“Aye, and another thing,” went on the Spaniard. “The Black Nick is to
bring his wife aboard. And the men say, ‘Petticoats for all or none.”’
“To be sure petticoats are damned bad things on ships,” said Syn.
“And where will I find this Black Nick before he sails?”
- 98 -
“The Governor’s house is some two miles out in the country. He took
his wife and son out there this morning, I believe. They are to sleep
there at night, which means a further delay and more flame to feed my
men’s anger. I am now bound for The Staunch Brotherhood Inn, where he
promised to leave the orders. I delayed here purposely in order to miss
him if possible.”
“I see that you have no love for him,” said Syn. “I also see that my
faithful servant has collected my baggage and engaged porters there.
Since we lodge at ‘The Staunch Brotherhood’, perhaps you will accompany
us there.”
So, taking leave of the others, they sauntered along the quay,
followed by Mipps and the porters.
Arrived at the Inn, Pedro led Syn aside. “You had scarce been gone a
moment when they returned. They had seen you passing on to the quay. As
I was hastening to lighten the news about their rooms, they cut me short
with orders as though they were in great panic. No blame at all they
gave me. They asked me how long you would be gone, and when I told them
you were but collecting your baggage from your ship, they opened this
chest and packed the pile of clothes into it in the greatest hurry. All
this while they kept the Governor’s carriage waiting for them. When they
had locked the trunks, Black Nick gave orders that Juan Tarragona (whom
your hon our is now with) was to see their baggage upon his ship, the St.
Nicholas , and wait for them to board sometime upon the morrow. They
asked me to say nothing about these rooms which you had compelled me to
give you. your honour will therefore respect my very good faith and not
betray me. Your honour has treated me well.”
“I shall say nothing, friend Pedro,” returned Syn, smiling at the
man’s roguery. “And you in your turn will say nothing of this to Senor
Tarragona. I will give him his captain’s orders myself. And now, a word
of advice to you. You will do yourself no harm in keeping faith with me
in the future, for I shall be the means of putting much gold into your
treasure -chests. Now repeat the orders he left for that officer.”
“That he would carry the baggage aboard the St. Nicholas; keep the
ship ready for sea, as his business was sure to be completed by tomorrow
or the next day at the latest. Then the St. Nicholas is to sail towards
Havana, enter the Gulf of Batabano, to the south of it, where the
treasure -ships for escort would be waiting behind the Island de Pinos.
That is exact.”
“I will tell him,” said Syn. “And you remember to keep silent, unless
he asks for confirmation. I shall be leaving you today, but if during my
absence an American Indian called ‘The Blue Heron’ should ask for me,
you will say that Captain Clegg is aboard his ship the Imogene. He will
hear of her, I promise you, and so will you. The Indian can join me
aboard when he learns where she lies, and in the meanwhile, await news
here at my expense.”
After making Pedro repeat these instructions, Syn sent him to order
two riding-horses to take him and his servant to the Governor’s house
outside the town. He then rejoined Tarragona with the news of Black
Nick’s order, which he a ltered to serve his own purpose.
“Black Nick left messages for both of us with the landlord. You are
to take his baggage aboard the St. Nicholas immediately. You will also
show me the kindness to take mine, too, for I am to sail with you to
Havana. Now between ourselves, my friend, I am a very wealthy man, and
if I like the ships behaviour upon this trip, I shall make Black Nick an
offer for her. He wishes
us to go aboard and keep ready for sea, as he will join us in two day’s
time.”
“Ah, no,” cried Tarragona. “A further delay will man a mutiny. It was
with difficulty that I persuaded the men to keep ship today. If we do
not sail tonight, they will overpower the officers and take to the
boats. Then we shall have a fine drunken crew ashore, I promise you.”
- 99 -
“Leave it to me,” said Syn. “You go back with the baggage—mine and
Black Nick’s. I am going to ride out now to talk with him at the
Governor’s house. I and my servant will be back within two hours, and I
warrant I’ll bring Black Nick along with us. After what you told me
about his wife, I shall persuade him to leave her behind. One woman upon
a long voyage is dangerous to a crew of rough morals. Now, what are
these two ships like, that we are to consort?”
“There again, cried out Tarragona. “Shomehow the news is out amongst
my crew that we are to take these treasure-ships to Spain. They even
know their names, The Santa Mariana nd the Santa Clesta. To speak
frankly, the men aboard the St. Nicholas are pirates of the worst type,
and this voyage with but little profit to them, seems of too peaceful an
order. They are grumbling that he got them aboard with fine promises,
when signing came, their pay was cut down to the minimum.”
Syn nodded. “Go back to your ship and tell them that they have a good
adventurous friend in me. I will force Black Nick to reconsider his
terms with the crew. Every man aboard shall have a more generous wage,
and in addition, a share in the profits. You may tell them if there is
one man that Black Nick fears, it is Captain Clegg, who sails with them
and knows how to respect good sailors. Up to this moment, he has had
more from me and I from him, but now I will turn the tables. You and I
will stand together on this voyage, and the men will stand behind us. Go
and tell them so. Should Black Nick not agree to my terms—and I have
that over him to force his hand—I will compel him to sell the ship to
me. I can buy it as his price. On the other hand, I think he will sell
it at mine. Within two hours, we will be aboard and shaking out the
canvas.”
After seeing Syn and Mipps ride off towards the Governor’s, the young
Spanish officer, delighted at not having to return to the ship with
tales of more delay, but rather with a fine sop to throw to his
discontented men, escort ed the baggage to his waiting boat, and was
pulled off to the ship.
Meanwhile, Syn and Mipps rode out of the town with a show of great
haste. At last, safely hidden beneath the trees of a grassy-bridle path,
Syn drew the rein.
“That ride has done us good,” he laughed. “But I think we will not
approach the Governor’s House any nearer, though, it needs all of my
patience not to ride there in hot haste and finish with Black Nick. I am
not in the mind, however, to put him out of his misery so soon. We can
torture him better by waiting. He has had a bad fright this morning over
our rooms. He will get a worse shaking at his soul, before the day is
out. Let me see, we have something under two hours before boarding our
ship, and I have some work to do at the inn before then.”
“Our ship?” asked the bewildered Mipps.
Syn laughed. “You have ever the taste for piracy, my good Mipps.
Well, here I find Black Nick obliging enough to build us a ship for that
purpose. Between us, we managed to take Black Satan’s Sulphur Pit, and
with some luck and skill, we’ll now take Black Nick’s St. Nicholas.”