1633:The Danish Scheme (23 page)

While the clearing was progressing, Svend and Heinrich set out with their party to survey the surrounding countryside. Captain Andersen would need detailed maps of the area to decide the best defenses for the terrain. Joseph worked as the scout, and the three miners continued to search for additional mining sites. The fourth day out, they paused near a large pond for the evening meal. Heinrich directed the set up. He tossed some empty water skins to Svend.

"Would you go back and get some water from the spring we just passed? Karl can collect some firewood while Joseph keeps watch." He pointed at the two remaining miners. "Gunther, you and Franz break out the cooking pot and start preparing a stew. I'll follow in a minute, Svend, to help carry the water skins back."

As Svend left to get the water, with his gun and the water skins, Heinrich reminded him to watch out for trouble. Svend told him one mother was enough, thank you. Heinrich then pulled out a flint and steel to start a fire. Karl already had a small pile of kindling ready and in a few strikes, the fire was lit. Heinrich picked up his rifle and followed after Svend. He heard Karl mutter that some fresh meat would be nice for a change. He caught up quickly to Svend. After a short hike they reached the spring and filled the skins. As they walked back, he said, "I think we may stay here a day and do some hunting. Our supplies could use some fresh meat to stretch them out and there were quite a few signs of game around that spring."

"I don’t know if we can afford the time, but I'd like to go with you, if you don't mind. I've never gone hunting before and father said I should learn from you."

"I don't see why not. I've heard you're a good shot and you seem to be able to handle yourself in the woods. We can leave Joseph to guard the camp." With that settled, they continued on quietly toward the camp. When they arrived, Franz was tending the fire. Heinrich asked quietly as he set the water skin down, "Where's Karl?"

"He went down to the pond to see if he could catch some fish. He said he was tired of the dried meat." Franz poked at the fire, and then added a larger branch.

Heinrich raised his eyes skyward in supplication for deliverance from fools. A commotion in the brush in the direction of the pond caught their attention. They all turned toward the sound. When it came again, Heinrich and Svend grabbed their rifles and raced off toward the pond. Heinrich was furious, "I told him to stay close. We don't know what's around here."

As they approached the pond, they could see Karl struggling to pull a fish ashore. There were already two large ones lying at his feet. He let out a whoop when the fish he was fighting broke the surface in a leap. It was at least a foot long. At the same time, a roar sounded from the brush about thirty feet away. All three men turned to see a large black bear rear up. Heinrich called out, "Karl, set the pole down and back away slowly." The bear dropped to all fours and stared in Karl's direction. Karl just stood there, too petrified to move. The fish flopped on the ground in front of him. Heinrich broke from cover, yelling and waving his gun, trying to spook the bear. Instead the bear started to amble toward Karl. The scent of fish had his full attention.

Heinrich dropped to one knee, brought the rifle up, and fired in one smooth motion. All he got was a misfire. Waving the rifle had somehow dislodged the priming. Without thinking, Svend raised his rifle and took aim. Time stood still as his training kicked in. Aim, lead, hold the breath, and gently squeeze the trigger. The bear was just about to Karl when he fired. The impact of the bullet sent the bear sprawling. It also broke Karl's trance and he started to run. The bear rolled over and started to chase Karl, but its pace was labored.

In the meantime, Heinrich had reprimed his rifle and took careful aim. This time the rifle discharged and the bear dropped dead in his tracks. A head shot had taken him down. Svend came running up, reloading as he ran. Heinrich motioned for him to slow down. "It's over. You don't need to trip and shoot one of us." Svend stopped and grounded the butt of his rifle. He still finished reloading, just in case. Heinrich walked over and clapped him on his back. "Your shot was excellent, but a lung shot would have taken a couple of minutes to kill him. Luckily, I was able to reprime in time and get a close head shot. Bears that size are notoriously difficult to kill."

Karl staggered back as they checked the bear to make sure it was dead. "You saved me! Thank you."

Heinrich fixed him with a furious stare, "No thanks to you, you fool. This is why I told you to stay together. It's spring and they are hungrier than usual. To him, you were just his next big meal. Only luck, and Svend's shot, kept you alive. Grab those fish and take them back to camp. I hope you enjoy them, because they almost cost you your life." He turned back to the bear and started to show Svend how to skin it.

They spent the day butchering the bear and preparing the meat and skin for transport back to the landing site. When they arrived, the story spread quickly. By the evening, even Heinrich and Svend didn't recognize the tale. Everyone enjoyed the fresh meat that night.

* * *

After two weeks, Luke decided that they had done all they could with the building supplies they had and announced that they would sail as soon as the 
Coquette
 returned. If he waited any longer, he might not be able to sail for Hudson’s Bay this season. "We'll take a day of rest and then start loading fresh water and wood. The 
Coquette
 should be here by then." As they finished loading the last of the water casks, two sails were sighted to the northeast.

The 
Coquette 
returned with the 
Wilhelm.
 As soon as they anchored, boats were lowered and their captains came ashore to confer with Luke. He greeted them as they landed. "Jan, it's good to see you. How are things in Christianburg?"

"It's going well. Your timing on the letters was excellent. Both fishing boats were loaded with fish and just about to sail when the 
Coquette
 arrived. Captain James had copies made of your letters and sent them on both ships. In case something happened to one of them, the other should still get delivered."

"Just like Thomas, always planning for possible problems. How is the convention doing? I know he wasn't happy to be stuck with running it."

"It was finishing when I left. As you surmised, it was raucous, but Thomas handled it well. From what he told me, just before I sailed, the results were exactly what you two had worked out beforehand." Jan gave Luke a cynical stare.

Luke feigned surprise. "I'm shocked, shocked I say! Why would I do such a thing? It was all decided by the people." He managed, just, to not smile when he said it.

De Puyter shook his head in disbelief. "In any case, it's done. I brought the tools and extra lumber we had cut to help start up here. Four of the miners came along to get things started. What are your plans now? Thomas assumed you probably would finish your voyage, but won't be worried if you miss your deadline. He said to tell you, just make sure you're there by late July, or things might get dicey for Hudson's Bay this year. That is, if you still plan to go this year."

"Yes, yes. We’re still going. I’m ready to sail now. If you and Captain Gilbert would join me for a celebratory drink, I'll fill you both in on where we are here and what needs completing." Luke pointed toward a roughly finished cabin. They all walked over, admiring the work that had already been done.

The next morning, the 
Köbenhavn
 raised anchor and set off on the remainder of her exploration voyage.

Mid June, 1634, West coast of Newfoundland
 

The trip along the west coast of Newfoundland was quick and uneventful. The 
Köbenhavn
 made landfall twice, once to check for mineral deposits and once to replenish food and water. Gunther reported that the terrain was favorable, but nothing significant was found by the prospectors. Luke’s frustration was mounting. The trip was running much longer than he had planned. Coal and iron were valuable, but they didn’t have the appeal that gold and silver fostered. If he was going to get the miners they needed to realize the enormous profit potential of the coal and iron, he had to have the lure of gold, or at least silver to lure them to the undeveloped land.

The days were long and much warmer than when they had left Christianburg. The good weather just served to highlight that summer was moving on. If they didn’t return soon to Christianburg, the entire expedition would run into serious problems if they still tried to sail for Hudson’s Bay this year. A decision was needed, but Luke still held out hope that at least a start could be made in Hudson’s Bay this season. He once more had his cabin covered in maps and paper. The west coast had been his original goal for coal deposits, but the events in Cape Breton had relegated the smaller Newfoundland deposits to a remote contingency. Their location, and questionable size, turned his final hopes to the possibility of rare metals along the north coast.

The charts seemed to indicate the north shore was where the best possibility for a substantial strike could be made. He had to find some indication of gold and silver, or his backers, and the miners, could be fickle and desert him. The long term profits from the iron and coal should prove to be enormous, but he needed something now. Time was becoming a factor. He had to concentrate on one area or he would miss sailing for Hudson's Bay completely this year. The problem was, which one? Nothing seemed to jump out and say ‘Dig here!’ He asked Svend to join him as he reviewed the maps one last time.

Luke handed Svend a map covered in hand written comments. "Here's what I have for information. These markings indicate where the up-timers mentioned traces of the metals we're seeking. The researchers that helped me tried to include everything they found. The problem is that many of the references didn't say exactly where and how much was found. The writing has gotten smeared and I can't read all of it. It seems the whole north coast has traces, but nothing is positively identified." Frustration was written all over his face and in the set of his shoulders. "I'd hoped a fresh set of eyes might help."

Svend leaned over and studied the maps. "What's this sign mean, by Baie Verte? I can't make out what the legend says this symbol is for."

Luke picked up the map and stared at the spot. "I can’t tell either. I'm afraid my eyes are getting old," he said. "Can you make out anything better by the light?"

Svend took the map and held it up to the hanging light. He could see something, but it was faint. On a hunch, he turned the map over and checked the back. In the light shining through the paper, he could read the legend in reverse. "It says new strike. They found something there. Some type of mining must have been done!"

"Then that's our destination." Luke called up through his cabin light, "Mr. Barrow! Check your charts and set a course for Baie Verte!"

Five days later, the 
Köbenhavn
 dropped anchor off a rocky cove. The high expectations that Luke felt had been conveyed to the crew and everyone was anxious to get the surveyors ashore to start their work. Luke gave them some words of caution before they departed. "I know this area holds a great deal of promise, but don't forget to exercise care." He looked straight at Karl. "Last time you got careless and almost died because of it. I don't want to have to read a funeral service before we get back to Christianburg. Do your jobs right and find what we've been searching for. Good luck. Carry on, Mr. Reinhardt!"

"You heard the captain! Into the boats and let's shove off. Sooner started, sooner finished." The six members of the survey party went over the side and down the battens to the boats. Their gear was lowered to them and they shoved off for shore.

* * *

The map showed an area that should be about a day’s march inland. Gunther stared at the topographical map, trying to relate the elevation lines to the forested area they had stopped in. They should be just about there. The problem was, 
all
 the area was forested. One rocky slope looked just like the next when you couldn’t get a clear view of any distant landmarks. By dead reckoning, with the compass and hiking times, they should be near the stream on the map. He folded up the map and placed it carefully back in the waterproof pouch. “We’ll head north for another half hour. If we haven’t hit the stream by then, I’ll need someone to climb a tree and try to get some bearings on the hills we should be near.” Everyone looked at Karl, who was the skinniest of the party.

“Alright, I can take a hint! I’ll do it if I have too.” He shouldered his pack and headed north, hoping they hit the stream soon. The party crested a rise that had left everyone scrambling for hand holds on the scrub trees, to try and pull themselves up the rocky ground. When they reached the ridge line, the sound of rushing water was could be distinctly heard below.

Karl looked relieved that he wouldn’t have to climb a tree. Joseph walked up behind him and said deadpan, “Looks like you get to save your climbing skills until you run into your next bear.” Karl turned beet red as the rest of the party broke out laughing.

Down the slope, two streams joined just before a small waterfall. Gunther pulled the map out in a hurry. He thought he recognized the terrain from the map. After a moment comparing the map to the scenery he announced, “This looks to be about a half mile downstream from where the uptime mine was located. We’ll start panning here to see what the stream might have washed down from there.” They all shrugged off their packs. “Let’s set up camp first and start after we have a good meal.”

After a meal of venison stew, tools were passed out for the survey work. Gunther handed Karl and Franz pans and pointed toward the waterfall. “I want the two of you to work around the base of the falls. Hopefully, you should have some luck with the pans. Joseph and I will head upstream and see if we can locate the main vein.

* * *

Ten days passed without any sign from the survey party. Tempers aboard ship were starting to fray. That night a lookout thought he saw signs of a fire on a hill to the west. Later the next morning, Gunther and Joseph finally arrived back at the beach and were rowed out to the ship. Gunther boarded with a grim look on his face. Luke hurried over to the railing. If only two had returned, something serious must have happened. He had been increasingly worried about time, since this had taken so long. Now it looked like he might have a service to read. As he reached Gunther, Luke saw him break into a broad grin. "We found it, Captain! Your researchers were right about the area. There's a stream with paying metal in it and it eventually led us back to the main deposit. It’s a combination of copper and gold. It's not going to be easy to mine, but it should pay handsomely, with the right gear. The others stayed at the site. They wanted to make sure the vein we found didn’t peter out just below the surface." He reached into his pack and pulled out a large leather bag. When he finished untying the knots, he spread it open to reveal a handful of gold and copper encrusted rocks. “There’s a whole wonderful, beautiful vein where these came from!”