True Treasure: Real - Life History Mystery (21 page)

He walked back to the tent where Mary and baby Ben were. He entered.

Mary was resting on the bed, tired from caring for their son around the clock since giving birth. Ben was in his crib sleeping peacefully. Bennett picked him up and cradled his head in his hand. He held the babe and inhaled his scent while kissing his forehead. He took their son and sat on the edge of the bed next to Mary. She rolled towards him and opened her eyes, a sleepy smile on her face. “Good evening. Are you home for the night? I have missed you.” She rested her head on his thigh and threw her arms around his waist.

Bennett said, “I must go out and speak to the men on land and those on the Devonshire. There is still a bounty on our heads.”

Mary moved her hand to her face and paused in an attempt to gain her composure. “Will we stay here then? I am happy here with you and Ben. And I do not think the men mind that much. Or will we need to pack up and move?”

“For the time being we will stay here. The location is hidden and defensible. I cannot think of where else I could take the men that would afford them the freedom we have here, unless we head further north to the territories outside the colonists’ lands. When we leave, we run the risk of running into pirates, and merchant ships interested in the bounty, or sailors from the Spaniards, Portuguese, or Royal Navy. Yes, eventually we will be discovered here, but as long as it is not by the Royal Navy, I have no problem defending our claim here.”

Mary squeezed Bennett. She was at a loss for words.

“I am sorry Mary. I never would have chosen to put you in danger. It is not too late for you to take Ben and head back to your home.”

“Bennett,
you
are my home. Ben and I will go with you, wherever you are. Nothing will keep us from you. I feel blessed to have the time we do have. Our life is good.” Mary hugged him. “I cannot imagine my life without you.”

Bennett kissed their son and laid him down on the other side of Mary. He pulled Mary to him and gave her a kiss. “If I am taken and we are separated, I will do my best to find you. As long as there is breath in me, I will find you and Ben. The map for the treasure is hidden behind the picture of me on the deck. Insist on taking it with you as a memory of me. I cannot see how any soldier would deny you that. If you have a chance to get it to King George, do.”

“I will spend my life to clear your name.”

Bennett hugged Mary then reached over her to kiss Ben. “I must go and tell the men. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

Mary smiled until he left the tent. After he left she lay back down and turned her head into her pillow to muffle her cries. Her fear for Bennett made her heart race. They would hang her husband. Just the idea they would, was unbearable. She cried until she had no tears left to spill.

***

Bennett stood in front of the men. “I am proud of you, the men who have served in my charge. You have served bravely and willingly. You are a shining gem in the King’s crown. The hand of fate has dealt us a blow. There is still a bounty on our heads. Pirates will hear rumors of the treasure, and just like they took it the first time they will try again. All types of men will be about seeking out the treasure and the crew of the Devonshire. If there are any among you who wish to leave, you may with no dishonor. You may find refuge in the North. Those that would like to strike out on their own may see Mr. Gregory for severance pay to start your new life. If you wish to stay under my command, I would be honored. I must warn you, if the Royal Navy finds us first, there will be no fight on our part, only surrender. I will not kill innocent subjects of the King who are following their orders. If it be pirates, the Spaniards, or the Portuguese, we will fight.”

Cheers went up at this pronouncement. Captain Graham waited for the men to quiet before continuing, “Tonight, in honor of your service, we will celebrate. I have ordered extra kegs to be served. Thank you.”

Bennett turned to Gregory, “I will be back from the ship soon. Have a list ready for me of the men who will be leaving.”

At the ship Bennett made his announcement again. “If you choose to leave, I will be in my ready room with your severance.”

Bennett went to his room with Randall and waited. He’d been so proud the day he’d been given command of this beauty and her men. He never imagined it would end this way. How could he? He paced back and forth waiting for the knocks on the door. Fifteen minutes had passed, and not one had come to see him. He went back up on the deck, and approached the officer in command. Before Bennett could speak the officer said, “No one, sir. A good sailor goes down with her ship and her captain. We will not be deserting you, or her.”

Bennett looked at the officer and said, “Thank you.”

He and Randall went ashore to find out what the men at camp had decided. Perhaps the sailors he had to scourge in the past would choose to leave.

When he arrived at the camp, he found the celebration was under way. He dismissed Randall to enjoy himself among the partying men.

He then went to find Mr. Gregory. “Sir, not a one chose to leave,” he said proudly. “The sailors are enjoying their life under your command, and cannot imagine having to strike out on their own. They’re a good bunch, sir.”

“Good. And thank you for your service Lt. Gregory.”

“It is an honor, sir.”

Bennett went in search of his friend, Randall.

He found him back in the cave where he chose to camp out.

“How are you?”

Randall tilted back on the chair he was sitting on, “Fine. Not one chose to leave. Even the ones I was sure would. I believe they are more afraid to be on their own than to be under your command. You inspire such loyalty,” Randall shook his slightly tipsy head, “I have no clue how exactly you do it. Is it in your bearing or were born to it?” Randall burped quietly shielding it with the back of his hand. “But
not one
wants to face the future without you leading it.”

Bennett let out his breath, “It was the same on the ship. Not one. It will leave us more men to fight with if we come under attack.”

“Yes, there is that.”

“And, of course, more to hang or go to prison,” Bennett added.

Randall took a drink from his tankard then titled the pitcher and poured one full for Bennett.

“To the Devonshire and her men.”

“To the Devonshire and her men.”

They toasted.

“There is one matter we should discuss,” Randall said wagging his finger at Bennett.

“Yes?”

“Women. The men have not got the comfort of women,” Randall said decisively with his eyes open wide and earnest.

“What do you propose?”

Randall motioned with his hand, “We bring some in. Set up a camp for women.”

Bennett nodded. “Life cannot stop for the men. Send a skiff or two. We must allow them to have a life. Wives, or whores. It is between God and their conscience.”

Bennett took another drink from his tankard. “What of you? You have a fiancée back in England.”

“Yes, well with a bounty on my head I am sure her parents have broken
off our engagement.” Randall took another swig from his tankard. “In truth I have no desire for anyone but her.”

He took another swallow of his drink. On the table by his bed was a picture of a pretty girl in a frame. Randall looked at the picture of his fiancée he had brought with him on the voyage. “My last letter to Elizabeth was six months ago when we left the port explaining our situation.”

“You are caught, and I am sorry for your...” Bennett shrugged and took a swig then spoke, “I have no words.”

Randall nodded and took a drink. There was nothing that could be done. “I would like to think she is waiting for word of me against all hope. I would
like
to think she is as true and loyal as your Mary...” He took another drink then stood wobbly on his feet. He reached for the nearly empty pitcher. “I am going to drink my fill tonight Bennett, and get stinkin’ drunk.”

Bennett took the pitcher from his friend, “I’ll get this. Sit down, and when I get back we will drink to Elizabeth’s health and loyalty. You will not drink alone tonight, friend.”

Randall nodded and fell back into his chair almost tilting over. He reached for his photo of Elizabeth again and stared at it, “To Elizabeth.”

Bennett left to fill the pitcher from the keg
, cutting through the crowd of half-drunk sailors, some who were celebrating, and others who were silent in their misery.

***

Bennett came back to their tent and stumbled in. Mary woke from the noise. “Bennett?” She took in his unbuttoned shirt and lack of coat as he picked himself up from the floor. “Are you drunk?”

He smiled, “It appears so.”

She helped him to the bed, pulled back the covers, and helped him in. She took off his boots. The pulling took all the strength she had. She cuddled up to Bennett and hugged him as he fell asleep. She knew the day had to be harder on him than she could possibly know.

Here she was worried for him, but she felt he must worry for her, their son, and his men even more. She prayed to God to give her husband the strength he would need, and for her to have enough stamina so Bennett wouldn’t see her fear and pain, which would add an extra burden to his already heavy weight.

The next few weeks passed relatively calm as the men got back into a routine. The same four sailors went into town with supplies to sell, and came back with the extra luxuries that made life bearable. Randall checked with the postmaster to see if a letter had arrived from Elizabeth, but there was nothing.

In all the time on the island only two more ships had been seen passing, one a Portuguese, and one a possible pirate. Both sailed past on their course to somewhere else.

Little Ben learned to raise his head and smile. The carpenters made toys for him in their free time. Blocks, teething rings, pull toys, a mini ship, and horses. The blocks were the ones he liked best, grabbing and throwing them. The teething ring he would stick in his chubby little mouth and chew on it drooling like a dog.

The men started staging mock fights with swords of wood and ran races to and from the beach to keep fit and prepared. Others swam races on the far side of the ship, safe from the eyes of passing vessels, if there were any. Mary got her figure back, and was once again able to wear her dresses. The
goats grew fat and had kids while the chickens were now whole flocks, with some escaping into the rain forested mountainsides. Many wild ones now gave the men opportunities to hunt.

Nineteen native women were found to come willingly to the island. Some came in search of husbands, others for a life of more leisure where they wouldn’t starve or work hard on the haciendas of the gringos.

Bennett had the courtesy to place the women’s quarters on the far side of the camp, the furthest away from Mary and their child.

He would turn a blind eye to this activity that made his men happy. If he had other choices, he would have taken them, but men without was not a natural state that could be kept forever, especially with fighting men.

Even he, the captain, had jumped at the chance to marry for selfish reasons of his own. How could he deny his men the same pleasures he could partake of every night? He wouldn’t. May God forgive him for bending to the carnal wishes of his men.

With fighting and death a possibility everyday they awoke, the hope of comfort in the evenings was a reward that kept their spirits up.

Ben grew, Mary painted. Other babies were born to some of the women. Other women arrived as some found men from among the crew to marry them. Life fell into a rhythm of calm and storm. Mary was happy. She had Bennett and Ben, a life filled with purpose and plenty of prayer. She gave thanks every day for the new day ahead, and prayed the Lord would keep strife, the navy, and pirates away.

***

1826, Six years later

The day came.

“Sir?” It was the cabin boy, Lawrence, “There is a ship rounding the coast towards the cove. No colors are flying.”

Bennett ran with the boy that had delivered the message to the lookout point. He signaled for silence to the men as he ran through the camp. All the normal noise of work came to a stop as the men held their hands up to spread the signal for quiet. Bennett looked through the spyglass. A slow flat bottomed galleon that had seen better days. He looked at the crew.
Pirates.

“Run and send the warning to the Devonshire that we have pirates. Have them ready to fire as soon as the ship enters the mouth of the cove. It is a galleon. Sink it in the entrance of the cove,” He told Lawrence who ran as soon as the last words were out of his mouth.

He spoke to Lieutenant Toussant, “Send men to line the coast, capture any survivors that make it to shore once the ship is sunk. Kill those who put up a fight. Prepare a holding cell in one of the caves for the survivors.” He turned to another sailor that had followed to the point. “Get a cabin boy to Lieutenant Gregory to relay messages back and forth. Have the rest report to me immediately.”

Lieutenant Sedgwig and Kerry awaited their orders. “You will be in charge of securing the wreckage once they surrender and look for those in misery on the ship. Finish off the wounded who have no hope of survival, and secure those who don’t put up a fight. Kill those who do.”