Page 54 of The Pirate's Daughter

In the darkness she couldn’t be sure, but the man didn’t sound sure when he said, “Smoke?”

“Is the ship on fire?” Petty Officer Finch criedout.

Mia was on him quick, covering his mouth because she could hear it now. He mumbled something and drowned out the sound again. “No, it’s not this ship. Now be quiet all of you.” She let go and went back to the rail. It wasn’t coming from directly starboard, but from farther back. She kept her ear to it and edged towards the stern until she heard it more clearly again. Crackling and popping. Something was on fire. “I need a glass,” shewhispered.

“Fetch a glass, be quick,” Coventon said as he stepped up. “Mia, here put this on.” His coat dropped over her shoulders. “You won’t see anything without themoon.”

“Here, sir,” Finch said, handing the spyglass off to Coventon who held it out toMia.

Mia took it, extended it, and raised it to her eye. The smell of smoke was more consistent now and she knew when the others caught thewhiff.

“Mia, what’s burning?” Coventon asked with a softwhisper.

“I don’t know.” She stopped as it came into view. Not quite at the horizon but a good distance out, a ship. A very small craft, burned. Closer to it another ship was sailing up. By the looks nothing more than one of those turned out triple decks as far as she could tell. Probably carrying freight and some wealthy passengers. They’d render aid if they could but something still feltwrong.

“Mrs. Winthrop, I can smell the smoke, what is it?” Lieutenant Coventon’s nerves werefraying.

“Wait, sir, let me find her. Let me be sure.” There it was sitting back out of the light cast by the fire, a galleon, bloody black sails and all. She had to be anchored. The wind was in her favor but she wasn’t moving to render aid. “Bloody hell,” she breathed. “Lieutenant,” she whispered, reaching out and pulling him down so she could speak and only he’d hear her. “Listen to me carefully, pleasesir.”

“Aye.”

“Wake the captain, then the crew. Do it as quietly as possible. See to it no one makes a sound and make sure every light is put out. Not a single candle to be leftburning.”

“Mia?”

“Pirates sir, but they aren’t looking our way,” she whispered so only he could hear. “Go, go now.” She pushed at him then lifted the glass again, trying to keep her eye on the dark ship waiting tostrike.

She’d heard of this bunch, but hadn’t had contact, directly or indirectly. They preyed on passenger ships, stealing everything from those onboard, raping the women if any were had. Murdering off men they found no worth in, then ransoming everyone left. They’d struck several times near Bombay and Madras in the last three years. And always with the same tactic. The capturing of a small ship, a pleasure yacht or even a medical ship, they’d set it ablaze in hopes to lure in a larger ship carrying something worth taking. Ships were honor bound to render aid. The true target would sail alongside, drop anchor, and haul in the sheets so they could search the waters, or the craft if any of it was left, for crew and passengers. They’d sit alongside all night knowing the best chance to spot people or bodies was in the daylight. This meant the pirates could take their time assessing who they were about to engage. And as Mia watched that was exactly what she saw taking place. Even as it approached, the would-be rescue ship was pulling in its sails, slowing to astop.

“Mia,” Devin said coming up beside her. “What is goingon?”

She handed him the glass pointed where it was taking place and told him the dark facts. “Pirates.Realpirates.” He hesitated only a moment then turned and raised theglass.

“Do you know them?” he asked then perhaps realized what he said. “Imean—”

“This group. I knowofthem,” she said and winced as the sound of the crew coming on deck grew loud. “Please, Captain, silence them. Sound carries and we haven’t yet been foundout.”

“Mr. Asher, Mr. Brinks, settle them. No sounds.” Devin ordered in a harsh whisper as anyone might use. The noise died off quickly. As if to prove her point, the sound from the rescue ship started to carry to them. Shouts, bells, whistles. And the smell of smoke. “It’s a galleon sitting off their bow, isn’tit?”

“Aye, three times the size of this ship, but I reckon the crew to be not much more. I haven’t heard tales of them swarming the deck when they take someone. They don’t take the ship itself often,” Mia said, a little less restrained in her volume knowing the clattering from the other ship would disguise sound from thisone.

“What else can you tell us, Mia?” Devin asked, searching the darkness. They shouldn’t be encountering pirates here. These waters had been practically free of privateers for several years. Better booty layeast.

“I can tell you a lot, but not here.” She stepped back from therail.

“Then come below,” Devin said and signaled his officer tofollow.

“Do we run or go at her?” Mr. Quiggly asked, as they stepped into the cabin Mia and Devin shared. Already men worked to cover the windows and prevent light for getting out before candles were lit and the room was turned from private quarters to a readyroom.

“I think if we can keep surprise on our side we go at her, don’t you?” he asked and Mia knew the thrill of excitement in hisvoice.

“Captain she’s bigger, better armed,” Mr. Ashersaid.

“Completely focused on her target,” Mia told him. “If you turn the ship north, ride past her before coming about from the east, behind her, you’ll have the wind and the sun. She’ll not see you coming and if they stay true most of the crew will board to take what they’re after. Few will be manning guns if any and their cannon should be facing their target.” Mia lifted her hands and made a show of what she meant. “Come up so they are pinned between this ship andthat.”

“How do you know?” Mr. Wilshire asked. “I mean how can you be sure that’s what they willdo?”

“It’s what they do. They’ve been hitting ships out of the Bay of Bengal for a good while. Private ships mostly. I’ve stayed out of the Arabian Sea because of them. Cargo out of East Asia is more expensive and the best qualities often go first to the East Indies Company, but it’s not worth the risk.” Mia said as she slipped out of Jonah’s coat and handed it back to him before picking up a blanket and wrapping up init.

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