Hazard with the help of Bart had hung a large hand drawn chart of Cayo Hueso on the bulkhead."Lieutenant Hazard thinks Merlin and SeaWolf can enter the channel here. With only minimal room to maneuver he feels Barracuda, if she's there we'll up anchor and travel down the channel and out into open waters on the Gulf side. At this point he could come about and have a broadside waiting when the would-be chasers arrive. But that's not going to happen. We, that is Warrior and Defiant, will be waiting on him once he clears the channel. Now are there any questions?" Markham was the first, "What if Barracuda's not there?"
Nodding his head, Anthony answered the question that was on everyone's mind. "The attack is to be a dawn attack. However, Lieutenant Hazard with a crew in a long boat will scout out the area before we proceed.
We will lie off the coast until the reconnaissance is complete. If everything goes as planned this should be done by midnight which gives Warrior and Defiant time to sail around the Key and be in position by dawn."
"If he's not there?" Earl asked.
"I intend to set a trap not unlike the one he laid for Pigeon. The utmost in secrecy in regards to this plan cannot be expressed enough. Bart has already set out rumors we are going out on patrol, Defiant and Merlin to the north and Warrior and SeaWolf to the south. Let's hope it is believed."
"Boat ahoy!"
"Merlin."
The challenge and reply. Gabe had still not gotten use to the fact he now commanded… temporarily commanded, a frigate. Rated as a thirty-two gun ship her main battery consisted of twenty-six twelve pounders with two eighteen pounders on either side of the bow.
Her secondary armament was four six pounders. Merlin
was one hundred twenty feet long and thirty-four feet wide with a burden of about six hundred tons. Making his way down to his cabin Gabe found Dagan waiting.
"I'm going over to dine at Colonel Manning's. They are to be taken to Norfolk tomorrow and exchanged." Gabe could tell Dagan was taking their leaving hard.
"You've become quite close with the family haven't you, uncle," Gabe said using the name he'd used all his pre-Navy life.
"Aye," Dagan replied, the hint of a smile on his face at being addressed so.
"Go then, enjoy the evening… nay the entire night but one question before you go. What's her name?" Before Gabe could blink Dagan's hand shot out and put Gabe in a headlock with one hand and tossed his hair with the other. Then just as quickly he was through the cabin door. Stopping suddenly he turned and said,
"Betsy."
The marine sentry standing at the captain's cabin door, stood at attention, shocked at what he'd just witnessed. What a story he'd have for the mess that evening.
After a quiet meal Colonel Manning made his excuses about some last minute packing to do before they were ready to start their voyage home on the morrow. The servants set about cleaning and packing the dishes as Dagan and Betsy made their way to the swing on the front porch.
A faint breeze drifted in off the Atlantic and there was a quarter moon. Dagan was pleasantly surprised as Betsy nestled in beside him.
"I will miss you," Dagan said.
For a moment Betsy didn't say a word; then taking Dagan's hand said, "And I will miss you. I was a child bride, married at eighteen to the son of the man who owned the plantation next to the Colonel. He was rich, Barracuda
handsome, dashing and fearless and I thought I loved him. What girl wouldn't? He was made an officer in the Army of Virginia only to die of pneumonia before a shot was ever fired. But it's since I've been here… been with you that I really know what love is. I liked Thomas but I never loved him and I realize that now. But is it over before it begins?" She dabbed with her handkerchief at the tears starting to well up in her eyes.
Putting his arms around Betsy and drawing her close Dagan kissed at the moisture on her cheeks tasting the salty taste of tears. "No, my love, it's not over that much I promise you. You may have to wait but I'll come… I promise I'll come."
At that moment Dagan knew his words were true.
His lips left her face and found her lips for a long, warm passionate kiss. She eased up onto his lap; their bodies crushed together, each feeling the other's heartbeat against their chest.
"My God, Dagan, I'm in love. I want you. I want you forever."
"Aye," Dagan barely whispered, "I want you and soon… soon mind you, you will be mine forever. You just wait."
"I will Dagan. I promise with all my heart… I'll wait."
Chapter Twenty-Five
Lord Anthony stood on the quarterdeck of Warrior.
Small droplets of sweat dripped from his hair running down his neck to his back. Just out of sight of Saint Augustine they intended to come about and head southward. That is of course if no sails were sighted following them.
Buck made his way over and knowing his admiral as he did said, "Questions, doubts, always the what ifs.
Don't you worry, my lord, we've covered every possible situation we could."
Nodding, Anthony replied, "You're right as usual, Rupert. Let me know when we sight the other ships."
"Aye, my lord."
As the admiral ducked into the companionway Bart winked at Captain Buck, "'E always worries but don't yew's fret. I's'll take care o' 'em proper like."
"Aye," Buck replied, "I'm counting on it." Both knowing Lord Anthony's biggest worry lay in the fact that Gabe's Merlin would be the first to encounter Barracuda if in fact she lay in her lair as hoped for. Gabe was a seasoned officer and he'd handle himself well, Buck was sure but an extra prayer wouldn't be amiss.
It was just after midnight with a faint breeze blowing and a quarter moon shining down on the gentle ocean a mile off Cayo Hueso that Merlin picked up Lieutenant Hazard, Lieutenant Davy and the long boat crew. Once the longboat was brought aboard the orders were given to come about so they could rendezvous with the rest of the squadron who was hove to just out of sight of land.
"She's there," an excited Hazard had reported. "Not only is she there but from the number of campfires we spotted I'd say half the crew was ashore."
"We were close enough to hear their drunken laughter," Lieutenant Davy interjected, "as well as a few giggles from some of the little huts we could see that sat just at the shadows."
"Aye," Hazard confirmed, "and I'm betting there will be more than a few buggers hungover and nursing headaches in the morning from all the drinking and womanizing that seems to be going on."
"Any sign of her captain?" Gabe asked.
"No, we wouldn't know what he looked like of course but we didn't see anyone who was an obvious officer."
Once the rendezvous was made and Hazard's report relayed to Lord Anthony, final preparations were gone over and Merlin, with SeaWolf following, would enter the channel at first light. Once Barracuda was in range Merlin would start firing and if SeaWolf could bring her guns to bear she would concentrate her fire on the ship as well. If not, she was to fire on the batteries ashore or other targets of opportunity.
If Barracuda ran for it they'd be waiting and if she didn't an attempt to enter the channel would be made by Defiant. That failing a force would be sent in boats.
"She'll run," Paco volunteered. He had been brought forward due to his knowledge of the anchorage.
"Capitaine de Lavago is not such a man to risk his ship Barracuda
or fight a battle without having the odds in his favor. He will run."
"Well, I damn well hope so," Buck had growled, ready to bring the rogue to an accounting.
Lord Anthony then asked the question no one else had, nor was it mentioned in the report by either Hazard or Davy, "Are there any other ships at anchor?" Hazard's chin dropped and Davy suddenly looked crestfallen. Finally Hazard spoke, "We didn't see any others but a smaller ship could have been at anchor to the Gulf side of Barracuda. I didn't see any mast but as dark as it was I couldn't be certain. I'm sorry, my lord," a dejected Hazard said. "I saw the obvious and didn't try to get past the Barracuda to see if another ship lay alongside."