Revenge of the Fox

Chapter 18

The small sloop skipped swiftly over the waves, headed for Nassau. They had made excellent time, and were one day out from their destination. Markson was standing next to Captain Hale at the helm when the lookout shouted, "Sails, ho! Starboard!" As Hale took out his telescope, the lookout continued. "Black sails!"

"My God, is it the Pearl?" Markson gasped. "How many ships have black sails?"

"Not many," answered Hale, "Not many at all." He took a long look. "It's the Pearl all right."

"Flag her down, Captain," Markson urged.

"Aye," he agreed. "Turn to starboard!" Hale barked out. "Run up the white flag!"

--

It was Norrington's watch at the helm when the lookout called down. "Sails ahead!" With a slight frown, Norrington pulled out his telescope and looked down it. It looked like a small sloop. Not of great concern, but he'd keep an eye on it. When it turned toward them a few minutes later he frowned again.

"Davy," Norrington called to one of the sailors. "Ask Captain Sparrow to step up here, would you?"

"Aye, sir," the man answered and hurried off.

Jack was on the quarterdeck only minutes later. "What's your concern, Commodore?"

Norrington gestured toward the small sloop ahead of them. "That ship was heading north when we first spotted her, but she's turned directly toward us. I can't imagine why, but I wanted to be sure you were informed."

With a frown Jack took Norrington's telescope and peered through it. "Hmmm. Small sloop, looks like any one of a hundred you might see in these waters. She wouldn't stand a chance against us, so I can't believe she's hostile."

"The Black Pearl is very recognizable, Sparrow, so I'm sure she must know who we are."

"Hmmm. Maintain course and speed. We'll find out shortly what she intends."

A moment later, Norrington saw a flag go up on the sloop. Snatching the telescope back out of Jack's hands, he looked through. "They've run up a white flag."

Jack yanked it back and looked himself. "Indeed they have. Well, let's stop and see what they have to say, shall we?" He shoved the telescope back into Norrington's hands. "Heave to and take in sail!"

--

Captain Hale and Lt. Markson watched as the Black Pearl took in sail and slowed their forward motion. "They're stopping, Captain," Markson remarked.

"Aye, they are," agreed Hale. As they approached the Pearl, Hale gave the order to heave to. Shortly he, Markson and two other crewmen boarded a small boat to row over to the Pearl.

--

Norrington trained the telescope on the small boat headed over from the sloop. "Good God, is that Lt. Markson?"

Will, who had joined them on the quarterdeck when Jack had given the order to heave to, took the telescope and looked through it. "It certainly looks like him, although he isn't in uniform."

"What in heavens name is he doing here?" Norrington shook his head in bewilderment.

Jack grinned wolfishly, his gold teeth glinting in the sun. "Let's welcome him aboard and find out."

As the boat drew nearer, Markson called out "Ahoy the Pearl! Permission to come aboard, sir!"

Jack shouted back, "Permission granted! Markson, what the devil are you doing here?"

Markson grinned. "Long story sir!"

"Then get up here, lad and tell us!"

Markson quickly scaled the rope ladder, followed by Captain Hale. He saluted Norrington as soon as he set foot on deck. "Commodore."

Norrington returned the salute. "Lieutenant. You're out of uniform."

Markson replied. "Necessity, sir."

Norrington glanced at his own civilian clothes. "I suppose."

Captain Hale reached out to shake Jack's hand. "Captain Sparrow, good to see you again."

"Likewise, Captain Hale." Jack looked around. "Perhaps we should all go down to my cabin. It appears that you and the Lieutenant have much to tell us." He glanced around. "Cotton, take the helm. Davy, find Joseph and send him to my cabin." He stepped back and gestured to the other men. "Gentlemen, this way."

--

"So if Gwen's information was correct, we'll get to Nassau tomorrow," Elizabeth said as she struggled to unlock her cell door with the hairpin.

"That's right," said Antonia, inserting her own hairpin into the lock on her door. With a few short twists of her wrist, the cell door sprang open. She stepped back looking pleased. "I'm getting very good at this!" Crossing to Elizabeth's cell, she opened it swiftly. "Here," she instructed, "Insert the pin at a slight angle to the left."

Under Antonia's instruction, Elizabeth managed to get the door open, but it took her a great deal longer than it had taken Antonia. "I don't think I really have the knack for it."

Annamaria shrugged. "I don't suppose it's a skill you'll need frequently."

"I certainly hope not," said Elizabeth, shutting the door and starting again. "But there's no denying that it's useful."

Annamaria's mood had improved immeasurably since they'd been able to unlock their cell doors at will. She'd spent half the previous night prowling around the hold. While there wasn't much in there that was of any use to the captives, just being able to walk around and stretch her legs had been a relief to a woman who was used to an active lifestyle. A quick look on deck, however, had proved that the watch was too tight to prowl up there without being seen.

"What do you say," said Annamaria, "to unlocking our cells and letting ourselves out the first night we're in port? We could find Gwen, steal a boat and get ourselves to shore."

"Sounds like a good plan to me," said Elizabeth, biting her lip with concentration. "Although you may want to ask Tonia to open my cell for me. If I had to do it myself, I'd still be here the next morning."

--

"So you're saying," said Commodore Norrington slowly, "that this Reynard hid the ladies in a brothel until nightfall, then separated them and smuggled them out of Port Royal individually?"

"More or less," said Markson. "Both Miss Swann and Miss Simone were taken to Captain Hale's ship, and the fishing boat I found had blond hairs in it, which leads me to believe that Mrs. Turner was hidden there. I don't know how Mrs. Sparrow was taken."

Captain Hale spoke up. "When I delivered Miss Swann and Miss Simone to the Vixen, they said I was the last to arrive, which leads me to believe that Mrs. Sparrow and Mrs. Turner were already aboard. The ship sailed the next morning."

Jack spoke next. "Why do you believe they're headed for Nassau?"

"One of the Vixen's crew mentioned it to a chance acquaintance in a tavern," said Hale blandly.

"A chance acquaintance?" Jack asked speculatively.

"Aye," Hale said. "One of my men just happened to strike up a conversation with the lad that night before they sailed."

"What an amazing coincidence," Jack drawled.

"Captain Hale," said Norrington, ignoring the byplay. "Are you willing to continue with us to Nassau?"

"Aye, Commodore, I am," the brown man replied. "I'll follow you as swiftly as I can. Lieutenant, do you continue with me, or stay aboard the Pearl?"

"Richard, I think it would be best if you returned to the Sandpiper," said Will. "It would divide our assets just in case something unexpected happens."

Markson nodded. "As you say, Will," he replied looking over at Norrington for approval.

Norrington nodded curtly. "Yes, Lieutenant. That would be best."

"Very well," said Jack rising. "We'll make all speed to Nassau."

--