“You all understand me well enough to know that I detest any sort of bullying. Yesterday, I perceived bullying from the British mandating us to heave to. I made an on-the-spot decision not to. The Brits believe they own every nautical mile on the globe. I have an issue with that attitude. We kept our wits about us. We made no hostile move; in fact, we did not return fire until after they first fired upon us. We even sailed away to show them our peaceful intentions. Then they fired with several guns, striking a sail and our hull. Fortunately, no one was injured, and our ship was not immobilized. Not until that moment did I order to fire, but only in self-defense, to protect the crew. I am not saying this to defend my actions. I am only stating -”
“Forgive my interruption, captain,” remarked Bruno Walter. “We are free men, sailing a free body of water. I stand firmly with you, captain, in that belief. They had no preordained right to accost us.”
Heinrich lamented, “Nevertheless, we fired upon a British naval vessel and more than that, we disabled their ship. I am afraid that this action will not go unpunished. I am grateful for your support, but the British will most likely not see it any other way. I do not doubt that our ship was identified and our actions will be documented as hostile.
Otto spoke up.
“I’m afraid Heinrich is correct. I believe just as their cannons fired in anger, their authorities will deem us as a rogue ship acting out of anger. That means every British warship will be after us, and in all likelihood, they will alert other ships to be on the lookout for us. Without a doubt, we will be a marked vessel.”
Diego spoke up for the first time, “Pardon me, capitán. I want to state that I do not have patience with those that wish to harm an innocent merchant ship. I have known many ruffians, some who wear military uniforms on board English warships and others who plunder on the high seas as privateers. I loathe them all. I say, sail where we will and woe to those that stand in our way. We are free men and we shall not be shackled.”
Heinrich said robustly, “Bravo and vielen dank for your stand in this to all of you.
An hour later after discussing how to go forward from this predicament, the men exited the captain’s cabin to go about the task of ascertaining each of their crewmen’s loyalties and dispelling their fear. They would meet again later in the day to further discuss the subject and to lay down plans.
* * *
The See Wolf lay placidly within the confines of the peaceful cove. The calm surf washed small waves onto the shore, and the sky was a marvelous deep blue with wisps of white clouds.
It was later in the afternoon when Heinrich came on deck and stretched for a few moments before heading to the galley. After downing bread and cheese, he performed his daily checks and stopped to mingle with the men, today with a new purpose, to not only see how they perceived the British attack but also to encourage each one.
Heinrich observed that despair did permeate much of the crew’s attitude; many men were in a foul mood, and their expressions showed discontent. He could feel their uneasiness with him when he made contact. He heard disenchanting whispering as he strode the length of the ship. It was quite disturbing to Heinrich to see the men in this state. He tried to strike up conversation with the men; he had to regain their respect. But today, many were not in the mood to converse. He hoped his section heads were able to communicate to the men and gain back their loyalty.
It was about time for the second meeting with the section heads to begin. Walking back to the cabin he stopped again for a few long minutes to survey the steep cliffs further inland and the lovely flora that surrounded this quiet beach. The peaceful sight was inviting and made him yearn to relax within the beauty of the cove and possibly do a little fishing in the crystal-clear water. He could stay at this gorgeous place for days and do nothing, but he knew they must soon set sail again.
That sudden thought broke his spell and brought him back to reality replacing his peaceful repose. A scowl replaced a smile when he thought of the circumstances they were in. To say they were in a dire situation could be an understatement. He could not take lightly the possible punishment the British may exact against them. The act of aggression against British naval ships was not a trivial matter; it would brand them outlaws in the eyes of the British Crown, which in turn would bring forth rogues to seek any bounty on their head. The oceans were vast, which fortunately provided the See Wolf places of refuge. However, there was no simple answer to their dilemma.
Heinrich fumed at the thought of those British jackasses, whose insane decision to engage his ship with cannon fire flung the See Wolf into a black abyss. Their dream of setting up trade had been blighted by one unfortunate incident, which hung their future in the balance.
“The gall of those arrogant British bastards,” he thought. Their lives were turned upside down overnight. He could agonize for days, but it would not change a thing. He had to concentrate his energies on the immediate future. He turned and made for his cabin and the men who would soon meet for further discussion.
Once the men had arrived Heinrich opened up the subject straight away.
He began, “We will address the subject of going forward with our merchant endeavor, but Herren, I want to tell you that am a proud captain. I am proud of my crew that successfully fought off the British frigate. I have never seen orders being executed so capably by the cannon crews. Their skilled concentration to ready the guns and target accuracy was beyond my expectation. This is in direct result of the training. I am duly impressed. I cannot say enough of the rest of the crew in the performance of their duties. We could not have come out of the attack unscathed if it were not for everyone plying their tasks as a well-tuned orchestra. A well-trained crew performing in concert with each other is an impressive sight to behold. Bravo to a job well done.”
They glanced and nodded to each other in agreement what Heinrich said, devoid of elation. There was no gaiety in their spirits. None of them felt like celebrating their baptism of fire onboard the See Wolf. No one complained that it lasted only briefly. There was a glum despondency in the air; something that Drope immediately felt and wanted to push aside, that bothered him. ‘Shouldn’t they be happy that they escaped a deadly encounter?”
“You have surpassed my expectations, and I salute you. We have soundly proven our ability to do battle if called upon. Although we were successful in escaping, we cannot be overconfident and think that we can pull an easy victory every time we encounter a foe. Is that so, Conrad?”
“It is indeed so, captain,” Geiger stated evenly, but without fervency. “I will say because we can never underestimate an opponent, we can never strive hard enough to gain the edge over one. That is why we must constantly train. In battle, death is certain for those who take the threat too lightly,” he added in a clipped tone.
Rhine cut in, “I agree the men did very well. I too am proud of the way they responded as trained. There will always be room for improvement, no matter how hard we drill. If you mean by victory escaping with our lives, yes, we did accomplish that. If victory is meant to be beating our opponent so they cannot wage battle anymore, that we did not do. But we must be careful what we wish for. Not measuring up an opponent accurately can be fatal.”
Although both men commented in the positive, they’re usual zest was subdued. Heinrich rose to his feet and stood behind his desk.
“Thank you for your insight, Herren.”
Everyone onboard knew about Geiger’s and Rhine’s cannon ability. None of the men took them lightly. These men did not flaunt their combat skills, nor strut about the ship with arrogance; they did not have to with their reputations known through their actions.
Diego Cordoba spoke up. “Capitán Drope, I am but a simple man with one voice, but it is clear to me that we cannot turn back the clock. I try to live my life humbly. I have experienced unpredictable circumstances and have decided to flow with the tides that are in my wake. I have experienced happiness on occasion. I have experienced terrible grief as well. There hav
e been plenty of times when I spilled blood. I do not make excuses for those incidences. And neither should we make excuses for this situation; sometimes a curse can be thrown that puts a good man on the wrong side of the law. Life can be unjust no matter how straight the path of honor is walked. The question I have learned to ask myself is, ‘What do we gain by arguing and finding fault when we cannot change the circumstances?’ It is a fact that our destiny lies in the hands of those who seek their own gain no matter what the truth. What’s important now is to cope with the consequences and plan for the future with creative strategy.”
Everyone quietly mulled over Diego’s words.
“Thank you, Señor Cordoba, for your keen insight in this matter. You have brought up points to consider,” Heinrich stated.
Manfred Rhine broke the silence and addressed Heinrich, “May I humbly suggest that we contact the British authorities? I do not mean meeting face-to-face with them; that would not only be foolish but all together folly on our part. So, I recommend that as captain, you write a detailed report outlining our side of the incident. You can plead our case in a formal document hoping the information falls into the hands of level-headed authority open to the truth. I do not believe any good will come out of it, but at the very least we will exhaust all efforts to appeal to their good conscience – if they have any at all.”
“Herr Rhine, I find your suggestion a wise one. At the very least it will clear our conscience to do so. I will write the letter documenting our side of the story, and we will find a way to have it delivered to the British authorities at the garrison in Jamaica,” said Heinrich.
More opinions were presented. The vast majority of words spoken, except for the ones Ernst Mayer had said earlier, were positive; the men were in support of continuing on. Though men had indicated their grave concerns about the incident, they still stood by their captain and the business endeavor.
Heinrich knew full well that it was his orders in response to the British demands that that had led the crew into the quandary they were in. He made no excuse; deep down part of him was in turmoil for making that fateful decision. It bothered him incessantly, and he wondered if these disturbing feelings could ever be purged from his system.
It was Bruno Walter who surprised everyone by explaining an idea that seemed very sound to enhance the ship’s safety prior to sailing into a new port, “The idea just came to me last night, captain. In my opinion, it would possibly ensure the ship does not sail into a trap. I suggest purchasing a small vessel that could sail into port to look for threats before the See Wolf enters the harbor.”
“A most marvelous idea, Bruno,” Heinrich exclaimed. “I like it. We must find such a boat.”
They discussed the idea further. The schooner could anchor away from the port, and a dozen or so men would sail the smaller ship into the harbor, scout around, and then sail back to the mother ship with their findings. Many men thought it an excellent plan.
“Herr Kleist, you and Herr Huber make plans to search for such a boat,” Heinrich ordered.
“Jawohl, captain,” Otto responded. “It shall be done.”
“Anything else we have not covered?” Heinrich asked the group. Doc Siegfried spoke up regarding medical aid in the event of a battle.
“I cannot be everywhere at once to assist the wounded, so I recommend several men be trained in first aid.”
“Right you are, Siegfried. Otto and Fritz will find you men,” Heinrich said.
The next few hours were spent discussing tactical ideas on how to avoid aggression as they sailed. As much as Otto was at odds with Heinrich at times, he would ultimately go any distance to protect him. He knew the man’s temperament and raw physical qualities. He also intimately knew his heart. Drope had a heart of gold when it came to treating people who he trusted with solid respect, the most insufferable consequences could not budge. His conscience held a kindness to people who were in need. He genuinely cared for others. To Otto, these attributes overshadowed the occasional mistakes he made. As much as Heinrich could be stubborn as a mule, the first officer knew his own misgivings that surfaced from within him on plenty of occasions. The two had become blood brothers years ago and stood by each other through thick and thin despite the differences of opinions. Right now, in his state of affliction, Heinrich needed his friend. And Otto would not let him down.
Otto had seen the bleak faces of the men earlier as they sat silently. They were all good sailors, men of stout hearts, extremely capable in a pinch, but most of all they were decent men. They held up honor and virtues in one hand, while they wielded deadly weapons in the other. They were brothers in arms as well as in mindsets. Otto had no doubt about whom he wanted to be in the midst within sailing these waters. The bond they shared was their strength. And they hoped that their strength would someday be seen as their reputation in this entire region.
Heinrich was finishing up, “If there is nothing else at this present time let us then conclude this meeting. There is much more to discuss in the days to follow. In the meantime, let us tend to the crew to help them in their difficult time dealing with this situation. The men are reasonable. I know all of you will see to it that your men know where we stand on the issue at hand. Together we will mold them into a tightly-knit bunch, and we will overcome our differences. We will be sensible and fair, not irrational.”
The men nodded confirmation.
“Gut, vielen dank, Herren.” Then let us adjourn for now.”
As the group filed out, a breeze rushed through the doorway, and Drope hoped it could somehow blow the foul anguish out of the room.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
SECOND SHIP
Heinrich decided to get underway the very next day. The plan was to utilize the darkness of night for a stealthy departure. They headed to Providence Island, one of the Bahama Islands due east. The town did not have a natural harbor, but Paradise Island, located directly across from Nassau, acted as a natural seawall, and a place to hide. They anchored just off the east end of Paradise Island a short distance from Nassau.
Because the incident with the English ships had recently taken place, Heinrich instructed the crew to employ cautionary measures. They needed to be careful from now on as they had no clue who would be on the lookout for them. Heinrich had ordered all their combat leaders to be continuously armed from now on to be prepared for the worse. They all wore swords and at least a pair of pistols each.
Once Nassau was visible, Heinrich used his scope to see if any English vessels were in port. Spotting no threat, he queried the boatswain, “When will the men be ready with the rowboat, Herr Huber,”
“The boat is being lowered as we speak, captain.”
Heinrich had chosen Diego to take seven men into the town, since he had been in the port before and knew the layout. Fritz because he was best suited to check out any boats they may find of interest and Anton because of his brute strength to provide added safety. Aldo, Erwin, Norbert, Ritter, and Stein made up the rest of the group. Most spoke decent English and were tough sailors who could be of competent use if they ran into danger.
They would row into the harbor, tie up at the dock, and look for a ship to purchase. Diego and Aldo would also do a little mingling in the hopes of hearing any valuable information. They would not stay long. Heinrich wanted to lower the chance of anyone prying into their affairs.
Heinrich and Otto stood near the rowboat as the eight men walked up. They were all armed with swords and daggers, with Diego also wearing his pistol vest. They looked like a band of marauders. Heinrich beckoned to Diego.
“Diego, is it wise for the men to blatantly display weapons? Won’t it cause for undo prying eyes?”
“Do not worry, capitán. I understand your concern, but on the islands, it is the habit to be attired this way and believe me it is in our favor in these dangerous parts to be armed.”
“I will take your word for it. Remember, return in short order.”
“Si, capitán. I know this place well. I do
not foresee a problem, but one never knows.”
“Very well, Señor Cordoba. I fully trust your judgment. Good hunting.”
“Gracias, capitán.” Diego joined the others who were descending to the boat bobbing gently in the water; then they cast off. The crew watched as they made their way toward the harbor. It would be a waiting game until the men safely returned.
Four lookouts were high above amidst the sails searching for other ships in the area. Heinrich had ordered men to keep watch day and night; he did not want to be caught by surprise.
Otto, who was standing next to Heinrich, spoke up, “It is such a great shame that we are forced to be so guarded. I find the situation very disturbing.” To him, the situation was agonizingly out of their control.
“Thanks to those British scums, we have to act like renegades; cautious and untrusting.”
“That reminds me, Heinrich. We discussed painting signage on our bow that would depict us as a merchant vessel. Have you decided what that would be?” Otto changed the subject. Whether his friend did so purposely or not, Heinrich was relieved to talk about something else.
“Ja, that’s right. What came to mind was three barrels – something that symbolizes cargo – two barrels side by side with the third one stacked on top. Very simple and very humble looking.”
“That’s easy enough,” remarked Otto. “I suppose it’s much better than looking like a warship by having cannons painted on our ship.”
“Maybe it will provide us with the advantage if they fearlessly sail up to us in false security, and then we blow the living hell out of them,” Heinrich said angrily. He was openly irate.
Otto was trying to support his friend, but sometimes Heinrich made it difficult. He told Heinrich he would have Marten Bauer, the carpenter, to paint the barrels first chance he got.
* * *
Heinrich had put off penning the official letter to the British magistrate. He probed his mind how to describe the incident best, but knew that no matter who fired the first shot, the fact that he had outgunned and out-maneuvered the British warship would brand them the enemy. He had no illusions as to how the British captains would report the incident; defense against a pirate vessel, doing otherwise would be cutting his own throat and ending his military career.
Winds of Fury Page 35