The following story is the final chapter in a 10-parter, with each chapter in a different category. If you enjoy this story, I'm afraid you'll have to go find each part, or you can click on my name above to see all parts as well as my other stories.
Part 1: Non-Erotic.
Part 2: First Time
Part 3: Loving Wives
Part 4: Exhib & Voy
Part 5: Lesbian
Part 6: Interracial
Part 7: Letters and Transcripts
Part 8: Romance
Part 9: Mature
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When everyone was aboard, the Anvil set sail. The king's men weren't far behind, and as soon as they reached the harbor French warships would be after them.
The little ship was crowded, but William tried to give the women separate quarters as best he could. They would have to double up, though. There wasn't any possibility of giving each lady a room. William would miss having Charlotte with him, but there was no way that would work. The men were having to sleep four or even six to a room. The captain was no exception.
There was one nice surprise waiting for Charlotte. Priscilla was there. The English woman had said she was going to make her way back to Britain, but here she was on the ship. When Charlotte asked her what happened, Pris said that she really had intended to go home, but things just kept delaying her. First, there was no ship leaving for Britain for a month. Then she got a job in a shop for people she really liked. Well, one thing just led to another and somehow she never got around to leaving.
When she heard what was happening, and that everyone would be leaving, Priscilla had left her job and headed to the coast to join the group. She realized she just had to see Charlotte again, and also that there really wasn't anything in England to return home to. So here she was.
Charlotte gave her old friend a huge hug. Then she and Priscilla decided to trade cabinmates and take a room together. It would be like the only good parts of old times.
Meanwhile, William was making for the open sea as fast as he could. A couple of hours had passed, and through his glass Bill could see a full-sized French man-o-war leaving the harbor to make chase. She would be at full sail shortly. With a good wind behind her, the Anvil would be a bit faster, but not much. And if the wind turned wrong, the huge warship might overtake them. Sporting over 40 guns, she would blow the Anvil out of the water in the blink of an eye.
The Anvil was sailing for all she was worth. For three days she made her best possible speed. The French ship dropped back, but not much. She was still in full pursuit, and only about six hours behind. The Anvil had to make for the Straits of Gibraltar. If she could get though there, and into the open Atlantic, the French ship would never catch her.
The wind remained friendly, and William thought he might actually make it. Another day had passed and the straits were in sight. Bill ordered his helmsman to make right for them. If they could just get through. Everything looked like it was going to work out.
Then, as if fate was just playing games with them, everything went wrong. From out of the straits came three English warships. Each carried 36 guns and they were headed straight for the Anvil. There was nowhere to go. If she turned, the Anvil would end up in range of the French ship behind her, and if she kept going, the British would destroy her.
Well it didn't matter, so William decided to press forward. They might as well take a path between the British ships. It at least led to freedom. They didn't have a chance of course. The English ships would turn and destroy the Anvil long before she reached them, but at least they would go down fighting.
The Anvil closed on the British ships, faster and faster. To William's utter shock, the British ships just kept coming. They should have turned and blown her out of the water with broadsides. What were they doing? There was no time to wonder about it. The French ship was still behind them and the Atlantic beckoned in front.