The Pirate's Prize (An Oak Island Time Portal Romance Book 1) by Warren Court

Author:Warren Court [Court, Warren]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-05-11T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 27

John Burroughs and Haverstock's wounds were washed clean with salt water which stung but was no comparison to the touch of the whip. After thoroughly cleaning the deep abrasions across both men's backs, they were swabbed with a tar-like substance that burned.

“You're going to have some beauties there,” Quintal said. He leaned against the hatchway into the galley, which doubled as a sick bay.

Taylor came up behind him. "How are they?" He addressed the midshipman, who also doubled as the ship's medical officer. The Dunlop was not equipped with a real doctor.

"They'll live. And they will have a friendly reminder across their backs for the rest of their lives. I've seen men flogged twenty, thirty times, damn near killed them," The midshipman said.

Haverstock pulled his shirt back on gingerly, but other than that, he seemed fine. Taylor moved aside to let him and Quintal and the man who'd fixed them up leave. John was pulling his shirt on more slowly than his friend. The pain was enormous, like the worst sunburn he'd ever had. He had no idea what sort of concoction had been put into his wounds. There was a metal cup of the stuff still on the cutting board. Taylor picked it up and smelt it.

"Brings back memories, this does," he said.

"Don't men get flogged all the time?" John said and winced as he finished dressing.

Taylor put the cup back down. "That was a very brave thing you did. The lads won't soon forget it."

"Wasn't trying to be brave."

Taylor came in close to John, catching him off guard. "Do you understand if you ever open your mouth like that to a senior officer or speak out of turn, I will destroy you?"

"I do."

Taylor turned to leave.

"Why didn't you speak up for him?" John said.

"You think that because you're a newcomer to this world, you see things more straightforwardly than we do. Let me tell you something, boy, you don't. Mallet was a good officer."

"Was?"

"Is a good officer. There's no finer man you want in charge of this ship when we track down Coffin and his band of ruffians. He can get inside the man's head."

"Why is that?"

"Because they're friends, that's why."

"I think the captain is seriously ill. I spoke to him yesterday and this morning; he didn't even remember."

"He's got no time to remember squibs like you."

"But there's more. In Halifax, he was up before a Magistrate. I tried to help him."

"With what, pray tell?"

"I'm a lawyer, and I offered him my services."

"Rumour has it you were tried as a pirate."

"It was all a misunderstanding."

"Ah, was it now."

"I tried to help Captain Mallet, but the case against him was too strong. He was involved in a bad land deal; all the money disappeared, and his partners went after him. He lost the case, and the judge sentenced him to repay his partners or he’d be thrown in jail."

"What's all this to do with the captain being ill?"

"Perhaps I've gotten to know the man better than you."

Taylor stiffened.

"I mean no offense.

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