"What else should we expect from our master?" Gabe joined in.
"We'll be entering Carlisle Bay soon," the master advised, feeling somewhat smug and strutting like a peacock.
"Let's make the ship ready to enter port," Gabe instructed his first lieutenant. He'd not have the admiral mentioning any defects if he could help it.
"Aye, sir, she's looking smart now but we'll "smarten' her up another notch."
Gabe then motioned to Dagan to follow as he went below to put together SeaWolf’s papers for the admiral along with usual dispatches and his reports on the capture of the prize. SeaWolf and her prize sailed to Barbados in company with Badger.
They rounded Needham Point and then tacked into Carlisle Bay. The master checked the bay depth for the anchor, and the gunner was making ready for the salute.
No sooner had the salute been given when the flagship signaled "Captain repair on board." Dagan had the gig ready and as they rowed over to the flagship, Gabe marveled at the light green color of the water inside the bay. It was here he had met Caleb. Would he remember that night? With the antics of Caleb's ape, he thought how could he forget.
"Flagship, sir."
Damn, Gabe thought, I've been daydreaming.
Admiral Gayton handed the dispatches to his flag lieutenant to sort while a servant fetched Gabe a glass of refreshing limejuice. The heat in the admiral's cabin reminded Gabe of just how cold it had been when he'd left New York. You couldn't find a warm spot. After reading Gabe's report on capturing the Linda Lee the admiral spoke.
"Not much fight in the Jonathans would you say, sir?" A little surprised at the admiral's tone, Gabe swallowed his limejuice before answering, "There wasn't that many on board to put up much of a fight, sir. Her captain had dangerously under-manned her, providing prize crews for the ships he'd taken."
Gabe was again surprised when the admiral's tone changed, "It does you credit sir to be so honest. I know those who would have doubled the number of enemy dead to make them look better."
Gabe breathed a little easier. He'd passed the admiral's little test.
"Did the boy say where they were home ported?"
"Not to me, sir," Gabe answered the admiral, "But when talking to my midshipman he stated that Port Royal, South Carolina was home. That's just down the coast from Charlestown."
"Hmmm," was the admiral's only reply as he scanned the pages Gabe had obtained from the captain's cabin of the prize. "That damnable fellow Crawford knew his business," the admiral continued. "He's captured a transport from Antigua laden with gunpowder on her way to Halifax. No wonder he's undermanned the schooner.
The transport was worth her weight in gold. He's also taken a merchantman loaded with winter uniforms, rifles for sharpshooters and ammunition. He's also captured three col iers loaded with coal but he doesn't say where. A busy man is he not?"
"Aye," Gabe replied.
Dropping the inventory sheets to his desk the admiral rubbed his brow and his face seemed to sag. The news of the captures by the privateer Crawford seemed to burden the admiral.
"You know," the admiral said addressing Gabe once again, "We just lost a brig loaded with three-hundred and
eighty-six barrels of gunpowder as she was headed to Philadelphia. Do you know what that does to our abilities to fight and sustain an engagement sir?" The admiral continued on without giving Gabe the opportunity to reply. " America does not have the ability to produce large quantities of gunpowder. In England, gunpowder is distributed to the ordnance yards at Chatham, Portsmouth, and Plymouth. It is from there it's then transported to Gibraltar, Jamaica, Antigua and then on to Halifax, Nova Scotia. From there it's distributed to where it's needed. At this point in the war, British forces are hamstrung by shortages of gunpowder." Standing and walking to the stern gal ery Gayton said,
"I'm sending you to Antigua. A convoy is soon to leave there for Halifax. Can you guess what the cargo is? Yes, I'm sure you can."
Again, the admiral didn't allow Gabe to respond. "I know you would rather do something more exciting than escort a bunch of slow merchantmen but that gunpowder has to reach Halifax. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, sir," Gabe answered.
As if on cue there was a knock on the door. The flag lieutenant entered. "I have everything ready, sir." Gabe knew the interview was over. As he made ready to depart the admiral addressed him once more.
"I'll buy the schooner into the service. Do you have anyone senior enough to command her?"
Taken aback and overwhelmed by the admiral's offer Gabe could only mutter, "Not here sir," but his thoughts were on Frances Markham. He'd love her.
As Gabe made his way out the admiral cal ed, "Give my regards to your brother and congratulate him on his flag."
"Aye, sir, I will."
"Gabe?"
"Sir," Gabe was surprised at being addressed so.
"My condolences in regards to the loss of your father.
He was a fine of icer and would be proud of you. If ever I can be of any service you have but to contact me." Finally, leaving the admiral's stateroom, Gabe could only shake his head. Damned if he ain't human!
Chapter Four
Entering English harbour brought back bittersweet memories for Gabe. He thought of the lavish parties he'd attended when Drakkar had used the island as her base for operations against the pirates. He also recall ed his bout with near death after one encounter with the rogues.
However, his youth didn't let his mind dwell on the dreary.
The island women! That's where his thoughts traveled and lingered. The island women ranged from tavern doxies ready to pleasure the jack tars, to well -kept mulattos who could turn a man's head in a second. Many a duel had been fought over these half-white, half-black women.
There were also the rich, ripe young planter's daughters.
They were usual y looking not only for a husband but a way of the island. And then there were the island widows.
Some of them so rich a Spanish gal eon couldn't carry their gold. They used men as playthings, to satisfy their needs but rarely anything else.
Gabe recall ed Lieutenant, now Captain Buck, having an on and of af air with such a lady. It's lasted because we're at sea so much, he had volunteered one night on watch. "I'm gone before she gets bored, but I'll not complain. Nay, no complaints on my part."
Dagan and Dawkins had come ashore with Gabe while the purser and a working party had been sent to find
fresh fruit and vegetables for the crew. A lesson passed down from Vice Admiral Anthony to his sons. Keeps the scurry at bay. Both sons had listened well and insisted every ef ort be made to keep them on board regardless of the purser's protest and complaints about expense. It was a short walk to the government house at the top of the coast road. One Gabe had made many times.
However, this time would be different. Commodore Gardner wouldn't be there to greet him like a friend.
Today he'd be just one more junior officer reporting as required. Damned if it ain't a scorcher today, Gabe thought.
There was the hint of a breeze that made his shirt stick to his body. In the old days he'd have come ashore without his coat but not today. The tease of a breeze was gone.
The flag hung limply against the flagstaff. Unlike on previous visits there were only a few workers in the yard surrounding government house. Entering the building brought an immediate relief from the sun's heat. The marine sentry snapped to attention and directed Gabe to his sar'nt who directed him to a clerk. The clerk, acting like he was at Whitehal, had him sit in an office til the Commodore could be with him. It was a familiar of ice, Gardner 's old of ice.
Gabe rose and walked to the window. Below at the anchorage Gabe could make out a variety of ships. A sixty-four gun two-decker was probably the commodore's flagship. He could also see island schooners, small fast ships plying their trade through the Leeward Islands. There was also a group of merchant and supply vessels. Undoubtedly, some of these would be with the convoy he had to herd to Halifax.