True Treasure: Real - Life History Mystery (2 page)

Mary would argue, “I want to have an adventure, and going to London is something everyone does. Who comes here? Traders. Businessmen. Sailors. There is nothing here but what we can grow. Glorified farmers are all we are! Why city people think we live in the middle of nowhere! I have heard them talk.”

How could she get across to her parents her future was not here, but out there—somewhere. She could hear it calling to her, getting closer every day. She was ready to begin her life, wherever it might take her, and experience whatever it might contain. She was more than ready to leave her childhood behind for her future.

For now, she sat on her horse and watched the bustling port scene below and the ships lazily moving in the bay. She cried in frustration at the circumstances which were leaving her stranded on her homeland.

Out on the horizon she saw a beautiful schooner heading into the port. The ship’s tall mainsail was catching the winds effortlessly. It traveled faster into the port than the slower clunky galleon carrying her friend away.

The beautiful ship arriving at the port contained her future, which was fast approaching, whether she was ready or not. If she had known in advance everything the future held, she might not have been so eager to greet it.

***

The HMS Devonshire, 1818

Captain Graham looked out at the coast of the land he was to survey. The voyage had been uneventful. Beautiful sailing weather ensued, with high winds for most of the trip over relatively tranquil seas. Only one day of dead calm interrupted the trip in the middle of the voyage. The only disturbing moment had occurred just one day outside of sight of land, a few hundred miles off the coast of England. They came across a galleon heading back to England. The ship had signaled it was in distress, so he ordered for their ship to pull along starboard of the other vessel. The captain from the other ship came aboard.

“I am Captain Dewhurst. I have come to give you a warning.”

“Captain Bennett Graham,” he nodded, “and what is so urgent?”

“We ran afoul of a schooner of pirates. They attempted to board us as soon as we left the mainland of Costa Rica. Since our gold was spent on our cargo of cocoa and coffee, we assume the pirates must have known we had no gold left.”

“Then why the attack?”

“I surmise they are low on food stocks or looking for ammunition. We obliged by firing on them so you could say we delivered on the ammunitions part.”

Captain Bennett chuckled, “Aye, I would have answered their prayers in the same fashion.”

Captain Dewhurst continued, “Since we crippled their ship, they may be on the hunt for a replacement. Do not be fooled, or so trusting to let others board your vessel near sight of land.”

“We are a ship of soldiers employed by His Majesty. If pirates are looking for a fight, we will be happy to oblige. Our mission is to chart the islands and the coast for our King, and we will do so. Nothing will stand in the way of our mission. I am not adverse to returning to England with fewer cannonballs. My men could use the entertainment.”

Captain Dewhurst smiled. “Well then, safe voyage and God bless.”

“The same to you, captain.”

After Captain Dewhurst had returned to his ship, Captain Graham said to his first officer, “Muster all hands on deck.”

As the men assembled, from the captain's deck with a fresh eye, he observed his crew. He saw men who were strong and not tired from the voyage across the sea. True naval spirit energized his crew. They were strong men willing to fight to the death for their King and country.

He called out, “There are pirates in these waters looking to take ships with strong sails, weapons, and ammunition. We are at war against those who would do us harm for the sake of gold. Keep your eyes ever on alert as naval shipmen in the employ of defense of their country would. I know this does not have to be said. But rather it gives me the opportunity to stress how you are truly the mightiest force on God’s earth. Soldiers in King George's employ. Our mission of charting these waters and lands will enrich our country. May the pirates be no more of a threat to us than a worrisome fly. If we are approached, fire one warning. If they persist, we will see them sunk to a watery grave. That is all.”

Captain Graham motioned for the crew to get back to their duties as his first officer fell into step beside him as he left the deck.

His first officer added, “I have heard rumors of pirates. I cannot see as they would be any more worrisome than the French.”

Captain Bennett chuckled at his first officer’s joke.

“I hear pirates black their eyes and use broad swords rather than rapiers.”

You know they say, “The thicker the blade the thicker the-”

“
That
is why the English have always preferred broad swords,” Captain Bennett interrupted.

”Touch
é.”

They both laughed at their jokes at the expense of the French.

***

Later in the evening came the call of, “Land ho!”

A knock at the door of Captain Bennett’s stateroom woke him from his light sleep.

“Yes?” he called out.

A cabin boy entered the still dark room, “Captain? The island is in sight.”

“Skirt around it quietly. Who has the night watch?”

“Grimly does, sir.”

“Pull four others to watch and listen as we pass the island. Have the officer in charge on deck head into the port of the mainland for now.”

“Yes sir.”

It was best to move as quickly and quietly around the island as fast as they could while they were under the cover of darkness. Of course, the pirates would have to be dealt with once they began the survey of the islands. First he preferred to pull into the port on the mainland and gather some more information on the pirates.

How many, modes of attack, where they were expected to be hiding. A good defense was always a prepared offense. Know your enemy. Decimating the pirates may be a way to curry further favor with the King.

At dawn, the ship approached the port city of Drake Bay named for Sir Francis Drake who had discovered it some three hundred years before. It was breathtaking. The tops of the mountain peaks shot through a carpet of wispy clouds. Broad waterfalls, with whitewater could be seen even from this distance. Tiered groves of coffee and cocoa berry trees climbed the steppes of the lower mountain sides, which led down into the buildings of the town. No wonder the pirates made the Cocos Island and those nearby their home. Everything a man could want was located in this port town. Captain Bennett looked down into the crystal clear water and saw a turtle as massive as a barrel drift by. The abundance of sea life was astounding. And yes, the sharks, as long as a Jon boat, glided by with regularity. The waters appeared almost
as inviting as the shore town. While he'd heard rumors of sharks attacking, he'd never seen one go for a human. Part of him wondered if this was a rumor hyped to keep those who would search for the pirates or their ill-gotten goods—away.

The scenes and wildlife were almost unbelievable in their symphony of colors. He really needed to arrange for paintings to be made. Full color, as black and white charcoal drawings could not begin to express the beauty surrounding his ship. It was almost like they had entered a dream world. Yes, as soon as he landed, he would arrange for an artist to accompany them on their survey of the coast and the islands. King George must have an understanding of what a jewel this foreign land was in his crown.

***

Captain Graham walked into the town admiring the variety of the food stuffs and crafts for sale among the various street vendors. An older dark woman, tanned to a leathery complexion from years in the sun, flashed him a toothless smile and held out a sample of a gourdlike fruit with pale yellow flesh, “Pah-pie-ya,” she
repeated slowly, “Pah pie ya.”

He took a bite. Sweetness with the flavor of a mix of peach and orange filled his mouth, “Good, good,” he nodded back. He fished in his pocket for spare pence and gave her one. She lifted one of the fruit off her pile and gave it to him. He laughed and took the fruit, tucking it under his arm.

He came upon a pub called The Drunken Goat and ducked inside. The barkeep nodded to him, “Sir, we have fine rums, shrub, wine, beer, ale, or Sangree. What would be your pleasure?”

“I'll have a shrub.”

“A fine choice.”

The barkeeper poured some rum, sugar, squeezed a lemon, and another citrus he didn't recognize into his mug. He stirred it and slid it to Captain Graham as he laid his money on the bar. The drink was surprisingly refreshing. Just the thing to hit the spot after a long voyage. This land was beginning to grow on him. The warm weather, the friendly natives, and the streets teeming with royal subjects all lent a dream like quality to his experience so far.

“Where can I find an artist to paint landscapes and the various creatures that populate this land?” he asked of the barkeep.

“You want to inquire at the Clear Waters Inn. They have paintings hanging around the public rooms by the best young men in the area. You might find something to suit your needs there.”

“Pirates. What can you tell me of the pirates?”

The barkeep burped into the back of his hand, then scratched his neck. “They stick to the Isla del Cocos. Aye, there be pirates hanging around town. Not often. They have pigs, and goats, and whores on their island, so not much of a reason to come here. If they are caught, they hang. Reason enough to stick to their hidy holes out on the islands. But every now and again, they will check out the town to see what they might be missing and to pick up rumors of which ships might be carrying gold.”

“How many? How well armed?”

He shrugged, “Hundred? Maybe two. They kill each other. They will kill a man for his gold. There is a bounty on their heads.” He gestured towards the back wall, “There be the current posters of those scallywags and the rewards posted for their capture.”

Captain Graham took his drink to the back wall to peruse the drawings of the pirates. He committed them to memory.

“Have another?” The bartender asked.

“No, not today. I have business to attend to. Good day and thank you for your hospitality.”

The bartender nodded and went back to polishing his tankards.

The Captain headed in the direction of the Clear Waters Inn. He didn't plan on being on shore longer than it took to stock up with the necessary provisions the men would need for the first leg of their survey trip of the coast.

The inn itself was built in the colonial tropical tradition. The building was surrounded by large verandahs with sitting chairs looking at the view of the bay. Large windows with bimini shutters to let in the breezes lined the walls. Tied up rolls of mosquito cloth that would be let down in the early evening framed the porches and the windows. The main room had wood floors covered by imported carpets. The door to the house proper from the porch was wide open, so he walked right in. He could see the artwork hung on the walls. Colorful and true to life. He saw a bird of paradise with white flowers contrasted against those of orange and purple. He moved closer to look at the brush strokes. Every nuance of the sunlight and shade stood out. A drop of moisture on a leaf looked so real he raised his hand to wipe it away, and realized just before he touched the painting, the water droplet wasn’t real. It was just an optical illusion created by the artist. Another was of a bright red bird. The bird was huge, the size of a large parrot. The bird was partially hidden in foliage and so skillfully painted, it had depth and appeared real. You felt as if you were looking at it through a window frame
and not into the flat surface of a painting.

A voice behind him spoke, “The painting has thirteen bugs hidden throughout the flowers. Can you find them?”

Captain Graham turned to face the voice. A small man wearing spectacles smiled back at him.

“I hadn’t noticed,” he answered.

“Look again.” The man walked over and smiled.

He took a moment to concentrate on the foliage surrounding the bird.

“Ah, yes, here is a lady bug, and there is a butterfly, another, a cricket, a yellow grasshopper—do they really grow that big here?”

The bespectacled man stood next to him holding his hands together clasped behind his back, “Yes, indeed they do. I have not found all thirteen myself, only twelve, but the artist is rather stubborn and will not disclose which one I am missing.”

“Are you sure he is not playing a trick on you?”

The man chuckled, “Oh yes, honesty is a trait this artist has in abundance.”

“I am sorry, I have not introduced myself. I am Captain Bennett Graham, commander of the HMS Devonshire.”

“And I am Charles Upham, proprietor of The Clear Waters Inn.”

“A pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

“Likewise.”

“I am here on official business for His Majesty King George. I have orders to survey the coast and the islands off Costa Rica. I would like to hire this artist to supply renderings of the shoreline’s more dramatic scenery and of the flora and fauna we encounter, which is unique to this territory. The King must have a full accounting of his resources in this colony.”