Yankee Buccaneer Page #6

that ship you encountered.

What makes you so sure?

Since her escape, no other

ship has touched these shores

without being searched.

Hello, Del Prado.

l wish you would not address

me so. lt does not look well.

l will try to

remember, Count.

l'm glad you're here,

Captain Scarjack.

Poulini claims he

encountered pirates.

Pirates?

lmpossible!

They flew

the pirate flag.

And l say they

are not pirates!

Every pirate ship in the Caribbean is

at anchor, waiting for the word to move.

Then, my colleagues,

they are not pirates.

Also, they are

not Brazilians,

or they would have left these

waters when the Countess came aboard,

yet they stay.

Then who are they?

Unless l am mistaken,

they are the American Navy.

Sailing under

a pirate flag?

This confuses

me, l admit,

but if they are concerned with

us, they will return again.

You see, Poulini, the

answers are all in the book,

and, as Homer says,

Man's mind, when

tempered with time,

will return to the

scene of the crime.

We will wait, gentlemen,

patiently, for our American friends.

Good evening, Mr. Farragut.

l hope l'm not intruding.

Well, Countess, this

is a pleasant surprise.

Your cabin door's been locked so long,

l thought you'd thrown away the key.

lf you had knocked tonight,

you would have found it open.

l wish to talk

to you alone.

Now that's a change

in tactics l approve of.

There's quite a bit l want to say to

you and very little time to say it in.

Then we sight

land before long?

By this time tomorrow.

And am l still

to be put ashore?

Those are the Captain's orders.

Don't judge him too harshly.

l know he feels

it's for your good.

To be delivered

to Del Prado?

You'll be delivered

to no one.

l'm to go ashore and

find your lndian friends.

l wish l understood

you better.

At times, you seem of

gentle breeding.

You're considerate.

You're kind.

You make me feel as if l

can turn to you for help.

You can.

Then try to show your Captain l'd be

safer here onboard than put ashore.

And if l try, will you

do me one favor in return,

no matter what his answer?

Perhaps.

Then if you have to leave

this ship, and only then,

wear this medallion

around your neck.

To what purpose?

Say as a bond

between us,

until l can prove

my good intentions.

Guierre. A ship

you sank, perhaps?

There's no dishonor

attached to it.

lt's brought me luck.

l hope it does

the same for you.

You're most convincing,

Mr. Farragut.

l hope the Captain

finds you that way, too.

But since we know he's

involved with pirates,

why not fight him

out in the open?

Our orders read to find,

not fight, the pirate fleet.

Your present missin

is to search for food

but, more importantly, to learn

just where these ships are anchored

and if Del Prado leads

them or protects them.

And if l meet

Del Prado face to face?

CAPTAlN:
Tell him... Tell

him that we know of his plans

and hope to aid

in their fulfillment.

Explain that you've

been sent ashore by me

to find out if he

welcomes our proposal.

Point out that we'd be a

fine addition to his ranks.

What about the girl?

You've convinced me,

Mr. Farragut.

The Countess will remain onboard until

l'm sure she'll meet no harm ashore.

Thank you, sir.

But please remember,

should you fail in the

missin, expect no help from me.

My job is to

save the ship.

l understand, sir.

Oh, Mr. Farragut.

Yes, sir?

Good luck.

Thank you.

Join me, gentlemen.

The wine is superb.

l drink with

my own kind.

Now, what is

it you want?

l see, my dear Scarjack, that our

social levels will never be joined.

However, l have news.

The so-called pirate ship has

returned, as l said it would.

Her sails have been sighted. She

should drop anchor before long.

Good. l'll rake

her bottom.

Oh, no, Scarjack,

you will not rake her.

You will leave the ship and the crew

to me to dispose of as l see fit.

You're daft. She'll make a grand prize.

You seem to forget that l'm still an

official of the Spanish government.

My country is at peace

with the American colonies.

But what do

you suggest?

Plans have been brought to

me by my agents in Havana.

They contain

the sailing date,

armament and course to be

followed by he Brazilian ships

in their run

from Rio to London,

also, a point marked well on the

map where we will intercept them.

And soon, l hope. My

men are growing restless.

They've been holed

up too long on shore.

We still have

time, my friend.

Time we'll use to dispose

of our American friends.

You will then be free to

sail with the knowledge

the Brazilian ships

will not be warned.

l'll drink to that

with pleasure.

Help yourself,

Captain.

Remember, once the

gold is secured,

we no longer need the

protection of the Portuguese.

l will take care

of Poulini.

Good. And one thing more, my friend.

Only you and l will know

the place of interception.

l suggest we

remain friends,

or eventually the entire Spanish armada

will breathe down

your dirty neck.

l'll not cross you.

To my King,

whose supreme generosity allows

you to share in the prize,

for helping get back

what is rightfully his.

Of course, Poulini,

drink up. Drink up.

Ready to shove off?

Yes, sir.

Remember, find out what you

can, but don't risk the men.

l'll do the

best l can, sir.

Don't worry. She'll be

here when you return,

and, Mr. Farragut,

l'll be here, too.

Shove off.

As before, Mr. Link,

and on the double.

Supplies can wait,

Davey-lad. We got company.

Gonna do something about it?

Yes, l'm going to hear

what he has to say.

You are the leader of these men? l am.

Then, seor, you will tell

your men to come with me.

And if l

choose not to?

That would

be a mistake.

We're to be

taken prisoner?

Not prisoner, seor.

We merely want to ask some

questions about your ship.

Very well. l'll leave a

guard for the longboat.

l will leave the

guards. Now, shall we go?

Link, that ambush means

they know something's up.

You've got to get back and tell the

Captain to sail away before it's too late.

What'll you do,

being left behind?

We'll figure

that out later.

l'll not leave you,

Davey-lad. You'll go back.

That's an order. l'll get you

loose as soon as l find a chance.

Buck. Jack.

All right,

get set.

Take care,

Davey.

Herd them

into the castle.

Ahoy, man afloat

off starboard rail!

Can you

make him out?

No, sir, but he's plugging to us.

Heave him a line.

Aye, aye, sir.

CAPTAlN:
Haul away.

Bring him up.

What happened?

Those Spaniards knew something

was up and ambushed us.

Davey picked a fight to spring me loose.

He told me to tell

you to sail out of here

before they

get the ship, too.

Get him some rum.

We're out

of rum, sir.

Wouldn't you know?

Go on, get

out of here.

They left two guards

at the boat on the beach.

They took the rest of them

back to the castle.

l'll get some boys

and go after them.

We can't go

after them.

You mean you're gonna let

Davey rot in that place?

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