Yankee Buccaneer Page #3

and also that a rudderless

ship of short rations

takes longer to

reach its destination,

but l won't let the

sharks get any part of you.

l want my executive officer to

stand court-martialed on both feet.

Word from sickbay, sir.

Doctor confirms report.

lt's scurvy that

Harrison's down with.

Any fresh food or

potatoes left aboard?

No, sir.

Mr. Farragut?

Yes, sir?

The men need a tonic.

Break out a rum ration

for ship's complement.

Mr. Link will

supervise. Carry on.

Aye, aye, sir.

l'm sorry for showing me thirst,

Davey-lad, and causing you all this hurt.

Let me tell

the Captain...

Secure all hands

for rum ration, Mr. Link.

Then we'll have our say.

Aye, aye, sir.

Forsythe.

Forsythe, draw

ration for one.

Christie.

Christie, draw

ration for one.

Rum issue

completed, sir.

Thank you,

Mr. Redell.

Well, that does it, Davey-lad.

Now for old Link's ration.

l suggest you save some of that until

after we fix the rudder, Mr. Link.

The rudder? l ain't

fixing no rudder.

You heard the Captain say

those fish bite hard.

Topside at eight bells. We're

responsible for this mess,

and l couldn't be in

much more trouble.

Bring a lubber hose from the

forecastle, and not a word to anyone.

But you're not

listening, Davey.

Eight bells, Chief.

The blooming gold braid knew

how hard l worked for this drink,

they'd make me an admiral

for my drive and spirit.

All clear, Davey-lad.

Good.

Now, my idea is to replace

the shackle on the stay chains.

But it ain't enough.

She'll break away again.

lt's worth a last chance

to try to sail her in.

There's no guarantee

we'll drift to port

before the food runs out

and the scurvy gets worse.

Hand me that

lubber hose.

Now, two pulls on this rope

brings me up. Lower away.

Stand-by watch!

On the double!

Get below. l'll take

care of him.

You all right,

Davey-boy?

The shark

almost got me.

No chance to fix

those stay chains.

But you were told not to try to

fix the stay chains, Mr. Farragut.

You will remain to quarters

until further orders.

Aye, aye, sir.

Better fetch the doctor.

That won't be necessary,

sir. l'm quite all right.

Captain

Porter, sir. Look.

LlNK:
lt's the wind, sir.

lt's come.

We'll be blown

into the currents.

Well...

lt appears, Mr. Farragut, in

spite of you, we may reach land.

Bosun, all hands.

Loosen all canvas.

Square away

and stand by.

All hands!

Six days of this drifting.

Those topsiders don't know

where we're headed.

Farragut's the one.

What with his navigation,

we'll never see home again.

Mr. Redell.

Yes, sir.

You're sure these

figures are accurate?

They've been

double-checked, sir.

Even at half rations, there's barely

enough supplies for three days more.

ln that case, we'll

cut to quarter rations.

lnform the crew

and officers.

Aye, aye, sir.

SAlLOR:
Hungry, you say?

Now, how can that be? You

ate yesterday, didn't you?

Sure. Why, look at him.

He's fat as a pig.

Why, l'll bet if you was to

put a nice juicy leg of lamb

in front of him

right this moment...

What's all the

fussing, lads?

We was figuring what

we was gonna eat next,

the mainsail

or our shoes.

That's enough from you. Mend

your nets and be quiet about it.

SAlLOR 2:
Land ho!

Where away?

Dead ahead.

Land, sir.

Where away?

Dead ahead, sir.

Take soundings for it.

Anchor at six fathoms.

Prepare landing

parties.

Aye, aye, sir.

Now, Mr. Farragut, if

you'll join me in my cabin?

Yes, sir.

By my calculations, we're somewhere

along the Mosquito Coast, in here.

We've reached a natural harbor, so

we'll have a chance to fix the rudder.

You'll take a party

ashore and provisin up.

Now, this is Spanish territory, and,

as pirates, we have no landing rights.

My orders are to

create no incident.

Do l make

myself clear?

Very clear, sir.

Move ashore and

get the provisions.

Aye, aye, sir.

Mr. Farragut.

l'm putting you in charge

of this expedition

because l need my gunnery

and salvage officers aboard.

You'll please me no end

by accomplishing one missin

without breaking any

naval regulations.

And if we run

into trouble, sir?

You know the answer.

To save the ship and the

nature of the missin,

l'd be forced to abandon

you and sail away.

Has the Captain any instructions

in the case of that emergency?

The men will have

to fend for themselves.

lt shouldn't be too difficult

for you, Mr. Farragut.

You've worked alone during

most of your naval career.

Come in.

That'll be all,

Mr. Farragut.

Yes, Mr. Redell?

Good news, Captain.

The doctor reports our single

case of scurvy's in check,

and with fresh supplies coming aboard,

there's little chance of another outbreak.

Yes, sir, l'd say we

have nothing more to fear.

Mr. Redell, with

Mr. Farragut loose ashore,

there's always

something to fear.

Secure craft.

Mr. Link, forward.

Separate the men

into small groups.

Pick anything from the

trees and land that's edible.

Aye, aye, sir.

On the double, Link.

This is strange country.

Oh, relax, Davey-lad. Ain't

a thing gonna bother you.

Water beakers

are filled, sir.

Good.

Well, that's about

the last of it.

Fire the completion

signal, and we'll move out.

Very good, sir.

Redell.

Yes, sir?

You seen Link?

Not since he and Beckett

went off scrounging, sir.

lt's past time they were

back. l'm going to check. Here.

Take two boats back to the

ship. Leave a crew for me.

We'll return presently.

Aye, aye, sir.

Crew on boats one and

two. Stand by to return.

I mash 'em

I muck 'em

I grow 'em

I truck 'em

Yo, ho, ho, it's

the Iife for me

I mash 'em

I muck 'em

Mr. Link, what in

blazes are you doing?

A method of mine, sir,

for refilling the keg,

crushed wine

with me own feet.

Add a little alcohol

from sickbay,

and we've a drink onboard

for emergencies.

Beckett, are you in

on this? Well, l was...

He's with me, sir,

by my instructions.

l told you once before

our accounts are squared.

Now, l've seen none of this, Mr. Link.

lt's all your problem to explain away.

l'm heading back

for the boat.

We shove off in short

order with or without you.

As the saying goes, Beckett-lad, looks

like l put both feet in it this time.

Report, Mr. Considine.

Rudder's been fixed, sir.

She's ready to go.

Good.

Mr. Redell.

Shore party all onboard?

Well, not exactly, sir. Mr. Farragut

and Mr. Link aren't back yet.

What happened to them?

They'll be along, sir.

Along? What do

you mean, along?

Well, that's all Mr. Farragut said,

Captain, when he ordered me back.

Farragut again.

Probably dreams of capturing

the island single-handedly

and raising the

American flag.

Well!

Well!

ls that all you

have to say?

lt will cover my

sentiments for now.

Then l will speak.

You are the Captain of

the ship in the harbor?

No, lovely lady,

l am not.

But you're an officer

of that ship.

Well, for the

present, yes.

l wish to buy passage.

Passage?

Well, isn't it customary to ask

where a ship is bound for first?

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