Wind Rises in North America 1625

Chapter 378 The Dutchman in the Wild (Part Two)

On the deck of the Seawolf, young sailor Jacob Mason leaned against the ship's railing, his right hand gripping the dagger at his waist, his knuckles turning white from the force.

He looked at the Xinhua sailors who were tied together in the middle of the deck with thick ropes—only twenty-three of the original twenty-seven were left. Dark red blood seeped into the sea through the gaps in the wooden planks, leaving a faint red trail at the stern.

This was his first time participating in such a long voyage. He was only seventeen years old, and his face still carried the immaturity of a teenager.

One of the prisoners, perhaps sensing his gaze, slightly raised his head, his eyes meeting Jacob's—eyes as black as ink, filled not with fear, but with icy hatred.

Jacob involuntarily took a step back and subconsciously looked towards the stern tower.

There, Captain Dirk was still discussing with Captain Levitt of the Flying Man how to deal with the prisoners, and they seemed to have some disagreement about their ultimate fate.

A month ago, they captured a merchant ship belonging to the new Chinese, and all the cargo on board, along with the 27 surviving crew members, became their spoils.

After drifting at sea for more than half a month, they raided a Spanish village and replenished their fresh water and food supplies. The two privateers then continued to cruise along the coast, attempting to capture a few more merchant ships.

The Xinhua merchant ship they seized didn't yield much profit: several hundred kilograms of copper, over a hundred barrels of sugar, some cocoa, cotton, and livestock. As for gold and silver currency, there were only a meager thousand silver pesos and several hundred exquisitely crafted "other currencies."

A rough estimate puts the total value at just over ten thousand Dutch guilders.

The problem is that some of these goods are very difficult to sell. Apart from copper and sugar which can barely be exchanged for some money, the rest, such as cocoa, cotton, and livestock, would definitely result in losses if transported all the way back to the Caribbean or Europe, and would not even cover their hard work and shipping costs.

Therefore, they planned to search for some more valuable targets at sea.

Unfortunately, after wandering around for so many days, they found nothing.

However, during the journey, through continuous interrogation and torture of the prisoners, they learned that the new Chinese had a smuggling base in the waters near the Baja California Peninsula, where a large amount of goods and gold and silver were stored, conservatively estimated to be worth more than 400,000 to 500,000 Dutch guilders.

So they didn't delay any longer and headed straight north toward the Baja California Peninsula.

Before launching the attack on the maritime smuggling outpost, the Dutch planned to rest and make final arrangements for the captured ships and Xinhua sailors.

As privateers, they would generally treat the sailors captured from merchant ships differently depending on the circumstances.

If they believe that a sailor's family or company might pay a ransom, they will take the sailor hostage and then negotiate with him through an intermediary, demanding a certain amount of money, goods, or other valuable items to ransom the sailor's life and freedom.

For skilled sailors, such as carpenters, skilled seam makers, ordnance repairmen, surgeons, and coopers, pirates would use various methods to force them to join their crews.

Of course, when pirate ships urgently needed ordinary sailors but could not find volunteers, they would also resort to forced conscription to compel captured sailors to switch sides.

If, during the capture of a merchant ship, the pirates encounter fierce resistance from the sailors, or if they deem the sailors of no use to them, or if they wish to establish their reputation or prevent retaliation, the pirates will not hesitate to execute all the captured sailors.

If the merchant sailors do not resist but obediently submit or cooperate with the pirates in seizing the ship, out of "mercy," the pirates may choose to release them, allowing them to leave on their own in small boats, or release the captured merchant ship back into the wild.

For example, when "Pirate King" Drake seized the Spanish treasure ship, he released all the Spanish sailors to show his so-called "gentlemanly style".

But sometimes, pirates would abandon their sailors on deserted islands, leaving them to fend for themselves. In such cases, their survival depended entirely on prayer and supplication.

When the Dutch seized the Xinhua merchant ship, they encountered fierce resistance, resulting in the deaths of six of their men (two of whom succumbed to their injuries) and injuries to more than ten others. The cost was considerable.

According to maritime tradition, the more than twenty captured Xinhua sailors would most likely be executed as punishment.

Jacob overheard the first mate complaining that Captain Dirk seemed intent on selecting several of the captured Xinhua sailors to fill vacancies on the Seawolf.

However, this suggestion was opposed by many crew members, especially those who had lost close friends or relatives, who insisted on killing all the Xinhua sailors.

These Xinhua sailors not only fiercely resisted the hijacking, killing and wounding the hijackers, but they were also a group of non-Christians who were not worthy of pity.

They must be killed!
“If we kill them all, there will be no one to lead us to that smuggling outpost at sea,” Captain Dirk said softly.

"Then leave one of the guides behind, and hang the rest," Captain Luvitt of the Flying Warrior said expressionlessly.

“But they demand that we release everyone before they will lead the way.” Dirk pointed to a burly sailor among the prisoners, who, though also bound, stood more upright than the others. “The leader-looking Easterner told us through gestures and expressions that it was either live or die together.”

"Hmph..." Luvitt glanced contemptuously at the prisoners on the deck and snorted coldly, "Among these twenty-odd people, there must be some who are afraid of death! With a knife to their throats, someone will definitely lead the way for us. ... We only need to say one thing: whoever steps forward first to lead the way for us can be spared. Believe it or not, they will all vie to make the wisest choice."

Do you think any of them will give in to this?

“We can give it a try,” Luvitt said with a sneer. “However, I bet one of them will step forward out of fear of death and lead the way for us.”

"Since you're interested, why not give it a try?" Dirk shrugged.

“Fine, I’ll prove it to you.” A ruthless glint flashed in Levert’s eyes as he turned and walked toward the deck.

He approached the captured Xinhua sailors, stood still, stared at them coldly for a while, and then pointed to one of the young sailors.

Two Dutch sailors roughly dragged him in front of them and then kicked him hard in the back of the knees, causing him to kneel on the deck.

The young sailor raised his head to meet Louvre's gaze, his eyes filled with resentment and anger.

Luvette pulled a finely crafted dagger from his waist, waved it in front of him, and then made a throat-slitting motion.

Then, he casually drew a circle on the deck with his dagger, pointed at the Xinhua sailor, and made a rowing gesture, indicating that he should lead the way.

The young Xinhua sailor sneered, uttered a few syllables in a hoarse voice, and then spat at Luwit's feet.

"Kill him," Luvitt ordered calmly.

Two Dutch sailors looked up at Captain Dirk, and seeing that he made no move, they dragged him to the side of the ship, pulled out their daggers, and slashed his neck with them before throwing him into the sea.

Lloyd took a deep breath, reached out and pointed to another Xinhua sailor, and tried to coerce him into leading the way.

Although the man's face showed a hint of fear, he clenched his teeth, closed his eyes, and did not respond.

"Kill him!" Louvit roared, somewhat embarrassed and annoyed.

Next, the third person's expression of fear intensified. After his two companions were killed one after another, he was clearly struggling to keep up. His body trembled, he kept muttering to himself, and his eyes revealed a plea for his life.

"What's there to be afraid of! Eighteen years from now, we'll still be heroes!" Suddenly, the leading Xinhua sailor shouted from the crowd, "We've already made a fortune by surviving this long. Don't let one person's life cost the lives of all our brothers!"

“Kill him!” Lloyd waved his hand, then turned and glared fiercely at the leading Xinhua sailor. “...Drag him over here.”

Although Luwitt couldn't understand what the man was saying, his loud shouts seemed to rekindle the slightly wavering resolve of the captured Xinhua sailors, and they all glared at the Dutchman with malevolent eyes.

"You son of a bitch! You've been inciting your companions and you're so stubborn! I'll kill you first!" As the leading Xinhua sailor was pinned down in front of him, Luvitt roared and drew his knife, ready to end his life on the spot.

“Oh…Lovet, wait a minute!” Dirk raised his hand to stop him. “Mr. Dirk, if we just kill him, the rest will surely submit,” Lovet said reluctantly.

“No, we shouldn’t underestimate their determination to die,” Dirk said, shaking his head.

The Xinhua sailors who had been kneeling on the ground were now struggling to their feet, their eyes blazing with fury as they glared at them.

Although these people had their hands bound and had suffered various humiliations and tortures along the way, leaving them extremely weak, they supported each other and stood up one after another, trying their best to straighten their bodies, as if they were going to die a heroic death.

Seeing this, the Dutch sailors around them became nervous and slowly approached, some carrying muskets, others holding daggers or axes.

Dirk waved his hand with a smile, then looked at the Xinhua leader in front of him with a grin.

During the battle a month ago, their captain was shot dead by enraged Dutch sailors while leading a counterattack. This leader was likely a senior officer such as the first mate or bosun.

Thus, he became the leader of this group of captured Chinese.

"Would you... be willing to take us to that maritime smuggling base?"

Dirk gripped his rapier, hastily drew a mark on the deck, then added a few wavy lines to represent water, and finally drew an X.

He held up a finger and pointed at the other person, then slammed his rapier down on the crossed-out symbol.

“If you’re willing to take us there, they will all be… released!” Dirk said, pointing to the distant sea, making a rowing gesture, and then spreading his hands to indicate that he was letting them go.

The Xinhua leader's tense expression softened slightly as he turned to look at his group of companions.

Dirk keenly noticed the change and gave his first mate, Hendrick, a wink.

The first mate reluctantly brought over a bottle of rum and a ceramic bowl.

Dirk poured a bowl, took a sip himself, and then handed it to the Xinhua leader.

The other person hesitated for a moment, then took the large bowl and drank it all in one gulp.

The stimulating alcohol made his face contort, but his eyes became more alert.

He stared at Dirk for a long time, then suddenly said in broken Spanish, "That's... Black Shark Island!"

Dirk's eyes lit up: "You can speak Spanish!"

“There… there are… many…” The new Chinese man struggled to organize his words, gesturing with his hands to show the shape of the box, “Silk… porcelain… and gold and silver… many valuable… things.”

Luvitt immediately leaned closer: "What is he saying?"

Dirk ignored him and pressed on urgently, "Um...where is Black Shark Island? How far is it from here?"

The other person looked puzzled, shook their head, and indicated that he spoke too fast and they didn't understand.

"Where...is Black Shark Island?" Dirk asked, enunciating each word clearly.

“You have to let them go…” The new Chinese man pointed to his companions standing in a circle, “I’ll take you… there.”

"Old Pang!" came a furious roar from the other end. "You son of a bitch..."

"Shut up!" Old Pang whirled around, his left eye swollen shut, yet he still glared at the Xinhua sailor trying to break free of his ropes. "Your wife is still waiting for you to build a house in Xinning. Remember what I said, live well..."

Before he could finish speaking, the hilt of Luvitt's knife had already struck the back of his neck.

Old Pang swayed and fell heavily onto the deck, his forehead bleeding profusely from the impact.

“Excellent!” Dirk breathed a long sigh of relief and smiled at Lou Vettel. “It seems we have a very good guide now. So…”

"Let them draw lots, three to kill one! The rest will be exiled to the island, their fate to be decided by God."

"No, you...you can't!" Old Pang suddenly scrambled to his feet on the deck. "If you kill...they, then no one...will...guide you!"

“If you don’t lead the way, everyone will die, and die a horrible death!” Dirk leaned down, his eyes icy. “Now, at least two-thirds of you have a chance to survive.”

Old Pang's eyes were bloodshot, like a wild beast ready to devour its prey, and a low growl escaped his throat.

As the sun sets, it paints the coast of Cedros Island crimson.

The Dutch sailors roughly selected prisoners and dragged six of them to the mast.

As the noose was placed around his neck, a thin Xinhua sailor suddenly shouted, "You red-haired beasts, you will surely get your retribution! ... Our Xinhua government will avenge us! ... May your ancestors for eighteen generations be cursed!"

Upon seeing this, young Jacob turned pale and repeatedly made the sign of the cross with his right hand: "Oh, may God forgive us!"

"Shut up, kid!" First mate Hendrick roared at him, turning around. "Do you want to be hanged with them?"

"Kid, put away your sympathy." A bearded sailor gave him a mocking look. "That's the law of the sea. They killed our men, so they should expect to pay the price. Mercy is only seen as weakness!"

As he spoke, he stepped forward and pulled hard on the rope, immediately hoisting a Xinhua sailor up.

As the rope tightened and the body rose higher, a chilling creaking sound rang out, and a body twisted and convulsed in the air before finally coming to a stop.

Jacob turned around and couldn't help but vomit.

So this is what life at sea is like.

As night fell, the Dutch lit bonfires on the shore for a final celebration.

Tomorrow morning, they will set off to find the island in the sea filled with gold and silver, and obtain the wealth they have always dreamed of.

Rum was passed around among the crowd, and laughter and shouts echoed through the bay.

Dirk stood alone on a rock, gazing silently at the dark sea in the distance.

"Hey, dear Dirk, what are you thinking about?" Levert walked over unsteadily.

“I have a feeling…” Dirk’s face turned serious, “that guy seems to be hiding some important information from us.”

Luvitt grinned, revealing his uneven, yellow teeth: "If he dares to play any tricks, I'll rip his heart out myself!"

Dirk glanced at him and sighed softly.
-
(End of this chapter)