While no one spoke, all knew for his lordship to be taking such aggressive action the Governor must be
applying pressure. However, other than the action in which Neptune had been captured, all had been relatively quiet. Swan had captured a small island schooner that held a party of rebels raiding coastal villages.
Noting the look of dismay on his officers' faces Lord Anthony continued on, 'These are trying times gentlemen and desperate measures are called for. You will be given your sailing orders before you leave. Now is there or has there been anything unusual within the city or the harbour that you've recognized?' Gabe started to speak but held his tongue. Dagan had told him of a conversation with Bart while having a wet and enjoying a bowl of tobacco. A jollyboat had passed close to Warrior's stern. The passengers in the boat were mostly drunk and speaking very loudly. Bart had turned to Dagan and said, 'Damned Dagos, everywhere you turn they's one and now we's can't even have a quiet evening without their blabbering spoiling it.' After hearing Dagan out Gabe went topside to view the harbour and verify Dagan's concerns.
When no one spoke up Lord Anthony said, 'We'll leave it to two old tarpaulins to see and hear the obvious.
Not to make a scene gentlemen but on your way back to your ships take note of how many Spanish vessels are at anchor here or inside the harbour. Listen to the talk in boats plying back and forth. It's mostly Spanish. When we are in port our ships are being attacked, when we're out they're not. The Governor was undoubtedly right about spies in the Spaniard's quarters.'
'But Lord Anthony,' Lieutenant Kerry from the Pigeon had stood, 'we are not at war with Spain and Saint Augustine used to belong to Spain so how do we get rid of the Spanish without creating a national incident and maybe even bring them into war with the Colonies?'
'Well sir,' Anthony answered the young lieutenant,
'nobody said anything about getting rid of the Spanish.
What I said was gather information. If that brings us to open conflict so be it. Most feel it will only be a matter of time and both the French and the Spanish will enter the war with the Colonials. I'm almost certain the French will.'
'Now before you go, Captain Buck will give each of you your orders. Thanks to Captain Markham who recently captured the little island schooner, Rose, we now have means of communication with the Governor. Pigeon and Audacity will now be used to communicate between the flagship and the patrols.'
This brought smiles from the gathered officers who knew it was a compliment for the admiral to address a lieutenant as a captain even if he was commanding a ship.
Gabe, Markham, and Earl were saying their goodbyes to Bart when Knight approached in tow with Buck.
'Damme sir, but I do hope this war hasn't spoiled our fearless captain's romance,' Markham chimed.
Seeing the mischief in Markham 's eye, Buck asked,
'Who pray tell has been smitten?'
In unison the group replied, 'Sir Raymond.'
'Humph!' Buck said with an exaggerated frown.
'Well, maybe I should do the honorable thing and keep this maiden well entertained while our brave captain is away doing his duty. I'm sure it's a service Sir Raymond would perform for me if I was away on King's business.' This caused a round of applause and laughter by all but Knight who seeing his cox'n was ready said, 'I shall depart to my ship but you gentlemen can go to hell.' This brought out an uproar again. Markham laughed till tears poured from his eyes. Buck then raised
his hand to quiet the group then said, 'Dry your tears Captain Markham. Then if you and Captain Anthony can make your way to his lordship's cabin without demeaning some poor soul along the way, make yourself available to your admiral.'
Then turning to Captain Earl, Buck said, 'Let's share a glass while his Lordship talks to our wayward lads, and then he will tell you about orders.' Looking out Buck could see Knight's gig approaching Neptune. 'Tsk, tsk,' he said, 'had our Sir Raymond not been in such a hurry he could have enjoyed a glass with us. Now, however, he will have to gather the gig crew together and that time will be spent rowing back to the flagship.'
Seeing the Fifth Lieutenant Johns, Buck ordered,
'Please make to Neptune. Captain repair on board.' This brought a chuckle from Earl but he'd seen the black- haired beauty that infatuated Knight and damned if he wasn't a bit smitten himself.
Oh well, Knight will be good and thirsty by time he returns in this heat. Do him good, Earl thought, I should have seen her first.
Chapter Twelve
Lord Anthony's meeting with Gabe and Markham brought mixed feelings from Gabe. An attempt to occupy Savannah was to be undertaken sometime next year. However, to prevent such a fiasco as the attempt to occupy Charlestown, time would be first spent gathering intelligence as to resistance and help from Loyalists.
Since a group of Colonial militia had broken into the Powder Magazine in May of 1775, the area had been relatively quiet on behalf of the Colonials. In January 1776, British warships entered the Savannah River without resistance and on March 2 and 3 of that same year, British ships again entered the Savannah Harbour and seized several merchant vessels laden with rice.
Lord Anthony explained all this then said, 'Thomas Browne was sorely treated in his own residence on the South Carolina side of the Savannah River. He has convinced the Governor that other than the little town of Thunderbolt, minimal resistance would be met were we to seize Savannah.'
'Do you think his motivation is revenge for his treatment or do you think he is earnest in his feelings about minimal resistance from Loyalist?' After a momentary pause, Lord Anthony said, 'I'm sure it's both. He wanted to be part of the intelligence gathering but we thought this unwise as he's so well known. So he's sending one of his rangers who knows the area well. Gabe, you and Lum will also do some intelligence gathering. You will pose as a seafaring man which you should be able to pull off.'
This brought a chuckle from Markham.
'However,' Lord Anthony continued, 'You will leave your uniform on board SeaWolf. I don't have to tell you what this means if you get caught. I thought you could take Lum with you and that will help your cover.
You know the coast but I'm told there's a small island… Warsaw Island, where you, Lum and Browne's ranger, a man named Finch can be put ashore. You will rendezvous back there at such time as you set up. While you are attending to your assignment, your first lieutenant will sail in the company with Markham, up the coast and back keeping an eye open for the likely lair of our privateer men.'
' Markham?'
'Aye, my Lord.'
'If it appears safe you may take a peek into the Savannah River up to the harbour entrance and see what reaction you get.'
'Aye, sir.'
'Very well gentlemen, you may be on your way.' As the two rose to take their leave, Lord Anthony spoke again, almost an after thought. 'Gabe, one moment please.'
Once Markham was out of the cabin, Lord Anthony went from being the Admiral to the older brother.
Placing his hand on Gabe's shoulder he said, 'If duty allows I would not think it amiss if you were to visit a friend.'
Gabe smiled and grasping his brother's hand said,
'Thanks, Gil.'
Under full sail, SeaWolf and Swan cut through the ocean waters like a hot knife through butter. Gunnells, the master, stood by the helm and spoke to Gabe who was perched by the taffrail.
'It'd make a purty painting sir. Two nimble ships built for speed and doing what they were meant for, slicing through the water like God's own cheeks blew the wind that filled our sails.'
'Aye,' Gabe answered. He knew from looking at Swan under full sail that an artist who could capture the appearance on canvas would indeed have a purty painting. 'Too bad we can't build such ships.' The comparison of Colonial shipwrights with the British had long been a touchy subject with Gabe. The Colonial built ships tended to
