by Bob Kranich
We have one more story after this week's to go in the book, "Florida Keys' Watercolor Kapers".
It is called "Robert's Best". It is a long one, filled with history, education, and adventure.
This story will take you on a sail boat from Galveston, Texas, through the Intercostal Waterway to Key West, Florida. You will pass through New Orleans for a tour there.
Once there, you will learn about the island, experience its architecture, and even learn about a 1935 Chris-Craft cabin cruiser. There will be adventure and intrigue when the criminals from a previous story reappear.
It is called "Robert's Best". It is a long one, filled with history, education, and adventure.
This story will take you on a sail boat from Galveston, Texas, through the Intercostal Waterway to Key West, Florida. You will pass through New Orleans for a tour there.
Once there, you will learn about the island, experience its architecture, and even learn about a 1935 Chris-Craft cabin cruiser. There will be adventure and intrigue when the criminals from a previous story reappear.
The Cayman Turtle Schooner, (Part 17, Excerpt 85)
This is a story, titled The Cayman Turtle Schooner. This story will tell about the forming and history of the Cayman Islands, the green sea turtle’s habits and life style, the building of a dugout canoe, and then a schooner, and lastly about the historic two-masted turtle schooner, A. M. Adams. Leaving the Cuban shore, they are sighted by a Spanish gunboat. It stops them and takes over their ship. Today is the wrap up of the story.
Suddenly a dark green hump came up right next to Parker. In fact, it actually bumped into him! Instinctively Parker grabbed for it. He didn’t know at first what it was. Then he realized, it’s a green turtle!
Sebastian felt a bump as he surfaced. He was about to take a deep and fast breath when he looked back. It’s a human! How did he get here? Then he had a strange feeling, something in the deep dark confines of his mind. This human looked familiar. Sebastian wasn’t fearful. He just floated there, the human hanging on.
Parker didn’t know what to think, but he continued to hold onto his floating green turtle lifesaver. Then he saw it; on the top of the turtle’s shell was the unusual cross marking.
He said out loud, “It’s Sebastian! I can’t believe it. Thank you Lord.”
Just over the horizon, moving slowly towards this activity was an English Frigate, one of His Majesty’s fighting ships.
“What’s happening, John? Is the Spanish gunboat gone?” The first mate hollered to the man in the crow’s nest who was looking through a large telescope.
“Aye, sir, The gunboat is out of sight. She’s heading due east. That schooner with the Cayman flag was slow to start and still slow to go due west.”
“First Mate, let’s slip in behind the schooner. It looks like they took her as a prize, probably heading to Havana.” The captain commented.
“Aye aye, Sir.” It was a good thing, Sir that you had us drop the tops’ls. That way the Spanish gunboat didn't see us,” the First Mate said.
“We’re not ago’n to let them Spanish take one of our possession’s ships, even if they're breaking the law. Poor devils, probably poaching green turtles, or even worse, dropping off filibusters. Let’s get on with it!” The captain ordered.
“Aye aye, Sir!” the First Mate saluted the captain.
“Ok, men, up all sails. Get those tops’ls back up. Beat to quarters. Everyone on deck. Man your positions,” The First Mate commanded.
They swung around and started on a path to intercept the Cayman schooner. Her Majesty's frigate the Southerland, 24 guns was patrolling the international waters of the Caribbean. Their primary mission was to apprehend any slaving ships trying to get their cargo to a Spanish port. Most of the nations had signed a ‘No Slavery’ pact, but Spain had not. However, accordingly to popular belief, she would soon.
From the crow’s nest, “Sir, there’s something in the water off the starboard beam. It looks like a man next to a green turtle,”
“There he is, Sir, I’ve got him in my sights,” The First Mate said pointing.
“I see him, a man holding on to a large green turtle!” The captain answered. “Head for the man, First Mate. Launch a long boat!”
“Aye aye, Sir!”
Sebastian saw the large ship approaching. He wasn’t going to stay around and be caught. He took a deep breath and dived.
Parker was treading water as the long boat pulled alongside. Strong arms pulled him up into the boat.
On the British frigate, the captain said, “Captain Parker, I don’t want to know what you were up to, off the shore of Cuba. But we’ll have your schooner back shortly.”
Just then the First Mate said, “Captain, we’re ready for your word, Sir.”
“One across her bow, First Mate.”
“Aye aye, Sir. Fire one from the bow chaser across her bow!” The First Mate hollered.
Blam! The gun carriage leaped back from the recoil and was then engulfed in smoke.
The Saint Sebastian’s Spanish flag went down.
“First Mate, take Captain Parker and eight marines. Leave him, and bring those Spaniards back here. We’ll drop them off later. Now as for Captain Parker, I command you to get on your boat, head due south, and back to the Cayman Islands. I don’t want to see you around here again!”
“Yes Sir, and thank you, Sir!” Parker answered.
“You’re welcome. Now Captain Parker, get out of here.”
“Thomas, it’s sure good to be back on the Saint Sebastian, “Let’s head for home...again.” Parker said.
“Aye aye, Sir,” and Thomas said, “Men, full sails!”
As the sails took hold and filled, Parker said under his breath, “I don’t think I’ll go green turtle hunting any more. The Saint Sebastian will have to haul lumber or other goods.”
“What did you say, Sir?” Thomas asked.
“Oh nothing, Thomas. I’ll tell you later.”
This is a story, titled The Cayman Turtle Schooner. This story will tell about the forming and history of the Cayman Islands, the green sea turtle’s habits and life style, the building of a dugout canoe, and then a schooner, and lastly about the historic two-masted turtle schooner, A. M. Adams. Leaving the Cuban shore, they are sighted by a Spanish gunboat. It stops them and takes over their ship. Today is the wrap up of the story.
Suddenly a dark green hump came up right next to Parker. In fact, it actually bumped into him! Instinctively Parker grabbed for it. He didn’t know at first what it was. Then he realized, it’s a green turtle!
Sebastian felt a bump as he surfaced. He was about to take a deep and fast breath when he looked back. It’s a human! How did he get here? Then he had a strange feeling, something in the deep dark confines of his mind. This human looked familiar. Sebastian wasn’t fearful. He just floated there, the human hanging on.
Parker didn’t know what to think, but he continued to hold onto his floating green turtle lifesaver. Then he saw it; on the top of the turtle’s shell was the unusual cross marking.
He said out loud, “It’s Sebastian! I can’t believe it. Thank you Lord.”
Just over the horizon, moving slowly towards this activity was an English Frigate, one of His Majesty’s fighting ships.
“What’s happening, John? Is the Spanish gunboat gone?” The first mate hollered to the man in the crow’s nest who was looking through a large telescope.
“Aye, sir, The gunboat is out of sight. She’s heading due east. That schooner with the Cayman flag was slow to start and still slow to go due west.”
“First Mate, let’s slip in behind the schooner. It looks like they took her as a prize, probably heading to Havana.” The captain commented.
“Aye aye, Sir.” It was a good thing, Sir that you had us drop the tops’ls. That way the Spanish gunboat didn't see us,” the First Mate said.
“We’re not ago’n to let them Spanish take one of our possession’s ships, even if they're breaking the law. Poor devils, probably poaching green turtles, or even worse, dropping off filibusters. Let’s get on with it!” The captain ordered.
“Aye aye, Sir!” the First Mate saluted the captain.
“Ok, men, up all sails. Get those tops’ls back up. Beat to quarters. Everyone on deck. Man your positions,” The First Mate commanded.
They swung around and started on a path to intercept the Cayman schooner. Her Majesty's frigate the Southerland, 24 guns was patrolling the international waters of the Caribbean. Their primary mission was to apprehend any slaving ships trying to get their cargo to a Spanish port. Most of the nations had signed a ‘No Slavery’ pact, but Spain had not. However, accordingly to popular belief, she would soon.
From the crow’s nest, “Sir, there’s something in the water off the starboard beam. It looks like a man next to a green turtle,”
“There he is, Sir, I’ve got him in my sights,” The First Mate said pointing.
“I see him, a man holding on to a large green turtle!” The captain answered. “Head for the man, First Mate. Launch a long boat!”
“Aye aye, Sir!”
Sebastian saw the large ship approaching. He wasn’t going to stay around and be caught. He took a deep breath and dived.
Parker was treading water as the long boat pulled alongside. Strong arms pulled him up into the boat.
On the British frigate, the captain said, “Captain Parker, I don’t want to know what you were up to, off the shore of Cuba. But we’ll have your schooner back shortly.”
Just then the First Mate said, “Captain, we’re ready for your word, Sir.”
“One across her bow, First Mate.”
“Aye aye, Sir. Fire one from the bow chaser across her bow!” The First Mate hollered.
Blam! The gun carriage leaped back from the recoil and was then engulfed in smoke.
The Saint Sebastian’s Spanish flag went down.
“First Mate, take Captain Parker and eight marines. Leave him, and bring those Spaniards back here. We’ll drop them off later. Now as for Captain Parker, I command you to get on your boat, head due south, and back to the Cayman Islands. I don’t want to see you around here again!”
“Yes Sir, and thank you, Sir!” Parker answered.
“You’re welcome. Now Captain Parker, get out of here.”
“Thomas, it’s sure good to be back on the Saint Sebastian, “Let’s head for home...again.” Parker said.
“Aye aye, Sir,” and Thomas said, “Men, full sails!”
As the sails took hold and filled, Parker said under his breath, “I don’t think I’ll go green turtle hunting any more. The Saint Sebastian will have to haul lumber or other goods.”
“What did you say, Sir?” Thomas asked.
“Oh nothing, Thomas. I’ll tell you later.”
From the Author:
My second full-length book , Florida Keys’ Watercolor Kapers is composed of 336 pages. There are 12 stories running from 6 pages to as many as 72 pages. It is fully illustrated with 88 watercolors and sketches. The watercolors I made roaming around Key West after I finished my 750 mile hike from Georgia to Key West. (See book or Don Browne’s SouthWest Florida Online News records, A Walk Across Florida.) As you read these stories you will experience Key West, the Keys, and the Caribbean. These stories span the time of the early 1800’s to 1969. bkranich.wixsite.com/bobkranich
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