Free True Treasure: Real - Life History Mystery by Lisa Grace Page A

rooms, he watched as his sergeant at arms whipped the recalcitrants. His interpreter relayed his questions in Spanish and Portuguese until he was sure he had the full story of what had occurred.
    He heard some of the pirates murmuring, “Sangrie Graham” which he knew meant Bloody Graham. Yes, blood had been spilled, and more was to follow as every one of the pirates would be forced to walk the plank to his death. A feast for the sharks. Being a captain came with great responsibility. He did not have room to bring back sixty -five criminals who had mutinied and or killed for gold. They were scoundrels without honor, and their crime called for death.
    He signaled for the interpreter to relay his words to the pirates who did not speak English. He yelled out to the prisoners now lining the deck, many with the look of near death upon them. “Pray for forgiveness of your sins as you go to meet your maker.” The interpreter repeated the phrase in the pirates’ native tongues sounding again like an echo.
    The captain answered those brave enough to call out, “Bloody Graham is a fitting name as you have brought upon yourselves your own bloodshed. You’ve been sentenced to die for the crimes of piracy and mutiny. For either crime the punishment is death. You will walk the plank. May God have mercy on your greedy souls.”
    He turned to Lieutenant Gregory, “Bring the men over in groups of ten. We will commence on the deeper side. Weight them each down with a cannonball. Drowning is more merciful than facing sharks to be eaten alive. Do it from the aft side of the ship, out of the lady‘s view. This is not a sight she should bear.”
    “Yes,” the Lieutenant answered.
    ***
    Mary
    Mary heard the cannons fire. It could mean only one thing she thought. Pirates were about. Mary opened the door of her room and headed toward the stairs. A sailor coming down the steps spoke, “Miss, back in your room or we will have to secure you in. Orders!” He shouted as he headed below deck. Several armed sailors squeezed by on their way up and out as she made her way back to her room. She thought briefly again of going up top to see what was about, but knew if she did, she would be corralled and possibly locked in her cabin again. It was best just to wait it out and have her door remained unlocked. After a period of silence, the cannons fired again followed by far off reports of guns. Then the sound of the skiffs bumping against the side of the Devonshire as they were lowered into the ocean. She looked out her window, but the action was on the other side of the ship, so she had a view of the open sea, not the islands or the shore.
    The captain would keep her safe. She knew, because he had told her so, she was never far off his mind.
    Soon she would need to speak to him. Fears filled her heart regarding her future. She would be disgraced returning without her chaperone from a navy vessel. As the reality of Magdela’s death sank in, her current position without a chaperone was unthinkable. She’d heard the gossip at home of unescorted ladies not accepted back into society.
    Yes, the captain had his problems. And now the pirates were attacking again. Her life was of small consequence compared to his charge of the men on this ship. She now realized her folly. Adventures could be good, only in the presence of a chaperone, anything else was the tragedy of a ruined life. What if the pirates took the ship and killed the men? What would become of her?
    She got on her knees and prayed for forgiveness. She prayed for a way out of her situation, but soon she found her prayers were invaded by one thought, Please keep Bennett Graham safe from the pirates. No matter how I’ve ruined my life, I deserve it. I brought it upon myself. But Bennett has done nothing wrong but be honorable and kind. Please keep him safe.
    After what seemed like hours, with the sun sinking below the horizon, Mary noticed how silent it was. No footsteps overhead running around