As he made his departure Tonyn stepped close to Anthony and said, 'Would you believe the damn Georgia rebels tarred, feathered and partially scalped Browne? That's why his hair is long.'
Seeing a British officer Tonyn said, 'That's General Augustin Prevost, Commander of the Royal American Regiment. He is in charge of the defense of Saint Augustine. As you can imagine, he doesn't like Colonel Browne. He doesn't think Browne's guerrilla warfare is honorable. Not a gentleman, he says.' But speaking very stern Tonyn said, 'For what the rebels send against us I'd rather have Browne's rangers than a dozen of Prevost's regiments.'
As the evening continued Anthony spied Hazard and one of Knight's lieutenants standing in the center of a group of young ladies. Seeing the smiles on the lieutenant's faces and the look of awe from the young ladies he could only imagine what tale of derring-do's was being told.
Without realizing her actions, one young lady touched Hazard's empty sleeve. The young lieutenant was so enthralled with the conversation he appeared not to have noticed the act, something that would have caused him to jerk back three months ago.
Good, thought Anthony. He's realizing the loss of the arm didn't make him less of a man. He at this particular time appeared to be treated like the hero he was.
Anthony continued to observe the group a few more minutes when he realized how much he missed Lady Deborah… Lady Deborah and a daughter he'd yet to lay eyes on. Damn this war, he thought, damn it to hell.
Chapter Nine
Gabe was listening to the sounds overhead as he sipped on his coffee. Lum seemed awkward this morning, almost distant.
'Did you enjoy your time ashore last night?' Gabe asked. Dawkins had taken Lum in tow and the two had gone into Saint Augustine.
'Yes, suh.'
'What did you think of the town,' Gabe asked trying to draw Lum into conversation.
'Well, suh, Beaufort ain't got nuthin' on it, but it ain't no Charlestown.' Lum still wasn't his usual self.
'Is there a problem Lum?' Gabe asked.
'Well, suh, I jus' ain't used being round no trouble.' At that time there was a knock at the cabin door.
'First lieutenant, sir,' the sentry said.
As Jackson made his way in Gabe could feel his stomach tighten. The look on Jackson 's face was enough.
'What is it Mr. Jackson?'
'Mr. Lancaster is in jail, sir.'
'In jail, damme sir, what's this about?' Gabe exclaimed.
'He was in an altercation at some tavern.'
'The Mermaid,' Lum volunteered. Both officers turned to look at Lum.
'You know about this?'
'Aye, sir, I was there.'
'Is this the trouble you just spoke of?'
'Yas suh, that's hit.'
'Well what happened?' Gabe asked.
'Well suh, Dawkins, he done struck up a conversation wid what he called a lovely little doxy. Deys was two of dem, but old Lum didn't wants ta boder wid
'em none cause I's be thinking about Missy Faith and Nanny. Well, upstairs Dawkins goes whilst I watch over his purse and finish my wet. Den da's a comotion to beat da devil. Dis sodjar man trys to kiss Mistah Lancaster on da face. Den Mistah Lancaster slaps dat sodjar man a good'un and says he don't have no time fah no damn sodimite sodjar. Dat heathen then grabs a-hole of Mistah Lancaster like he was a woman and say's 'When I'm done ye'll be squealing like a pig.' '
'When Mistah Lancaster wouldn't squeal da man starts biting on his eah and foh ya know'd it he done bit poh Mistah Lancaster's eah clean off. Dat's when Mistah Lancaster felt blood running down his face and puts his hand to his eah but dey ain't no eah dar, so he cries out
'You bung bustin' scum' and shoots da man right in his… his… ah… you knows what Bart calls 'is wedding tackle. Den da's dis Captain man wid moh sodjars take poh Mistah Lancaster off to da jail.'
Gabe and Jackson sat astonished at Lum's narrative.
'And you saw it all?' Gabe finally asked.
'Aye, suh, wid my own peepers. I's as close as I is to you right now.'
'Well, I'd better go check on our midshipman. Mr.
Jackson, get my gig ready,' Gabe said. 'Where's Dagan?'
'I'm here,' Dagan called. He had slipped in and poured himself a cup of coffee as Lum had told his story.
'Where have you been?' Gabe asked Dagan.
'With Dawkins, he was roughed up a bit afterwards by a provost sergeant of the sixtieth when he went to check on Lancaster. Lum laid the sergeant out and brought Dawkins back to the ship. He's with Caleb now.
Caleb says he'll be fine.'
Turning back to Lum, Gabe said, 'Is there more?'
'Not much, suh. We went to check on Mistah Lancaster adder Dawkins finished his business wid that little doxy. Dat sergeant acted real uppity like and said they'd handle the little sailor boy. Dawkins den told the man he'd be back and they'd see who handled whom.
When Dawkins turned to go dats when dat sodjar hit him wid 'is pistol so I jus' clops dat man a good'un and down he wents.'
'What did you hit him with?' Gabe asked.
Lum looked sheepish as he replied, 'Dawkins bottle
'od kill devil.'
'Did the sergeant see you?' Gabe asked.
'No suh, not lessen 'e's got eyes in da back o' 'is head and iffen he do I 'speck they's busted.' Lord Anthony was discussing the ball from the previous evening with Buck. He told of his meeting Colonel Browne, and then asked Buck how his evening had gone, expecting a lewd tale. Bart was expecting some bawdy tale as well as he continued to hang around the pantry when normally he'd be out and about.
Buck had just started when through the skylight the challenge 'boat ahoy!'
SeaWolf came the response. While Gabe and Lord Anthony were brothers it was only upon invitation Gabe would visit the flagship.
'I'll go,' Buck said then grabbed his hat and headed topside.
Later in Lord Anthony's cabin Gabe retold Lum's story as he'd just told Buck. 'When I went to the jail a provost major told me pretty quick Lancaster was under arrest for attempted murder and I didn't have the authority to have him released or to even see him for that matter. Said he was tired of the Navy acting like they owned the damn city. He did tell me, Lancaster would be tried tomorrow and likely be hanged by sunset.'
Hearing this Lord Anthony stood up suddenly and said, 'Nay! There'll be no hanging unless it's that damnable sodimite. Bart?'
'I's getting the barge ready now sir,' Bart said, not needing to be told.
'Captain Buck, I'm going to the governor's; meanwhile you take marine Captain Dunlap and a squad of his men to the jail. Tell that popinjay major I'd consider it a compliment if he'd release Lancaster into your custody.'
'Aye,' Buck replied, 'and if he don't I'll have Dunlap shoot the bastard.'
The governor was out when Anthony arrived unannounced.
'His Excellency is expected soon, my Lord,' Tonyn's secretary assured Anthony, not quite sure what to do with someone of Lord Anthony's status. Finally, he said, 'May I offer you some refreshment while you wait, my Lord?'
Tonyn had just returned and was in the process of greeting Anthony when the sound of horses could be heard and a coach slid to a halt causing a grinding sound on the flagstones outside the governor's door. In came General
