The sea was calm, too calm. And the Captain took notice.
"Drop canvas."
The first mate replied, "Capt., it's clear sailing now; why waste the wind we got?"
"Are you questioning me, sailor?"
The first mate hesitated. His reply was slightly shaky.
"Yes. Yes, sir, I am"
The Captain glared at the man, his brow furrowed. The first mate started to sweat just a little around the collar.
"Good!" the Captain finally delivered. His first mate took a surprised step back. That was the last thing he was expected the Captain to say.
"Questions keep me on my toes," the Captain explained, "but, yes, I'm sure about this." The first mate walked away shouting the orders to the crew who jumped to have them carried out. The Captain stood on the bridge looking out over his ship, his crew, his life. He was proud of them all. An equally proud of what he, himself, had accomplished. And was looking forward to what lie ahead.
He took out his old compass, checked it, and moved the wheel two notches to the left. He then snapped the lid shut and hummed a bar from his favorite song.
"Can't believe ye lost it again," Pintel roared.
"It don't fit right, I told ya," Ragetti answered.
"I know that but how far could it have gotten? The cell ain't that big of a place!"
"Don't remind me," Twigg yelled. Mallet had had enough.
"Ye all just shut your mouths then, aye!" They had been locked up in the Port Royal prison for about two months now and were all going a bit stir crazy...not that they weren't all crazy to begin with.
"It's gone," Ragetti moaned. "I'll never see me eye again."
Just then, a pair of soldiers came down the stairs, followed by commander-in-chief of the Spanish Main fleet- Commendor James Norriton. The Commendor was a well-build man of around thirty. He held himself like a man twice his age. He stopped when he reached the center of their cells.
"Good evening gentlemen." The pirates grunted back.
"Do you know what today is?" Again, the pirates grunted back.
"Today is your trail! But unfortunately for you, you will not be allowed to represent your case because the woman you kidnapped is testifying and we wouldn't want anything to happen to her, would we now?" The Commendor suppressed his feeling of betrayal. He cleared his throat and straightened his over jacket.
"Well, I'll be back in a few hours to inform you of your fate." He turned on his heal and the pirates watched as he was followed by the escort up the stairs and into the blinding daylight.