Crossbone Children and the Orphans of Avalon

by Gregory Ellis

  John looked aft at the ship's wheel and saw Cumberbatch with both his large hands grasping the wheel. Next to him was Captain Roscoe. The Captain turned and glanced at John, but said nothing. Cumberbatch also looked at John and gave what appeared to be a very quick smile then returned his attention to the job at hand. Apparently having been accepted by the two most important men onboard, John looked over the ship from fore to aft. After being in a Ship of the Line, the Hopeful was incredibly small, but agile. Only the topsails were set, but the crew was busy preparing the mainsail once the ship stood away from the land.

  It felt oddly strange to stand on the deck with no responsibilities. He gave a heavy sigh, pulled out his telescope from within his coat and turned to look at the land. He opened it and leaned on the rail to steady himself and surveyed the dock where the ship had just left. He knew he would not see his mother and the carriage since he heard the carriage leave before he boarded the Hopeful. He wanted to see the land one last time. As he focused on the area where the carriage had been, he could see the barrel where that old sailor had sat, but now he was gone. Only his crutch remained leaning against the barrel. Strange he thought, a one-legged sailor was somewhere out there without his crutch! A thin sea mist was closing in around the ship, partially choking the land from view. The open sea loomed straight ahead.

  He closed the telescope and put it back inside his coat, then leaned over the rail to watch the sea foam glide past the ship's hull. As he peered down, he was startled to see a pair of black eyes poking up out of the water. A seal, watching the ship pass by, yet those piercing black eyes seemed to be staring straight at John. He smiled at the creature which instantly disappeared beneath the water. John stared after it for a moment then shrugged his shoulders. Never before had he seen a seal in an English harbor. The memory of seeing such a creature after being rescued from that island came back to him. Such a strange occurrence and he wasn't even in the Caribbean yet.

  Chapter 4

  Rescued

  Each morning John woke up early to take a walk on deck and to watch the rising of the sun. The heavy clouds and storms of England were behind them now, but the wet cold of spring still followed them. The nights were cold, the days fair and getting longer the further southwest they sailed.

  As for the children brought on board the Hopeful, Captain Roscoe made it plain to everyone he did not like them aboard his ship and did not allow them any privileges either. He kept in them confined in the forward hold. They were like vermin as far as Roscoe was concerned. Every day they were confined to just sitting in the dark waiting for the end of the voyage and the uncertain future that awaited them.

  After a few days at sea, Roscoe showed signs of mercy when he finally relented and reluctantly gave permission for the children to be brought on deck each day during the afternoon watch. As they climbed up through the hatch, most stood in the sun disoriented and blinded. After their eyes adjusted to the brightness of day, some found spots on the deck to sit and bask in the sun's rays. Others stood at the railing looking out over the sea, twittering like birds at seeing something new. It was an endless world of blue-gray water and blue skies on most days. It was all new to them.

  John stayed aft while the other children were on deck. He could only imagine what it was like in the forward hold - terrified, seasick and sitting in near total darkness.

  One afternoon as the ship ploughed through the easy, gentle rollers of the Atlantic, an ominous cloud appeared on the horizon. A fast moving storm known as a squall with strong winds and a downpour of rain that could whip the waves into a frenzy, sped towards them. A storm such as this could rip the spars and canvas from a ship in seconds. In many cases, if a squall appeared too quickly, it was difficult for the crew to prepare for the certain onslaught

  This storm blew towards them as if it had been aimed directly at them. "Get them bilge rats below!" Captain Roscoe shouted. To Cumberbatch he commanded, "All hands on deck… shorten sail!"

  Cumberbatch went into action and echoed the captain's commands. Each sailor knew their job and ran to their allotted stations. Up the masts and lines they scampered like monkeys racing out along the spars, curling their toes around the foot rope as they went. They furled the sails around the spar. Their fingers clawing at the unruly canvas to secure it. It was dangerous work, but these men were professionals and knew their jobs well. Within a few minutes all but the top'sls were secured. The top'sls are used for steerage so the helm can control the ship, even in a fierce gale.

  Soon the sea boiled around them with white caps and heavy rolling waves making the Hopeful rock back and forth and slide down the mountains of waves. Water dashed against the hull sending white-foamed spray over the bow and onto the deck. Even though the sailors knew what to do, the children weren't so lucky. John could see the children were in trouble as they attempted to go below. One massive wave struck the bow and sent water crashing down the deck sweeping several of the children from their feet. John watched in horror as a smaller boy was washed through a porthole. Another boy who was standing by his side tried to grab him but missed. The luckless boy disappeared over the side and down into the gray sea. John ran to the Captain and yelled, "Man overboard!" Roscoe ignored him as he and Mr. Cumberbatch stood at the ship's wheel trying to keep the ship steady. "Sir, a boy has been washed overboard. You must wear ship Sir!"

  "I must do noth'n! This is my ship and I take no commands from anyone. They should've been below as I commanded."

  Apparently, one less child made no difference to him, but if Captain Roscoe did not care about one insignificant child, perhaps he would care about an important passenger. Without hesitating, John ran foreword to where the boy went over the side. The boy who tried to grab him stood looking over the rail and calling as loud as he could, "Fynn, Fynn!"

  John had to yell to be heard above the storm, "Can he swim?"

  The boy shook his head and yelled back, "No!"

  John looked around and spotted a rope on the deck picked up on end of it. To the boy, he commanded, "Take the other end and tie it to the rail. I'll jump in and when I have him, pull us both up." The boy just stared at John as if he did not understand. John pushed him as he repeated the order. Finally he nodded and fumbled for the end of the rope.

  John kicked off his new buckled shoes and with the rope in his hand, climbed up on the ship's railing. He jumped feet-first into the forbidding gray sea. As he hit the water, the rope was jerked out of his hand. No time to worry about that. He had to find the boy. As his head broke the surface of the water, another wave dashed him in the face, forcing saltwater into this mouth and nose. He coughed and kicked to stay above the water as he twisted his head this way and that looking for the missing boy. Finally, he saw the boy about ten yards away. Kicking and paddling as fast and hard as he could, he swam towards him.

  Fynn was trying as best as he could but the boy's head disappeared below the surface for what might have been the last time just as John reached out and caught him by the collar. John brought him up to the surface. Fynn grabbed John's head and tried to climb over him but John's firm grasp held him tight. "I got you. Hold on to me!"

  When the Captain saw his important passenger jump in to after the boy, he cursed with rage as he commanded, "Heave to, man overboard!" He cursed again. He spun the helm hard over, spilling the wind out of the sails. The ship slowed down. To Cumberbatch he shouted, "Go see what you can do Mr. Cumberbatch!"

  Cumberbatch ran to where the boy stood with the end of the rope in his hands unable to move as he watched the two boys struggling in the water near the hull of the ship. He grabbed it out of the boy's hands and threw the end of it out to the struggling pair but it fell short. As he gathered the rope to try it again, he watched John try to swim while holding onto the young boy. The waves and the added weight of the young boy were taking its toll. He threw the rope with all his might and the rope's end landed just a few feet from the target.

  John fought to move towards it but the waves were too s
trong. It was just out of reach. He struggled to hold onto the boy and kicked with his feet but he was not making much headway. His strength was leaving him and the rope seemed no nearer to them than before.

  With his eyes open, he and the boy sank below the surface. Just when he was about to surrender to the water, he saw a black seal swimming toward him with the end of the rope in its mouth. The animal swam right up to John as he and boy sunk deeper under the water. With no fear of humans, the seal practically placed the rope in John's outstretched hand.

  The rope was pulled taut and John and the boy quickly surfaced. The head of the seal emerged from the water and watched. Apparently satisfied it quickly slide back underneath the water and disappeared from view.

  Speaking between gasps for air, John commanded the boy, "Put your arms around my neck and hold on." With great effort the boy did as instructed. John took the rope and looped it around his waist and tied it off the best he could. John raised his hand to signal they were ready. Both were hauled up the side of the ship where unseen hands reached out and pulled them up and over - spilling them onto the deck of the Hopeful.

  Coughing and struggling to regain his breath, John rolled over on the deck-planking and looked over at the boy. He couldn't be more than seven or eight years old. His long dark hair was matted across his forehead but he was breathing at least. John struggled onto his hand and knees, his strength nearly spent. The older boy dropped to his knees to see if the little boy was all right.

  Cumberbatch was now standing beside John with the rope still in his hands, smiling. Between wheezing and coughing, John croaked, "Thanks Mr. Cumberbatch that was well done!"

  Cumberbatch just smiled and nodded. Without a word he strolled back to the helm as if the wind, rain and wave did not affect him. The Captain was yelling to the hands to get the ship underway again.

  The storm left just as quickly as it had come. Already the waves calmed down and the shrieking wind abated. With his strength returning, John stood up and looked over the rail, down into the water. Again, he saw the seal looking up at him. John smiled and waved, as it dove beneath the water.

  "Thank 'ee for saving little Fynn here."

  John turned and said, "I'm just glad we both are safe." The boy who spoke was perhaps the same age as himself but taller and well-proportioned with long dark hair which hung around his neck and shoulders. His bright-blue eyes sparkled as continued to thank John. "What did you say his name was?" John asked as he coughed again, the saltwater making his throat raw.

  "Fynn."

  "Your brother?" ask John.

  "No, A friend. We worked the streets a'fore we was taken and put on this boat."

  John eyed him with curiosity, "So I take it, you are here against your will?"

  "Too right!" the boy shot back. "One day they just ups and arrests us. Said we was a black mark on them what's got position and money and so we had to leave sudden like."

  John asked, "And your name is?"

  "Buster Jack."

  John reached out and shook his hand, "Is Jack your last name?"

  "No, Buster Jack Sullivan, them what knows me just calls me Buster Jack or just Jack if you like."

  John smiled, "I'm John Henry. Nice to meet you, Jack."

  It was Buster Jack's turn to ask questions, "You must be of position yourself. Anyone what has a cabin all to themselves must have money."

  Not wanting to say too much at this point, John just said, "My family owns property in Jamaica."

  "Thought so, we seen you up there standing back by that tosspot of a captain what hates us!"

  Both boys turned to stare at Captain Roscoe as he stood beside the helm still barking orders to the crew. He either did not see John and Buster Jack standing there talking or else just decided to ignore them.

  John smiled, "Apparently he doesn't like children on his ship. I don't care much for his attitude toward any of us."

  "You could get away with that, but not us orphans."

  By this time Fynn was sitting up with a look of bewilderment on his face. He looked up at his friend talking to John - the one they saw walking alone on the deck.

  John looked down at him. "Looks like you are none the worse for falling over the side!" He smiled, "How are you feeling, Fynn?"

  Being skeptical of those considered his betters, Fynn did not immediately reply, but shifted his gaze to the deck. Buster Jack reached down and pulled the boy to his feet. "He looks to be all right." Then to the boy, Buster Jack said, "Fynn, this is the bloke what saved you from drowning - John Henry. He's got land in Jamaica."

  With downcast eyes, Fynn said, "Thank 'ee, Sir. The water just grabbed and pulled me over like."

  John smiled, "Yes. I saw."

  Buster Jack whispered, "That devil of a captain wouldn't stop the boat even after he seen what happened. Curse his eyes! He only stopped when he saw you go in after Fynn. Why did yah do it? You don't know none of us."

  John hunched his shoulders. "I dunno. It just didn't seem right not to try."

  "Well, thanks again." Buster Jack said.

  Again John smiled, "The Captain will not appreciate what I did, but I knew if something happened to me, he would not be Captain much longer when word got out he let a paying passenger drown."

  They talked for a while as the ship gathered speed and the Hopeful came back on course. John knew the Captain would have words with him about this. But John knew he would be in Jamaica in a few weeks and Roscoe would be forgotten and probably never seen again.

  As the two of them talked, John learned about the capture of the children and where they were bound. Apparently the courts ordered them to be brought to Jamaica and serve as indentured servants on the sugar can plantations. They were told that if they lived long enough and worked hard, they would have a chance to go back to England and live respectable lives.

  The first few weeks of the voyage had been very hard on them - most had been seasick. Miraculously none had died which was common among prison ships or slavers.

  As the sun set on that day, they parted. Buster Jack and Fynn went down into the hold and John walked slowly aft to the quarter deck. He was about to go down the ladder to his cabin when the Captain said, "You ever do something like that again, Lord Henry or not, you'll sleep in Davey Jones' Locker!"

  Not intimidated at all, John replied, "You ever allow a child to drown without trying to save him, I can assure you, that will be the last time you do so and I'll see your charter revoked and your ship taken." And with that, John disappeared down the hatch and Captain Roscoe stood with his mouth opened but no words came out.

  Chapter 5

  In Pirate Waters

  For the next few weeks, John Henry and the other children met daily on the deck as the ship continued to bear down on the island of Jamaica - passing many small islands in the distant that were part of the hundreds of islands that made up the West Indies. He met the rest of the boys during those visits and learned they were a tight-knit group, except the bullies, because of the common fate they shared and because of their life together on the streets of London.

  Some of them stood out from the others like the three Seachrist boys. Cole was the oldest at fourteen, Dylan, twelve, then ten-year-old Brock, the youngest. All three were blonde with bright blue eyes and very stout for their age. They kept together as a warning for any others to keep their distance. If you made trouble for one you had trouble from all three. The brothers had made a name for themselves in the streets by their ability to get into trouble and then get out of it even quicker. Like all the rest, their story was typical: orphaned when their parents either died in the service of the King or disease or imprisoned for debt.

  There was Ethan, a boy of thirteen with light-brown hair and blue eyes that seemed to observe everything around him. He was quiet except when spoken to and then was quite talkative. Ethan never knew his parents. He had grown up in a government orphanage but ran away a year ago and the Seachrist boys sort of adopted him as one of the brothers.

>   After observing them for a few days, John learned there was some that were not so likable. There was another group of three that refused to talk with John or even Buster Jack. In fact, they did not talk to any of the others but preferred to keep to themselves. When John finally asked Buster Jack about them he learned the three boys were the bullies of the group. The oldest was Hugh Skipwith, nearly seventeen, then Jeremy Gorst, fifteen and at thirteen, Ralph Bardolf. Jeremy and Ralph were followers and hung on every word that came from Hugh. The trio had a nasty reputation of taking whatever they wanted from the other younger orphans; those that could not fight them.

  Hugh was large-framed boy of sixteen. His face was covered in freckles and his disposition matched his ruddy features and red hair. His pale blue eyes left you feeling as if there was no soul inside his body.

  John learned from the boys that there was another ship with about the same amount of children which left Portsmouth ahead of the Hopeful. Onboard that ship was Buster Jack's younger sister; Ava. By the way Buster Jack described her; she seemed more mature than her age of fifteen. She found an abandoned room in London where she, Buster Jack and Fynn live. Just a place to sleep at night and keep the rain and snow off their heads. Ava actually had had a job as a house maid for a local family but she had been discharged when her employer learned she was homeless. After that she was taken by the magistrate and deported along with all the rest. Buster Jack described how she sobbed when separated from her brother and little Fynn. The first ship had five or six girls on board when it sailed, the Hopeful had none.

  After sundown one evening, John joined the group in their hold and shared their meager meal. The amount of food Captain Roscoe allowed them to eat was less than the meals John ate as a midshipman. The area where they slept and ate was dimly lit and smelled of vomit and rotting timbers as if the wooden hull itself was sick of their treatment.