He spotted what he was looking for: a group of seamen tending to their ship. He approached and chatted with them briefly before going back into the shadows to avoid any other contact, as he made his way to Cullen’s house.
He was grateful to see the yellow house the woman described also bathed in dark shadows. He got close enough to hear the men inside, and was able to peek through a small, very dirty window. The four men sat at a wooden table with a young girl serving them ale. Rocky noted that two of the men had passed out, their heads on the table.
Keeping to the shadows he walked around the house and saw the privy was out back.
Good! Ale equals outhouse, he thought, as he walked past it. He spotted a dim light through a tiny cellar window and crept over to it. Wiping away the dirt, he saw three men tied up in the corner. One was Edward Schure.
Rocky went back and placed himself between the back door and the privy, and waited. His patience paid off as the back door opened and one of the men staggered out to use the privy. Rocky let him use it first, then as he was going back to the house, tapped him on the shoulder and as the man turned, dropped him with a punch to the chin. He then walked into the Cullen’s house by the back door.
“Close the door this time, Ned, it be getting damp out,” came a voice from the small front room. The leader, Rocky thought as he entered the room.
The leader looked up open-mouthed. “Wha’? Sir, who are you and why do you enter where you are not invited?” He nudged one of the sleeping men. “Charles, awaken and see to our uninvited guest.” The man groaned slightly in his stupor.
“Who am I addressing, sir?” the leader said, as he nudged the other sleeping man and got the same response as the first man gave him . . . silence.
“Are you looking for drink? Or perhaps money? Well then, you have stumbled into a house that has the protection of the Royal Navy. So be on your way, or be impressed.” He nudged the sleeping man more forcefully, but, as before, he never stirred.
Rocky now spoke up, and through clenched teeth said, “Who am I? I am a friend of one of the men you hold and I’ve come for him.”
The leader opened his eyes wide at Rocky’s voice. “The other colonist!” he shouted. “Damned yer eyes, I knew you looked familiar. Look here then, get out lest I forget you’re a gentleman and press you ‘long with your friend.” He stood and picked up his walking stick as he continued. “Out I say or I’ll thrash you now!”
Rocky stepped forward and grabbed the stick.
The man looked back in shock and fear. “But . . . but . . . are you not a gentleman? Mind I don’t thrash you.” He turned and yelled, “Charles, Ned, where are ya? Mind ya, why do I pay ya? Be here now, I demand it.”
Rocky broke the walking stick in two across his knee and the man’s eyes opened even wider.
“What is it you want from me?” he asked. “I am just doing my duty as a friend of the Royal Navy. I mean you no harm, after all you are a gentleman, as am I. Take your friend and be gone, as I wish you no harm.”
Rocky smiled and said, “Too late. I’m freeing all three and teaching you a lesson.” He stomped on the man’s instep and at the same time, hit him in the solar plexus. As he went down gasping for air Rocky said, “Hear me and remember it well. Cease your ways of picking on the underprivileged and weak. I will be back, and I will find you as easily as I did tonight. You and your friends will never be a match for me for I am like the wind. I come and go as I please. No man sees me twice, the same as before. There are times I will appear as a vagrant, sometimes a washwoman and other times a common sailor. But remember this, I am always about watching over the helpless.” He turned and headed for the stairs as the leader laid rolling and groaning on the floor.
Rocky took the wooden stairs two at a time and lifted the bar that locked the door. He ran to Edward and cut his ropes as his friend tried to speak.
“Rocky? Is it you, Rocky?” He shook his head as he tried to see better in the dark cellar.
“Hush, Edward, Yes, it’s me. Now help me untie these other fellows. We must make haste, my friend.” They untied the other two, and the grateful men ran off into the night as Rocky helped a cramped Edward out and away from the house.
“Rocky, what is this that you’ve become? I’m afraid the rigors of the trip have set you away from your gentlemanly upbringing.” He hobbled along and continued, “However, I am most happy at this turn of events. But will they not round us up when the sun comes up?”
“Worry not my friend, I have a plan. You see, before I came to rescue you I took the liberty of hiring a coastal ship bound for Scotland. It awaits us now just offshore and a long boat will take us to her.”
Edward shook his head, “Truly you are a man of many faces my friend. Many faces indeed.”
It was six days after leaving London, and as the sunlight beat down on Rocky, Edward and the crew of the small sailing boat, a lookout shouted, “Scotland straight ahead, sirs.”
The captain looked through his long glass and said to them with a grin on his grizzled face, “Gents, we be docking at Dunbar, Scotland, in about four hours, if’n the tide holds.” He lit a clay pipe and continued, “Sirs, ya’ been good ta me and me crew, an’ if’n ya’ ever needs me again, jus’ ask fer Donald Wesley an’ I’ll be yer capt’n whenever needed.”
Rocky gave the man five extra coins and said, “Captain Wesley, I hope we have no need of your services again, but should we, I wouldn’t hesitate one moment to hire you and your crew. We both thank you.”
A little under four hours later, Rocky turned to Edward and said as they left the small boat and walked ashore just outside the city, “By my ticket, Edward, two ales before we part ways?”
“Then two it is, my friend,” Edward answered, as they went into a small pub, the Bonnie Thistle, and sat at a corner table.
Over two tall ales Rocky began, “Edward, I’m here to meet a man named Daniel MacKillop. From what I’ve heard, he was a captain who wanted nothing more than to fish the Atlantic. But, a British warship decided they needed his ship and put a crew aboard and took it back to England.”
He took a pull on his ale, set it down and continued, “MacKillop needs a ship, and I’d like to help him get one. I’ve heard he lives here in this port and I am going to find him. I’m going to see if he would allow me to have a ship built for him. One he can keep after he works for me, for a short period of time.”
Edward swished the ale around in his mug as he said, “A difficult task, you set upon yourself, my friend. Far be it from me to state my thoughts, for I know not the workings of the business world. But if building a ship for this man is what you need, then, I’m sure you know what you are setting out to do. But as for the life of me, I have to wonder why you didn’t just build one in America and sail it over to here?”
“That had entered my mind, Edward, however, England has her spies everywhere in America. And the type of vessel I would build could be taken as a pirate ship getting ready to plunder. But, here in Scotland, Captain MacKillop could build a ship to my liking and none of his neighbors would ever ask about it.”
“You would man it then with Scots?”
“Yes. Can you think of a better group of people to man a ship that would get in the way of an English ship of the line?”
“Ha!” Edward laughed as he took a deep pull on his ale, “None, my friend. You have chosen well.” He suddenly looked serious. “If you are going to man her, might you not need a ship’s physician?”
Now it was Rocky’s turn to laugh. “Ha! Yes indeed I’ll be needing a ship’s physician. And maybe one that would be able to go aloft if the need arises. Know you of such a person, Edward Schure?”
Edward stood and did a deep bow, “I, sir, would be honored to serve under you as your ship’s physician. As it ‘tis, I suddenly find myself to be at odds with the folks of London and their navy.”
“Then,” said Rocky, “I hereby declare that the job of ship’s physician is now filled.”
They
ordered another two ales as Rocky inquired about Dan McKillop among the locals.
The weather was cold and rainy as Rocky and Edward sat before a roaring fire in Daniel McKillop’s home. Sitting in heavy easy chairs, Rocky and Daniel studied each other. The Scotsman was a muscled, compact man in his early forties, with long red hair pulled back into a ponytail and a wild bushy beard and mustache. He spoke with more of an English accent, than a Scottish burr. A smiling, thickly built, Rita McKillop put mugs of hot tea before them and disappeared into the kitchen.
“So, ya know of my ship being takin’ by them heathens. ‘Tis a shame, ta be sure. ‘Twas a good boat. Brought me home many a dark windy night. Ach, ‘tisn’t right, jus’ ‘tisn’t right. ‘Twas my livin’ they took from me.”
Rocky looked at him and shook his head. “As I’ve said, Daniel. I’ve come to seek your help, and in return I’ll help you.”
“You’ll be helping me?” Daniel eyed him, “And, might I ask why?”
Rocky sat forward, “I need a boat and so do you. I’d be looking for you to purchase, or have one built for me, do the modifications I ask for, and after my mission, the boat is yours for the keeping.”
“Just like that then, the boat is mine?” He smiled as he cocked his head, sat forward and asked in a low voice. “What tis this mysterious mission? Might we be running guns to the Irish?”
“No, nothing like that. It’s a rescue mission of sorts. I need to set free some friends of mine who have been impressed into the Royal Navy.”
Daniel sat up straight and his eyes went wide. “Laddie! Are ya foolin’ with me? Tweakin’ the navy’s nose is all well and good. Even fun, if’n we get by them carrying contraband. But rescuing pressed men! Why, that’s downright foolhardy! And, I might add, a good chance ta be joining them pressed men.”
Rocky shrugged his shoulders and said, ”Have I come to the wrong man then?”
Daniel gave a broad smile and answered, “Ach no, you’ve come ta the right man, my friend. But, I’d have to be at the helm o’ the ship and it’d be my men working her.”
Rocky smiled back and said, “Daniel McKillop, I’d have it no other way. And I’ll even bring my own ship’s surgeon,” he said, slapping Edward’s shoulder.
Daniel looked at both men and said. “Fine then, Mr. Rocky. And tell me, when do we begin this fine adventure?”
“As soon as possible. I have to be off the central coast of Ireland before noon, on July eleventh, this year.”
“Well then, that lets the plan o’ building a ship out. We need ta’ purchase one instead. Tell me, da’ ya have a plan then, laddie?”
“Kind of. Do you know of a ship we can buy?”
“Aye, that I do. There’s a nice two-master owned by Ian MacLellon. But, he be askin’ a king’s ransom for it. Maybe I kin make him see my price over some ale. Problem is, she carries only six cannon, all four pounders, not much slam ta them.”
“That’s fine. We are going to remove them anyway.”
Daniel looked at Rocky as though he was slapped in the face. “Remove ‘em? Why, we can’t be so daft as to go unarmed. These waters are full of unsavory characters. I outta know, laddie, there was a time when, well, when . . . I was one of ‘em.”
Rocky and Edward laughed at this. “I like your honesty, Daniel,” said Rocky. “Can we go and see the ship?”
“Aye laddie, ‘tis up the coast a wee bit. Finish ya tea an’ we’ll be off.” He turned his head toward the kitchen, “Rita, we’ll be back in two hours time. Kin ya set another two dishes for my new partner an’ his surgeon? Oh an’ lassie, would ya’ fix the wee bed. They’ll both be stayin’ a bit.”
They took a small boat and Daniel rowed along the coast for two miles until a cove appeared. At an old dock was a two-masted ship, and on shore, a small wooden house with the ever-present curl of smoke rising from the chimney. Sitting on the front porch was a gray-haired man with a long white beard and mustache. It all reminded Rocky of an old Western setting. The man watched them tie up to his dock, and then walk up the dirt path toward him.
He greeted the three men without rising from his chair. “G’day, Daniel, and g’day, colonist. What brings ya here ta me humble home?”
Daniel turned to a puzzled Rocky and said, “Word gets out fast, Mr. Rocky. He gets his vittles brought up from the docks by the gossip monger, Phillip McHugh.” Turning to Ian, Daniel said, “Ach, Ian, ya be well advised ‘bout what ‘tis goin’ on round ya. ‘Tis business we be here on. Mind if we sit a spell?”
Ian stood, stretched and answered, “Come up then and sit a wee bit.” He looked up to the sky and said, “Afore the sun dips below the waterline.”
The four men sat on the porch and after being introduced to Rocky and Edward, Ian said, “So then, how much will ya offer me for me boat, laddie?”
Rocky was taken aback again and countered, “How could you be so sure as to ask that, Ian?”
The old man laughed and said, “Why else would this ol’ seadog bring ye up ta see me? Nor fer me good looks! Naw, ‘tis me ship, the York, yer be want’n. Would I be I right, laddie?”
Rocky laughed. “Ha! Yes, you are correct, Ian. The boat’s the reason we’re here. At what price would you part with her?”
“Ach! Ya didn’t even get ta see her yet. Walk ‘em over, Daniel, ‘n give ‘em a look, would ya?”
Daniel, Rocky and Edward went aboard.
“Tis a sturdy craft, Mr. Rocky. Tis true she has a low freeboard,” Daniel said, pointing to the side of the ship’s deck, “but we can build her up a wee bit for heavy seas.” He pointed to the cannons and cringed as he continued, “Do ya really mean ta remove the guns, lad? Why not leave one aside at least?”
Rocky shook his head. “Can’t. Much as I want to, we can’t carry cannons. And please, Daniel, just call me Rocky.”
Daniel clasped his hands in front of him almost as though in prayer. “Can ya tell me why we hafta’ dump the cannons, Capt’n Rocky?”
“’Cause we can’t kill anyone,” Rocky said. “My mission is to remove the men and make sure no one dies trying. And believe me Daniel, my adjustments to the ship will give us an edge over any ship of the line.” He looked intently at Daniel and continued, “I ask you to trust me, as I shall trust you and your men.”
Daniel nodded and said with a sigh, “Ah laddie. Ya sound convinsen’. So I lay me future in yer hands. The guns go ‘oer the side.”
“How many men do we need to crew her?” Rocky asked.
“Sixty, Cap’n, and a scully man ta keep us full ‘n fit for fight. Plus the surgeon ya brought along,” he said smiling at Edward.
Rocky nodded, “Sixty and if I say we need another thirty men, can she handle it?”
Daniel stared at him. He didn’t ask why Rocky might need another thirty men, he just answered, “If’n we drop the guns and build up the freeboard she’ll carry another thirty men. ‘Course sleepin’ will be a wee bit tight, but she’ll be all right, Capt’n.”
“Good, good. Let’s buy her now, then. Will Ian let us work on her here?”
The big man grimaced. “Capt’n, the old scoundrel didn’t say a price. Let’s see what he be askin’.”
“Between you and me, Daniel, we’ll take her no matter what the price, but if you feel it’s high, tell him we’ll take it if we can work on her here.”
“Ach! Yer a man who gets wha’ he wants, Capt’n Rocky.”
They got back to Daniel’s house four hours later, rather than the two, Daniel had promised his wife. Rita put out a supper of kidney pie and potatoes with ale to wash it down.
Daniel smiled broadly as he told her, “Lassie, ya shudda seen me new partner, Capt’n Rocky, handle ol’ Ian. When Ian said two thousand pounds for the ship, ol’ Capt’n Rocky said, ‘I’ll give ya six hundred pounds right here an’ now, if’n ya sell her to us fer one thousand five hundred pounds. Then he pulls out and counts off six hundred pounds and plops it down on his table. Ol’ Ian’s eyes did bulge then and there, as they never
did. ‘Never mind the two thousand,’ he says as he’s gathering up the six hundred pounds, ‘the price be one thousand and five as ya want.’ O’course, love, we had ta stay an’ have wee bit o’ ale ta celebrate the new owners.”
She gave him a look as though she had heard that story many times before.
After they finished supper, Rocky unrolled the original drawings of the York, and spread them out on Daniel’s kitchen table. They weighted the four corners with oil lamps and soon both of them were bent over them with a glass of ale. Edward sat and smoked his clay pipe as he watched what he thought was a transformation of his friend from a gentleman into a sailor.
“Here’s what I need done, Daniel,” Rocky said, as he drew a propeller with a hole in the middle. “Can you have this made out of wood by a ship’s carpenter?”
Daniel rubbed his chin and asked, “yes Capt’n, but tell me, what be it and how large do ya’ need it ta be?”
“It’s a secret design called a propeller and I need it to be about nine feet in diameter. Still doable?”
Once again the big man had a perplexed look on his face as he answered, “Ach, Capt’n, all we need ta do is chop down a wide enough tree an’ follow yer drawin’ ta make it be. But, tell me, where does this . . . this . . . thing go an’ what tis it fer?”
“It’s going at the rear of the ship, under the water.” He pointed to the hole in the middle. “I want your men to run a twenty foot long pole from inside the ship and attach it to the propeller by sticking it through this hole in the middle.”
“But why would anyone want to deliberately foul the clean lines o’ the ship’s hull? It’ll just slow her down.”
Rocky grinned as he said, “Daniel, I intend to have men inside the hull of the ship, and when I call for speed, they’ll turn the long pole attached to the propeller. The propeller is designed to speed her up and we’ll be faster than any British ship ever built . . . at least as long as the men don’t tire out.”
Time Travel Adventures of the 1800 Club. Book III Page 15