Episode 17 - A Missed Opportunity!
The early morning of the 19th day of February, 1640.
Coggy, Tew, Moose, and the others, sat in the officers mess aboard the Grim Reaper discussing the forces at their disposal.
"I's got 57 marines, 'bout 40 muskets, and six kegs of powder," said Coggy.
"Me Baron Boat carries 120 marines, each with muskets, n' I can spare up to 10 cannons complete with gunners" added Moose.
"Ok lads. Me Dark Water ships can spare ye 'bout 100 marines each - but I's not givin' ye any cannons 'cos if'n we runs inta trouble durin' the attack I wants me ships to be able to protect 'emselves" explained Tew.
"Right then, by my reckoning, we's got just short o' 400 scurvy bastids, and 10 cannons" said Coggy, enthusiastically rubbing his hands.
"Arrr, we's gonna need every bleedin' one of 'em ta be in fine form if'n we's gonna take Cartagena" explained Tew.
"Ney worries there lad, 'appen when those murderous Cutthroats smell Spanish blood, thar'll be no stoppin' 'em!" replied Cog.
Just then, La Foot came rushing into the room.
"Cap'n, Cap'n yee'd better come and see this" he called anxiously.
"What tha bleedin' 'ell now?" grumbled a disgruntled Cog.
All of the pirates followed La Foot and headed for the Bridge.
Within a few moments, La Foot stood at the bow, pointing out to sea.
"I's seen nottin' like it, Sir" he explained, as he pointed to a sheet of white cloud covering the surface.
The sea mists where thick. An eerie silence surrounded the pirates' ships. There was no wind - no sound - nothing...
"I don't like it, Coggy" said a concerned Davey in a hushed tone, "Tis too quiet I tells ye!"
Coggy and the others remained silent. Each man continued to scrutinize the eerie sight and anxiously watched as the cold mists enveloped the four ships...
A few more tense moments passed...
"Don't like dis one bit!" said Tew uneasily.
"Aye, I's never seen tha brine so thick" added Coggy, scratching his head.
"Whadda ya make of it?" asked the nervous Quinn.
Again, the pirates and Coggy's crew looked on in deafly silence.
A few minutes of uneasy tension followed as the crew began to murmur amongst themselves.
Without taking his eye off the ghostly mists, Coggy retrieved a flask of whisky from his tunic and took a swig to help calm his nerves.
Davey Jones did likewise, before handing the liquor to his comrades.
Each man on deck remained silent as they continued peering into the thick cloud. The unease and tension in the air was becoming unbearable… But just then…
"SIR!" came the bellowing loud scream of the lookout!
Coggy and the rest gave a startled jump.
"Thar's a large fleet behind us!" he called.
The pirates quickly turned to look astern but all they could see was thick swirling fog.
"Don't see a bleedin' ting" said Moose quietly.
The pirates grew increasingly uneasy, as silence again descended.
Again looking astern, the pirates tried in vain to peer through the cloud - but to no avail.
"I's sure I saw a fleet, Sir" continued the lookout as he too strained his eyes trying to glimpse something - anything.
"E's been on tha grog, Coggy" said an uneasy Davey Jones.
Out of the sight of the pirates, a few hundred yards astern of the Grim Reaper, the Treasure Fleet containing over fifty Spanish Merchant ships laden with gold, jewels, and spices, sailed silently away into the distance - and myth...
The men continued to look all around the ship as the icy fog engulfed them.
"Tis the triangle, Coggy - The Bermuda triangle!" said Quinn uneasily.
"Aye!… Quinn's right!" added Davey, "I's 'erd of this 'ere fog o' death! Many a ships been lost to it" he announced, in an uneasy voice.
"Those rumours 'r false" said Morgan, trying to convince himself.
"Ney lad, they be true!" replied Davey.
The pirates shivered as the cold mist bit into them.
"I'd be inclined ta believe ye, Davey" said Coggy, "but 'appen we's in tha Gulf of Darien which be over a thousand nautical miles from yer bleedin' triangle."
Davey paused for a moment, "Oh yeah!" he said in a relieved voice as the pirates began to feel a little easier.
Finally, after what had seemed an eternity, the fog began to slowly disperse.
The sun again shone down and the warmth of the Caribbean thawed the frozen souls of the pirates.
In the far distance, Coggy could see the familiar coastline of New Granada.
Lifting his spyglass to his eyepatch - before embarrasingly swithching it to his good eye - Coggy scanned the horizon until he came across the sprawling metropolis of Cartagena!
"THAR SHE BLEEDIN' WELL BLOWS, ME HEARTIES!" shouted the enthusiastic and excited Captain atop his voice, as he pointed to the promised land.
The pirates smiled and laughed with relief, looked on in awe at the sprawling Spanish stronghold, and finally began to realize the daunting task that awaited them.