The Pirate's Map by J. N. Cao

Author:J. N. Cao [Cao, J. N.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-10-15T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Crumbling Hope

That very night in London, Douglas and twelve men were waiting for the signal to sneak into the royal gunpowder mill. They were waiting in the bushes just outside the fortress. Behind them were hidden horses and a wagon in readiness.

Then they heard the signal, which was a sound of an owl hooting followed by a bark. They left their hideout and headed to the back entrance where a guard greeted them.

“All right, lads,” said the guard. “I told the other guard that I will cover his position while he goes to do his business. I even put a mixture of dung and whatnot in his food to keep him busy a bit longer.”

“Good job, Ned,” said Douglas.

Ned quickly opened the large door to reveal a storage room full of cannons and gunpowder barrels. Douglas and his men rushed into the storage room and started carrying out the barrels of gunpowder and muskets, and several men pushed the cannon. They made their way out the door but were stopped by guards armed with muskets and swords.

“Stop! You are under arrest for stealing from the Royal Artillary,” said a captain amongst the guards. The guards outnumbered Douglas and his men. Soon Douglas and his men were overcome and tied up for questioning. All thirteen of them kneeled on the ground in front of the Captain in the storeroom.

Ned stood freely, near the Captain.

“Ned! You traitor!” cried Douglas. “You said you were against the King,” added Douglas, attempting to get Ned arrested too.

“Well, I’ve changed my mind,” Ned replied, holding out a hand into which the Captain dropped a big pouch of money. “And besides, that Walter Cooke is too ambitious for his own good. He will only lead you to a very bad end.”

Then the Captain proceeded to ask Douglas and his men for the full details of Walter’s plan.

The next day in Esterwall Palace, Lord Stanley was in his office working. He had been appointed by the King to manage the country’s affairs in his absence. Usually, the Duke would be appointed to take care of such business, but everyone in court believed he was out at sea searching for treasure from shipwrecks, as well as pirating for the King. So the responsibility fell on Lord Stanley instead, and he did not expect the King to return for another week.

Just then his valet came in. “My Lord, the Earl of Hampton.”

“Yes, let him in.”

Lord Hampton came running in, “It’s a disaster, Lord Stanley!”

“What is it?”

“The King is besieged at Oxford Palace!”

“What? How did this happen?”

Then the valet returned, “My Lord, Captain Randall is here.”

“Who?”

“He rode here from London with urgent news, my lord.”

“Let him in.”

Captain Randall quickly walked in and bowed. “My Lord. There is a siege at Oxford Palace and the King is trapped!”

“Yes, I’ve just heard,” Lord Stanley said.

“It’s a revolt, my lord. Mostly peasants,” said Captain Randall.

“Those low-life scums!” said Lord Stanley.

“And they have murdered nobles! It’s terrible. I had a lucky escape and rode out here as soon as I could,” said Lord Hampton.

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