The King`s Coat

stifling a grin. ’Fotheringfop was so elevated an individual, with such an airy opinion of himself that his head swelled one morning at dawn Quarters. We tried to save him and got a gantline to him, but he pulled the maint' gallantfhast right out of her. Last seen drifting for Panama. Crew did a little hornpipe of despair at his passing. Sad, it was.' Lewrie pretended to grieve.

Forrester snorted at the foolishness and left the midshipmen's berth for the upper deck, while Carey dared to laugh out loud and Avery pronounced Lewrie a fellow that would do. ’What a fubsy, crusty thing it is,' Lewrie observed of their mess mate. 'What does he expect us to do, carry his scepter for him, or just be his fags?’

‘Just a puffed-up dilbelT)'.' Avery shrugged. 'Probably afraid we know more than him and show him up before his lord and master.’

’Fat pig,' Carey said, softly. ’Carey, what were the other midshipmen like?' Lewrie asked. ’Dodds was twenty or so. But I've never seen anyone drink so much all the time. The captain finally threw him out, said he'd never make an officer, or live long enough to take the exam.’

’Good relations to the captain?' Lewrie probed. ’I think he was a cater-cousin.' Carey frowned. 'The other… Montgomery, he was real smart, and nice. He was a year older than me but he knew everything. He got washed overboard in a gale last month north of St. Lucia. He was my friend.' Carey sniffled.

Lewrie shared a look with Avery. They could imagine wh.t the mess had been like for Carey, with one raging sponge in his cups all the time, the brutish Forrester lording it over all tli: others, and only Montgomery to shield the younger boy. Carey gave no sign that he was a mental giant, or in any way assertive. Just a scared and homesick child, mediocre at be~ when it came to duty and too small and weak to perform like a real sailor. ’Well, there's a new order here, by God,' Avery told hin, with a rap on the shoulder. 'Just let the cow-arse try to push hi.

weight around.. ‘. ’Of which he has considerable,' Lewrie added. ’Aye, and we'll fix him,' Avery said. 'Right, Lewrie?’

‘Amen to that,' Lewrie intoned with mock piety. ’You can't go too far, though,' Carey said. 'I mean, Treghues and Forrester… they're not related, but you'd think Forrester was his brother.’

’Plays the favorite, does your captain?’

‘I shouldn't say it, but hc-’

‘A wonderful berth,' Avery sighed. 'And I thought that rotten armed transport was bad.’

’Hell with it.' Lewrie said. 'I hear she's made her people a pot of prize money, and she goes her own way looking for fame and fortune. We're in the right place. Now all we have to do is to convince our captain that we're the right midshipmen for him.’

’That shouldn't be too hard,' Avery said. 'Here, Lewrie, you wouldn't have a neckcloth that would pass Divisions, have you?' Just before departure, mail came aboard, and Lewrie was surprised to have two packets. Sir Hugo was actually living up to his end of the bargain and had sent him a rouleau of one hundred guineas. Well, actually, the solicitor Mr. Pilchard had sent it. There was no letter attached, and that was no disappointment, but the money was most welcome.

The next was from Lucy Beauman. He had been isolated aboard Ariadne following the duel, then rapidly transferred to Desperate and had not been allowed to see her, though he had sent her a letter that he was not sure her aunt and uncle would allow her to see.

There was belated fear for his life, wonderment at his courage, a recital of prayers said for him, a brief screed against Wyndham, who had not struck her as a trustworthy gentleman, a denial that she had encouraged him in the slightest manner (which Lewrie doubted… she was a girl, wasn't she?), profound relief at his victory and survival, deep despair at being denied his presence, grief and tears at their cruel separation (but more prayers for success at his new endeavors in Desperate) and fond hopes of a quick reunion.

She enclosed an embroidered handkerchief for him, scented and splashed with her tears, binding up a generous lock of her honey gold hair. There was also Old Isaac's completed juju bag, which he wa… to hang about his neck immediately and never remove. Lewrie was leery as to that instruction; the bag had a redolence of badly cured goat skin, tidal effluvia and perhaps the slight admixture of chicken guts. She wrote: I shall wate with constant Longing for your Safe Retem, that we may avale ourselves once more of that mutuol Pleasure in our companyunship, and may agane strole without Cares on that particular Strand I have cumm to regard as a most Blesed and Speshul Place.

Awl my Fondness Goe With You, Lucy Someone should teach the little mort to spell, he thought, but was touched by her sentiments, and by her evident love for him. He took time to pen her a proper but passionate reply, the sort that would turn a young girl's head for a while. As a fillip, he enclosed a lock of his own hair (still fairly short). Then it was time to sail.

Admiral Rodney had plugged one hole in the dyke against fill the supplies from Europe that reached the rebellious Colorues by taking the island of St. Eustatius, a major smuggling and transshipment port for naval and military stores and a convenient outlet for American produce and manufactured goods with which they partly paid for all the French, Spanish and Dutch largesse.

By keeping the expected flags flying, and with secret recognition signals, Rodney kept the island open, luring in ships tlllit had no chance to be apprised of the change of ownership. 'It was resulting in scores of captures.

Desperate was sent north with a roving commission to hUilt down ships hoping to use St. Eustatius.

Barely ten days after coming aboard, Lewrie emerged do deck one fine brisk morning sated with a good breakfast of thinsliced fried pork, boiled egg and crumbled biscuit in treacle. He was still smacking his lips and regretting not being able tb enjoy a second cup of coffee when the lookout gave a loud hail to the deck below, ending any thoughts of sail drill for thb Forenoon watch.. ’Sail ho!' he bellowed. 'Three points off the larboard bow!' Lieutenant Railsford chose Avery to dash aloft to confirnl the sighting, and Avery handed Lewrie his hat, brushed bact his black hair and ran for the mainmast crosstrees.

Treghues came on deck in breeches and waistcoat and went to the wheel, waiting for a report. Peck, the gangly young blond Marine officer, came up, eager for action. ’Two sail, sir,' Avery said. 'Schooner and brig. Headed due north, under all plain saiL’

‘Mister Monk,' Treghues called. 'Alter course to chase, and we shall crack on all sail she can stand. Stuns'ls, too. ’

‘Bosun!' their stocky, dark sailing master relayed. 'All hands aloft and make sail. Trice up and layout for stuns'ls.' The single night reef in the courses and tops'ls was shaken out, and Lewrie went aloft to the t' gallant mast as the yards were raised up by the jears. Below him on the main course yard, hands were extending the stuns'l booms, bending on canvas to spread every stitch their ship could fly. Desperate leaned her shoulder firmly to the sea and began to soar across the modemte seas, smashing into the odd wave, but slicing clean through the regular set of rollers, her wake boiling.

By ten in the Forenoon she had run the schooner hull-up before her, and the brig beyond showed all her sail plan; clearly they were overtaking handily, which suggested ships too heavily loaded to run. Desperate was already towing one boat, and put another down to be ready with boarding parties. Lewrie hoped that he would be entrusted with one of those parties.

Just after Clear-Deck-And-Up-Spirits at seven bells of the Forenoon they beat to Quarters and manned their guns. Lunch would be delayed, but with the prospect of prizes ahead, no one minded.

Treghues had gone below to catch up on paper-work with his clerk, interview the purser and pretend that there was nothing to get excited about, while Lewrie fretted and stewed in impatience. And when their captain did emerge he was cIoseshaved, dressed in a good coat and cocked hat, his small sword hung 'just-so' from his belt frog.

When they had the schooner within range of a six-pounder, just about six cables off, she took one look and raised her rebel colors to satisfy honor, then quickly hauled them down and rounded to into the wind. Mr. Feather, a burly master's mate, and Midshipman Forrester went over in the first cutter to take charge of her with ten hands. ’Good man, Forrester,' Treghues commented to Railsford by the quarterdeck nettings. 'He'll keep our prize safe. ’

‘Aye, sir,' Railsford agreed dutifully but without much enthusiasm. Lewrie stood close by and heard this exchange and weighed it for what he thought it was worth. In his short time aboard he had found that young Forrester had a reputation much like Rolston in Ariadne when it carne to discipline and tautness.

Then they were off again in pursuit of the brig. Treghues ordered stand-easy for the gun crews, but unlike old