plunged it into the cabin table, crying out, “That dirty dog.” He then
flicked the handle of the quivering blade with his finger and added, “He
won’t be Happy Tappitt by the time we deals with him. Is the business of
sale complete? Or do you think the price is too steep for my body and
soul?”
“I think, my good Mipps, that I shall never make a better bargain in
my life, and there’s my hand on it.”
That night they laid their plans, agreeing to escape from the ship at
the first opportunity.
“For the longer we remain amongst these rascals, the greater risk we
run of hanging at the last,” said Syn.
Outwardly, however, they stuck to their bargain with the pirates. In
a few days Syn had established a stricter discipline than any pirate
ship had ever boasted. The men respected him, because they feared him,
and they sprang to his orders with a will. Besides this, he brought luck
to the Sulphur Pit. Prize after prize fell to them: rich merchant ships
whose wealth increased the pirates’ shares beyond the dreams of the most
covetous. In every attack Syn, as good as his word, led the boarding
party to victory, and the pirates worshipped him for his bravery and
skill, and the death of Black Satan was accounted the luckiest
circumstance that could have happened to the ship. In Syn they not only
had the most dashing commander, but one who also looked after his men
carefully. Their casualties were light, and many a man who might have
died from wounds had Black Satan been their captain owed his life to the
careful nursing which Syn insisted on.
Much to their relief they never fell in with an English ship, for Syn
and Mipps had made it clear that they would never countenance the plank
for English sailors.
“That shred of decency we will at least reserve,” as Syn had said to
Mipps.
To all other crews, however, they were merciless. No one was left
alive to tell the tale ashore.
But Syn had no intention of postponing his vengeance for too long in
order to keep the seas, and at last he found the excuse to run for land.
This was based on a report laid before the pirates by Mipps. The ship’s
bottom was growing too foul for any speedy maneuvering, he stated, and
as soon as possible they ought to lie up some river for careening.
“I agree,” said Syn. “Our guns are of no avail if we have no sailing
speed. A spell ashore will be good for our soul, and when we have
cleansed the jolly Sulphur Pit we shall sail out refreshed for new
adventuring.”
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Aware that the careening operations were necessary, and looking
forward to carouses ashore, the pirates were of a mind to set the course
for land. It then remained to decide upon their place of call. Some were
for the Tortugas, a place that had been much patronized by Black Satan.
Others voted for the Bahamas, but Syn and Mipps, for their own private
convenience, advocated the mainland of America. It would be more handy,
they pointed out, not only for disposing of money safely, but also for
the purchase of new supplies. At length it was decided to run for St.
John’s River, to the north of Florida, Dr. Syn volunteering to sail with
Mipps in one of the ship’s boats in order to find out if all was safe.
“I will take no risk of running the ship into a trap,” he said.
“While you anchor off the river mouth, we will spay up the creeks, and
see if there are any other vessels there that are unfriendly.”
To this, one of the pirates objected. “How do we know that you will
return? It might be tempting to show your heels ashore, and we all agree
that you are the leaders for us, and we don’t intend to lose you.”
“Do not let that trouble you,” laughed Syn. “Neither Mipps nor I have
shown ourselves dissatisfied, I think, and in order that all shall be
fair and above board, we’ll leave our share of the treasure in our
cabin. After so much pains we should hardly abandon that.”
This satisfied them, and the course was set.
The winds being light, and the keel so very foul, it took them two
weeks to reach the anchorage. Calling all hands Syn complimented them on
their behaviour, and added that the time was now ripe for a royal
drinking bout.
“We have been temperate, my lads, too long. We will now make up for
lost time and dry throats. Drink as much rum as you can stomach, and
Mipps and I will sail up river at dawn. We have shared out our portions
of plunder fairly, and Mipps and I leave ours in your trust upon the
cabin table. See to that, Mipps, and let who will inspect the bundles.
No doubt we shall be back before you have out slept your drinking.”
The rascals needed no second bidding to attack the rum casks. In an
hour they were well on the way to being very drunk. Syn went amongst
them drinking and jesting, until he knew that there was no suspicion of
their planned escape. The boat had already been lowered in readiness,
and was alongside. Mipps had stored their seachests, fresh water,
provisions, ammunition and a compass. These precautions had not
attracted much attention from the pirates, who were satisfied that both
leaders had indeed left their share of the plunder on the table.
“Maybe we’ll have to lie low up river,” explained Mipps. “In which
case you wouldn’t wish us starved.”
There was no need to say farewell to their companions, for had they
wished to it would not have been possible; for the whole crew were
raving drunk by midnight, and before dawn were fast asleep. Even the
watch were past all waking. Syn went the rounds pretending to be drunk
himself, and was quite satisfied with what he saw.
“The sooner we start he better,” he whispered to Mipps.
Syn stepped i nto the cabin to take a last look round, and to buckle
on his sword. His eye fell on the table, and he saw that the bundles of
their treasure had disappeared. When Mipps joined him for his cutlass he
remarked on this.
“The rascals have moved them somewhere,” he said.
“I put ‘em in the boat,” explained Mipps. “No use being too honest
with dishonest men, and we’ll need all we have to help us find this
enemy of yours. You get down in the boat, sir, and I’ll follow. Got your
pistols, sir?”
- 81 -
Syn nodded. “And I see you have. Oh, we shall do very well, I think.”
He left the cabin for the last time, went to the side and climbed the
rope ladder down into the boat. “Hurry, man,” he whispered, looking up
the ship’s side.
But Mipps had disappeared.
For some minutes he waited with what patience he could, and thinking
something must be wrong, was about to climb aboard again when Mipps
reappeared and scrambled down into the boat. “A little matter I had to
see to, sir,” he explained. “Ready, sir. Cas t off.”
Syn took the tiller, and Mipps fell to the oars, pulling vigorously.
“Conserve your strength, man,” advised Syn. “There’s no need of such
haste.”
“Sooner we’re away from them the better,” replied Mipps.
“There’s a breeze that will save you your pains,” said Syn. “I’ll up
sail. And, what is more, we’ll change our plans. since we are not
watched by those drunken swine, we’ll head up-coast. Why should we
break our backs with trading across difficult country with our seachests, when this boat can carry us right up to Charleston? The breeze
will be behind us when we clear the promontory.”
“Aye, aye, sir, that’s game. I was wondering myself how the devil we