Pirates of the Storm (Stranded In Time Book 1) by Fletcher Best Page B

leading
him into the galley and started fixing him a plate of nuts,
flatbread, and dried fish.
    “Eat well,” she said, handing him the
plate. Jeff suddenly realized how hungry he was and he eagerly
gulped down the food.
    “Thanks! I needed this,” he said with
a smile.
    “Anything for the brave shark
fighter,” she said turning back to her pots as a few more members
of the crew filed into the small galley.
    Crabtree poked his head through the
door. “Finish up quickly men. We be pullin’ anchor
soon.”
    “Aye!” they acknowledged as Jenny
handed them plates of food.
    Jeff finished his plate and turned to
Jenny and said, “Thank you for the meal Mr. Robinson. I’m not sure
what good I’ll be on deck, but I feel like I should probably get up
there.
    “Aye,” she replied. “I’ll be coming up
myself soon. I want to see those Spaniards sitting dead in the
water as we sail away!”
    “I’ll look for you on deck then,” Jeff
said with a nod as he exited.
    As he stepped out on deck, the Captain
shouted to him, “Join me, Mr. Greene.” Jeff made his way to the
bridge as the Captain called down to Crabtree, “It’s time, Mr.
Crabtree. Haul anchor and prepare to unfurl the sails!”
    Crabtree repeated the order to the
men, “Haul anchor and prepare to unfurl the sails!”
    “Aye!” a chorus of voices
yelled back from all over the ship. The timbers of the ship groaned
slightly as a group of men turned the anchor windlass below deck
and the Wandering Wench crept forward. Soon the anchor pulled free from
the bottom and as the men finished securing it, other crewmen
unfurled the sails and the Captain took hold of the
wheel.
    As the wind caught the
sails, Jeff spotted Robinson emerging onto the deck. She and
several other members of the crew stood at the rail and watched to
see what the Spanish ships would do. The Captain looked at Jeff and
smiled, “The moment of truth, Mr.Greene!” Jeff looked out at the 4
Spanish ships and could see frenzied activity on their decks as
they prepared to pursue the Wandering
Wench . The closest ship was weighing
anchor and quickly unfurled its sails. Just as quickly Jeff could
hear the distant shouts on the deck as the ship’s crew realized
that they had no steering. In a moment, they were once again
furling their sales and dropping anchor.
    “Huzzah!” yelled Crabtree from the
fore deck.
    “Well done, Mr. Greene!” Captain Coxen
said, slapping him on the back. The second Spanish ship and then
the third quickly followed the same sequence as the first ship and
were now dead in the water as well. By now the crew was all
cheering loudly and they watched in anticipation as the fourth ship
attempted to set sail. But the fourth ship unfurled its sails and
continued underway. The crew fell silent as the Spanish ship picked
up speed and Jeff’s heart sank with the knowledge that the sabotage
had somehow failed. “One ship to fight is far better than four, Mr.
Greene,” the Captain reassured him.
    But Jeff’s discouragement was
short-lived. In a few moments, although it was heading in their
general direction, the Spanish ship was rapidly approaching the
edge of the reef. Coxen laughed loudly. “The fool is trying to
chase us without a rudder!” Jeff watched as a moment later the
Spanish ship came to an abrupt stop and the sounds of wood cracking
and men yelling carried across the water.
    “Huzzah!” cried out Crabtree once
more.
    “Huzzah!” yelled out the rest of the
crew, laughing and smiling.
    Coxen once again clapped Jeff on the
back as he called down to the deck, “Very good work, Mr. Robinson!
Mr. Crabtree, take a position on the bow and Mr. Pike, get to the
crow’s nest and find me a cut!”
    “Aye, Captain!” the men
acknowledged.
    Coxen became quiet as he focused on
steering the ship through the treacherous reef. Crabtree and Pike
were both signaling a course and the Captain followed their
direction. Soon they found their way through a narrow channel in
the