Tropical Heroes

04. Commander

The night was calm and the clouds hide the moon. The weak wind made the fine rain fell tilted. At sea few waves disturbed the great salt mirror. There were four ships anchored near the beach and dozens of boats in the sand. Hundreds of men held the edge and not less tree trunks were prepared for shipment. Torches cut the inner darkness of the forest by the water. The hustle and bustle was constant and uninterrupted, men who seemed desperate for sugar ants. Huge logs were rolled down to the sea, united by thick ropes forming huge rafts. The material was taken by small boats to ships, where it was hoisted and tidy in basements. The tranquil bay was the ideal place for easy transport and Brazil wood shipment. The flags on the masts fluttered slowly because of little wind. Flags were not Portuguese; They were streaked with three different colors. The service continued well until an explosion left one of the ships on fire. A new explosion occurred on the same ship, and when the men on the ground were preparing to come to the rescue vessels at berth, a shower of arrows the caught off guard. The woods, left the Indians and Portuguese soldiers cries to fight the French. Two new explosions and other burning ship. The two remaining hoisted anchor and maneuvered to counter. The first wholesale French ship foundered and a Lusitanian ship was hit in retaliation. The beach was lit and the noise of firearms, swords of metal against metal, the arrows fly and agonizing screams represented the battle that was being fought. The Portuguese and their allies were outnumbered. The carnage was such that left the Red Sea. Two French ships were saved and were captured. Portuguese ships also fought the fire. The Lusitanian captain counted the dead: three hundred French, Portuguese fifty soldiers and thirty-two Indians. Before they left, the winners piled the bodies of the fallen and set fire. A large curtain of smoke covered the sky. The commander watched the show around. He asked a uniformed man who spent:

- Our boat?

- Two out of order, sir.

- What is the extent of the damage?

- A burned on the upper deck and the other with serious damage to the hull, sir.

- How many wounded?

- Ten men and seventeen wild, sir.

The commander was a while in silence, assessing the situation, to order:

- Boarding the wounded on the ship where the fire was controlled. Move the carpenters to the one with the broken hull. Scour the enemy's ships and change the flags. Kill all the enemies survivors, we make no prisoners. Mount the scale of watchmen and guards, the rest must rest. We leave tomorrow when dusk.

- Right away, sir.

When the commanding officer was alone, he pulled from his pocket a small diary and began to write down the information received from the subordinate. The night went quiet. The middle of the day arrived and, with him, orders to begin preparations for the match, after the setting of the sun. The forestry allies preferred to return the same way they came by land. With the star king ever touching the sea, the commanding officer and a subordinate analyzing a map on a large stone that served as a table and support.

- The defense was successful. We return to Salvador, which will pay regard to the Governor General.

And showing the northeast part of the map, he continued:

- We will follow through this region, surrounding an island away from the coast, we turn around and return to the seat of government.

- Yes, commander, will be done as you ordered. But this bay will be unmanned, sir?

- The commander Soares will be responsible for the region.

- It was a great battle, sir.

- Yes, despite the delay. You can reach them by little.

- The forestry do not like to walk in our boats, sir.

- It is true, on the other hand the rain of arrows left in the large sandy part of the invaders. Well ... Hurry up so that, before the moon appears, have already left this beach back.

- Yes sir.

When the child pulled away, the commander Manuel picked up the papers, some personal belongings and headed to one of the small boats bound for the main ship.

See website www.tropicalheroes.com mythology, characters and plot of this volume.

All translations made in Google Translator.