Doctor Syn on the High Seas - Thorndike Russell (читать лучшие читаемые книги TXT) 📗

order. They are grumbling that he got them aboard with fine promises,

when signing came, their pay was cut down to the minimum.”

Syn nodded. “Go back to your ship and tell them that they have a good

adventurous friend in me. I will force Black Nick to reconsider his

terms with the crew. Every man aboard shall have a more generous wage,

and in addition, a share in the profits. You may tell them if there is

one man that Black Nick fears, it is Captain Clegg, who sails with them

and knows how to respect good sailors. Up to this moment, he has had

more from me and I from him, but now I will turn the tables. You and I

will stand together on this voyage, and the men will stand behind us. Go

and tell them so. Should Black Nick not agree to my terms—and I have

that over him to force his hand—I will compel him to sell the ship to

me. I can buy it as his price. On the other hand, I think he will sell

it at mine. Within two hours, we will be aboard and shaking out the

canvas.”

After seeing Syn and Mipps ride off towards the Governor’s, the young

Spanish officer, delighted at not having to return to the ship with

tales of more delay, but rather with a fine sop to throw to his

discontented men, escort ed the baggage to his waiting boat, and was

pulled off to the ship.

Meanwhile, Syn and Mipps rode out of the town with a show of great

haste. At last, safely hidden beneath the trees of a grassy-bridle path,

Syn drew the rein.

“That ride has done us good,” he laughed. “But I think we will not

approach the Governor’s House any nearer, though, it needs all of my

patience not to ride there in hot haste and finish with Black Nick. I am

not in the mind, however, to put him out of his misery so soon. We can

torture him better by waiting. He has had a bad fright this morning over

our rooms. He will get a worse shaking at his soul, before the day is

out. Let me see, we have something under two hours before boarding our

ship, and I have some work to do at the inn before then.”

“Our ship?” asked the bewildered Mipps.

Syn laughed. “You have ever the taste for piracy, my good Mipps.

Well, here I find Black Nick obliging enough to build us a ship for that

purpose. Between us, we managed to take Black Satan’s Sulphur Pit, and

with some luck and skill, we’ll now take Black Nick’s St. Nicholas.”

After a gentle ride to kill time required to an imagined interview at

the Governor’s House, they galloped back into town, that they horses

should appear in a fine lather. Re-entering the inn, Syn called for pen

and paper, and in the privacy of his room, settled down to writing

carefully, while Mipps sat a smoking and watching.

Presently Syn remarked, “‘Tis a good thing remembering what a man’s

handwriting is like. I r ecollect Black Nick’s very well. This paper we

may not need at all, but it is best to be prepared. I wish you to sign

your name here

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as witness, beneath this signature of the Governor’s clerk. Black Nick

has already put his name, as you see.”

Mipps grinned and signed, then added, “How do you know there’s a

Governor’s clerk?”

“Because the Governor is Spanish and therefore lazy. Of course, he

would have a clerk. This document makes it quite clear that Black Nick

has made voer his ship to me. Very kind, I swear. He states, too, that I

have paid for it in full. Now, let us take a boat and a closer look at

the St. Nicholas.”

Saying which, Syn placed the paper in his pocket, let the way out on

to the quay and engaged a boat. It was then, mid -afternoon with a fine

breeze blowing.

“Just the weather for sailing, and like old times, Master Carpenter,”

said Syn cheerfully. “She is a fine ship by the looks of her. We must

give her designer his due. She seems fit to withstand heavy weather, in

that she could cut through it. A fine length of mast, too, all three of

them. And a fine stretch of canvas she can carry. I long to stretch my

sea legs on her decks. I think she’ll ride very prettily, Mister Mipps.”

“I think so, too, sir,” replied Mipps, looking up with great

admiration at the black hull brightened with brass cannon. “A frigate of

fifty guns, I take her.”

“Aye, and she’s capable of a lot,” added Syn. “Heavy work; light

work; quick work.”

“And dirty work,” grinned Mipps.

Grasping the rope-ladder alongside from the tossing boat, Syn,

followed by Mipps, climbed aboard, and was received at the gangway by

Tarragona.

“Ship is ready for sea?” asked Syn.

“All ready, Captain Clegg,” the officer answered.

“Then pipe all hands on deck. I have something to say to the men for

their advantage,” and Syn, swaggering to the companion ladder, climbed

up to the poop-deck and leaned upon the rail.

Meanwhile from rigging and holds, the crew swarmed on to the main deck beneath him and stood s taring at the magnificent stranger who had

boasted to be their friend.

“All on deck, sir,” said an officer.

“All on deck, sir,” repeated Tarragona.

“Then bring me the ships’ sailing papers,” ordered Syn.

Tarragona brought him the papers from his cabin under the poop. Under

the eyes of the crew, Syn unfolded them, read them, and frowned. Then,

folding them again, he handed them to Mipps, who stood on duty beside

him and produced the document which he had forged at the inn. This he

read through carefully and then let it trail over the rail, from his

hand so that all could see.

“My lads,” he said, “I have had a serious difference, over this

voyage, with Black Nick. The unfair way in which he has kept you aboard,

while he drinks with the Governor infuriated me. Although he has engaged

a pirate crew, he had no intention of hoisting the black flag. Well, we

are going to hoist it now, and if Black Nick thinks we are going to

escort treasure-ships tamely to Spain, he is mighty mistaken. That

treasure will be more valuable to us, when we lock our own share in our

own seachests. Though I have taken over the ship from him, he still

expects me to wait for him so that he and his family may have a free

passage to Havana. His chests are aboard, but we must wa it till it

pleases him to finish his drunken bout with the Governor. We’ll have

look at these chests. They shall be your first prize. Now, who is for

joining under new articles better than ever? I promise you that if any

refuse, he is at

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liberty to swim for the harbour before we sail, and no harm done. I take

it none of you are pirates for the fun of the thing, though I promise

you, many a merry time when duty’s done. No, like myself, you are

pirates in order to get rich quickly. Hard work and dangers, and then

money to spend ashore like gentlemen. Now, I know that I am the man for

you, and you the men for me. It was I, Captain Clegg, who killed Black

Satan, the notorious but hated Negro captain, in fair fight. With the

help of this gallent sea -dog by my side, my master carpenter, I captured

his pirate vessel, the Sulphur Pit, and filled her with the treasures

from our prizes. As then, I promise you that I’ll be first to board any

ship we think is worth the t aking, and, if you wish, I’ll prove my

swordsmanship against any three, you care to match against me. But why

spill our blood when we want other’s treasure? Now, let’s serve out

double grog, and then to sea. What say you?

At this the whole crew fell into cheering, and when a great barrel of

rum was tapped, their enthusiasm knew no bounds.