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[LINK TO PRIOR CHAPTERS](https://steemit.com/piratesunday/@handofzara/the-adventures-of-young-captain-k-chapter-27-two-to-the-south-and-two-to-the-north-piratesunday-dixiesilverminer)
CHAPTER 28 - BOSTON
The Essex made way, the wind to her back filling her sails with the current pushing her ever northward. The Goodman, under the command of Mr. Howard trailed the Essex, but not for want of speed, for the French built ship rode high and fast in the water. The Goodman, with only the cargo of molasses in her hull, kept pace with the Essex without full sails. When she offloaded her cargo in Boston, she would easily outrun the Essex.
Kevin's days were once again filled with the routine of the ship. Taking his turn on the watch, serving at the Captain's table for all the meals, and in the evenings taking his lessons from his Aunt Kate, much to his displeasure. Kevin often wondered why he needed to learn to read and to write, for he desired to be a sailor and one day be the Captain of his own ship. He thought the only need to read, was to read the wind and the sea. Or perhaps, most importantly to be as Mr. O'Malley, who could read the faces of men and know their hearts. The mathematics he understood, he knew and could see the need to master. For whether it was plotting the course of the ship or determining the value of the cargo or the rations of the crew mathematics were exceedingly useful. But reading the prose of Shakespeare and the Bible he could see little value. And yet, his Aunt Kate insisted, for she said she was determined that Kevin would be a gentleman.
The ships made good time in their passage north, and for the first three days of the journey the waters of the Atlantic were smooth and the wind steady. And yet in the morning watch of the third day Kevin notice a change in the sea. The once blue waters had changed their colors. No more was the water warm and smooth, but had turned dark and choppy. The waves began to lift the Essex ever higher, and the warm southern wind that had been to their backs began to shift to a cold, strong eastern wind.
On the watch Kevin began to shiver, the spray from the waves that had brought comfort in the warm waters of the South began to bring the torment of an icy sting with each drop. Many of the sailors who had never ventured this far north began to complain of the new found hostile nature of the northern sea. To Kevin's eyes the once inviting Atlantic had become hostile, insulted by any ship that dared to sail upon her.
Kevin pondered why any man would chose to be in such a place as this. Many of the crew new to the sea became ill with the constant rocking of the waves.
On the fourth day, the lookout cried forth:
"Land ho!"
Kevin felt relieved as the Essex entered Boston harbor, where in her shelter the waves subsided, but not the wind which blew ever colder from the east.
The Essex lay anchor in Boston harbor's back bay. While the The Goodman sailed onward to the docks to offload her valuable cargo of molasses. Molasses to be sold to the rum distillers. For most of the ships that sailed from Boston plied the golden triangle, from molasses, to rum, to slaves from Africa.
Kevin marveled at the sight of Boston, her large brick buildings and finished streets of cobblestone, such great wealth all in one place. For a lad who had but a few months earlier had lived in the backwoods of the Carolinas the sight of the City brought wonder and amazement. He so hoped that his Aunt Kate would take him ashore, that he might walk upon the streets of Boston.
Kevin's wish had been granted for Kate and Mr. Hagney had a need for more men to add to the crew of the Essex and more particularly to the crew of the Goodman. As the launch approached the docks of Boston Kevin's ears began to fill with the sound of the City. The sounds of men shouting in a strange tongue. The language was English but to his ears it sounded as no language he had ever heard before.
He held onto to Mr. Hagney's coattails so as not to be separated as they made their way through the cobblestone streets to one of the large warehouses the lined the docks of Boston's harbor. He had never seen so many people in all his life. All busily walking about headed in a great hurry to places unknown. These were a folk on the move, all business with few ever even acknowledge one another. The three entered into a large warehouse with kegs of rum stacked as high as the ceiling.
His Aunt Kate had walked ahead to speak with one of the men in the warehouse. He could barely hear the two talking, he did not understand a single word that was spoken for Kate and this man spoke not in English but in the tongue of her own "Irish" as she was want to describe it. All Kevin knew was that a deal had been made between them. A deal for introductions to men who would join the crew.
His Aunt Kate had also struck a deal for woolen coats for the crew and a special coat for Kevin. He knew a deal had been made when his Aunt Kate delivered a large purse bursting with silver to the man at the warehouse.
His Aunt Kate approached him with a smile upon her face.
"Come Kevin, we must cross the way to the tavern where we shall meet some very knowledgeable men, men we have a need for. Watch, learn and listen but Kevin say nothing at all, ever."
With a wink she grabbed Kevin's hand and led him through the streets of Boston, with Mr. Hagney close behind. At the tavern, she had Mr. Hagney and Kevin stand by the door while she made her way to the back where several men sat at a table enjoying a meal of stew and rum, the main staple in Boston.
Kevin began to fidget just a bit as the time drew longer and longer. Mr. Hagney never took his eyes off Kate and seemed to become as a statute, never wavering and never moving. At long last Kate and stood up from the table. Three of the men stood up and followed her across the floor and towards the door. She briefly stopped and turned to Mr. Hagney.
"Mr. Hagney, we have one more stop to make. Keep an eye on the boy."
His aunt's words stunned him, "the boy" , she knows my name, why did she call me "the boy". He imagined she had her reasons as his Aunt Kate did nothing without a thought, nothing that was careless or reckless. If he was to be unknown to her, to be simply "the boy" she had a reason, but what that was Kevin knew not.
Once again, Kevin held on Mr Hagney's coattails as they made their way through the crowded streets of Boston. As they approached the docks, the three men who had left the tavern moved forward while Kate, Mr. Hagney and Kevin stood at a distance.
Kevin watched as the three men went forward and starting to talking to a several men, men who to Kevin were men of the sea. As the men spoke several others gathered closer. Kevin watched as many of the men began to shake their heads and walk away. And yet many more remained and even more gathered about. Kevin had heard the speach before, he knew it well by now. The promise of silver, of gold and of plunder grabbed hold of a man's imagination. And by that imagination, would men risk life and limb for the promise of yet unseen and unknown wealth.
At long last one of the men, a tall man in a blue coat, turned towards Kate and gave a simple nod. Kate turned and began to walk back to the docks and the launch. She said not a word but only winked at Kevin.
Kevin knew that another deal had been made. He briefly looked behind him and saw that a large body of men followed his Aunt Kate.
When they reached the docks Kate turned to see who had followed, very satisfied with the men who had been lured aboard with the promise of silver and of gold. Then addressing the large man in the blue coat she said:
"Mr. Holmes, ye and Mr. Prescott and Mr. Nicholas shall join me and the boy on the launch to the Essex. Mr. Hagney ye shall gather these men and have them sign the log."
Kevin wondered once again, "the boy", he sensed that his Aunt Kate did not care for these men and yet she was bringing them aboard the Essex. Odd he thought to himself, very odd indeed, but he remembered her instructions, watch, learn and listen but say nothing at all.
As they boarded the Essex, Kate turned to Kevin:
"Boy, get on to the Captain's quarters and prepare the table. Gentlemen, wait here while I speak to the Captain of the bargain we have made."
Kate departed and found her husband, Captain Lewis, who was below decks overseeing the stowage of supplies.
"Aaron, I have found three officers and men for the Goodman. Men who do not particularly care for a woman who is the Master of the Ship, and even less an Irish woman. Ye have a need of knowing this."
"Why bring them aboard, Kate, if it shall only be more trouble, for we have seen enough already."
"We need them pure and simple. For they have sailed the North Atlantic in the Fall. They know her waters, they her winds, and while Mr. Howard is a fine and noble gentleman, he will need officers who know how to sail those waters. And, Aaron, though I doubt not yer skills, they say the North Atlantic in the Fall is deadly horrific. I fear we shall have a need even here on the Essex. Tis a bargain that must be made, even with those who in recent past were me own enemies, enemies of Ireland and friends to King William."
Aaron stood still and ponder Kate's words. Then he leaned forward and gave her a small kiss upon her forehead.
"Yar all business, Kate O'Donnell Lewis, and I love ya for it. Lets go meet with these men of New England."
They made their way on deck and invited these men of New England to the Captain's Quarters. Captain Lewis laid upon the table a large map. He recounted the tale of the encounter with the French Navy and the capture of the Goodman. Captain Lewis placed his finger upon the map on Acadia.
He explained that it was his belief that the French would gather more ships in Arcadia. It was his intent to sail not to Acadia, but rather to the mid Atlantic and wait for an opportunity to pick off any stragglers. Then he pointed upon the map a place in the mid Atlantic a place upon the map inscribed with the words, George's Banks.
The three men of New England, stood still as they shared glances. This man proposed to sail tot he George's Banks in the Fall. No sane man would ever seek to sail these waters in this time of the year. And yet that was the proposition, that was the deal, that was the bargain to be made. Finally. Mr. Prescott spoke.
"The Banks in the Fall, tis sailing to a graveyard, sir."
"But Mistress Lewis informs me that ye have done it. Is this not so?" Captain Lewis inquired.
"Aye we have all done it, but it is a madness."
Mr. Holmes understood the full meaning of the deal and spoke:
"Captain Lewis, I for one understand yar meaning. If we survive, and if the French do as ye seem to believe and try a Fall passage. The storms of the Banks shall surely drive many of the ships out of their convoy. The French navy will not dare to seek any stragglers, and thus the pickings could be easy. Mr. Prescott, if ye fear the Banks, then go ashore and sign aboard another slave ship. Ye can spend another year of your life listening to the whips crack and the sobs of slaves. Ye can smell the stench and the fear. Ye can watch the bodies being fed to the sharks who grow fat in those waters. Or ye can make a proper deal, a right smart bargain to plunder the French on the Banks. I speak only for me self, but I have had my fill of the slavers, and shall sail with the Essex onto the Banks where me fortunes shall be made or me life lost. What say ye Mr. Prescott? Are ye a man of the sea? Are ye a man of Boston?"
"Aye, I shall set me fortunes with ye, with the Essex and with the Goodman for French gold and silver for I too no longer have the stomach for another run to Africa." Mr. Prescott retorted.
And thus the bargain had been made, not for desire but another bargain of necessity. Mr. Prescott and Mr. Nicholas would serve on the Goodman with Captain Howard while Mr. Holmes would serve upon the Essex.
The promise of better fortunes, the promise of silver and of gold did bind all men even those who had once been enemies.