„Mhhhmmmmph!“
This time, her fellow prisoner did not answer. Obviously, Alinda had fainted, accepted the inescability of her bondage or was just trying to regain some strength.
As the hours had gone by, Xenia and Alinda had tried everything they could to get free from their straining bonds, but to no avail. All the knots holding their wrists to the stake were on the other side of the stick, unable to reach for their restless fingers. And, even if they had been able to loosen their wrists, their elbows still would have been tied. If, by some combination of escapology, luck and a miracle, they would have managed to free their arms completely, they would have been dangling from their crotch ropes – a horrifying thought.
The vile tasting panty gag was still in Xenia`s mouth. Now, the silky material was totally soaked with saliva and from time to time, small drops of it emerged from the sodden cloth and dripped on the rocks underneath her. Since her head was tied to the stake with the ends of her cleave gag, this meant that her head rested on it and gravity plus the tightness of the cloth prevented her to wriggle it from her lips and over her chin, no matter how hard she had tried. She still had to chew on Alinda`s used knickers. Though it didn`t matter actually, Xenia felt some malicious joy by the thought that her panties, which were forced into Alinda`s mouth, were even more substantial. In addition, she hadn`t changed them for some days since Mr. Drake loved the fragrance.
„Mhhhhmmmmph!“
It suddenly came to Xenia`s mind that there was a ridiculous, yet terrible fact in their plight. Hidden in the seam of her knickers, there were a few small diamonds – diamonds worth some 2000 dollars. This wealth was only some yard away, yet unreachable for both her and Alinda – wedged deeply into the latter`s mouth.
„We have to stay together, otherwise, I really only own my naked life“, Xenia thought with upcoming hysteria.
Her bondage had turned from inconvenient to intolerable. Her arms were numb from the perpetual binding and the fact that they had to carry a part of her 122 lbs. Her legs slightly hurt, too. In between, the situation was even worse. Due to the continous pressure by hanging from it and her occasional wriggling of her hips and pelvis to mitigate that pressure, the treacherous ropes had found a way deep inside her – an irreversible position, since she had no chance to get them out again, no matter how much she squirmed. Finally, when the stick had slightly shaken in it`s fastenings, the girl had stopped her flailing, accepting the additional irritation.
***
To the captive`s frustration, Santiago and his men kept the tension by doing the voting in secret and taking their time. But, after some discussions, the men rose up and stood in front of their naked, bound and gagged prey.
„We are now glad to tell you who will spend the night how – and with whom. But first – Larry, Pedro!“
The two pirates fetched two hammocks and hung them on deck. They were fixed parallel to the ship`s length, one reaching between the mast and the bowsprit, the other one right under the lower horizontal mast of the main sail. The hammocks weren`t made of canvas, they more looked like big fishing nets.
„As you may know, this sail will not be steady whilst the ship`s sailing. So, the front hammock will be the most convenient to sleep in – even if you are two persons in it. The other one will be a bit shaky, since we will have to trim the sail or do turns from time to time.“
For no other reason than to extend the time the girls had to wait for the decision, the men now carefully checked the tightness of the gags. In Yvette`s and Rita`s case, the cloths were completely loosened. Then, they stuffed in the knickers a bit deeper before they reapplied the cleave and the OTM gags. In the case of Winona and Queena, they seemed satisfied. Since Zenobia obviously had no chance of spitting out her gag or wriggling it off, they just checked the tightness of her hood`s straps.
„Now, since the most interesting part is who is number five, we will start with the winner! And the winner is – Queenie!“
The blonde still had the strength to mmph indignantly when she heard her hated nickname. On the other hand, she seemed relieved. At least, all this humiliations and all her far-from-ladylike behaviour had spared her to be tied to the bowsprit.
The others seemed a bit disappointed. Not only was the sword of Damocles still hanging over their heads, they all thought that the spoiled girl would have deserved the punishment most.
„But, nobody can say we prefer blondes, since number two is – our black beauty Zenobia!“
Whilst the slave girl did not move a muscle, Queena obviously reminded her old prejudices. She tried to run for the railing, but two men grabbed her arms and lifted her from the ground whilst to others took hold of her flailing legs. They held her like that, not caring about her squirming and moaning, whilst Santiago cut some ropes.
Then, he stepped between the girl`s splayed legs, doubled a rope around her waist and pulled it tight before he let the end dangle between her legs.
„Mhhrrrrrrr! Uuuhhmmmmmmmmm! Mmmmmmmmphhhhh!“
Queena fought with all her strength, but Santiago just reduced the speed of his doings. Slowly, very slowly, he threaded the rope ends under her rope belt, just above her buttocks. Letting the crotch rope alone for the moment, he ordered the men holding the girl`s legs to bring her knees together. He tied her legs, right above the knees. Then, Queena was brought to a standing position, though still held by two men. Now, Santiago tightened the crotch rope, carefully adjusting it, till it ran tightly, but not painfully over her clit.
„Mhhhmmmmph! Uuuhhmmmmph!“
Ignoring her protests, he tied the end off to her elbow tie. Then, whilst one man helped Queena to keep balance, he turned his attention to Zenobia, who, due to her blindfold, had no idea what had happened.
„Mph!“
A faint groan was the only reaction when one men tied her legs above the knees, too, whilst Santiago made a rope belt.
Instead of completing the crotch rope, he took the loose ends and forced Zenobia to follow him. Since her knees were tied, she could only take very small steps, but obviously, he did not care and did nothing to accelerate her movements.
Queena panted heavily when Zenobia stood one yard apart from her, facing the blonde. Now, a second man stepped beside Queena. Each held her arm with one hand and her knee with the other, holding her still.
„Mhhmmmmmmph! Uuuhmmmph! Nnnnnnggggg!“
Queena`s eyes widened as Santiago threaded the ends of Zenobia`s rope belt through her crotch rope and started to pull, forcing the girl to slowly come closer and closer.
„Hrrrrrrrrrrr! Mphhhhhhh! Uuuhhhhhhhhmmmmmm!“
„Mph!“
Zenobia weakly protested, too, when Santiago now worked the rope ends between her thighs from the front to the back. Again, he pulled, till he could thread the ends through Zenobia`s rope belt. Now, both girls stood only some eight inches apart, their breasts nearly touching.
„Nnnnnnng! Mhhmmmmmmph! Mmmmhhhhhmmmmm!“
„Mph!“
Santiago pulled. Millimetre for millimetre, the two connected girls came closer to each other. Both squirmed when their nipples, then the tops of their breasts, touched. Still, Santiago pulled.
„Mhhhhhhhhmmmmmmm! Uuuhhhhmmmmmmmmmmm!“
„Mph! Mph! Mph!“
Now, the girls`s pubic hair was brushing and their breasts stayed in touch, no matter how they tried to arch their backs. Santiago gave the rope one last tug, firmly pressing their pubic mounds against each other. Then, he tied it off to Zenobia`s ellbow rope.
Drawing by hugues66
Both girls moaned, wriggled and tried to flail when the men carried them to the front hammock and placed them inside. When both were lying more or less straight in it, they wrapped the edges of the hammock, securing it with some rope. Now, the still squirming girls in their tight encasement reminded of a huge fly trapped in the web of a huge spider – still fighting, but utterly helpless.
Yvette, Rita and Winona had watched with horror. If these were the best places, what would be done to them? Even the non-swimmers now seriously considered jumping overboard.
„The third price goes – and it was a narrow decision! - to – Yvette!“
„Mmmph!“
And, sure you will be pleased to hear that your sleeping partner will be – Rita!“
„Mhhhmmmmph!“
Winona screamed into Queena`s knickers in her mouth. This was impossible! After all she had done, ignoring her sense of modesty and dignity! She staggered towards the railing, but a man grabbed her arm and prevented her from jumping into the sea.
„Mhhhmmmph! Uuuhhmmmmph!“
„Well, it seems that number five can`t wait! Let`s do her first!“
Another man grabbed Winona. Together, they could subdue the fighting redhead till Santiago had tied a tight crotch rope around her waist and between her legs. It wasn`t attached to anything, but it irritated the helpless girl on every movement.
„Mhhhmmmph! Nnnnng! Uuuhhmmmmph!“
Ignoring her muffled cries, the men released her from her arm ties and dragged her to the bow. At it`s base, the bowsprit had a diameter of some twelve inches. Santiago cut several ropes.
„Not only do we have to make sure you won`t get lost in heavier sea, we also don`t want to hurt you – physically!“
„Mhhmmmmmph!“
they tied two long ropes around her shoulders, dugging into her armpits when she was raised up and forced to walk at the bowsprit. After some two yards, the shaking girl had to stop ant two more ropes were tied to her ankles. Then, someone pushed her in the back.
„Mhhhmmmmmpph!“
Whilst falling, Winona prepared to drown or that her shoulders would dislodge, but neither happened. With the efficiency of skilled sailors that were used to reef sails in stormy weather, the pirates had already tied her shoulders to the bowsprit and tied her ankles behind it before the girl had even realized that she had not even got wet.
„Mhhmmmph!“
Now, all her weight hung on her shoulders and ankles, but the men improved on that. Her elbows were pulled up and brought together as far as possible before they were tied behind the stake. Next, her wrists were crossed and tied together. The long ends of this rope were tied to her waist tie on both sides. This had three effects: it tightened the rope belt, it fixed Winona`s butt and back to the bowsprit and it put additional strain to her wrist ties. Also, the knots were now some ten inches apart from the tips of her fingers, impossible for her to reach, no matter how hard she would try.
„Mhhmmph! Uuuhhmmmmmmm! Nnnnnnnnnng!“
Winona now only could move her head and push her bound legs up and down the mast between them. But, obviously, they did not even want to leave her that little luxury.
A rope was tied over her gag and tightly tied in her neck. Then, it was slung around the bowsprit and tied off.
„Mhhmmphhh!“
This rope did not only put more pressure to her gag, it also prevented her from moving her head, except for some dangling and shaking. Winona had not intended to bang her head against the wood, but now, she had no possibility to shake off her gag at all.
Suddenly, a pirate appeared at her side, sitting in a rope noose.
„Mhhmmm? Mhhmmmm!“
Grinning, the man took the opportunity to knead her thrust out breasts a bit. Then, he tied her knees together as close as possible. The same time, Winona felt that her bound feet were pulled towards the bowsprit`s base and fixed in that position, not allowing any movement of her lower limbs any longer, except for some movement of her toes.
Drawing by hugues66
„Mhhhhrrmmmmmph! Uuuhhmmmph! Mph! Mph! Mhhhmmmmmmmph!“
To her horror, she felt someone tickling her bare soles. Helplessly, she squirmed and gasped for breath whilst stifled screams and laughter were absorbed by Queena`s panties that stuffed her mouth. However, this torture stopped quite soon.
„All right, she can`t move at all now! I hope she hasn`t peed from joy?“, Santiago yelled from the bowsprit. Somehow, Winona still had the remnants of modesty to blush.
„No. I will fix the last rope, then, I come up!“
„Mhmmmph!“
„Last rope? I am trussed up like a turkey already!“, Winona thought.
Actually, it was more a ribbon than a rope, about the size of a shoelace. On it, a plumb was dangling. The pirate grinned once more:
„Don`t mind, it only weighs some ten ounces. But it will swing like a pendulum as soon as the ship moves. Actually, it always moves, even if we are not sailing, by virtue of the wind and the waves. Maybe, you will like the rhythm of it`s swinging. If not – well, I like the idea and there`s little you can do about it.“
„Mhhmmmmph! Hrrrrrrr!“
Winona nearly died from anger and embarrassment when he tied the plumb to her crotch rope. As he had told, the additional pull was only moderate, but every movement, wether by her, the ship or the waves, made the damn thing swing, putting a steady massage to her crotch.
„Have fun!“, he said before he disappeared from the helpless redhead`s limited view.
On deck, the others had already stowed Rita and Yvette in their hammock. Here, they had shown some brutal efficiency in their tying, too.
First, they had placed both girls on their right side, about one yard apart from each other and their heads opposite to the other`s pubic mound. Then, they had tied a noose around Rita`s neck. The dancer had moaned, but it was tied quite loosely and in a way it couldn`t tighten. The end was pulled between her legs.
„Mhhmmmmph! Nnnnngggg!“
Rita protested when the man prised her labia apart to place the rope there. He pulled the slack out and held it fast, but did not attach it to something.
„Uuuhmmmph!“
An both indignant and horrified moan told Rita that Yvette suffered from a similar treatment. Then, the men pushed the two girls closer together.
Both Rita and Yvette remembered what Santiago had said about „sleeping nose to pussy“, but they were embarrassed and horrified, though. The pirates forced each girl`s head between the other`s thighs. Then, they pulled on the crotch ropes. The ropes put up a considerable pressure on both their necks, but bending forward meant burying their heads deeper between the other`s legs. Both already felt pubic hairs tickling their noses and the odour they breathed in had a specific fragrance. The fact that the ropes split their pussies did not help the matter.
Finally, when there was no more slack, the neck and crotch ropes were tied off to the other`s knees. Now, the pirates just watched for a while.
„Mhhmmmmph! Glllg! Hrrrr!“
Rita desperately squirmed to get as far away from her partner as possible. She could bend her head back slightly to clear her nose from Yvette`s pubic hair, but this meant pressing her mouth closer to her most intimate part.
„Mhhmmmmm! Uuuhhmmmmm!“
Small vibrations from the muffled screams and little blows of hot air told Rita that Yvette was trying to find a way to at least breath freely, too. In addition to their squirming, both girls frantically flailed about with their unbound lower legs.
„Like that, we can`t get them into the hammock“, one of the pirates considered.
„Be sure, we will“, his colleague answered.
They loosened the hammock from the mast and unfolded it on the planks. With some difficulties, they managed to thread the girls`s lower legs through the meshes before they lifted the hammock up again and hung it on it`s place under the mast, where the two girls could squirm and wriggle all the way they wanted.
„All right, the fun`s over! Toussaint, Larry and I will go to sleep now, but you others, man the crow`s nest and get the barrels filled! We will change at midnight!“
„Santiago, what`s that?“, Pedro suddenly asked.
In the light of the disappearing sun, they could see two boats approaching from the shore. Each had a lantern at his bow and one showed a little Union`s flag. Obviously, some Yankee soldiers, or members of the coast guard.
Santiago let his men run for the arms and prepare for battle, but the two boats stopped some half a mile apart.
„They know that an attack would be suicide! They just want to keep us from getting ashore“, Santiago presumed.
„Maybe, that`s just a diversionary tactic and there`s a Navy ship approaching from the sea.“, Toussaint said.
„If that`s so, we still can drop anchor and leave within five minutes. If it`s a steamer, we will hear it over some miles. And if it`s a sailor, well, we are sure faster than any of their wrecks.“
Toussaint scratched his head. He feared that it would not be that easy, but it was their only possibility anyway.
„Too bad we will have to put lights on to get the water aboard.“
Santiago frowned.
„Yeah, but otherwise, we would stumble around and it would take us hours. So, here`s the deal. We will change shifts after two hours and will leave around midnight. But now, get started!“
***
Santiago would have been less careless if he had known about Witty`s plan. When it had become dark, they had anchored the makeshift rafts and placed the lamps on them. With the other prepared logs and some of ther clothes, they prepared figures that from the distance would look as if there were still two manned boats waiting.
They had blackened their faces with shoe polish (except for Reggie and John, of course) and had wrapped the boat`s oars with some oiled rags to prevent all noise. Silent, but steadily, they pulled the boats to the open sea, try ing to get to the seaside of the „Sea Hawk“.
After some two hours, they had reached a position southeast of the cutter and slowly approached from the stern side of the ship. Since it was a moonless night, the man in the crow`s nest would not see them in the waves until it was too late – or if they made a mistake.
Some 500 yards away, they halted the boats and examined the „Sea Hawk“ with their spyglass.
„There are two men on the island, carrying barrels.“, Joseph whispered.
„And one man on the lookout“, John added.
Joseph raised his head towards the boy who grinned wolfishly.
„Unless the ship`s rats have started to smoke, there is one person atop the mast and has just lit his pipe.“
Joseph clapped the young man`s shoulder.
„Your eyes are better than a falcon`s. But if three are working, that means the others are below deck.“
„Isn`t that a good thing?“, Reggie, who had accompanied his friend, asked Joseph.
„It would be if we would launch a military attack. Then, we would get aboard and overwhelm them by surprise. But none of us is a skilled fighter. Are you?“
„Not if I have to use weapons“, Reggie had to admit.
„So, we will get as close as possible, then, when they change shifts or prepare for departure, we will attack. If we are lucky, we can throw them overboard before they will be able to react.“
„That doesn`t sound like a much better plan to me“, John muttered.
„Well, if you`ve got a better plan, I`m keen to hear it!“, Witty hissed from the other boat some two yards away.
Again, John grinned wolfishly.
„Indeed, I have. Reggie and I will swim over to the ship and climb aboard. Reggie will climb up and prepare to throw the man in the lookout overboard whilst I will get prepared to make some noise aboard. They will be distracted and then, you can get aboard.“
„Sounds even more like a mission without return to me“, Joseph grunted. Witty, however, seemed to think differently.
„Are you sure you can do that?“, he asked.
„Well, we are quite good swimmers“, John answered.
„Besides, we are only the masters of our own will for some two days now. Aren`t we allowed to make some mistakes by using it?“, Reggie added.
Some ten minutes later, the two blacks, now only dressed in their pants, slid into the water. The two boats had reduced the distance towards the cutter`s stern to some 80 yards.
Silently, they swam towards the rudder. Whilst John carefully climbed aboard there, Reggie swam forward until he was directly below the starboard shrouds. With some difficulties, he managed to hoist himself to the railing where he took a careful look at the deck. He could hear some moaning and to his surprise, he imagined two long bundles hanging there who were slightly dangling.
„Like oranges in a net“, he thought involuntarily and had to bite his tongue not to laugh from nervosity.
The continuous squirming of the bundled up and obviously naked women tied so close together fascinated him, but he had to concentrate on more important things. If he made a noise and got detected, he did not only risk his life, but that of the others, too.
After a while, steps could be heard and three more men entered the deck.
„Well, I think that`s enough for the next few days. Pedro, Larry go and help the other two with the last barrels, then we will leave.“
„Aye, Captain Santiago!“
It was now or never! When Pedro and Larry had climbed the railing and Santiago shouted to his men to tell them the slight change in plans, Reggie climbed up the shrouds as fast as he could.
„What? Whaaaaaaaaaa!“
He took the man standing in the crow`s nest and liting just another pipe completely by surprise. Before he had even understood what was happening, Reggie had punched him at his chest and thrown him overboard.
SPLASH!
BANG! BANG!
In the very moment when the man landed in the sea, some shooting could be heard from the stern. Obviously, John had found a gun and had shot in the air.
„Men! We are attacked!“, Santiago yelled, raising his revolver and firing two rounds in the direction from which the shooting had come.
„Boohooohooohooo!“, Reggie yelled from the mast`s top.
BANG! BANG!
One bullet hit Reggie`s arm, but it was just a scratch and he was used to pain.
„Police! Raise your hands!“ It was John.
BANG! CLICK!
In the very moment when Santiago had emptied his revolver and frantically drew his other one, the other men climbed aboard. Before Santiago could open fire at them, they had reached him and threw him overboard.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
They had to duck behind the railing, for now, the men on the island had opened fire, too. Joseph and one other man got wounded, but these were minor lacerations, too.
Reggie saw that Pedro was trzing to get aboard. With a yell, he jumped to the deck and kicked him off. Then, he collapsed on the deck, because he had sprained his ankle by the landing.
Meanwile, the other pirates had ceased fire and had hidden behind the trees whilst Santiago, Pedro and the man from the crow`s nest hastily swam towards the shore.
When all six pirates had hidden between the palms, Witty stepped at the railing and yelled:
„Well, it seems, now I am in the stronger position for negotiations!“
The pirates answered with a shot, but since the distance was some 60 yards and they only had revolvers, there was no harm from that.
„Now, since I am a busy man and I am not sure if your comrades are somewhere around, I`ve decided to be generous!“, Witty continued.
Another ill-placed shot came from the darkness within the trees.
„We can go on like that, but perhaps, you better spare some ammunition for the things to come! We will leave you here! Marooned, so to say!“
Now, indeed, the pirates didn`t waste another bullet, so, Witty continued:
„But, as I said, I will be generous! We will leave the second boat to you! So, you may stay and wait for your friends or get ashore, just as you like! I should hand you over to justice, but, as I said, I am a busy man. I have my ship back and whatever you have left aboard, so, according to me, we are even with each other!“
Meanwhile, his men had prepared the cutter for leaving. One man asked Witty:
„Sir, what shall we do with the girls?“
He pointed at the dangling hammocks. Inside the cocoons, the four women still squirmed and a faint moaning could be heard. Witty scratched his head, then, he answered:
„Well, they seem quite securely stowed for a sailing trip to me. We have to get away now and they don`t disturb our manoevers that way! Just leave them bound and gagged for the moment, we will take care of them by dawn!“
Now, the moaning of the helpless captives rose, but Witty just told the hesitating man to help with the sails.
When the „Sea Hawk“ began to move forward, Reggie suddenly ran to the stern railing. He had wound a clean rag around his right arm, but, as he had presumed, the shot wound indeed was just a scratch.
„Hey! Pirates! At the shore, there is a rock with a crevice in it! We have left something there, that could be of interest for you! Please, take a look, we haven`t got the time to do so by ourselves! Please, take a look!“
Witty put a hand on the black`s shoulder.
„We are really generous men. I provide these pirates with a lifeboat, and you even tell them where to get two lovely and possibly lucrative hostages!“
He laughed, but Reggie was glad that he had told the pirates about Xenia`s and Alinda`s whereabouts. He definitely had enjoyed, maybe too much enjoyed, making the two blondes suffer, but he did not want them to die.
***