Richard Testrake - (Sea Command 2) Read Free Page B

would have any qualms of inflicting injury upon someone who was intent on doing me harm. I believe the thing to do would be to put it to them.”
    “But Captain Mullins, I gather you wish to leave right away. This I cannot do. I must first sell this building and many of my belongings; else I would be penniless in England. I am afraid we must allow time for the property to be sold.”
    Mullins answered, “Martha, we cannot wait. We will surely be discovered, and that would be the end of any idea of escape. As it happens, I am not without funds myself, back home. I would be pleased, once we land safely, to purchase any property you wish to sell at almost any price you wish to name.”
    Martha was fearful and hesitant, but in the end she agreed it would be for the best if they made a clean break immediately. She excused herself while she visited the garret where her employees resided.
    When she returned, she brought with her two Black men, both of whose faces were disfigured with tribal scars. These men, while tall and slender, were powerfully built and Mullins decided he would rather not engage in physical competition with either. Martha explained she had informed the men of her plans, as best as she was able with the language difficulty, and the pair seemed willing to do their part.
    Martha found an old shirt and hat from her husband, which he put on. Both were too large, but the hat, sitting low on his head did much to hide his bandaged wound. They left the building in a close group, with Mullins in the middle. Making their way to the waterfront, Martha pointed to a small fishing smack anchored offshore. When Mullins wondered how they were to get to the craft, she pointed to an overturned boat on the beach. She said she must now go to the garrison headquarters to report her plans to fish today. She thought he and the two Africans should get the beached boat in the water and row out to the smack. She told him of a cubby up forward where he could hide until it was time to secure their soldier.
    When Mullins tried to turn the boat upright, it seemed to be made of lead, but the two Africans were able to flip it over with ease. The trio dragged it to the water and soon had it floating. A single pair of oars was in the boat. Neither of the two crewmen seemed adept with them, so Mullins took over and rowed them out to the smack.
    Someone had gone to much trouble to clean the boat and Mullins had never seen a fishing boat that smelled this fresh. The cubby up in the bow was as described and Mullins cleared out some of the gear inside and arranged himself. It was crowded, but he knew he could stand the discomfort for a chance of a return to safety.
    The two crewmen began arranging the fishing gear for their trip. Mullins had left the little door to the cubby open for ventilation until he saw Martha on the beach with a soldier in uniform. She was waving a towel, apparently a signal for one of the Africans to drop what he was doing and row the skiff to shore to pick up Martha and her guest. The crewman, more used to paddles than oars, made slow work of the transit. Once ashore, Martha deposited some packages in the boat and took the oars herself. With powerful strokes, she propelled the boat out to the smack.
    Long before the boat approached, Mullins had closed up the cubby. In the darkness, he saw sunlight shining through a small knothole, and was able to keep watch on what was happening outside. He saw Martha and the soldier climb over the side. The soldier found a seat on an upturned bucket and sat down, his musket lying on the deck beside him. Martha had handed up a basket of food, with a large, stoneware container of wine displayed on top.
    Without saying a word, the soldier reached over to the basket and took out the jug. Removing the cork, he tipped the jug to his lips and took a pull. Martha and her men pulled up the anchor and set sail, while the soldier sat swilling his wine. There was a good offshore breeze which propelled