1633:The Danish Scheme (24 page)

When the word spread through the crew, they raised a huzzah and started celebrating.

Gunther took Luke aside to fill him in more on the extent of the find. "We didn’t see any sign of any other people the whole trip. Game was plentiful and didn’t act afraid at the sight of us. I felt it was safe to leave the rest of the party at the site. Joseph came back with me as a guide. He’ll head back now to guide the rest back to the ship. Now that we know the route, it shouldn’t be more than four days until they’re back. Franz and Karl are doing some additional surveying and digging to see if there're more indications in the area.” He held up the bag. “This should make our voyage."

Luke looked toward the shore. "It's already been made, Gunther. This just means the workers we need will come. They won't all find gold, but they can all find work." He took Gunther to his cabin for a toast to their find.

* * *

A week later found the 
Köbenhavn
 standing off the new loading dock at Christianburg, preparing to tie up from her journey. A boat from the 
Henrietta Marie
 had just brought Captain James ashore and was tying up. Captain James and Captain Andersen stood on the dock as a welcoming party. The 
Kristina
was anchored downwind from the dock. She and the 
Henrietta Marie
 were the only ships in the harbor. Svend's heart sank at the implication. Suddenly, from the fort, a salute rang out and a new flag was raised. Forest green with a maroon colored beaver outlined in gold. Luke had his gunner return the salute with a four-pounder on the main deck.

Captain James called out after the last echo, "Were you successful?"

A grinning Luke leaned over the rail. "In all respects Thomas. Summon the settlers, we'll tell the story to them all at once!"

An hour later, all the settlers who could steal away from their duties met in the new community hall. The air was full of resin scent from the unfinished boards. Luke recounted their adventures on Cape Breton and then gave the news on the gold discovery on the north coast. Captain James then read the results from the convention and proudly pointed out the new flag. Luke got back up and motioned for silence. “When we left three months ago I prayed that God would grant us success in starting a new life. Our original intentions were to start a small outpost here and then sail on to Hudson’s Bay with the majority of our settlers. With the loss of the 
Hamburg
 and these new discoveries, we need to revise our plans and expand our efforts here. I still plan to lead a group to Hudson’s Bay this season, but it will be smaller and will simply start a new settlement for others to join next year. Over the next few days, I will meet with Captain Andersen and your new leaders to determine who will need to stay and who will go. I still plan to sail this month.” Luke sat down. Someone at the back of the hall stood up, “Three cheers for the Captain! Huzzah, huzzah, huzzah!” By this time, the cooks were ready with the feast and everyone settled down to some serious eating. As the meal was winding down, a dejected Svend approached Captain James. "Has there been no word on the 
Hamburg
 ?"

"I'm sorry, son, but it looks like she's gone."

Svend hung his head and walked slowly away. With the ongoing festivities, no one heard him mutter, "I still don't think she's gone." From across the room, Joseph saw the exchange and walked outside to join Svend in case he needed a friend. They sat by the harbor in silence until the sun set.

July, 1634, Christianburg Harbor
 

The morning after the celebration of the 
Köbenhavn’s
 successful return saw many of the younger participants trying to shake off their hangovers. Luke took the opportunity for fewer interruptions to tour the new settlement with Captain James, Captain Andersen, and Ludwig Steinbrecher and see what had already been accomplished in the short time he’d been gone. He wisely started at the fort, while his legs were still fresh.

Karl was justifiably proud with what his men had accomplished. From atop the main bastion he pointed out the new features. “When you left, we were just finishing the palisade. We now have all four cannons mounted to cover the entire waterfront. Any attackers would have to face plunging shot to even get close to the settlement.” Luke considered the view from an approaching sailor’s view and nodded agreement. Karl turned toward the fort’s interior and pointed toward an earthen mound with a door. “The ammunition is all safely stored in that bunker and the nearby well has a plentiful supply of sweet water. The main blockhouse can shelter everyone in the settlement and we have enough men to man all four walls, if needed. When we finished this two weeks ago, I sent the militia to help the miners starting to excavate the main mine shaft. The ground there is ideal for digging and they are already down to the first signs of ore!”

This was the first news that Luke had that progress had been that swift. “I don’t recall seeing any hoist gear. How are they getting down into the shaft?”

Ludwig Steinbrecher pointed toward the east. “See that fill there?” Looking closely, Luke could just make out that there was an evenness that was man made, along the hillside, extending toward the harbor. “That’s the spoil that’s already been excavated. We’re going in at a gradual angle. It takes more framing, but we’ll be able to haul ore out with carts, instead of hoists and buckets. In the long run, it will be more efficient and we can run tracks right down to the harbor to load directly onto the ships. If you can follow the line of the fill, it will intersect down at the harbor where those men are driving in the pilings.” When they had arrived, Luke had wondered why pilings were being set so far from the landing.

He was impressed by the progress. “How soon will you be able to start really mining the ore?”

Ludwig paused, “We should see the first significant amounts later next month. The real question is; what do 
you
 plan to do with it, once it’s above ground?” All three men faced Luke, waiting for the answer to the question they had all been contemplating since the previous evening’s announcements.

Luke borrowed Karl’s sword and started sketching a map on the bare ground. Pointing with the tip of the sword he explained, “Here’s Christianburg and here’s the coal mines in Cape Breton. Both have good harbors for loading, but they’re too small for more heavy industries.” He stabbed the sword into a spot on the southeast coast of Newfoundland. “This is where I plan to ship the coal and iron ore to be turned into usable iron. The harbor is protected and the surrounding countryside is suitable for heavy operations. We’ll bring the coal in and convert it to coke there. Likewise, the iron ore and limestone will be shipped in and it will all be converted to pig iron. Eventually, we’ll start making steel there and just ship the finished product back to Denmark.’

Luke leaned on the sword for support. His feet were feeling the effects of too much time on land. “When the resupply ships arrive later this summer, that’s where the new workers will go.” 
And now for the hard part. He had to approach this very carefully.
 “Thomas, you’ll need to stay here and lead that work, now that Sir Thomas is gone. Your mate will have to sail the 
Henrietta Marie
 to Hudson’s Bay.” Captain James started to protest, but Luke cut him off before he could get on a roll. “Thomas, I know you’re a sailor, but you’re the best leader here for the job. We’re simply too stretched to waste your talents simply sailing your ship to a known destination. This job has to succeed if we’re to have a future here.”

Thomas glared at Luke, “Very well, but I’m still not happy about it. What do I do in the meantime for an engineer? I assume Karl’s going with you?”

The flattery worked, as Luke knew it would. “That’s right. He’ll need to get the fort built where we land, before winter. I’ll send him back as soon as we’re ready there to start breaking ground for your site. Svend has made maps and plans for the site and Karl can work with him before we leave to add his thoughts. It should give you enough to keep busy for the rest of this season. We all have to do more than was anticipated. On the voyage out, I plan to leave Diedermann and a few others near where we found the gold to start operations there. I pray they don’t encounter any problems beyond mining. I can’t leave any militia with them. They won’t be needed at Hudson’s Bay until next season and they can get those deposits working now. We’ve lost too much time to try and press on there this year. I’m worried we might all have to return here in the fall if we don’t get resupplied or we can’t acquire adequate food stocks there. The growing season is short enough, and an early frost could be deadly.” Given his normally positive attitude, Luke’s admission that not everything was going well left all of them uneasy. Captain James relaxed as he realized he might get to play the hero if events turned out badly.

Breaking the spell, Luke pointed downhill. “Thomas, I see you’ve done wonders with the settlement. Show me what’s there! I don’t see the tents that were there when I left.”

The trek down the hill was much faster than the journey up. As they reached the first cabins, Luke asked casually, “Thomas, before I forget. What happened with the widow that lost her husband in the storm?”

Captain James pointed to a nearby cabin. “She’s now a newly remarried wife! Two weeks after we landed, one of the miners, Hans Kleindorf, asked her to marry him. She and her son are farming a small garden plot while Hans works in the new mine. With her wedding and two christenings, we’re keeping Pastor Bauman busy and out of mischief!” Thomas’ smile left Luke wondering what else had gone on in his absence. The group continued through the small settlement, admiring the work that had been accomplished in the short time.

Two days later, under a cloudless sky, the 
Köbenhavn
, 
Henrietta Marie
, and 
Kristina
 set sail for Hudson's Bay. Up in the crosstrees, Svend sat sketching their departure. On the opposite page was a sketch of Agnes as he last saw her. He was smiling as he finished the sketch. He remained aloft, sketching the coastlines as they passed. On the aftercastle, Luke watched his stepson with a heavy heart. For someone so young, Svend had suffered a great deal, but he didn’t know how to ease his pain. John walked over and cleared his throat to interrupt Luke’s thoughts. He nodded toward the figure aloft. “I hope he’s alright. He can’t seem to accept what’s happened.”

“I know, and I don’t know what to do. I never had any children of my own and I just can’t seem to break through that false optimism he’s holding onto.”

“Give him time Captain. He’s a smart lad and should come around on his own. We’ll just need to keep him busy so he can’t brood.”

“I hope you’re right John.” Luke hung his head in frustration and turned to watch the horizon.

* * *

The first few days were uneventful. Diedermann, and his five miners were dropped off to start developing the gold field. They were anxious to see the vein that was supposedly going to make them rich. All thoughts for their safety, in the event there were unfriendly natives around, were forgotten. As they rowed off, Luke called out to them one last warning to exercise caution. When the boats returned, the ships then set sail north for the passage to Hudson’s Bay. The weather held fair but as they neared the Hudson Strait, ice floes started increasing in size and quantity. The temperature hovered barely above freezing at night, but the days were bright and the sun barely set at night. Whales were now a common sight and speculation about their edibility was rampant. Luke asked Joseph to his cabin to discuss the broader question of food at their destination. “I’m concerned about food for the coming winter. When we locate your tribe, we’ll want to be able to start raising food for our needs. Is there enough tillable land in the region for us to be able to plant our own crops?”

Joseph looked perplexed. “I’m not sure what you’re asking Captain. We only grow a little of what we need to get us through the winter. We hunt and fish and gather what we need. We don’t have fields like I saw in Denmark. We certainly don’t have extra food.”

Luke shook his head. “You misunderstand. Maybe I didn’t say it right. What I need to know is whether the ground will be able to be turned and planted by the time we get there. And, is there an area nearby that we could use without crowding your crops?”

Joseph mulled the question over before answering. “The ground should be soft enough to dig when we get there, as long as you don’t go down too far. You can still find some frost, even in summer, in the shaded areas. There is land south of our village that should be open enough for the small gardens I saw in your city. If you want better land, you’ll need to travel south for some distance to get good land for growing.”

Luke sighed, “That’s what I was afraid of. We may need to send out whaling and fishing parties to supplement our food stocks. That will take up valuable time and energy.”

Luke seemed to focus on some distant point that Joseph couldn’t see. “At least we’ll be able to start a settlement this year. Unless the resupply ships arrive before September, I’ll have to send some of the workers back to Christianburg for the winter.” Realizing he was wandering he nodded to Joseph. “Thank you Joseph, you may go.”

Looking out the stern windows, Luke stared at the ice flows curling back into the 
Köbenhavn’s
 wake. It reminded him of a task he’d been considering. He’d need to make contact with some of the Inuit to establish a shelter along the route, in case any ships were stranded by ice. They would also be a good trading source for whale meat and oil and furs.

July 1634, off Danby Island, Hudson’s Bay
 

“Ahoy the deck! Smoke off the port quarter!”

Captain Foxe hurried on deck. “Can you make out what it is?” Hopefully, it was an Inuit hunting party. The lookouts had specific instructions to hail the deck if any possible sightings occurred.

The lookout was an experienced sailor from a previous Artic expedition. He surveyed the activity at the base of the smoke column. “It appears to be a hunting party. There’s something in the water by the beach that looks like a whale carcass. They may be butchering it. I can’t be positive, but it looks like three or four boats pulled up on the shore. One of them appears to have some sort of mast, almost like a Thames River wherry! I can’t make out how many are in the party.”