Jack trained his spyglass on the town of St. Alban's. Having heard the cannon fire a scant half mile from shore, hundreds of residents had gathered to witness the naval battle. Now they began dispersing, fearing the worst. Jack ordered his men to bring the ship into port at downtown St. Alban's. Once there, a boat was lowered, and ten men rowed to the main pier under a flag of truce. Forty men, Mayor Shrewsbury, and half as many women and children came out to the pier to see what might happen next.
The men in the boat tied her off and stepped onto the pier. Nine held pistols in each hand. The tenth came to the front and began to speak.
"My surname is Martin, and I'm Quarter-Master of The Fortress. We're here under flag of truce to explain why we feel wronged by your city, and how we intend to respond. Our men were enjoying shore leave at Sinner's Row as we've done many times these past four years. This time, with the direct knowledge and cooperation of your Mayor (Martin pointed to Mayor Shrewsbury), a number of our crew were drugged, and without warning or explanation, captured and held against their will at the Blue Lagoon, where soldiers from the garrison at Amelia Island began summarily executing them.
We defeated the soldiers, only to be attacked moments ago by The Viceroy, sailing under the colors of Florida Colony, with the full knowledge and cooperation of Mayor Shrewsbury. For these reasons, Jack Hawley, Captain of The Fortress, has ordered the town of St. Alban's decimated."
The townspeople gasped and began murmuring to each other.
"I've come to tell you that if you have any weapons, you're to lower them to the ground."
"What do you mean, 'decimated?'" the Mayor said, in as haughty a voice as he could muster.
Martin pointed to The Fortress. "As you can see, our ship has anchored broadside, exposing her guns."
He pulled the white flag out of its holder in the stern, waved it high over his head, then replaced it.
"I just signaled Captain Hawley, which means you have exactly one hour to evacuate the downtown area before it begins raining cannonballs. Captain Jack is already lowering shore boats filled with angry pirates bent on revenge. They'll wait a hundred yards from shore until the firing stops. At that point, should you stay, God help you all."
Mayor Shrewsbury cleared his throat and said, "Now listen here, you can't just destroy the whole town. These are innocent citizens and I'm an appointed official, acting under direct orders from the governor. It would be treason not to do as I'm told, just as you would not go against orders from your Captain, Jack Hawley."
Martin said, "You've got about fifty-eight minutes. If I were you, I'd start moving things along."
The Mayor said, "Surely there is a way to come to an understanding with Captain Hawley. I'm sure we could gather up a substantial amount of money, food and medicine we could pay you in return for sparing our town."
Martin said, "You're suggesting the town pay a ransom?"
"A ransom, yes. That's exactly what I'm suggesting." Mayor Shrewsbury said, worriedly. "We've lost your trust, but we're willing to sacrifice, if need be, to regain it. How say you that?"
"It's not for me to say, but I expect Captain Hawley would decline, since he intends to destroy the town and take the spoils anyway."
Mayor Shrewsbury said, "If there's no understanding to be had, perhaps we should take matters into our own hands. We have enough manpower here on the pier to kill the whole boatload of you."
With that, he raised his hand and forty men aimed their weapons at the ten pirates. To be precise, thirty-eight men aimed their weapons at the pirates. The other two were George Stout and Mr. Pim, and they were armed to the teeth. As the women and children moved off the pier at a high rate of speed, George and Pim began working their way behind the mob.
Martin said, "We've come under the flag of truce. Are we not gentlemen?"
"Not when you intend to destroy our town, sir. And if we're to die anyway, I'd like to hear one reason why we shouldn't kill ten pirates now, while the killing's good."
The men from the town cocked their muskets. Pim and George had a pistol in each hand and several more loaded and tucked into their coats. They wouldn't be able to kill them all, but they'd probably get eight or nine before having to use their knives.
"I'll give you a good reason," Martin said. "If you put up any resistance, Jack Hawley will not only destroy the town, he and his men will hunt you down, nail you to trees, and make you watch as they rape your wives, daughters and livestock. Then they'll kidnap your sons and turn them into sea monkeys."
One citizen said, "Rape our livestock?"
"The nicer livestock, yes."
One by one, the men lowered their weapons to the ground and stepped aside as the pirates kicked them into the water.
"Wise decision," Martin said. "And you now have approximately fifty-three minutes to evacuate the town.
The men began running off the pier, but stopped when they saw a young girl walking toward them carrying a kit in one hand and a white flag in the other.
Martin shouted, "What have we here?"
The men parted as the girl walked toward the pirates. They filed in behind her to hear what she had to say.
"Who are you, miss?" Martin said.
"Abby Winter, sir."
"State your business."
"I've come to offer myself to Captain Jack Hawley, if he'll spare the town in return."
Martin laughed. "One girl worth the whole town? Surely you jest."
"Not just a girl," she said, "but a girl of pure heart and noble spirit."
"If Captain Jack wants such a girl he will surely take her against her will. What say ye to that?"
"Is your Captain not called Gentleman Jack Hawley? It is said he respects valor and-"
Martin held up his hand. "Speak not a moment."
The pirates huddled up and talked among themselves a few minutes. Then Martin again pulled the white flag from the boat and waved it high over his head, replaced it, and approached the girl. "Get in the boat, miss, and I'll let you plead your case to Jack Hawley." To the others he said, "If the ship hoists anchor and sets sail, Hawley accepts. If the ship fires her guns, he don't."
Martin and the girl climbed into the front of the boat and sat, and the pirates took their places and began rowing. After they'd gone about ten yards from the dock, Martin turned and shouted, "Hear me now! This Abby Winter is a brave girl! Pure of heart and noble spirit, yet not one of ye thought to ask what might happen to her aboard our ship! You are cowards all! Shame on you! Shame, and a curse on your wretched town!"
The pirates stopped rowing. The boat rocked with each quiet swell of waves. Several moments passed. The men on the pier hung their heads.
Demonstrating remarkable balance, Martin stood to his full height in the boat and repeated, "Shame on you! A one hundred…nay, a three hundred year curse on your town begins today!"