Gardner was able to keep the pirates well informed.'
'You don't think Gardner was involved do you?' an unbelieving Captain Moffett asked.
'No sir,' Gabe replied, 'After being clubbed by one of Montique's men I was dragged to a warehouse and chained. Pretending to still be unconscious I listened while Montique bragged about how simple and stupid Gardner was…ah…No offense to the commodore, sir.'
'None taken,' Admiral Anthony replied. 'Please continue.'
'Aye, sir,' Montique laughed at how trusting Gardner was. He talked Gardner into using his home stating it was better off being lived in; that way it was kept up. He stated his house was usual y empty and at any rate when he was in Antigua he could stay in one of the guest rooms. That way he would still have accommodations when needed and Greta would have a comfortable place to live as long as Gardner was dockyard commissioner. If a contract came open what would it hurt for Montique to know about it? Gardner was persuaded and the rest is history.'
'You mentioned earlier this Montique was a traitor to both sides,' the Admiral spoke again, 'How so?'
'Not only a traitor to both causes,' Gabe replied,
'But a white slaver as well.' This caused Admiral Anthony and Captain Moffett to sit up.
'Damme sir, but did you say a white slave trader?' Moffett asked.
'Aye,' Gabe replied, 'He was taking young female captives from vessels the pirates plundered and then sold them to the Dey of Algiers. That is to say the ones Montique and his ruffians didn't use up for their own
pleasure. God only knows what happened to those poor creatures after they were used.' Lord Anthony and Moffett looked dumbfounded as Gabe continued. 'According to a man named Hindley, who was Montique's plantation overseer, if Faith, ’ere his niece, continued to avoid his advances, he was going to sell her to the Dey. Said a young blonde virgin would fetch a fortune… her weight in gold.'
'His niece, incestuous bastard is he not?' Moffett exclaimed.
'Aye, sir. It was this Hindley who became so besotted with Faith's beauty he risked sure death by Montique when he attempted to rape the girl. It was then Lum kill ed the man that made it necessary for me to bring him with me, for his protection. It was then Dagan showed up with his group and we escaped, taking the other captive girls with us. It's in the report, sir,' Gabe said as he ended his story.
'Enlightened me if you will sir,' Captain Moffett spoke again. 'You've explained how Montique was an informer to the pirates and a slaver but how has he been a traitor to the Colonials?'
'Well, sir,' Gabe began again, 'the Admiral can tell you that the pirates attacked al ships of means; it didn't matter if it was British, Colonial or what nation. It was a rich cargo he was after…whose made no difference.
Even Commodore Gardner remarked on how a lot of those taken could have paid a large ransom. Well, Montique had the pirates kill the men, take pleasure in the…ah, older women, but the young girls and the
younger the better, he sold into the Dey's harems. The goods from those ships he sold to the highest bidder, and then often had the ship waylaid carrying the cargo he'd just sold. Then he'd sale it again. His warehouse was full of contraband. There was enough in one warehouse to keep an entire Army going through a whole winter.'
'I see,' Moffett said.
After a brief pause, while Silas recharged everyone's wine glass, the report continued. This time both Gabe and Markham explained how the privateer had engaged the merchant vessel and how when they arrived the privateer was taken.
'Here's a list of cargo I thought would interest you, my Lord,' Markham said as he proudly handed Lord Anthony an inventory list.
Taking a moment to go over the list the admiral raised his eyebrows. Then addressing the flag captain, he spoke. 'Damme, Dutch, would you listen to this?
After a one and a quarter hour engagement the privateer, Le Frelon…what's that…the wasp?
'Hornet, sir,' Markham corrected his senior, 'Le Frelon means the Hornet.'
'Yes well,' the Admiral continued, 'Upon boarding her we found in cargo eight carriage guns, twelve swivel guns, twenty small arms, sixteen pistols, twenty cutlasses, some twenty cases of cartridges, boxes and belts for bayonets, nineteen barrels of powder and nine half-barrels of powder. In addition, there were bales of blankets, crates of boots in assorted sizes, twelve
kegs of rum, seven casks of naval wine, and a miscellany of shot and ball. We also captured a Colonial captain, a sergeant and about twenty privates. Among the Army stores, we further found six three-pound cannons but no shot or bal. The captured vessel is a French built twenty-gun corvette in good repair. Her commander is a prisoner. We lost ten men kill ed, seven wounded, one of which is in a bad way.'
'It is also my privilege,' Markham spoke after the Admiral had finished reading the inventory, 'to present this set of papers.' Then handing an official document on parchment paper to Lord Anthony, Markham sat back and watched for the expression on the admiral's face to appear.
'My God, sirs,' an excited and surprised Lord Anthony exclaimed, 'do you know what you have here…if…if mind you this document is real. Your discovery may have saved Nova Scotia.' Looking somewhat awed by his Lordship's words, Captain Moffett inquired as he reached out, 'May I, sir?'
'Oh, forgive me, Dutch. Look at this.' As Moffett read the heading of the document his jaw dropped, 'The Plans for the Invasion and Occupation of Nova Scotia to be undertaken by a Consortium of Free Enterprise Ships and Vessels.' As Moffett read on he looked up, 'Did you see the date, my Lord?'
'Aye, Dutch that I did.'
'That doesn't give us much time to prepare a defense, sir.'
'No, it doesn't. Are our patrol ships back in port, Dutch?'
'Aye, sir, al but Merlin and she was due today.'
'Make a signal for al captains to repair on board at 0800 on the morrow.'
'Aye, sir, and sir have you decided about Mr. Earl?'
'Yes, send for him immediately while I have my clerk draw up the orders.' Then Lord Anthony stood.
The formal interview was over. 'We have a lot of preparation, gentlemen.' Looking at Gabe and Markham he said, 'Your find was a Godsend. Have the privateer sent over to the flagship for further questioning.'
'Do you think, sir,' Markham asked, 'that since we captured Le Frelon, they'll cal it off?'
'I doubt it,' Lord Anthony responded. 'I doubt they know we've taken the ship yet and when they find out they will most likely figure the captain's papers were thrown overboard.'
As the group made to leave, Lord Anthony put aside his admiral's demeanor as he spoke, 'Gabe, would you do me the honor of dining with me tonight? Silas will have something to soothe the palate or I'll have him keel- hauled.'
'Aye, sir, I would take pleasure in it.'
'Good, now if you will give Earl time to gather his chest and report to me before you go aboard SeaWolf. '
'Aye, sir, I'd not want to do anything to displeasure Mr. Earl. We've been friends to long.' Smiling Lord Anthony said, 'And I imagine that friendship will continue for sometime since you're the one who helped capture the ship which will be his.' Gabe almost forgot himself, 'Real y Gil…'ere sir, that's great. I'll spend some time with Bart and introduce him to Lum if Dagan's not already done so.'
'Very well,' Lord Anthony explained, 'I'd like to meet this Lum fellow soon myself.'
As soon as Gabe had left, Lord Anthony cal ed to Dagan…'You still in the pantry?'
'Aye, sir, I'm still here.'
'Good, let me draft Earl's orders then we'll sit down and have a glass.'
'Aye, my Lord, I do think I've something that will surprise you.'
Looking at Dagan for a moment Lord Anthony replied, 'I doubt it…I heard his voice when he mentioned her name.'
Boarding SeaWolf again was exhilarating even if it did hold some foolish apprehensions. Apprehensions such as how had things gone since he'd been absent:
had Earl changed any of his standing orders or protocols? How was discipline and morale? Had the bosun sewed any red baize bags in his absence? Gabe couldn't recall SeaWolf’s last flogging. Earl had spent time under Lord Anthony long enough to know his Lordship believed in flogging only as a last resort.
