Fight Between Two Captain

Captain Fortune pulled out his saber with a flourish, and De Lessops involuntarily stepped back. Captain Fortune prodded one trunk with the point of his saber. I have more right to them than anyone, I think. I bought the lady. It follows that anything that belongs to her now belongs to me.

" Not to my way of thinking," De Lessops openly challenged." You bought the lady not the trunks. Nothing was said of the trunks.

A chorus of assent followed De Lessops sentence, mainly from his crew members.

Fortune shrugged. The pantry sum that the clothes represent was not worth a fight but he hates to deny the woman now in his keeping the comfort and necessity of her belongings. Mr Meachum, transfer some cargo of equal value to captain De Lessops, along with a keg of rum for his men, and we will take these in their place.

He turned and headed for his ship but was stopped by a rough hand on his arm.

Not so fast, Fortune! I have not agreed. De Lessops glanced from side to side, assuring himself that, indeed, more of his men than Fortune's were on deck. There may be jewelleries in those cases, he said, winning the support of his crew. The men began dispersing each moving a bit closer to his own captain.

"Meachum?" Jeffrey asked.

There were few jewelleries, captain but they were removed and properly divided.

" Then I don't see any objection to the trade."

But there is an objection, captain, snarled De Lessops. I have an objection to you. He looked to his men for support but found them muttering. This was not their fight. They had just finished one with profitable results. But this on could lead to no good as far as they could see. What did they want with women's clothing, anyway? A good keg of rum was far better and easier to sell or to drink.

Captain Fortune motioned for his men to remove the trunks. They had already brought the rum and now it's standing beside the trunks. But De Lessops placed a booted foot on the largest trunks. You will not be taking anything out of the deck except yourselves, Captain Fortune.

De Lessops men grinned and moved closer. Now this is something they understand. they didn't object to a little brawl to gain both the trunks and the rum. Greed was their forte.

"If you look around, You will noticed your outnumbered Fortune." De Lessops spread his nearly lipless mouth into a mocking grin. It's better for you to leave now that I am giving you the chance or the face you present to that wench tonight may not be quite so fine as it is now. Unless you would like to give her back to me.

Only a slight flaring of his fine nostrils showed the contempt that Captain Fortune felt for De Lessops, as if a foul odor had suddenly sprung up. Otherwise, not by stance or action, did Captain Fortune seem to be affected by De Lessops's braggadocio.

The men from both vessels were clearly ranged behind their captain waiting only for orders, and in numbers, Captain Fortune was severely lacking. But this did not seem to weigh heavily upon him as he casually placed a foot on the keg and rested his arm across his knee, his saber dangling loosely in his hand. " The one mistake I made in this venture, De Lessops, he admitted, " was to take you as my partner. Do not think I would have sought you out . Providence has given me a good lesson here. Never hope for a clean battle with a scum on your side.

De Lessops and his outraged crew snarled and as a man stepped forward, aching for a fight. They were halted by the sudden appearance os a brace of loaded pistols, one in Captain Fortune's free hand and one in Meachum's.. Captain Fortune still smiled and leaned casually on his knee, but his eyes missed nothing. The men had both heard and seen for themselves his deadly accuracy with a pistol.

Now lads, he said, slipping easily into the dialect favoured by the less schooled and lower born, "whilst ye've been muckin' about wi' the casks and cases 'ere, me own crew' as been looking ' to their primin', so to speak.

His eyes shifted to the small group behind him then back to the larger group behind De Lessops. " And am not sure your eyes are as keen as mine, and you think that if we engaged that that it's sure wins for your crew as you this is your vessel... so it seems. But have you noted the cannons poking their noses out of my vessel,? ever so eager to blast this your vessel and you all? It would be easy job with so many souls so eager to make the journey. He paused as the man that previously stepped out looked nervously as the other ship. Pritchard, who is Captain Fortune's chief gunner, stood beside a cannon, the priming match glowing in one hand, awaiting only the order to fire.

" Now, lads. Ye knows what a broadside at these close quarters can do to a ship, even if yer captain don't.

There were nervous muttering, tongues licking suddenly dry lips, and a cautious backward movement from De Lessops men. Captain Fortune nodded to his men, and they carried the trunks aboard, sporting broad grins.