"Flag cap'n, suh," The marine sentry barked out then stood aside to let the officers enter, careful not to be obvious, but eyeing Gabe to get a better feel for this man who caused such a stir. The gray streak in Gabe's hair caught the man's eye causing him to take a deep breath.
"Something wrong?" Gabe asked.
"No sir, just a vapor sir," the sentry lied and was glad the officers took no more notice.
Entering the cabin, Gabe had forgotten how large it was. Compared to SeaWolf’s tiny cabin it was enormous. It was furnished as befitted an admiral.
Lady Deborah had seen to that. Around the cabin in a semi-circle were half a dozen leather covered armchairs of emerald green. A mahogany wine cooler was in the corner and a sideboard rack held at least a dozen cut glass decanters fill ed with different shades of liquid.
Another rack held two swords; one had been Admiral Lord James Anthony's. Seeing his brother's gaze, Gil walked up to Gabe and putting an arm around his shoulder said, "It'll be yours one day." The two brothers hugged, then stepping back and clapping Gabe's shoulder Gil whispered, "We'll talk later." Then, switching from the role of concerned brother to that of concerned admiral, Lord Anthony spoke out,
"Well, captain, it's time we got down to business, is it not?"
"Aye, my Lord," Dutch answered, not fooled by his admiral's stiffness. "It appears we can't let the two of them out of our sight without them stealing a ship off some poor soul."
Glancing up as the group took seats in the leather armchairs, Lord Anthony saw Dagan and Bart enter the pantry where Silas waited. "No doubt Dagan's report to Bart as they enjoyed a wet would be more enlightening than what he'd get in writ en reports. Oh well, Bart would fill him in later."
Lord Anthony listened closely as Gabe explained in detail about the convoy that had been placed in his charge. He told how resistant the Turtle's captain had been to obeying procedures and orders. Gabe explained why he believed that Turtle's commander had been a traitor and had in fact proven himself to be a traitor when Gabe had caught him red-handed unloading gunpowder for the rebels. "Gunpowder the British Navy and its army needed badly." Lord Anthony didn't fail to notice the changes in Gabe's voice and demeanor as he told of the beautiful girl, who along with her nanny and Lum had rescued him and nursed him back to health, only to be imprisoned by another traitorous son of a bitch. Adam Montique, a traitor to both sides.
"You will recall, sir," Gabe spoke to Admiral Anthony, "Mr. Montique was a very wealthy ship owner and planter in Antigua. It was he that loaned Commodore Gardner his home while he was the dockyard commissioner."
"As you suspected, sir," Gabe again addressed his brother specifically, "Someone was getting word to the pirates…it was Montique. He had several government contracts and with his frequent dealings with Commodore Gardner was able to keep the pirates well informed."
"You don't think Gardner was involved do you?" an unbelieving Captain Moffett asked.
"No sir," Gabe replied, "After being clubbed by one of Montique's men I was dragged to a warehouse and chained. Pretending to still be unconscious I listened while Montique bragged about how simple and stupid Gardner was…ah…No offense to the commodore, sir."
"None taken," Admiral Anthony replied. "Please continue."
"Aye, sir," Montique laughed at how trusting Gardner was. He talked Gardner into using his home stating it was better off being lived in; that way it was kept up. He stated his house was usual y empty and at any rate when he was in Antigua he could stay in one of the guest rooms. That way he would still have accommodations when needed and Greta would have a comfortable place to live as long as Gardner was dockyard commissioner. If a contract came open what would it hurt for Montique to know about it? Gardner was persuaded and the rest is history."
"You mentioned earlier this Montique was a traitor to both sides," the Admiral spoke again, "How so?"
"Not only a traitor to both causes," Gabe replied,
"But a white slaver as well." This caused Admiral Anthony and Captain Moffett to sit up.
"Damme sir, but did you say a white slave trader?" Moffett asked.
"Aye," Gabe replied, "He was taking young female captives from vessels the pirates plundered and then sold them to the Dey of Algiers. That is to say the ones Montique and his ruffians didn't use up for their own
pleasure. God only knows what happened to those poor creatures after they were used." Lord Anthony and Moffett looked dumbfounded as Gabe continued. "According to a man named Hindley, who was Montique's plantation overseer, if Faith, ’ere his niece, continued to avoid his advances, he was going to sell her to the Dey. Said a young blonde virgin would fetch a fortune… her weight in gold."
"His niece, incestuous bastard is he not?" Moffett exclaimed.
"Aye, sir. It was this Hindley who became so besotted with Faith's beauty he risked sure death by Montique when he attempted to rape the girl. It was then Lum kill ed the man that made it necessary for me to bring him with me, for his protection. It was then Dagan showed up with his group and we escaped, taking the other captive girls with us. It's in the report, sir," Gabe said as he ended his story.
"Enlightened me if you will sir," Captain Moffett spoke again. "You've explained how Montique was an informer to the pirates and a slaver but how has he been a traitor to the Colonials?"
"Well, sir," Gabe began again, "the Admiral can tell you that the pirates attacked al ships of means; it didn't matter if it was British, Colonial or what nation. It was a rich cargo he was after…whose made no difference.
Even Commodore Gardner remarked on how a lot of those taken could have paid a large ransom. Well, Montique had the pirates kill the men, take pleasure in the…ah, older women, but the young girls and the
younger the better, he sold into the Dey's harems. The goods from those ships he sold to the highest bidder, and then often had the ship waylaid carrying the cargo he'd just sold. Then he'd sale it again. His warehouse was full of contraband. There was enough in one warehouse to keep an entire Army going through a whole winter."
"I see," Moffett said.
After a brief pause, while Silas recharged everyone's wine glass, the report continued. This time both Gabe and Markham explained how the privateer had engaged the merchant vessel and how when they arrived the privateer was taken.
"Here's a list of cargo I thought would interest you, my Lord," Markham said as he proudly handed Lord Anthony an inventory list.
Taking a moment to go over the list the admiral raised his eyebrows. Then addressing the flag captain, he spoke. "Damme, Dutch, would you listen to this?
After a one and a quarter hour engagement the privateer, Le Frelon…what's that…the wasp?
"Hornet, sir," Markham corrected his senior, "Le Frelon means the Hornet."
"Yes well," the Admiral continued, "Upon boarding her we found in cargo eight carriage guns, twelve swivel guns, twenty small arms, sixteen pistols, twenty cutlasses, some twenty cases of cartridges, boxes and belts for bayonets, nineteen barrels of powder and nine half-barrels of powder. In addition, there were bales of blankets, crates of boots in assorted sizes, twelve
kegs of rum, seven casks of naval wine, and a miscellany of shot and ball. We also captured a Colonial captain, a sergeant and about twenty privates. Among the Army stores, we further found six three-pound cannons but no shot or bal. The captured vessel is a French built twenty-gun corvette in good repair. Her commander is a prisoner. We lost ten men kill ed, seven wounded, one of which is in a bad way."
"It is also my privilege," Markham spoke after the Admiral had finished reading the inventory, "to present this set of papers." Then handing an official document on parchment paper to Lord Anthony, Markham sat back and watched for the expression on the admiral's face to appear.