'Do you think that I, as a humble merchant, would be able to outfit my son and provide enough allowance long enough so that he could decide if he truly wants to live a life at sea?'
Gabe was not sure how to respond. With what the tavern was now making, Domingo could outfit the boy, but with his Spanish heritage and no influence life would be rough. Even with his father being an admiral, it had been very tough for him at times. Gabe could only imagine how things would be for a Spanish tavern keeper's son in the Royal Navy. How did you explain to a 'landsman' what went on in the midshipmen's berth?
How once signed on, the captain couldn't interfere least he is accused of favoritism. The lad would have to face up to bullies, poor food and a list of dangers that could take a life in a slip of a second. Not to mention the added dangers of war.
'Are you talking of Alejandro?' Gabe asked.
'Si.'
'Has he ever been at sea?'
Domingo shook his head, 'No.'
'How is his education?' Gabe asked.
'It is well, senor. He speaks English and Latin and can do his arithmetic.'
'Can he write well?' Gabe asked.
'Si, senor, he is very smart.'
'How old is he?' Gabe asked.
'He is fourteen.'
'Well,' Gabe said. 'He's older than I was and he's big and healthy enough to handle the rigors of shipboard life. Is he easy to anger?' Gabe asked.
To this Domingo raised his eyes and said, 'Yes, sometimes too quick.'Well, thought Gabe, what do I do?
'Let me think on it Domingo and if I decide to take him on, I'll be his sponsor. That may prove helpful at some point.'
As Gabe left the tavern he discussed the situation with Markham.
'I don't know,' his friend said. 'It would be a long shot at best. I'd talk to Dagan and see what he thinks.
You know he's the one who'd know best except maybe his Lordship.'
'Thanks,' Gabe said, 'for telling me what I already knew.'
'Well there's no charge for the obvious,' Markham quipped. 'By the way have you seen Nancy lately?'
'Not that I can recall. Last time I saw her she was giving the nurses what for at the hospital for not taking proper care of Sir Raymond.'
As the two friends walked on a thought came to Markham, 'You know Gabe, Domingo is liable to lose both his children to the Navy: Nancy to Sir Raymond and Alejandro to SeaWolf. Bet he never expected that before we showed up.'
The day dawned clear and warm with a humid breeze blowing across the anchorage toward the harbour. Gabe was hard to rise as was usual for him. He'd talked with Dagan and decided to allow Alejandro to come aboard for a trial. Dagan had felt it would be good for the boy to see another side of life, even if it was for just a short period.
Dagan had told Gabe, 'If Domingo convinces some other captain to take the boy aboard, whether it is a merchant or naval vessel the chance of the boy coming home in less than a year would be doubtful. This way if in a few days he decides this is not what he wants, he can
slip anchor and go ashore. If he takes to the sea you can sign him on.'
Dagan had also recommended he spend some time with Davy while he was still a middy. 'Let the two talk man to man so to speak,' Dagan had said.
Gabe had sent word to Domingo for the boy to be ready this morning and Gabe would send for him.
'I'll go,' Dagan had volunteered, 'and on the way back we'll stop and visit on the Swan for a while. I'll see if Markham 's anymore chipper in the morning than you.'
'Take Lum with you,' Gabe said. 'We need several things for the pantry and have him check my store of cigars before he leaves.'
'I'll tend to the tobacco,' Dagan replied. 'I'll get us some good hand-rolled Virginia leaf cigars.' Gabe hadn't missed the 'us' in Dagan's comment.
'You enjoy your evening visits with the Virginians I take it.'
'Yes,' was Dagan's only response.
'Gil tells me Colonel Manning's wife has a sister, a recently widowed sister. Does she add to the pleasure you enjoy during your visits?'
'She doesn't take away from it,' Dagan replied matter-of-factly.
'Was I going to be told about this lady?' Gabe asked with a grin.
'It appears you've already been told.'
'Is there a possible future relationship?' Gabe continued, realizing Dagan seemed a bit uncomfortable with the conversation.
'There's always a possible future,' Dagan answered.
'Now finish getting dressed and drink your coffee before it gets cold. Damned if you ain't worse at rising now than you used to be. All that hooting with the owls keeps you from soaring with the eagles.'Gabe had been working at his desk for the better part of the morning. Dagan had not returned so he was either still ashore or on Swan. The groan of a ship is something a sailor hears daily and learns to tune it out.
However, the groans were becoming more frequent and the sounds of timbers creaking as waves were lapping at the side of the hull could be heard. As Gabe rose from his chair to go topside he could feel the slight heave of the deck as SeaWolf tugged at her mooring. A dark cloud blotted the sun from view and the sky had an ominous look.
Lieutenant Lavery was quickly at Gabe's side and said, 'General signal from flag, sir, put to sea.'
'Any sight of Dagan?' Gabe asked.
'Yes sir, he and a lad went aboard Swan about a quarter hour ago.'
'Damn,' Gabe swore.
The wind had picked up till it shook the shrouds.
The normal greenish tint to the sea had now turned an angry blue.
Gunnells and Jackson were now present and the master declared, 'We're in for a blow.' Taking a look toward Swan, Gabe still saw no sign of Dagan. 'Damn,' he swore again.
'Sir,' this from Jackson, 'Merlin's getting underway.'
'Very well,' Gabe replied. 'Put to sea, Mr. Jackson.
Let's see if we can outrun this tempest.' Then as the officer went about getting underway, Gabe took one last look toward Swan. Where are you Dagan, where are you? he wondered.
Chapter Twenty-Three
SeaWolf followed Warrior and Merlin out of the anchorage with Swan directly behind. The smaller Rose and Audacity would be safe inside the harbour. There'd not been time to do anything with Defiant, the captured Indiaman.
Just as SeaWolf got underway what felt like an endless gust of wind seemed to pick up the ship by the stern and drive her forward. Gabe ordered lifelines strung between the mast and ropes tied around the helmsman.
'Put two men on the wheel,' Gabe ordered, 'and have all the men not on watch go below.' The rain had now started and visibility had diminished. Gabe felt it better to have the men below out of the wind and rain until they were needed. He'd change the watch in two hours to keep the men fresh.
Walking aft, Gabe had to time his steps to keep from loosing his footing due to the violent pitching and rolling of the ship. Once at the taffrail he raised his glass but was unable to find the Swan. Did she take another tack? he wondered.
The seas were rising and the wind now howled.
Every wave seemed to be larger than the previous one with the waves pushing and lifting the stern so that the
