Yankee Buccaneer Page #2

l just figured out a few things that

might ease the pain, so to speak.

lt's always darkest before

the dawn, they say, Captain.

Then roust them

out at dawn, Mr. Link.

Aye, aye, sir.

That'll be all, Mr. Farragut.

See you at formation.

Yes, sir.

Yo, ho, ho, and

a bottle of rum.

All gear will be weighed

down and cast over the side.

You'll find suitable

clothing in these cargo cases.

Officers will go through

their belongings

and destroy any papers

bearing identification.

We're not to put

ashore at any time,

and should we be forced into

action, remember we are privateers.

We can expect no aid or

recognition from our government.

Now, since we

are all volunteers,

we realize the importance

of our missin.

The pirates in these waters

are raiding our merchant ships.

The bureau in Washington can't spare half

the Atlantic fleet to track them down.

We will find them and

let the Navy do the rest.

This is our job.

Gentlemen, we are now a ship

without a country.

Mr. Farragut, prepare

ship for missin.

Aye, aye, sir.

Square away on deck, men.

What's the course?

West by...

Well, what are

you smiling at?

Nothing. Nothing

at all, sir.

She's still dipping, sir. l'm

afraid we're in for a rough one.

l'll go forward and take a

fix. Who stands the late watch?

Mr. Farragut, sir.

Have the mate send Mr.

Farragut my compliments.

l want to see

him on deck.

Aye, aye, sir.

Give us a hand, mate.

Captain. l didn't know...

l mean, that it

was you, sir.

The phrase ''comrade

in arms'' does not mean

slapping the Captain

overboard, Mr. Link.

What's that rum

casket doing on deck?

Well, l was figuring,

this being a pirate ship,

we should have the rum casket

where all can see it, sir.

l'm not aware l made you officer

in charge of ship alterations.

Now, get rid of it,

and report back to me.

Yes, sir.

Right away, sir.

l suppose next they'll want me

to do a hornpipe from the rigging.

Lieutenant Farragut

reporting as ordered, sir.

l'm sorry, sir,

but that getup...

l'm glad my appearance

delights you.

May l say you look more in

character out of uniform?

And what's that medallion

around your neck?

Does it bear any

personal identification?

No, sir. lt just

says Guierre,

the name of the new training ship

from which l was commissioned.

Get rid of it.

But, sir, it's my good-luck piece.

l'm sure it couldn't be identified.

l said get rid of it, Mr. Farragut.

What goes for one goes for all.

l took a fix.

The winds are rising

with every indication

we're in for a big blow.

You ever handled

a ship during a storm?

No, sir.

This is your chance.

Storm should hit its peak

during your watch.

Keep the lifeline secure, and

report any structure damage.

Come with me.

Yes, Chief Petty

Officer Link?

Reporting as

ordered, sir.

Continue your account

of the rum casket.

Well, like l was saying, a

privateer needs a rum casket on deck,

like in those

stories and songs,

so l borrowed the

rum from sickbay.

But this is not a privateer.

lt's a United States man-of-war.

Rum rations are for the sick.

You know the law of the sea.

lt's confusing, sir. First,

we're pirates. Then we're Navy.

lt gets a fellow all

muddled up in his thinking.

lf l may say so, sir, l

think Mr. Link has a point.

The rum should

be left on deck.

A very good

suggestion, Lieutenant.

And Mr. Link should be responsible

for it at all times, sir.

l'll guard it with

my life, so help me.

Do that, Mr. Link.

Guard it 24 hours a day,

and when this tour of duty is

finished, l'm going to break it open,

and if there's as much as one mouthful

missing from the present count,

you'll lose your rank

and your pensin.

But, Captain...

Carry on.

Yes, sir.

Stand your watch, Mr. Farragut.

You want me, l'll be below.

Yes, sir.

l mean what l say, Lieutenant. l

don't want to see that medallion again.

You ever see

a big blow, Mr. Link?

Of course,

Davey-lad.

Well, they're commanding

ships nowadays.

Just thought you'd

like to know.

Lifelines secured, sir.

Order the watch below.

Keep the deck

clear of crew.

Aye, aye, sir.

Keep her steady

into the storm.

Get below! Let's

clear the planks.

Step with it, mates!

Help! Help!

Did you hear that, sir?

LlNK:
Help! Help!

Help! Help!

Help! Help! Help!

Cargo's free on

the foredeck.

Count to 35, mister, then

throw her hard to starboard.

lf she hits some waves

broadside, she'll crack in two.

lt's hard to starboard on the

count of 35. Now start to count.

Aye, aye, sir.

One.

Two.

Two.

Three. Four.

Six. Seven.

Eight. Nine.

Ten. Eleven.

Twelve. Thirteen.

Fourteen. Fifteen.

Sixteen. Seventeen.

Eighteen. Nineteen.

Davey-lad, l...

Count!

Twenty.

Twenty-one. Twenty-two.

Twenty-three.

Twenty-three.

Twenty-four.

Twenty-four.

Twenty-five.

l can't call the deck watch...

Twenty-six.

...or they'll all find out

about your blasted thirst!

Twenty-seven.

Now, grab my arm on the

count of 33. Twenty-eight.

And lurch out at 35. You

got that? Twenty-nine.

Thirty.

Thirty-one.

Thirty-one.

Thirty-two.

Thirty-two.

Thirty-three.

Thirty-three.

Thirty-four.

Thirty-five.

Thirty-five.

Rudder smashed!

Rudder smashed!

Get below without a word. But, Davey...

Not a word to anyone,

you understand?

You weren't on deck. This evens

us up, Mr. Link. Now move on.

Aye, aye, sir.

Where away, mister?

Full starboard command

from Mr. Farragut, sir.

The rudder's

been busted.

Stand general

quarters.

Stand to general

quarters!

Full starboard. Was that

your command, Mr. Farragut?

Aye, sir.

Full starboard

into a storm?

The deck cargoes

broke loose, sir.

You've got a crew.

Why didn't you use them?

l was afraid the men

would be chopped down

by the loose end.

They're sailors.

A common seaman wouldn't

yield to starboard in a storm.

Can't get through

without a rudder.

We'll have to lighten our

load and try to roll over it.

Jettison all bulk

cargo and supplies.

We won't hold out

a week like that, sir.

l don't envy you,

Mr. Farragut.

You won't be the most popular man aboard

after we ride

out this storm.

lf we ride it out.

What's the damage,

Mr. Considine?

Well, the check chains on the

rudder have been carried away, sir.

They could be reset to last

until we head to port.

How long will

it take?

Two, maybe three hours.

The Caribbean is

shark water.

l won't risk men down there that

long. Thank you, Mr. Considine.

Aye, aye, sir.

Still west by

northwest, Mr. Farragut?

West by

northwest, sir.

We're drifting into

the Gulf Stream current.

With luck and some wind for our sails,

it will carry us to the West lndies.

There, we'll take on provisions

and repair the damage.

That's if we don't run

into the pirate fleet first.

Without a rudder,

we'd be a sitting target.

Carry on, Lieutenant, and

pray for clear sailing.

Oh, Captain?

Yes?

l'd like to volunteer

for salvage-diving duty, sir.

l'm aware of the many things

on your conscience, sir,

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes