Shortly after noon, a lookout's excited cry rang across the deck: "Land ho!" The entire crew rushed to the rail to witness the sight they'd been anticipating. Rising from the horizon like an emerald jewel was the island depicted on Morgan's ancient map.
The island presented an idyllic tropical landscape. Dense jungle vegetation covered most of its interior, with towering palm trees swaying gently in the breeze. A pristine white sand beach encircled much of the coastline, and the surrounding waters sparkled with such clarity that the coral formations beneath were clearly visible.
Morgan ordered the ship anchored in a protected cove, away from potentially dangerous reefs. The crew lowered the longboats and began ferrying supplies and equipment to shore. Each man carried provisions along with empty sacks—optimistically large ones—for transporting their anticipated treasure back to the ship.
Once ashore, Morgan consulted his map, correlating its markings with the actual geography before them. A weathered trail, barely discernible through years of overgrowth, led inland toward the island's central mountain. According to the map, this was precisely the route they needed to follow.
Tom could barely contain his excitement. The island's exotic beauty exceeded anything his imagination had conjured during their voyage. Colorful birds called from the canopy, and the air was thick with the sweet fragrance of tropical flowers. Every step felt like penetrating deeper into an undiscovered paradise.
"Maintain formation and stay alert," Morgan commanded as they began their ascent. Despite the island's serene appearance, he knew from experience that paradise often concealed dangers. The real test of their quest was about to begin.