Onboard The Bersheba II
Captain Peanut Butter • Chapter 32
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In the previous chapter, Captain Peanut Butter captured his first British supply ship. Meanwhile, Britpop and Andelbert were taken hostage by the pirate Jennings and Captain Brun, the former Captain of The Elise.
I will continue the telling of Andelbert and my abduction.
After an exhausting row, we reached Jenning’s ship, Bersheba II, and climbed aboard.
“Take them to the cargo hold and place them in irons,” Jennings said to his crew.
“One moment,” Brun said, then punched me hard in the chest, knocking the wind out of me. I fell to the deck. Two members of the crew grabbed Brun by the arms while another held a knife to his neck.
Jennings confronted Brun. “We have a code on this ship. No member of the crew strikes another member while onboard. Any disputes are settled on land with knives or swords.”
“But they are prisoners,” Brun replied.
“Aye. My prisoners. You are not the Captain of my ship. You are not even a member of the crew. You are nothing but a bitter old man and a fool.”
He turned to the first officer and said, “Put him in irons, too. Once we are underway, dump him in the sea.”
“You promised me gold,” Brun said.
“Perhaps you forgot that I am a pirate.” The crew laughed, and we were dragged down to the cargo hold and placed in chains. Brun sat down and hung his head.
True to his word, after sailing for a while, three pirates came below and took Brun away. We never saw him again.
“We need to try and win the crew over with your bread,” I whispered to Andelbert. “It might make them less likely to want to kill us.”
“Perhaps. If they allow it.”
“I see no other options.”
“Not onboard the ship. But we must try to escape once we reach Philadelphia.”
“Agreed. We have no choice. They will likely kill us like Brun if they find Captain Peanut Butter.”
“Or if they don’t.”
We received no food or water for the rest of the day. The following morning, a pirate brought us a plate with hard bread and cups of water. Andelbert seized the opportunity.
“I am a baker by trade. I can bake bread for the crew that will make your mouth water.”
The pirate laughed. “Good try. Put you in a galley full of knives. You think me a fool?” The pirate replied.
“Someone can supervise. And you can keep the Baron in chains.”
“Shut your mouth and eat,” the pirate replied and walked away.
After the pirate had gone, I said, “That was good. I didn’t expect him to say yes, but now he will think about it.”
“I hope so.”
The days dragged on, turning into weeks. Andelbert continued to offer his baking skills but was denied each time.
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I welcome your thoughts, questions, suggestions, corrections, etc. Thank you.
Mark
I love the ship's code. So practical. Hold off your anger until you can make it really count.
"...Once we are underway, dump him in the sea.” “You promised me gold,” Brun said." So funny! He forgot he was a pirate!