Yankee Buccaneer Page #5

Mr. Farragut, cargo secured? Yes, sir.

Watches posted?

Yes, sir.

Sick report filed?

Yes, sir.

You're very efficient,

Mr. Farragut.

Thank you, sir.

Countess?

SAlLOR:
Sail ho!

Where away?

Bearing fine on

larboard quarter.

Can't get her colors, but she

flies the recognition pennant.

How is she heading?

Starboard tack,

close-hauled,

closing fast, sir.

Up helm.

Back your topsail!

Square away fore

and main! Belay!

Mr. Farragut?

Yes, sir?

ln view of our missin, l'd like

to avoid a fight if possible.

However, if it

comes to a showdown,

pipe stand to quarters, Mr.

Farragut, and clear for action.

Aye, aye, sir. Stand to

quarters! Clear for action!

She's hoisted her colors, sir,

but still wants recognition.

Can you

make her out?

Not yet, sir.

She wants our

colors, sir.

She'll have to wait.

Why doesn't the

Captain show his flag?

Well, you see, ma'am,

we're privateers-like.

We got no country.

Awkward, ain't it?

We better get something on that flag

mast before they blow us to bits.

Quarters cleared

for action, sir.

My glass, Mr. Link.

Aye, aye, sir.

Now, Countess, l suggest

you go to your cabin.

l prefer to take

my chances on deck.

ln that case, l must insist. l can't

assume responsibility for your safety here.

Mr. Redell.

Yes, Captain?

Take the Countess

to her cabin.

Aye, aye, sir.

This way, Countess.

CAPTAlN:
White field, green

St. George's cross.

She's

Portuguese, sir.

CAPTAlN:
First-class

ship of the line.

That means she carries

twice the guns and crew

that we have aboard.

Now we're

really in for it.

l've tried to avoid hoisting

our colors with a girl aboard,

but the missin

comes first.

Shall l break

out the flag, sir?

Not yet. Save it

as a surprise.

lt should have

some shock value.

Meantime, have the men draw sidearms,

and prepare for heavy action.

lf we have to fight, Mr.

Farragut, let's be sure to win.

Aye, aye, sir.

And still she

flies no flag?

No, sir.

Fire another warning across

her bow, close across her bow!

Stand by bow gun.

That didn't

miss by much.

lt missed, didn't it?

Stand by and hold fast.

Mr. Farragut, secure the

pennant from the flag box,

and break it aloft

at my command.

Aye, aye, sir.

Men!

That ship bearing down on us has

twice our range and firepower.

We've got to get 'em in tight

before we let go a broadside.

l want them in so close you can

spit in their eyes after loading.

Light your ready matches,

cast loose, prime and stand by!

Closer in.

We'll show those pigs

who refuse us recognition.

Steady.

Stand by to fire!

Steady.

Mr. Farragut.

Yes, sir?

Break her aloft.

Aye, aye, sir.

Hold your fire! Run up the

parley pennant, quick. Quick!

She runs the

parley pennant, sir.

All stations stand fast.

What do you

think, sir?

That he wants to talk, Mr. Farragut,

so we'll talk. There's little choice.

Let me go!

Let me go!

So you're privateers?

You're pirates.

You're black-hearted pirates.

Redell, take her below

and lock her cabin.

Aye, aye, sir.

Now, Mr. Farragut, shall

we go back to the war?

Make fast for parley.

Aye, aye, sir.

Make fast for parley!

l am the captain of this

ship. You wish to talk?

You speak bravely, Captain.

Perhaps because you know

your safety is assured.

l know of no agreements

concerning me.

You are wise, Captain.

Secrets should be well-guarded.

No doubt it serves a

purpose to have you at sea,

but in the future, it should be

wiser to identify yourself sooner.

My men live for

the cannon's roar.

Until we meet again.

Full half turn

and all sail.

All hands remain

at battle stations.

l don't know what it's all about, but

it looks like the last of them, sir.

l wonder, Mr. Farragut.

l wonder.

This narrow escape has made me realize

how wrong it was to keep you aboard.

When our provisions run out, l

shall return you to the islands.

You'll be safer there.

So the pirate captain

returns me to Del Prado.

l should not

be surprised.

Del Prado?

Are we to pretend

that the Governor General

of the Spanish possessions in

the lndies is unknown to you?

Believe me, Countess,

l know nothing...

l cannot.

l've seen too many of your sort

while imprisoned at Foxardo.

lt is for your safety alone

that l must return you to land.

Must we continue this

playacting, Captain?

There's nothing you can say

to overcome your actions.

ln that case,

l'll be blunt.

ln a fortnight, our provisions will be

gone, and l'll return to the islands.

At that time,

you'll be free of us.

And Del Prado will hold you

high in favor, be assured.

l'm truly sorry that

you think so ill of me.

She wants no part of it.

She told me so.

The Countess also

told me other things.

What other

things, sir?

She mentioned a Spaniard

named Del Prado,

Governor General of the islands,

close in contact with the pirates.

Yet we've seen no pirates, Captain.

The Countess has,

at Foxardo.

All banded together and giving

up plundering the shipping lanes,

but for what, Mr. Farragut? For what?

That gold

from Brazil.

Exactly. ln some way, they're

working with the Portuguese.

That's why we got

off with our lives today.

But you say this

Del Prado's Spanish.

They have no part

in this quarrel.

Our rations will last us

a fortnight and no more.

Then, l'll be justified in

returning to shore for supplies.

Course east

by nor' east!

East by nor'

east, sir.

l think we'll find the answer

to this mystery of the sea

on land, Mr. Farragut,

at Foxardo.

Ah, my good Captain,

how does it fare?

l have news of

great importance.

More so than you

will find in that book.

You are wrong,

my friend,

for in the books are the

answers to all of Man's problems,

and you have a problem, dear Captain.

lt is written all over your face.

l encountered pirates.

Pirates?

Why was l not told

that some of them

were still at sea?

But Captain Scarjack

assured me...

Nevertheless, the pirate

flag was flying.

Only my quick thinking

prevented bloodshed.

l have given no orders

since you left weeks ago.

lf that is so,

then why...

You say they

flew the pirate flag.

That is strange,

for l have kept our

bargain to the letter.

l was about to board her,

for she flew no colors.

Then, as we came in contact, the

skull and bones rose from her mast.

You spoke to

the Captain?

Yes, but he

told me nothing.

l did not press the point since

our crew is not in my confidence.

Furthermore, l believed

him to be under your orders.

This Captain, did he

speak your tongue?

No, he spoke the language

of the American colonials.

He's ready to

speak, my lord.

Bring him forward.

Perhaps my lndian brother is convinced

that telling the truth is much easier

than a visit to the tower.

Speak out. Where is she?

What does he say?

She went aboard a ship that

had stood by for provisions.

The men spoke a strange

language that she understood.

So...

Take him away.

l wondered how the Countess

escaped me, Poulini.

Now l know. She was aboard

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