by Peter Greene
On May the fourth, after a day of easy sailing, the ships anchored in a most pleasant location near Saint Helena Bay. The emerald water was cold, yet the air seemed warmer than it had been, and colorful birds flew about constantly over a single white-sand beach. Here, the continent was devoid of thick dark jungle, and low hills could be seen past fields of green grasses and light brush.
Repairs were made to damaged ships, and men were assigned appropriately to whichever vessel needed their talents. As the sun set, the fiddlers of each ship struck up their tunes, lanterns and cooking fires were lit, and the task of feeding the over two thousand men about the many ships was begun. Some danced, some sang, and some stared at the wild continent, just a few waves away to the east.
Bay of Saint Helana
Later that evening, the remaining midshipmen of the Danielle, as well as Sean and Delain, were in attendance for the feast in Captain Walker’s cabin. Mr. Harrison had left control of the Saint Annie to Smith, Hudson, and Hicks, after locking the French army officers belowdecks. He anchored alongside the Dani and was transferred aboard with Gorman. Steward, Langley, Holtz, and Blake also attended. With the addition of Mr. Koonts it was now truly crowded, necessitating a few windows to be opened a crack, to allow a gentle breeze to waft in and keep all jolly and comfortable.
After a bit of joking and singing, mostly by Sean and surprisingly by Delain, all settled in to celebrate their success. The dinner that evening was most enjoyable: an appetizer of toasted cheese and anchovies to start, with small rolled pork slices that had been grilled and stuffed with the last few plums that Claise had pickled months before. Then fresh loaves of bread and small dinner rolls with salted butter—that somehow had been kept all this time since the stop at Ribeira Grande. For the main course, the goat and two chickens had been dressed for dinner and Claise used the last of his curry for the goat. The chickens were grilled slowly over a small flame in Steward’s cabin, with rosemary, lime juice, and olive oil being basted on the skins every few minutes. Pepper was added, making the birds not only beautiful, but mouthwatering as well. There was also a small plate of green peas. After the officers all wagered and guessed as to how he had come to possess such a rarity, Claise finally told them. A plant he had purchased in Nassau had been tended to and hidden by his small porthole in the main galley. It had recently given quite a few of the green gems in just the past several days.
On deck, the men had extra rations of rum and some of Claise’s fine curried fish stew, now cooked by the brothers Stredney, who seemed to enjoy the making of large quantities of food, yet they ate very little of it themselves.
“I don’t really like fish,” said Colin.
“And I don’t enjoy curry at all!” laughed Nicolas as they served up bowl after bowl to the crew. The men aboard the Danielle, however, believed it was almost as good as when Claise would make it.
In the Captain’s cabin, Walker demanded happily that it was time for tales to be told.
“And where to begin?” asked Gorman. “Do we tell of our trip around the Cape, or do we ask for an account of the party on Isla Sello and the Castelo de Fogo?”
“I must know, first,” interrupted Koonts, who was on his third helping of rum and a fourth serving of cake, “how Captain Langley became aware of our dire need!”
All agreed that would be an excellent place to start, and Langley began happily.
“I was ordered to guard the southern coast of Gibraltar, along with a dozen other ships, including the Proteus and the Erinyes. It was ghastly boring, if I may say so. We were sailing under Admiral Kennison, who had taken up residence aboard the Leviathan.”
“There was an admiral in your squadron?” asked Jonathan.
“Yes, the Leviathan drew the short straw, as we say, and the Admiral sailed with its captain. Kennison is quite wizened and almost as ancient as the sea itself. He slept most of the time, I was told, but we all remember him from the history books as a young captain and a brave sailor. One evening, as we were bringing up the rear, we were visited by the Periwinkle—”
“Paladin,” said Harrison, defending his girl.
“Excuse me,” said Langley, “the Paladin, and Commander Sutton told us of your plight. I immediately came aboard the Leviathan and requested permission from Admiral Kennison to leave the squadron and come to your aid. During my explanation, well, he simply fell asleep! Seeing fate was in my hands, I informed his Captain that the Admiral was now resting, but previously had agreed to my request and suggested that I take the two forty-fours, Erinyes and Proteus.”
All laughed at the tale and wondered how the Drake and the Echo came along.
“We received no assistance from London,” Blake said. “We left immediately as few real fighting ships were without orders. We headed in your direction and after a few days of bad hunting, we spied the Echo near Sierra Leone, on the North African coast. We all sailed as quickly as we were able and it seems we were possibly a little late, but only just enough to make a dramatic entrance!”
Again laughter ensued. Then Harrison told of the finding of the French squadron by the Dani north of the Cape and the spotting of the Bordeaux and considerably more than just a few small escorts.
“It seems maybe Kozak may have misled us,” continued Harrison. “He must have known there were more ships escorting the merchants, but no matter—we would have done them all in, with or without you latecomers!”
This sent the room into boisterous guffaws and chuckles, and Delain had a hard time regaining her poise, contracting a severe case of the hiccups.
“As we entered the strait,” continued Harrison, “we saw someone’s bloomers atop a target raft that had been anchored to the channel. This underwear-thieving, being a standard trick employed by Mr. Moore, had us perplexed for an instant, but we soon figured it was a sign and sure enough—well, maybe Jonathan should tell what went on once he secured the Castelo de Fogo.”
Captain Walker briefly explained the situation with Miss Dowdeswell’s stowing away, and as he became stern in the telling, Delain became slightly afraid he would begin another famous outburst. Suddenly, at the realization of this, her hiccups were gone.
“We decided to put the Governor’s daughter ashore and leave her with an escort. Mr. Moore and Sean did an admiral job of containing the wildest of the Dowdeswell sisters. I assume they were perfect gentlemen, Miss Delain?”
“Until they asked for my bloomers, yes!” said Delain, and that again sent the room into hysterics.
Jonathan then took up the tale, explaining how he and his band found the castle, noticed the embrasures void of any cannon, and the fort void of any human soul.
“After careful exploration,” he continued, “we found cannon, cleaning and repair equipment, and even a large quantity of shot. The guns were quite heavy! It took a day or two to move them into position and another few to clean them. In the end we were successful, as you all know, and after some needed practice—”
“Which was quite exciting!” interrupted Delain.
“—we realized that our plan to assist in the battle would actually be possible!” laughed Jonathan.
“Then we made rafts!” said Sean, and he explained how they created the larger target raft, yet had to have another to take them safely back to the island. “The sharkies followed us every bit of the way and one tried to make me a little snack. I surely expected I was going to join old Champagne in the belly of a beast! But Steward’s letter opener saved the day.”
“Poor fish got a few pokes in the nose, eh?” asked Steward, pleased, as Sean thanked him for the wonderfully handy gift.
“And that,” said Delain, “is when we prayed that you would see our target, Captain Walker, with its conspicuous flag, as it were, and allow us the opportunity to fire our eight cannon.”
“Amazing, I must say. You are all quite inventive!” said Harrison. “Let us hope that on our next mission, sadly but preferably without Miss Dowdeswell, we can have a spare set of bloomers to signal one an
other, just in case!”
Lane then recalled his realization that Spears had departed, and the pirate too. All were shocked, but none surprised.
“Maybe it is better this way,” said Koonts.
“He could be hunted like a criminal,” suggested Holtz.
“If one had the time and the inclination,” added Blake.
“In the end,” added Jonathan, “he has his own life to deal with, and we ours. I hated to see him so angry and defeated; however, he was fatally poisoned even before he boarded the Danielle. As his actions did not affect our success in the least, I would like to wish him good luck, and hope our paths never cross again.”
“He had best be wary should his path cross with mine,” said Walker, suddenly angry, though it was short-lived, and he quickly raised his glass in a toast. “However, be that as it may, a spa-len-did job, one and all. Again, the Poseidons emerge victorious!”
“To our lost home,” Jonathan said, “HMS Poseidon and our lost brothers who perished in her last defense.”
All raised their glasses and remained silent for a moment, remembering the final battle and the winning of the Danielle, at the great cost of their former ship and many of their friends.
With that, Claise entered the room with more food and a few desserts. All applauded him and his efforts, but soon, it was noticed he was sobbing.
“Here, here, Claise, my good man!” bellowed the Captain. “I am sure you have been chopping onions? Or did you bump your head?”
Claise stopped his sobbing, then, as if he were a young midshipman, turned to the window and stood at attention.
“No onions or bumps, sir!” he said firmly. “I must admit to a serious crime. And I might as well confess in front of all my brethren and friends and officers. May I beg for leniency!”
Claise started bawling once again, causing the Captain to stand and escort him out of the cabin and up to the poop deck. He calmed the man down again and then urged him on.
“What horrible crime is this, Claise?”
“The plaque, Captain,” he finally blurted out.
“The plaque?” Walker repeated, surprised. “You?”
“It was I that loosened it! While you were all eating I would chip and poke at it. I couldn’t stand the name, Doggard! Who would do such a thing to our lovely lady?”
Walker laughed long and hard, then clapped Claise on the back and told him that he would tell no one of the serious crime—if Claise would keep it to himself as well.
The Danielle, with her sister ships and prizes, sailed onward to the north for almost five weeks, only stopping for a single day to resupply in Gibraltar. On the thirteenth of June, just after breakfast, they spotted the shores of the Isles of Scilly and from there navigated easily east to Chatham.
At the port side rail stood Jonathan, Sean, and Delain. The warm winds of summer now blew about them, and the late afternoon sun warmed their backs as they smiled. For a long moment, they stared in silence as England became larger and therefore, more real.
“We have been at sea for a long time, gentlemen,” said Delain finally. “I am not sure I want to return to land.”
“I know the feeling, Miss Dowdeswell,” agreed Jonathan.
Sean smiled at them both as he lovingly held Stewie in his arms. “I think Stewie would enjoy sampling several mice of London, but he is a sea cat. He will stay aboard the Dani until our next mission. As for me, well, a little softer bed and a few of Miss Thompson’s home cooked meals would be most welcome. Besides, I need another book to read!”
Shortly, Lane appeared to take a place at their side, and the conversation turned once again to Spears. Each wondered if he would go to America and what life would be like with Kozak, living with their shared fate.
“He will forever be looking over his shoulder,” said Lane solemnly, “as a result of his decision to lead a life of piracy, to which he has now condemned himself.”
“If he is ever seen again,” said Sean, sadly, “he will be captured and tried as a criminal.”
“Maybe that will be a better life for him,” said Jonathan. “His old life was done, his family name disgraced and his future dashed. I have no doubt he felt that a new life, no matter how low, was better than his broken, old one. Maybe he can remake himself.”
“Maybe, for that is what many do who emigrate to America,” offered Delain.
The evening set in as HMS Danielle and her squadron approached Chatham. Mr. Watt navigated easily into port, along with the Trident and the Drake, and Walker ordered the remaining ships to anchor nearby, off the coast. He meant to keep the prisoners onboard until he could make arrangements for their transfer ashore.
Unlike the last homecoming, no one knew they were arriving, and there was no fanfare or greeting, just a slight bump as the ship nudged the wooden dock. And to Jonathan, who now longed to see his father and Miss Thompson, the silent and calm arrival was entirely agreeable.
“The sooner we are home, Sean, the better,” he said.
“Agreed,” Sean whispered.
“I assume that you will escort me to my auntie’s home?” asked Delain.
“With pleasure, Miss Dowdeswell,” said Jonathan. ”And do not forget our appointment. It was iced cream, I believe?”
“It was, Mr. Moore. How kind of you to remember.”
* * * * *
Captain Walker sent a man from the dock to inform his wife of his successful return. Mrs. Walker immediately sent the carriage to collect her husband, then sent word to Nathaniel Moore that his son, and his other son, were safe and at Chatham. Nathaniel quickly prepared his carriage and, after stopping only to retrieve Miss Thompson, he rode as fast as was possible to meet the Danielle.
Upon seeing his son, Nathaniel flew across the docks and embraced him heartily.
“Jonathan! To see you again! It is the joy of a lifetime! William, thank you for delivering him to me safely! And Sean! It seems you have grown another three inches! And gained a bit of weight?”
“It could be,” said Sean, smiling. “I have eaten a bit better on this trip, I can assure you!”
“And who is this lovely lady?” asked Nathaniel.
“This, Father, is the irrepressible Miss Delain Dowdeswell, adventurer!”
“How do you do?” Delain said sweetly, with a curtsy.
“It seems that once again, there is more to the mission than meets the eye,” said Nathaniel. “William, why is Governor Dowdeswell’s daughter aboard the Dani?”
“It is such a long story and I am so tired, it will have to wait!” laughed Walker.
“How did the boys perform, William?” Miss Thompson asked as she finally had her turn at embracing the youngsters. “I heard the cruise was to be a simple tour of the warm and peaceful waters of the Caribbean. Looking at your collection of French ships anchored offshore, I assume you had your hands full?”
Walker laughed aloud, as did Harrison.
“We did attend to our duties in the Bahamas,” said Walker.
“However,” said Harrison, “Jonathan figured that capturing a pirate ship was more fun than just seeing sea turtles, and one thing led to another.”
Nathaniel looked at Jonathan quizzically, then frowned.
“It was HMS Drake, Father. I couldn’t let it be handled by those ruffians!” he said, laughing.
“And if we didn’t capture the pirate ship,” added Delain, “then we never would have made it to Africa and the Castle of Fire on Isla Sello!”
“Who would have known,” said Sean, “that cannon that old could be made workable?”
“Oh dear,” said Nathaniel to Miss Thompson. “I have a feeling I may not want to know all the details!”
“We will tell ya all the same, Captain, as we ride,” said Steward. “I could use a bath.”
“Agreed,” said Harrison. “You could!”
Once again, the newspapers announced the successful exploits of Captain Sir William Walker and his daring crew. Walker could hardly walk into the entrance of th
e Admiralty to report for duty without being accosted by literally hundreds of well-wishers and fellow Navy men, all falling over themselves to congratulate him. A bother, but it could be worse.
Governor Dowdeswell’s sister, Lady Bracknell, did indeed faint upon hearing the story of Delain’s adventure and could not believe that she had survived through it all unscathed, even though the proof was there in the flesh. Penelope and Rebecca were delighted to see their sister and could not wait until the details of her African adventure were told.
As they had been away for quite some time, almost five months, all were pleased to learn from Jonathan’s father that the King had indeed remedied the situation at the Admiralty. Barrow and Worthing, the two bloated Admirals who has caused such a fuss, were reported to be in Australia and being eaten by hordes of mosquitoes.
“And I,” said Nathaniel Moore, “will hereby be known and addressed as Admiral Nathaniel Moore, Adjunct to the King for Naval Affairs.”
Saturday, the twentieth of June, finally arrived, as did a cool but sunny day, and Walker was finally released from the grips of the Admirals in Whitehall. He settled into his den with a modest fire and a glass of port, enjoying the solitude. Steward entered from time to time to poke at the flames that needed no poking and to add drink to the Captain’s glass that actually did need refilling. This evening there was to be a small dinner and gathering; however, for most of the day, Walker snoozed and ate. He was napping again when his wife woke him to announce that his guests had begun to arrive and were waiting in his study.
The first to appear had been the family, more or less, of the Moores: Nathaniel and Jonathan, seemingly attached at the hip and happy to be together once again, along with Miss Thompson. She immediately excused herself to assist her sister, the Captain’s wife, in the kitchen.
“Is Sean at his exams?” asked Walker.
“Yes, sir,” said Jonathan. “He has been studying since we left Isla Sello. Gorman lent him a few books and spent all day yesterday with him, grilling and admonishing, mostly. Holtz had his hands full just getting Sean to his exams. I have never seen him so nervous! Though, he has gone to it. His desire to become a marine is truly inspiring.”