and sunny, and there's other ships in their harbours for a man to make his berth in. Besides, some of this crew are
wanted men in France, most in the pirating trade are." He laughed. "I probably am myself, but I'm rich and willing to
take my chance."
Ben could not help but admire his friend's wisdom and easygoing outlook. Even so, he felt bound to ask the question,
"What do you plan on doing about it, sir?"
Thuron faced the sea and put the glass back to his eye. "Oh, I've made my plans, lad. The first is to sight land and get
all hands ashore in a place where I can keep my eye on them. Not some waterfront town full of taverns, but a nice
quiet cove with running water and a native village close by where we can trade for most of what we need. Trouble is
that I haven't spotted land yet. I know we've run a bit off course in the last day or two, but the islands can't be too far
off. Here, you take a peek. You're my lucky boy—mayhap you'll spy something."
Ben took the telescope, focussed it and searched the horizon bit by bit.
Thuron chuckled. "That's the way, use those lucky blue eyes of yours. I'll go and find Ned. Hope he hasn't signed up
with the deserters."
Ben kept his eye to the glass. "Shame on you for thinking such a thing, Cap'n. There's none more faithful than my
Ned!"
A distant speck on the horizon caught Ben's attention. He felt as though ice water were trickling down his back. Some
sixth sense told him that it was the Flying Dutchman. Swiftly he angled the lens away southward. A dark-purplish
smudge on the far skyline dispelled his fears. The boy's spirits soared. "Cap'n, I can see land! There, over to the
southeast!"
Thuron took the telescope and clapped it to his eye. "Where, Ben, where? I can't see a thing."
He returned the instrument to the boy, who immediately found the far-off smudge. "Crouch down, Cap'n, I'll keep the
glass steady. See it way over there?"
The Frenchman screwed his eye hard to the brass aperture. "Your eyes must be a lot better than mine, Ben, I don't see
a thing. No, wait . . . Aha, there 'tis! Tell Anaconda to alter our course two points south, then dead ahead. Ben, Ben,
my lucky shipmate, you've done it again. Land ho!"
The black Labrador sat stoically, listening to most of the crew grumbling and disputing over the stern rail. Suddenly
they heard the captain's joyful shout, and it worked like a charm. Everything became hustle and bustle as the crew
broke off to attend to their duties. Anaconda began singing in a deep, melodious voice.
"Haul away for the islands, mates,
That's the place to be.
Way haul away!
There's fish swim in the bay, me boys,
An' fruit on every tree.
Way haul away!
The livin's good, an' easy there,
So sunny an' so free.
A shady place to rest your head,
We'll anchor in the lee.
To me way, haul away!
Oh haul away, do,
All hands turn out an' hear me shout...
Away boat's crew!"
Ned, standing alongside the giant steersman, threw back his head and bayed. Ben laughed as he exchanged a thought
with the Labrador. "You'll have to learn the words, Ned!"
The dog sniffed and gave him a dignified glance. "Does a fiddler, a drummer or a guitar player have to know the
words? Ignorant boy, can't you see I'm providing a wonderful accompaniment to our friend here!"
With the westering sun crimsoning her sails from astern, La Petite Marie nosed into Guayama, a cove on the
southeastern coast of Puerto Rico. They dropped anchor outside the shallows, where she would not be left high and dry
on sandbanks by an ebbing tide. Captain Thuron ordered Pierre to lower the ship's jolly boat. It was a small craft and
would have to make the journey to shore four times.
Knowing that the bosun was loyal to him, the captain chose him to make the first trip. "Pierre, you and Anaconda will
take the first lot. Ben, you and Ned, go second; Ludon, you're third. I'll make the last trip ashore. Anaconda, stay
aboard the jolly boat and make the return journey each time. Leave your muskets aboard, everybody, cutlasses too.
Take only your knives. We don't want to show weapons—folk on the island might take it as an unfriendly gesture.
Give the order, Anaconda!"
Any protests about leaving guns and swords aboard were forgotten. The men felt their spirits rise as the giant black
steersman roared through cupped hands, "Away boat's crew!"
When Ben's turn came to go ashore, he seated himself in the prow of the little boat and sent a plea to Ned, who was
standing next to him. "Keep that tail still or you'll beat me to death before I can put a foot on firm ground!"
Ned flopped his head from side to side, answering, "Sorry but it's impossible, we dogs have naturally wagging tails. I'd
feel miserable keeping my beautiful tail still."
Pierre was waiting on shore with the first group, who had already gathered wood and lit a fire on the palm-fringed
beach. The loyal bosun called Ned and Ben to his side, where they stood slightly out of hearing of the other crewmen.
Pierre kept his voice low. "Our fire can be seen from the Marie. 'Twill be night shortly, the men won't go wandering
off in the dark."
Sounds of the tropical forest rang out behind them, strange noises of unidentifiable birds, beasts and reptiles, either
hunting or being hunted.
Ben drew closer to the firelight. "Have you found water yet?"
Pierre shook his head. "Tomorrow maybe. Here, have a coconut. There's plenty about under the palms." He cut
through the thick, fibrous husk, revealing a good-sized nut. Piercing it with his knife, the bosun gave it to the boy. Ben
sucked the clear, sweet milk down. It tasted delicious.
Ned's paw tapped him on the leg. "D'you fancy sharing that?"
Ben hugged the Labrador briefly. "Sorry, Ned, I'll get you one of your own right away."
By the time Captain Thuron came ashore, all hands were dozing around the fire. He joined Pierre, Ned and Ben, who
were drinking coconut milk and munching away at the white nut, and explained his plans in a low voice: "I've noticed
that already three hands have deserted since we made landfall here. Ludon, Grest and Ricaud. They're hiding out
somewhere inland by now. Anaconda has taken the jolly boat back to the Marie for the night—that way they won't get
any ideas about taking over the ship. He'll row back to shore in the morning. Pierre, you'll take the boat back then and
stand guard aboard the Marie during the day. We'll relieve you from time to time. I've smuggled some muskets and
cutlasses ashore in a sack. If it comes to a mutiny, we'll be ready, though I hope it won't. Ben, you and Ned take first
watch; I'll take over from you. Pierre, you relieve me for the last watch. I'm not sure what will happen tomorrow. I'll
just have to plan things as they come. Now I must get some rest. Stay awake, my lucky Ben, you and Ned keep a
weather eye on all hands."
Ben sat by the fire, tossing odd pieces of driftwood on the flames to keep it going as he stared into the dark mass of
trees and foliage skirting the beach. He wondered what the morning would bring. Ned lay next to him with a broken
coconut clutched between his forepaws, growling softly as he chewed away the soft white inner part from its hard
wooden shell. Ben listened to his comments.
"Gurr, this is good. Why didn't I try coconut before today? Like a soft bone, but sweet and juicy. Gurr, nice and