear as the morning sky. There were no signs of humans or animals, but nobody seemed to notice. As the men continued to explore the island, we came to the realization that the towering trees appeared to conceal a hidden treasure. Gold, gold! Tons of gold! Were going to be rich! shouted the screaming voices of my men. The rest of us quickly followed the shouting voices and we were shocked in disbelief. Behind the protection of the trees a blanket of gold covered the ground. There was probably enough gold to match the Kings wealth.

Samson, go back to the ships and retrieve all of the digging equipment. Were going to dig out all of this gold until we cant find anymore, I ordered. With this everyone cheered. By sunset, nearly every inch of gold was dug out. We would live like kings forever and our names would be as well known as Christopher Columbus. But I also had some doubts about everything. Why do I have to share this immense fortune with my entire crew? Ive worked so long and hard and have sacrificed everything in my life for a moment like this. The thought of sharing this wealth was absurd. I concluded that there could only be one man leaving this island with all that gold, and that was going to be me. That night, all of my men celebrated boisterously. They sang unceasingly and consumed almost all of our rum. It was not long before the poison that Id placed in their drinks took effect. By midnight, there was only silence. I carried every last corpse out of the Goldenrod and buried them. I was civilized. As dawn approached, I set sail across the ocean and headed back home. Manning the ship alone was somewhat difficult but I had done it before. A week later, I arrived home in Lisbon, Portugal. I anchored the Goldenrod in the harbor and felt like a king. Captain Smith! Why, it has been so long since you left. I thought you and your ship got wiped out in a storm! exclaimed a man. I turned to face the voice and smiled majestically. I never lost hope, Miguel and now I am rich beyond my dreams, I proclaimed. Miguel looked across my boat looking rather puzzled. Captain, where are all your men? asked Miguel. I looked back toward the ocean mournfully and covered my eyes.

We were brutally assaulted by some British treasure ships but I luckily escaped alive. For days I struggled to maneuver this ship but God led me back home and now I am rich forever, I said. I reached into my pockets and threw him a piece of gold. Keep it, Miguel. My gift to you, I told him. He examined it carefully and had that same puzzled look like before. Why are you giving me this worthless rock? Miguel asked me. What madness do you speak of? That rock is enough to feed you and your family for a year! I yelled back. No, Ive seen this before. Its fools gold. I once found some in a valley and thought that Id struck it rich. But then somebody told me what it really was and I felt embarrassed, he told me. I was in a complete state of shock. All my life, I had dreamed of finding my fortune and now I was being humiliated. Suddenly, a loud snap came from the ship and I could feel it shudder. Captain, your ship had burst open from the bottom! Its sinking! Miguel yelled. I looked around in horror and could feel myself start to sink. I carried in my ship tons of worthless rocks. There was nothing left in my life. No friends, no home, no money, and no more hope.