“Chibs, move.” Lilith instructed.
“What?” he replied a little confused.
“Chibs, there’s something under you,” said Lilith pointing to the deck under him. He jumped slightly, fearing something sinister was under him and scrambled from the compartment. Looking closely Lilith could see the edge lines of the deck boards, running laterally across the deck. But there was an edge running perpendicular to the others, it seemed out of place to Lilith and as Chibs looked closer he noticed it also.
“Sweet mother’s son! Lilith, good eye lady, good eye! Here, give me a hand,” exclaimed Chibs. He withdrew a dagger from his belt and kneeled inside the compartment, he wedged the blade into the gap between deck boards and began to pry upward. As the board came loose Lilith reached over Chibs’ shoulder to help pull the boards away. Underneath the boards lay a small compartment, but Lilith could not see very far into it from where she stood behind Chibs.
“What do you see Chibs? What’s in there?” Lilith asked excitedly.
“Lilith go get James. He needs to see this straight away,” he answered sitting up slightly. “Go girl, fetch the Captain!” Lilith startled a little by Chibs’ short reply turned and raced above deck, grateful for a breath of fresh air. When she returned with James, Chibs was sitting on the cannon carriage hunched over facing away from them.
“Chibs!” James called, “Are you alright? What is it man?”
“Look here Captain!” Chibs gestured to a chest at his feet. The lid was opened and as Lilith raised the lantern light up to it, she could see a brilliant sparkle of shining coin. “There’s two more in there James, same size as this one.”
“Chibs, are those Spanish coins?” James asked wide eyed.
“Some are. Some are French, some of them are American. There’s no telling what that chest alone is worth, Captain.”
“What would a slave hauler be doing carrying all this?” asked Lilith shifting her gaze between the two men.
“Well. It could be the Captain’s purse.” James started.
“Not a Captain of the East India Company James, this is more than any Captain could be holding for himself.” Chibs answered with a grievous glare. “James, these riches were bound for someone. The crew likely had little knowledge they were even here. If they had known of an amount like this, they’d have mutinied on the bastard and this tub would be scuttled in some cove never to be found again. There’s just no way.”
“Who cares Chib? It’s ours now! The profits of the slave trade, split amongst our crew!” exclaimed the Captain.
“James, you’re not hearing me. Someone is expecting this bounty! When it doesn’t arrive, there is going to be all manner of hell breaking loose. This is an East India Company ship, that means whoever is waiting on this gold holds position with the company and likely the damned Royal Navy. We need to scuttle her here and now and be gone. Out of the Caribbean and soon lad!” said Chibs, his voice betrayed a bit of panic James was not accustomed to from his steady first mate.
“No Chib, I don’t think we’ll be scuttling her.” James began.
“Oh, damnit man! Will you hear me out? They are going to be watching for this particular ship! A brig of English make and mark lad! We can refit her and rename her, but that won’t deter eyes for long! James, I’m begging you. We can take on all the souls, there’s room aboard the Maiden and the Shepherd, between the two of us we can save them and be rid of this vessel. Use your reason lad!” Chibs was in a full fury now. Trying to dissuade his Captain from what he saw as an error of ego.
“No, Chibs. I understand what you are telling me. I get it clear as morning. But I have another idea,” said James. His glance shifted between Chibs and Lilith and for a second, there was a devilish grin on his face and Lilith caught a gleam in his eye. Whatever thought he had cooked up; Lilith knew he would not let go easily.
“Clear every soul off this ship Chibs, just as you said. But get a prize crew aboard her, we make sail with the dawn. Northward.”
22 Sept 1808
Kingston, Jamaica Colony
Dawn appeared behind the fleet as they sailed into the harbor in Kingston, sending long shadows from the tall ships stretching out ahead of them onto the gentle swells. With the Hunter in the lead they slowly eased into the broad bay towards their anchorage some distance off the long piers on the shore. An eerie calm lingered over the harbor which was usually fraught with activity no matter the time of day. Aboard the Endurance, Admiral Sharpe had come on deck for their entrance into the harbor. His keen eye missed little and he was soon on a razor edge with the change in activity. Typically, the fleet pulling into harbor would draw a frenzy of activity. Merchants and craftsmen would make their way to the piers to offer their goods and services, women would flock to greet the weary sailors and help relieve them of some of their pay. But this morning the harbor remained quiet, even for a day when they were not receiving the fleet. Something was amiss. The steady sounding of the linesmen calling out their measurements and the crisp orders from the quarterdecks of each ship was the only sound that met his ears. No music from town, no raucous brawling or shouting, no catcalls from women on shore. Elliot’s face tightened and he could feel his skin prickle with goosebumps as he looked up to the fort overlooking
