Cover courtesy of @BarryVosloo
An action adventure pirate tale with all the expected elements. The ship carrying the governor's daughter is attacked at sea and she is kidnapped by Tortuga's most notorious pirate, Terrance Hollick. Spirited away to t...
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Woodcuffe gave the master Gunner his order and a volley sailed into the rock face and exploded in a shower of scree that peppered he water like a driving rain. They reloaded and waited as the Captain scanned the damage with his spyglass.
"Nothing. Nothing but confounded cliff. This is idiotic. They heard another volley from Barlow's ship and Woodcuffe slammed his glass shut and handed it to his first officer.
"Make sail, Mister day."
"Aye, sir."
Woodcuffe bumped a closed fist against his lips. This will be a very bad scene back in port.
"Set the tops"
"Aye, sir." The wind began to stir and fill the sails as the Bold Sea started to come about.
Barlow watched his sister ship turning back toward them and he screamed for his signalman.
"Order them to belay that move." Barlow snatched his spyglass from his first officer and searched the ship for the captain. he could see Woodcuffe on the bridge and his teeth ground together.
"No reply, sir."
He watched as the ship closed on their position and he moved to the larboard side to hail them as they approached. Woodcuffe drew alongside and called across before Barlow could speak.
"I am formally refusing this command and returning to Hispaniola. The Governor will be informed of this insanity as will the Admiralty."
Barlow raised a fist and screamed back that Woodcuffe would be in irons and even hung on Gibbet's Row for treason and his screams continued as the Bold Sea filled sail and moved away.
******
"What do you make of that, Skipper?"
"My instinct says the Master of the Bold Sea has chosen not to take part in the shelling of the island's topography."
"Skipper?"
"The rocks, Mister Braggs, the rocks."
"Aah..."
"It appears the other ship is disengaging as well. In about an hour it will be dusk. I think we should take the opportunity to return our two guests."
"Two?"
"Miss Francorte and Cafferty. We'll set them off in the dory from Dolphin Point. Cafferty can row them to land from there."
"What about the two that remain hard-nosed about joining us?"
"Can't let them go, they know where the cavern entrance is. We could have court decide."
"Who would defend?"
"We'll choose several good men and then draw lots. That's for later, right now ready the Bright Star to take our guests home."
