“Easy. As soon as their men are in the longboats and the rest of the crew is in the rigging stowing the sails, we make our move.”
They acknowledged my subterfuge. We would have to pass the frigate within cannon range to make our escape, but with a good part of their crew in the rigging, stowing and lashing the sails for the night, and the men in the longboats too slow to give us chase, I expected we could sail right by with minimal damage. The time was right, as the longboats were loaded and ready to move. At least a dozen figures were visible in the rigging of the ship.
“Raise the sails,” I called, as I ran to the anchor. I had thought we might have time to pull it, but a glance at the longboats moving toward us forced my hand. It would be costly to lose, but might save our lives. I reached for a sea ax mounted to the foremast, raised the ax over my head and slammed the chain just as the sails filled. The link held, and I wound up again. Syd and Swift were still working the sails and the boat was straining against the weight of the anchor and chain. I closed my eyes and brought the ax high overhead. As hard as I could, I brought the iron blade down onto the chain and cringed as it hit, the shock of metal hitting metal reverberating through my body. I glanced down in dismay, as the ax head lay in two pieces, but the chain had split, and I ran to the helm as it rattled overboard.
“Full sail,” I called to the men as I corrected our course. It was dangerous to have that much canvas out in these close quarters, but we needed all the speed the boat could muster. The sails snapped as they filled, and the boat lurched forward. The men were out of the rigging standing near me, and we exchanged a quick grin as we picked up speed.
“Best set the jibs as well,” I ordered, as I set course to run by the frigate.
We were less than a quarter mile away when I heard the whistle blow aboard the Navy boat. The men scrambled out of the rigging, and the remaining crew moved to the guns. I needed five minutes to get past them and out of range of their cannon and knew it would be close. Suddenly, I heard a shot off our stern and looked back at the longboats as they fired their small guns at us. The projectiles fell well short and I refocused on the frigate.
Time seemed to stand still as we moved slowly by the frigate. We were close enough to hear every order, and I clenched my jaw, waiting for the call to fire. With a burst, we gained a little speed as the jibs caught the breeze one at a time, and we were by them just as a whistle blew and the cannon fired. I didn’t want to look behind at our potential demise, but couldn’t resist. There was nothing to be done, as we were moving away at our maximum speed, with every inch of sail raised. I heard water splash and saw several balls hit the water, not ten feet from us. I breathed in relief as we pulled away.
Syd and Swift were back at the helm, and we let out a loud whoop as we realized we had escaped. Minutes later, we rounded the point and found open water, the only thing visible of the frigate the top of its masts over the flat land. We moved faster through the water now that we had left the protection of the harbor and I realized, that at least for now, we were safe. It would take too much time for the frigate to regain its longboats, raise anchor, and set sail. I expected they would pursue, but it would take them too much time because of the speed or our craft. I studied the chain of islands just coming into sight as we rounded the last bit of land, as each gap between them allowed an opportunity for us to hide.
33
Syd and Swift were not in sight and I ran to the companionway, stuck my head in, and yelled for them. “Bring a torch and hurry down to the hold.” I waited until I heard movement and went forward to the hatch just aft of the bowsprit. It was stuck, nailed shut to prevent the prisoners from escaping. I grabbed the ax that was lashed to the mast and tried to use the broken blade to pry it open. The wood splintered, but I ignored the damage and stuck the edge of the blade between the deck boards and the cover. Finally, the hatch gave way and the stench almost knocked me off my feet as air flowed through the hold.
“What’s this all about?” Swift asked as he held the lantern over the opening.
“There’s men in there. Bastards weren’t just smugglers—they’re slavers as well.” I took the lantern and descended the ladder two steps at a time. “Bring the ax,” I called up as my feet hit the deck.
The three of us crossed through the main hold together and peered into the forward compartment. The added ventilation provided by the hatch had sucked some of the smell from the room, but I still had to put my shirt tail to my nose to breath. Swift and Syd followed my lead as we went in and held the light. Half-a-dozen bodies were shackled to the boat, three on each side of the hold.
“Hold on, I have an idea,” I said, as I climbed back to the deck. I went to the captain’s quarters, pulled out the drawer below the desk, and started rummaging through its contents. Toward the back I found what I was looking for and withdrew a ring of keys. I went back down to the hold and found Swift and Syd leaning outside the door.
“Can’t take the smell for long,” one of them muttered.
I ignored them and went through the door to the first man. Swift held the light for me as I tried each key in the lock. On the third try, I found it and released the man. “Carry him out,” I called to Syd, who was still standing by the door. I didn’t wait for a reply, but went to the next man and freed him.
A few minutes later we had them in the main hold, and I went to check each one. Two still clung to life, but the other four had passed. One was unconscious, and I made him comfortable before returning to the first man. His eyes were open, but when I held the light to them, they were vacant. “Get some water,” I called, and tried to figure out what to do, wishing Lucy was here.
Syd went on deck and lowered a bucket into the hold. I took the ladle from it and put it to the man’s parched lips. Some primal urge must have come from deep within him, as he shot to life and grabbed the ladle from my hands. He put it to his face, wasting most of the water down his shirt. I took it back and refilled it for him. This time he managed to drink.
“We can leave these two down here for the time being, but we’ve got to get the dead off the boat.” Syd and Swift nodded in agreement and went to fetch the line attached to the block and tackle. The bodies released gas and fluid as we lifted them, and we stood in a pool of noxious fluids as we worked, some of it probably ours, as I heard one of the men vomit. Finally, the work was done and we sat in the fresh air on deck.
“Bloody bit of luck,” Swift said. “Something about you always finding people to save.”
I knew he was referring to our rescue of Rory and then the adoption of Blue and Lucy, who were now hiding out on an island with Rhames, and the treasure. I ignored his comment, went to the casks and lowered another pail of water down before following it to see about the two men still alive.
“Can you talk?” I asked the man who sat upright.
He looked around vacantly and rolled over onto his side. I did the best I could to make him comfortable and went back on deck.
“The one’s asleep and the other’s still out.” I leaned over the rail wondering what to do. The water swirled and something large jumped near the ship. It was dark, the moon still below the horizon, but I knew the sharks had found the dead men.
34
My watch started at midnight and, after observing our position, I went below to check on the two men. I had lain on my bunk tossing and turning, but sleep had eluded me. Light from the waxing gibbous moon, a sliver from full, flooded the hold, and I could see the faces of the men without the need for a lantern. They were both asleep, Swift said when I relieved him of his watch, and the one man who had gained consciousness had eaten some food and drank. I went to check that the other man was still alive and could see his chest rise and fall as he breathed.