Haitian Gold Page 4

  Mason was in the skiff and almost to us. I tried to read my opponents’ mind while we waited. If they were not intent on sinking us, and with us sitting so close to land, they had few choices as to how to keep us under their guns. The frigate was approaching from the southwest. There was little doubt of her course and I estimated where she would make her move.

  Mason came aboard and I laid out our situation. “We can’t run and we don’t have the firepower to match her,” I said.

  “Got five kegs of powder,” Swift interrupted.

  “See what you can find for flints and pans,” I ordered.

  “What are you thinking?” Rhames asked.

  “They want the Panther, right?” The men nodded and I told them my plan. Despite their puzzled expressions, no one questioned my authority.

  The forepeak of the frigate was just visible now as she rounded the island and we knew we had little time. Swift and several men hauled the barrels of powder onto the deck and lined them up along the rail. Rhames, with a skeptical look on his face, was busy removing the firing mechanism from several pistols while keeping one eye on the horizon. Mason split the crew and had half a dozen men cut loose sections of line from the damaged rigging and drop them to the deck, where several others waited to tie the lengths together. The other half of the crew focused on making the ship seaworthy. For my plan to work, we would need the frigate to think both of our ships were making a run for it.

  Rhames took the firing mechanisms and hammered one into each barrel, while several men coated them with pitch and lard. I looked over the rail. The frigate had rounded the point, tacked again and was closing. I guessed she would have to come about twice more to get within range of us, but our decks were now visible and she could see everything we did.

  “You’re sure about this?” Rhames asked. “Maybe we should cut the pirates loose and have them fight with us.”

  I shook my head. We were outnumbered by the crew of the frigate. They were better armed and were trained to fight together. “If they board us, it’ll be a bloodbath with or without the extra men,” I responded.

  “Ready here,” someone called down from the rigging.

  I looked up and inspected their work. The foremast was cleared of debris and had its main and topsail ready. It would have to be enough. The mainmast was still in shambles.

  Mason was at the ladder, ready to return to the Panther with the end of the rope we had fashioned. “You coming?” he asked.

  “Best stay here,” I said, tying the other end to the rail. “There’s not a leader in this bunch.”

  “Watch your back, then,” he said and dropped out of sight to the waiting skiff.

  I watched the rope uncoil from the deck, trailing behind the small boat to the Panther.

  I turned back to Rhames. He had the barrels lined up along the rail. A section of cargo net encased each one, with a rope loop waiting to attach it to the main line. Mason had reached the Panther and I turned to watch the frigate, waiting for her to come about. That brief second would give us the cover we needed. Her course changed slightly, and as she turned into the wind, I waited for her sails to luff. Slowly the wind left her sails and I saw the booms swing. We had the cover we needed. I gave the signal.

  Rhames tied the first keg to the line. I winced as it splashed, hoping it would need something harder than the water to trigger the mechanism. Every fifty feet he attached another barrel. Once they were over the rail, I watched the four bombs bobbing in the water and realized how difficult this would be. For there to be any chance of the frigate’s hull striking the firing mechanism and setting off the charge, we would have to lure her between our ships, a distance of only a few hundred feet. The only thing in our favor was that with the size of the charges, it would take only one to disable her.

  The frigate was bearing down on us. It was time. I looked over at the Panther. Mason was driving the crew hard to rig whatever canvas the broken masts could handle. I called to raise anchor. The pirate ship would have to drag the Panther until she was ready.

  The anchor chain came aboard and Rhames took the helm. He called for the sails to be raised and I went to the stern rail. The ship started to make headway and I watched the rope stretch in the water. It snapped taut and I held my breath, not knowing if it would hold or maybe trigger one of the explosives.

  Mason had managed to get a sail up and pressure came off the line as he eased the Panther along the same course. Our two boats were now a hundred yards apart, with the pirate ship slightly ahead. The illusion of the two ships escaping appeared perfect, but we would have to wait to see if the captain of the frigate would see our trap.

  The four kegs were underwater, their wake all that was visible to the naked eye. I looked back. Mason followed slightly behind and inland of us, and the frigate was gaining on us quickly, her course running right between the two ships. The captain was not committing to either vessel until he got closer.

  “Should just be a minute now,” Rhames said from the helm.

  The frigate was close enough to hear the gunports open and the scrape of the cannon being dragged forward on their carriages. I looked behind and saw they had both their port and starboard guns ready. He intended to take both of us. Now it was a waiting game to see if the captain of the frigate could fire his broadsides before his ship struck a keg.

  All eyes were on the frigate. We were defenseless against a ship more than twice our size and built for war. I thought about releasing the lines and letting the kegs drift aft, but decided against it, unsure what the current would do with them. That’s when I saw the flaw in my plan.

  The forepeak of the frigate was at our stern, midway between our two ships, when I realized I had failed to take into account the momentum needed to set off one of the flintlock mechanisms. With both ships moving forward, it was not going to be enough to set off the charge.

  I ran to the mainmast, grabbed the fire ax and made my way past open-jawed men to the starboard rail, where I waved the blade over my head, motioning for the other ship to cut the line. One of the men must have told Mason, because seconds later one of the freemen stood by the line with an ax in his hand. I raised mine over my head, watching him do the same. Then, in a single motion, we slammed the steel heads into the line.

  The line snapped and vanished overboard. I watched the munitions drift back toward the frigate and held my breath.

  The forepeak of the frigate was almost amidships, and I clearly heard the order from her captain to fire. Our crew heard it as well and hit the deck. We heard the roar of her bow chasers as they attempted to disable us. Shot smashed through the rail and men screamed. Next came the call to ready the hooks. They were preparing to board us. I was about to give up and prepare a defense when I heard it.

  A thump came from underwater. Spray shot up and I heard the sound of wood splintering. Another keg exploded and I ran to the rail to see the damage. As we gazed at the huge hole in the frigate’s bow, the mood of the ship changed instantly.

  An eerie silence came over the frigate.

  “We’re taking on water,” someone shouted. We were close enough to hear the order to abandon the attack and man the pumps. The ship had already fallen behind and was floundering, with two giant holes in her hull. I heard an order for her to come about, but it was too late. Her hull was already vanishing, bow first, into the sea. With her sails still raised, her momentum was driving her underwater. It happened faster than I’d thought possible. Amid the panic, several men jumped over the rail, and within seconds the frigate was gone, a large whirlpool marking the spot where she had vanished.

  Chapter Eight

  There was a long moment of silence and then a loud cheer erupted from both ships. Even the captured pirate crew joined in the celebration. The men slapped me on the back, congratulating me on our victory. It was no small matter for two crippled ships to take down a frigate.

  “That was well done,” Rhames said as I approached the helm.

  I, along with the crew, was
exuberant, but I couldn’t let the moment go to waste. “Maybe we should reconsider parting ways,” I said.

  I knew Rhames would return soon enough to his earlier demands, but I did not want to split the treasure and crew. Without the pirate contingent we would be worthless in battle and prone to becoming a victim of the high seas. Without waiting for a response, I looked Rhames square in the eye and made my case.

  “At least don’t be rash about it,” I continued. “The governor has no way of knowing what just happened and will assume the frigate is still out searching for us. We can use the opportunity to repair the boats and agree on a path. I’d even agree to offering the captives a place in the crew, with conditions, of course.” The words came out better than I’d expected. As for the pirate crew, they had seen too much and I didn’t have the stomach to put them to death.

  Rhames rubbed the stubble on his chin and I could tell he missed the braided beard he’d worn as a pirate. “Aye, something to think on. I’ll talk with the men later.”

  I was thankful for the reprieve. It would take both crews to step a new mast on the Panther. I looked back to where the frigate had gone down, and all I could see was some flotsam on the surface. There was no sign of longboats or survivors. A tinge of regret clouded my mind as I thought about how many men had likely gone down with the ship, but we’d had no choice. Still, it would be seen as an act of piracy.

  I looked at the damage the bow-chasers had caused and saw several men down. I called four men over to haul our casualties to the rail, but when I approached and took a closer look, I was filled with remorse. William lay sprawled in a pool of his blood, his entrails spilled onto the deck. In his hands, he still clutched the logbook.

  “Circle back to the island near the bluff,” I instructed Rhames. “It’s a good anchorage and there are trees there we could use to fashion a mast.” Rhames nodded and I went to the rail and yelled for Mason to follow with the Panther. “I’ll be below,” I said and left the helm with the logbook under my arm.

  It was dim in the captain’s cabin and I realized that in my earlier haste I had left the loose plank out of place. I scolded myself for being careless, but everything remained as I had left it. I took one of the two lanterns hanging from the low ceiling, lit it, and brought it to the bunk to get one last look at the cavity within. I found nothing more and replaced the loose board and mattress.

  The charts and logbooks were scattered on the table. I sat down with the lantern and started reading the English ones. The French log would have to wait until I could find another translator. I heard the anchor chain scrape against the hull and splash, then felt the ship change position when the hook grabbed. I remained studying the books, having to refill the lantern twice before I finished. It had consumed much of the night, but the work needed to be done. The logs contained firsthand information unavailable elsewhere. I committed the most valuable passages to memory, and anything secondary, I marked with torn pieces of paper. Once done, I pulled out the Frenchman’s book and chart and lay them in front of me. I stared with tired eyes, the words eluding me. Finally, I closed the bloodstained book and left the cabin.

  Swift was on watch and, after a brief exchange about the sinking of the frigate, I looked over at the Panther, outlined in the moonlight, the glow from a pipe visible on deck. Assured the watch was vigilant, I went and sat by the gunwale and rested my head against the rail.

  It was light out when I woke, and the dryness of my eyes told me I hadn’t slept enough. Still, there was no choice in the matter, and I rose. We needed to repair the boats, and quickly. The sooner we were able to escape the reach of the governor, the safer I would feel. Several tasks needed to be attended to, though, and I headed straight to the ladder and down to the skiff. I had stayed on the pirate ship overnight to keep an eye on things and wanted to see Shayla and speak to Mason before again confronting Rhames.

  I inspected both ships from the skiff, and thought again about just how lucky we had been with the frigate. We wouldn’t be so lucky the next time, and once the governor learned of the sinking, he would surely stop at nothing to find us. I rowed across to the Panther, and looking at her lines from this vantage point, the thought occurred to me to disguise her. With all the work she needed, a new cut to her sails would be a fairly easy addition.

  All thoughts of work left me when I saw Shayla stretched out on the bunk. She pulled the light cover back to reveal her naked body and I couldn’t resist her. We collapsed into each other’s arms and it took well into the morning to spend our built-up passion. Later, lying in each other’s arms, I explained my plans.

  “Partner with Rhames?” she asked. “He worries me, always wanting to pirate.” She paused. “And I don’t like the way he looks at me.”

  I agreed with her assessment but still made my case. “We are safer with him than without him. With two ships, we are stronger and no one knows weapons and battle better than him.”

  She nodded a reluctant acceptance and we got up to get dressed.

  Just as I was tying my boots, Shayla spoke up. “Maybe if I had a share he would respect me.”

  Giving a share to the woman of the captain was tricky business. The pirates, although not formally educated, were shrewd and knew politics. With her, Phillip, Mason and me, we would outvote them. This would not be lost on them. For now, I did my best to satisfy her.

  “I’ll try,” I said. “I’m going over to talk to them. I’ll signal when I’m ready for you to come over with your father and Mason.”

  I rowed over to the pirate ship and climbed the ladder to the deck. Taking our group together would alert Rhames about my intentions. I gained the deck and started an inspection of the ship. Seeing that the decks were clear and repairs were already underway, it was evident that the rum had been consumed.

  Red was on watch and I took over for him, with orders to rouse Rhames and Swift. I went back to the rail and signaled to Mason that I was ready. An hour later we were gathered by the stern rail. The governing body consisted of anyone with more than a full share and included Rhames, Red, Swift, Mason, Phillip and myself. Once we had decided on a plan, we would put it to a full vote. The three pirates looked over at Shayla.

  “Not the girl,” Rhames said.

  I whispered to her to wait by the rail and she stalked away. The crew sensed something was afoot and started to close around us, but Red and Swift glared at any man who attempted to come within earshot.

  “Show them the bar,” I said. I wanted to set the stage.

  Rhames reluctantly brought the chest from below and showed Mason and Phillip the gold bar. Stunned, they simply stared at it. I had seen it before, but stood likewise entranced. Just as Rhames set it back in the chest, I again saw the small engraving on the bottom. I knew I would have to set aside my curiosity to examine it at a later time.

  The chest was locked away and we got down to the business of refitting the ships. Work crews were agreed upon, with Mason heading the selection and fashioning of a new mast for the Panther. Rhames suggested an armed party search both islands for survivors of the frigate, and we agreed that any found would be captured, not killed.

  With the easy decisions out of the way, I brought up my concerns. “And what of the pirate crew?” I asked the group.

  They all looked at me. I knew Rhames wanted the pirates voted in to enhance his standing, but I had thought carefully about it. We needed men to man both ships and slaughtering them was out of the question. I had taken count of the freedmen and knew I still held a majority of the crew if the pirates chose to band together.

  “And Shayla. Surely she deserves a stake,” I added.

  As expected, Rhames was the first to speak. “We can’t very well release them and have them tell their tale,” he said. “I vote they join with a full share each.”

  “I agree, but we lock the weapons at all times.” I paused. “And the matter of the girl?” I hoped Rhames would be happy with the pirates being included and compromise on Shayla.

  Th
e others stood silent with their heads down. Finally Rhames spoke. “She’s your woman and not part of the crew. I vote no.”

  Without exception, the others nodded their agreement and I turned to Shayla and shook my head. With a furious look on her face, she turned and jumped over the rail. I went after her and saw her swimming for the other ship. I was about to follow, but it would show weakness, so I remained with the crew.

  Rhames called the men together and we moved to the starboard rail. The Panther lay at anchor less than a hundred feet away, her crew gathered on the port side within earshot. Rhames relayed our plan and issued orders for the work parties. Everyone soon dispersed to their duties, leaving the two of us alone.

  “We agree to leave any decision on splitting until the repairs are made and both ships are seaworthy,” I said.

  “Aye,” he said.

  I left him to his work and returned to the Panther with Mason and Phillip. I saw Phillip’s concern as he scanned the deck for Shayla.

  “She’ll be all right,” I said. “I’ll talk to her.” In truth, I wanted to avoid her until she cooled down.

  Once on deck, Mason pulled me aside after he had given orders to the crew. “I don’t trust those men, but I fear you’re right and we need them. With that kind of treasure aboard, two ships and a fighting contingent will surely come in handy.”

  He had finally come around to my position, and I tried to keep the smile off my face. I needed a way to keep Rhames and his crew occupied. “We’ll have to find us an adventure then.”

  I asked the freedman at the helm if he had seen Shayla. He assured me that she was safe below. I put her from my mind and turned to my next task—Pott.

  I found him near the forepeak and thought I saw him smile. “You look to be better,” I said.

  “The woman has the gift. The pain has plagued me for years and now it’s gone. I owe her.”

  “And what of us?” He looked queerly at me, and I decided with a man of his intelligence it would be better to lay it all out. “You saw us sink the frigate.”