Methinks were I to give a bald account of my misadventures during that summer of the year of our Lord 1674, there would be those who would pity me mightily, deeming me the most misfortunate wretch ever to leave these blessed lands. But indeed, when I set sail that April morning aboard the merchant ship Fair Lady out of Bristol and bound for Jamaica, I counted myself most fortunate to have secured a swift passage there to take up post as clerk within the office of Jos: Brown and Sons at Port Royal. With fair and favour- able winds, we made all speed t'ward that fair isle whereto I was doomed never to come as clerk, for on the 8'th day of May the Spanish guardacostas came upon us out of the morning mist. I did greatly fear that my last hour had come, knowing there to be no one with influence to ransom me and none to care as to my well-being save my sister Kitty. She, with her brood of eight about her and yet another on the way, was unlike to have the time to spare more than a passing thought for the fate of a brother so many miles away.

Chained in the bowels of the Santa Maddalena, I gave myself up for lost, silently bewailing my lot the whiles I put a brave face on it not to disgrace myself before these Spanish dogs. And yet, so quickly did my lot change. I had but five days to suffer the privations of captivity before the rush of feet, the sound and smell of canon fire, declared we were engaged in yet another bloody battle.

Four hours the noise of it roared above our heads with none to tell us what our fate was like to be, but then came sounds that raised our spirits high, good English voices crying out in victory. Men came to loose us from our noxious prison, crying that we were free of the Spanish murderers.

Staggering upon the deck, my eyes watering mightily from the brilliance of a sun they had not seen in five long days, I fell first upon my knees to give thanks for my deliverance and then rose up to see whom the Lord had chosen to be the instrument of his mercy by this release.

When I took in the scene I was fain to reel back in horror as I understood what cruel blow had now been dealt to me by Providence who had let me fall from the hands of the Spanish straight into the evil clutch of privateers.

There were those among the villainous bands who cried - when they found that we were Englishmen like themselves - for us to be tossed overboard for the sharks to prey on lest we escape and take back word of their nefarious acts. Indeed, one poor wretch hath suffered this untimely fate ere one of them stepped forward, smiling upon us kindly and offering to save our lives if we would but join their ranks.

I shuddered mightily at this for there seemed little to choose between the sharks and these evil men, but I came to decision swiftly, knowing there was but one course for an honourable man to take. Attempting to reconcile myself to it, I went down upon my knees the more humbly to beg God's grace that I might have the courage to withstand them.

Had I been but scant seconds later in that holy exercise, I might not now be living to recount what hath so far befallen, but my movement drew the attention of he who had bespoke us kindly. He came to my side, looking down upon me and bidding me softly to rise up.

I did so, staring full at him in proud defiance of his villainy and found myself gazing into a pair of eyes the like of which I had not seen for beauty. No, not on the fairest maid that ever lived. Shocked that such heavenly orbs could be the windows to a soul so black, I dropped my own to study the rest of this cruel wretch.

Little taller than I he stood, of stockier build than my own slender strength, full strong and powerful, a handsome devil with insolent, pouting mouth and eyes as dark a blue as midnight sky and lashes a maid might weep for.

A full, black wig, carefully curled and shining, hung to the crimson velvet clad shoulders. Vast silver buckles gleemed on polished shoes and diamonds glinted from the snowy fall of lace about his neck and on his sunburned hands.

There was but one in the whole of the Caribbean who would answer to such a description and I knew, without a doubt, that I was face to face with that bold and brazen buccaneer, Black Bodie.

I lifted my gaze to his in startlement and fear and, in that instant, all thought suspended when our eyes finally met and held.

He smiled: a smile of most surprising sweetness in one so monstrous arrogant, demanding my name, and I - all mazed as I was - gave it without thinking.

"So, Master Doyle, will you join us?"

But I was not so mazed as to agree to such a thing and I shook my head, where at he frowned most villainously, pointing at the sea. "Tis far to swim to land even without the chains that still hang about thee," he said mockingly.

"Nonetheless, I will have no part in villainy."

I spake him boldly, and anon, he frowned again then laughed low and quiet as if something hath amused him muchly. It was a sound that sent a shudder through my body like an ague, and a sweat burst forth upon my brow the whiles I hung my head in mute dismay, the veriest schoolroom maid being more bold than I in that fatal moment.

He laughed again and took me by the chin, raising my head and I gave him back gaze for gaze but would not speak. Albeit, as last he nodded with a wondrous satisfaction, his nostrils flaring like a charger scenting battle. Then he smiled on me again and said, very soft, "Methinks we are much alike, thee and me."

Whereon he left us, those gleaming shoes striking the deck still awash with Spanish blood, with haughty step, looking neither to right nor left but calling on one 'Abnegation Smith' to come to him.

I saw not where the rest of the prisoners were taken then for I was dragged away by two hearty sailors, broad of aspect and most vilely lewd of tongue, who bore me willy-nilly to Black Bodies's own ship, The Gay Mariner. It was one in a fleet of five under the leadership of that dreaded Scot whose name all men feared to speak.

There I was led into a great cabin, large and airy, containing a vastly huge bed dressed in snowy linens and furnishings most marvellous ornate, whereat I fell a-gaping once more like a yokel.

"Well, God-be-here," says one of them, "Black Bodie hath chosen well, think not you?"

Whereon the other grins, most sly, upon me and passes a vile tongue across his lips in a manner that made me mightily desire to strike him. But, I held my peace like any Christian should when faced with villainy that standeth six feet and more in its stockinged feet and hath hands like great hams a-hanging from the rafter of a country kitchen.

"Aye, Full-o'-joy, Murphy," he says in tone most mock-respectful, "a real beauty, this 'un."

Whereon, the rogues commenced to strip me, deaf to my curses and entreaties, and to take me to the deck where they hosed me down until I was fain to howl for mercy with the stinging of the salt water in my multitudinous cuts and grazes. Then they led me back and, showing me a pile of dainty linens and elegant suits of clothing, bade me dress myself and await the coming of my master.

"Master?" quoth I most haughtily. "I have no master."

"You serve the captain," Full-o-Joy Murphy says, laughing so as to deserve the name his parents in their wisdom had bestowed upon him.

And God-be-here, surnamed as I soon discovered, Stuart, falls to cackling like a hen that hath laid a goodly egg. "Aye," he said, winking lewdly, "as his valet-de- chambre," and this in an accent so vile I scarce could catch the words much less their sense. Then the two rogues left me to my own devices but I heard the sliding of a hugh bolt across the massive wooden door after they left me alone.

The wind getting up soon there after, I saw no one save a boy who brought me food - a sumptuous feast after the few vile scraps of mouldy meat and crawling biscuit that had been our fare aboard the Santa Maddalena. Although, at first pride made me stay my desire even as my mouth watered greatly. All too soon the smell of goodly cooked meat and freshly baked bread drove any further thought of self-denial from me. I fell to with a will, devouring it as slowly as I may and refusing to submit to the urge to tear it with my teeth like any starving heathen.

The wind abating somewhat with the dawn, my new lord and master came to me, stripping off his salt-soaked finery ere he laid himself down with a weary sigh upon the fine, Spanish linen of the bedding.

I stirred not from my seat before the window of the cabin, being determined not to give him the least show of servility, the whiles I was able to withstand the ferocity of such a demon - for who hath not heard tell of the exploits of Black Bodie, Buccaneer...finely sounding title forsooth! Murderer mayhaps would suit him better, I sneered to myself, and have the merit of a little honesty moreover, for I took little account of the rumours that he himself had never killed save in battle, and then only those who were his country's enemies.

I would not serve the rogue, 'twas not my place; good Master Doyle, respectable clerk, turn valet to such a villain. I had rather die I told myself with valiant determination. Therefore, I knit my brows and turned away, though little there was to see save the ever-heaving sea. That did so rouse my belly (having within it some small qualms of fear, I will confess) to queasiness that I was fain to look away again, swallowing mightily.

Anon came a low laugh from the great, shadowed bed and I didst almost turn to see what could amuse the rogue. But, I stopped myself betimes, reluctant to give him any notion I might take an interest in his proceedings, and yet again I cursed the evil fates that had beset me since I left my beloved country.

I did not hear him creep on silent, naked feet to my side but I gave a great start of dismay as his hands fell on my shoulder, one finger stroking gently down my neck.

"This day," he whispered, bending to mine ear most intimately, "my share of the plunder hath exceeded all my hopes," and he pulled me to his naked body.

Mine own did stiffen, recoiling from him in amaze as I began to comprehend my fate was not quite as I had deemed it for the nonce, and I could not quite command the shiver that ran through me at the warm, moist touch of his breath upon my face and neck.

"You will not fight this, will you?" he says in tone so quiet I had to strain to hear him. Methought he sounded weary so that I looked up at him, endeavouring to contain the first pang of pity that assailed me.

He drew a gentle thumb down the side of my mouth, rubbing at me most soft and tenderly like a woman's motherly touch - but most unlike that in the answering echo that sang down my body to my stirring groin.

"I was not wrong, was I?" he persisted, smiling faintly. "We are much alike, thee and me."

I dropped my eyes, swallowing hard, and gazed down at the floor, bemused both by the openess of his approach and the sight of his nakedness. I was not adverse to glancing sideways as I sat, to glimpse that which drew my thoughts already and made my heart to pound as if that organ would leap from my chest and betray me.

But, he would not have this false modesty (for such indeed it was) and lifted me again, smiling upon me lazily and in a manner that would have melted a heart of stone. He shook his head again speaking in this wise: "How long is it since thee hath lain with a maid?"

I felt the blood rush to my cheek to answer him in defiance of my wish and, seated though I was, my limbs began to melt and I must prop myself against him lest I fall.

"How long?" he again demanded, looking down into my eyes, and in that clear, midnight gaze I could only shake my head and force my numb lips to the answer. "Never."

The arrogant mouth parted, softening not into the mocking smile I dreaded but into a look most tender. He bent his head to mine, taking my mouth in a caress so sweet that the last, vain stirring of defiance died in me, melted away without regret. I surrendered my self to him to do with as he would. The sun was high before we fell asleep, tired with the exercise of Venus' labours and most mightily delighted each with the other.

He hath been ever most gentle and loving in his mastery of me and ere long we swore ourselves each to the other to life-long companionship as I joined him in the life of a buccaneer. And, once we had amassed sufficient Spanish gold from our dual share of the plunder to leave the sea for good, we did - the devious and cunning Bodie having sailed always just within the bounds of legality and with commission from Sir Henry Morgan himself.

And so, we left the Caribbean and set sail for England. There to buy us a fair estate in the County of Devon where we have lived these thirty years and more in peaceful harmony, and none there are hereabouts to know that I, an honoured and most respected citizen, was once Black Bodies' Treasure.

-- THE END --