Prince Rupert, the Buccaneer

by Charles John Cutcliffe Wright Hyne

Rupert laughed. "Well," he said, "we're far from England now, and I won't pick a quarrel with you over your disloyalty, Master Simpson. To begin with, we've other matters on hand. And to go on with, I've an opinion that we agree shrewdly over the other point of my argument. You'll have as little distaste for plunder as anyone, eh?"

Simpson smacked the Prince's shoulder. "Tha'st hit it theer i' once, young feller."

"Your approval overwhelms me. Now here's my plan. We'll give these other galleys the slip, and be off back to La Vela as fast as the oars can drive us. They'll know this galley there as their own, and will let her into the harbour unquestioned——"

"By gum," shouted Simpson, "I see t' plan. Let's away wi' us, an' we'll talk it through as we go. We shall loss a fight wi' these 'ere other galleys, but we shall have all we want in La Vela harbour before we've got our pickings there an' are off again. That carrack against the mole has the plate in her of half a season's gathering."

It took little formality to get the galley once more into motion. The whips of the late boatswain and his mates were picked up by ready hands, and any stubbornness which at first the new slaves chose to show was soon flogged out of them. There were not enough soldiers remaining alive after the vessel was taken to full man the oars, and perforce some of those who sat on the benches before had to return to them. But these freedmen pulled at oars apart, and soon there sprang up a rivalry between them and the boatswain who drove the new-made slaves—the which was bad for the slaves.

Quickly the galley got into her stride again, swerving in a wide circle under the helm, and then heading back for the Main. The Spaniards had not lit her great poop lanterns that night for fear lest Wick should play some buccaneers' surprise game under cover of the dark; and unlit they remained after she was captured; and if the other consorting galleys came to hunt for her, they never arrived, and there's an end to them.

One other talk Captain Prince Rupert had with his crew before they came up with their new work. "I tell you plain, gentlemen," he said, "that I am out in these seas of the New World to make what monies I can add to my King's revenues, but at the same time one's own private honour must be attended to first. Now I want an agreement from all hands as to where the profits of this venture belong. For myself and Master Laughan here, we were of the company of Captain Wick and Captain Watkin, and were put ashore (so it was said) to forward their plans for sacking the City of Coro. It is a marvel, for which I thank God heartily, that we stand here alive and free to-day, and as those two buccaneer commanders must have known to what horrible fates and dangers they sent us, I take it they wrote us off their strength as dead the moment we left the ship. So I hereby dissociate Master Laughan and myself from their venture, and proclaim ourselves, so far as they are concerned, to be gentlemen at large. Remains for myself a contract I once made in Hispaniola with Master Simpson."

"Nay, young feller," said Simpson, "that's off by my own unavoidable act. We agreed that you were to be my matelot at sea, sharing equally all you addled, and I was to be your camerade ashore, with a business of hunting the wild cattle of Hispaniola and bucaning the meat, selling it in Tortuga, and sharing with you the gains. But I must needs be gowk enough to get caught by the Spaniards, and so, as I say, the bargain's off. So we're all here on our own bottoms, and all that's needed is to settle the share list."

The debate about this was simple. Rupert, as Captain, was to have fourteen shares. Simpson was appointed Quartermaster with eight shares, Drapeau, a Frenchman, was made gunner with four shares. The other French and English buccaneers, including the secretary (who to her mortification was offered no official position) were apportioned two shares apiece, and the Spaniards, who had been their fellow-slaves, were each given one share. These last were for making some disagreement; but it was soon pointed out to them that the French and English as a rule gave Spaniards nothing, and that if there was much fuss about the matter, they would adhere to their usual habit. The which suggestion calmed these greedy gentlemen down wonderfully, and so all within the galley was peace and concord.

Day came, and the galley found herself alone on a desolate sea. The coast of the Main was visible from the deck, the buildings of La Vela could be seen from the mastheads; and so the oars were cocked and the day was set apart for a rest which all most sorely needed.