Caribbee

  *

  Later he wondered if he might have been praying after all. He remembered how the fork of fire slid down the mainmast of the Gloucester, then seemed to envelop the maintop, send­ing smoke billowing through the tops'ls above. Next it coiled about the mainmast shrouds.

  In moments her main tops'l was aflame, as though she'd been caught with fire-arrows. Soon a tongue of the blaze flicked downward and ignited her main course. After that the shrouds began to smolder. Almost immediately her seamen began furling the other sails, and all open gunports were quickly slammed down to stop any shreds of burning canvas from accidentally reaching the gun deck. Next the helmsman threw his weight against the whipstaff to try and take her off the wind.

  She was still underway, like a crippled fireship bearing down on them, and for a moment Winston thought they were in even greater danger than before. But then the Gloucester's mainmast slowly toppled forward as the shrouds gave way, tearing into the other rigging, and she heeled. It was impos­sible to see what followed, because of the rain, but moments later burning spars were drifting across the waves.

  "It was the hand of Providence, as I'm a Christian." John Mewes was mounting the quarterdeck, solemn and subdued. A crowd of stunned seamen were following him to gain a better view astern. "The Roundhead whoresons were tempt­ing fate. They should've known better than puttin' to sea with topmasts like those in this damn'd weather. Heaven knows, I could have told them."

  There was a murmur of assent from the others. They stood praising the beneficence of God and watched as the last burn­ing mast disappeared into the rain.

  After Winston had lashed the whipstaff in place and or­dered the sails shortened, he collapsed against the binnacle.

  "It was a miracle, Hugh." Katherine wrapped an arm about him. Her bodice was soaked with rain and sweat. "I think I was praying. When I'd all but forgotten how."

  "I've heard of it happening, God knows. But I've never before seen it. Just think. If we'd had taller masts, we could well have caught it ourselves."

  Now the mood was lightening, as congratulations began to pass among the men. It was only then Katherine noticed the white shift at their feet. The mulatto was crumpled beside the binnacle, still as death.

  "John, have somebody come and take that woman below." Winston glanced down. "She looks to have fainted."

  "Aye. I was near to faintin' myself, truth to tell."

  Finally Winston pulled himself up and surveyed the sea­men. "I say well done, masters, one and all. So let's all have a word of thanks to the Almighty . . . and see if we can locate a keg of brandy. This crew has earned it."

  Katherine leaned against him as she watched the cheering men head for the main deck. "Where can we go now, Hugh? There'll soon be a price on our heads in every English settle­ment from Virginia to Bermuda."

  "From the shape of our rigging, I'd guess we're going nowhere for a day or so. We've got to heave-to till the weather lets up, and try to mend those sails. After that I figure we'd best steer north, hope to beat the fleet up to Nevis, where we can careen and maybe lay in some more victuals."

  "And then are you really going to try your scheme about Jamaica? With just the men you've got here?"

  "Not just yet. You're right about the men. We don't have enough now." He lowered his voice. "So I'm thinking we'll have to make another stop first."

  "Where?"

  "There's only one place I know of where we can still find what we'll be needing." He slipped his arm about her waist. "A little island off the north coast of Hispaniola."

  "You don't mean Tortuga? The Cow-Killers . . ."

  "Now Katy, there's no better time than now to start learn­ing what they're called over there on that side of the Carib­bean. I know the Englishmen here in the Caribbees call them the Cow-Killers, but over there we were always known by our French name."

  "What's that?"

  "Sort of an odd one. You see, since we cured our meat Indian-style, on those greenwood grills they called boucans, most seamen over there knew us as the boucaniers. And that's the name we kept when we started sailing against the Spaniards."

  "You mean . . . ?"

  "That's right. Try and remember it. Buccaneer."

  BOOK THREE

  TORTUGA / JAMAICA