Third/fourth month. The family are still battling against the forces of Mother nature (and often themselves) and are looking forward to their first harvest, which they plan to celebrate on the Fourth of July, American Independence Day. Ernst, however, is still hopeful of rescue, so that he can build a career( as a writer ) for himself back in civilization. Unknown to anyone a ship is heading towards the island. She is The Viper, a notorious pirate ship captained by the rascally "Captain" Samuel Scaggs and his ex-convict partner, Bonnie Mary. Ben is excited when he sees a ship heading for the Robinsons's island. Parsons recognizes The Viper and advises that he has a mate on board. Ben wants to warn the Robinson family, (probably due to his continuing infatuation with Joanna ), but Parsons says the pirates will gain his revenge on David Robinson for him. Hunting for wild turkey, Ernst and Billy encounter Scaggs and his landing party. Believing Scaggs to be an honorable man, Ernst accepts his invitation to go aboard, but Billy has second thoughts. Billy's fears are soon realized when Scaggs makes Ernst walk the plank, believing he is lying about there being no-one else on the island. Parsons arrives and tells Scaggs about the Robinson family. The family are surprised at night and overrun by the pirates. Scaggs and Mary take possession of the tree house - and show no signs of being in a hurry to leave... Parsons convinces Scaggs that David killed his brother and Scaggs decides to hold a trial, with himself as judge, jury and hangman. Ernst escapes from imprisonment on the pirate ship and almost rescues the family, before being overcome. Scaggs finds David guilty and sentences him to hang.
