Crossbone Children and the Orphans of Avalon

by Gregory Ellis

"Beg pardon, Sir, but if we tells you… what's in it for us?"

  Sir Duncan sat down on the desktop and smiled, "Maybe, you are not as stupid as you look, which is considerable. You might even be intelligent, that is if what you say gives away the location to the island." Peck looked down at the highly polished floor as he mulled over the information from these two London street urchins.

  "Tell you what, my friends. You tell me what I want to know and if what you say pleases me, I won't turn you in to be hanged. If what you tell me does not please me… I have you hanged right here after being whipped like one of my slaves, which is what you are in the strict sense of the word!" He reached out and grabbed Hugh by the shirt collar. "Now… tell me what I want to know or die right here and now!"

  Hugh's knees buckled and would have fallen to the floor but Peck held him up by this shirt. "Tell me, You Little Whelp!" Ralph's eyes widened and he too took a step back but Doddle stood right behind him and pushed him forward.

  "Ok… ok!" he whined. "When we took your treasure from the island, Crossbone Island was only about twelve hours away. We set sail in the morning and sighted land near dusk."

  Peck let go of his shirt. To Doddle he snapped, "Bring a chart of that area!" To Hugh and asked, "How did they manage to take the Sugar Cane?"

  Hugh's composure returned thinking his answer pleased Peck. "Dunno, Sir, I was not with 'em at the time, but from what the others say, they just took it nice and slow till they hit the open water. Then John Henry taught them to set the sails and Mr. Cumberbatch steered the ship back to Crossbone Island."

  "Cumberbatch… Cumberbatch…" he mulled the name over. "Name sounds familiar. What's he look like?"

  "A big man, red head and red beard… a Scot I think."

  Peck formed a mental image of the man, then smiled. "Ah yes… I remember him. He was once on one of my privateer ships but when the war ended, he left the islands and went back to England. He had a daughter there…" Peck stopped, realizing he was thinking out loud.

  Doddle re-entered the room gripping a chart. He laid it out on the desk, he and Peck stood over it as Doddle pulled out a pair of dividers. Doddle said, "Here is our island…" he took the brass dividers and spread it wider to indicate the distance an average ship could travel in twelve hours. He drew a circle around the island where they took Peck's treasure. "…and within this arc… a few islands fall within that distance."

  Peck bent over to look closer at the chart as he said, "Do you know any of these islands?"

  "Somewhat, most are deserted with no water or food for ships to replenish." He jabbed a thumb in Hugh's direction. "But on this one," he jabbed the spot on the chart, "there are mountains and probably fresh water. But, any ship that lands there will be met by savage natives."

  "Yes, Sir," Hugh stepped closer to the desk. "That's exactly what happened to the crew of our ship when we ran aground during a storm. The captain and crew were killed by them. We escaped to the far side of the island on what they called…" He was trying to remember the word. "Ah… sacred or a religious place they calls it. They said them natives could not come to that side, so we be safe."

  Sir Duncan stared at the chart and the location of the island thought to be this magical place. It was then it hit him. He called out, "Guard, take these two and lock them up!" When the guard took the two boys, Peck sat down hard in his chair.

  Doddle asked, "Something amiss, Sir Duncan?"

  Slowly Peck said, "Don't you recognize the location of that island?"

  Doddle looked at the chart again. Then it hit him too. "It's her island!"

  "Yes, Morgan Le Fay's island. She lives on one end of it and these pirate children live on the other. It means that is magical indeed. She won't take the news of the captured gold well and if it's on her island, that could not bode well for us!"

  Peck tapped the chart with his fingers as he thought. At length he seemed to make up his mind and said, "Very well. I'm going to talk to the governor. Tell the other captains to prepare their ships to leave within a day, yours included. We will pay this Crossbone Island a visit and once we get to the island, we'll feed those boys to the fish!"

  Chapter 23

  The Deception

  The Pendragon entered Crossbone Bay, tied up to the dock and the crew left the ship to stay on land for a few days. Captain Turnbuckle, Cumberbatch, Buster Jack and John Henry stayed aboard the ship and met in the stern cabin to decide what course of action they should take if one or all of Peck's ships came looking for them. If they were caught on Crossbone Island and had to fight on land, they knew they could not win. Charts of the area were laid out on the desk while they looked for another island that could afford them some protection. Their dilemma was what to do next; take the treasure to another island and bury it or relocate to another island and live.

  John made up his mind. "I appreciate everything all of you have done, but this has gone too far. We can't defeat all of Peck's ships. By now Hugh and Ralph have told them about our powers, and perhaps they have learned enough to tell them the location of this island and Peck's treasure. They are probably already on their way." He looked at each of them as he said, "We need to leave here and sail north to Charleston, South Carolina in America. Once there we can sell the ship to the highest bidder. Divide the treasure equally among everyone and go ashore. The young ones can go to the orphanage; the older children can start a new life in America. I've seen it… a new life is possible to anyone that wants to work hard and with the money each of us will have, we can live very well."

  No one spoke - they just stared at him. Captain Turnbuckle was the first to break the silence. "Err now, what's all this? Cumberbatch and I can't just fade into the land. The sea is our blood. We can't just walk away from it; and don't be forget'n that I be a condemned man… Cumberbatch too if they find out his name, which them two young turncoats have most likely spilled his name to Peck… no there's no gett'n away from being a pirate."

  Buster Jack put his hand on John's shoulder, "Face it, John, we be in this together. Finding your father is just a part of what we be doing here. Peck kidnapped us out of London to make us slaves. A few of them on my sister's boat died under Peck's whip. It's for them and you we be fight'n for. You saved them and you saved us. We be want'n our revenge and the Crossbone Children will have it!" He smiled.

  A few moments passed while they looked at Buster Jack not believing what they just heard. John looked at his friend, "Pretty good speech. You should run for Parliament!

  "Me - a pirate — run for Parliament." Buster Jack looked up as if he was imagining himself among the members of Parliament, "That would be someth'n!"

  Cumberbatch quietly said, "Aye Jack, well said. We be in this together Master Henry. Pirates they made us and pirates we stay. Death to Peck and his minions or death to us… short but glorious says I!"

  Captain Turnbuckle nodded, "Now that we have that out of the way, can we get back to the business of how to kill Sir Duncan and get me ship back!" He laughed long and loud.

  Scurvy Jones burst into the cabin and appeared as though he was in a trance. He did not seem to see the others standing around the desk, but stood directly over the chart and jabbed a crooked finger at a place on the chart next to Crossbone Island. "Spit of land there be, no trees… no plants, as low as can be - low fog upon the sea. Make some masts as part of the spit, a ship they will see and run aground - all three!"

  Cumberbatch looked where Scurvy's finger pointed. He didn't see anything. Scurvy repeated the words. The three of them didn't quite know what to make of his ranting. "Over the weeks and months, I learned when Scurvy Jones speaks, there be some truth or hidden meaning to what he be say'n."

  "But what did he say?" Cumberbatch scratched his head.

  The words of the hooded stranger came floating back into John's memory: 'you must trust him and do whatever he says.' John bent over the chart and looked where Scurvy was pointing. "Scurvy says there's a spit of land just northwest of here."

  "Make some
masts as part of the spit? What do that mean?" Captain Turnbuckle asked

  John looked at Scurvy Jones who slightly turned his head and smiled for a brief instant back at him. They understood each other. John slowly explained, "Scurvy says to make some masts and put them up on that spit. When Peck's ships come, they would spot the masts and thinking it is our ship, he would charge headlong to take us."

  Captain Turnbuckle smiled, "By thunder, that skeleton of a man has a good idear!" He slapped his knee as the plan become clearer to him. Turnbuckle bent over and examined the chart closer and noticed some shallows between the sandbar and Crossbone Island. "Don't ya see what the boney man be say'n?"

  Buster Jack just stood looking at the other three.

  "Sort of…" Jack said slowly— then admitted, "… not really."

  Cumberbatch shook his head, "Not a clue, Mate."

  "Arrr, tis simple - should've thought it up meself! We make a couple of masts that look like the real thing but smaller ones, then we plants them over on that there sandbar Scurvy says is out to our northwest. There be shallow waters between our island and that sandbar. We takes the Pendragon to the northeast of our island and lay in wait. When Peck's ships approach, they be see'n the masts and head straight for the sandbar. His ships run aground in the shallows and we come up behind them and pound them into firewood!"

  Cumberbatch asked, "But what if they don't go fer it, our island will be vulnerable?"

  "No it won't. Here's why…" John gave a broad smiled. "When all the children are off the island, remember this part disappears. Even if Hugh and Ralph point out this island as the Crossbone Island, Peck and the other captains won't believe it. When they see the masts. They'll head for them."

  Simple - straight forward - and smart! The crew was gathered together and the plan explained. A group of older children led by Scrounger, was detailed to find the wood that would serve as the masts, along with spare cordage and canvas. Cumberbatch supervised the actual building of the masts and when completed stood about twenty feet tall. Everything including the gold chests were loaded into the Pendragon and they set sail then next morning. As they approached the low sandbar, the Turnbuckle ordered the ship drop anchor. The cutter was lowered and the masts were lowered into the cutter. Mr. Cumberbatch, Buster Jack, Scrounge, Cole, Dylan and Brock boarded the cutter and sailed to the sandbar. It took several hours to put the masts upright in the sand, assemble some rigging, blocks and tackles and drape the canvas over the yards.

  By noon, all was complete and Turnbuckle shouted, "Man the capstan and weigh anchor!" The boys manned the capstan, which was used to wind up the cable attached to the anchor which would bring it up. When the anchor was out of the water, it was catted, or tied to the side of the ship. Then Turnbuckle commanded, "Loosen tops'l!" The Pendragon paid off in the wind and gathered way. The course was set for the northeast corner of Crossbone Island from where they would wait… and watch.

  Sir Duncan Peck stood by the sloop's wheel watching his two other ships, Tobago and Crosswind, through his telescope and then from time-to-time would scan the horizon. Beside him was Captain Cuthbert Doddle, who shouted commands to the ship's crew to trim the sails, give another pull on the weather brace or to secure this rope or that lashing.

  Peck smiled to himself as he stood on the deck. The Crossbone Children had a terrible surprise waiting for them if they were brave enough to come to grips with his ships. If he were to attack them on land, they would be met with brute English force. Each ship had a compliment of English soldiers, nearly one hundred in all from Fort Charles which the Governor had given Peck to use as he saw fit. After all, Peck told the Governor, they would be used to hunt for known pirates and especially the escaped pirate, Captain Edward Turnbuckle.

  A nasty looking sailor who smelled just as bad as he looked, grabbed Hugh and Ralph by the arms and pushed them up on deck of the Bridget. The boys squinted as the bright sunshine pierced their eyes. They were pushed in front of Peck, who did not even look at them as he said,

  "Take a look over the starboard quarter and tell me if that is the island you told us about." he handed the glass to Hugh.

  Hugh took the glass and slowly raised it to his eye. He squinted trying to focus through the lens. Off in the distance, he saw the hazy image of a mountain that seemed to rise up out of the sea. He recognized the mountain and as he looked at its base, the green trees and plants brought back the memories of the time he spent on the island.

  Peck was impatient. "Well, don't just stand there staring. Is it the island or not?"

  With sullen resolution, Hugh lowered the telescope and nodded, "Aye, Sir."

  Peck grabbed the glass away from Hugh and quickly closed it. "Where is this magical harbor?"

  Hugh pointed, "On the west side, Sir." Hugh looked at his companion, Ralph who shook his head ever so slightly indicating he did not like what was going on. During the entire voyage from Port Royal, Ralph had not spoken much except to tell Hugh he thought they had made a big mistake by leaving the Pendragon and going over to Peck's side. Especially after Sir Duncan refused to make a deal with them and reward them with money. Ralph realized the only future they had was one of slavery or death!

  "According to the boy here," Peck said to Doddle, "that is the island." He pointed over the starboard side. "He thinks the harbor is on the west end. So lay a course to weather that headland on the west. Signal Crosswind and Tobago to change course."

  Doddle nodded as he said to one of his crew, "Mr. Garrett, signal the others to change course to weather the west end of that island." Mr. Garrett quickly selected flags bent them on the line and quickly raised them. To the helmsman, Doddle also said, "Bring her up two points to starboard."

  The man turned the wheel and the Sloop changed course, ever so slightly and headed straight for the west end of the oblong island.

  It was Sir Duncan's hope to surprise the Pendragon while she was tied up at the pier and stand off and pound the ship into submission from a distance. Then land the troops on the shore and capture or kill the crew and most important of all, recover his treasure. As he stood on the deck of the Bridget, he tried to visualize the moment of the battle, the firing and fighting. The death and destruction he needed to bring upon those who defied him.

  To the two boys, Peck waved his hand and said abruptly, "Stand over there and don't make a sound or this man here has my permission to run you through!" Hugh and Ralph stood where they were told, not daring to move.

  An hour passed, the shape and size of the island was now clearly visible. Green trees covered the island from the tall mountain in the center to the white sandy beaches at the water's front. Peck's two other ships were far out in front, leading the way.

  Mr. Garrett reported, "Signal from Crosswind, Sir." He paused as he deciphered the flags being hoisted up the yard from the other ship, "Sail to the north. Two masts flying a pirate flag but she be hull down."

  Peck and Doddle instantly grabbed their telescopes and scanned the horizon. Nothing, all they could see was water and blue sky above. Captain Doddle instructed Mr. Garrett to have the report verified. In a minute or two, the same report came back from Crosswind.

  Captain Doddle, not knowing what orders Peck might give next was reluctant to give his opinion. He did not have to wait long. "Captain Doddle, signal the others to investigate the sighting. Then take your ship and come close to the end of the island."

  Doddle acknowledged, "Aye, aye, Sir."

  The signal flags were raised, the other ships acknowledged the order. The Bridget drew closer to the west-end of the island but as Peck watched through his glass, he mumbled, "No sail, no harbor!" He lowered the glass and glared at Hugh and Ralph. "Where is the harbor?"

  Hugh and Ralph looked at the island but could see no harbor nor the Pendragon. Ralph whispered almost gleefully, "They ain't there Hugh!"

  To which Hugh whispered back relieved, "Good thing!"

  Peck was growing impatient, "Well. Where is the harbor?"

  "
I don't understand, Sir. It should be right there!" he pointed.

  Peck raised his glass again, but could not see any sign of a harbor or ship's rigging. He reached over and took Hugh by the sleeve, "Is this the island or not? Look very carefully lad - if you've lied to me, over you go!"

  "It's the island all right," Hugh gulped, "I swear it! I've seen it when we come back from fight'n your ships. It's the right one I tell yah!"

  "Then, where is the harbor?" Peck was seething with anger such that the veins in his neck and forehead were bulging. "To Captain Doddle, "Bring her as close as you can."

  The Bridget edged closer and closer to the island but no visible sign of a harbor, lagoon or lake could be seen. Ralph whispered to Hugh, "I just remembered, when all of us are off the island no one can see the rock wall, the waterfall, the lake or the huts where we lived."

  "I'd forgotten - but you're right. They can't see what's not there!"

  Ralph smiled, "Perhaps those sails that were spotted is the Pendragon and she's made off before we got here."

  "Maybe." Was all Hugh said as he watched the shoreline slip past their ship.

  "The other ships have run aground!" came the report down from the lookout.

  Peck shifted his gaze from the island to the area where his two other ships went to investigate the sighting of the masts. He could see through the lens of his glass that both ships were stuck hard and fast. In fact the collision was so hard, each ship lost a mast and a couple of spars. The neat and orderly lines and sails were now reduced to a tangled web of ropes and lines - the hulls were titled at an angle confirming they were stuck in the sand.

  "What do you make of it, Doddle?" Peck asked the captain.

  As he looked through his glass, he answered, "Dunno, Sir. Run aground they have, that's for sure!"

  Quickly thinking Peck asked, "Can we free them?"

  "Don't think so, Sir. They're stuck hard and fast. If we try towing them off, we could run aground ourselves."

  Peck made up his mind, "We'll have to risk it. If the hulls have been breeched, the soldiers in the ship's belly will drown and the governor will be none too happy!" Orders were given for the Bridget to alter course towards the two stranded ships.