Captain Merrick positioned himself on the foredeck of the Satisfaction, spyglass pressed to his eye and Badeau and Kale by his side.
"Helm, three points to larboard. Up topsails," he ordered the first mate. So far Hanson had obeyed him, but rebellion leaked from each glance he shot toward Merrick.
Marching across the deck, Hanson repeated the orders to the men, sending four pirates clambering into the shrouds, and within minutes, the frigate veered to port as the rudder obeyed the turn of the whipstaff.
"That is the ship you seek?" Badeau asked.
"Yes, that is the one, mon ami." Raising the glass, Merrick braced himself as the frigate tumbled down a choppy swell, exploding foam over her bow. Although he couldn't make out any details, he knew his shipthe hue, the shape. It was the Redemption. No doubt. He couldn't help but smile. Just the thought of being aboard his ship again lifted his spirits higher than they'd been in weeks.