Noble Duty

2. The Treasure Chest

Atlantica continued through the channel between the mangroves and the reef, now with the wind filling the royal to assist the hands on the longboat's sweeps. The cursing of the pirates on the raft grew louder, their crude paddles unable to match our increased speed.

Below me, three of them caught hold of the nailed planks on one of the temporary repairs to our side, but with none of the others holding them, they were pulled off the raft as it continued down our side. Then, with nothing but fingertip grips and no place for their feet, one by one, they slipped into the water.

The raft paddled onward, seeming to ignore them. Desperation? Or no concern for their crew? Crew? Hah! A motley assemblage of rogues, miscreants and scoundrels. How could one expect to lead such a lot?

As I watched the raft fall beyond our stern, a call came from forward, "Shall I unfurl and sheet the gallant now, sir?"

I looked at the coral head broad our bow. "Aye, Master Jenson. Unfurl and sheet. Master Evans, recover and secure the longboat."

"Aye, sir, secure longboat aboard."

Confirming the pirates fell further astern, I examined our position. Then, hastening to the hutch, I checked the plan of Cayo Bizcayno and called forward, "When the gallant is set, hoist and sheet the jib and staysail."

"Aye, sir. Jib and staysail."

Within minutes, Atlantica settled to her added sails, and we were drawn southward across the wind, slowly winning eastings away from the reef alee. When we were sufficiently beyond the southern tip of Cayo Bizcayno, I saw Jenson watching me, and I called, "Master Jenson, about to port. Set up on a starboard tack."

"Aye, sir. Port to a starboard tack."

"Helmsman, one turn to port."

"Aye, sir. Once around a-port."

As we slowly came about across the wind, I directed the helm and watched the compass. When we had settled with filled sails, I checked the bearing and said to the helmsman, "Steer northeast by north."

"Aye, sir. Northeast by north."

Seeing the sandglass near run, I withdrew my watch from its fob and opened it. Approaching noon by imprecise reckoning. "Mister Martin."

"Aye, sir."

"It nears noon. Shoot the merpass."

"Aye, sir. Merpass."

Looking around to see what else was needed, I saw Gillian staring at me, smiling, and I strode across and pulled her into an embrace. "The intense part is now finished."

"Ummm, and so brilliantly." She nodded over her shoulder. "We will soon meet the pirates again."

I turned to look, seeing the raft fine the port bow. "Aye, appears the current swept them seaward."

"Might you toss our prisoners overboard to join them?"

"Hmmm!" I shook my head. "They would not survive."

"Oh! Can they not swim?

"That matters not. Their shipmates will blame them for allowing us to escape. Likely pummel them with the paddles and leave them bloodied to attract the sharks."

She winced and tightened our embrace. Then, after a short silence, she asked, "What is in that chest?"

"Likely whatever most valuable they could cram into it. Navigational instruments, charts, books, plus their pillage and plunder."

"Possibly my hair combs and jewellery?"

"Aye, and because it was recent, it would have been close at hand for ..."