“Toss the gold, it’s your head we want!” another cried out.
“Toss him! Keep the gold and the ship!” a sailor shouted.
Will looked back to the sail approaching, the sun was dropping low in the sky and the vessel would not draw near until after nightfall. By that time, he would either be dead or have such scarce crew left he would be unable to command a defense. If he surrendered now, he would be killed as would all who had stood with him and the woman he’d rescued. He did not hold enough of the crew to effectively sail the massive line ship, let alone man her guns as well. Surrender would not do. Fighting on would only prolong the inevitable, but his honor wouldn’t allow him otherwise. A pistol shot pierced the moment of calm and Will felt a tearing, burning sensation high on his left arm followed by several sailors charging him. He parried and countered in a rolling retreat, falling in line with the marines who had stood with him.
Their stand on deck was short lived as they were pushed by the overwhelming number of revolting crew towards the aft castle. A marine opened the hatch and the men all scrambled in, Will rushed in just ahead of the last marine who took several pistol shots in the back, collapsing to the deck. The door slammed shut behind Will as he raced into the cabin. Around him the men braced the door as those from the outside attempted to force their way in. Three marines held the door while another two dropped a timber plank through braces on the inside. Shelton approached, exhausted from the struggle and wounded by a slash on his forearm.
“You’re bleeding Sir,” he said, opening Will’s sleeve to examine the wound. It was a deep gash, but the shot had grazed his arm and missed the bone. “What happened Sir? How did we come to this so rapidly?”
“Gold, man. I’ve heard of mutinies over less, though I’d never expected it would happen to my first command, nor so rapidly. There’s enough gold on deck to fund the entire Royal Navy.” Will answered dropping his gaze onto the floor of the cabin where the woman lay, still unconscious. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes while the pounding against the door and shouting outside intensified. “It seems they take issue with my decision to rescue this one as well. We found her floating in the sea among the wreckage on our sortie.” Shots sounded outside the door and one of the marines began to look panicked.
“Sir, if they lift a gun from below to blow down this door, we’re finished. If they all rush us, we won’t last but a few minutes,” he implored.
“They can’t keep up the siege forever and the approaching ship should be on us shortly after nightfall. They don’t have the time to lift one of the heavy guns.” Will said almost thinking aloud.
“But if they are another pirate crew or a French privateer, we’ll be done in Sir. I won’t be a captive, I’ll die first.” Shelton retorted.
“You may have the chance Lieutenant, but I won’t surrender to mutineers. For now, we hold the line here, force those buggers on deck to make their move. Once that ship approaches closer, they’ll have some decisions to make. Let’s see how well they hash it out amongst themselves.” Will said smirking. He walked to the fantail, pressing on one of the ornate glass panes above a wooden bench lining the rear of the cabin. The pane popped free and fell to the water below prompting wild looks between the rest of the occupants of the cabin. Will protruded his head out of the frame the glass had occupied, craning his neck to see the incoming vessel. She had full sails set and in skillful manner, she would intercept the Endurance in a matter of hours.
Drowned Maiden
25 Sept 1808
17 Degrees 32 minutes N, 76 Degrees 12’ W
Night closed around the Maiden as she sliced through the calm seas northward. The last rays of evening dying out in purple and red hues gave way for the wonders of the galaxy to display themselves down onto the earth. But no eyes from the Drowned Maiden were sky larking amongst the heavens as she sailed for the last suspected location of the Unholy Shepherd. Instead, every hand on deck had their focus glued to the double decked line ship that lay ahead of them. As they drew nearer and the light of the sun faded from sight, it became apparent to Lilith that something was unfolding before them on the vessel across the water.
“Chibs, is that gunfire?” Lilith asked, furrowing her eyebrows.
“It sure sounds like it. They wouldn’t be firing at us though, not yet, we’re too far away…” his answer drifted away.
“They’re fighting each other?” Lilith pressed dying to know more, even if it was Chibs’ conjecture.
“It happens at sea, a crew will mutiny for any number of reasons, a skipper too harsh or even rations running low. Sometimes all it takes is too much time between port calls. But my guess is they saw the black banner and they’re fighting amongst each other over what they will do. The captain will want to fight, the crew will want to flee. But that’s only my guessing, we’ll find the truth soon enough.” Chibs drew on his pipe and smoke circled from his nostrils as he spoke. “James means to find out what happened with the Shepherd but judging by the flotsam in the water around her, I’m guessing she is what happened,” he said pointing to the enormous line ship.
Lilith’s heart sank in her chest. She felt a wave of dread and tears began stinging her eyes.
“Trina? Chibs, if something happened to her I swear…” Lilith started, a wave of anger rising in her voice.
“Don’t write her off just yet
