Read Online Kings Pinnacle by Robert Gourley - Free Book Online Page A

“Steward, please see
to it.” The steward acknowledged the order and led Alex back to the
ladder from the quarterdeck to the main deck and directly to the
galley, where Alex received his reward in the form of the best meal
he had eaten since the voyage began.
    The last two weeks of the
voyage were uneventful. The arrival in Philadelphia was much
anticipated by all the passengers. At first sight of land, the
passengers began to gather their possessions on the main deck. As
soon as the ship docked, they disembarked down the gangplank as
quickly as it was put into position. Alex was a bit overwhelmed and
didn’t really know where to go or what to do, so he lingered on the
Ocean Monarch’s main deck until all the other passengers had
departed. He watched Samuel Ruskin and Ruskin’s two friends walk
down the gangplank and be greeted by some friends or associates.
The group of young men all walked off together, animatedly talking
to each other, without a backward glance at the ship or Alex.
Finally Alex, who was the last passenger to leave the ship, walked
down the gangplank with his rifle, his dirk, and his remaining few
possessions in an old rucksack that he carried over one shoulder.
He had finally arrived in America and didn’t have a clue where to
go or what he was going to do, but he was happy the ocean voyage
was over.
     
    * * * *
     
    Robert and Hugh
     
    “ How did the British know
in advance that we would raid that farmstead across the border?”
asked Robert.
    “ We had a traitor in our
midst and he hae been found and dealt with,” replied John with a
grimace, thinking of the ordeal with the traitor.
    “ Who was it?” asked
Robert.
    “It was ane that we didn’t
suspect, but he is nae longer residing on the earth, and we have
more important matters to attend to. It’s nae safe here fer ye twa
lads after they unravel the trick ye’ve done to free Hugh,”
continued John Mackenzie, sitting with Robert and Hugh in the woods
near John’s house.
    Robert nodded in agreement.
    “ What do ye suppose we
should do?” asked Hugh who was lying on the ground in a comfortable
position with his feet propped up on a log and his hands behind his
head.
    “I think ye should follow
Alex to America,” replied John. “Ye have enough money from raiding
to buy yer passage. So, I would high tail it back across the Sheuch
to Ireland and grab the first ship oot o’ Larne. It’s nae safe fer
ye to try and sail oot o’ Scotland. Ye can be sure that the
authorities will be on the lookout fer ye twa lads at every port in
Scotland.”
    Robert and Hugh had
separated from their two companions as soon as they had disposed of
the military uniforms. They had found a place in the wilderness to
camp and allow Hugh to heal and recover his health before they
moved on. Hugh was a fast healer, and it wasn’t long before he was
getting restless to move around. Robert had to threaten him with
his life and almost tie him down until his collar bone was healed
well enough for him to ride.
    As soon as Hugh could ride,
they made their way via the back trails to the dense trees near
their father’s house in Hathkirk. After receiving word where they
were hidden, their father had joined them to discuss what they
should do.
    “They’ll probably be looking
for us in Portpatrick too,” said Robert. “We’ll have to figure a
way to get across the Sheuch again without kicking up much notice,
but they won’t be as thick there as they will be in Glasgow,
Edinburgh, and the other large ports.”
    “Find Alex in America and
look oot fer the lad,” said John with a tear in his eye because he
knew that he probably would never see any of his three sons again
after Robert and Hugh went to America. After many hugs and a few
more tears, John said his goodbyes to Hugh and Robert and then
walked out of the woods toward his home as the sun was dropping low
in the west.
    The two brothers camped out
for awhile longer in the woods near their father’s house