An Eye for an Eye

by Peter Roop

  “That’s Mr. Hands, the first mate,” Matthew told her. “You’d best stand by the captain’s door. That’s where James was when I found him.”

  “What am I supposed to do?” Samantha asked.

  “Whatever the captain orders. I’ll talk with you at the noon mess.”

  Matthew hurried off toward the bow of the ship. He helped men tighten the ropes that kept the cannon from rolling.

  Samantha reached the door just as it opened. Captain Black blinked in the bright sunlight and looked around.

  “Feeling better, young Byrd?” he asked, his eyes lighting on Samantha. Without pausing for an answer he rambled on. “Time you learned your duties. I want me coffee at the sixth bell of morning watch. Steaming hot and black. Then make my bed and straighten my cabin. My breakfast will be on the table by eight bells.”

  Samantha did not move.

  Captain Black eyed her. “You’re wearing different clothes this morning, lad. Whether is it a long voyage or short, there’s no need to change unless you are dead. Then you just wear your naturals! Har har!” he laughed at his own joke.

  “Why some of these men haven’t changed their clothes since we sailed last spring.” He shook his head. “You are a green one,” he chuckled. “No wonder your father wanted you to ship with me. When we steal the bone from the British bulldog, you’ll grow up fast. You will be a man when we return.”

  “Aye, Captain,” Samantha said. She fought down a chuckle herself. I might grow up some, but I’ll never be a man, she thought.

  “Now off with you. Me stomach growls.” Captain Black climbed the short ladder to his quarterdeck, where he watched over the Cardinal.

  Samantha turned. She remembered passing the galley on the way from the hold. She hurried down to it.

  “Captain Black wants his coffee,” she said to the cook, who was flipping griddlecakes. He pointed at a pot with his flapjack. “Best take the whole pot,” he said. “What do they call you, son?”

  “Sam. I mean James,” Samantha said.

  The cook looked at her. “Well Samjames. Hurry along. Don’t keep Captain Black waiting.”

  “Thank you,” Samantha said, picking up the pot.

  “When you hear eight bells, get on back down here, Samjames. Captain’s vittles be ready then.” He returned to his cooking.

  Samantha carried the pot to the foot of the ladder. Balancing the pot in one hand, she used the other hand to climb. How will I carry a tray of food? she wondered.

  She knocked on the captain’s door.

  “Enter,” he called.

  Samantha placed the pot on a table. The Cardinal rolled and the pot began to slide. She grabbed it just before it reached the table’s edge.

  “Place it yon gimbals,” the captain said.

  She stood as stupid as a stick of wood. The captain pointed to a brass bracket on the cabin wall. Samantha placed the pot in the bracket, and it swiveled with the motion of the ship.

  “I’ll pour it myself today,” Captain Black said.

  He was reaching for the pot when a voice bellowed, “Sail ho!”

  “Now the game begins,” Captain Black said. He rushed to the deck.

  Samantha dashed after him.

  Chapter 24

  Samantha could just see a white sail low on the horizon. The lookout called, “Three masts, sir.”

  “British or American?” the Captain asked.

  “Can’t rightly tell yet, sir,” the sailor answered.

  Captain Black turned to Samantha. “Lad, take this spyglass up to the lookout.” He handed Samantha his wooden telescope. She took it, but her feet seemed to be made of lead. “Get a move on,” Captain Black ordered, any hint of humor gone from his voice.

  Gripping the spyglass in one hand, she grabbed the ratlines leading to the mast top with the other. Carefully, she put one foot on the ropes.

  She had not climbed 10 feet when she realized that she needed both hands to carry on. She tucked the telescope into her breeches. As she did, she made the mistake of looking down. She hadn’t climbed far, but she was already too high to suit her fancy. She looked up. The maintop appeared as high as a 200-year-old oak.

  A voice whispered at her shoulder. “Sam. Follow me. Don’t look down.” It was Matthew.

  She waited until he climbed past, then she followed. She put her feet exactly where he put his. He makes it look so easy, she thought. But then, he had sailed on a tall ship before.

  Ages seemed to pass before they neared the lookout’s platform. She was tempted to look down, but she didn’t. Even from where she was, she could feel the swaying of the mast as the Cardinal rolled first to one side, then the other.

  Her arms ached. Her soles felt on fire. Still she climbed. All at once, Matthew’s feet dangled directly above her head. She looked at him. He was swinging outward, pulling himself the last few feet with just his arms. He said over his shoulder, “Climb through the lubber’s hole.”

  She didn’t argue. She struggled through the hole and collapsed on the platform.

  The lookout snatched the glass from her waist. “Took your sweet time, lad,” he growled. He trained the spyglass on the ship. Samantha, holding onto a rope, pulled herself up.

  She gasped in amazement. A whole new world spread below her. The broad James River rolled immensely before her. She looked downstream, almost to Newport it seemed. Fishing skiffs the size of the Fish Hawk looked like toy boats as they skimmed across the brown water.

  “She’s British,” the lookout yelled to the deck below. “I can make out her flag. She’s spotted us, sir. She’s giving chase!”

  “All hands on deck!” bellowed Captain Black. Samantha took a quick look down. It was if someone had kicked open an anthill. Men scurried in all directions.

  “Down you both go,” the lookout ordered.

  Reluctantly, Samantha followed Matthew back down the ratlines. I will climb aloft again—faster, she promised herself.

  Samantha and Matthew joined the rest of the crew gathered before the quarterdeck. All eyes were on Captain Black.

  “Lads, I know you joined me to capture prizes. Appears we have a warship dogging our heels. We can’t outgun her, so we will have to outrun her.” A groan rippled through the crew. “I promised you a prize, and a prize we will take. You all know that if we’re captured, you will be pressed into His Majesty’s service for the rest of your lives.” His steely gaze swept over the men. “Let’s show ’em our heels. Mr. Hands, put on all the sail she can take.”

  Mr. Hands snapped his starter. “You heard the captain,” he shouted.

  The men scattered, each to do his duty. There was no grumbling now, not with a British warship after them.

  Samantha couldn’t hide her disappointment. She wanted to fight. She wanted to get Henry back. She didn’t want to run like some cowardly dog. But what if they themselves were captured? After all, they had only two cannons.

  Captain Black called her. “Fetch me other glass from me cabin,” he said. “And be quick about it.”

  When Samantha returned to the deck, some sailors had swarmed into the rigging and had unfurled a small topsail. Others had raised two more jibs. With five sails filled, the Cardinal kicked up her heels like a playful colt and galloped through the water.

  Captain Black chuckled to himself. “You think we’re the fox and you the hounds,” he said out loud to the British ship. “You are right in that. But this fox knows a few tricks that you bulldogs have never seen. “Throw over the sea anchor,” Captain Black ordered.

  Chapter 25

  Samantha watched five sailors carry an old sail past the captain. A row of cannonballs hung from it. The sailors tied two corners of the sail to the ship and dropped the sail into the water. The Cardinal immediately slowed.

  Disappointment etched Samantha’s face. “What are you doing?” she cried out.

  Captain Black’s look withered her and she shrunk back. Matthew grabbed her elbow and steered her away. “You fool,” he hissed. “Never,
and I mean never, question the captain.”

  “But we’re slowing down. We’ll get captured.”

  “Look up,” Matthew told her. She gazed at the full set of sails still filled with wind. Even with the wind pushing them, the Cardinal slowed even more.

  “Captain Black has a trick up his sleeve,” he said. “To the British ship, we look like we are trying to escape using all the sails we can.”

  Samantha caught on. “But with that sail acting like an anchor we are actually slowing down so she can catch up with us. But why?”

  “I suspect that Captain Black has a surprise for them,” Matthew said.

  Samantha wondered what kind of surprise a ship carrying two guns could have for a warship. Time would tell.

  The sails of the British ship grew larger and larger. Before long, Samantha could see individual men along the railing. They were rolling out a row of six cannons. The cannons’ black snouts looked vicious.

  A puff of smoke rose from one cannon. A boom followed like thunder after lightning. The cannonball splashed into the water ahead of the Cardinal.

  “Loose the sails,” Captain Black ordered. “Cut loose the sea anchor.” He turned to Samantha, “And you keep your mouth shut.”

  Samantha shrank back as the orders were followed.

  Two sailors chopped the ropes holding the sea anchor. Weighted by the cannonballs, it sank. The Cardinal gradually slowed, then stopped, as the wind spilled from her sails.

  “Ahoy there,” called a sailor from the British ship. “Stand to and prepare for boarding.”

  “Aye,” Captain Black called through his speaking trumpet. In a voice only the Cardinal’s crew heard, he said, “Now lads, you know the routine.” Ten heads nodded, even Samantha’s.

  Then she remembered James down below in the hold. She pinched Matthew and whispered, “What about James?”

  Matthew grimaced, for he had forgotten James too.

  “Should I go below and make certain everything is secured?” Matthew asked Captain Black.

  “Aye, Matthew. And take James with you. Keep him with you until the British have gone.”

  “Aye-aye, sir,” Matthew said, pulling Samantha with him toward the hatch.

  He grabbed a lantern and stopped to light it at the galley stove. Samantha followed wordlessly as they climbed down into the hold.

  James was where they had left him, swinging miserably in his hammock.

  “Get up, James,” Matthew said.

  “Leave me alone,” he growled.

  “We can’t,” Matthew told him. “We’ve been stopped by a British ship. They will search the hold.”

  “I don’t care,” he moaned. “Let them capture me and put me back on dry land.”

  “Well, we care,” Samantha said. She grabbed the edge of the hammock and flipped him out. In the dim light she saw the tears in his eyes. Instead of feeling sorry for him, she shook him. “Now listen, you blockhead,” she snarled.

  “Calm down, Sam,” Matthew said.

  “We’ll be discovered if we don’t do something fast,” she snapped at him.

  Matthew rubbed his eyes. “You are right,” he said. “But what can we do?”

  “Where can I hide?” Samantha asked.

  “You?” Matthew questioned.

  “Yes, me. Only one of us can be here when they come below.” An idea dawned on her and made her stomach flip. “Is there a way down into the bilge?”

  “Yes, but why?”

  “I will hide there and James can be himself.”

  “I’m too sick,” he whimpered.

  “You will be sicker when Captain Black finds out our trick,” Samantha said. “Or would you rather go down into the bilge?”

  James looked as if he was going to get sick again.

  “This way,” Matthew said. He led them to a small hatch well past the stack of logs. “They use this hatch to clean the bilge.”

  “Probably never been opened,” Samantha quipped. She bent down and lifted the heavy hatch cover. A blast of stench hit her. Both boys stepped back. “Smells worse than 10 skunks trapped in a tobacco shed,” she choked out.

  Samantha lowered herself down into the darkness. Her feet felt a wooden knee supporting the ship’s side. She hunched herself down upon it. Already she could hear footsteps approaching the ladder to the hold.

  “Don’t leave me down here a second too long,” she ordered.

  “I won’t,” Matthew promised, gagging as he dropped the hatch down.

  Never before had Samantha experienced anything so totally black. There was not one glimmer of light in any direction. She closed her eyes and concentrated on taking short, shallow breaths. Overhead she heard footsteps crossing the deck, stopping here and there. Muffled voices drifted her way, but she could not make out a word. Finally the footsteps faded. When the hatch cover opened she scrambled out, gasping for breath. Firm arms gripped her. Not Matthew’s. Not James’s.

  She looked right into Captain Black’s face.

  Chapter 26

  “Just as I thought,” Captain Black said. “When I saw that the bilge cover had been moved, I knew there was a stowaway in the bilge.”

  Matthew and James stood behind him.

  “Methinks there is some explaining to do,” Captain Black said. “We’d best settle this in my cabin.”

  Samantha wanted to pull Matthew aside and ask what had happened with the British, but she held her tongue. She was already in enough trouble. Trouble follows me like a hungry puppy, she thought. If only I hadn’t been discovered, we could find Henry.

  Captain Black sat in his chair. The three cousins stood before him.

  “Who is to tell this tale?” the captain asked.

  Matthew and James looked at Samantha.

  “I will,” she said. “We were trying to help rescue Henry and I wanted to sail with you so James and I dressed alike so I could and if only James hadn’t gotten sick we—”

  “Whoa,” Captain Black said, holding up his hand. “You are galloping like a runaway horse.”

  Samantha paused and took a deep breath before slowly explaining the whole story to Captain Black.

  When she finished, he broke into a grin. “If you don’t beat all,” he chuckled. “Samantha, I mean Sam Byrd, you have more gumption than most lads your age.” He stroked his salt-and-pepper beard and continued, “We’re too far to turn back. If my plans work out, I’ll be needing all the men I can muster. If the men don’t know you’re a girl, I can sign you on as another hand, say as James’s twin brother.”

  “When you capture British ships?” Samantha burst out.

  Captain Black rocketed up from his chair. “How do you know that?” he barked.

  “I overheard you talking with Papa and Uncle John.”

  Captain Black stroked his beard while he thought. He sat back down. “Since you will be part of the crew now, I’d best tell you all,” he said. “I do indeed have a letter of marque giving me permission to capture British ships. I also possess a letter from Lord Dunmore giving me permission to supply his ships and transport materials and Loyalists for him.”

  “You can’t do that!” Samantha said.

  Captain Black fixed her with a stern stare. Samantha was quiet.

  “I am just as loyal to Virginia as your Pa and your uncle. We’re all Sons of Liberty aboard this ship. With Dunmore thinking me loyal to the King, I can further our cause at his expense.”

  “But how?” Samantha asked.

  “Like I just did fooling the Otter’s lieutenant,” he explained.

  “How?” Samantha asked.

  “When they boarded us, I showed their lieutenant me letter from Dunmore giving me permission to supply him. The letter also protects me crew from being pressed into the British Navy. Just like in England, the crews of supply ships can’t be taken from their ships. I showed him the casks of beef we were carrying for Dunmore, and the timbers for firewood. Seems few Loyalists will venture far from Newport for food or wood because our militia peste
rs them when they do.”

  “But how can you take supplies to Dunmore?” Samantha asked.

  “I’m not,” Captain Black told her. “It is a ruse to allow me to slip past Newport so we can prowl the Chesapeake for our quarry … real British supply ships. If we stayed up the James, we’d be trapped like rats.”

  Samantha shivered at the mention of those beady-eyed pests.

  “Enough jabbering,” Captain Black said. “You now know what the rest of the crew knows. Are you willing to sign on?”

  “Yes, sir,” Samantha said.

  Captain Black passed a book over to her. He opened it and said, “Put your mark there.”

  Samantha took up his quill pen and signed “Sam Byrd” right under James’s signature.

  “Now back to your duties … lads,” Captain Black ordered. He shook his head. “Usually I am the one playing tricks, but Samantha, I mean Sam, you pulled one over on me. I like that.”

  The three rushed from the cabin into the bright September sun. Far astern, the Otter continued west up the James while the Cardinal sailed east toward Newport. James ran to the railing and retched.

  “Now tell me what else happened while I was hiding in the bilge,” Samantha demanded.

  “After I left you, the British boarded us. Captain Black’s plan was to make us look like we weren’t sure if the Otter was really a British ship or one of ours. That’s why he had the sea anchor slowing us down. Without it we can outrun any ship in the Royal Navy. But with the anchor, we could look like we were trying to escape when we really weren’t.”

  “Then what?”

  “Captain Black showed his letter from Dunmore and led the lieutenant around the ship. Satisfied that we were what we said we were, he let us go. Now we can sail past Newport and begin capturing ships!”

  “The one Henry is on, I hope,” Samantha said.

  Captain Black opened his door and called, “Sam Byrd, fetch me some hot coffee. This pot has gone cold. And send the carpenter to me.”

  Samantha quickly completed her errands and helped James below to his hammock. When she returned to the deck, the carpenter and his mate were cutting out sections of the railing.