Pirate

They nodded that they understood, and I waited while they got in position. I picked up the bucket and snuck toward the front of the building. There was no place to conceal myself, but I thought if he did see me—a young man wandering the street carrying a bucket and ax—it would not cause alarm. High in the trees the breeze was starting to move the palm fronds, and I hoped it would not interfere with my plan. I got as close to the door of the brig as I dared and started dumping a steady stream of powder onto the street, working in the direction of the pier. When the bucket was empty I tossed it aside and found a position concealed from the building near the midpoint of the path of powder.

I knelt down, took the flint from my pocket, and withdrew my knife. The wind was still blowing through the trees, but I could hardly feel it as I struck the flint with the back of the blade about an inch over the powder. Sparks flew from the stone, and the powder smoldered but didn’t catch. I moved some into a pile with my hands and struck again. This time the sparks caught, and I was blinded by the flash as the powder flared. I stood up, still unable to see, and ran toward the brig.

“Fire!” I yelled as I passed the door and looked behind me to make sure the flames still burned. I yelled again to make sure the harbormaster heard me, for I only had moments before the powder burned out. Black powder will burn bright and hot, but its effects are short-lived. “Fire!” I yelled again, and ran toward the brush. The harbormaster ran onto the street in a panic, leaving the door open behind him. He ran toward the pier, yelling for help as he went. I watched the building as Rhames snuck in behind him, and emerged a minute later with Red.

He was hurt and hung onto Rhames and Rory, unable to walk. I left the brush, handed my ax to Rory, and took her place under his arm. The fire was already dying out as we moved behind the fisherman’s house and entered the brush. Syd and Swift waited to see if anyone pursued us. They joined us a few minutes later, as we struggled to haul the injured man through the thick limbs and branches. We moved as fast as we could and emerged on the beach. As we pulled the boats into the water, we could hear cries from the village that didn’t appear to have anything to do with fire.

44

We reached the ship and scurried aboard. Rhames was on the ladder directly below Red, using his bulk to push him from below to help him reach the deck. Swift and Syd reached over the gunwale and pulled him aboard. I was last, and when I reached the deck I went for the rigging and climbed to get a better view. From where we had anchored, I couldn’t see the harbor itself, but lights were visible, and I could hear ships being readied to sail. The harbormaster knew that Red had knowledge of the treasure and was not going to let him slip from his grasp.

“Raise anchor,” I called out, and looked over the water, thankful now for the full moon. We would have a good head start and, although the moon lit the sky, I doubted it would be enough light to reveal us. Mason and Rhames came to the helm.

The three of us huddled around the wheel as the other men prepared the ship for sea. “He’s not going to let us go without a fight.”

“Aye. We should head to the island and get the treasure,” Rhames said.

I paused for a minute and heard the clatter the chain makes when an anchor is being raised. “We don’t have enough of a lead. If they even see the direction we are heading, they can catch us when we anchor. There’s nowhere else to hide there. Even if we turned toward New Orleans and lost them on the seas, we would still be fugitives. We can’t let them see the boat, or know it was us that took Red.”

Rhames nodded. “Aye, but the frigate is up the other coast.”

“That leaves only Cuba or the Bahamas,” Mason interjected.

We had pirated in both waters with Gasparilla, and I thought through the merits of each. But first, we needed to get underway and make our escape. Regardless of our destination, we would need the deeper water of the Florida Straits. “Mason, take her out to deep water. I’ll give a new heading shortly.”

I left the helm to him and pushed Rhames toward the bow. Before I could tell him my plan, Rory came toward us. I had hoped to be well toward a destination before having to deal with her, but here she was.

“And what do you have in mind?” she asked.

“First, I need to know if you are with us or against us,” I said, and glanced at Rhames, seeking his approval.

“I’d be curious as to what you’re thinking before I say.”

We were interrupted by a call from high in the rigging. The sails had caught the breeze and Mason was steering toward deeper water.

“Boat leaving the harbor,” Syd called down. “We keep this course, we’ll be seeing who it is soon enough.”