The Water Witch James

Alderman Myndert Van Beverout is Alida's uncle and steward, and he intends to have her marry the Patroon of Kindhook. He takes the whole wedding party on a boat to cross the river, but to his dismay they speak little to each other. When the boat ... Read more

Alderman Myndert Van Beverout is Alida's uncle and steward, and he intends to have her marry the Patroon of Kindhook. He takes the whole wedding party on a boat to cross the river, but to his dismay they speak little to each other. When the boat is mismanaged by the crew, a young unnamed stranger takes over and expertly handles the small boat until the danger passes. While he does this, discourse ensues and they hear the story of The Water-Witch, a brigantine that sails the rivers so expertly that it must be manned by a supernatural crew -- or so the story goes. But it was also said that The Water-Witch was also a boatload of buccaneers, pirating goods and selling them elsewhere. Alida is fascinated by this stranger who knows so much about the sea, but she is too much a lady to ask any more questions of this knowledgeable stranger.She thinks nothing more of him after they leave the boat. Until he reappears into her life -- and she learns that the stranger is much more dangerous than she ever imagined. Less