[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

debris. We found three boxes, close together on the sand, with water-soaked
clothing, all of which we took back to our boat for ourselves or the Catawba.
Despite all this, for miles the beach was bare and empty.
We kept our fires low, used dry and relatively smokeless driftwood, and kept
a
sharp lookout at all times.
Each day brought an increase of doubt and worry. Despite the pleasure of
camping, it was beginning to pall, and still no ship came.
Was our voyage downriver all for nothing? Should we wait longer? Or once more
return to our fort?
Then on the twenty-fourth day, while we were gathering driftwood, I looked up
and saw the ship.
She was not more than a mile offshore, and feeling her way south. I looked at
her long through my glass, and Jeremy studied her as well.
"British," he said, after a bit, "let's give her a hail."
"We shall," I said, "and then do you, Pim, O'Hara, and Magill stay from
sight.
Peter and Sakim can stay with the boats, and also keep out of sight. I'll
meet
them with Watkins and Glasco."
"If it is going aboard a ship there is," Abby said, "we shall go as well. I
want
Kin to see a ship, and all of us to have a bite of English food."
"All right," I agreed reluctantly, "come along."
Yet I took the time to charge two pistols and conceal them under my buckskin
hunting shirt, and my knife as well. My sword and my musket were in plain
sight.
The ship hove to, then dropped her hook and put a boat over the side. We
waited,
Page 249
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
standing on the beach.
There were seven men in the boat. The man in command was a burly, smiling
fellow
with a cheerful face. "Well! Isn't this a pretty sight! English, I'll wager,
and
castaways."
"We've furs to trade," I said. "And we are here willingly, and do not wish to
be
picked up."
"Ah? Well, of course not. But the master asks that you come aboard ... be his
guests. Have a meal, and then back to the shore you shall come." He glanced
curiously up and down the empty beach. "Although why you'd like this better
than
old England, I can't guess."
He looked around. "Furs, you say? Well, the captain's the man for that. He'll
trade. Come! Supper is waiting, and the captain ordered up the best when he
saw
you through his glass. 'Women,' the captain said, 'it's a bit of time since
we've seen the whisk of a skirt, and two such lovely wenches women I've never
seen!'"
We scrambled up the ladder and over the side, and as I came over, a hand
reached
out for my musket. I pulled it back, smiling. "I will keep that," I said.
"There's redskins ashore and there might be pirates as well."
A huge man, as large as two of me and fat, came down the deck. "Let it be,
Joshua! Let it be! The man's a guest aboard here, and welcome to his arms if
he
wishes!"
He held out a huge hand. "Wilson here! Captain Oldfast Wilson, master of the
Lion, out of Portsmouth! How do you do? Your name would be?"
"Barnes," I said, "and this is Mrs. Barnes. We are," I lied, "settlers on
this
shore. Is this one of Raleigh's ships?"
"It is not. It is my own ship." He glanced from me to Watkins and Glasco.
Page 250
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
"Settlers, you say? I did not know there were any such, since Grenville's men
were lost and the Raleigh settlers vanished from Roanoke."
"Our ship was a Flemish galleon "
There was a movement behind me, and then a man stepped around to face me. It
was
Emmden.
"He lies! That is Sackett! Barnabas Sackett, and it is the Queen herself who
wants him!"
"Of course, it is!" Wilson was smiling smugly. "I glimpsed you once in
London,
m'boy! Saw you fair! Even from the glass I was certain sure 'twas you. By all
that's holy, this is a good day! A reward from the Queen herself, and "
"Cap'n?" Joshua said. "He said he had furs to trade."
"Ah? Furs, is it? Well, a fair trade we'll have. Do you be telling us where
the
furs are now. You tell us, and you'll eat well and sleep well aboard this
ship!
Otherwise, it's the blackest corner of the hold and a weight of chains for
you,
and certain drowning if we sink. What'll it be m'boy? Irons or the furs?
Treat
me right, and I'll do the same by you!"
"Well," I said reluctantly, "do I have your word on that? I have but six
bales "
"Six?" The greed shone in his eyes. "Why, of course! For six bales you have
my
word on it, and the best of quarters for you and your lady as well. Even for
the
wench yonder." He indicated Lila.
"There's no hope for it, Abby," I said, shrugging. Then I added, "There's a
ship's boat across the island, and the bales on the shore hard by. If you
send a
boat, I'd be glad to show them "
"Na, na, m'boy! I'd not be troublin' you." He pointed a finger at Black Tom
Watkins. "We'll send that one. He'll know where they are, an' he'll lead us
Page 251
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
right to them. He will if he wants to live without fifty lashes a week until
he
dies. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]