Chapter Seven
The rather hap-hazard scheme Matthias and I arrived at was the simplest, most dangerous one available: sneak into the pirates' camp, free my friends, and what other captives we could, and then steal a ship with which to return to Galma, and tell King Edmund about the uncharted island.
It was a little after dark when Matthias and I left our cave. I had my sword, and the faithful dagger that always clung to my belt. He was armed with a scimitar he'd liberated from the pirates, and a motley collection of throwing knives with which he'd become rather adept.
Although it was just after dark when we left, there was no moon, and by the time we reached the pirates' main camp it was pitch black. There were no real buildings on the island, and the pirates had put together a motley base made up of tents, shacks, and a large cave. The slaves were kept in several large pens or cages made of sharpened stakes on the edge of the camp, where they could easily be moved to and from the galleys as needed.
Matthias and I crept our way around the edge of the camp, making use of the high grass and shrubbery. Happily for us it appeared that the Calormenes were enjoying a drunken night. Once we were within fifty feet of the cage holding Cap, and the others, we stopped to observe the guards. There were only two of them, both half-asleep.
It was the work of a moment. We slipped up behind them, knocked them out, and gagged them. The cage door was open in an instant.
"Martin! Thank the Lion!"
Cap grasped my hand so tightly I was afraid he'd cut off the blood flow.
"Who's your friend?"
"My little brother. Matthias, meet Cap."
Matthias gave a half-nod, his attention directed mainly towards the prisoners running from the cage. These included what was left of Swanwhite's crew -far, far too few of my good friends still drew breath- and captives taken from several vessels out from one or another of the islands. We hurried them into the tall grass, and had gotten about one-hundred yards from the cages when a shout rose from the camp.
"We've got to hurry Martin! If we can reach one of their ships we can get away! They've no guards posted!"
The whole group broke into a run, and we were halfway to the beach before we could see the Calormenes in pursuit. I halted quickly, Matthias sliding to a stop a few feet away.
"Lead them on Cap! I'll buy you time!"
Matthias stepped to my side with a determined grin.
"We'll buy you time."
Cap gave a grim nod.
"Aslan keep you!"
"And you! We'll catch you if we can!"
My friends melted quickly into the black night as the pirates came on. Matthias soon ran short of knives, and the pirates soon learned to keep their heads down. Rocks abounded, and even in the darkness my little brother was quite a good shot.
"That's about a quarter-hour, Martin. What's step two?"
"You mean there's supposed to be a step two?"
Even in the black, murky, night I could feel my brother's irritated glare.