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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Private Bensons stood shaking before the Governor in captain Woodcuffe's office.
"You put this- this raw excuse for a Marine to guard Hollick!"
"Private Benson was on duty outside the building, sir. He wasn't guarding the prisoner personally."
"Then who was!" Francorte clasped his hands behind his back and turned in frustrated circles.
"The jailer is the only man manning the cells and with only one prisoner, it was adequate."
"Adequate? The one prisoner escaped didn't he? And he took my daughter again!" His face flamed and his voice creaked with the strain of shouting.
"Sir-"
"Never mind excuses. Whoever entered the jail and knocked out your jailer had to get past this idiot first. I want him stripped of his uniform and thrown in this leaky tub of a jail."
"Begging your pardon, Governor but the men under my command are under my command. I will enforce any disciplinary actions I deem necessary."
"As Governor and representative of His Majesty on this island, I will tell you, sir, what actions to take. This man is to be punished in extreme for his failure of duty."
The two men stood dueling visually until Woodcuffe bit his lip and gave a curt nod. Francorte almost snorted his disapproval of the men as he started out of the office then stopped in the doorway and looked back.
"I want him recaptured, Captain and I want my daughter back so she can see him swing from that gibbet in the square." The door slammed, rattling the picture of the King behind Woodcuffe's desk.
"Confine yourself to quarters, Private. We'll decide on a suitable punishment later."
Benson felt his muscles all release at once and he sighed aloud. "Thank you, sir."
******
The Dark Pride sat awaiting the Captain's arrival. Woodcuffe had assumed command of the first ship of the line, Bold Sea being taken over by Woodcuffe's ex first officer. This sailing was to be a determined effort to seek and destroy the pirate haven and to rescue the Governor's daughter. Woodcuffe was under no delusion that this would be difficult, maybe even impossible but most certainly bloody.
"Weigh anchor, Mister Downs."
"Aye, sir." The order was called down the deck and the crew began the practiced routine of making way.
"Helmsman, set a course for Tortuga north coast." Woodcuffe listened to the order repeat and he left the bridge and went amidships to 'feel the sea' and mark his sister ship following.
The afternoon of the second day the Dark Pride sailed slowly along the coast of Tortuga. Lookouts were aloft, spyglasses were all along the port rail, scanning the rocky face of the island. Woodcuffe muttered to himself as he gave his eyes a rest. There had to be an opening big enough to take the Bright Star. Where the devil was it?
