CHAPTER THREE - THE PIRATE AND THE OLD MAN
CHAPTER FOUR - THE GHOST OF THE PAST
Jack made his way back to Bath Town, back along the the small lane that was the heart of that village, past the seven houses and to the dock.
He spied two figures standing on the deck of the Concord, a tall mountain of a man and a small boy. He smiled at the sight.
Mr. Hagney nudged Kevin who was leaning on the ship's rail dreaming of his coming adventures on the sea.
"Look alive lad and stand tall we shall soon have a guest aboard." commanded Mr. Hagney.
As Jack approached, he chuckled at the sight of Kevin standing at attention with a new linen shirt, new pants, and a new
Cabinboy's cap. Kate had dressed him in a new uniform for his new life and she had spared no expense. Jack walked up the gangplank and onto the Concord.
Mr. Hagney whispered to Kevin, "Now lad, just like we practiced."
At full attention, with his eyes straight ahead, Kevin yelled as loudly as he could, "Welcome aboard the Concord."
Jack smiled at Kevin, "Well done son, well done. I like your new uniform."
Kevin broke out, "Aunt Katie got it all for me. A new shirt, new pants, this great cap and she even got me shoes, real shoes, do ya like it Da? Do ya?"
Mr. Hagney coughed, "Lad, like we practiced, just like we practiced."
Kevin returned to attention, "Welcome aboard the Concord, if you will please follow me to the Captain's Quarters."
With that Kevin led Jack to the Captain's Quarters, Mr. Hagney followed behind, pleased that Kevin had remembered all the proper formalities.
Kevin opened the door to the Captain's Quarters, and announced, "Captain Lewis, may I present our guest, Mr. Jack Henry."
Mr. Hagney beamed with pride, Kevin had performed brilliantly, the boy would soon be a true man for the formalities.
Kate greeted Jack, "Come in Jack and have a seat at the table."
Captain Lewis greeted Jack with a simple nod.
There was little talk around the table as the three ate a simple meal of potatoes, cabbage and salted fish, Mr. Hagney's specialty. Kevin stood off to the side along with Mr. Hagney, attending the needs of the table. Kevin kept remembering Mr. Hagney's instructions "serve from the left and clear from the right." His new shoes were tight and his feet became sore as the meal dragged on. Kevin began to fidget just a bit, which brought a swift nudge from Mr. Hagney.
When the meal was about over Kate broke the silence. "So Jack, what do think of our new Cabinboy?"
"He looks just fine, you have dressed him well. But I imagine the shoes will take some getting used to."
She laughed, everyone had seen Kevin fidget and knew the shoes must have been a bit tight.
Captain Lewis addressed Mr. Hagney, "Thank you Cornelius, a wonderful meal as always. And thank you, Cabinboy Kevin for your excellent service. You are both dismissed."
In unison Kevin and Mr. Hagney replied, "Thank you sir, by your leave."
Captain Lewis nodded and they both departed.
Mr Hagney whispered, "Well done lad, you did fine."
Captain Lewis said, "I have business on deck and I shall take my leave."
With his departure, Kate walked over to a cabinet and pulled out a bottle of rum.
"Tis almost nightfall and we have a bottle of rum. It's time to tell your tale, Iaian. Not because I am curious mind you, but for Kevin's sake. If you have enemies, Iaian, then Kevin has enemies, enemies who I need to know."
She poured a glass for the pirate and a glass for herself. The pirate stared at the glass and glanced only briefly Kate, she was all Irish, she was all business.
Looking far away he began to tell his tale.
"My name is not Jack Henry, my name is Iaian Alasdair MacDonald of Glencoe, the fourth son of Alasdair Ruadh McClain MacDonald, the murdered Chieftain of the Clan MacDonald. Being the fourth son, I did not inherit the land, I did not receive an education, I did not belong to the Church, I received a trade. My trade was the sea. The old man in town, James Murray, was my Captain."
"When I was young, but fifteen years of age, I married a woman, Anne Black. It was not a marriage of love but rather one of politics, a Highland match. She did not love me, and I did not love her, but we each played our part and we were kind to one another. She bore me four children who I loved and adored. For most of our time together, I lived on the sea and she lived in Glencoe with the rest of my Clan. Ten years ago, after months at sea, we finally docked at Port Appin, Mr. Murray's home. We had not been docked long when we got word that a large force of troops from Fort William had marched through town under the orders of Archibald Campbell, the Earl of Argyll headed for Glencoe. Some business concerning my father not having come in to swear allegiance to the Earl and to our new King - William of Orange."
"Mr. Murray begged me not to go, he said the roads would blocked with troops seeking each and every MacDonald. But I knew a way to Glencoe, through the mountains and by passes only known to the MacDonalds. I traveled for two days, high into the mountains and into the mist. In the pass, leading down to Glencoe, I saw the first of many bodies of the women and children of my Clan, dead, frozen solid, with blackened feet and hands from the cold. Driven from their homes into the snow, into the mountains, into the mist by the troops of the Argyll. I made my way down the pass still hopeful that my wife and children had survived. Then through the mist I saw them, still and huddled together - dead as dead could be."
The pirate stopped his tale and took a deep drink of rum before continuing on.
"The ground was frozen solid, I could not give them a proper burial, so I took rocks and carefully piled them high over their bodies, still huddled together, frozen in death. My heart was full of rage and vengeance. I silently made my way down the mountain towards the head of the glen. I saw in the distance my home burned to the ground with bodies strewn about, blood staining the snow. Then at the head of the glen, I saw a fire burning in the distance and made my way towards it. I heard them from afar, these soldiers of the Argyll laughing and drinking. They had no fear of the MacDonalds, for they thought them all dead. There were six of them. I bided my time while they got drunk, completely unawares that death would soon be upon them. Kate - they were so bold and so proud, they had not even bothered to set a proper sentry. Just one man to watch over their camp, and he half drunk and half asleep. In the darkness of the night and through the mist, I drew my sword and death descended upon them. I killed the sentry and four of his comrades before the last one awoke. He was just a lad, he went for his musket and with my sword I struck it out of his hands. I gave him a blow across his face and he whelped a cry of pain.
He was so young, so afraid, my rage subsided, he would live. I told him to deliver a message to Argyll, tell him, "One sword of the MacDonald remains in Glencoe and shall not be sheathed until this debt is paid in full."
"I took his boots, and sent him running barefooted into the cold night. I made my way back to Port Appin, and Mr. Murray hid me aboard ship, in the smuggler's notch. The soldiers of the Argyll turned the Highlands upside down looking for the Ghost of Glencoe, who had reportedly slaughtered two dozen men single-handedly in a fierce fight, clearly that lad could tell a tall tale. The ship was searched no less than three times, but no one could ever find Mr. Murray's smuggler's notch in the prow of the ship. After a fortnight, we set sail for Bristol."
The pirate took another drink of rum. Kate had been silent just listening to the pirate, though she knew all to well of the Campbells and of their ways, for the Argyll had relations and interests in Ireland.
"I fell into bad company Kate. I signed aboard a ship headed for Jamaica. We were not more than ten days at sea, when certain men mutinied and tossed the captain and the officers overboard. These pirates gave the rest of the crew a choice, join them or join the captain. I joined them and for the best part of the year we ravaged every Spanish ship in the Caribbean. I was dead and cared not for any life, not even my own. We finally landed onshore, in Barbados. I would have lived my life, such as it was, as a pirate and a thief. But in Barbados, on that fine day, the day I first laid eyes on Maggie. When I saw her, I felt something that I had not felt since that dreadful day in Glencoe, I felt my heart beat."
He smiled at Kate and she smiled back.
"I guess you know the rest." said Iaian.
"What are your plans Iaian?" Kate inquired.
"Vengeance." was all the pirate replied.
"Jack, it is not as if you could just go back to Scotland, and stroll up to Argyll's castle and standing before his gate ask for a word with his Lordship."
"No Kate, my reach is not so great as that. Argyll is a man of money and of blood. Where ere I can find Campbell money - I shall take it. And where ere I can find Campbell blood - I shall spill it."
The pirate reached into his rucksack and pulled out his purse full of silver.
He handed the purse to Kate and said, "It's for Kevin, for whatever he needs, as you see fit."
The purse was almost too heavy for Kate to lift. "Iaian, its far too much."
"It is all I have, and in this world Kevin shall not want."
The pirate took his last drink of rum, gathered his belongings and left the Captain's Quarters. He went up on deck. The night air was cool and the crew of the Concord slept on the deck. Captain Lewis stood on the aft deck keeping the watch.
The pirate made his way along the deck.
When the pirate saw Kevin, sleeping, with his shoes off, he lay down beside his son for one last night.