Looking down from his flagship, Anthony could see the dirty chop of a wave against the hull. Mangled bodies and debris was al about, some of it thumping again and again against Warrior as she moved slowly ahead. The battle was al but over but he received no pleasure. How many of the Americans and British lives had been lost? It seemed different when he had been in
the thick of battle but now… now! Bart was right, being a sight-seer was difficult. 'Captain's compliments, sir, but Merlin has signalled they've cut off escape by the raiders and Audacity has boarded and retook the ship.'
'Thank you, Mr. Dewy. Any word on the other raiders?'
'No sir, but we're still searching. The master thinks they took wind.'
'Well, we'll see if the master is right.'
'Aye, my Lord.'
'Looks like they've took the other bugger sir, they've put up a flag,' Bart volunteered. 'Brave man that Mister Kerry is, not the smartest block I've known, but he ain't no coward, sir.'
'Bart.'
'Aye, sir.'
'You're talking about a King's officer.'
'He won't be long, sir, ’iffen you don't teach ’em some smarts. Likely get himself and half his crew Lt. `Scretion is what ’e needs ’ta learn.'
'You mean discretion.'
'Aye, sir, `scretion and plenty of it, I'm thinking.'
Chapter Seven
Skirting the usual wagon path, Lum worked his way toward the slaves' quarters that sat scattered among the oak trees behind the main house. A haggard looking outbuilding had started to lean and was in danger of falling. This building sat in such a way it blocked the view of Lum's small cabin from the rear windows and back porch of the main house.
It was here that Lum halted the mule. 'Whoa…
Whoa now Bessie.' As soon as the wagon stopped the mule immediately started cropping grass and swishing flies with her tail. Helping nanny down the two slaves went to the back of the wagon to help with Gabe.
'You don't think we can take him up to the house?' Faith asked.
'Child, you see dat uniform. Dis man is one of dem heathen Britishers like tried to take Charlestown. Maybe he even was a part of it,' Nanny said rebuking the girl.
'Master Adam see this man he'll put him in jail like he does with folks at times. Shuck's he might even ’jus shoot him.'
Hearing this stopped Faith's objections. Nanny was right.
'What you ought to be worrying about is what's gonna happen to Lum if the Marse finds dat man heah.
Like as not he'll set Marse Hindley loose on Lum with dat whip ’o his.'
'I won't let him,' Faith said trying to be stern.
'Not much you can do, child,' Lum said for the first time. 'We's ’a chance it. I don't like to see none of God's creatures suffer. Now let's get this po' soul inside and you go fetch Ruby. She's helped with delivering babies and fixing mules and ’da hosses and such. So maybe she can help him. Besides she'll keep her mouth shut.'
Several days went by with Gabe suffering from high fevers. Ruby had washed and cleaned his wounds and put several stitches in his leg using a hair from ’ole Bessie, the mule's tail. Food was sneaked in for Gabe, and Faith was able to get some clothes together so Gabe's uniform could be cleaned and repaired. As Gabe's health improved he became anxious to be up and about. Lying in Lum's bed, he watched the single candle as it gave off a faint yellow glow.
The flickering flame caused wavering shadows on the rough wooden wall s of the cabin. The shadows would take shapes that would disappear, and reappear, and then other shapes would merge together. Watching the candles and hearing the slaves whisper among themselves Gabe grew afraid, not of death but of capture.
How long would he be held? He thought of his brother, Gil; surely he'd think he was dead. What of Dagan? Gabe was sure he was alive. If he were unhurt he'd be coming to get him. At times Gabe would fall asleep and awaken with Faith sitting next to him usual y running her fingers along the gray furrow on his scalp.
Once her kissing his lips woke him. When he reached for her she darted out of the cabin.
Damned if this girl didn't intrigue him, Gabe thought. He got to where when he heard her enter the cabin he'd pretend to be asleep just to feel her hands, soft and tender, caressing his face and always touching his gray furrow.
'I know you're not asleep. You're just lying there pretending and hoping for another kiss but you'll not get it.'
Listening to Faith caused a slight smile Gabe couldn't prevent. He opened his eyes and looking at the beauty staring down at him said, 'God, I'm in love.'
'Well, I still ain't kissing you,' Faith replied. 'Here I done saved yore hide and you playing possum with me to steal a kiss. I ought to turn you in, is what I ought to do, and I still might.' But as Faith rose from the side of Gabe's bed she looked to see if anyone was watching, quickly leaned over and gave Gabe a quick peck on the lips, then without a word she dashed off.
With his strength returning Gabe would get out of bed and move about the cabin. 'Keep away from ’da
’doh,' Lum had begged. Tonight he could stand it no longer. He had to be about, he had to have some fresh air.
'Well, if you ’dat determined we'll take a stroll when the marse goes down,' Lum said. Gabe could tell the
old black man didn't like the idea but also understood Gabe's needs.
Walking through the shadows Gabe paused under a giant oak tree. The front of the house was there before him. It was a huge white house with eight columns. It was set up high off the ground and while the house was wood, it had been bricked from the ground up to the porch. Gabe counted ten steps that had to be twenty feet wide, leading up to the porch.
'Why is the house built so high?' Gabe asked Lum.
'Cause ’da be a flood. This heah is what ’da cal s the low country. ’Da's a river what flows to the marsh and den ’da's the ocean. Course back datta way ’da's a swamp. Marse Hindley say's they's crocogators in dat swamp what eat up people.'
Gabe had never heard of a crocogator but didn't pursue it. 'Why do they brick up around the house?' Gabe asked, still curious as to the design.
'Why dat helps keep out ’da rattlers and cottonmouths and copperheads. It's where ’da ’stoh the potatoes and vegetables. And when we get eggs from the hen house we keep ’dem there cause it's the coolest place. Marse Adam keeps his wine and cider down there too.'
'What are those buildings off that way towards the river?'
'That's the sawmill then past dat is the gristmill. We can do bout anything heah on Marse Adam's plantation.
We's got a blacksmith shop and dat big building over there is ’da ship's warehouse and jail.'
'Ship's warehouse. What's in that?'
'Why thangs ’da bring in off ships. We plantation slaves, we don't go over there. Only Marse Hindley's boys go over there. They's men watch over dat place with guns.'
'Hmmm,' Gabe said deep in thought. Was this where the gunpowder was to be sent after being unloaded from the Turtle?
'Foh Missy Faith's mama and daddy died they owned ’da plantation and Marse Adam shipped ’da cotton and wood and stuff. But now he head of it al.
He is Missy Faith's uncle but she don't care much for him.'
