Barracuda

Diamond shook as she was hit again with splashes all around indicating several near misses.

'Mr. Brown!'

'Aye, sir!'

'Prepare to abandon ship. Make sure the wounded are carried off first and send for the gunner and any of his mates still left alive.

I want every gun still usable made ready to fire.' Bewildered Brown asked, 'To what purpose, sir?'

'Honour!' Knight roared back. 'Damn your soul. Honour!

Now get moving!'

'Aye, sir!'

Chapter One

This way Lord Anthony, Admiral Howe will see you now.'

Anthony thanked the flag lieutenant as he was ushered into the admiral's stateroom. After thanking the lieutenant, Anthony turned and was face to face with Vice Admiral Richard (Black Dick) Howe, commander of His Majesty's Naval Forces in North America.

Anthony knew the meeting would be short. It was getting late and the temperature was dropping. There had already been snow flurries across New York 's harbour.

'Well, Gil, it's a fine show you put on for those damnable privateers trying to take Nova Scotia. Had they succeeded, the war would have been over before it started. You're to be commended, sir. I read your report and you've a fine bunch of officers. I like it when a commander recognizes his men for their efforts. Now, have a glass of hot brandy, sir. It will warm you as there's precious little heat on board this ship.' As the two sat down a silence filled the admiral's quarters until the brandy was poured.

'Would you care for a stick of cinnamon in your drink, Gil? It's something the Colonials do.'

'No, my Lord, I take it plain.'

'Fine, now shoo… shoo… Walters, go find a warm spot.' It was the admiral's way of sending off the servant.

'Hard to find a good servant that doesn't talk,' Howe said as the servant departed.

When the door was closed Howe started again,

'Have you heard about that business in Saint Augustine?'

'Only bits and pieces, my Lord.'

'Well it was a shame. A damned utter shame, I tell you. Four ships lost, one the commodore's own flagship, while he and the ship's captain were being entertained for the evening. Entertained, huh! Dipping their wicks I'd wager. Sir Percival is near sixty. I can just see that flabby fat arse of his being entertained. Cost him; cost him a guinea or more I'd wager. Well, I've sent him home. Hopefully we'll not hear from him again but his kind always seems to pop up, usually in Parliament. I'm giving you his job, not that he did anything with it, but I've different expectations of you. I've read your record, Gil. You're destined, sir, and damme if I don't envy you.

'Course Lord James was destined too,' Lord Howe said speaking of Anthony's father. 'That being said you mind yourself.'

Anthony took a deep breath but said nothing, allowing Admiral Howe to continue.

'Now let's get down to business. Privateers are costing us this war. I know it and you know it, I just wished Lord North would realize it. The south is a haven for the rouges. We control the east coast of Florida as you know but some think she's ripe for the picking.'

'Privateers roam with impunity from the Carolina 's down along the coast of Florida, through the keys to Cuba, even into the Gulf of Mexico. Florida 's governor, Patrick Tonyn, has requested help. He says he'll have it; else the damn Spaniards and Rebels will have Florida before we know it. He's a steady man so I believe him.

Hell, just this fall the damn privateers took the brig, HMS Betsy, within site of Saint Augustine. She was full of gunpowder when she was taken and not a damnable thing could Tonyn do but watch. In his letter for help he states he's only got four hundred muskets to defend the entire border of Florida. Not much of a force would you say?'

But before Anthony could reply, Howe continued without hardly pausing.

'You are going to change that. Not only are you going to make a presence, your going to make it felt.'

'Aye,' Anthony acknowledged. It was somewhat humorous how Lord Howe had gotten his temper up talking about the privateers and Lord North. Which stirred him the most? Anthony wondered. Lord Howe had risen from his chair and paced the deck as he ranted. He now sat down behind his desk and took out a document.

Handing it to Anthony, he continued, 'You're going to lose Moffett.'

Surprised Anthony stared directly at Lord Howe. A smile crept across Howe's face. 'Moffett has made admiral. He will sail back with Pope on HMS Drakkar to England for his orders.' Raising his hand to fend off Lord Anthony's objections Howe continued, 'I know you don't want to lose Drakkar but she's been out here for over three years and it's time she returns for an overhaul.

I thought Moffett would like to hear about his promotion from you.'

'Thank you, my Lord.' Anthony regained his composure and asked, 'Is there a replacement named?'

'Aye, I thought you might want Captain Buck.' A frown creased Anthony's brow.

'You don't want him?' Howe questioned.

'Oh no, my Lord, I mean yes, my Lord, I do, but who'll command HMS Merlin?'

'I thought you might have someone in mind,' Lord Howe responded.

'I do sir, but I've just given him command… ere… temporary command of a captured French corvette.'

'Yes, I read that in your report. Is she seaworthy?'

'Aye, my Lord, she's had repairs and is ready.'

'Fine then,' Howe answered. 'I'll make Earl captain on Merlin and I'm going to promote Knight and give him command of your captured corvette.'

'Knight, sir?'

'Yes. He was the first lieutenant on Diamond. Were it not for him we'd not fired a shot during the attack at Saint Augustine. He and a volunteer gun crew fired on the hellish privateers until they no longer had a gun left to fire. The decks were awash as the ship was sinking.

Had it not been for a gun captain lashing him to a grate he would have gone down with the ship. As it is now he's mending from burns to his arms and chest. I'll not let his bravery go unrewarded. Not by a damn site.' Anthony took a deep breath then asked, 'Would it be possible sir… for him to be part of my squadron? I could use a man who has experience in the area.'

'Yes, I see your point, though knowing Sir Percival as I do I'm not sure how much local experience he's obtained outside of Saint Augustine 's Harbour.

However, it would do him good to be attached to a good commander. Very well, he and the ship are yours.' As Anthony made his way back to his barge he felt a pang of jealousy. Damn Pope, lucky sod that he was, returning to England while Anthony had to stay in the Colonies. Anthony thought of his last letter from Deborah. 'Heavy with your child' was how she put it.

The last time he saw her she didn't even know she was pregnant. However, if she hadn't been it would not have Barracuda been from a lack of trying. She had never had a child and being pregnant at age thirty was considered risky by Anthony's family physician. Deborah's last letter had assured him her pregnancy was going well. Slow as the mail is she will have had the baby and it'll be weaned from the tit before I know anything, Anthony thought.

Seeing the smile on Lord Anthony's face Bart, the admiral's cox'n, volunteered, 'Peers 'is Lordship 'as pleased yew. We going home?'

'No, but to a warmer climate,' Anthony answered.

'Well, hits bout time, way yews timbers be cracking when yews walking about causes me to shiver.'

'My timbers!' Anthony exclaimed. 'How could you hear me when you crack and pop worse than a sprung mast in a heavy gale. My timbers… humph.'

'Well, I'm guessing the warm airs could do us-uns both a bit o' good,' Bart said as he turned to climb down into the admiral's barge leaving Anthony nothing but open sky and water to reply to.