“There may be no proof of a midnight meeting, but we now have proof of payments from Thache to the governor and Knight in the form of eighty casks of sugar and cocoa. Sixty for Eden and twenty for Knight, to be precise. They were delivered during two separate trips, and in fact the pirates are still in Bath. So we now have direct evidence pointing to a profitable business arrangement between the pirate and the two officials.”
“Ye be referring to the payment due to the Admiralty Court of one-fifth the salvage?”
“Yes.”
“But the local Admiralty representative is allowed to claim a fifth of the cargo for himself to offset administrative costs.”
“Yes, but Tobias Knight isn’t formally entitled to anything as customs collector. I think it’s nothing but a bribe. And Eden and Knight weren’t the only ones to benefit. More than five dozen barrels were reportedly fenced in Bath and the profits divided among Blackbeard’s crew. Knight has apparently allocated him a warehouse outside town for the express purpose of selling his stolen goods.”
“What about depredations committed by the pirates? Has there been anything since the robbery of William Bell?”
“Unfortunately, none that I am aware of,” said Moseley, clearly wishing Thache had committed more crimes so the case against him would be stronger.
“Are you sure? Nothing at all?”
Moseley shook his head. Spotswood looked at Brand, but he, too, had no evidence of any further criminal actions on the part of the notorious Blackbeard. “However,” pointed out the naval captain, “that does not mean that Thache has treated everyone except William Bell in the territory civilly. There are several mariners who regularly conduct trading trips in and out of the Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds and gather intelligence on the pirates’ activities, moorings, and rumored ravages of North Carolina’s population. They have informed me that Blackbeard and his brigands frequently trade with the colony’s inhabitants but the prices for the items purchased—primarily food, alcohol and tobacco—are almost always determined by the buyers. I am told that this was the practice employed by the rogues of the Bahamas before Governor Woodes Rogers arrival, wherein they maintained a symbiotic if one-sided relationship with their neighbors.”
“So what you’re saying is that, for the most part, Blackbeard and his men have been trying their best to remain within the law after receiving their pardons—the lapse with William Bell notwithstanding.”
“That is correct. But some of the Carolina traders no doubt feel they have not gotten a fair deal when selling their goods to the pirates and appear to be complaining to anyone who will listen.”
“Count me among them, gentlemen,” said Moseley. “I am all for ending the pirates’ unfair trading practices.”
Spotswood couldn’t help but smile. “I believe Captain Brand and myself are well aware of that, Edward.”
They shared a laugh. Moseley then said, “Just because we have not heard of further depredations doesn’t mean that more haven’t taken place. These pirates are monsters and a death knell to free trade in the colonies. Why the very idea of a pardon is a sham for these miscreants. And Blackbeard has flouted the terms imposed by the King by blockading Charles Town and beating up William Bell.”
“Don’t worry, Edward. He’s not going to get away with it. Captain Brand and I here are quite determined to hold Thache to account for his actions.”
“But you have no authority in the Carolinas and neither does Captain Brand.”
Spotswood felt a little twitch of irritation. It was true, neither he nor Brand had the full legal authority to invade another colony and arrest anyone, even a pirate. And yet, had not South Carolina Governor Johnson already taken matters into his own hands by sending out Colonel Rhett’s anti-piracy patrol that cornered Stede Bonnet in the Cape Fear River? And had not Pennsylvania Governor Keith fitted out two sloops recently for anti-piracy patrol duties in Delaware Bay? If Eden had neither the protection of the Royal Navy nor the resources to create his own anti-piracy flotilla, why couldn’t Spotswood, as leader of a colony that did have a powerful naval presence due to the rich tobacco trade by Micajah Perry and other Virginia tobacco merchants, help make up for his neighbor’s weakness. If Eden lacked the power to deal with pirates within his own dominion, why couldn’t Spotswood do the job for him, just as Governor Johnson had done?
After a moment, he realized the answer to his own question. It was true that if he sent in a naval expedition to capture or kill Thache, he would grossly exceed the powers granted to him when he took the job. After all, he was only allowed to intervene in the affairs of other colonies “in case of distress of any other of our plantations,” and only then “upon the application of the respective governors thereof to you.” Governor Eden had made no such request, which meant that he would clearly be meddling in the affairs of another colony and doing so using military force. So he had little wiggle room from a purely legal standpoint.
But looked at from a more practical standpoint, Governor Johnson had already set the precedent by launching an attack into a neighboring colony, and was at this very moment proceeding full speed ahead with a show trial of Stede Bonnet and his forty-five crew members in Charles Town. If Johnson could claim he had no direct guidance from London, and thereby had to take action first and seek approval for his actions later, couldn’t Spotswood do the same? And what if it could be firmly established that Thache and his crew had not been eligible for His Majesty’s pardon, wouldn’t that be enough to justify intervention? And with William Howard’s incriminating testimony from his depositions and trial part of the official documentation, wouldn’t convictions for Thache and his remaining crew be guaranteed?
But he did not yet want to let Brand or Moseley in on the full breadth and scope of his legally and ethically questionable scheme. He needed more time to build his case and for Blackbeard and Eden to make a costly mistake that would make an invasion of North Carolina legally uncontestable.
“I believe it is premature, at this point in time, to speculate on how Thache, Eden, and their piratical associates can best be apprehended,” said Spotswood, not wanting to show his full hand just yet. “Instead, we should continue to focus our efforts on gathering intelligence so when the day to take bold action draws near, we are fully prepared to triumph over our enemies.”
“Hear, hear,” agreed Captain Brand. “We’ll catch these rogues soon enough.”
“Yes, we will,” said Spotswood with a reptilian smile. “And hopefully, sooner than we all think.”
CHAPTER 58
TOWN CREEK, BATH TOWN
OCTOBER 28, 1718
HEARING A TENTATIVE KNOCK ON HIS CABIN DOOR, Thache put down his musty, leather-bound copy of Exquemelin’s History of the Buccaneers of America and called out to his visitor, “Tacks and braces, come in!”
The door opened and Caesar appeared, his glossy clean-shaven pate glinting in the candlelight. Sitting at his desk, Thache could tell at once that the young man was troubled with something and likely had bad news. Days earlier, the Adventure had dropped anchor into the muddy river bottom off Tobias Knight’s landing and promptly delivered the second shipment of sugar and cocoa to Governor Eden and Knight. This fulfilled the pirates’ 80-cask payment on behalf of the Crown and His Majesty’s customs for the colony of North Carolina in lieu of Admiralty court and administration fees. Now the crew were spending a few more days of comfortable leisure in town, though they slept on the river aboard the ship.
He waved his guest to the chair before his desk. “What brings you here, Caesar my friend?” he inquired innocently.
Taking his seat, the African paused a moment to gather his thoughts before speaking. “I have some troubling news to report, Captain.”
He poured him a glass of rum and handed it to him across his messy captain’s desk, covered with charts, mariner’s instruments, books, and the like. “Troubling news, you say?”
“Aye, Captain. ’Tis being whispered that Master Hands is seeking to lead a m
utiny of ye ship.”
“Go on.”
“He’s been quietly spreading the word that he’s lost faith in you and believes he can do a better job as captain.”
Though the news wasn’t surprising given their recent arguments and nearly coming to blows on two separate occasions, Thache was still surprised to hear that Israel Hands was planning on taking over his ship. “Has Mr. Hands spoken as to the cause of his dissatisfaction?”
“He doesn’t believe your heart is in it anymore and that he can do better. But he also doesn’t like that we’ve been dilly-dallying these past two months. He believes we should be headed south to secure our privateering commissions.”
“Lord knows if we had not taken the French prize, we would not be here in Bath mollifying the governor and would already be headed for southern climes. In any case, thank you for informing me of this development, Caesar. You are a good and loyal seaman, and on the blood of Henry Morgan I wish I had three dozen more like you to sail with me to St. Thomas.”
“Thank you, sir. Some of the men, like Mr. Gibbons, are saying that Mr. Hands was riled up by Jack Rackham during the recent banyan. They’re saying that Calico Jack is the one who’s been planting these thoughts in his head.”
“Do you believe them?”
“Aye, ’cause I heard them talking. They drank to the damnation of you and Charles Vane as much as they did bloody King George. They want you two out of their way so’s they can take over the Adventure and Ranger.”
“How many men do you think would go along with the mutiny?”
“No more than a handful. As you know, many among the crew don’t like Mr. Hands. That’s why Thomas Miller was voted quartermaster and Mr. Hands only sailing master after the incident at Old Topsail.”
“What do ye think I should do about this planned mutiny?”
“I don’t know. I’m not a captain.”
“But what would you do if you were? Would you punish Master Hands?”
“I suppose I would have to with his being a traitor and all.”
“Did Mr. Hands say anything else that I should be aware of?”
“Only that if he did mutiny, he would, out of respect, do it while we were anchored here in Bath Town. He claimed it was because several of your closest allies like Gibbons, Brooks, Miller, and myself have close ties here. This way we would be marooned nearby to our friends and families.”
“Well, that’s certainly thoughtful of Mr. Hands.” He tossed back a half glass of rum then refilled his glass and threw back another two shots of the fiery liquor. He could feel his growing anger fueled by the alcohol.
“Again, Caesar, thank you for bringing this to my attention. Now I’d like you to fetch Master Hands for me. I’d like to have a word with him.”
“What?”
“You heard me. I want you fetch Mr. Hands. I want you to bring him to me so that he and I can have a little chat.”
“A little chat?”
“Aye, it is time that Mr. Hands and I resolve our differences once and for all. The truth is our relationship has been festering for some time now.”
“I was aware of that, Captain, and I’m sorry for it. There was a time when you two were very close.”
“Aye verily, there was. But with the Crown’s new anti-piracy measures, everything is changing. The sand’s shifting beneath our feet and the tide is going out.”
“Aye, Captain. I’ll fetch Mr. Hands now.”
When Caesar left the cabin, Thache withdrew two of his pistols from his bandolier, carefully removed the lead shot and cartridge, and loaded each pistol with simple gunpowder cartridges and no shot or mini ball. He placed one pistol on his lap so that it would not be visible to a man sitting in the chair opposite his desk. The other he placed back into the lowest leather holster of the bandolier, even with his lower stomach. He then placed the lit candle in the center of his desk. Then he waited. Minutes later, Caesar returned with the sailing master, who was mildly drunk. His ruddy face was filled with wariness and distrust.
“Thank you, Caesar. Leave us please.”
“Aye, Captain,” and he was gone.
Despite the air of tension in the cabin, Thache poured Hands a glass of rum, filling it nearly to the brim, and the two of them clinked glasses like gentlemen and tossed back four fingers each of the amber fluid. Thache then poured out another for each of them and launched into what he wanted to say.
“It has been brought to my attention by several members of the crew that you plan to take over my ship and serve as her captain. That, Master Hands, is what is known as a mutiny and I don’t believe I will allow it.”
Hands sneered with disdain. “You won’t allow it? Why you don’t have any bloody say in it. It’s the crew that will cast their votes.”
“And you believe you will carry the day if it comes to a vote?”
“You don’t command the men’s respect any more. You’re too indecisive.”
“Indecisive, is it?”
“You’re torn betwixt heading back to the City of Brotherly Love to be with that strumpet of yours or striking for the West Indies to become a privateer. You just don’t know what you want any more.”
Thache felt himself cringe at the word strumpet, but tried not to let his displeasure show on his face. “And you know what you want and what is best for the men, is that it?”
“Aye, you can scupper, sink, or burn me if I can’t do a better job than you, these days. That pardon poisoned your mind, turned you away from who you truly are. You’re a pirate and will always be a pirate, but your mind hasn’t wrapped itself around that yet. You’re all confused on account of your strumpet back in Philadelphia.”
“She’s not a strumpet. Her name is Margaret.”
“I don’t care what her name is. She’s nothing but a wet hole and body to keep your bed warm at night. So don’t be making her out to be no queen.”
He clenched the pistol with his right hand below the walnut desk, barely able to control his anger. The pistol was trained directly on Hands’s right kneecap. One pull from the trigger and he would be maimed for life—but mercifully not killed—from the powder charge.
“What’s wrong with you, Israel. Why are you so angry at me?”
“You know why I’m angry. I’ve told you a half dozen times now.”
His voice carried the quiet desperation of a spurned ambitious man who had not fulfilled the lofty goals he had set for himself, and Thache couldn’t help but feel pity for him. By God, by shooting him in the kneecap I’ll be doing the sod a favor. At that moment, he heard a burst of laughter from the men on deck over the sound of the gentle slap-slap-slap of the river’s flow against the Adventure’s wooden hull. Suddenly, a hundred different worries stampeded through his mind as he realized the grave risk he was about to take.
Should I go through with it? What if it doesn’t work or I get caught? In the aftermath, will the men side with me or Hands? My God, what would Margaret think?
“So, what you’re saying, Israel, is that you’re still angry over having lost command of the Adventure and being demoted after the confusion at the Old Topsail? Does that about sum it up?”
“That was a bad affair. There were friends of mine you double-crossed.”
“Aye, I can see why you’d be angry over that.”
“And then you lied to us when you sailed to Bath Town in the periauger.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Those diverse goods you said you bought in the country were stolen goods.”
“Stolen goods?”
“Don’t play dumb with me. You lied to me and the other crew members about how you came by the box of pipes, the yards of fabric, the barrel of brandy, and the silver cup. Why did you feel it necessary to lie to your shipmates?”
“Let’s just say I had me reasons.”
“What were they?”
“I wanted to conceal the fact that I stole the items from an impertinent trader up the river. I didn’t want to be the one
who had violated the King’s pardon.”
“That’s it?”
“I weighed the fact that the robbery was a criminal offense subject to the laws of the proprietary colony and not the Admiralty laws of the high seas, and I crossed my fingers I would not be discovered. I made a simple mistake.”
“You should have trusted us. We’re your crew members who signed the articles.”
“Aye, you signed the articles as did I. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to let you take a ship that is rightfully mine. I own it and Governor Eden has declared as much. So you can mutiny all you want, but you won’t be taking my ship.”
“Your behavior has become erratic. You need to stand down.”
“No, it is the world that has become unpredictable, what with Woodes Rogers, Ben Hornigold, Henry Jennings, and the HMS Scarborough and other ships of the Royal Navy hellbound on our trail. That’s what they’re trying to do with these pardons and making pirates pirate hunters—they’re trying to remove us from the high seas and wipe us off the map once and for all.”
“It would be best for everyone if you just stand down. There can only be one captain, and it can’t be you, not anymore.”
Another burst of riotous laughter filtered in from the aft deck. The sound cut through the sound of a seaman softly singing a favorite ballad. Thache quietly pulled back the hammer of his pistol. His mouth felt as dry as a kiln. Taking a deep breath, he steeled himself.
You have to do this. Just get it over with.
Hands tossed back his glass of rum, dribbling some down his chin, grabbed the bottle, and greedily poured himself another full glass. Thache glanced towards the cabin window. The wooden blind was pulled shut, but there was a narrow gap along the edges, enough to allow someone to peek inside the room from the deck if they so desired.
You’re running out of time! You’ve got to do it now! Your only chance at a future is to be rid of him. But what will Margaret think?
Blackbeard- The Birth of America Page 44
