by Michael Aye
Mac and Cooper raised their eyebrows at this. “He must have had a set of bullocks the size of six-pound cannon balls,” Mac swore.
“It’s said the lady in question was so outraged and spiteful she conspired against our quim monger and accused him of stealing the Spanish crown jewels. Jose caught wind of his predicament and barely escaped. He went aboard the Floridablanca and sailed away.”
“Well, he might not have gotten the crown jewels but at least he kept his jewels,” Cooper said.
“Aye that he did, but Jose is not a forgiving soul. He has constantly sought revenge on Spain. Juan Gomez says he knows Jose has taken thirty-six ships since he’s been a crew member. Others say he’s plundered four hundred ships. Who’s to know? The biggest haul I’ve ever made was when we had stopped over in Charlotte Harbor, that’s his base. He has a dozen or so palmetto log houses where he keeps his captured women.” Taylor paused a second, lighting his cigar back up and collecting his thoughts. “I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a captive male.”
“Cause he murders ’em,” Rooster shouted.
“Hush, damn you. I’m doing the telling,” Taylor returned.
“Then tell it right,” Rooster responded.
Taylor raised his eyebrows and shook his head. “Getting back to where I was before being so rudely interrupted.”
“Wasn’t nothing rude ‘bout it,” Rooster said.
“Damnation, Rooster, do you want to tell the story?”
“No, you’re doing a passable job.”
Taylor took a breath but didn’t respond to Rooster. “There’s this burial mound and it’s high.”
“’Bout fifty feet high,” Rooster added. Cooper and Mac couldn’t hold back their laughter. Cooper laughed until he cried and Mac fell out of his chair which made Taylor and Cooper laugh more.
When Taylor was finally able to stop laughing, he shouted, “Bring us that bottle, Rooster.”
Rooster replied, “Sounds like you have had enough.”
“Damn you, Rooster, hold your innards. I’m coming.”
Mac got back in his chair and Taylor continued, “On top of this fifty foot high burial mound Jose built an observation tower that he keeps manned. When a likely prize is spotted they ring a bell, the ship is manned and they set sail. He has his spies now, on both Cuba and Puerto Rico. Some say he’s not particular and will stop an American ship as well as a Spanish one. That has caused a rift between the two, he and LaFitte, that’s why I’m somewhat surprised that he’s here.”
“He’s raided United States ships?” Cooper asked again.
“Aye, he raided the ship, Orleans, and took over forty thousand dollars in goods and specie. He has a sense of humor that one does. After taking the Orleans, he sent a note to her captain that read:
At Sea, and in Good Luck
Sir:
Between buccaneers, no ceremony; I take your dry goods and in return I send you pimento; therefore, we are now even. I entertain no resentment.
“There was more to it than that, but that’s all I remember,” Taylor said.
“What did you get when you were together?” Cooper asked.
Taylor got up and went to the stern window and tossed the nub of his cigar out. He sat back down and said, “Rum and spice. Good rum, Cruzen Rum from Saint Croix, and spices from the Orient. How the two ships sailed together I don’t know. Rooster was a topman back then and Spurlock had just come aboard. We boarded the one and left a prize crew and took the other.”
“LaFitte was happy, I bet,” Cooper offered.
“Didn’t take the ships to Jean, I didn’t know him that well back then. We took the ships and cargoes to Savannah. Back in those days as long as it wasn’t a United States ship, they’d buy them, cargo and all. We made a bundle that day, didn’t we, Rooster?”
“Rooster! He’s done found a corner to curl up in,” Taylor said and then added, “damn his worthless hide. I’d be lost without him.”
“I’ll remind you of that one day,” Rooster responded. This caused another bit of laughter.
“Had we needed something, he’d have sworn he was asleep and we’d have had to fetch for ourselves. That’s right, ain’t it, Rooster?”
“What’s that?”
“Never mind. That was a good day,” Taylor said again. “Cargoes and hulls fetched us better than one hundred thousand dollars. I think back on my share and wished I’d quit then and there. I ever make another such haul you can bet I’ll spend the rest of my days on a front porch in a rocking chair, drinking sweet tea and smoking my pipe or a good cigar.”
The cabin was suddenly quiet. Cooper looked at Taylor, his receding hairline, tough, weathered face with crow’s feet at the corner of his eyes, gray showing through at the temples; big, hard calloused hands and rough voice. Cooper saw the man in the brief moment. A man who is ready to pass the command on to somebody else. Am I that man? Will I ever become the leader he is? Will I have the tactical ability and cunning that not only Gaspar possessed but also that of Captain Eli Taylor? A man who’d plied the sea for over two decades and never got caught. He’d outsmarted them every time. A game where to win could mean almost anything you could want. And if you won enough, a degree of acceptance and legitimacy. But to lose…it meant only one thing…death. Death in battle, a hangman’s knot or a watery grave if you preferred it to the hangman. What would Jose Gaspar do, what would Eli Taylor do? What would he do? A chill ran down his back and he gave a shudder. Now was not the time to think on death. It was the time to think of life, life with Sophia. A long happy life where they could love away the night, sleep late and love again. Why think of anything but life?
After a few minutes they bid each other goodnight. Tomorrow he’d see Sophia. Cooper walked on deck and heard a curse and laughter from across the anchorage. It came from the Floridablanca. Gasparilla, he ain’t no gentleman like the captain, they said.
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
A large crowd was gathered at Hotel Mayronne. Several plantation owners had made their way to Grand Terre to look at the slaves rather than wait on an auction at the Temple. In addition to these wealthy planters, the notorious Jose Gaspar sat at a table. His presence was frowned upon by LaFitte. This was due to his any ship, any flag attitude in regards to piracy. Yet it was his notorious reputation that attracted the planters to stop by his table, buy drinks and offer cigars. Later, they would brag to their wives, children, and even their mistresses, “I shared a drink with Gasparilla, the famous pirate.”
Several of Raven’s men entered the hotel with the idea of something better than ship’s fare. Walking past the bat wing doors leading into the lounge, Cooper got a good look at the pirate before being pushed along so others could peek at the legendary figure. His Spanish heritage was obvious. His hair was combed back on top showing a receding hairline, but he had a full head of black hair with only a trace of gray at the temples. His eyebrows were thick and bushy as was his moustache. His nose was rather large. He wore a full beard sprinkled with gray and was trim, and his neck was clean shaven. He wore a large gold earring in his left ear and had a red neck cloth. His jacket appeared to be a blue naval officer’s jacket with gold buttons, no other gilt or embroidery was noticed. Rumor had it that he was born in 1756, which made him fifty-four years old. He did not look or act his age. His nose, on closer look, seemed bulbous. Was it from drink? There were certainly a lot of empty glasses on the table.
Beau Cannington, who was taller than all his friends, asked, “We going to go eat or stand here and stare?” This moved the men along.
Seating themselves in the dining room, their orders were soon taken. Sitting at a table halfway across the room was Mr. Mayroone. Sitting with him was a man and what appeared to be his daughter. Beau’s eyes were constantly on the small group.
“You want some jalapeno in your tea?” Cooper asked.
“Sure, one or two pods will be fine,” Beau replied. Mac, Spurlock and Johannes were barely able to hold their laughter.
Finally, Cooper said, “Beau…Beau Cannington!”
“What, what is it?”
“Your eyes are going to pop out of your head. My goodness, sir, a learned man, a physician, no less. Where are your manners?”
“She’s looking this way, Coop.”
“So is her daddy and Mr. Mayroone,” Cooper replied.
“Uh oh,” Beau said.
“Wipe your mouth, Beau, you’re drooling.”
“Damn, Coop, you got to pester me so?”
“I’m trying to keep you from embarrassing yourself.”
“Here’s our food,” Mac said as Peggy, the serving girl, brought an armload of plates. Tell me, Peg,” Mac asked, “who is that sitting with Mr. Mayroone?”
“His brother-in-law and niece, so no groping or tiddley winks,” Peg said.
“Peg, you wound me.”
“Eat your food, you rogue.”
“I’m going to marry her,” Beau volunteered.
“Not tonight, you’re not. Eat your steak, it’s getting cold.”
Before the meal was finished, Mayroone and his guests left. Passing their table, Mayronne nodded and spoke, “Evening, doctor.” Before any of Raven’s men could rise they were out the door.
Once the meal was finished, Spurlock asked, “Anyone for a walk over to Tammy’s? I hear she’s got some new girls. She’s got one, Che Che, I think is her name. She’s short but a looker. She has a tattoo on arm that say’s Tom.”
Johannes said, with a smile, “I’ll stick with Brandy or Frog.”
“Frog?” Cooper asked.
“Yeah,” Diamond said. “When she sings, she puts on like a frog. It kind of stuck. She’s pretty now, regardless of her name.”
“I like Brandy,” Spurlock said. “She’s a wild one.”
“Fire your cannon does she?” Mac asked.
“Aye, a whole broadside at one time,” Spurlock responded.
As the men rose, Johannes asked, “You coming, Mac?”
“I think I’ll find out what the captain’s got planned. If we are to be here long enough, I might go over to Cindy’s with Coop.”
The men left, dragging Beau with them. One of Tammy’s girls will put his mind to sorts, Cooper thought to himself and smiled. I don’t know; I must have looked just like Beau when I saw Sophia for the first time.
***
A trip to Cindy’s was not to be. Captain Taylor had his crew gathered on the main deck of Raven. He stood on the top step of the ladder leading up to the poop deck. “We have been asked to go on a cruise with Captain Gaspar. He has been informed a convoy will be leaving Cuba for Pensacola. It is said to contain the payroll for Fort St. Michael and Fort Barancas. Governor Gonzales Manrique is said to be expecting a large shipment of personal valuables from Spain.”
Gaspar was not a trusting man as most of his crew was new. If he was asking the captain to come along he must be expecting a large convoy of valuable prizes. Valuable prizes meant warships as escorts. The risk would not be slight but the reward, if the right ship was taken, would keep the men in wine and women for a year.
“Even if you only get Coop’s share,” the captain joked.
“What about the spoils, Cap’n?” one of the crew asked. “Do we divvy up and shares split between the two ships or is it keep what you take?”
“It will be share and share alike. Bad if we get the payroll ship. But good if all we get is food stuff for the fort.”
“What about captives, Cap’n?” This was from Banty. “I don’t mind taking the valuables but I ain’t about murderin’ the lot just because they are Dons, nor raping the women. Tammy’s got plenty of willing wenches.”
“You ought to know,” Johannes shouted. This caused the entire crew to laugh.
The captain waited until the laughter subsided. “I have stressed my concerns in that regard to Gaspar. He has promised to control his men as best he can. That’s all I can tell you. Mr. Turner, I will go below. Take a vote and let me know the results. We have to decide soon. Floridablanca sails on the tide.” With that, Taylor went to his cabin followed by Rooster.
Mac whispered to Cooper, “First time we’ve voted on whether to make a cruise.”
“The cap’n don’t want this to be on his shoulders alone,” Banty whispered back as he’d heard the two’s discussion. “Truth is, I expect the cap’n would turn it down, was it left strictly up to him. However, the promise of a big purse is something he feels the men must decide. Most realizing there’s a few who ain’t likely to be coming back.”
“What if a lot don’t want to go?” Coop asked. “I know majority rules, but what if they just don’t feel it’s the right thing to do.”
“Cost 'em a thousand dollars,” Banty said. “Thousand dollars and they walk away. Listen now.”
There was a lot of discussion among the crew for a good fifteen minutes. Turner answered a lot of questions with most them being “Your guess is as good as mine.” One asked, “Where in the convoy do you think the payroll ships will be?”
“Tar and damnation, Butler,” Turner swore. “Where do you think it’ll be? Next to the escort ship with the biggest guns would be my guess.”
“They’ll likely have some guns with some weight as well, would be my guess,” Spurlock volunteered. “I can’t see that much coin loaded on a ship with nothing but swivels.”
“Enough talk,” Turner said. “Let’s vote. All in favor hand up.”
It was going to be close, Cooper could see. The first vote was a tie. Turner then asked Beau to do a separate count and then once again all in favor raised their hands. Turner and Beau both got the same number, those in favor won by a mere five votes.
“Heaven help us,” Johannes said.
***
Cooper glanced around at Raven’s crew members. Unlike the jovial mood they usually exhibited when starting out on a cruise it was very somber. No laughing, no good-natured jibes at each other, no bragging of last night’s escapades and of one’s prowess with the wenches at Tammy’s or in New Orleans.
Rene Belsche and Luis “cut nose” Chigizola passed to larboard headed for shore in a long boat with several other sailors.
“Probably to discuss some venture with LaFitte or possibly to just have a bit of carousing ashore. Cap’n’s alongside Floridablanca,” Quang said.
Cooper had been so deep in thought he hadn’t even heard Quang approach. Captain Taylor had gone over to Gaspar’s ship to inform him of the vote. When he returned, they’d up anchor and get underway. The conversation didn’t take long as Cooper spied Gaspar and Taylor at Floridablanca’s entry port. They shook hands and Taylor made his way down the battens and into the waiting boat. The man rope must have had something on it as Taylor looked at his hand and then wiped it on the leg of his breeches.
“Cap’n never allows a dirty man rope.” This was from Robinson. “Dirty man rope would cause a man to slip and take a dunking or worse.”
“Aye,” Cooper acknowledged, taking a last look at Grand Terre and hoping it was not his last.
The island was inaccessible except by sea or boat from the mainland. Brown pelicans flapped their wings and fussed with a neighbor over on the beach. Out from the beach palm trees stood, and further inland was huge oaks and oleanders. Some of the oaks had branches that hung down and touched the ground and then curved upward. More than one drunk sailor had woke up lying under one of those trees; often itching to high heaven from the red bugs that lived in the moss that hung from nearly every limb. Not long ago Moree had gone to see Beau, his skin covered with red spots from the itchy pest.
“Captain alongside,” Quang announced.
“Rooster,” the captain shouted. “Get me something to clean my hand. Mr. MacArthur,” he continued, “get us underway if you will.” The captain then headed to his cabin muttering he’d wear gloves if he went aboard that ship again, and it’d be old gloves in the bargain.
“Call all hands, Mr. Diamond,” Mac said. “Prepare to make sail.”
***
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br /> Jumper’s little boat was in the bay as Raven and Floridablanca headed out to sea. I wonder what he’s fishing for, Cooper thought. Flounder, maybe even snapper or dolphin. Not shrimp or crab, as no nets were visible. He might be headed to one of the bayous to fish for speckled trout or catfish. Belle fried up some damn fine catfish last time he was there. Fact was Belle fixed up something good every time he was there. Last time she’d fixed collard greens with ham cooked in with it and cornbread. There was a pepper sauce she put up that could be added to give it a tad more flavor.
Robinson walked up and asked, “Thinking of Sophia?”
“Thinking of Belle’s cooking and my stomach,” Cooper admitted, with a touch of guilt.
“Always heard the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach,” Robinson said.
“I heard if you’re looking at his stomach you’re looking to high,” Bridges said, causing all of them to laugh.
As they were looking at Jumper’s fishing boat, the boy stood up and waved; most of Raven’s crew waved back. Cooper shouted, “Tell Sophia I’ll be back soon.” Jumper nodded. Did he understand what I was saying, Cooper wondered. Back at Grand Terre one day and then at sea again. That played hell with one’s love life. Maybe he should have just paddled over, even if it had only been for a few minutes.
“Cooper!”
Hearing his name, Cooper turned to see Rooster. “Cap’n wants to speak to you.”
“Aye,” Cooper answered and headed for Taylor’s cabin. Turner was leaving the cabin as he entered.
“Sit down,” Taylor said and poured an empty glass half full with rum from a bottle sitting on his desk. “I’ve talked with the quartermaster and he feels you can now be rated as a topman. He also felt you could have been rated before our last cruise so your shares will be awarded as such. I now want you to spend time with Spurlock. Learn everything you can about the guns. Time will come when it will serve you well.”
“Thank you, Captain, I will,” Cooper said.
Taylor nodded and said, “Finish your drink and then be on your way. I’ve got paperwork that needs tending.”
Cooper gulped down the hard rum, feeling the burn as it went down, making him shudder.