Haltingly at first, and then with more confidence as she
found she was not being mocked, she shared with us stories that her mother had
told her. Her mother had been brought from Africa as a slave and among the
stories she told were tales of witch doctors who had the power to raise the
dead and control them. She believed that our’s was such a man. Doctor Menting
spoke then about the slave he had examined briefly during our fight that day.
The man’s body gave every indication of having been dead for several days, and
yet he had attacked our party. Hector then proposed that we take turns standing
watch and be prepared to strike out for the ship at dawn.

Sunday, November 15, 2015

I had sailed in the Hermione before, but this was my
firsthis plantation on a small, uninhabited island. He named his new
home Turtle Island, and spent lavishly on a fine home and 100 slaves to clear
the land for growing sugar cane.

At first all seemed well with Margarate. Van Hendriks
ships that brought supplies to the island and returned with cargoes of sugar
always brought a letter from her full of little details about her household.
More recently, the letters hinted at her husband’s drunkenness and cruelty. He
and his overseer worked the slaves brutally. She had only the company of her
maid, Martha and the housekeeper, a black freewoman named Mary for consolation.
Margarate knew not where her husband might turn his rage next, and feared for
her safety. Van Hendrik wanted to bring his daughter home, but to send one of
his own ships would attract