Frenchman's Creek Page #4

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Row!

Row, row.

Up the mast!

Up the mast,

up the mast.

Up the mast,

up the mast.

Up the mast,

up the mast.

Up the mast,

up the mast.

It's okay, it's okay.

AIe, aIi, aIo,

saiIor overboard.

AIe, aIi, aIo,

saiIor overboard.

What do you think of my ship;

l think she's bewitched and

not a ship at all.

l feel as though l'd never

been alive before.

You do not feel seasick;

l never felt so well in my life.

-Are you happy;

-Yes.

-Why do you ask;

-Because l am happy too.

Do you know what Lady St. Columb

is doing right now;.

l should like to know.

She's in bed with chills and fever

and will allow no one in her room

but William, her faithful servant.

lf Lady St. Columb

tosses on a bed of fever,

who is this woman

on board with me;

A cabin boy, the most

insignificant member of the crew.

-Would you like to sail the ship;

-May l;

-Will she not sink;

-Come on.

Hold the staff in your two hands.

You keep the ship

steady on the course.

Do not let her fall away or

she will jibe her spritsail.

Feel the wind on

the back of your head;

Keep it there then.

l believe you'll do something mad,

something very foolish.

You told me you wanted

Godolphin's wig, didn't you;

What are you going to do;

Do you know his brother in law,

a Philip Rashleigh;

l've heard Harry speak of him.

He raided the French coast

and stole a ship.

He sent her to the lndies and

she's returned with riches.

She lies at anchor at Fowey Haven.

My intention is to seize her.

Put a crew aboard and have them

sail to the French coast.

With the cargo she'll pay for

the use he's had of the ship.

Supposing her men outnumber yours.

That's one of the risks l take.

There's a fort here,

at the harbor mouth.

But l can't guarantee they'll

all be asleep for my benefit.

So there's only one thing to do.

Leave La Mouette here

and go overland.

Rashleigh's ship is lying here.

Can you climb cliffs;

-l could in a pair of britches.

-That's what l thought.

Here's a pair belonging to Pierre.

They're his Sunday britches.

They're a little cleaner.

Here's a shirt too.

Stockings and shoes.

And a knife.

You won't want a jacket.

The night is too warm.

You better change now and

come on deck when you're ready.

You know the way well;

Yes Captain. Last week

l covered the whole route.

We climb the cliff at the farm

of one Binyon.

l know the milk maid.

They are heavy sleepers.

They will not hear us.

Here.

Come here.

You have remembered that you

are Lady St. Columb.

Yes.

l'm leaving part of the crew

on board the Seagull.

lf you wish, you know

you can stay with them.

A while ago l would have...

but not now.

Lady St. Columb has returned

to her sick bed;

Yes!

Captain.

You will never pass for a boy

with that hair.

l'd cut it off if l had

a pair of scissors.

You'd look more like a cabin

boy perhaps.

But l'd rather risk capture

than have you do it.

Put this on.

We must get our work done

while the wind favors us.

Hurry now.

Like this.

Let's go.

lf there's trouble make sail.

Lay a mile from the coast

-and watch for a signal fire.

-Yes sir.

Here.

Captain, here.

Come on, Madam.

Come here.

Come on, come on.

There she is.

How do we get out there;

-Get ready to swim.

-l'm not very good at it.

What's the matter;

The wind is changing.

lt has backed into the south.

-Pierre.

-Yes sir;

I want you to take

her back to the ship.

-Be carefuI.

-PIease no, Captain.

Do it.

l've just told Pierre

to take you back to the Seagull.

Why; Why must l go back;

Because the wind turned against us.

The Seagull is on a lee shore.

She0ll have to beat out of the bay.

You will have time to get back

before they get sail on her.

With the change in the wind it'll

be difficult to get the ship away.

Not the Seagull,

that ship l mean.

That's why you want me to go back.

ln case there's trouble.

Yes.

Well l'm not going back.

Why do you want to stay;

You know why l want to stay.

l wanted you to go

for the same reason.

Stay then and we'll make

a fight for it and

hand together from the same tree,

you and l.

We must hurry and get underway

before the wind strengthens.

But first, we must have

the owner aboard.

Would you like to do

something with a bit of danger;

-Yes. Tell me what to do.

-Pierre.

Go with Pierre, find a boat,

cross over to town and

call on Philip Rashleigh.

He lives there in the house

next to the church.

Tell him he's wanted on board.

Make up any story you like.

But keep in the shadow.

You won't do as a boy in the light.

Suppose he refuses to come;

He won't refuse if you're clever.

Go now.

The wind has changed.

Warm enough though.

Pierre.

Let's have your cups lads.

Stay in the boat. lf l don't

return in 16 minutes go back.

There's a squall blowing up.

-ls there;

-Coming from the southwest.

lt'll be here quite shortly.

l wish you had moored

the ship up river.

They may have trouble

with it by morning.

l've never lost a ship from

that mooring.

l'd think it'd be wiser if

you'd take off the cargo...

Who are you;

What do you want;

-lt's Mr. Rashleigh wanted.

-Who is it George;

lt's someone who wants you.

Come inside boy.

No sir, just tell Mr. Rashleigh

they've sent for him on the ship.

Who the devil is it,

that young Jim Thomas;

Someone from the ship.

ls your name Jim Thomas;

Aye sir.

The master said Mr. Rashleigh

was to come aboard at once.

-The ship's in danger.

-Stay where you are!

Do you hear that;

The ship's in danger!

Let me go.

l got another message to run.

l got to fetch the doctor.

My mother's taken ill.

Mother; What's all this nonsense;

Jim Thomas's mother has been

dead 10 years.

Well he...

Who are you;

What's wrong with the ship;

Hurry, hurry!

The wind's rising!

-Come on George!

-Come on in here.

Come on George.

-A pair.

-l win again.

-l'm off.

-Pass the rum.

Two fives;

What luck.

Come on, take hold of him.

Pierre!

Pierre!

Come on.

See a boy around this way;

No, but there's something wrong

there yonder.

Looks like your ship's broken

away from the buoy.

What's that;

Look, they're

breaking out her sails!

Why doesn't he let go his anchor;

He'll have her aground!

Ahoy Merry Fortune!

Merry Fortune! Ahoy!

Thomas, ahoy!

Rouse the men ashore.

Blast that fool, Dan Thomas.

-What ails you Joe;

-Put on your britches blast you;

The Merry Fortune's adrift!

Ship ahoy!

They're putting sail on

with not 12 men aboard!

He's mad! He'll have her aground!

She's under way!

The tide will take her on the rocks.

Come about!

Come about man!

Before you lose your chance!

Look all of you!

That's not Dan Thomas.

A thousand thanks gentIemen.

lt's the Frenchman.

He's going to sea.

Man the boats! All hands!

The lines have been cut!

Swim out some of you

and get those boats.

Look. There's that boy.

He cut the boats loose.

-There's two. Stop them.

-Bring your boats alongside.

Get that boy!

What's the use of a gun

that's not primed!

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