red and yellow, sir.'
'Whose sails man?' Jackson shouted out. 'The brig or the frigate?'
'The frigate, sir. No flag but 'er sails look like a Dago's. She be luffin,' cried the lookout.
This time there was no doubt when the distant ship fired. The heavy explosion filled the air. Gabe watched through his glass as a thundercloud of acrid smoke billowed out from the larger ship, reeking havoc on the small brig. Another racking explosion.
Damme thought Gabe. That cutthroat's gunners know their business.
'Mr. Druett!'
'Aye, captain.'
'Double charge the bowchaser but no ball. See if we can attract the whoreson's attention.'
'Aye, cap'n,' Druett answered, then was off.
A confused Midshipman Lancaster looked to Dagan,
'No ball?' he asked.
'Aye, lad. With a double charge it will sound like we have a heavy gun and if they can't see the splash of ball they won't know how close we are.'
An old trick Gabe's father had discussed during one of his many talks. So the boy had been paying attention, Dagan thought. If the old admiral could see his son now he'd be proud.
Again a terrific blast from the Spaniard ship, enveloping both ships in smoke. As the smoke cleared the Spanish vessel appeared to be hauling her wind.
Maybe she had spied Swan and SeaWolf. Although together the pair would present little or no challenge for the frigate.
Training his glass back on the hapless brig Gabe realized here was the reason for the frigate's departure.
The brig was listing badly to larboard, most of the upper structure gone. Mast riggings, bulwark, transom all shot away. The poor ship was sinking. The frigate had completed its deadly task. No boats were in the water, so undoubtedly they were destroyed as well. A few of the crew could be seen on deck. A grating was lowered over the side, apparently with wounded strapped to it. Gabe turning to Dagan said, 'I wonder how much help Caleb will be.'
Out of the brigs full complement only twenty-seven survived the vicious pounding by the frigate. The senior survivor was the carpenter, a man oddly enough named Woods, John Woods.
'We were carrying uniforms, boots and such,' he explained. 'Few cases of muskets with powder and shot to go along, but no great cargo; so we were sailing without escort. Then along comes this ship flying his Spanish colors. Since we weren't at war with Spain the captain didn't seem to be too concerned. She can overtake us at any turn, he told me shipmate, Bundy.
Then the frigate hauls down her colors but stead of boarding us like the cap'n figures she'll do, she just opens her gun ports and blasts away.'
'Maybe she saw us,' Jackson volunteered.
'Begging your pardon sir,' Woods answered the first lieutenant. 'I don't think she was to much worried about
a brigantine and a schooner. Bundy, he's… he was the ship's master, said it was almost like the Barracuda had a score to settle with us.'
'The Barracuda?'
'Aye, sir, that was the name on the frigate. The Barracuda.'
Later, when things had settled down Gabe, Caleb and Dagan sat in Gabe's cabin. Each man nursing a glass of wine and listened as Lum played a tune on his lotz. The sun had all but set, but what was left sent a prism of colors across the stern as it was reflected from the cold ocean waters. Trying to see out the windows was now difficult as they were caked with salt. SeaWolf along with Swan drove further and further to the southwest.
Gabe waited till Lum had finished his melody then spoke, 'Do you know what today's incident reminds me of?'
'I was thinking along those lines as well,' Dagan replied. 'Makes you think of the Reaper.'
'Yes, but her captain was French and he's dead,' Caleb interjected.
'Aye, he is,' Dagan replied, 'But Montique's not.
That's something we can't afford to forget.'
'No,' Gabe replied, 'I'll not soon forget.'
'Nor will I,' Dagan promised himself as he took another swig of his wine. 'Nor will I.'
Chapter Five
Gabe, Gunnells, the master, and the first lieutenant, Jackson, sat reviewing the charts they had of Saint Augustine, Florida. They had been able to rendezvous with Admiral Graves the day following the incident between the brig and the Barracuda.
Admiral Graves showed little concern about the incident other than to say he could use the survivors to replace men lost from his ships, men Gabe had hoped would be used to augment Lord Anthony's squadron.
But Admiral Graves being an admiral and Gabe being a lieutenant, the men went where Graves dictated.
Now Gunnells was going over different channels into Saint Augustine Harbour. 'The North channel is deeper but narrow, while the South channel is much wider.
However, there's a sandbar with only eight to nine feet of water at low tide with breakers separating both of the South channels entrances.'
'Along here,' the master explained using calipers to point with, 'The water is also shallow with more breakers. His Lordship's flagship and the frigate will have to anchor just off the north breaker while it's possible for SeaWolf, Swan, Pigeon and Audacity to enter the harbour. I'm not sure about LeFrelon. More than likely Audacity will be in much use plying between the anchorage and Saint Augustine.'
'Audacity's captain won't much like his new livelihood I'm thinking,' Jackson said with a smile on his face.
'It's in the scriptures already I'm betting,' Gunnells responded.
'What about the harbour and the city?' Gabe asked the old master.
'Several rivers, the Matanzas, San Sebastions, and St. Marks all flow into the harbour. Most places there's nigh on to thirty feet, so if there was a deep channel there'd be a good anchorage. The harbour sets between Anastasia Island and Saint Augustine. There's a lighthouse on Anastasia Island. There's a huge castle that's been turned into a fort right here in Saint Augustine, but I don't see it being much help. I was here in '70 and the cannons looked ancient then. I'd be afraid to fire one if they haven't been replaced. More 'n likely kill more of us than the enemy,' the old master said, matter-of-factly. 'They were probably put there by the Spaniards when they first built the place two hunered years ago.'
Then, turning back to the charts Gunnells said,
'I'm betting the squadron will be at anchorage here,' using his pipe as a pointer. 'That being said, we should drop anchor alongside the flagship by midday, Lord willing.'
Admiral Lord Anthony stepped down from the coach as a footman opened the door. The man continued holding the door as Everette Hazard dressed in his finest as the flag lieutenant, made his way out of the coach. If the footman noticed the pinned sleeve he made no sign.
Hazard was somewhat self-conscious of his one empty
sleeve and was bewildered at Lord Anthony's offer to make him his flag lieutenant. He could never remember a one-armed flag lieutenant, certainly not one who had just been promoted to lieutenant after serving before the mast. Gabe had something to do with this appointment, he was sure.
While only a lieutenant himself, Gabe was Admiral Lord Anthony's brother, so there was little doubt in Hazard's mind as to where the recommendation had come from. Once he had asked Bart, the admiral's cox'n if he thought he could handle the requirements.
'Sure yew can. Alls yews got to do is stand around making sure 'is lordship is taken care of proper like when theys guest and dignaterry's about. Course yew got to fetch and carry his lordship's 'portant papers and such but yew's a do fine.'
