Zealand

62. Changing Circumstances

When we had descended to the great cabin, I asked Captain, "Which has more worth, sir – the ship or its lading?"

"A fine question, Boy. It depends upon the cargo, but most often, its worth exceeds that of the ship – sometimes far exceeds. Our first task is to examine and inventory each of them." He paused a moment as if to think before continuing, "With the exacting [1] nature of the Dutch, we will find well-organised bills of lading to make this quick rather than long and tedious."

He turned and headed toward the stairs. "A task for our officers and those of Delfe."

A few hours later, while we sat supping, he said, "Captains from six of the merchantmen have now expressed interest. Three want to purchase cargos of sugar and tobacco without the ships; one similarly wants mahogany, and two want unladen ships."

He paused to sip some ale before continuing, "And that is without announcing our wish to sell. After the third one came to inquire, I sent Mister Angus to visit all the merchantmen, and with the threat from the Dutch and French greatly diminished, I expect more interest."

Barbados, Friday, 8th July 1667

With eight laden and three unladen ships remaining unsold, we began sailing them to Barbados, two at a time. Delfe remained at anchor in Nevis, two of her watches sailing one prize and the third with our third in the other prize. Southward was tedious for the crews, with three days of standing one-in-two. Northward was far easier, standing one-in-six.

A month later, we approached Barbados of a mid-afternoon with Delfe and the final unsold prize, Volendam, a laden East-Indiaman. Captain said its cargo was by far the most valuable, and he wanted to take the time to find the best price. As we entered the bay, I was surprised to see none of the King's ships there.

After we settled to anchor and the remainder of our crew had returned aboard from Volendam, Captain addressed all hands. "Well done, all. With the last of our prizes towed, we will take ease here for a few days." He swept an arm around the anchorage. "But with only the forts, Delfe and Zealand here to defend, we must be ever ready. Lookouts aloft from the first light of dawn until dark."

Pointing toward the town, he continued, "The island, though small, is home to sixty-thousand people, half of them freemen, and there is much to see. The longboats will be available to take you ashore, but –"

He was interrupted by loud cheering, and when it quieted sufficiently, he continued, "But if you go ashore, heed this well: Do not go except in groups and always with stout ones among you, and once there, do not separate. Slaves to work the sugar are in high demand, and London and Africa are not the only sources. There are many reports of sailors being taken from the streets here. Also, avoid the brothels – I am told that some are ruses of the slave poachers."

Hearing this, the crew remained quiet as he pointed. "Our only unsold prize is an East-Indiaman, and besides the usual spices, silks and cottons, she carries carvings of exotic woods, ivory and gemstones. As well, there are intricate tapestries, carpets, rugs and other such luxuries. The cargo is far too fine to sell as a whole, and we will first seek interest among the gentry for the most exquisite items and –"

"Sails, sir," came a call from aloft.

"Point them."

"Abaft the port beam, sir. Rising over the land near the fort."

"What colours?"

"Pale, sir. Too far for detail. Two more rise with it."

"Thank you. Report changes."

"Aye, sir. Changes. Now four ships."

"Thank you." Captain turned to me and said, "Boy, fetch the glass and hasten aloft."

"Aye, sir. Telescopium and up the mast."

Not a minute later, after examining, I called down, "English, Sir. Now six, one flying the Admiral's flag."

"Thank you. Boy. You may descend."

"Aye, sir. Descend."

As I did, Captain continued addressing the crew, "There is little doubt that is Admiral Harman and his squadron. When we spoke last week, he told me their blockade of Martinique continued with great success. They had begun small daily attacks to draw fire, hoping to exhaust the French supply of powder and balls. The diminishing return of shot showed its effectiveness, and he planned to do a prolonged attack this week."

He paused and looked up. "Lookout."

"Aye, sir."

"Report if you doubt they are English ships."

"Aye, sir. Report doubt."

Captain continued addressing the crew, and when he finished, he remained up top talking with the officers, and I descended to the great cabin.

A long while later, as I dusted and polished the wainscot, Captain descended, approached and said, "Your respect from the hands, the mates and the officers continues to grow, Boy."

"Thank you, sir. This pleases me."

"And so it should. It is yours to relish, but do not allow it to change your gentle manner nor your attitude. Continue to be who you are – without artifice – this is why they admire you."

"Aye, sir. I have recognised this in the mess and below, watching how they treat the braggarts and boastful ones."

"Your powers of observation and discernment serve you well, Boy." He pointed toward his night cabin. "I must clean and dress for the Admiral. You may take ease now and ascend to watch their anchoring."

Up top, I saw the squadron had rounded the point and were furling sails as they readied to anchor. Seeing eleven only, I puzzled a moment until realising two of them had been fireships, and they were the missing two. He must have used them.

But all the men-of-war have returned undamaged. I looked closer. No, not undamaged. Some collapsed masts, broken spars and missing sails. And there, a large section of bulwark blown asunder. Much like the damage Captain Berry's ships took.

While watching Captain being pulled across the anchorage toward Lion, I wondered what news he would bring. Might the Admiral have retreated as did the French and Dutch?

When they had all settled to anchor, I recalled Captain's words – take ease to watch their anchoring – so I went below to continue with the wainscot. All the while, I thought about what he had said – continues to grow, – wondering how much more it must grow. How much more to prove myself worthy?

A long while later, as I rubbed a piece of beeswax across a panel, all hands sounded. Captain was not on the quarterdeck when I arrived, so I wondered what it was about.

As the crew mustered, Captain stepped through the bulwark gate and strode aft. Aha! He must have called from the boat while it approached.

All had assembled and were silent when he reached the quarterdeck, stood at the forward rail and shook his arms above his head. "The French are defeated." [2]

Notes:

[1] Meticulous didn't enter the language until 1827, so I couldn't use it here.
[2] The historical record shows that twenty-three of the twenty-five French ships in Martinique were destroyed or captured, effectively ending their threat in the Caribbean for the remainder of the war.