02 Buccaneer by Tim Severin

Author:Tim Severin
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2011-05-18T03:00:00+00:00

IT WAS ANOTHER five days before the wounded were well enough to attend a general council of the expedition. It was held on the deck of La Santissima Trinidad, the men massed in the waist of the galleon, their leaders on the quarterdeck. Coxon, Sawkins, Cook and Sharpe were there. Only Harris was missing as he had died of his wounds. Hector, watching from where he stood with his friends beside the rail, could detect a change in Coxon. Now that his rival Harris was gone, the buccaneer captain appeared even more arrogant and self-confident than at Golden Island, and his harsh voice carried clearly over the assembly.

‘We have now been three weeks on this Adventure and I have always counselled caution …’ he began.

‘Caution! Some might call it craven,’ someone shouted. Coxon coloured with anger. The flush spread unevenly across his face, leaving darker and lighter patches, and Hector was pleased to see that the effect of the spiked ointment had not yet fully worn off.

‘At our outset we agreed to take the gold mines at Santa Maria,’ Coxon continued.

‘And small prize it brought us,’ shouted the heckler, but Coxon ignored him this time.

‘We have defeated the enemy in open battle, but our position is exposed and difficult. Our supplies are perilously low. We are in unfamiliar territory, and the enemy will regain their strength and may sever our line of retreat.’

‘I dislike the man, but he’s right,’ muttered Jezreel standing beside Hector. ‘We are badly overstretched.’

Coxon was speaking again. ‘I therefore think it prudent that we return to our ships waiting for us at Golden Island. Once in the Caribbean we can resume our cruising for purchase.’

‘What does Captain Sawkins say?’ called out a voice. Sawkins’ rampaging courage during the battle off Panama had made him immensely popular.

Sawkins stepped up to the low rail which divided the quarterdeck from the waist of the ship and cleared his throat. As usual he spoke bluntly.

‘I propose we continue with the Adventure,’ he said firmly. ‘The walls of Panama are too strong for us, but there are towns all along the coast which do not yet know we are here in the South Sea. If we act boldly, we can take such places by surprise. We might even find their quays heaped with silver bars ready for shipment.’

His words met with a low rumble of enthusiasm from several in his audience though the majority looked towards Coxon again, waiting for his rejoinder.

‘A wise man knows when to retreat, taking his spoils with him,’ Coxon declared.

‘Half a hat full of pesos!’ scoffed Sawkins. He was bright-eyed with enthusiasm. ‘We can get twenty times as much if we have the courage to stay in the South Sea. I propose that we sail south and plunder as we go until we reach the land’s end. There we round the Cape, and sail home, our pockets full.’

Captain Coxon looked openly scornful. ‘Anyone who believes that claim is putting his head into a Spanish noose.’

‘Do your people always quarrel so openly?’ said someone quietly in Spanish at Hector’s elbow.

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