Martin Rudnick

The Jeweled Snuffbox: Sir Henry Morgan Revisited Martin Rudnick

Young Henry Morgan is obsessed with his plan to follow the wake of his ancestor Sir Henry Morgans ships and to find the buccaneers long lost snuffbox. The plan is imperiled by Hector Torres, a wealthy, aging Cuban who has designs on Isabella, the girl Henry intends to marry. When Isabellas uncle sends her temporarily back to Spain, Henry and his friend, Jan, commence their voyage in a small fishing boat. They sail the Caribbean, touching land at the scenes of Sir Henrys conquests and visit his home base of Port Royal. Having concluded the voyage Henry awaits Isabellas return. Both he and Torres are at dock-side to greet Isabella. Torres reaches her first. After a brief glance he abruptly hurries away. Henry is also shocked by her appearance but accepts her the way she is. Isabella then reveals that she has been cleverly disguised to frighten Torres away. Learning of the deception, Hector uses his influence to have Henry discharged from his employment. Henry decides to emigrate, with his wife Isabella and infant daughter, to America, providing he can finance the journey. A surprising development involving the jeweled snuffbox results in Torres downfall and for the Morgans first class passage to America.