Outright pirates during times of peace, and de facto pirates when sailing as privateers, they were all piratas to the Spanish. Avid for gold and glory, the interlopers sailed beyond the line of Papal demarcation to prey on treasure-laden ships, merchantmen, and slavers.

Jean de La Fontaine had become one of the most famous of those known as les Boucaniers. There were others such as Louis le Golif, better known as "Borgne-Fesse" or "Half-Ass," because cannon shot had blown away one of his buttocks on a raid in Venezuela; and Pierre Francois, L'Olonnois, De Grammont, De Graaf, Morgan, and Mansfield. But Jean de La Fontaine, with his flamboyant style and gentlemanly disposition had won the imagination of the French men and boys, and the hearts of the French women.

His reputation followed him when he put aside his privateering to be commissioned in the French navy, and there were always those who would be suspicious of his loyalty. Seeing The Adventure Fortune approaching her berth in the harbor brought back all the fears and stories, and word of his arrival spread like fire though the town.

Even as the anchor was being dropped and one of The Adventure Fortune?s shore boats were being lowered along its side, the crowd was amassing along the docks and children were weaving in and out of the adults shouting, "Le Boucanier, de La Fontaine! Le Boucanier, de La Fontaine!"

He was born in 1634, four years before King Louis XIV. King Louis had been called Dieudonn?, or "God given" at birth, probably because no one could believe that King Louis XIII could actually father a child without divine intervention. Few realized that Louis was only one-quarter French by heritage. He was half Spanish by his mother, Anne of Austria, and one-quarter Italian by his grandmother Marie de M?dicis.

Jean's heritage was actually half French through the de La Fontaine lineage, making him more French than the king. His mother, second daughter of Philip III, married Duc de La Fontaine and settled on their estate located not far from where Louis XIV would eventually build the Palace at Versailles. His father was in the court of the Cardinal Jules Mazarin, who for all intents and purposes governed France after the death of Richelieu until his own death in March, 1661. Soon after, Louis XIV, then age twenty-three and without need of further mentoring, assumed the full leadership of France.

-= to be continued =-

The 17th Century was drawing to a close when King Louis XIV had heard that King William III of England had secretly backed the outfitting of Captain William Kidd with a 287-ton, 34 canon ship to hunt down both pirates and French ships of any kind.

The King of France quickly commissioned a ship of his own to be built, with the full intention of not to be outdone some big nosed, Holland born, Protestant King who desired to get wealthy on stolen goods. The result of this competition between warring nations was a 440-ton, 48 cannon ship that was built as elegantly as Louis XIV's considerable wealth would allow.

The son of a provincial governor, La Fontaine, had already made a name for himself as a French privateer; and Louis, partly out of respect for Jean's reputation, and partly (it is rumored) out of the insistence of certain women in his court, commissioned Jean as captain of this great, new vessel that had been named the "The Adventure Fortune". It was actually a play on the name that Kidd had given to his ship, the ?Adventure Galley". The obvious connection to Kidd's ship did not go unnoticed by any nation.

It was soon after The Adventure Fortune?s return to France to unload the wealth of unquestioned "acquisitions" when Jean de La Fontaine was commissioned to engage the Dutch Amada in defense of France. The engagement with the enemy was not a pleasant one.

Outnumbered and out-gunned, The Adventure Fortune sustained heavy losses. In the midst of battle, when the smoke from the canons all but obscured view of enemy and friend alike, the strangest of occurrences happened. Dutch ships on both sides of The Adventure Fortune took direct hits in their ammunition storage, blasting them into debris of smoking, burning wood, iron, rope, sail, and crew. All went dark and the French ship seemed to spin as if in a whirlpool, being dragged down to the depths of the sea.

When the 79 remaining crewmen aboard The Adventure Fortune awoke, the water was calm, there was not another ship to be seen, and the skies were unfamiliar.

Men stared in awe, speechless, wondering if they were in heaven or hell. The night's stars gave no comfort, for the constellations lacked familiarity. They had stumbled into a nexus between worlds; and they might never know if it saved their lives, or doomed them to an eternal exile.

-= to be continued =-

With the harbor in sight and the men too tired to row, Captain La Fontaine allowed his ship to make way using whatever masts and canvas they could rig together. They slowly made their way north by northwest all night, and by daybreak they were at the mouth of the harbor.

Daylight revealed an awakening city that seemed to thrive on commerce. A month ago this would have excited the crew, for money could be made or spent in such a city, and either way it would have been a pleasurable experience. However, at this point their only objective was merely survival.

?Captain, do you think they be friendly to France?? asked Roger Dufay, Jean?s first mate.

Jean kept his dark eyes upon the ships that were already docked at the wooden piers. He could see no colors that he recognized. ?Roger, I?m afraid that whether this nation is friend or enemy to King Louis has no significance, for to be fed in an enemy's jail is preferred than to die free yet captive upon my ship. No??

?Oui, that is true. I?d even feast on English bread and ale at this point.?

Jean smiled, ?Starvation has a way of turning crusts into a feast, and making spoiled wine magnifique.?

?Oui, c'est vrai, monsier.? (trans. ?Yes, that is the truth, sir.?)

To protect his ship, or at least what was left of it and the precious cargo in the hull, instead of docking at a stone pier, Jean had The Adventure Fortune set anchor as close to the shore as he dared, and he ordered a rowboat to be lowered. He entered the rowboat with Roger, Guy de La Mare, the quartermaster, and Robier Droullin, a crewman whose arms were still fit to row. Captain Fontaine had both muskets loaded and his rapier belted at his side just in case the people of this city were not well disposed to the French. Soon they had docked the rowboat and were walking down the streets that lined the harbor.

The people of this city were strange looking fellows - surely of a race and nation they?d never encountered, unless they're related to the Swedes, although none of The Adventure Fortune?s crew would swear to that conjecture.

Jean removed his plumed hat and made a quick bow before the one who looked to be an official in the city, for he had the figure of a wolf embroidered over his left pocket. "I?m Jean de La Fontaine captain of his majesty's ship, The Adventure Fortune. I greet you in the name of King Louis XIV and come in peace and seeking aid for my men and ship."

The Rhydin constable looked suspiciously toward the men and then turned his stare back to Jean without saying a word. Taking advantage of his silence, Jean continued, "If you'd be so kind as to tell me what fair land this is and who governs it.? He paused slightly and then continued, ?I come with gifts of peace, and if possible, I request audience with the one who is in the position of authority."

The constable obviously didn?t understand a word of French, but then in his own language responded, ?Move along now. Any trouble out of you and I?ll have you locked up so fast yer head will spin!? He moved on down the street mumbling something about the damn foreigners.

?Captain,? Guy said, ?I believe we may be in a country that favors the English, no??

?Oui. That seems a possibility.? Jean turned his attention to Roger. ?Take Guy with you and purchase supplies for the ship. Don?t wait for me. Get the supplies back to the men as quickly as possible before they start chewing on my masts.?

?But, Captain, where will you be??

?I shall head further into the city. Perhaps there would be a tavern there. I intend to find out where we are, and if there would be any shipwrights who could help us make repairs. I also want to make appropriate acquaintances that might know where I might find willing and skilled hands that I can hire on as crew. We must have at least 120 to sail that ship.?

Captain Fontaine set his plumed hat back on his head, straightened his clothes, and headed off to find a tavern.

-= to be continued =-

Adventure Fortune Log ? April 23, morning

Today I?ve had the most good news!

I went to see Mr. Berger of Berger Import and Export. I explained to him the virtues of the Adventure Fortune and how we might be of good assistance to him in his business. He immediately inspected my ship and upon his satisfaction, he commissioned me and my crew to fill the holds with lumber, steel, cloth and liquor and bring the cargo to St. Ives, a journey that normally is no more than five or six days.

We will unload the cargo and take on new cargo there and bring it back to Rhydin on our return trip. In two weeks I will be back home and have made a good profit ? and it all be legal. Upon our speedy success, Mr. Berger promised two such trips a month. I will not wish to be away from Des for that amount of travel, so I will allow my first mate, Roger, to captain the ship on subsequent journeys.

I?ll remain here in Rhydin with Des and take care of the business side of this trade. I shall be a legitimate businessman and take good care of my wife.

I cannot wait to tell her.

Adventure Fortune Log ? April 30th , 2:15 a.m.

At 22:30 a storm arrived from the West. We had been watching it approach since late afternoon, trying to make it to Barrett?s Bay. But the ship, she is too heavy and the going is too slow. The situation is not good and we are all concerned.

The Adventure Fortune is too heavily laden and we are sitting too low in the water. We are taking on water and the men are doing their best to pump it out, but the cargo holds are so full that water is collecting everywhere and the wood and fabrics are becoming soaked, adding the water weight to their weight.

We can only hope that the storm ends soon.

My log entry is short for I must write my dear wife.

Adventure Fortune Log ? April 30th , 5:30 a.m.

Shortly after my last entry, I heard a snapping sound and men screaming. I raced to the main deck and through sheets of driving rain and wind I saw that the barrels of water broken loose. Normally these are stored below deck, but with so much cargo in the holds, we had to strap them down on the quarterdeck.

Losses:
Two men were carried overboard with the barrels.
A lifeboat was destroyed.
Damage to the main and quarterdecks.

We were trying to clean up the mess in the midst of 50-foot swells and enormous gusts of wind when there was the sound of the loud crack of wood. The topsail yardarm from the mizzen mast had snapped off and fell. I pushed Roger out of the way but it hit me on the back.

Losses:
Jacque was killed.
Roger is okay.
I regret to report that my clavicle is broken and I have a rib puncturing my left lung. I am in extreme pain and can hardly breathe.

I have placed Roger in charge of the maintenance of the ship in this storm. If we can make it to Barrett?s Bay I suspect I can get medical attention and the ship repaired. The crew is currently eliminating all unnecessary weight from the ship.

Realistically, we are 50 kilometers from land and the ship is crippled and slowly sinking.

Only a miracle can save us.

I must write to my Des while I still have the strength.

Captain Jean de La Fontaine