Dean, seeing Gabe was lost in thought excused himself to give Gabe some much needed time alone.
Gabe didn't even realize Dean had gone on deck. It was the sound of music that brought Gabe out of his deep thought. A soft sound, a pleasant but a mournful sound.
As Gabe stood up to investigate the noise, he banged his head on an overhead beam. 'Damn,' he cried aloud without thinking. The lick caused tears to come to his eyes.
Dagan came in just as the incident happened,
'Clear your thoughts did you?'
'More like muddled them for good I'm thinking,' Gabe replied still rubbing his head. 'What's that sound?'
'It's Lum playing a lotz.'
'Damned if he didn't pick a sad tune.'
'To fit your mood?'
'Well, it doesn't miss it far. Dagan…I don't know what to do. There she was, as good as mine, happy, then her mood changed and like quicksilver she was gone. Can you guess why, Dagan? I've never asked for anything for me, but tell me…will she be there Dagan?
Will she be there when this is over?' Dagan sensed the pain in his nephew, knew he needed something to hold on to but he couldn't bring himself to make a promise that this war could change.
'I'll think on it Gabe, I don't have a true feeling right now, but I do know if the love is true, true like the Admiral's and Maria's, then only death can come between you.'
After standing still a long silent moment, Gabe asked, 'What's a lotz?'
Unable to hide his smile Dagan explained, 'A lotz is a type of flute. Lum made it himself out of boxwood.
He said the first one he made was out of river reeds but this one's a touch more elaborate.'
'It's a pretty sound, Dagan, but that was definitely a sad tune.'
Dagan then looked directly at Gabe, 'Could be Lum is missing someone too.'
'Sail ho, bearing down amidships to the starboard, looks like the Swan, sir.'
Dean had a tight ship and a sharp, experienced lookout; he cal ed down his sighting without having to be prompted for more information.
Hearing the sighting excited Gabe. Markham. He had missed his friend. The two had been very close ever since they had been midshipmen together.
It took another turn of the glass before Swan was alongside Parrot. Dean had bent on the signal 'missing flock returned' so Markham had himself rowed over to Parrot. After much good-natured ribbing and back slapping Markham was introduced to the rest of the missing flock.
'Lieutenant Frances Markham, ladies, Captain of HMS Swan.' As the girls were introduced, now more appropriately attired, Gabe caught Markham staring at Erin.
Well, he ain't dead, he thought, still not understanding the change in Caleb and his mannerisms where the women were concerned. Everyone made a big deal out of Kawliga and Jubal. Rud grunted a lot but wasn't that talkative. Lum was silent and seemed nervous about the attention he was being paid. Gabe made up his mind to talk with Lum first chance he had when the two could be alone.
It was decided Markham would take al of Gabe's party aboard Swan and head toward Nova Scotia and Lord Anthony. Parrot would return southward to Saint Augustine and then to the West Indies.
It was a happy and cheerful Mr. Davy that greeted Gabe, Dagan, Caleb and the rest of the group as they came aboard Swan. Once everything had been stowed Davy got the ship underway.
'Not a sniffling little snit anymore, is he?' Markham asked his friend.
'Nay,' Gabe answered, 'He's always been a brave one. He'll go far if he's not kill ed.'
'Rud, where can we put you ashore?' Gabe and Markham had been discussing their human cargo. It didn't make sense to take them al the way to Nova Scotia. Therefore Rud was cal ed in for advice.
'Where are we now?' the soldier asked.
'Close to North Carolina,' Markham replied.
'I'd be obliged if you could drop me off at Wilmington,' Rud said. 'I got kin there and after a visit I'll mosey on back down to Colonel Marion. You two share the same name,' Rud said speaking to Markham.
'Him being Francis Marion and you being Frances Markham. Course you don't look alike, him being from South Carolina and you being a Britisher and such.' Gabe could barely control his smile as a somewhat taken aback Frances Markham agreed to put a boat ashore off Wilmington circumstances permitting.
After Rud stood to leave he addressed Gabe, 'If al Britishers were like you and Dagan I doubt we'd be warring. I'm obliged to have met you and was glad to have helped sprung you from your fix. Don't worry about your little lady; we'll keep our ears and eyes out for her. we'll also put out the word on Montique.
Maybe Colonel Marion will pay him a personal visit.'
A stiff breeze was blowing when Gabe made his way on deck at dawn. Seeing him, Mr. Harrel, Swan's first lieutenant, nudged his captain.
Markham, looking at Gabe, said, 'I thought you might ’sleep in' this morning.'
'No,' Gabe replied. 'Old habits die hard.' Instantly Markham knew Gabe longed for his ship.
Was it always so? A woman, a ship, but always a longing.
'The master says the winds will die some at first light. He expects a sunny day but relates it will get colder as we continue northward.'
'Not like those warm days at Antigua is it, my friend?' Gabe asked.
'Nay, but that's in the past, Gabe, it's best to think on today.'
At six bel s the bosun piped up hammocks. After the men rolled their hammocks, they were sent to wash and scrub the weather decks with holystones, then flog
them dry. Most of the men had a substantial appetite by the time the cook and his mates had the gal ey fires lit and breakfast was piped.
Markham had never been a fast eater and felt the men should have time to enjoy their meals so he allowed one glass for breakfast. Thirty minutes was more than enough time for most men to eat their oatmeal gruel and still have time for a chew or bowl of tobacco.
'Sail ho! Two sails off the larboard beam.'
'Damn early for company is it not, Mr. Davy?'
'Aye, Mr. Harrel, that it is. Should I inform the captain, sir?'
'I'm sure he heard the hail, but we'll follow protocol. My compliments to the captain and there's two strange sails off the larboard beam.'
'No need, Mr. Harrel, I'm here.'
'Aye, sir.'
'Anything further?'
'Not yet, sir.'
'Mr. Davy, be so kind as to take a glass aloft. It appears our man aloft doesn't have as good a set of peepers as Quinn did yesterday,' Markham ordered.
'Aye, sir. I'll report right away,' Davy replied, and then clambered up the shrouds, shunning the lubbers hole as he gained the lookout's platform.
'Deck there,' Davy shouted. 'Two schooners, sir.'
'He didn't waste any time, did he?' Lieutenant Harrel commented.
'Experience, Mr. Harrel, experience. I trained,
’ere…Lieutenant Anthony and I trained that boy ourselves,' Markham corrected himself as he noticed Gabe's gaze upon him.
