The news was good but they were not out of trouble yet. On and on until it seemed like forever. Waves grew bigger and bigger.
“Looks to me like a mountain,” Bart had sworn, “I never seed such a storm.”
“It’s a hurricane,” Peckham exclaimed. “This ain’t no gale, it’s a hurricane.”
They had run all the way to Jamaica before the hurricane had veered northerly toward Cuba. The black sky began to turn gray then clear even more. The sharp rain that had pelted the watch like tiny daggers slowed then stopped. The surging sea that had tossed Drakkar around like a twig grew less angry and was now only fast rolling swells. Anxious men were now sterner, having survived more than they thought they could. They had been lucky, very lucky. Sails were torn. Rigging was damaged and cordage was everywhere. One of the ship’s boats had been smashed. All this was superficial. Drakkar was afloat. They had survived.
Bart had summed up Anthony’s feelings exactly in a comment he made to Silas. “Glad I am that’s over. I ain’t yet ready to cast me lot with old King Neptune. Not yet I ain’t.”
Chapter Ten
Gabe and Markham had each turned eighteen, and both ready to sit for the lieutenant’s exam. They each had birthdays in November-Gabe’s on the thirteenth and Markham’s on the nineteenth. They shared much more than a birth month: mischievous natures. Anthony had been relieved that most of their pranks had been carried out ashore and neither had required discipline from the bosun.
Lady Deborah had decided to give a birthday path for the two “middies.” She had invited every young lady on the island, all of whom showed up for the festivities in their finest attire, each trying to out-do the other for the young gentlemen’s attention. Lieutenant Earl was present also. He and Gabe entertained the young ladies with their musical abilities to the delight of all.
Gabe and Markham had become close friends, and each was well-liked by the other officers under Anthony’s command. The two young gentlemen had grown not only in stature, but as responsible officers as well. It was hard to think of the two as mids, they had matured so much since the commission had started. Anthony was certain both would pass the exam. The only problem was having enough post captains in port at one time to form a board. With the holidays rapidly approaching, surely a couple of ships with post captains would arrive.
Anthony heard the sound of laughter and a feminine giggle. The gentlemen seemed to be well occupied by the flirting young ladies, leaving Anthony with the feeling that the furthest thing on Gabe and Markham’s mind was the lieutenant’s exam.
New Year’s Day in the year of our Lord 1775 found Lady Deborah a guest aboard Drakkar, along with Commodore Gardner and his wife, Greta. Also on board for the festivities were Captain Swift and Captain Meade. Captain Swift was in command of HMS Roebuck, a new forty-four-gun frigate that was barely a year old. Captain Meade commanded the Magic frigate of thirty-two guns. Both were on convoy duty from Portsmouth. Anthony was very excited that the two captains were on station. It would probably take weeks for the convoy to be assembled for the trip back to England. During that time, with Commodore Gardner’s help, a board could be convened for the lieutenant’s exam.
After completing one of the finest meals Silas had ever prepared, cigars were passed around, and those who preferred pipes lit them. Lady Deborah and Greta excused themselves to the upper deck where Lieutenant Earl and Gabe were entertaining the crew with their music during this festive time. A few of the crew joined in the merriment. Bart carried chairs up for the ladies. A warm greeting to the men by the ladies and a sharp scowl from Bart ensured there would be no profane language or vulgar comments while the ladies were on deck. Meanwhile, back in Anthony’s quarters, Silas was pouring claret for everyone. When glasses were filled, Anthony broached the subject of an examination board, he was somewhat surprised at how quickly the captains agreed to convene a board. It appeared both captains had mids that were ready for the exam. In fact, Captain Meade had two. “One’s past his prime and the other is just now ripe,” he explained.
Upon the approval of Commodore Gardner, as senior naval officer of Antigua, a board was scheduled for the lieutenant’s exam to be held the following Wednesday. That would be the first Wednesday of the month. As luck would have it, two brigs, a sloop of war, and a frigate all dropped anchor within the next few days. The frigate was a captured French ship, the Tyger. She was small-a sixth rate, but was commanded by a post captain. This resulted in there now being three post captains in port to sit on the board with Commodore Gardner as the President.
Gabe and Markham had been told the board was being convened, so they busied themselves getting all their papers together and going over some last minute questions with the master. Only a week ago there had been just a handful of midshipmen on the island. Thus Gabe and Markham had been somewhat in demand in regards to the island’s social scene. Both young gentlemen were at the top of the list to receive invitations from various young ladies The two had basked in their celebrity but now there seemed to be midshipmen everywhere. All were acting important.
“The only good thing about all these shit souled younkers coining out of the woodwork, is that the board is bound to recognize the only two real seamen in the lot,” offered Markham.
“Aye,” Gabe answered. “But if the little turds anger the board, it will go hard on us all.”
Markham nodded, seeing the logic in Gabe’s comments. “Well, if they do I’ll keelhaul me a little bastard and that’s no idle promise.”
Gabe couldn’t help but laugh, such was the vehemence in his friend’s comments. “Let’s go have a wet and cool your humors.”
“It’s a shit pot load,” Markham exclaimed to Gabe as they approached Government house for the lieutenant’s exam. A large group had already gathered. Some were in little two or three men groups with texts and asking each other questions. Others were nervously pacing, and one was obviously the worse for drink. Once, when a question was being asked in one of the little groups, Gabe and Markham overheard both the question and answer. Looking to his friend, Gabe declared, “I knew that”-to which Markham replied somewhat sarcastically, “Of course,” not trying to hide his disbelief. Gabe counted thirteen mids for the exam. Thirteen!
“Damn, there’s thirteen of us,” Gabe told Markham. “Why couldn’t it have been twelve or fourteen?” Gabe had never been superstitious, but this just seemed an omen.
At 8 A.M., a stooped, gray-haired little clerk from the commodore’s staff opened the front door. A hush fell over the group of assembled young gentlemen. Gabe began to feel more nervous. What if he failed? He didn’t want to let his brother down, or his dead father for that matter. “What’d you expect from the bastard?” some would say. His stomach growled and he felt Markham punch him. The punch broke Gabe’s train of thought, and he realized the clerk was speaking.
“Now, young sirs, make sure you have all your documents and bonifides ready and in good order. There’s no time to return to your ship to fetch some certificates left behind.” The clerk sounded like a schoolteacher. “Now, sirs, so as to maintain proper discipline and good order, we will proceed according to the alphabet.”
Gabe turned to Markham and said “Hell’s fire.” As Gabe turned away Markham pleaded, “Don’t make ‘em mad, Gabe, don’t anger ‘em, please.”
When Gabe entered the boardroom the commodore greeted him. “Ah, Mr. Anthony, your packet please.”
Absently, Anthony handed his packet to the captain sitting by the commodore. There was a single chair sitting in front of the long table where the examining board was seated.
“Would you care to sit down, sir?”