Pirates of the Caribbean: The Price of Freedom

indeed.
In view of this, Jack was pleased that, in response to his request
for more armament, Mr. Beckett had allowed two more twelvepounders
to be installed on the main deck with the other twelvepounders.
He’d have liked to have a couple more six-pounders on the
weather deck, but he’d try for that next voyage.
When the longboats and cargo canoes reached the Wicked
Wench, Jack was pleased to see that she was once more upright and
floating, her hull now clean and well-protected. When ships were
careened, the work perforce occurred at low tide, since at full high tide,
the ships were once more afloat. It was high tide now, and Robby must
have just brought the crew aboard, so they’d be ready to take the ship
back down the tributary to the mouth of the Calabar, and the docks.
Jack didn’t plan to actually dock until tomorrow. Tonight they’d
anchor in the river, give the crew a chance to rest up from their labors,
so they’d be fresh on the morrow, when it was time to load and stow
their cargo.
There was little breeze, so he dispatched several boats to tow the
Wench out of the tributary and into the main flow of the Calabar River.
Even though night was falling, rowing the boats to tow the Wench was
hot, thirsty work, but Jack had plenty of men begging to man an oar,
since he offered an extra ration of rum for each volunteer. He noted
with some amusement that Featherstone and de Ver, still arguing the
respective merits of their countries, were among the first into the
boats. Their voices drifted up to him as he stood on the weather deck
while their longboat was lowered.
“You English have no art, no culture. Even your food—pah! French
dogs turn their noses up at it.”
“I’ll put a good steak and kidney pie up against anything you frogs
can stir up. Everyone knows frogs eat flies.”
Another voice spoke up. “Aw, stow it, you two, or you’ll both be
swimming back to the bloody ship.”
Quiet ensued. Jack laughed softly.
Later, after the ship was anchored securely in the river, her
lanterns lit so any late-roaming canoe could see her, Jack finally retired
to the captain’s cabin to eat a late supper and update his logbook. It