Did ye' know that Newport, Rhode Island has its own pirate cave? Want t' know more about Newport's notorious sea dogs, rum runners an' buried booty? If yer lookin' fer 90 excitin' minutes o' swashbucklin' scuttlebutt, set yer course fer Cap'n Nick's Newport Pirate Walk.

"'Tis a great, gran' time t' be a pirate," says tour owner Cap'n Nick, who plundered th' Caribbean 'afore bringin' his ship, Th' Black Parrot, t' Newport. "Piracy has been 'round fer nearly 3,000 years. An' now, thanks t' movies like Pirates o' th' Caribbean, me Buckos are more popular than e'er."

Always lookin' fer booty, Cap'n Nick an' his motley crew launched Cap'n Nick's Newport Pirate Walk in late June. "Truth be told, we planned t' start on Memorial Day, but we lost th' first crew t' a blasted Sea Monster. Th' new recruits are cutthroats, t' be sure, but they be fine, fine storytellers. We even have a few wenches aboard. But don't be fooled, Mates. Female pirates can be jest as mean an' ruthless as any man -- an' I've got me scars t' prove it!"

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Newport's first an' only pirate walk features costumed buccaneers who rant an' roar an' larn ye' t' speak pirate. Leadin' th' way along downtown's waterfront an' streets, they share excitin' adventures o' Cap'n Kidd, Thomas Tew an' other scallywags who dared t' step thar treacherous feet in Newport County. "Th' tales be amusin' but not very pretty," claims th' ol' seadog, tuggin' at his shiny gold earrin'. "So if ye' want yer precious wee ones t' hear about all sorts o' murderin', thievin', drinkin', hangins' an' general rantin' an' roarin' -- aye, bring th' lil' fishies along!"

While Cap'n Nick offers his tour as th' perfect "arrrrrrr an' arrrrrrr" fer landlubbers, he realizes people are only human an' thar may be a Sassy-pants about. So should th' occasion arise, Cap'n Nick has a ready solution. "If any Man, Woman or Child is found complainin' about th' tour, they shall be quartered, marroon'd or shot! ARRRRRRRRR!"

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Cap'n Nick's Newport Pirate Walk departs 12 noon and 3 PM on weekends and holidays, now thru October 30, weather permitting. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $10 for children (6-17 years). Advance tickets are sold at Treasures of Newport (182 Thames Street) and at www.piratewalk.com. Tickets may also be purchased on the day of the tour at the Gateway Visitors Center (23 America's Cup Avenue). For information, email cybergull@piratewalk.com or call (401) 294-4922. [an error occurred while processing this directive] [an error occurred while processing this directive]