Dan Reid

The Scotsman and the young lad entered the Three Crowns a short while later. Both men were dressed in the colors of Clan MacCraige and both wore claymores and dirks from the belts around there chests. The older of the two carried a large seabag across his shoulder. "Where be Cap'n MacCraige," the older man asked the serving girl. The men were directed to the room were their captain sat with the deathly injured woman. The little dog gave a short bark as the men entered the room. MacCraige looked up with a frown, "A bad piece o' work this Ewan. Ye be better at the healin' than I, see what ye ken do fer her." MacCraige stood and took the seabag from his first mate. "Thomas, I 'ave sent fer the doctor but he 'as yet ta get here. Find 'im and bring 'im straight away if ye please." "Aye, aye cap'n" the lad said as he turned to leave. "An Thomas, keep a wary eye out and a hand ta yer blade." he quickly described the man he deemed responsible for this crime to the lad and sent him on his way. MacCraige opened the bag and took from it a tartan kilt, a black wig, and a large feathered bonnet. He quickly set about putting on the formalities of his rank. He eyed himself in the looking glass and saw staring back at him not the sunburned sea captain but the noble Scottish Laird of Clan MacCraige. He replaced the claymore on his waist and a long scottish dirk joined it there. He pulled from the bag two sterling plated flintlocks which he quickly loaded and slid under his belt. He then hung his powder and shot from his shoulder. Taking one final look in the mirror he turned back to his first mate and his injured friend. "Well Ewan, ken ye 'elp her?" he asked his first mate. "The wound be deep but clean Hamish, I believe ye found 'er in the nick o' time." he looked his captain up and down. "So it will be like this will it? Callin' out the clan ta help the injured and down trodden? Ye 'ave a soft heart Hamish, but I be glad ta serve ye." "Aye Ewan, it will be like that. She be a good friend an' I will see her attacker brought ta justice either at the govners hand or me own. The lads, they all be ready?" "Aye cap'n. The lads will be 'ere when ye call em. Tis lucky you are that ye crew yer ships with men o' yer own clan. The pistols be primed and the blades are sharp. Clan MacCraige will serve ye well, Laird MacCraige." the mate said with a sly smile. "Mind yer manners and see ta the woman," MacCraige replied with the first smile he had in the last several hours.

so has Lilly been killed off?

A serving girl looked in at MacCraige as he sat with his dying friend. He noticed her and said in a quiet voice. "Has the doctor been sent for, lass?" "Yes sir, he has" she replied "Send the serving lad to me, if ye please." he ordered. the girl turned and left MacCraige and the dog alone with Ms McKinney. A few moments later the serving lad peeked in the doorway. "Come here, boy" MacCraige said, waving the boy over. "Ken ye read?" he asked. "No sir," the boy replied. Hamish took quill and paper from the table and quickly wrote a note. Mr. MacGregor, There has been a bit o trouble here in town. I wish for you and Thomas to join me here. You are to bring my kit and my formalities. Both of you are to be dressed in clan colors. Have the men stand to with cutlass and pistol and be prepared for a moments notice to join us here. All hands are to be prepared for the worst. Repairs on the 'Reiver' are to be halted until further orders. Sincerely, MacCraige Hamish handed the letter to the boy along with several silver coins. "Do ye be rememberin' where me ship lie, lad?" he asked the youngster. "Yes sir, I do." "Good, make haste an' see to it tha' that letter make it to me first mate's hand as quick as a wink. And tell that bloody tapster to get the bleedin' doctor here." he looked at Ms Lilly's prone body, "it may be ta late fer that, but tell 'im ta hurry er he'll feel me wrath." "Yes sir," the boy stated as he hurried from the room. MacCraige turned back to Ms Lilly "Ah lass, what 'ave ye gotten yerself mixed up in? I'll be fer findin' out, that I promise ye." he declared.

geez...I leave for spring break and return to the whole town goin to hell....hehe.

Captain MacCraige entered the tavern and walked quickly up to the tapster. "I be lookin' fer Ms McKinney." he said. "'as she been down yet from her room?" he asked as he noticed a man all in black decend the stairs into the common room. The little dog at his feet growled deep in his chest as the man passed by. MacCraige looked down at the dog and looked again at the man as he hurried toward the door. The tapster replied, "No sir, I have not seen Ms McKinney as of yet." "What be her room then, I will see to her meself," after recieving directions to the room Captain MacCraige climbed the stairs to the rooms above. As MacCraige neared the door to Lilly's chamber the dog again growled deep in his throat. "What be yer problem, mate?" He asked the dog. In answer the little dog began to scratch and dig at the door frame, trying to gain admittance, growling all the while. Sensing something wrong with his friend MacCraige pounded on the door with his fist. "Lilly," he shouted, "Ms McKinney, are ye in there lass??" banging all the while against the door frame. The little dog continued to bark and dig at the door. MacCraige loosened his claymore in its scabbard and lifting booted heel kicked open the door and jumped inside followed by the little dog. His eyes quickly scanned the room and came to rest upon the little dog lying with his head upon the still chest of Ms McKinney. "Bloody hellfire and damnation!!!" he exclaimed as he quickly took in the amount of blood pooled around her back. He grabbed the sheet from the bed and tore it into bandages and tried to stem the flow of blood from the wound. "Stay with her, mate." he ordered the dog as he quickly returned to the common room. "You there," he yelled at the tapster. "Fetch a doctor and be damned quick abou' it or ye will answer ta me." He turned on his heel and quickly returned to Ms Lilly's side. Gently lifting her he laid her still body upon the bed and tore the back from her gown. The wound was horrible and deep. He applied bandages and did his best to make her comfortable as he waited for the doctor. The little dog jumped upon the bed and gently licked her cool cheek. He then raised his small black head and howled his regret to the ceiling. "I know, mate. Someone will pay dearly fer this." he said, reaching over to pet the small dog. "I believe I be knowin' right where ta start our little hunt" he thought darkly of the man in black who stirred up the little dog as he left the inn. "We be seein' that bloke again, we will."

After another fine dinner with Ms McKinney, Hamish and his little dog returned to the shore where the 'Reiver' was drawn up for repairs. After checking with the crew on how the work progressed he retired to his tent and spent the remainder of the night snoring away. On the morrow he would return to town to continue his search for the supplies needed to repair the broken ship.

would definately be a hoot though...hehe Rumbe dear, where do you find that lovely little pirate ship with the lazer and the bottom of your posts?

the bird did jump

many prayers sent yer way...good luck

best wishes to ye on yer happy day!

best of days to ye mate!

"God bless" the parrot

See John, he did try to kill you off...dirty dog...

what be with this Pinon fellow, he's not another like the twins were, tryin ta kill off our characters without permission. Watch yourself John, he be playin at nasty tricks.

Captain MacCraige pushed past Mr. March and gallantly took Ms Lilly's hand in his own, bringing it guickly to his lips. "Come, Madam, Cap'n Sterlin' be not here." he said with a roguish smile. "Please, join me for a meal, will you?" he asked. Turning to Mr March, he winked "I'll be returnin' ta discuss how we might get the 'Reiver' ta swimmin' again if it please ya." The little dog jumped up and down, begging for Miss Lilly's attention.

dry it was, crusty

"Be that Miss Lilly I hear at th' door, Mr March?" MacCraige stated as he rose from his chair and stood behind the mate of the 'Angel'. "Well, let her in man" he stated with a smile noting the other man's discomfort. "No point in bein' uncivil," he laughed.

ye thrashed and bound

"I be thankin' ye for yer kind offer Cap'n" MacCraige said as the Captain left the room. MacCraige took another drink from the steward and awaited Mr. March's return from seeing his Captain off.

hiding in the hold

"I'll be thankin' ye kindly for that drink" MacCraige replied taking the proffered glass from the steward. "G'day to all ye gentlemen" he said nodding to each man in turn. He then turned back towards Capt. Sterling. "Thank ye kindly fer yer hospitality, Cap'n. I be Hamish MacCraige, cap'n o' the Mist Reiver. She be that sad ship what be washed upon the beach...hehe. I was told by one Lilly McKinney that you be a right fair judge o' men so I came ta' ask yer assitance wit' launchin' me poor bonny lass back inta' the drink. Most o' me crew perished in the storm or was killed by them bloody spaniards and I be short handed. I be wonderin to hire yer lads ta help tow her back inta the water and pull her up ere near th' dock." at that moment MacCraige noticed the pained look upon the other man's face. "Wait a momen' ere. You be that lad what I seen hoisted aboard a bit earlier ain't ye? Man, ye got no business talkin to the likes o' me..ye should be abed. Look, ye can hardly hold yerself up as it is. I'll be leavin' an' come back at a time when ye be feelin' more yerself. Why, I couldna stand meself puttin a man out what is injured. " MacCraige said with some consternation. "Before I be goin' tho, that feller what aided ye to yer ship. That fella all in black. He be trouble, mark my words...me dog didna like 'im at tall an' there be two other fellas what was followin' ye as ye left that stable back yonder. I be comin' ta the docks ta find ye and I seen em good. Best be for watchin' yerself Cap'n. There be a right black wind a blowin' round 'ere. I'll call again after ye've some time ta get back on yer feet an' we be talkin' again. Just fer me own curiosity so to speak, I think I be keepin' a weather eye about for a while. I be passin' on anythin' I hear wit' yer name, or yer fine crew." MacCraige raised to leave from his chair and bowed to Cap'n Sterling. "I hope ye be feelin' better and a good day to ya" he turned to leave.

all ran for cover

"Ah, this be the 'Archangel' then I be findin' the right place. I be Cap'n Hamish MacCraige of the 'Mist Reiver' permission ta come aboard an' speak wit' yer master." MacCraige called back with a wave. "I be havin' a business proposition for 'im."

Ive a bit of a quandry... How am I to get this beast of a ship off the beach and back into the drink? Any suggestions?

happy, happy, happy day...hehe