Looking up, Caleb smiled. 'Just finishing my ale.
Would you and Dagan care to join me for another round?' Mr. Jewell s, the ape, had turned his tankard upside down and was swiping the inside with a finger then licking his finger. He'd made a face not unlike a smile to show al his teeth. Then he rol ed his lips over, straightened his face and grunted. He tried to steal Caleb's tankard. Caleb popped the ape's hand, but not hard, and said, 'No, you've already had two rounds.' This caused more grunting that increased in intensity into a screech. Caleb said, 'Hush…' The ape would of course pick up his tankard again only to begin the cycle anew.
'The purser thought you might be in a bit of difficulty,' Gabe said by way of explaining his and Dagan's presence.
'No difficulty now that yonder lout and his wench and I have come to an understanding.'
Looking once more at the two, Dagan whispered to Gabe, 'Man's holding a bloody rag to his ear.' To this Caleb said, 'That good fellow tried to pimp his wench of on me. I refused. Then he gave a list of particular services she could perform, some of which a gentleman wouldn't repeat. Just for a bottle of rum. I once again declined the foul- breath fool and this time I laid my pistols on the table to emphasize we had no interest.' By 'we', Gabe was not sure if Caleb had another with him during the conversation or he meant Mr. Jewell s and himself.
Caleb continued, 'Then the pest had the wench expose herself by hiking her skirt (she wasn't wearing any drawers), and of ering herself to Mr. Jewell s.' Caleb then returned to his ale.
'Well, what happened then Caleb?' Gabe demanded.
'Why Mr. Jewell s picked up one of my pistols and shot the fool's ear off.'
'Shot him!'
'Aye, Gabe.' Then Caleb seemed very serious, even though his words were slurred from too much drink.
'Gabe, you outta know there's some things even an ape won't do.'
Chapter Five
'Coffee, sir,' Dawkins stood by the table where Gabe sat, 'Sip careful, sir, its still ’ot.' Dawkins had been told of the events at the tavern by Dagan as the two had smoked their pipes last evening. The mental picture kept coming to the old man's mind and he found himself chuckling at the thought of the ape shooting of the man's ear. Was it purely an accident? What would have happened if the shot was a bit further over?
As Gabe sipped the Coffee he felt his stomach growling.
For some unexplained reason he felt apprehensive about this convoy. It was up to him to herd the ordnance transport fill ed with gunpowder along with three other supply ships so overloaded they appeared to be bulging.
There were also a couple of troop ships. One was for the southern campaign at Charlestown and the other for New York. They would move at a snail's pace. Two thousand miles or so at the speed of the slowest sailor. Then up to New York and finally Halifax. They'd be lucky not to run out of rations before they got to Charlestown.
The commodore was right. The brig, Lancaster, looked as if she might sink at any moment. Years in the tropics would do that to a ship, especial y one that hadn't been coppered. Gabe believed her wizened old master when he said, 'She needs scraping but otherwise she's sound.' Gabe found Lieutenant Bruce to be as the commodore described. I'd not put him in charge of a bumboat much
less a brig, Gabe thought. He was doubly glad of her master.
Lieutenant Estes, captain of the Wild Goose seemed very capable. It was almost shameful, the relief on Bruce's face when he found out not only would Gabe be in command but Lieutenant Estes would be his second if anything should happen.
The Wild Goose looked fairly new. She was an American made schooner and would handle well, Gabe knew from previous experience. However, she was less than eighty feet long, had a crew of seventy to seventy-five and carried only ten six-pounders and a few swivels for armament.
Again, as the commodore had said, not much firepower to protect the convoy they were to escort. Dagan came in as Gabe was finishing his coffee.
'Mr. Hazard said the wind has freshened. Some of the convoy has already gotten underway without your signal.' Damn, Gabe thought, recalling the words from the Turtle's captain. 'We know when and how to sail, Navy boy, you just protect us.' So much for meetings. Hazard met Gabe as he came on deck.
'Anchors hove short.'
'Very well, up anchor, Mr. Hazard, loosen the head sails. Make general signal to get underway.' No sooner had the signal been given when Lavery reported, 'Wild Goose has already gotten the wind in her sails.
'Main the braces' Gabe eyed Wild Goose. He didn't want it to appear a race but he didn't like being beat. Not when it was suppose to be him calling the shots.
'Sir,' Hazard cal ed, 'I don't see any action on board the Lancaster.'
'Mr. Davy!'
'Aye, sir.'
'Signal Lancaster. Make haste!' Hands aloft, Mr. Hazard. Loosen the fore topsail.'
SeaWolf had made her way through the winding array of ships in the anchorage.
'Winds appears to be picking up, sir,' the master volunteered. 'Should make for fine sailing.'
'Mr. Davy!'
'Aye, sir.'
'Make general signal to convoy to form line behind SeaWolf. Signal Wild Goose to take station to leeward and Lancaster to windward.'
'Aye, sir.'
Halfway through the first watch Gabe made it down to his cabin, so tired he collapsed into his chair. He now saw his brother and father in a new light. Holding command was not always 'al claret and prize money' as someone had once put it. Keeping the convoy together took more coaxing and bullying than Gabe would have imagined. He was physical y and mental y drained. He'd had to have Wild Goose surge ahead and put one across Turtle's bow to make her comply with sailing orders.
Turtle's master had closed to hailing distance with SeaWolf before taking her position in the convoy. Captain Patrick in his brogue Irish had threatened Gabe for his high-handedness and promised Gabe he'd hear from high authority.
'He's just trying you,' Dagan had said.
Thankful y, Lancaster had remained on station and responded when Gabe had signalled changes. 'Her master's a good man,' Blake reassured Gabe. 'We were mates together on the old Ogdon. He knows what he's about. He'll keep station.'
To which, in one of his rare demonstrations of temper, Dagan had responded, 'Hell, a man with a good set of oars in a row boat could keep station with us.' Maybe that was it, Gabe thought. They were used to independence and flying with the wind. Not creeping along at five knots.
It seemed like an age since they'd set sail from English Harbour but after that first day everyone had settled down to routine. They'd shortened sail at night and carried al the canvas the ships could handle during the day. Al sorts of drill had been practiced and competitions had been set-up to keep the crew busy so they wouldn't get sullen. Only one man had been flogged.
However, if the master was right they should sight land the next afternoon; if not, then early the following
day. Some of the weariness he'd felt that first day still lingered, but overall he was much better. Dawkins was there as always with that much needed first cup of coffee. It had been hard to get to sleep the previous evening and harder still getting up. Gabe would never be an early riser.
The early gray light of dawn was starting to penetrate the stern windows. The lanthorn was still needed but not for long. Looking up at the lanthorn he noticed it swinging more than usual. Then Gabe realized there was more than the usual rol as SeaWolf made her way. When Dagan entered the cabin moments later he found Gabe almost
