The Pyrate

by Michael Aye

  “Huh,” she said.

  “You don’t have any more questions, do you?” he asked.

  “No…well, just one. Are you sleepy?” she asked.

  “No, are you?”

  “Yes, goodnight.”

  ***

  Savannah Import, Export Merchants and Ship Chandlers sat on a bluff overlooking the Savannah River. Looking out the windows of the company’s office, Cooper could see two warehouses, but beyond the warehouses it looked like a forest of ship’s masts reminding him of Portsmouth back in England.

  The hustle and bustle of sailors, warehousemen, porters, and merchants was the same as Portsmouth. A carriage had been waiting on him, Mac, and the captain that morning. Cooper noted that Savannah sprawled out while New Orleans was laid out in a more confined manner. Tall, huge pine trees towered above the road leading down to the wharf. Huge two story red brick houses lined Reynolds Square, and Cooper noted three churches.

  Carpenters, masons and other craftsmen were busy at every turn. The smell of fresh bread wafted from a bakery and Mac pointed out no less than three houses where a doctor or surgeon had hung out his shingle.

  Mr. Will and Mr. Brett welcomed the trio and arranged a tour of the warehouses for Cooper and Mac. “We are right now in an export boom,” John Will said. “Savannah is leading the way, with rice, indigo, timber, tobacco, and skins.”

  “We are also starting to do a fair amount of exporting cotton as well,” Michael Brett threw in.

  Noticing both a flyer for horse racing and golf, Mac pointed at the flyers. “Do you enjoy those?”

  John Will smiled. “I like the horse racing. Michael is the golfer.”

  “Savannah now has a golf club,” Michael said proudly. “We play on the East Commons, just beyond the city.”

  “You can sign up for the Jockey Club at Brown’s Coffee House,” John said, putting in a plug for his sport. Greg Clark has all the papers signed transferring the ownership of the deserted ship Inez to you, Captain,” John Will informed Taylor.

  “Ah yes,” Michael Brett said, and then added, “We paid a fee to expedite the transactions. I think the fee was cheaper than feeding the slaves the extra time the usual process takes. We can now start repairs on the Inez and either put the ship up for sale as a slaver or make changes and sell her as a merchantman. If you approve,” he said, “we will send the ship to Yamacraw Shipwright Robert Watts.”

  Taylor nodded his consent. “Gentlemen, it’s almost time for lunch. Shall we proceed to Gunn’s Tavern where they put on a sumptuous noontime meal?”

  ***

  Riding horseback made the trip faster, which meant Cooper would be back with Sophia sooner. While it was a pleasant thought, it did not do anything to lessen the discomfort he was feeling. Seamen did not belong on a horse’s back, saddle or not. Captain Taylor was riding out to Thunderbolt to look at a plantation that Mr. Logan Cates had decided to sell. It was highly recommended by Michael Brett. A place where the captain could retire and enjoy his autumn days.

  His closest neighbor would be the Lee’s. Colonial Lee made a name for himself in the Revolutionary War and the son, Jonah, had been a scout for Mad Anthony Wayne. Just south of Cates place, was an additional two hundred acres that was for sale. A good percentage of the land was located near the Wilmington River.

  Once out of the city, the land was cultivated with huge fields for planting crops. “I was told Cates’ Place had good earth for farming,” Taylor volunteered.

  Mac and Cooper had yet to find a comfortable position in the saddle. Taylor, on the other hand, seemed at ease and even lit his pipe as his horse clipped along at a good gait. The road was lined with live oak trees, maples, and giant pines. Toward the river marsh grass grew, and in the more wooded areas the ground was covered with palmetto. A small herd of deer darted across the road, momentarily taking Cooper’s mind off his aching arse. Taylor was making comments about the land and how a man could do worse than settling here about.

  Bang!! Taylor pulled up his mount abruptly and the other two horses stopped as well.

  Bang!! Another shot and shouts of anger could be heard. “Something’s amiss,” Mac volunteered. The men tied their mounts to nearby trees and moved forward, keeping just inside the wood line. The voices grew louder.

  “Highwaymen,” Taylor guessed. He motioned for Mac to cross over to the other side of the road and then they crept up closer. A carriage was stopped in the road. One man lay on the ground; another had his hands in the air as a rogue had a blade pointed at his gut. Two women stood beside the carriage. One of them was young, and the other was older, likely mother and daughter.

  So intent were the three highwaymen, they failed to notice they had company until Taylor pulled the hammer back on his pistol, filling the air with the telltale click.

  Ever the cool head, Taylor spoke, “May we be of service, Madame?”

  “Be off wid yew, old man, before I run yew through,” spat the trio’s apparent leader.

  “I’m doubtful of that with him holding a cocked pistol and you’ve only got a rusty blade,” Cooper said.

  “There be three of us,” the leader said.

  “Which means three fresh graves,” Taylor threw back. Thus far, Mac had yet to make his presence known. “Use your head,” Taylor said, trying to avoid bloodshed.

  A shot rang out and then a second. A muffled shot, as one of the rogues fell to the road. Mac spoke out, “Sod was using his mate to cover him while he tried to get a clear shot at you.”

  “Well, now its three to two, only it’s now in our favor,” Taylor said. “Be off with you and you can live.”

  “Be damned,” the highwayman with the rusty blade shouted. He moved quickly, raising his cutlass to chop down on the man.

  Taylor casually pulled the trigger, causing a spot to blossom on the man’s chest. The spot grew in size as the man crumpled and fell. As the rogue coughed, blood came from his mouth.

  “Now there is only you,” Cooper said to the last of the three.

  The man was wild-eyed, sweating and nervous. A trembling hand held a dagger. “I’ll cut her throat, I will, if you don’t back off. You want this wench to live, don’t you?”

  “She’s all that keeps you alive,” Cooper hissed. “Look at your friends. I know you are smarter than they were. Drop the blade and you can live. But, you so much as scratch this lady and I will make you wish you were dead. This has gone on long enough. Run or die.”

  Common sense took hold. The villain threw down his blade and ran. For a moment no one spoke and then the older woman broke the silence, “Thank you, gentlemen, we are lucky you came along.”

  “The pleasure was ours,” Mac said, before Taylor or Cooper could respond.

  “I’m Faith Anthony, this is my son, James, and my daughter, Madelyn.”

  “Maddy,” the girl interjected.

  “Let’s see about Morris,” James said, walking to the driver.

  Morris had a scalp wound but came around. A cloth was wet using water from a canteen and the wound was cleaned.

  “He should mend,” Taylor said.

  “Are you sailors?” Maddy asked.

  “Aye, you’ve a good eye,” Taylor replied. “I’m Eli Taylor and these are two of my officers, Cooper Cain and David MacArthur.”

  “Are you two British?” the girl asked.

  “Maddy,” her mother said. “You don’t ask questions like that.”

  “Well, they sound like British to me,” the girl responded. “Those two anyway. My daddy is an admiral,” the girl continued. “His brother was an admiral and so was his father. Now, Uncle Gil is the Governor of Antigua.”

  “My, but you come from an impressive family,” Taylor responded. “You, sir, are you in the Navy?”

  “No sir, I’m afraid the chain was broke with me. I’m a farmer. I look after my mother’s side of the family. My brother is in the Navy, however.”

  “James just inherited a big farm,” Maddy said. Not sure what to say, the men d
idn’t say anything.

  “My Uncle Gavin Lacy died,” Faith said. “Since he had no living sons, he gave the farm to James. It’s near Thunderbolt.”

  Smiling, Taylor said, “I’m considering buying a farm near there myself, Logan Cates’ place.”

  “Why that’s next door to Uncle Gavin’s farm,” Faith said. “You and James will be neighbors.”

  As Faith, the captain, and James talked, Mac and Cooper eyed Maddy, who was a younger image of her mother. She had blonde hair, blue eyes, a pert little nose and a woman’s figure.

  “Are you from Georgia?” Taylor asked.

  “No, Beaufort, South Carolina,” Faith answered. “James still runs the plantation there but Uncle Gavin’s place is larger so we may sell our land in South Carolina. I hate to though, that’s where my mother and father are buried and where I was born.”

  “It’s where Nanny and Lum are buried too,” James offered.

  Without knowing why, Cooper offered, “I wouldn’t sell it. I’d keep it forever.”

  “Thank you,” James said. “I think there are too many memories there to sell.”

  “It’s where mama met father also,” Maddy said.

  “What do we do with the farms so far apart?” Faith said with a sigh.

  “Find a good overseer and let him take care of one of the places,” Taylor recommended.

  “Mama, we’re never getting back tonight,” the girl whined, looking at the sun.

  “Hush, Maddy.” Faith then turned to their rescuers, “I thank you again, gentlemen for your kindness. May God be with you in your travels.”

  “If any British captain stops you, you tell him you’re mama’s friends and daddy will have them flogged if they don’t be nice to you,” Maddy said.

  Faith shook her head, “Such talk, Maddy.” Again, they all shook hands and said their goodbyes.

  CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

  Yes sir, that’s some of the finest pipe tobacco I’ve ever packed a pipe bowl with,” Captain Taylor declared.

  “I’m glad you like it,” Colonel Lee said proudly. The two men sat on the colonel’s side porch in the shade of a big oak tree. Colonel Lee had pointed out that the reason for the wraparound porch was to find shade from the hot Georgia sun, regardless of the time of day.

  “Mama Lee’s idea really,” the colonel admitted. “So’s you can always find a shade.”

  Drinking ice cold tea and smoking their pipes, the men talked about growing tobacco, rice, indigo, and cotton.

  “The Cates’ place is a nice farm,” Colonial Lee advised. “He’s got a man, David Gill, who runs the place. If you buy the place, Captain, you would do well to keep David on. He’s smart, a good steward of the land and honest. Not many around with all his qualities. The slaves work well for him without use of the whip.”

  “I noticed you have a boy…a mixed breed, Colonel, how does he respond to your slaves?’ the captain asked.

  “I don’t own any slaves, well not many. When I buy a slave, I make him or her indentured servants. I set up a wage scale and if they meet it in seven years, I set them free. After that, they can stay for wages or leave, most of them stay,” the colonel replied.

  “How does that set with your neighbors?” Taylor asked.

  The colonel removed his spent pipe from his mouth and bumped the bowl on the heel of his hand, knocking the ash from the pipe, then tossed the ash off the porch into some azalea bushes. He blew through the pipe stem and then set it on the small table. “Not so well at first,” the colonel admitted finally. “We had a period when we were not invited to many shindigs. I was not surprised and discussed it with Mama Lee. Her response was she had the answer to God, not man. After a time or two when a neighbor needed some help with crops or sickness, we came to their aid and soon things were back to normal.”

  “What about the Oxford place?” Taylor asked.

  “Two hundred acres, I understand. Run down, run down bad,” Lee said. “Man’s wife and son came down with the fever and died. Oxford hasn’t been the same since. He’s got river frontage but other than that it’s nearly surrounded by the Cates’ place. Cates has always been good about egress.”

  Cooper, Mac, Jonah Lee, and Moses walked around the side yard to the porch holding up a string full of catfish. The four had been fishing and returned with supper. Taking in the big, half-black, half-Indian, Taylor could not help but think of him as a pirate. He’d be a terror, he thought. Nothing more was discussed in regard to the land or slaves until the following morning when Taylor, Cooper, and Mac got ready to leave.

  After a fried catfish supper with grits, biscuits, honey, and ice tea, the group settled back while Mac played the guitar and sang. The following morning they had fried eggs, more grits, biscuits, blackberry jelly, and strong black coffee.

  Once when the two were alone for a moment, Cooper whispered to Mac, “If you didn’t like grits you’d starve.”

  “Aye,” Mac replied with a smile.

  Getting in the saddle to ride back to Savannah, Cooper moaned, “Oh God!”

  “We have a wagon,” the colonel volunteered with a smile.

  “Many more trips and I’ll need it,” Cooper replied. “I’ll be laid out in the back of it.” This caused a chuckle.

  “Colonel,” Taylor said. “I want to thank you for your kind hospitality. I will have my lawyer make an offer to Cates and Oxford. I will also take your advice in regards to Mr. Gill and the…farm hands.”

  Colonel Lee nodded. “I don’t think you will go wrong, Captain, and I welcome you as a neighbor.”

  ***

  The slave sale took place the following Saturday. Due to the size of the sale it was held at the race track just outside of town some three miles. Four hundred slaves were to be auctioned. Taylor’s only rule was women with children were sold together. It meant less money but his heart wouldn’t allow the sale to take place any other way. The slaves walked the three miles from the barracoon to the race track. The men were all fitted in heavy cotton or denim work breeches and a lighter cotton shirt. The women were dressed in colored clothes.

  Once the stage was erected for the sale, the men were arranged by age and size. Buyers arrived in carriages early and a few arranged for private sales. These sales brought in top dollar. Eleven slaves had been sold directly from the barracoon. A handler was assigned to a buyer, who wanted to inspect the slaves he was interested in.

  The auctioneer who was handling the sale and would get ten percent for his services saw Taylor and called to him. “There are over two hundred buyers here, Captain. You stand to make a good profit today.”

  Taylor smiled and nodded but didn’t feel the excitement he had a days before. “Thank you, Mr. Grimes,” he said to be polite to the auctioneer. Seeing Mac, Taylor told him to find Spurlock and keep him and the crew close by. “I don’t think anyone would be foolish enough to attempt a robbery but you never can tell.”

  “Aye,” Mac agreed. “We will position ourselves around the pay tent.”

  Unlike many auctions, today’s sales were cash only. The sale started at nine a.m. and by four p.m. only a handful of slaves were left; mostly mothers with children.

  A man approached Taylor introducing himself, “I’m David Gill, Captain Taylor.” Taylor was glad to meet the man who might soon be his overseer. “I understand you are purchasing the Cates and Oxford places,” he said, getting to the point. Taylor nodded his affirmation. “Mr. Cates told me you were very interested in keeping me on.”

  “That’s right,” Taylor responded.

  “Then my first recommendation is you keep that lot,” Gill said. “There’s plenty they can do and it’s cheaper to keep them and use them than to let them go for almost nothing. The young boys will soon be big enough for field hands and the women and girls can work around the house and garden.”

  Seeing the wisdom in the man’s words, Taylor quickly called to the auctioneer to cease the bidding. A few who had been bidding low immediately tried to increase their bids but Tay
lor said, “No, I am keeping them for personal use.” He then added, “Don’t worry Mr. Grimes; you’ll still get your ten percent.” Everyone laughed except the auctioneer, who finally smiled, thinking he’d made a good profit this day.

  ***

  The slave sell brought in far more than Taylor could have imagined. Even after expenses and a generous share to the crew, he had made four hundred thousand dollars. Of course, over three hundred of the slaves were prime males, bringing top dollar of twelve to fifteen hundred each. He had kept twelve women with fourteen children, in which most of them were males. The women were all young of child bearing age. That was important to David Gill, as he thought slaves born in America tended to be stronger and healthier.

  The land purchase had been agreed upon and the lawyer, Greg Clark, was handling the last minute details. A trip to the land was made in a wagon with Debbie and Sophia coming along.

  It was with Sophia present that Captain Taylor told Cooper the two hundred acres from Oxford was a wedding present. “You have been very lucky for me,” Taylor explained. “Debbie and I talked and we want you next door.”

  Sophia was very excited and gushed with happiness. Cooper couldn’t help but think getting away from New Orleans was part of it. The Oxford home needed repairs and cleaning but there was plenty of room at the Cates’ house until their house could be brought up to standard. Most of the crew would go back to New Orleans via a company ship. The captain, Debbie, Sophia, Cooper, and Mac would make the trip overland.

  Sharing a midday meal with their new neighbors, the Lees, Jonah and Moses decided to accompany Captain Taylor, Cooper, Mac, and the women on their overland journey back to New Orleans. They agreed to be ready on Saturday morning and have the supplies needed for the trail ready. Mac wanted one more night in Savannah but was not interested in the dining and evening concert that had been planned by John Will, Michael Brett and their wives.

  Mac would meet the group at the Lee home on Saturday. He’d bring Rooster, Banty, and Quang to help out on the trail and add to their numbers in case trouble showed up. “Who knows,” Mac whispered to Cooper out of the women’s hearing, “I might even bring Rosita if I catch up with her.”