Read Online The Skull by Christian Darkin - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Christian Darkin
Ads: Link
next beach along the coast, he saw the luggerâs bow appear like a dark shadow. It was in sail and gaining speed.
What now? He pulled the boat around, and started into the next cove. Perhaps he could find somewhere to shelter until the ship had passed. But as he skirted the final rock, he realised his problems were much more serious.
Where the shallow waters of the cove shelved off into the deeper channel, another boat was waiting. Bigger than the revenue ship, and older. Patched, scratched, splintered, and painted black, with dark sails. He knew it well enough. It belonged to the Harkler gang, and you did not mess with the Harkler gang.
The ship was low in the water, and that meant it was full of cargo. That in turn, meant it had just arrived, so as well as the thirty or so smugglers on board who would be ready to kill him on sight, there would be another hundred or so on the beach or rowing cargo to and from the ship, ready to kill him if he tried to land.
William did the only thing he could do. He tested the wind, hauled up his tiny square sail, yanked it tight, and headed straight out to sea. The wind was not strong, but he caught it well and started to pick up speed.
The shout went up almost immediately. First from the big ship, then from somewhere in the waterbehind him. He squinted into the darkness where he could just make out a small rowing boat. The rower had arms like tree trunks, and the boatâs bow lifted out of the water as it sped towards him.
He frantically dipped his oars in the water, adding his own strength to the power of the wind, and the boat picked up a little more speed. It would not be enough to pull his heavier boat away from his pursuers, but it didnât need to be. He just had to stay alive until the smugglers and the navy encountered each other and he could slip away from them both.
He heard a shot from the big ship, and a hole punctured his sail. He ducked, but carried on rowing. The tub-boat was gaining on him now, and he could see the rower clearly. A huge, heavy-set man with a bald head that seemed to be nothing but a growth on the heaving muscles of his shoulders. To his left, the smugglers were running to the side of their ship. He could see them shouting and pointing at him. Those with guns were aiming them. Those without were signalling his position to the other tub-boats.
Away to his right, where the smugglers still could not see, the naval ship had also spotted his sails and was in full chase. It would be on him in seconds. Against all his instincts, he steered left towards thegunfire. It had the effect he wanted, and as the shots seared into the water around him, the big rower in the tug-boat lost his nerve and broke off the chase.
William turned back to the right, rowing hard and trying to get back out of range of the guns. They were firing randomly and in the dark, so as he headed away from the coast, he tried to keep his range from the big ship constant â just far enough that the chances of being hit were slim, just close enough that the swarm of little rowing boats now shadowing him would fear being hit themselves. It was a dangerous game, and he was running out of time.
Suddenly, all hell broke loose. The navy lugger reared out from the cover of the cove. The smugglers started to reload in panic as a crack of simultaneous gunfire erupted at them from the navy ship. The rowing boats were scattering as their occupants headed for land, sea, or just out of the way of the speeding ship.
The naval ship itself was also changing direction. William realised with relief that it was no longer chasing him but was turning to take the Harklersâ vessel head on.
As the wind grew in his sails, the sounds of shouts and gunfire gradually died away behind him. Therewould be a battle tonight, but he would not be part of it.
Eventually he could see no land in any direction and hear nothing but the sea. The stars were bright in the sky, and their reflections twinkled in
What now? He pulled the boat around, and started into the next cove. Perhaps he could find somewhere to shelter until the ship had passed. But as he skirted the final rock, he realised his problems were much more serious.
Where the shallow waters of the cove shelved off into the deeper channel, another boat was waiting. Bigger than the revenue ship, and older. Patched, scratched, splintered, and painted black, with dark sails. He knew it well enough. It belonged to the Harkler gang, and you did not mess with the Harkler gang.
The ship was low in the water, and that meant it was full of cargo. That in turn, meant it had just arrived, so as well as the thirty or so smugglers on board who would be ready to kill him on sight, there would be another hundred or so on the beach or rowing cargo to and from the ship, ready to kill him if he tried to land.
William did the only thing he could do. He tested the wind, hauled up his tiny square sail, yanked it tight, and headed straight out to sea. The wind was not strong, but he caught it well and started to pick up speed.
The shout went up almost immediately. First from the big ship, then from somewhere in the waterbehind him. He squinted into the darkness where he could just make out a small rowing boat. The rower had arms like tree trunks, and the boatâs bow lifted out of the water as it sped towards him.
He frantically dipped his oars in the water, adding his own strength to the power of the wind, and the boat picked up a little more speed. It would not be enough to pull his heavier boat away from his pursuers, but it didnât need to be. He just had to stay alive until the smugglers and the navy encountered each other and he could slip away from them both.
He heard a shot from the big ship, and a hole punctured his sail. He ducked, but carried on rowing. The tub-boat was gaining on him now, and he could see the rower clearly. A huge, heavy-set man with a bald head that seemed to be nothing but a growth on the heaving muscles of his shoulders. To his left, the smugglers were running to the side of their ship. He could see them shouting and pointing at him. Those with guns were aiming them. Those without were signalling his position to the other tub-boats.
Away to his right, where the smugglers still could not see, the naval ship had also spotted his sails and was in full chase. It would be on him in seconds. Against all his instincts, he steered left towards thegunfire. It had the effect he wanted, and as the shots seared into the water around him, the big rower in the tug-boat lost his nerve and broke off the chase.
William turned back to the right, rowing hard and trying to get back out of range of the guns. They were firing randomly and in the dark, so as he headed away from the coast, he tried to keep his range from the big ship constant â just far enough that the chances of being hit were slim, just close enough that the swarm of little rowing boats now shadowing him would fear being hit themselves. It was a dangerous game, and he was running out of time.
Suddenly, all hell broke loose. The navy lugger reared out from the cover of the cove. The smugglers started to reload in panic as a crack of simultaneous gunfire erupted at them from the navy ship. The rowing boats were scattering as their occupants headed for land, sea, or just out of the way of the speeding ship.
The naval ship itself was also changing direction. William realised with relief that it was no longer chasing him but was turning to take the Harklersâ vessel head on.
As the wind grew in his sails, the sounds of shouts and gunfire gradually died away behind him. Therewould be a battle tonight, but he would not be part of it.
Eventually he could see no land in any direction and hear nothing but the sea. The stars were bright in the sky, and their reflections twinkled in
Similar Books
