Skull and Bones

Chapter 43

"Looks like the Savannians have won!" said Silver, studying the anchorage through his glass from Walrus's quarterdeck.

"Yes," said Selena, "British colours flying from every vessel afloat, including La Concha, and redcoats on board of her, and no more fighting!" She had her own telescope. "The Savannians were lucky."

"We were lucky too!" said Silver, and he looked at the hands on the maindeck, still exhausted and raw from heaving the ship from one dolphin to the next all night. "We got clear o' that battery, and now the wind's come round in our favour and we can 'vast hauling and be gone!"

"But the crew is split," she said.

Silver shrugged. "Why should you worry?"

"Because you're lying to them, John!"

"What else can I do?" Silver sighed.

All hands knew that Flint's papers were lost and Flint's treasure with them. He told them it'd happened in the heat of the moment and shared out the remaining store of McLonarch's coin as compensation. With that small store of wealth, some of the hands found that they wanted no more fighting, and thought they'd try honest seafaring in Savannah, where no questions were asked. These stood ready to go over the side, with John Silver's blessing, and into the waiting launch. Others though, had laughed and said they could always beat up and down and find new prizes, especially with a fine new war coming on, and Long John for their captain! So he'd laughed along with them, and slapped their shoulders and promised to lead them to new riches.

Of those who were leaving, most were hands before the mast. But two were not. Dr Cowdray and Mr Joe were standing alongside in their best shore-going clothes, with their trugs packed — which in Dr Cowdray's case included a great bundle of books and several boxes of instruments.

"Are you set on this, Doctor?" said Silver.

"Yes, Captain," said Cowdray. "I had plenty of time to think, when I was secured below, in irons!" He sighed and hung his head. "And I am ashamed that I was struck down, a useless wretch, when Flint came to steal your lady." He looked at Selena with hopeless feelings that he knew could never be returned. Then he smiled a little. "You know, I found myself happy when we sailed under articles, even if they were false, because I wanted to believe in them, but…" he looked Silver in the eye "… Captain, I know that I was wrong to serve Flint, and I know I was a better man when I served you, but I can't live this life any more."

Silver sighed, and shook Cowdray's hand.

"Thank you for this!" he said, looking down at his lost limb.

"You are not a bad man, Captain," said Cowdray.

"Nor a good one, neither!" said Silver, and grinned.

"Good bye, Doctor," said Selena, and she kissed him. Cowdray blushed.

"A-ha!" said Silver, Israel Hands, and Mr Warrington, looking on.

"A-ha!" said the crew, and nudged each other.

"Goodbye, ma'am," said Cowdray.

Now Silver turned to Mr Joe: the clever, talented lad who'd come to them as an illiterate runaway with a violent temper and a cane-cutlass, and was now the ship's best navigating officer.

"And you, Mr Joe?" said Silver. "Shall you leave us, as well?"

"Aye, Cap'n," said Mr Joe. "An' the lady knows why!"

"Oh?" said Silver, and frowned. "Him, too?"

But Selena shook her head.

"It's not me, John." She looked at Mr Joe. "It's him. He doesn't like slavery."

"That I don't," said Mr Joe.

Silver shook his head. "It's a trade, my son!" he said. "A trade, just like any other!"

"Aye!" said Israel Hands and Mr Warrington.

"Aye!" said all the rest, even the blacks among them.

"No!" said Mr Joe. "We are all God's children. From Adam and Eve onward!"

"Hmm," said Silver. "So what're you going to do, Mr Joe?"

"Stop it. Fight it!"

"Shall you, though?"

"That I shall!"

Silver shrugged. "Then good luck to you, lad, for I wish you'd stay among us, I truly do!"

"Aye!" they all said.

"Thank you, Cap'n… And there's a thing I'd ask for to take with me."

"What's that?" said Silver warily.

"A name, Cap'n. Something better than 'Mr Joe'!"

"Is that all?" said Silver. "Why, take mine and be Joe Silver!"

"No," said Mr Joe solemnly. "I'm asking Mr Hands for his name. He who taught me my letters and my numbers, and raised me up." He turned to Israel Hands and took off his hat. "Mr Gunner… may I be Joe Hands?"

Israel Hands gulped and swallowed. He blinked and wiped his eyes. Then he threw his arms around the serious, earnest lad of whom he was more fond than he knew.

"My beautiful boy! My lovely lad!" he said. "Take my name and leave me proud! And if never again I see you on Earth, please God I should see you in Heaven."

So the boat was manned and pulled for the shore, and all those whose will it was to stay aboard stood silent and watched it go.

When it returned, with just two men pulling, they hoisted it aboard, made all shipshape, and set sail in the freshening wind. Within hours they were past the new batteries at the river mouth, which they saluted and were allowed to pass, for they sailed under British colours, and no man had reason to doubt them.

By nightfall, the mouth of the Savannah River was under the horizon, and Walrus was free and the whole world before her. Her people were happy, Mr Warrington was no more than decently drunk and well capable of setting course for Upper Barbados, where Captain Silver planned — so he said — to raise a new crew, new luck, and new riches.

"You're a skilful liar, John," said Selena as they stood together at the taffrail, with the ship heeling sweetly under sail. "Just don't ever lie to me again."

"I told you, my lass," he said, "once we drop anchor in Upper Barbados, then you and I can hop ship, and these lads can find themselves a new captain!"

"Why Upper Barbados?"

"Because that's where Charley Neal sent my earnings, in the old days."

"How much?" she said, and he winked and tickled her ribs so she laughed.

"Ah! You ain't so lily-white pure yourself, when it comes to money."

"But how much?"

"Enough to keep you and me cosy for life!"

"Doing what?"

"Running a business in England, the which I shall buy."

"An honest business?"

"Oh yes. No more gentleman o' fortune! Maybe a tavern? Maybe in Bristol? And how about 'The Spyglass' for a name?"

"Why that name?"

"So's we'll always be on the search… for opportunity!"

And John Silver put his arms around her, and kissed her, and for the moment was at peace, and the great green bird on his shoulder nibbled the ears of man and wife together, and chuckled in contentment.