Chapter 72: Kampilan
Eduardo survived the battle unscathed. The helmsman soon busied himself examining the Moro warship we had captured. The soldiers said several pirates had managed to board the ship, but since it would take at least twenty men to row it with any real speed, they immediately gave up on escaping once the warning shots were fired.
There were four swivel brass cannons—two of which could have been used against Sargento Guzman’s group—installed on the ship. But perhaps in their shock, none of the pirates thought to operate them. And even if they had, it would take at least a minute to load one—too much time to be standing still against anyone with basic marksmanship training.
Eduardo told me it was a Garay warship, though it was undermanned. It could accommodate up to eighty men aboard.
"It’s a bit old, but still very much seaworthy," he told me excitedly when he finally stepped off the ship. "It could be requisitioned for your use... Heneral, maybe for your journey back."
I nodded, studying the impressive structure. I still couldn’t believe we had managed to seize such a thing. It was a worthy addition to our fledgling navy—primarily as a transport vessel. While the steamship was undoubtedly the better ship, it was a waste of coal to use it for every purpose. Not to mention that with the Garay warship, personnel could be carried directly to shore without the need for ferry boats.
But that would also mean we’d need more navy personnel—specifically, people who knew their way around outrigger sail ships.
"What do you think about working for me, Eduardo?" I asked him.
He didn’t seem too surprised by the question, as if he had been expecting it. "You want me to operate this ship for you?"
I nodded. "You’ll be paid well, and you’ll be given a naval rank."