Shaking his head in understanding Anthony recalled his recent conversation with the Governor, "If it came a blow they would have to put to sea."
"Did you hear me, sir?" Buck asked.
"My apologies Rupert, my mind was on the weather and this damnable anchor. You were saying?"
"I was saying, sir, that Knight and Markham had a running battle with a group of privateers but lost them after the sun went down. Knight thinks they made it into one of the many inlets between Port Royal and Savannah. Markham wanted to explore a likely place feeling that with Swan's shallow draught he could put a man in the chains and get a look see."
"However, since Neptune was too large to follow and render assistance should it be needed, Knight denied Markham 's request."
"Sir Raymond is a wise officer," Anthony said.
"Aye, my lord, I believe a few of our younger captains have succeeded until it may now prove to be a liability," Buck said.
"Meaning Francis and Gabe?" Anthony asked.
"Aye," Buck answered matter-of-factly. "Them along with Bush and Kerry. That damn fool stunt of Kerry's, taking on a gunboat off Nova Scotia had disaster written all over it. Bart was right when he said,
"Brave man, Mister Kerry is, but not the smartest block I've known."
Anthony smiled in spite of himself recalling the day.
"I didn't know Bart's words had got out." Now Buck was smiling, "Got out, my lord! Why they're damn near legendary," Buck exclaimed. "Bart summed up the feeling of every tar in the whole squadron with that one sentence. And with him being
the admiral's own cox'n! Why damn my eyes, sir, but most of the officers felt the same as Bart but wouldn't say it.
Over the next few days the number of ships entering port increased until the anchorage and even the harbour was bustling. Ships delivering their cargo of precious supplies that would be needed to maintain the force at Saint Augustine until after the hurricane season.
Anthony kept up the patrols and Merlin in company with SeaWolf and Audacity had driven off a group of privateers attempting to raid the convoy that had just dropped anchor. A dilapidated xebec had been taken prize.
Where in God's name had that come from, Anthony wondered.
Earl had said when he reported, "She's an old craft, sir, her batteries were mounted with the refuse guns off some Frenchy's old, rusty relic's that had long since served their real usefulness. I'm surprised they didn't blow to pieces when they were fired."
"Well," Anthony said, "maybe the Governor will have a use for her so that she'll make the jacks a farthing or two."
Earl then silenced his admiral and flag captain as he continued, "The captain of the xebec was Spanish, sir.
He was mortally wounded in the battle but he was still able to talk when we boarded. He was in fact in a rage and damned us all to hell for stealing his home and his land. I didn't put much stock in his ranting until in a fit of coughing he gasped "you were nothing but bait for the Barracuda and Don Luis de Lavago." The crew of the xebec was a mixed bunch. With a little persuading we discovered from a man who is most assuredly a British deserter, but claims to be Canadian, that Captain Barracuda
Galvez… Cesar Galvez, was always complaining of losing his plantation in Cow Ford."
"Humph!" Anthony grunted when Earl had finished his report. "I will bet herein lies the reason for the ruthless destruction of British ships. A Spaniard or Spaniards who were probably forced by circumstances, cultural differences, or any number of reasons to relocate to Cuba after the treaty between Spain and England."
"Aye," Buck said, "A man with a vendetta. I wonder if we could find out more of either Captain Galvez or Don… "
"Don Luis de Lavago," Earl added. "Gabe and I discussed this when we captured the xebec and he said with your permission, sir, he would see if he could find anything out from Domingo."
"Yes… yes, that would be useful," Anthony replied after a moment of thought. "I understand he is a man of much knowledge."
Hearing this Buck added, "He's a man with a beautiful daughter as well, my lord. Keeps our Sir Raymond in a fit of humours."
"Not just Sir Raymond," Earl added, "But I believe he's won Nancy 's heart if not her hand. I'm not sure how that will play out but I wouldn't be surprised to see a Lady Knight in the not to distant future."
"Would a priest be willing to do that?" Anthony questioned. "Sir Raymond's a Protestant."
"A sea captain could," Buck interjected, "If Domingo approved."
That night Gabe spent time talking with his friend and business partner. Since the incident with Lancaster, the tavern had become something of a "hangout" for the warrants and officers in Anthony's squadron. Business was better than it had ever been and Domingo for once
had realized a substantial profit. Gabe had earned a tidy sum himself and though he hadn't told Domingo as yet he intended to turn sole ownership of the tavern back over to the man when orders came for his ship. Tonight over a glass of sangria they talked of Don Luis de Lavago.
"Si, my compadre, I know of him. He was a very rich aristocrat from Madrid. Only he was the second son. He had accumulated much though. He owned… how you say it, mucho land along the Saint Johns River all the way to Cowford. Much time and expense had been made and when he's at the point to make mucho dinero England suddenly owns all his land and holdings with nothing for all his expense and labors.
Havana had nothing to offer that would equal his loss I am told. Now he is a violent, sick man with much hatred.
He hates all gringos. No offense, senor."
"None taken," Gabe assured Domingo.
"Don Luis hates all whites but because his cause and needs are the same as the rebels to the north he has, on occasion, formed a loose allegiance. If they win the war it is said his former holding will be returned by the rebels.
Who knows? It is too much for Domingo to consider." This, Gabe believed. Like thousands of people at home who believed the war was Lord North's doings and the only people who would benefit from the war would be the rich, not the common man.
Chapter Eighteen
The sun was blood red and high in the sky. Neptune, Swan and Pigeon sailed southward under a lazy wind and unwavering glare. To look upon the shining water made your eyes hurt. Deck seams were so sticky that they gripped to a man's foot.
Knight had just seen a sailor jump as barefooted he stepped on a bubble of tar. Leaning against the bulwark he could feel the heat off the adjacent cannon. The barrels were as hot as if they had been in battle.
Lord Anthony was acting upon information he'd recently received that the privateer ship Barracuda was seen operating off the southern tip of Florida and the Keys. There seemed to be some idea as to who the cutthroat was that commanded the Barracuda but when the patrol had sailed nothing more definite had been found out.
Feeling sticky and clammy Knight called to his first lieutenant, "Mr. Brooks, I'm going to my cabin to sign some papers. The master has promised a shower this afternoon and I don't think a little cooling off would be amiss. However, keep a close eye out for squalls as well as sails and call me if you need me."
Before the "aye, captain" was out of Brooks mouth Knight's head disappeared down the companion ladder.
After an hour or so of working at his desk Knight felt the motion of the ship become a bit livelier and at the same time realized the cabin had become dimmer and the sun didn't seem to penetrate the stained glass in the stern windows as it had an hour ago. Returning on deck he could instantly feel a sharp stinging rain.