Gabe's train of thought.
'Well there was a letter sometime back,' Dagan said then left the sentence hanging.
'Well,' Caleb prompted.
'Well, I think you need to study your chess game a little more,' Dagan said as he continued to toy with Caleb.
'Damn the chess game man, the letter, was there anything in the letter about me?'
'Humph! Not that I recall.'
Then seeing the forlorn look creep across Caleb's face, Dagan appeared to be deep in thought then said,
'Well, maybe there was one bit where Uncle Andre said Kitty asked to be remembered to you and should you desire to come visit again you'd be welcome.' The joy that filled Caleb's face was unmistakable, then a frown, 'Why, dammit all, Dagan, why didn't you tell me?' Caleb exclaimed in a perturbed manner.
'Cause you didn't ask,' Dagan flung back.
'Humph!' Caleb then reached for his glass and downed the hock. 'I think I'll go topside and listen to Lum before I retire. He at least knows something about manners.'
1
As Caleb left the cabin Dagan looked at Gabe and smiled, 'I expect we might be losing Caleb before too long.'
'My thoughts as well,' Gabe replied then noticed Dagan staring out the stern window into the dark.
'Not before he's needed though, not before he's needed.' Dagan's quiet predictions always gave Gabe an eerie feeling. He watched in silence as without another word Dagan stood up from the table, reached for his pipe and tobacco then made his way out.
Not the way I would like for the evening to end, Dawkins thought as he sat in the pantry nursing the remains of the hock, not the way I wanted it to end at all.
By midday an easterly wind was blowing more than a half gale. On shore, Admiral Lord Anthony paused before he entered the governor's coach taking him back to Saint Augustine Harbour, where he would board his barge and make the trip out to the anchorage.
Unlike Antigua, Saint Augustine 's channel entrance was too shallow to allow a ship of the line to enter the safety of the harbour. The ride from the governor's house was not a pleasant ride. Between potholes and the wind the coach rocked viciously. Looking out at the harbour Anthony could see the wind had churned the normally clear waters to a dark, cloudy appearance with the waves rushing ashore leaving all manner of crushed shells, jellyfish and other creatures in the sand.
It was coming on to hurricane season. That was the topic of the conversation with Governor Tonyn. Without a safe harbour, his ships, with the exception of Audacity and Pigeon who could enter the harbour, would have to stand off and possibly run before the wind. The governor, a landsman, admitted he'd never considered the safety of ships from the elements when he requested Barracuda 1
a naval presence. The meeting had hit a sour note but then Anthony reminded the governor any storm that created peril for his ships would do the same for privateers. This seemed to pacify Tonyn. The slamming of a shutter as the wind picked up, bending the palms outside Tonyn's office window added finality to the situation. A driving rain had started by the time Anthony made it to the harbour and his waiting barge.
He was tempted to have the coach take him back to the governor's house until the weather moderated but knew in the long run he'd be more comfortable aboard Warrior and away from politicians. Stepping down from the coach Anthony turned a shoulder to the wind and rain. He cocked his head to one side but still had to use his hand to keep his hat from blowing off his head. Out of nowhere Bart seemed to materialize with Dagan at his side. The two had likely made a trip to the Mermaid while he had been at the governor's. It was just as likely they had brought a bottle back to be shared by the barges crew.
As Anthony settled in the barge Bart handed him a boat cloak then adjusted his old tarpaulin.
'Winds sharper than a whore's tongue,' Bart said to Anthony. Then turning his attention to the barge's crew ordered, 'Stir your stumps mates; unlimber your timbers and pull.'
The dripping sailors went about Bart's bidding confident a 'tot' of rum waited them at the flagship.
The bowman pushed off and the two banks of oars came down in perfect unison. Seemingly oblivious to the wind and rain, Anthony's mind was on the report Gabe and Markham had delivered upon their return the previous day.
They would have to spend more time patrolling that area for privateers. This was now obvious and it pleased Tonyn to hear they'd destroyed the privateer. Finch's 1
report had also sounded promising. However, the more he thought about it Anthony was sure Bart had been right. The Spaniards were involved, but who and how?
Too many questions and not enough answers.
Well, I'll keep the Carolina coast guessing as to when we might make an appearance, Anthony decided, but I am going to focus on the south… the Keys and Havana.
It was what Lord Anthony missed most of all when at sea. With nothing but open sky on the horizon and the deck lively beneath his feet, he would stand at the weather side of the quarterdeck and enjoy the peace of the early morn. Now Captain Earl leaned on the weather rail, as was his place. Merlin was his ship.
Anthony had already deprived the captain of his quarters by shifting his flag to the Merlin. The loss of a cabin compared to the honour of flying the admiral's flag was an inconvenience most captains would gladly endure. Earl was no different.
Anthony had felt the desire… nay, the need to go on this patrol. He needed the feel of the sea vibrating through his body. He felt that if he could get back to the open sea he could get his mind in tune with the mission.
He felt dry-docked at the Saint Augustine anchorage so he had shifted his flag to Merlin in spite of Captain Buck's protest.
Now they were almost to the Florida Keys. SeaWolf was in sight ahead and Audacity was off the weather side almost a beam. The sun was an hour above the horizon and already bearing down like a torch. The sky was a light blue and the sea a deep aqua. Under full sail Merlin ploughed her way through the rolling sea.
Bart approached with a mug in his hand. 'A bit o'
lime juice brought by Cap'n Earl's man, who said it were Barracuda 1
better than coffee when the sun was already hotter 'n whore's drawers.'
Anthony took the glass and found the lime juice cool and sweetened. Not the usual sour taste he was used too.
Seeing Anthony peer at his glass Bart volunteered,
''e put a bit sugar into hit.'
Anthony had left Silas aboard Warrior trying not to overcrowd Merlin's already close quarters. Earl's servant, an ole topman named Lamb, had done his best to please the admiral.
'Deck there!' The lookout called down, 'Signal from Audacity, flotsam in the water.' Captain Earl turned to Lord Anthony, 'Heave to?'
'Aye,' Anthony replied, 'and signal SeaWolf our intentions.'
'Aye, aye, my lord. Mr. Scott, let's be getting the signals bent on.'
Then before the midshipman could respond the lookout called down, 'Deck there! Signal from SeaWolf, strange sail in sight.'
Anthony could feel his adrenalin rise as his heart began to race. 'Captain Earl, please disregard my last order to heave to and make all sail to yonder sighting.
Signal SeaWolf to investigate strange sail, and then advise Audacity to follow after a look at the flotsam.'
'Aye, my lord,' Earl replied. He could feel a sense of excitement at the sighting of the sail.
'Deck there! Signal from SeaWolf, strange sail 'as went about and 'as headed back toward the east.' Bart looked at Lord Anthony, 'To the Keys, do you think?'
'Aye, that's my thinking. Like a fox looking for a hole with the hounds at his heels.'
Earl approached Anthony and said, 'With the wind almost astern we could sail another point or two to
