Sackett's Land

ourselves climbing, ever so slightly. At the end of the second hour we reached the crest of a low hill that gave us a view of all that laid east and south of us, and there, not half a mile away, was the Jolly Jack.

            For all my confident talk I knew not what to do to recover our companion, only that it must be done. And done by wit and wile rather than strength of arm and hand.

            We worked our way down through brush and trees, avoiding the trail that might be guarded, until finally we came to the edge of a high woods not one hundred and fifty feet from the Jolly Jack. We were well hidden.

            There could be but one reason for Bardle not killing Rufisco immediately. They hoped to have from him our hiding place. To save him suffering, we must somehow free him at once.

            'What is there to do?' Sakim whispered, staring at the vessel.

            A man with a crossbow loitered near the ladder. On the shore nearby were several crude huts, hastily built of ship's canvas, driftwood poles and the like. A fire was blazing on the shore.

            This was no place found by accident, but one known to Bardle or someone else aboard, for the bank was steep and the vessel lay in close, one line running from the bow to an oak tree, the other from the stern.

            'They are close,' I commented.

            Sakim shrugged. 'In my country we run our ships on the sand, then let the tide float them clear. It has always been so.'

            'Here there is a current,' I said thoughtfully, studying the water on which they lay, as much as it could be seen. 'Another river must come into the sound from somewhere west of them.'

            'There he is. They did not take him aboard,' Sakim said suddenly. He pointed. 'Two of those with him just came from that hut.'

            I could see them. If they would just leave Rufisco there, and if we could create a diversion ...

            They were a rough, ugly lot, and I had no desire to see them go to work on Rufisco. He was a good man, if surly and given to sarcasm and doubt—too good a man to be tortured by this lot of scoundrels, who were little better than pirates.

            It worried me that they should have chosen to stop at this place, for it was my wish to establish good relations with the savages. With such a lot as the crew of the Jolly Jack it would be impossible, for they were a pack of greedy brutes.

            'There is a thought, Sakim,' I said, 'a thought that has come to me.'

            He glanced at me. 'It must be a good thought,' Sakim suggested, 'I think there is not much time, and they are very many.'

            Turning, I led the way back into the woods, circling wide around toward the shore. There was a thing I must know. My father had always told me the way to win was to attack. No matter how outnumbered, there was always a good way to attack.

            It was a little time before we came to our objective. It was the tree to which the upstream line was made fast. 'It is a strong current,' I said.

            Sakim squatted on his haunches, his teeth flashing through the darkness of his pointed beard. 'A strong current,' he agreed. 'And if this line were cut—?'

            Crouching close, I noticed there was no watch on the line. Nobody was closer than us to the ship itself, and the line was a good long one. It was made fast around the lower trunk of the tree, and heavily screened by brush.

            'The big roots will help,' I said, 'but we must build up some shelter with mud.'

            'Mud?'

            'We will not cut the line,' I said, 'because both of us will be needed to rescue Rufisco. We must be there when the line breaks, not here. We will start a fire, a very small fire, and leave it burning. It will be screened by roots and mud as well as the brush. When the line gives way, we will be ready and waiting.'

            Sakim considered, then nodded. 'Allah be with us,' he said. 'It is a fearsome thing we do.'

            Carefully we prepared our small fire, and added fuel. It began to burn; flames touched the heavy line. Adding a little fuel, we turned and went swiftly back to our former place.

            Now we must hope. If the fire did not die out, or if it was not discovered and killed, then the line must part. Caught by the current the stern would swing into the stream, turning counterclockwise. All hands would immediately rush to save their ship, and then, if all went as we hoped ...

            We waited ... and waited. Nothing happened.

            The same two men stood at the door of the hut where Rufisco was likely imprisoned. Others were gathered about their cooking fires. I notched an arrow and looked at the man nearest me by the hut.

            All was quiet. The vessel lay gently upon the waters, only straining a little at the lines. Had our fire gone out? Had someone discovered it?

            Suddenly there was a sharp cracking sound as the line parted, and instantly the stern of the ship swung into the current. Somebody let go with a wild yell, and there were shouts and running from aboard the vessel. Men dashed toward the bow where a rope ladder hung.

            'Now,' I said, and we went forward, not running, but walking carefully, swiftly. A step, two steps ... The heavier guard turned and I let fly my arrow. It was high, but lucky. It took the guard in the throat and he fell, grasping the arrow's shaft with both hands.

            Around the shore there were wild yells, shouts, orders, recriminations.

            The second guard had run out a small way, and Sakim put an arm across his throat and a knife into his ribs. I ducked into the hut.

            Rufisco, barely visible in reflected firelight, was struggling. I slipped my blade under his bonds and the razor edge parted them. 'Rub your legs,' I said. 'We'll have to run.'

            'I can run,' he replied grimly, and we ducked outside. I sheathed my sword and took up the bow again.

            I notched an arrow and followed, backing up, watching to cover our retreat.

            My eyes were seeking Nick Bardle. An arrow for him and I would consider myself well paid.

            Just one arrow!

            He was there, but shifting about among the running men, and there was no good target.

            'Another time, Captain,' I told myself. 'Another time.' I turned and walked into the woods, and in a few minutes had caught up with my friends.

            We had been quick, but lucky too. I had no good feeling about that luck of ours. It was too good. It was building us for a smashing blow... I could feel it in my bones.

        Chapter 12

            We found our way to our gig. Under the shelter of the shrubs and trees we slept, awakened, cooked a meal, then slept again.

            Finally when my eyes opened the others still slept, and I lay awake, a lonely man, thinking back to England, the fens, and even more to a girl with a lamp in her hand. I'd no cause to be thinking of her, yet each man has some girl he thinks of, and my thoughts kept turning back to her.

            We Sacketts had a feeling for home and family, and although I'd had no family but my father, the sense was strong within me. Now we had furs, one half of which were mine. It was a goodly sum, but insufficient. We must go along the coast and keep a sharp lookout for the Tiger, Tempany's ship. By now it might be near.

            If we could exchange our furs for more trade goods, another venture might be even more profitable.

            Rufisco awakened as I was broiling a piece of venison.

            'I have not thanked you,' he said.

            'It is not important.' I stirred the coals. 'You would have done the same for me.'

            He sat up. 'Perhaps. I have been wondering about that.'

            'Well,' I said, 'in my place you would have.'

            'Your place?'

            'I was your leader. I was responsible. It makes a difference, you know.'