Barracuda

bow dipped down before the wave slipped from beneath

the ship. The sea continued to grow and Gabe stared, fascinated by the phosphorescent water that gushed from the turbulent waves. The wind had risen until it cracked, groaned, roared and howled.

Gunnells approached Gabe wiping his eyes. There appeared to be no fear in the old master's face. 'She's a fair tempest,' he hollered trying to be heard above the wind, 'but it ain't no hurricane. Running with the wind we should out sail this by dawn.'

Looking at the enormous height of the waves Gabe hoped the master was right. He too had been in worse conditions, a hurricane in fact with winds over sixty knots. Still he was apprehensive, the morrow couldn't come quick enough for him.

The dawn came slowly as clouded skies still blocked the sun's rays. Throughout the night Gabe had stood with Gunnells keeping an eye on the wheel, the mast, the sails and the guns waiting for something to go wrong. It hadn't. Now the two were sleepy, hungry and near exhaustion.

'Could have been worse,' Gunnells joked. 'We could have been in the North Atlantic and we'd be near frozen.'

Gabe was thankful they weren't. He was also thankful the master's predictions had come true and moderate weather had greeted the dawn.

Caleb came on deck and said, 'Looks like it's clearing up.'

'Aye,' Gabe answered. 'Many injuries?'

'Not unless you count Mr. Jewells.'

'What happened to him?' Gabe asked.

'He fell when the ship took a roll and busted his lip on a bottle.'

Gabe was afraid to ask a bottle of what.Up forward a lookout called, 'Sails fine on the larboard bow.'

Jackson who'd gone below to get some coffee had returned on deck.

Seeing him Gabe ordered, 'Send a man aloft now that the wind has moderated.'

'Aye, sir.'

Then taking his glass Gabe again looked aft but still no sign of the Swan. Be with them God, he silently prayed.

Lum had come on deck and seeing the troubled look on Gabe's face tried to comfort him.

'They's be alright, cap'n. Dat Captain Markham is near bout as good a cap'n as you is and wid Mr. Dagan a heppin they's gonna be fine. Ain't no doubt in old Lum's mind. Shucks they problee already eating breakfast and wondering what's foh supper. Nah suh, don't you worry none. Da Lawd ain't gonna let nuthin' happen to 'em.' Lum's ranting did make Gabe feel better.

'Mr. Jackson.'

'Aye, sir.'

'I think I'll go below and break my fast. Call me if any further sails are sighted.'

'Aye, captain.'

By noon the skies were clear and Lord Anthony's squadron of ships drove fast through the swells that only a few hours before had been a raging sea. The ships were on a nor'nor'easterly heading. Men were airing out their hammocks as the general signal to pass 'make and mend' had been given throughout the squadron.

Gunnells being the old tarpaulin that he was had hinted to Gabe it wouldn't hurt to 'slice the main brace' after the blow they'd been through. It was a common to allow an extra ration of grog after weathering a storm. It served as a good pick-me-up for the crew.

I should have thought of it Gabe realized but his mind was not on SeaWolf but on the ship he didn't see. He'd had a sinking feeling ever since they'd left Saint Augustine as the storm had blasted down.

'Maybe Markham had decided to make for the harbour,' Jackson said.

'I don't think so,' Gabe replied, ' Markham would have tried to keep station on the flag.' Markham and Gabe had spent too many years together. First as midshipmen, then lieutenants; and finally commanding their own ships in the same squadron to not know how the other would think. No, Markham would not chance crossing a shallow bar to possibly find shelter in a harbour when he could put to sea and run as the squadron had done. No, wherever they were, they'd be together, Markham, Dagan and Davy. But not for a minute did Gabe think they'd be in port.

SeaWolf sailed to leeward of the flagship and the Florida coast was visible. It looked much more hospitable today than it did yesterday in the crashing surf and rain. Was Dagan out there somewhere? If he was, he'd have Markham with him as well as Alejandro. Damn, Gabe thought, was the boy on the Swan? What kind of frightful experience was it for a boy to have to face a storm the first time he ever set foot on a ship? Well, if he survived and that didn't scare him away, nothing would. Gabe instructed the lookouts to keep a sharp eye on the coast as well as the horizon.

They may have run ashore.

The sun was like a fire in the sky and was starting to settle over the horizon. They were approaching the anchorage and Gabe's worst fears seem to be realized when the lookout called down, 'There she be. There be the Swan, hove up on the island.' Barracuda

Snatching a glass from Jackson 's hand, Gabe rapidly climbed up the shrouds and onto the lookout's platform.

The lookout had been right. It was the Swan, her main mast was gone and she had been driven up and onto Anastasia Island. Several people were gathered around the wreck.

After Gabe made his way from aloft he returned the glass to the first lieutenant. 'My apologies, Jem. I should have asked and not just taken your glass. It's Swan alright,' he continued. She's been driven ashore and beat to a hopeless wreck. There are people gathered around her. I could make out Dagan but I didn't see Markham. If you will signal the flagship.'

'Aye,' Jackson replied, surprised at the apology and still more surprised at how much feeling and emotion his captain displayed. Man has a heart, Jackson said to himself. This was more evident when Gabe called to Lavery.

'Call Caleb, then man the gig and we'll go see about our friends.' Then turning back to Jackson, Gabe ordered, 'Take the ship to her anchorage unless otherwise ordered by the flag. I will be back directly.'

'Aye, captain,' was Jackson 's only response.

Lord Anthony had read Markham 's report and could find no fault with his actions. He would attach his findings and recommendations to Markham 's report and hopefully the findings in regards to the loss of HMS Swan would go into some clerk's file never to be heard of again.

It was surprising how bad Swan was mauled and the Indiaman, Gabe's Defiant, had hardly been touched.

However, he'd come to a decision and he'd put it into motion at dinner this evening. Buck, Earl, Gabe and Markham were to dine with him tonight and after the

meal he'd unfold his plan. Silas walked out of the pantry in time to see the admiral smile. Well smile, he should, Silas thought, and after the meeting tonight several others would be smiling and that's no error. Hopefully, Bart wouldn't let the cat out of the bag.

It had been a fine meal and now cigars and pipes were being lit as the aroma of mixed tobacco filled the admiral's dining area. It was the first time since the storm that all the officers had gathered together. The only exception was Sir Raymond who was able to sit up now but was far from being fit for duty.

Markham was speaking of the dreadful day when the storm took Swan. 'We'd just cleared the anchorage and was tacking astern of SeaWolf when a rogue wind of gale force almost broached the ship. The ship yawed to leeward and then there was a crack not unlike that of a cannon firing and the main mast went by the way. Mast spars, ropes and rigging all over the lee rail pulling us down into the sea. I sent men to clearing the rigging as the ship was listing badly starboard and in danger of being swamped.'

Looking from the wine glass he'd been staring into as he spoke, Markham glanced at Gabe. 'Had it not been for Dagan we'd have turned turtle and lost all aboard.

However, Dagan had just cut through the last bit of rigging and the mast went over the side. Free from the weight of the downed mast, Swan righted herself only to be caught by a mountainous wave that lifted the ship like a piece of kindling and fairly drove us onto the island.

Then if that wasn't enough, another wave not as big as the last but big enough seem to lift Swan then drop her on the huge stones tearing her bottom clean out. I could feel every crack of the timber like it was tearing my life