| Subject: The New World - Part #26 |
Author:
Wanda
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Date Posted: 11:43:39 06/12/03 Thu
PART #26
Back in Lake Charles, Bow was getting the ship ready to set sail once again. He knew the time had arrived when he was going to have to break the news to his crew that he would no longer be involved in acts of piracy. He was getting out before he came to the end that many pirates had experienced. He had no desire to experience dancing the hempen jig. If the men did not want to be part of the crew for an import-export business, then he would have to find a new crew. He only hoped the present crew would not give him any trouble.
The ship had been repainted, and renamed. It was almost sea worthy, and he had made contacts about cargo runs. He had tried to keep himself as busy as possible to keep his mind off Catherine and Joshua. Catherine’s money had been recovered, but he had not had much rest or peace since they had left. Each day he had to fight the worries he had for Catherine being alone with Joshua. If anything happened to her, he would never forgive himself.
He summoned up the courage to talk to the crew about his plans. He could put it off no longer. He called the men together; and said, “I have something I must discuss with you. I have decided I am no longer going to be involved in piracy. I have entered into the import-export business, and will no longer sail the seas as a pirate. In fact I am looking into purchasing a steam-powered ship that will be able to travel faster then the one I now have. With a steam-powered ship I can follow the trade routes to Spain, and Northern Europe, and Great Britain.
Bow heard the men moaning, “No, let’s continue as pirates. We have made a good living as pirates.” Bow said, “Men, this is a dying thing. There are too many governmental steam powered ships that can overtake ships such as this one that relies on wind for its power. Sooner or later we are going to be caught, and hung. I don’t know about you, but I have a strong desire to live a while longer. I am giving you a choice; you can stay on as part of the crew, or you are free to go. It is your decision to make.”
There was much grumbling on board the ship. They knew it had been easy to get rich quick as a pirate. They also liked a lifestyle that was boisterous and freer. They realized there were risks to take, but they had been willing to do so for the money they made. They had never known the lifestyle of a common laboring ship hand. Some of the men asked what they would be paid if they remained as part of the crew. Bowregard told them the starting salary; and then said, “As the business grows, so will your salaries grow.” Bowregard assured them he would be fair with them, but there would be nothing illegal done ever again on his ship.
Six men left the ship that day never to return. Bow had decided he was not going to paint a rosy picture for them, for things might not go as well as he hoped. He did not want to have to deal with these individuals at sea if things were not going as well as they wanted to see things go. So, he felt the leaving of the six men was a good thing. They happened to be some of the worst criminal sorts of the crew. It was a relief for them to be gone.
The next step was to locate six more men. Bow went down to the docks, walked around, and told several men he was looking for help. He needed six men, and asked that the word be passed around. Anyone interested in coming to work was to come to the ship the next day, and report to Captain Bowregard. Hopefully, there would be some good men show up looking to work.
Bow went back to the ship to go over some of the trade routes. He was sitting in his office trying to work, but his mind kept playing tricks with him. Try as he might, he could not push thoughts of Catherine with Joshua away. He wondered what they were doing. He knew only too well how unscrupulous Joshua could be. This traced all the way back to their childhood. He was never sure why Joshua was so jealous of him as a child. He had tried to talk to him about it, but he always denied it. The only thing he could figure was that he was jealous of him being the son of a famous pirate. He remembered how he had always done whatever he could to come out ahead of Bowregard, even in the smallest and silliest of things.
Bowregard had tried to be very careful to not let it show how much he cared about Catherine. He hoped he had been sucessful. If Joshua had any knowledge of his love for Catherine, he would try to damage that anyway he could. Even Catherine did not know how much he loved her. Perhaps he had been foolish in not declaring his love for her. But, how can you declare your love for someone who thinks you have stolen her money? She would never have believed him.
No, he had done the only thing he could do. When the money was returned, Catherine would finally realize what he had done, and then he could declare his love for her. By that time he would be operating an import-export business, and everything would be legal. At that point he would feel like he had the right to ask for her hand in marriage. He must be patient and wait.
To be continued...
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