Episode 30 - Gunpowder Plot
2nd day of March, 1640.
Four days had passed since the run-in with the pirate hunters. The Grim Reaper slowly limped on towards the small island port of Santa Catalina.
The crew were still trying to stem the flow of water that had been flooding the Sloop, but Quinn had managed to patch up the sails the best he could. However, the biggest problem aboard ship was still to be overcome - boredom...
Coggy was in a mood. And Coggy, being Coggy, was taking his mood out on his trusty, if somewhat ramshackle, crew.
"I want those decks scrubbed good and proper, you scabs!" he growled.
He stood on top of his cabin at the stern of the Reaper with his hands on his hips, "And next time we board a ship, make sure you gut the bastards on their own deck instead o' MINE!"
The crew knew why their Captain was being such a bastard - he was still pissed at loosing the loot from Cartagena and being left in the wake of the Ol'Man and Tew, who by now, where more than two days sailing ahead of his leaking ship.
Moose, Morgan, Quinn, and Davey Jones stayed out their mates' way. They whiled away the hours of boredom by getting drunk or taking pot-shots at passing dolphins - seeing who was deadliest with a musket. Quinn always won.
That morning, Pirate Jim had been brave enough, or crazy enough, to ask his Captain to take it easy on the exhausted crew.
However, he had met with a fierce outburst from Coggy and was now watching the crew work from an iron gibbet cage atop the mast.
Coggy stomped down the steps from the Bridge and growled at La Foot to fetch him a coconut.
The sheepish Lieutenant, still weak from his ordeal with Cyclone, plucked up the courage to tell the Captain that there be no nuts left aboard.
"YEW BUNCH 'O BASTIDS! WHICH THEIV'N SWAB HAS PINCHED ME NUTS?" he barked, as the crew buried themselves into their work and tried not to make eye contact.
Moose had just finished losing another five pieces 'o eight to his mate, Quinn, in yet another shooting contest.
"Lads, I's 'ad enough 'o dis" he grumbled, "I'm tellin' tha stubborn 'ol bugger ta lighten up - else he'll 'ave a mutiny on 'is 'ands."
However, Coggy wus stood right behind the unsuspecting Moose and had heard his words.
Moose turned and realised Cog was there.
"As long as I's Cap'n of dis ship I'll treat me bastid swabs any ways I likes" said Cog with a menacing scowl.
"Just remember what those sorry buggers 'ave been through fer yew, Coggy" replied Moose as he looked his mate square in the eye.
There was an uneasy pause.
Coggy knew his brethren were fed up with his whinging but he was still irate at seemingly loosing everything.
Morgan came forward and stood beside Moose.
"Cog, we knows yer pissed-off mate... we all are. But thars nottin' we can do about it till we reaches Catalina 'n gets tha ol' tub fixed," he said.
"Aye, listen to us fer once yew stubborn old goat," added Davey as he handed out the rum, "We's gotta stay patient... we'll catch 'em, Cog don't ye worry bout that" he added, as he passed a bottle to the Captain.
Coggy bit into the cork and spat it out. He guzzled down half a bottle of the stuff and gave out a bellowing belch.
"Dats more like it!" said Moose wit a grin.
Coggy's stone face began to crack, and he reluctantly gave a wry smile.
"Can we cut Jim down now, Sir?" asked La Foot.
"Aye… cut tha bugger down... give tha swine some grog fer 'is troubles," replied Cog as he took a musket off Quinn, pointed it at a pod of nearby dolphin, and fired.
"Dats five pieces 'o eight yew blaggards owe me!" he said, as the others burst into relieved smiles.
Later that day...
Far ahead of the Grim Reaper, over the distant horizon, Tew's Man o War was inching it's way ever closer to the Ol'Man's ship.
"We's no more than a days sailing behind 'em now, Sir," explained Tew's first mate as the two men stood on deck intently watching the speck on the horizon grow steadily larger.
"If'n we finds a nearby port, 'n gets tha mast repaired, we can be on his stern in no time" added the officer.
"Nay! We's not lettin' him outta our sight." snapped Tew.
"I won't rest till tha Ol'Bastids scurvy head is stuck on tha end of me bowsprit." replied the irate Admiral, "I wants him ta pay fer not 'elping us wit tha Pirate Hunters. I wants him ta pay fer bein' nottin' but a lyin' cheatin' yeller tax man. But most of all, matey, I wants him ta pay fer what 'e did ta Cap'n Blood." growled Tew as he clenched his fists in anger.
Aboard his own ship, Ol'Man stood on the Bridge and watched as his crew of ten hardy souls tried in vain to keep the ship on course.
Cyclone stood next to him, "The alliance ship will have us by tha 'morrow… we can't continue as we have been - we need more sailors" she explained.
Ol'Man remained silent for a moment, then scratched his head.
"I's got an idea!" he announced.
Back aboard the Grim Reaper, Coggy's crew took it in turns to continuously bail the water from her hull, while Moose's twelve surviving crewmen helped with replacing the ships main sails.
"How long before Catalina?" asked Cog.
"I reckons another two days sailing," replied Moose as they watched the sun begin to set on the horizon.
"Who's up fer a game 'o cards?" asked Henry Morgan as he made his way onto the deck and sat upon a barrel.
"Count me in, matey!" called Quinn.
"Me too!" added Davey Jones.
The pirates soon pulled up a few wooden crates and gathered around as Morgan began to deal the cards.
Thirty minutues later...
Ol'Man stood on the deck of his ship with Cyclone and his crew.
"Right - this is me plan," he announced, "As soon as twilight's last gleaming has passed 'n darkness falls, I wants a couple 'o yew men ta take a rowboat full 'o gunpowder kegs and hold yer position a few hundred yards off me ship. I wants yew ta wait fer tha Admiral's ship to come by," he said.
"'Appen tha buggers lost a mast so yee'll 'ave a few minutes to get yer lil' boat along side him 'n light tha powder before jumping overboard 'n swimming tha 'ell away from it." he explained.
A concerned crewman came forward and asked, "So what 'bout yew? Where's tha Grey Ghost gonna be?"
"We'll be ney more 'n 500 yards ahead - we'll ride anchor till the traps sprung 'n come back ta fish tha volunteers outta tha wreckage." he replied.
A few uncomfortable murmurings rumbled throughout the crew.
"Listen yew bunch 'o sorry virmin - we's got ney choice in tha matter!" barked Cyclone, "If'n we don't shake tha Admiral off our hides, they'll be upon us sooner than yew think"
"Aye, 'n we just aint got tha man power ta fight 'em off. Tis tha only way. So which 'o yew scurvy buggers 'r tha best swimmers?" added Ol'Man, menacingly.
Within two hours, the sun had set and darkness covered the inky black Caribbean with only the twinkling stars casting the slightest of hazy reflections across the sea.
Tew's ship continued forward, heading for the flickering dim lanterns aboard the distant Grey Ghost.
"Sir… I may be wrong… but I tink they've stopped!" called Tew's first mate.
The Admiral headed upto the Bridge and peered through his spyglass. Straining his eyes into the darkness, he could just make out the outline of the ship.
"I don't believe it!" he called, trying to suppress his excitement, "They's anchored fer some reason!"
The two men continued to watch the distant lights get ever closer.
"At this rate we'll be on 'em in no time!" called the smiling officer.
"Right, git tha cannons ready! I's not missin' this opportunity!" replied Tew as he headed for the bow of his ship.
Aboard the Grey Ghost, Ol'Man had watched as his two volunteers disembarked and headed out towards the oncoming Man o War. The rowboat they were in was completely stuffed with kegs of gunpowder.
"I 'opes this works, Ol'Man," said Cyclone, with a touch of concern in her voice.
Ol'Man said nothing as he stood on the Bridge and waited for the fireworks to begin.
Ten minutes later, the two swabs in the rowboat reached their holding position and waited...