Rigging the Grate

Leaving the brass key upright in the curb seam, I marched further down the concrete coast toward a massive cast-iron tree grate set flat into the pavement. Peering through the thick black grid, I spotted a lost treasure below: a bright red plastic bottle cap lodged right between two iron ribs! Ha! No cargo escapes a bold commander. I wedged my peg leg between the rusted bars for steady leverage, reached down with my flintlock pistol, and hooked the rim with the flared barrel tip. With one mighty upward flick, the cap popped free and landed concave-up on the iron slats like a sturdy shallow skiff!