Chapter 1: Crow's Nest Danger

The thirteen year old boy, Terrance Miles, was in his room, asleep. Dawn crept into his room, his shaded windows slightly holding back the light. The boy was fast asleep. He had slightly tan skin, with dark and long, wavy hair. He had a slight athletic build, helping his father landscape their forty acre property, running errands for his mom, cleaning around the house, and even fighting with mean kids his age. His dark brown eyes were covered by his shut eyelids in his sleep.

Someone knocked softly on his wooden door. Terrance grunted, rolling over, facing the harsh light entering his room. It was getting chilly throughout his house with stone floors, and his bed was nice and warm. The knocking came again, and the boy rolled over to face the door.

"Son, your mother needs you to go to town for her, again. Hurry." his father's voice ordered. He heard the man's boots clunk on the ground as he left.

The teen groaned and sat up, rubbing his sleepy eyes. He rolled lazily out of bed and approached his closet, his feet uncomfortable and cold on the stone floor. He dressed into his work clothes and left his room, walking down a hall and into the main dining room where a grand oak table took up much space. There was a fire place at one end, and an archway leading into the entrance. He walked through to see his mom standing by the front door, counting money in her hand.

"Mother, what is it you need me for?" he asked curiously, his voice still croaking and groggy.

"I need you to run to Ginger's and grab four bags of tea. My friend is coming over for a short visit, and we are all out. I need you to hurry back." she explained.

"Alright, mother," he agreed, holding out his hand.

She placed the money in his palms. He looked down at it, curiously.

Six pounds? Surely this was not the case! He counted, just to make sure. But he had been to school. There lay six pounds before him. He looked up at her, raising an eyebrow.

"Mother, there are six pounds her." he informed her.

"I know, it's about a pound and twenty pence. Plus tax it's about two pounds per bag." she explained.

"That is a lot!" he exclaimed with a gasp.

"Now you see why your father and I complain about our parliament and all of these outlandish taxes. Now hurry, my friend could be here at any time, Terrance," she said, finishing off a bit sternly.

"Yes, ma'am."

Terrance left the house and entered the stables his father had built years ago. Terrance had helped improve it not too long ago, to make it look better. He got his brown horse, Amber, and took off, leaving his forty acre property, heading down a long dirt path to down. The chill wind rushing past the boy made him feel more awake and alive as he rode.

He rode more slowly through crowded streets and to a stable. A friend of his father's worked there, and they were allowed to keep their horses there for free for a short period of time.

"Ah, Terrance, my boy, how do you do? Do you need to keep Amber here for awhile?" a large, plump man asked. He was seated in the stables on a bench, sipping a cup of hot water.

"Yes sir," Miles replied, hopping off of his horse and leading her over to the man.

"Good, I will take care of her for now. Don't be long though, or else it will cost you some money." he said with a little chuckle.

"Yes sir, it will not be long. I just have to pick up some tea for my mother." he said earnestly.

"Ah, tea. Quite a pricey thing to be wanting. Very well, off you go." he said, waving him away.

Terrance took off, dashing out of the stables and into the crowded streets of Boston. He walked past house after store, smells, sounds, and sights of all sorts passing him as he weaved through the many people, hurrying to get to Ginger's, a tea store. He made it finally, coming upon a small shack not too far from the docks. He knocked lightly and entered, looking around.

It was a shady and dim-lit place, shelves loaded with different types of tea and some little tea cups, mugs, and so on. At one corner sat an old lady, smoking away on a cigar.

She took a long draw from the cigar and blew out calmly, "How may I help you, young man?" she asked nonchalantly, her voice quiet and gruff.

Oh no, his mom did not tell him what type of tea to buy. He thought for a moment. If she wanted a certain flavor, she unfortunately was not getting it that day.

Terrance let out a long sigh and continued to answer the old lady, "My mother needs some tea for today. What's the standard, average tea you have?" he asked her, with uncertainty in his voice.

"Ah, the shelf by the door on top has some. Get how much you need and then give the money to me," she told him flatly, eyeing him with interest.

"Yes ma'am," the boy muttered, turning to face to top shelf by the door.

He reached over and picked up four small bags full of crushed tea. They smelled great, even though other bags around the store smelled better. He reached in his pocket and pulled out his money and then approached the counter, setting down the bags, counting his money once more.

"Is that all?" she asked slowly, taking another draw of the smelly cigar.

"Yes ma'am, it is." he replied swiftly.

"That'll be six and seventeen pence." she told him.

Terrance counted the appropriate amount and handed it to her. She took the money in her hand, counted it herself, and then nodded, shooing him away as if he were just a rat.

The boy tucked the tea in his pockets and the remaining money, and strode out the door, breaking into a sprint towards the stables. He dodged the crowd nimbly, causing a few people to gasp when they thought they were going to collide with him.

"Slow down!" and old man cried as the running child skipped around him with light footfall.

Terrance reached the stables. The man was nowhere in sight, so he opened the stall where Amber was, and got on her, getting her to back out. He got off and shut the gate. He made sure the man was not around the corner, because his mom always insisted he thanked the stable owner for allowing his family to keep their horses there for little to no price. Seeing that he was not, he got back on his trusty steed and went back into the streets, not going fast until he was back on his country road.

He road the last few miles quickly and brought his horse to her stall. He unsaddled her, petted her head, locked her in, and ran inside, his run feeling weird after just exiting the saddle. He knocked three times and opened up. His mom was in the kitchen, setting out breakfast. His father was helping himself to a plate full.

"Terrance, your back. Good; now where's the tea?" his mother asked normally.

"I have it." he said with a grin, handing her the four bags.

"Good."

"Terrance, once you get done eating I need you to bring some fire wood in, and then you may have some time in down." his father told him.

"Charles, don't you think town might not be the best place for him to be wandering around?" his mom asked.

"Nonsense, he can take care of himself as long as he stays out of trouble. Besides, it will give you and your friend some time, I can read some, and we can let our son have a look around," he turned his gaze to Terrance, "Right, my boy?" Charles, his dad, asked, beckoning him to answer.

"Yes ma'am, I'll just have a look around is all. I like going into town." he told her with bright eyes. Yes! He would get some free time! This was a bit unusual, but the last thing he wanted to do was complain or spoil this chance.

---

His mom had told him not to go to the docks in town, for fear he might drown or something like that, but Terrance went anyways. He liked to watch the seamen and the ships and they left or entered the harbor. He sat on a bench and watched the scene for several minutes. Burly men carrying crates and boxes hustled past. People went their own way, to shops or to home. Terrance even saw a slave ship getting resupplied.

He saw one empty Frigate floating in the water by the dock nearest to him. It's crew were not going back and forth, and Terrance was dieing to climb the rigging up to the crow's nest. He remembered his mom warning him, but he had to. He would just climb up, have a quick look from that high up, and leave as if nothing happened. The ship seemed void of life, so who was he hurting?

He sat up, stretched, and discreetly walked to the gangplank. Looking around to make sure no one was watching, he got on to the main deck. Lines of ropes were every where, stretching up high to the masts and back. The white sails were furled neatly, and it seemed very adventurous and inviting.

The excited young teen climbed on to the rigging, it swaying lightly as he climbed it with little effort.

He reached a mid-way point, where he had to climb onto another rigging. He did this with some nervousness, not wanting to be seen. He reached the top, where the crow's nest was. A flag pole was up a few more feet, the British flag fluttering lightly. He climbed into the 'basket' of sorts and looked down at his surroundings. He could see his ship far below, and a lot of the town. Buildings were small and like a model. People looked like ants. He grinned, mentally patting his shoulder for the idea. He had done nothing wrong. He could go now, and just mention it to no one.

"Kid! What in the name of Christ are you doing on my ship?!" he heard an alarmed voice call out.

He looked down with a start to see the captain of the vessel in full uniform, starting up the rigging. He had a sword sheathed on his belt, and Terrance was scared. Following the captain were two soldiers in their red uniforms, muskets strapped to their back. Terrance panicked, not knowing what to do or where to go. He felt like crying. He should have just listened to his mother!

"Get down from there or I'll make you!" the captain cried, reaching the second rigging.

Terrance grimaced and looked down, seeing the long wooden part of the mask that held the furled sails. He climbed out of the crow's nest and put his feet down there. The ship's light rocking in the water made balance hard for the teen. He waved his arms frantically, hoping not to fall. He heard a soldier shout, and he knew he would have to keep going. He took a few tentative steps at first towards the end, trying his hardest not to fall.

He got a bit used to the swaying, and managed to reach the end. Gosh, he was so high up! He crawled down, holding on now only by his hands; his legs dangled loosely below him.

"Bloody hell; stop before you hurt yourself, son!" a soldier cried.

Terrance was holding on for dear life, the other wooden bar seeming so far below him. Looking up to see the captain reaching the crow's nest, he realized he would have to do it, or go with that man and get in serious trouble. He looked down, planned his fall carefully, hesitated, and then let go.

He landed on his feet painfully hard, and he staggered, starting to lean to far forward. He cried out and crouched down quickly, regaining his balance. He made his way to the rigging at the halfway point, and quickly climbed the rest of the way down.

He took off, jumping over the long gang plank entirely, hearing the captain's shouts loud and clear behind him. He ran off the docks, ran past a confused soldier, and snaked through the crowded streets full of people as fast as his legs could carry him. His breath was heavy and uneven, and he was scared for his life.

He got his horse from the stable, thanked the man, and left, hurrying out of Boston and to the safety of his home. He would have to enter calmly, and act as if nothing happened.