LAST ASSAULT ON OAK ISLAND 25

Chapter 25

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Night had overcome the bay. The restaurant's dinner crowd was filtering out to be replaced by an after-show clientele. The noise level increased around Lauren and Maruso.

"This is a Chester man's concept; not mine," he disclaimed. "I didn't make it up to coincide with any particular missing ship."

She nodded.

"Suppose it's the early seventeenth century, around 1635. A Spanish fleet is sailing to the motherland after plundering Cuba." He leaned over the table, turning the salt and pepper shakers absentmindedly. "They're following the Gulf Stream north, common for the time. The ships are heavy with silver and gold. They encounter a storm hundreds of miles south of Nova Scotia. One ship is separated, driven north by the gale. A few days later, the winds have calmed, but the vessel is severely damaged." He abandoned the shakers. "She's taking on water and in bad need of repair. The captain knows they can't hope to rejoin the fleet, wherever it is now, and he's not even sure where he is.

"They limp into Mahone Bay, which is uncharted and unpopulated to their knowledge, incurring more damage along the shoals. The ship is grounded on the east end of Oak Island. There's over a hundred men in the crew, also common for the time."

"It could happen. Sable Island was notorious for wrecks," she said. The waitress returned and placed a huge piece of cake before each of them.

Lauren frowned, daunted. "I can't eat all this."

The waitress smiled and left.

"Take your time," Maruso said, grinning at his own piece of cake. "It's worth it."

She picked up her fork. "Go on."

"Well, the ship's damage is assessed," he continued. "It'll take a month or longer to make her seaworthy. Onboard are the usual carpentry tools, including a forge. After repairs, the commander can either sail to Florida, which is the nearest Spanish colony at the time, or try to draft the Newfoundland Basin and head to the Azores.

"Also onboard are key personnel likely to accompany a ship; agents representing the merchants who own most of the cargo. Maybe an auditor for the Crown. Even a mining engineer who supervised work in Mexico." He shrugged. "It wouldn't be uncommon. Anyone with interest in the cargo isn't going to want to sail it home on a damaged ship. Plus, without cargo the ship will be lighter, faster, necessities for a lone ship in foreign waters.

"The island provides freshwater, lumber, and game to support repairs and the crew. It's also comprised of clay, firm enough to forego cribbing. The Money Pit is dug. Secondary crews branch tunnels to Smith's Cove and maybe even South Shore, too, for flooding. Perhaps more corridors are tunneled and vaults constructed to hold each merchant's cargo separately, dug at an upward grade." He saw it coming in her face. "Go ahead, say it."