The pirate flag, which existed in many variations, is revealingin itself. It was normally taken to be an image of the devil, but often itcontained not only a skull or skeleton, but also an hourglass,signifying not a threat (“you are going to die”) so much as a sheerstatement of defiance (“we are going to die, it’s only a matter oftime”)—which crews making out such a flag on the horizon would