The Adventures of the Wayward Star and Crew: Book 1

By Andrew Quick and Brigette Marshall-Quick

In 1692 two young people embark on a journey which unexpectedly sends them in a totally new direction, which is clearly out of this world. Their change of environment along with a specific number of other beings teach them to coexist in a mannerism unbeknownst to them. This adventure only seems like a few short days; however, in actuality, it takes over twenty years. What is the cause of this time difference? Why were they chosen? The home all once lived and knew was no longer there. How or what they do are the adventures of what lies ahead.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Newman Springs Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Dec 6, 2021
• ISBN: 9781638810650

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The Adventures of the Wayward Star and Crew

Book 1

Andrew Quick and Brigette Marshall-Quick

Copyright © 2021 Andrew Quick and Brigette Marshall-Quick

All rights reserved

First Edition

NEWMAN SPRINGS PUBLISHING

320 Broad Street

Red Bank, NJ 07701

First originally published by Newman Springs Publishing 2021

ISBN 978-1-63881-064-3 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-63881-065-0 (Digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

The Storm Dream

The Departure

Away to Sea

The Adventure Begins

The Trunks

The Departure

The Singing Call

Onward into the Unknown

An Unexpected Surprise

The Wedding

Fatherhood?

Sailing Ahead

The Day It All Changed

The Beginning of the End

The Storm

The New Beginning

Thanksgiving

A History before Lesson

Meeting More Family

New Love

Disappointment

A Strong Shoulder

Meeting New Friends

Cats!

Flight Unknown

To my wonderful cowriter Brigette. Without my wife, the incentive and initiative wouldn’t have been there.

Chapter 1

The Storm Dream

Lying in his bed in the captain’s quarters, Captain Benjamin Alexander Paul slowly rolled onto his right side. The lace ruffles of his pillowcase began to bunch up under his head as he tried once again to get comfortable. Blast!

These ruffles never did like them on my ship! But Wona insisted I take them along to remind me of home, he thought to himself as he slowly moved them down toward the feather-filled mattress.

Ting, ting, ting, ting, ting, ting. The sound of the Wayward Star’s brass bell attached to the main mast of the ship rang out. Six o’clock, the start of the day-watch shift. Captain Alexander swung his legs off the bed and sat up on the edge. Placing both arms above his head, he leaned forward toward the small table that sat close to the bed. Grasping a green glass bottle with his right hand, he pulled out the stopper with a little pop. The smell from inside the bottle caught his nostrils, and quickly he clamped both off with his left hand once the stopper landed on his bed.

Oh my lord, how this stuff does smell, went through his mind as he swiftly drank down two big swallows. But at least it does not taste as bad as the smell of it, he pondered as he hurriedly replaced the stopper on the table. His mind drifted back to the day they set sail.

Please promise me! Please, Master Alexander! This is especially important! You must drink two swallows of it every morning for your health! Wona pleaded with him as he gathered up his notes and maps from his father’s study.

What’s in it? he asked as he continued putting things in the duffel bag.

Um, just the stuff you need is all! she replied, turning her head as not to make eye contact with him.

Like what exactly? came from him as he watched her response closely.

I can’t tell you what’s in it. Just believe me, you will need it soon! I just wish you would not go! If you board that ship and set sail, I will never see you again, and your whole crew will never see home again! she said as she began sobbing franticly.

Wona, we have been over this many times in the last two weeks. You know I do not have a choice. The money Father and Mother left us to take care of the house and land is almost all gone. There is only enough left to take care of the bills for a couple months more. If I can find this healing water they speak of in that southern land across the sea, we will have all the money we will ever need to live on! I should be able to make it over there and back before the money runs out! he told her as he finished up with the duffel bag and pulled the strings together and tied them shut.

No, Master Alexander! If you leave this house today, you will never step foot back in it again! she cried out to him as he headed toward the front door. Wona knelt in front of him on the floor and pleaded with him once more, Please, I beg of you, don’t go!

Tears streaming down her face and her beautiful brown eyes swollen and red now from her effort to convince Alexander not to leave almost did it. But he knew how bad it would be for them both if he failed to bring back at least one barrel of this so-called magical water. Him having to work in a slaughterhouse or haul coal for the wealthy to keep their fires going. Her having to be a maid or cook for someone else that would underpay her or take advantage of her. As beautiful as she was, her having to work in one of those many brothels all over the town with all those dirty, hateful men touching her all over was more than Alexander could take.

No, dear Wona, I must go. I cannot fail us both! We need the money too bad for me to fail, but I promise you, I will return to you! he told her.

Seeing she could not stop him, she slowly rose from the floor and passed him the four bottles of green liquid.

So you’ll drink the two swallows every morning? she asked.

Yes, I will do this just for you. Now give me a smile and dry your tears. Make leaving you and our home a little bit easier for me, okay? he replied.

Wona wiped her eyes on the back of her hand and came up with a slight smile. Her dark auburn hair curled out from under the little maid hat, with a couple of long locks running down her back to her waist. Both rosy cheeks were a deep red from her crying, and her perfect lips were fuller than they usually were.

How often now did Alexander want to hold her in his arms and taste those full ruby-red lips. To tell her just how much he loved her and always had ever since the first time his mother brought her home to live with them. Once he returned from this voyage with this magical water and got paid, he would ask her to marry him. Then they could start a family together and grow old in their own home. That was his plan for this money he would make.

Now, I bid you farewell. I will send three men from the ship by wagon to pick up my trunks. Please help them get them all loaded up, all right? he told her as he bent down and gently kissed her on the forehead.

Yes, Master Alexander. I will do as you ask me to. May I send you some other things from home for you in that large trunk of your father’s? she inquired.

He thought to himself for a few seconds. We should have enough room onboard for one more trunk. I have already broken her heart by refusing not to stay here with her, but I know if I don’t do this now, things will not be good for either one of us. Also, the only way we can get married is for me to succeed in this voyage.

Yes, I think one more trunk would be all right. Just see to it that it is ready by the time the men get here to pick up the other two, he said.

Oh yes, sir, Master Alexander. It’ll be ready for travel, I can assure you of that! she answered back as she opened up the front door for him.

He took his belt down from the hook along with his saber sheath and put it around his waist and fastened it. A quick adjustment of the saber’s sheath placed it at just the right spot for a fast draw. He then tucked in the pistol and made it to be covered by his coat easily.

Wona then took down his coat and held it up by the shoulders, waiting quietly for her one true love to put his arms in the sleeves. Then she would slide it up fully around his neck, step in front of him, and button it up, which she had done for Alexander since they were both incredibly young.

Once the coat was finished, she gently placed his hat upon his head and stepped back. Alexander moved forward again and very carefully kissed her forehead while holding on to both her shoulders, caressing her smooth exposed skin between her elbows and shoulders, where the sleeves on her top stopped.

Wona trembled under his touch. Placing her arms around his waist, she hugged him close to her body. Feeling his warmth, taking in the smell of his body, she ached to tell him about her true feelings for Alexander.

It took all Alexander’s strength to pull himself away from the only woman he had ever loved besides his beloved mother and go out the door.

Once down the stone steps and standing at the cobblestone street, he looked back up toward the house to through a farewell wave to Wona, but the door had already been closed.

How strange…how very strange indeed. She had always done that from the first time he had gone on a sailing voyage with his father, who was also a captain of a merchant ship. I was ten or eleven, I think, when Wona stood outside the door and waved at me and Father until I could no longer see her, he thought to himself as he climbed out of bed and began getting dressed for the new day ahead.

Outside the captain’s quarters, Officer Jacobs came down the small set of steps on the starboard side of the ship to relieve Officer Stubbs of the four-layer brass telescope and the Saxon used to navigate at night by the stars.

Anything new to report, Mr. Stubbs? Dewayne Jacobs asked his friend and fellow officer.

Aye, sir. Young Thomas said around two bells this morning, he spotted a dim light three degrees off our stern. He said it was only in sight for a few moments, then it was gone, Darwin told him as the young man up in the crow’s nest begin his descent down the rope ladder.

Young Williams came out of the lower bunk area along with the rest of the day-watch crew. He quickly crossed the distance of the main deck to the portside rope ladder and began his climb up. Halfway up, he stopped to talk to First Mate Nathaniel Thomas.

Top of the morning to you, Nate, First Mate Christopher Williams said.

Morning back to you, Chris, Nate responded back.

Anything I should know about? Chris asked he ascended the ladder.

Aye, a quick flash of light around two bells three degrees off the stern, Nate answered as he headed down toward the deck and First Officer Jacobs standing near the portside ladder.

Dang, could you see a flag or sails? Chris called down as a space between them opened every second.

Nay, just a light but only just, Nate shouted back up as he reached the portside.

Once Mr. Williams reached the nest, a slight flip of his muscular arms landed him inside; he then checked his provisions for the day ahead. A two-layered brass telescope, a coil of small rope able to reach the lower deck, and a glass bottle of water were there. These were all a lookout person needed to do his job for his watch. Meals were put into a piece of scarf and tied to the end of the coil rope and pulled up for each mealtime. Once Chris checked to see that everything was present, he slowly and very carefully untied the ship’s anchor lantern from its position at the top of the mast. With a gentle touch, he opened the small latch door and blew out the small candle inside. Then he tied it in the coil rope and lowered it to the deck below.

Officer Jacobs, Officer Stubbs, and Nathaniel were discussing the early morning events.

Now, Mr. Thomas, what exactly did you see out there? Dewayne asked him as the sea rolled past in an aqua blue tone.

Not rightly sure, sir. One second it was there, and the next it was gone, was Nate’s response.

As Alexander finished getting dressed, a solid, bloodred, thin ray cut through his quarters and made a horizontal line across the whole the side of the front room. He glanced back over his shoulder to the rear of the ship as well the back wall of his room. The stained glass windows, which covered the entire rear wall, had just one red pane of red glass in it. Through it he could see the top edge of the morning sun shining that bloodred color.

Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning, red sky at night, sailors take delight, ran through Alexander’s mind as he kept watching the sun through the red glass pane. What will this day bring to us? he thought as he walked across the cabin room and stepped out of the opened door. Officer Jacobs looked up into the cloudless sky and saw the red rays shining down.

Taking out his silver pocket watch by the silver braided chain, Officer Jacobs flipped it open to check the time. About that time, Second Mate Amish McQuicken came up from below the main deck with a red scarf in his hands containing Chris’s midday meal. Amish stepped up to the main mast just as Officer Jacob’s reached the Wayward Star’s brass bell.

Good day, Mr. Jacobs, said Amish as he looked up to see if Chris has noticed him there yet.

Good day, Mr. McQuicken, how goes things down in the galley? Dewayne asked as he grasped the rope which hung from the bell.

Fair as can be expected, I guess, sir. We both still must get used to cooking together. Mr. Maddox has his own way of doing things, and I don’t understand any of it! he exclaimed, holding up both hands in the air.

"Well, for you being new, cooking on a ship like this rather than cooking for a wealthy family in a kitchen that does not move all the time, I think you’re doing exceptionally well.

Ding, ding, ding, and this went on for nine more times signaling that they had reached midday.

How would you know this for sure, sir? Amish asked him.

Because if not, the captain would have you two locked in the bow held together till it is worked out! Dewayne told him with a big smile on his face.

You are jesting me, aren’t you, sir? Amish asked him with a slight worried look.

Keep it up, and you will see for yourself, Dewayne answered as he walked away.

Hearing the bell caught Chris by surprise as he had been scanning the aqua blue water all morning. In any direction you looked, there were sparkling wave tops causing a constant sea glare, therefore causing a problem with his vision and burning of his eyes.

Glancing over the edge of the nest, he saw Amish at the bottom. Ah yes, thanks be to the Almighty, my stomach has been growling all morning, Chris thought to himself, it is midday mealtime, as he reached down for the rope. He started lowering the rope down to Amish, who then took and tied a slipknot around the scarfs folded ends.

Amish shivered, remembering the first time that he did this, coming up the stairs from below the deck. Hard to believe that nine weeks have passed. He walked over to the mast and tied over the scarf end, or so he thought, as he began walking back toward the galley so he could also eat. Bam! The scarf hit the deck, and the contents scattered, leaving a ruby-red apple rolling out of a starboard side drain hole. The four slices of rye bread were quickly grabbed up by a passing flock of hungry seagulls. The birds continued flying around the ship, dive-bombing for food or doing their bodily functions on crew members or officers alike, therefore making him quickly unpopular.

Up in the crow’s nest, Chris was rapidly coiling the rope when something caught his eye. Out among the aqua blue water against the clear blue sky, a small, ghost-white object could be seen bobbing along on the one to three feet waves in the seven-knot wind. Wonder what this could be, he thought as he continued pulling up the rope. He suddenly stopped as the white object with a black flag flying above it neared them.

Chris wondered to himself, What is that? I do not recall ever seeing anything like this since we left port in these last nine weeks, as he continued pulling up the rope. Suddenly his rope-pulling stopped as the white blob came into focus accompanied by a black flag with something on it waving from the mast.

As Amish reached the stairs and made his first step down, bam went the red scarf full of Chris’s food. Amish cringed his shoulders as he thought of all the food he had put into the scarf going all over the deck again.

Blimey, I did it again! Captain Alexander will have me strung up from the highest beam on the ship this time for sure, Amish told himself as he turned around to look at the bottom of the mast. To his astonishment, the red scarf remained still tied closed and attached to the ropes end in a slip knot. What the…, he said to himself as he looked to the crow’s nest. With all the commotion happening, the day-watch crew looked up toward the nest to see what was happening. Not in the last nine weeks had Mr. Williams dropped his midday meal back to the deck, and now seeing him leaning over the top edge of the nest with the telescope fully extended peering into the northeastern direction definitely got everyone’s attention.

That is a black flag, with a bone white skeleton standing up in it with a white spear aimed at a red…, Chris pondered to himself just as the entire flag came into clear view. Chris felt his blood turn to ice water in his veins as he saw the heart on the flag. Oh, Almighty, not them, we are surely no match for them, Chris told himself as he lowered the telescope with visions of the entire crew being butchered all over the Wayward Star’s deck as he could do nothing but watch from above in the crow’s nest.

Dewayne called out to Chris as he looked up, Ahoy, Mr. Williams. What is it that you see?

A sail and flag, Mr. Jacobs. Five points off our portside stern! Chris shouted down.

What kind of flag? shouted up Captain Alexander as he investigated the direction where Chris had indicated he saw it.

No answer came down. Alexander looked up, but all he could see was a pale scared-faced little boy looking down at him. He started to order Chris to answer back when it became so clear to him. Pirate! flashed into his mind, and probably none other than the one all of England had been whispering about in the dark taverns and back alleyways. Retrieving the four-layered telescope, Alexander and Dewayne headed to the starboard corner of the ship. Alexander lifted the lens to his right eye while squinting his left eye to keep from confusing his mind with two different images. Peering slowly from left to right at the horizon, all Alexander could see at first was glittering aqua blue water gently rolling pass. Then he caught sight of the flag waving in the breeze. As he leaned against the top rail to make himself more stable, he focused all his attention on that piece of black, white, and red cloth flapping in the midday air. A black flag with a skeleton holding a spear on the left side, and the spear was aimed at a red heart on the lower right-hand side. Almighty, the Queen Ann’s Revenge—a French slave ship once named La Concorde, now the most terrifying ship sailing the Atlantic and Caribbean oceans, preying on every merchant vessel they could, to kill its entire crew and steal anything of value. Forty cannons all capable of firing ten-pound cannonballs, which would tear the Wayward Star into kindling wood in one or two volleys of shots, and not to mention the three-hundred-plus-men crew would easily overpower his green crew. Only Dewayne, Mr. Maddox, and himself had ever sailed before, let alone seen any real hand-to-hand combat. Alexander lowered the looking glass and sidestepped as he handed it off to his first officer.

Dewayne took the telescope and investigated the same direction that Alexander had looked. Slowly scanning the top of the waves as it came into view, waving slowly with its well-known symbols on its surface. Dewayne lowered the telescope for a moment as if his eyes were telling him a joke, maybe the reflecting sun off the surface of the sea—not possible, what he assumed that he saw. Slowly raising it back to his eye, he felt his own heart drop down to his boot top.

We are doomed, came the first thought to mind. He looked over to his friend and captain who, without a doubt, already knew what he was thinking.

"The Queen Ann’s Revenge," came out of Dewayne’s mouth.

Alexander replied, I concur with you on that, Dewayne.

Dewayne responded, We are no match for them on this ship.

I fully agree, a green crew with no combat experience of any kind and first time out to sea except for you, Mr. Maddox, and myself, replied Alexander.

What can we do? asked Dewayne as he looked behind at the waving black flag.

Up in the crow’s nest, Chris looked toward the southeastern sky for a second, and out on the horizon was a small patch of black ominous clouds smoothed off at the top with large round globs or rolling clouds toward the bottom, and flashes of white-blue light could be seen near the ocean’s surface.

Oh, that is just grand! Cutthroat pirates at our backside and now a massive storm at our bow! Humm…be drowned by sea or cut to ribbons, shot with a pistol or cannonball, or to have hands tied behind your back to walk the plank and still drown! I think we would have a better chance with the storm, Chris realized and leaned over the top of the nest to look for Captain Alexander. Feeling Chris’s eyes on him, Alexander glanced up along with Dewayne.

Captain! Storm two degrees off starboard bow! It looks to be bad, sir! called down Chris.

That’s our answer, Dewayne! Head us straight into that tempest! Then let us hope and pray Captain Edward Teach wants us bad enough to follow us into it! Alexander told his friend.

The storm? Captain, that is mad! Why would anyone run head-on into a storm? Dewayne inquired of him as Alexander removed the steering line from a spoke on the large wooden wheel, changing their direction.

Think, Mr. Jacobs…why, indeed, would a merchant vessel try to escape capture from pirates…unless…they were… Alexander trailed off and waited for his friend to fill in the blanks.

Loaded with something more valuable than their lives or the ship, came the realization of Dewayne as a smile crossed his lips.

You tend to draw Captain Teach and his much heavier ship into the storm, maybe being capsized or sinking while we escape, giving us time in the confusion of the storm to slip away from them, said Dewayne.

Yes, I hope Captain Teach has his curiosity piqued enough to take the bait, Alexander answered as he finished up adjusting their heading toward the storm.

Now here is what I want you to do for me. Bring up some rope, tie it off at one end to the bow and stern, running it down both sides, weaving it through the rope ladders at bow mid and stern. Then secure it to the stern top rail, okay? explained Alexander.

What will it be for? Dewayne asked him as Alexander peered back at the black flag waving off the stern, hoping to see if follow in his direction.

A safety line for during the storm. Once the ship gets to rolling and water is all over the decks, it will be easy to lose your footing and be swept away by a large wave. Saw it happen once while on a voyage with my father, Alexander told him as he thought he saw the Queen Ann’s Revenge also change course.

Ah ha, I think our greedy pirate has taken the bait! Alexander exclaimed with gladness. Handing Dewayne the telescope, he swung his left arm out toward the now seemingly faster-moving ship.

Aye, sir, I believe he has, but also seems closer, Dewayne answered as he lowered the telescope.

Now not only was the flag visible without using the telescope, but the upper beam and top full sail was easily seen by the entire day-watch crew, and low whispers could be heard.

"Men of the Wayward Star, the famous Blackbeard pirate is following us! I mean to lead him and his crew into that storm ahead of us. Once inside, it will take all of us working together to get ourselves through it alive. Please listen to Officer Jacobs’s orders and follow them thoroughly. If one man fails this day, we all fall. Let us get through this together. Are you with me?" Captain Alexander asked while looking about the crew.

Aye, Captain! was a unified response.

Good then. Officer Jacobs, get them prepared, Alexander replied to his friend and crew at the same time.

Men quickly began moving all around the ship preparing for what Officer Jacobs described as hell on earth, referring to the tempest that they were heading into as fast as their sails could get them there. The safety lines were prepared to the captain’s orders, and anything that could be spared was tossed over the rail into the sea.

Mr. Jacobs, check all hatches, windows, doors, and anywhere else you can think of for water entrance. If I am not mistaken, this is going to be a nasty one! Captain Alexander shouted to Officer Jacobs as he was giving out orders to the crew.

Aye, sir. We will get them all. Now, Hicks, Adams, and Maxwell, you three get the bow jib sails up. Then get the two stern sails up and see if we can get a little more speed out of this ship! he told them as he headed to the captains quarters to check all the windows.

Aye, sir! they all three answered at once and headed toward the bow.

Chris looked down below him to see men scrambling in every direction, and he quickly scanned the sea behind them a little to the right to see the little black flag still flapping in the increasingly easterly wind. However, this time he saw two white billowy sails below the flag and thought, Oh no.

They are still gaining on us, came across Alexander’s mind as he studied the winds increasing and glanced in the direction of the enemy quickly approaching their position.

What else can be thrown overboard, Officer Jacobs? We need more distance between us before entering the storm, replied Alexander as he pulled on the wooden wheel, hoping a sharper angle across the wind would increase their speed.

Mostly all that is left is our food supply, freshwater barrels, also the fifteen empty barrels for the ‘special water’ to be brought back, replied Dewayne.

Toss it all overboard! Alexander replied as the wind velocity increased to another ten to twenty knots.

Dewayne replied, All the fresh water and our food? He could not believe that he heard his friend and captain correctly.

Alexander responded, Yes, everything!

But, Captain… replied Dewayne as he looked at Alexander and thought he had gone crazy.

If we don’t make that storm, it doesn’t matter if we have food or drink as none of us will be alive to enjoy it, replied Alexander as the realization became known to him and the crew.

Aye, men, the captain is right as rain about that. If we do not outrun this lot to that tempest out there, we as good as done for. These cutthroats ran down a ship my older brother was on, and Blackbeard left only one man alive afloat in a dingy to tell the story. He was so scarred that he could not talk for three days after being found, and then he would only respond with, ‘Horrible, just horrible.’ Really do not know what he saw because he never spoke of it again, replied Second Mate Charles Adams.

Grab all those barrels and get them off the ship. Now! Officer Jacobs shouted.

The main hauling line was untied at the side ladder post and was lowered into the whole at the center of the ship. Four crewmen quickly opened out the cargo net on the lower deck floor as all fifteen empty barrels were rolled into the net at one time. Six men grabbed up the winch handles and slid them into the holes in the winch, which was normally used to lift and drop the two-thousand-pound anchor as well to load provisions for the ship. Now it was being used to save the lives of this crew. As these crewmen began groaning at the weight of all the barrels in the net, another six men joined in at the wooden spoke, making the net raise faster than it was originally loaded in the first place.

Chris felt his rapid heartbeat as he saw the almost-full mast appear only a few leagues behind them through the sea mist that was beginning to come off each wave. The ocean was worsening each second along with the wind speed. Dark rolling clouds soon engulfed the entire ship from overhead as flashes of lightning could be seen only a few miles ahead of them. Low rumbling could be heard as the wooden vessel vibrated from the sound of thunder that accompanied each flash of blue white light.

Oh, Mr. Jacobs, please tell me everything has been done and all we have to do now is survive this storm? Captain Alexander asked as he approached the helm.

Almost, Captain, only a few more details to handle, Dewayne replied as he quickly past by him.

Mr. Adams, please accompany me to the armory, Dewayne told Charles as he placed his hand on his shoulder.

If these cutthroat dogs get close enough to board us, we have to be ready to repel them. We will bring everything up and put into the captain’s quarters so it will be readily available. We will also need a tally of weapons we have, replied Dewayne as they descended the main stairs and turned left into a room with a thick door.

From Dewayne’s belt, he had the key hanging on a string that went into his front right pocket. He took out the key in a flash and opened the door with the flip of his wrist; flinging it open, he made a quick scan of the room. Four small kegs of gunpowder, maybe twenty or so pistols were on hand with the cloth for packing in the lead balls and around thirty swords of all different lengths and widths. All from Captain Benjamin Alexander Paul II’s prize collection that he had collected from all around the world that he had sailed to in his forty years of being a captain of a merchant ship. Plus the four small hand cannons made to be fired from anywhere along the top rail of the ship with the holes bored for the holding bracket every few feet apart. The cannons were made with a main swivel post in the bracket so it could easily turn in a 360-degree direction. It would fire a cannonball about the size of an apple, which in against the well-known pirate ship in pursuit of them seemed an extremely poor line of defense, but this was a merchant vessel, not a warship.

You two there, come and give me and Mr. Adams a hand in here carrying these weapons back up to the captain’s quarters! Officer Jacobs ordered them as they passed the armory door.

Aye, sir! they said at the same time as they rushed into the open door and began grabbing up the weapons.

All four men swiftly filled their arms with as much as they could carry and headed back up the main stairs to the upper deck above them.

Captain Alexander, we’ll put these in your quarters just in case Captain Teach and his bunch of cutthroats catch up with us! Dewayne shouted out over the sound of the crashing waves and rushing wind as the four men made their way across the rolling wet deck toward the captain’s cabin, their arms loaded with weapons—which only meant to Alexander that his friend, whom he had been to sea with for many years, was preparing for a worst-case scenario. The Queen Ann’s Revenge was getting close enough to them for them to use grappling hooks, enabling them to be able to pull the Wayward Star up beside the Queen Ann and board it; it surely meant death for his entire crew.

Aye, good thinking, lads! Place it all just inside the door on one of my trunks! Drag two of them close enough to use for that purpose! Alexander told them as he began to really struggle with the ship’s large wooden wheel now.

His father had taught him that hard lesson his very first voyage out to sea with him, but he would think of that later, if he got the chance to live that long. Right now, it took all his strength just to hold on to the wet wooden knobs and keep his ship on course with the wind blowing a gale, causing it to sing out a horrible song through the rope ladders running up to the mast on both sides of his ship!

Above in the crow’s nest, Chris was also having quite a wide ride as the ocean really began to roll. Holding on to the top edge with both hands, while he had both his bare feet jammed through the two drain holes in the bottom edge where the sides met. It took all he had in