Part 3 Cadman pirates love by: CLIFTON SEENEY

Part 3 Cadman was the only Moor on the Ship that had any thing to do with us, a very different type than the other Moroccans. The ship we were on was slower than the others in the Moroccan fleet so we knew that the Hound would get her first.  Then there was their Captain, Ben something, Bay. A dark and evil man if there ever was one. He worked his crew day and night to keep up with the rest of the Moroccan fleet. There was something going on that made us feel that they were being hunted by someone and we hoped it was the Hound. Every so often the ship would change directions. Then come back on the old course to stay with the Moroccan fleet . The Moroccans have been pirates much longer than any other nation and they looked the part , the light skin northern Moroccans and the tall dark skin southern Moroccans made us look like child plays in comparison.
The fair skin, blonde hair Lissa was all that and I knew that the others felt the same way as I did and it was all we could think of . Whenever she was above deck the air seemed fresher and life was more bearable.  Captain Ben Bay was always looking over his shoulders whenever we were let top side. On deck we had to work just as hard as the crew to keep up with the rest of the Moroccan fleet .We knew that his ship was being hunted but we could not see by who. We were not allowed to go up on the crow nest or keep watch . We were also running out of stores, that meant that they would have to find a island to stop at to provide them with enough food and fresh water to make the northern turn to Florida.  We heard the crew say that the Captaine name was El Said Ben Bay from the southern most part of Morocco and that he had been a sailor most of his life. What we wanted to know was how many woman was he keeping in his small cabin, as his own personal Harem? When ever El Said Ben Bay came on deck the crew went into a frenzy, working that much harder and pushing us to work also harder. We had to stop or in a short time his crew would also be out of food and water, not to say that his Harem needed food also. The mates would take bets to on how many woman were in that harem . We were let down to know that he had no harem just European woman that were to be sold in Charleston as breeders for rich land owners. There was only five of them. And they were kept in their own cabin guarded by El Said Ben Bays personal body guards.  One hot morning as  El Said Ben Bay was looking for a safe place to re-supply his ship and to catch up with the rest of the Moroccan fleet. I noticed something, strange there was another ship not far off.  I was put to the task of washing the main deck of the ship, the flag was Spanish alright and it was no more than a day away from the ship. Was she there to attack or was she a escort ship, only time would tell. I knew now that we were some where near Spanish Florida and the many islands to the east of the main land. As we slept that night I told the others what I saw and to wait to see if it would be a fight or flight?
At first light it was a fight, the first thing that was hit was our top sail! Boom went the forward guns aiming at the same top sails of the Spanish ship .We could not see how big she was because we were kept under lock and key.  
As the fire intensified and the howling of dead and dying Moroccans grew louder we cowered together knowing that this fight was not ours. Nevertheless, at the same time we knew that if the Spanish won we all, Noir and blanc, would be sold into slavery in the  Spanish sea port of New Orleans. Then as it seemed like El Said Ben Bay was losing the fight out of no where came two Moroccans frigates. Then I understood the movements of the Moroccans Commander the ship we were on was a decoy drawing who ever was hunting them towards an ambush .We were relieved that it was not the Hound nevertheless at the same time we were disappointed that it was not. For by sheer luck the Spanish ship took the Hounds place. We were hoping that the Captaine of the Hound could see or hear what was going on. that we did not know . Nevertheless, it was the practice of all El Captaine’s ships the Captains were to stay below the horizon with only the sharpest lookout in the crows nest to spot what was ahead. Knowing that we or I should say that I was aware that the Hound saw the battle and saw how the Moroccans deployed their ships to overpower any single ship that was foolish enough to attack them. El Said made his way to a small island and put us to work bringing on food and water. It was back breaking work ,an all day work party. The other two Moroccan ships also took on store using the many slaves they had on broad . Once loaded we saw our new man of war that they captured and put the crew to chains, more slaves to be sold in Charleston . These Moors were enterprising seamen, without a doubt used to attacking and laying traps for foolish Captains.
I spotted her once we returned to the ship standing with the rest of the women. What a beautiful picture she made, hair blowing in the wind under the slick headdress that these Islamic people wore. I could not wait until I had a chance to introduce myself to her.  Slavery has no color; more Spanish women were added to the women that he already had.
These woman were found on the captured Spanish ship. The garcons were getting itchy after the battle many of them were about to give up and give in to the Moors. Nevertheless I reminded them that if any of the them were caught on the wrong side of El Captaine’s swords it was worst than what the Moor’s had in store for them. The chief deserter was a big Irish man who spoke out of tune all the time saying what could be better than laying with a lot of slave women used for breeding some Mulattoes pups . That was it for me. it took less than a second for me to knock him flat on his face, blood running out of his broken nose. Must I remind you that El Captaine found you in a rotten French hull starving and dying?  ‘
My chance came at the most unsuspecting time a group of us were sent down below decks to wash and clean up the decks that were hardest hit in the battle. The women pass us veiled up. Nevertheless, I knew her as she made her way passed us, I could smell the perfume she used . I knew if I touched her or even tried to speak to her that would be the last words that I would ever say. I could not even look at her or the Guards would put my eyes out. Was this my fight or flight time?

Join us next month as my heart runs free Part 4  

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