“Ahoy there,” shouts Sam.
“Yeah, ahoy there.”
The small boat is anchored to the Sabriel Etienne, then a dolly is dropped over the side and hauls the four pirates to meet their comrades-at-arms on deck. Handshakes and hugs are the order of the day. Then everybody disappears into the captain’s cabin for drinks and to inspect the booty. The three chests are opened to reveal bars of gold. Here is an Aladdin’s cave! The chests are meticulously resealed and lowered into the sailboat. Everybody shouts their parting greetings; the bond between these men is inseparable. They’d performed this task many times at great risk to their lives. Everybody's eyes are on the horizon for a military warship. A channel breeze carries our little heroes back to the safety of the cavern. Once inside, two of the crew make the precipitous climb up the rock face to an alcove that leads to a subterranean vault. They drop a dolly, and one at a time, the chests are hauled aloft, followed by the remaining two companions. When all is secured, they pull out a bottle of whisky, have a couple of stiff drinks, then return to their boat and head up the coast.
The following evening, dressed in their best attire, our four amigos met his grace at “The Pig and Whistle,” sequestered in a private room at the back out of sight and earshot.
“So, everything went according to plan? That was a close call. Do you know the King of France was offering a reward for the capture of those involved in the abduction of the countess and her daughter? What bloody fools would do that? Anyway, the ladies are safely back in Spain, thank God,” says Percival.
“So when are that crowd in London coming to pick up the loot?” asks Sam.
“They’ll be at the cave Sunday around nine o’clock, so be ready,” says Percival.
“We’re always ready, your grace,” cries Sam.
“I guess any galleon carrying anything of worth from now on will be heavily escorted, so pickings will be slim for a while, but that crowd in France won’t be sitting on their ass for long, you mark my words,” laughs his grace.
“Anyway, we’ll see you back here on Sunday night around ten. I tell you, I’ll be glad when this is all over?” cries Sam. The other three amigos smile and shake their heads.
Sunday evening comes fast and our four amigos sit in their alcove awaiting the arrival of their London counterparts. Then a shout from below, “Hi there, are you there?”
“Yeah, we’re here, come on up.”
At that proclamation, they drop the dolly and haul up, one by one, their friends from London. They inspect the three chests. When all seems according to plan, they sit down and enjoy a drink together.
“This is getting too hot for comfort,” laments Sam.
“Apparently, somebody in Paris squealed. That was a close call,” says Charlie.
“But it’s too lucrative to turn our backs on. I’ve done well from it all,” replies Sam.
