~Chapter 7~
Red Beard the Pirate and the Great Lake
A thick eerie blue fog hung in the cold moist air over the notable harbor. Faint autumn sunlight could barely be seen, as the eastern sun broke over the distant rocky shoreline.
It was a long, sleepless, cold, and dreary night spent in Dory Bay on the Great Lake. Sleeping under the creaky old loading docks, and huddled up against a stack of old wooden crates for shelter from the biting wind, gave all of our young travelers stiff backs, and mostly broken spirits, when they finally stirred in the morning. It was by far the worst night's sleep, with the coldest daybreak any of them could remember, since they embarked on their travels, what seemed so long ago.
The rickety docks around the bay were damp and slick. The loading ramps were already bus, and full of activity by the time the weary travelers began to stir. Lake birds, and a few lone seabirds, could barely be seen through the breaking fogs, as they circled overhead in a frenzied dance, as they each vied for fish scrapes that were thrown overboard as the great fishing fleets began their daily arrivals, and departures from the harbor. There were large graceful pelicans, barn swallows, terns, raptors, eastern bluebirds, and feisty seagulls, all darting about to-and-fro. Each was squawking at each other in an otherworldly language.
Sun-baked rugged looking men in large coveralls, and topcoats, were readying fishing traps on the great fishing boats. Great barrels and trunks full of supplies were being loaded, and unloaded into the boats, while they were tied up at their moorings. Long passenger lines were winding down the well-worn docks. Most of the stoic passengers were searching for their passages to, far away destinations and distant lands. In Dory Harbor on the Great Lake, it was just another morning full of activity.
Louis, Chug, and Molly awoke slowly. They wiped the sleep out their eyes, as they crawled out from under the dock that they had called home for the night. Louis changed out of his cold, blue jeans and faded plaid shirt. He put on clean pair of dry clothes that he had been carrying in his saddlebags. Molly and Chug followed suit. Soon all were ready to find a hot meal somewhere, for each were completely famished, and were in need of some good old-fashion, country-style cooking.
The smell of fresh boiling shrimp, fried bacon and sausages, baked fish, and hot coffee filled the air. The smell of the local cook's handy work enlivened Molly, and especially Chug, because he was known to take any opportunity he could to enjoy a good hot meal. To him this was one of the simplest, joys of life good food.
Apollo and Jupiter had been awake for some time, and had been as if sentinels standing guard throughout the night, for fear that Squint-Eye Pete would return, and find them in the dark as they slept. It was well understood, that danger still lurked about with Pete on the loose, so until they were off on their voyage across the Great Lake, and as far away from Pete as possible, everyone kept an eye out for him, the best they could.
Louis directed his first words of the morning towards Molly.
"Did you sleep at all that night? I know it was cold and wet on the ground but were you able to get any rest?"
"Not much. Louis I was so worried about Pete finding us, but I will be fine today", said Molly while she folded up her wet clothes, and wrapped up her bedroll "don't you go worrying about me now. Remember I'm the one who is supposed to be looking after you."
"Chug how about you, did you get any sleep, either?"
"Oh don't fret, I'm just fine Louis. Let's get some breakfast and secure passage on one of these ships. We need to get as far away from Ole' Squint Eye as we can. I had nightmares all night thinking about that crazy eyeball of his" said Chug as he to, stashed his bedroll, and readied for the long day ahead.
Apollo and Jupiter after standing guard all night now slowly closed their eyes for a moments rest as the young trio of travelers alighted up to the top of the wobbly docks. They began searching for a place, to delve into a plate of hot scrambled eggs and bacon. The three followed their noses, and stomachs, until they found a small diner next to the main ticket office that sat at the entrance to the bay.
All took part in devouring a good hot meal for the first time in weeks, followed by a few cups of hot coffee.
"I will go see about tickets to the north on the fastest boat I can find. I should be back in a few moments. Can you two, after you're finished with breakfast, find Apollo and Jupiter some horse-feed? They have to be hungry by now as well," said Louis as he rose from the table. He headed down towards the main ticket office at the end of the long dock.
Once again, Louis took control of the situation, showing his determination and resolve in getting things done when they needed to be.
Molly and Chug were in no mood to disagree with him or interject any of their own opinions regarding the matter, so both just nodded their heads, and off they went. Just as they reached Apollo and Jupiter with a few bags of horse-feed that they had bought from a local store they turned, looking backwards, to find that Louis was coming up the dock, not too far behind them.
"We're in luck" called out Louis above the noise of the harbor.
"The same dock we slept under last night is where our ship will be docking in a few moments. It's going to be a, one hundred and fifty foot long black sloop, with a single mast. It will have a large red flag flying, with a golden star in the middle. It should be easy to spot so we shouldn't miss it. It's supposed to be the fastest and sleekest ship on the lake. The old man at the ticket office said so, and he said it should be coming into port from the north, in about a half an hour to an hour, depending on the winds and tides."
"That's the best news I have heard all morning," said Molly
"Yeah, I can't wait to get on the ship, and get as far away from Ole' Pete as we can" said Chug.
Watered and fed Jupiter and Apollo were now feeling much better after their long cold, sleepless night. Both knew their rolls, and the action they should be taking, without much direction needed from Louis. They innately understood that the safety of Molly, Chug, and Louis was their only concern.
Louis, Molly, and Chug were standing with their backs turned away from the lake and deep in conversation when a large man approached them from behind. The stranger reached out lightly, touching Louis's shoulder. Louis was still jumpy, and on edge from his past encounter with Squint. He was promptly startled and alarmed, by the contact from behind. Louis abruptly took in a large deep breadth of cool lake air, instantly crouched down in a defensive stance. He then quickly reached for his walking stick that was lying on the ground nearby.
Louis rapidly spun around to face his perceived attacker, like a tightly coiled snake who had been suddenly awakened, and backed into a corner. Louis reacted with the speed of a thunderclap breaking through the air during a lightning storm. He raised his trusted walking stick up in an offensive position as he turned. He threw a well-placed blow, into the direction of the stranger's upper leg when a strong, and very large hand, swiftly caught the walking stick in mid-stroke.
"Hi there, I'm French Captain Legrande LaGrange, was this blow of your walking stick meant for me, or for someone from your past?"
Louis instantly looked upwards towards the strangers face. He saw that the man standing before him, and casting a long shadow across his boyish face, was dressed in a well-pressed, and very fine looking, blue seaman's uniform.
The unfamiliar person standing in the mid-morning sun was a powerful, handsome figure, with absolutely no resemblance to Squint-Eye Pete, which immediately quelled Louis's troubled mind. Louis immediately withdrew the blow of his staff and took a quick step backwards, to gander at the distinguished, stunning, and very debonair captain one more time.
"I'm so sorry, and you're right..."
"I thought so..."
"That blow was meant for someone from my past. I did not sleep too well last night, and I must be...on edge...still. Pardon me, and please accept my apologies. My name is Robert Louis Parks, and these ar
e my friends," said Louis as he waived a gracious hand towards his fellow travelers.
"I am the captain of the fastest sailing ship on the Great Lake, the Cimarron Cutter which is pulling into the harbor, as we speak. Will you be sailing with me today?" asked the Captain in his thick French accent.
As he was speaking, he took off his well-starched, perfectly fitting hat then lowered it down across his mighty chest, in a courteous and graceful fashion.
Upon seeing the dashing captain, immediately enthralled was Molly by his presence.
"Pleased to meet you captain Legrande LaGrange. My name is Molly Jenkins, or better known as Hot Tamale Molly who is best friends with Tessie Whitman. Standing here to my left is the world famous and most esteemed Chug Martin, the starting right fielder for the Centerville Giants. And of course you have just met, Louis Parks the renowned daydreamer, soon to be savior of Christmas, and the well-seasoned horse-thief catcher."
Molly turned to her left, she pointed into the direction of Apollo, and Jupiter then continued.
"And over here we have the noblest of racehorses, Jupiter the Show Horse, and his trusted best friend, and confidant, Apollo...who is a very famous racehorse as well." Molly gave a quick curtsy and a very subtle, flirtatious wink at the handsome captain.
Ladies of all ages are known to find men in uniform appealing, and handsome. Molly was no different, that was one of the reasons that Hattie May had fallen in love with Louis's father, Captain Parks.
There is just something about a man in uniform.
"Pleased to meet all of you..."
"And to answer your question, yes we will be passengers on your fine ship this morning and will be sailing with you for the duration. We just bought our tickets and boarding passes...not fifteen minutes ago. We are traveling: due north across the Great Lake to the Canadian side of the Great Lake, and then by foot, and horseback we will traverse forward on into Russia, then on to the arctic ice packs of the North Pole, and directly into Santa's Village. Therefore, we will leave this part of the journey, and our safety in your hands. And again, sorry about before, that's a very long story" said Louis as he reached out, giving Captain Legrange a hearty handshake.
"Well hopefully whoever that blow of your staff was meant for does not find you, because I think he would be in big trouble, and he would surely come out, on the bad side of that encounter."
Both Louis and the captain shook their heads in agreement, both broadly smiling all the while.
"Well again, pleased to meet all of you, and you're most esteemed friends. Welcome to Dory Bay the world famous, Gateway to the Great Northwest Territories. It certainly is starting to look like; it will be a fine day for sailing. Just as soon as these morning fogs lifts" stated the captain as he motioned for them to pick up their belongings, and come down towards the end of the dock, where the captain's ship was now coming into full view, from around the rocky outcropping at the far side of the harbor.
"There she is now. It is truly the most illustrious and fastest ship in her class on the Great Lake: the famous Cimarron Cutter. Is she not a beauty?" inquired the captain, with a sense of real pride resonating from his deep, thick and French accented voice.
"Look at that ship Louis!" said a wild-eyed Chug.
"Delightful" stated Molly.
"Just like I said she would be, what a real beauty alright. She's as black as coal, and as silky as an inchworm. Look at the size of that mainsail. It must be ten stories high. I have never seen anything like that in my whole life," said Louis as he stumbled, almost falling off the dock. He looked upwards to gaze at the mighty sail flapping in the winds, high overhead.
"I know can you believe our luck Louis, to be able to sail with this fine captain on such a great ship. No one will ever believe us back home. No one" said Chug.
Upon seeing the great ship sail into the harbor, Louis again started his endless daydreaming as he walked down the dock towards the great ship. He instantly imaged himself standing in the Captain's wheelhouse with the massive, oak circular steering wheel in hand, and the ship under full sail on the angry high seas.
Louis had fantasized many times about sailing on pirate ships, counting a large booty of stolen gold, being a ship's captains on a sleek cutter so many times before that when, he finally met a real ship's Captain, and with seeing a real cutter-ship; he felt like a stumblebum. He was just dumbfounded.
"Well, it will be a pleasure to have you all with us for the next few days, and I hope you find your trip to be a pleasant one. Please remember to watch your step, as you begin to board in a few moments...after she docks. Make sure you leave nothing behind, for we will not be coming back this way, for well over two weeks. You'll have to excuse me; for I have a few things to tend to right now, that are of the utmost importance. But I will honored if you all will come to the Captain's table tonight, for a special dinner in your honor, being that you all are so famous, and have traveled from so far away to be with us today."
All smiled upon hearing this.
"Will you accept my invitation for tonight?"
"Of course we will," said everyone together as his or her eyes lit up with delight.
"Seven thirty then and I will make sure I send extra rations of the best horse-feed down to your two courageous friends, Apollo and Jupiter."
"OK, seven-thirty sharp. See you then" said Louis.
The Captain had so much on his mind: with the ship docking, the ships supplies being loaded and the passengers boarding safety that he quickly changed his mannerisms and demeanor, he abruptly, turned about face. He strutted up the broad, wooden gangway, making for the main ticket offices to be sure the passengers were all present, and readied for boarding.
As he got to the highest point on the docks, he turned, with a mighty voice he bellowed out for all below to hear.
"All...aboard!"
"The Cimarron Cutter will be departing within the hour to...Canada's Northwest Territories and Salmon Run Harbor!"
"All...aboard...now!"
The great ship finally glided softly into the mooring. It sidled up to the loading dock. The ship came to a stop right next to where Louis and his friends were waiting to board. Two large, well-chiseled long-shore-men dropped a large gangplank, which slammed onto the dock with a mighty thud.
Chug, Louis, Molly and both horses slowly walked up the walkway. They boarded the massive ship.
The ships long and very wide white cloth sail, blotted out the sun, throwing long luxurious shadow over everyone standing on the docks which sent a cold chill down to the bottom of their souls, as they gazed at the almighty ship now docked in front of them.
The ship was just over whelming in its design and beauty.
The French built, Cimarron Cutter was a traditional sloop with a single mast located forward to about seventy percent of the length of the sail-plain. There were a few smaller multiple headsails fore and aft, that had not been seen set under sail yet, and when they would be unfurled, this ship would be one of the fastest on the water with barely, none other being able to catch her during a wide open match-race.
She had long, sleek lines, with beautiful angles, which were highlighted by her shinny dark color, due to the natural aged hardwoods that made up her sturdy hull. The staysail and bowsprit that carried the jibs were all properly set in place, which gave the ship the regal look that only a French designed ship of that era could. Louis could not have picked a finer ship for their journey across the Great Lake or, a more courageous man in, Captain Legrande Legrange.
Captain Legrange, after attending to the boarding of the passengers, alighted to the officer's deck at the forward part of the ship. He proceeded to check out the ships charts for the voyage, review the log of supplies brought aboard by the supply-master, and get a final crew count as the last of the passengers, were safely boarded, and settled in for the long voyage ahead.
Legrande was a legendary captain in these waters. He was a grizzled seaman with over forty years of master-seamanship, under his belt. His long flowing, and fluid white beard, and long thick salt and pepper colored mustache, were quite a sight to see. Especially the way the beard flapped about in the wind, as he stood upon the upper most deck, barking out commands to his brave and courageous crew as they were preparing for the long trip ahead.
His facial features were that of a very wizened and well-traveled man. The color of his skin was a deep reddish tan, gathered from the years of toil standing behind the great stirring wheel at the center of the ship. The Captain wore a finely cut and well-tailored blue uniform with gold tassels that, adorned his wide, and very broad shoulders. The uniform was perfectly fitting, and crisply starched that only highlighted his broad chest, thin hips, and his well-polished jack-boots.
The dockworkers were all busy loading and unloading supplies for the long journey north, with each deeply entrenched in his work. All were working as fast as they could, for the ship was behind schedule, and late for the last departure of the season.
Most of the long-shore-men, and dockworkers, wore simple workingmen's clothes, in the color of a drab black or unflattering brown. Most of the workers wore long-seaman coats, and black knit beanies over their heads, which would protect them from the harsh, blistering sun, or the biting northern winds while on deck. Each of the workingmen was very broad of back and shoulders, had incredibly strong arms, and hands, with most wearing long facial hair like the captain.
Louis was standing on the top deck at one of the handrails of the ship watching the final details, of the loading of all the passengers and supplies when a singular thought came into his mind, could they possibly leave Squint-Eye Pete behind at the southern shore of this great lake, and then be rid of him for good? If Pete missed this ship, he would surely have to wait for the next one out of the harbor, and that ship was not scheduled to depart, for at least two long weeks. And that's if the weather would hold for him; being that it would be so late into the sailing season. Louis thought that by then, if Pete was to catch that last ship they would have such a lead on him by then, that there was no way, he could ever catch up to them.
There is no way Pete could find the exact ship that Louis was on, in such a large harbor, thought Louis as he finally turned away from the ship's upper railings to go below, into the guest quarters to find his companions.
Just as Louis left the ship's top deck a suspicious man carrying a large black duffel bag over one shoulder, wearing a oversized ill-fitting seaman's coat, jet black beanie cap and black leather eye-patch over his left eye, scurried up the wooden gangplank, past the dock foreman, undetected into the belly of the grand ship.
An infamous and ornery, stowaway found his way onboard, unseen.
Evil had shown its face once more in the disguise, of a working seaman.
Even worse would he find himself to be, in little Louis's immediate future?