⛵ ⛵ ⛵ ⛵...(Tour of "High Island")...
[Last time...]
In a last act of defense, the gallant officer turned quickly to her left and had just enough time to raise one arm to try and soften the blow!
The evening’s silence was shattered by the deafening roar of Scottish musketfire!
Forty feet to the south, Ickied stood steady in a plume of white smoke, his musket level and locked on its target!
As the ball tore through flesh and bone, the tall Montagnais warrior fell hard upon Errislravenhill, and she heard his last gasping breath in her ear as he sank dead upon the sand beside her…
(See: https://steemit.com/steemsilvergold/@joshuaslane/silver-adventures-captain-joshua-slane-09my20-oh-gawd-if-ever-there-was-a-day-you-planned-on-helping-me ) ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~[Alphonse Island…two hundred and thirty miles south-west of Seychelles…]
Saleem arrived back at the war Dhow with the dinghy in a matter of two hours. The Jinn held out a hand and helped him aboard…
“What was the disposition of the islanders towards our prisoners?” The Jinn asked soberly.
“Friendly Lord, and I think they will attend to the wounded man as best they can.”
“Good. These people will soon be my subjects and their goodwill is important to us.”
“Lord, they ask…why such a great warship is sailing in the Seychelles waters?” Saleem said.
“That is not for them to know at this time Saleem. Word will spread through all the islands fast enough!” The Jinn said as he gazed up at the sun, “Quickly, have the anchor brought up and let us set sail for the north-east! I want to make southern Seychelles in two days!”
“Yes Lord!”
[On the western shore of Anticoste Island, Quebec…]
The two warrior’s canoe softly scraped bottom on the gravelly shore of west Anticoste Island. The warriors eagerly jumped out and pulled the canoe ashore, carefully concealing it with cedar boughs…
“Where do we go first?” The younger warrior asked.
“Directly to the fort, but we must be cautious! We have not always been on the best terms with the colonists and there are no French here to help us.” The older of the two responded.
“And what of the warning of the sailor squaw?”
“The Squaw! Her word cannot be trusted! That is why we are here! Bishta has heard of no danger from this area!”
Satisfied that his companion had a good plan, the younger warrior shouldered his arrow quiver and picked up his bow…
“Come, let us get to the fort before sunset!”
[On the deck of the Silverton…a half mile offshore of Montagnais Village…]
The distant echo of Scottish musket fire caught the ear of Seaman- Carpenter's Crew Ayroll as he stood watch in the dark of night. He tilted his head and grabbed the rail as he strained to hear, but no further noise was heard. Turning around quickly, he ran to the bridge to report to the officer in charge.
“Sairrr, a shot! Ahh heard a musket shot comin' froms th' village!"
Petty Officer - Ship's Corporal Bnfl4sun who had been dozing against the back rail of the bridge, quickly got to his feet…
“Are ye sure?!”
“Aye Sairrr! Ahh heard it clear, comin' straight north froms th' village!" Ayroll confirmed.
“Fock! Thes cannae be guid! Ahh will gang tell th' Commander right aways!"
As the Petty Officer raced towards the galley stairs, Seaman Ayroll walked back over to the starboard rail and gazed north towards the fires of Montagnais. Suddenly, the distant drumming went silent…
“Gawd help th’ crew...” He muttered to himself.
[Down below…Commander Galligan’s cabin…]
Bnfl4sun raced down the narrow, dimly lit corridor to Commander Galligan’s cabin. Pausing only momentarily, he pounded on the door!
“Sairrr! Sairrr! Ahh have important news!” He called out as he stood nervously in the hall.
With a thump and then a creak, a sleepy Commander Galligan opened the cabin door…
“Bloody hell Petty Officer! It’s five bells intae th' mid watch! Whit is it!?
“Musket fire Sairrr! Comin' froms th' village!” Bnfl4sun said breathlessly.
“Musket fire?! Th' Montagnais hav nae firearms!” Galligan said abruptly as he struggled to get one leg into his britches, “Unexpected troubles, nae doubt! Ahh must clype th' Keptin! Gang back up 'n' keep a pointy eye!"
The Captain was none too happy to be awakened at that hour, but soon the seriousness of the situation brought him wide awake and alert…
“Gawd damn Chief Ahanu! He wouldn't dare touch a lock o’ hair oan th’ head o' mah crew!" He cursed as he threw on a shirt, “Howfur mony shots?!"
“Yin Sairrr, 'n' none efterwards!"
“Yin shot?! ‘Att's a deid Indian! Fock th' day! Man-up a longboat 'n' heid tae shores! Somethin’ has gaen terribly wrong Ahh fear!"
“Aye Sairrr!”
[Back on the south shore of Montagnais Village…]
“Damn if Ahh’m nae happy tae see ye men! That was braw shootin’!" Petty Officer - Caulker Errislravenhill said as she shoved the heavy arm of the dead warrior off her shoulder and got to her feet.
“Urr ye harmed sir?!" Petty Officer - Yeoman Endrikdegrote asked.
“Nae, Ahh’m fine!”
Just then, Petty Officer - Sailmaker Ickied caught up, faint wisps of smoke still wafting out of the end of his musket barrel.
“Sairrr! Urr ye alright?!” He asked with real concern.
“Ahh’m fine Ickied… Twas times in yin night?!" She said with a grateful smile as she brushed off her tunic.
The awkward moment didn’t last long as the drums in the village square went silent! Suddenly, yelling and hollering could be heard from the square…
“Thaur's nae time tae lose! Let's git this boat in th' water 'n' pull fur th' Silverton!" Errislravenhill said in a hurry.
With the combined effort of all of the crew, the big longboat slid through the mucky shoreline and out into knee-deep water. By then, the sounds of war whoops and yells could be heard clearly as many of the village warriors were now on the run for the shore!
” Ower th' rail e’eryone! Git yer oars in th' air!" Errislravenhill yelled as she looked back over her shoulder.
Les than a hundred and fifty feet up the trail, at least twenty warriors were running at full speed, tomahawks and bows in hand! Errislravenhill gave one last great shove as she jumped the stern of the longboat and joined her comrades!
“Pull cheils! Pull likes th’ devil himself!”
Their oars struck the water furiously and Errislravenhill held a steady rudder south. Gazing back over her shoulder, she watched as the angry group of warriors found the first injured warrior in the tree line and then the dead warrior at the water’s edge. She could almost see the anger on their faces as they cursed and shouted towards the water. It didn’t take long before they began to knock their arrows and pull their bows back, pointing high into the night sky!
“Keep yer heids low men! An' pull! Pull!" She warned as she watched the group with great anxiety.
Fortunately the bright moon had gone dark from a cloud bank out of the north. The longboat quickly faded into darkness as the first wave of arrows were let loose!
“Cover yer heads!" Errislravenhill called out as she put one arm over her own and ducked low in the stern of th boat.
With a sharp zipping noise, twenty or thirty arrows splashed into the waves just to the west of the longboat, while one stray missile struck the starboard rail and vibrated to an ominous stop as the men once again sat up and took to their oars!
Errislravenhill glanced back at the shore. The warriors were massing in greater numbers now and another volley of arrows were being prepared to let fly! But worse than that, more warriors arrived carrying three canoes!
“Heads doon cheils!” Errislravenhill called out again as she watched the second wave of arrows flash skyward.
Once again, the zipping sound of incoming missiles splashed into the water, this time just behind them by less than six feet, all…except...one.
With a humming swishing noise, Errislravenhill felt the sharp bite of the arrowhead as it pierced her left thigh! She let out a faint moan, but quickly muted her agony! There could be no distractions now!
”Pull cheils! Pull!” She called out as she held the rudder steady.
As she grimaced in pain, she glanced back over her shoulder again. The third and final wave of arrows were being let loose into the sky but there was no time to lay low now! A greater worry was the three canoes now leaving the shore and heading straight out into open waters, heavily ladened with paddlers!
In a moment, the third wave of arrows came zipping down, but all fell short of the longboat and slapped harmlessly into the waves.
“Wee’s got thee canoes puttin’ tae water! Pull men! Pull!"
With all their might the crew pulled through the dark waters! The longboat seemed to lift and lung itself with every pull, but it could not match the speed a fast canoe! Soon the three birchbark hulls of the Indian’s boats glistened in the moonlight as they began to cut the distance between them.
Errislravenhill’s heart sank as she watched them come! It seemed a hopeless goal to make the safety of the ship before they were once again within range of the Indian’s deadly bows!
Breathing heavily, Errislravenhill braced for what could only be a much more deadly rain of missiles from the dark sky above! Almost no sooner had she thought the thought, than the first few struck the waves around them, and two sliced down into the longboat about them, sticking their sharp points into the ribs of the floor!
Blood flowed freely out of her left leg now, but she made no sound as she bit down on her collar and wiped tears from her eyes. There was no doubt in her mind now that the next volley would take it’s toll!
Suddenly the night sky just ahead of them lit up in a fiery yellow-orange collage! A moment later, the deafening booms of Scottish musket fire broke the still of the night and thundered across the waters!
Errislravenhill quickly looked behind her and watched as the lead canoe took the worst of the punishing blow, with four of its six warriors falling into the sea! There was screaming and yelling and confusion in the ranks of the Indians now as they turned off course slightly and words were exchanged between them.
Then, in another deafening volley, the night lit-up a second time and more musket fire boomed out of the dark south waters!
Three more Indians fell into the sea and the deadly show of force from an unseen enemy was too much for warriors! They quickly turned their canoes around and made for shore!
“Jimmy-Ho, Jimmy-John, Jimmy-law, Jimmies’ gain!” The crew chanted merrily as they watched the retreat of their enemy.
Errislravenhill however, never had the chance to celebrate... as she fell unconscious onto the bottom of the longboat! Her breath was heavy and she lay silent in a small pool of her own blood.
“Errisl! Errisl!” Ickied cried out as he climbed over his fellow crewman and made his way to her!
[On the Silverton…even later that night…sick bay...]
Warrant Officer - Surgeon Hack closed the wound with skill and great precision. He then threw the bloody, stone arrowhead into a tin pan on the bench…
“Pumpin' Quebecar savages! Killing yin anither wi' stane arrowheads! Ahh suspect they’s even sloch thair dugs whin they’s git old!" He cursed out of the side of his mouth as he took a long drag on his cigarette.
“But...she is aff tae be...alright??" The Captain asked tensely as he looked down on at Petty Officer Errislravenhill.
“Och yes...she's young, 'n' made oot o' anchor iron! She'll live...provided she doesn't git th' scragg froms that wound..." Hack replied as he wiped his surgical knife off on his overhauls and poured out a dram of Scottish whiskey, which he gently poured over the wound.
<<<Ooooh...>>>
Errislravenhill moaned softly in her sleep, but did not open her eyes. Commander Galligan removed his hat and looked down at her with sad eyes…
“Gawd damned! If Ahh cuid hav jist got thaur five minutes sooner!" He lamented.
“Ye did whit ye could...no mair kin be asked o' ye." The Captain replied as he lit his pipe.
Outside the sick bay door, Petty Officer - Sailmaker Ickied listened intently, his hands wringing his hat in nervous anticipation. A moment later, the Captain opened the door and stepped out into the hall...
“Sairrr!” Ickied said with a quick salute.
“Petty Officer…” The Captain replied with a nod.
“May Ahh see’s her?”
“She's asleep, bit ahh think it wouds be a'right tae tak' a peek." He answered with a wink.
“Thenk ye Sairrr!"
⛵ ⛵ ⛵ ⛵
Vocab fur lainlubbers:
aff (going)
bludy nora (bad luck)
braw (fine)
clype (inform)
cuid (could)
doon (down)
dugs (dogs)
everain (everyone)
eh'd (I'd)
feel (fell)
gaen (gone)
gang (go)
guid (good)
hoo (how)
intae (into)
jimmies (boys)
ken (know)
loch (like)
lit (let)
mair (more)
nae (not)
och (oh)
pumpin' (F'-ing)
reit (right)
skelp (hit)
sloch (eat)
stane (stone)
tois (two)
uir (our)
urr (are)
waurs (worse)
yin (one)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Confused? Ascared? Seasick? Need a private chat with the Captain?" - Skelp th' 'Reply' button!"
References: Pictures from: www.freeimages.com, www.pexels.com, pixabay.com, steemit.com an’ www.google.com/maps. Data loosely interpretted froms: Wikipedia, an' sometimes finely crafted reit from th' author's extensiff personal experience an' such.