HMS Seawolf

by Michael Aye

  “Get off me,” Faith screamed as she loosened a hand and clawed at her attacker’s face as he thrust toward her.

  From the shadow a large black man arose. “Leave her be, Mr. Hindley.”

  “Get out,” Hindley shouted.

  “I said leave her be,” Lum repeated and this time he grasped Hindley’s shoulder.

  Furious and half crazy over the whole affair, Hindley jumped up and hit Lum with a strong blow to the head. “I said get out nigger.”

  Turning his attention back to Faith, he slapped her again as he flung her back down on the table and thrust at her once again. Out of nowhere Hindley felt himself being snatched around as an ax was plunged deep into his skull. He never heard the scream he let out as he slumped to the floor, but Luther and Rotten Teeth did.

  Lum was helping Faith to her feet and trying to cover her nakedness when the door burst open.

  “Well looky heah…looks like the nigger done killed Mr. Hindley and is raping Miss Faith. What you thank?” Luther asked his partner.

  “Kill us a nigger and taste a bit ‘o sweet nectar all in one night. Course we’ll have to kill missy too, but that’s after we licked all the honey outta the pot.”

  “You’re not killing anyone my friend.” Dagan, Caleb and Rud had walked up on the two without being heard, so intent had they been staring at the partially clad Faith.

  “Who’er you?”

  “Does it matter,” Dagan asked.

  “Sho nuff does,” Rotten Teeth spoke. “Luther, he ain’t even got a gun.”

  “Then kill him,” Luther cried.

  As he did, Dagan stepped aside. Luther and Rotten Teeth saw Caleb and Rud too late. Caleb shot Luther in the chest with his pistol. Holding his musket casually, without aiming Rud fired, his ball hitting Rotten Teeth in the stomach taking a button from his shirt and pushing it through his backbone.

  Gabe tried to rise, Faith and Dagan both rushed to him. “Still getting yourself into a fix,” Dagan said sarcastically, but feeling an immense sense of relief.

  Gabe stood with help, tried to smile as he said, “Aye, but she’s worth it.” Then directing his attention to Caleb, Gabe continued, “The man you shot keeps the keys to the locks in his coat pocket.”

  Finding the keys, Gabe was soon released and Rud went to set the imprisoned girls free. Turning to Faith, Dagan asked, “How long before we have company?”

  “I’m not sure,” Faith replied. “My uncle went to meet some men in Charlestown this morning so I don’t expect him back till tomorrow or the next day. However, usually when he returns from his trips he brings several men with him, but I think we’re safe enough for now.”

  Looking at Faith, who was still not completely covered, an uncomfortable Dagan asked further, “And your uncle is?”

  “Adam Montique.”

  “I knew it,” Dagan said. “The man has been plotting against us from the start.”

  “Aye,” Gabe replied. “He thought I was out after his man slugged me but I came to in time to hear him brag about how he was the brains behind the pirates we faced in the West Indies. He killed most of his captives, but the women, especially the blond women; he sold to the Dey in Algiers. The others he took his pleasures with then turned them over to Hindley and his men.”

  Caleb, who had went to check on Jubal and Kawliga, returned and reported their findings. “There’s a boat right enough. Kawliga surprised the man on board and he’s trussed up properly now.”

  “How big is the boat?” Gabe asked.

  “It ought to hold us all. The tide appears to be on the ebb though so we need to hurry.”

  “Well, get the women to the boat. Then look around and get us some weapons, food and water.”

  When Caleb had departed, Gabe turned to Dagan, “This place has enough supplies in it to keep an army going for months. We’ll lay a charge and on our way out we’ll light a fuse and finish the job we started.”

  Gabe had his back to Faith and so he could not see her hand go to her mouth and the pallor that crept across her face.

  “No!” Dagan said.

  “Did you say no,” Gabe asked, not believing his ears.

  “I gave my word to Colonel Marion I’d fetch you and protect myself but I’d do no more mischief,” Dagan explained.

  “But these supplies, this man cared nothing for the war; he’s filling his pockets at both countries expense.”

  “I gave my word, Gabe, same as you did to the smuggler that time.”

  Gabe gave a sigh and turned to Faith, “Lets get your things together.”

  “I…can’t Gabe, I can’t go with you.”

  “But we’re to be married. You said you’d marry me.”

  “I can’t Gabe.”

  “Don’t you love me, Faith?”

  “Yes, yes with all my heart.”

  “Then let’s get some things and go.”

  “I told you I can’t Gabe.”

  “Why?”

  “Cause you’re the enemy…our countries are at war…Maybe after the war Gabe, but not now. We believe in different causes.”

  “You can’t stay here, Faith, your uncle, what will he do when he returns?”

  Looking very determined Faith said, “Live Oak is mine. My father made this place what it is and I intend to keep it. My father had influential friends in Savannah. I will go there. They will help me, I’m sure. Nanny and Uncle Lum…” Faith stopped in mid sentence. “Take Uncle Lum with you Gabe.”

  “But missy,” Lum broke in.

  “No, you can’t stay. You killed a white man and they’d hang you for sure. It wouldn’t matter why you did it. Sooner or later they’d get you alone and string you up.”

  “My place is with you, Miss Faith,” Lum pleaded.

  With tears in her eyes, Faith placed her hands on Lum’s face and kissed his cheek. “You’ve always watched out for me ain’t you, Uncle Lum?”

  “Yessum.”

  “You always said you’d do anything for me didn’t you?”

  “Yessum.”

  “Then go and look after my man till this war is over. God knows when that will be.”

  “I will, Miss Faith, and I’s gona bring him back to you when this heah wars over. No matter how long dat be.”

  Sensing the need for the two to be alone, Dagan with Lum in tow headed toward the boat. Gabe trying to hold his emotions in check, looked at Faith.

  “I will always love you.”

  “And I you,” Faith replied as Gabe embraced her. In doing so, he felt something hard against his chest. The ruby. They had overlooked it when he had been taken prisoner. He took it out and placed it in Faith’s hand, “You have my heart in your hand, to hold till I return.”

  Taking the ruby, Faith grasped it tight in her fist, and then said, “I’ll not let it go.”

  Gabe kissed her then turned and made his way to the boat, choking back his emotions once more. Nanny had been standing back, watching. She walked up and put a shawl over Faith’s shoulders.

  “Yo mama would skin you alive child, being out heah in this night air half-naked as you is.”

  Faith still held the ruby in her hand and could feel the heat it exuded. Then quietly she said, “There goes the man I love, Nanny.”

  “Mine too, child, mine too.”

  PART THREE

  The Prize

  Yonder ships a privateer

  With men and guns a plenty

  What say you my brave men

  Shall we take this enemy

  Reduce all sail, run out the guns

  Put one across her bow

  Yonder ship will be our prize

  Before the quarter hour

  …Michael Aye

  Chapter One

  Lum proved his value immediately in guiding the boat into the channel through the marsh and into and down Broad River. As quietly and quickly as possible they went past Port Royal then out into the bay. The tide had been on the ebb as Caleb had warned. The boat Jubal and Kawliga commandeered was the
Lucky Lady, a yawl, a fishing boat of twenty-five feet in length and six feet in width. It had two masts, a main mast and a small mizzen mast which was located right on the transom. It also was equipped for four sets of oars. The boat was overcrowded. Thirteen people with a few supplies.

  However, Gabe wished for one more. Without thinking, he clutched the leather bag around his neck-the empty bag. He went to remove it from around his neck but stopped. He would keep it there. The bag would remain close to his heart. Like his heart…empty until…until.

  “Better come a point or two larboard,” Dagan called. He was in the bow and Gabe sat at the tiller.

  Casting aside his personal sorrow, Gabe called forward, “Let’s set the sails and see how she does. We may have to rearrange either the supplies or where people are sitting.”

  The girls were huddled together. Little thought had been given to how they were dressed when they were freed and herded down the boardwalk and into the boat. The girls were shivering from the cool damp night air. The men had given what they could in the way of clothing but some of the girls had been almost naked, so even with the clothing a lot of skin was still exposed to the elements and the men’s eyes.

  Especially Jubal, who was feasting his eyes. Gabe had caught him staring more than once, but what did you say to a young boy. Gabe smiled to himself, thinking of the bent up humours the boy must be suffering from.

  The girls who had been silent when they first escaped had started to talk. It was amazing to Gabe as he listened to the chatter that most of them were from the Tidewater area in Virginia but did not know each other. One was a strawberry blonde from Boston and appeared to be whiter, almost pale in skin color. The girls all seemed to come from fairly well to do Colonial families but had nothing else in common, except each had been sexually abused by Adam Montique. He seemed to enjoy acting out different scenarios while Hindley would cheer him on and on occasion take part himself.

  The strawberry blonde girl was named Erin. She had been singled out by Hindley and had suffered more abuse than the others. Dagan seemed to sense her need and talked quietly with the girl who sobbed at times. Gabe knew if anyone could help her it was Dagan.

  The one thing Gabe found strange was that with all the women on board Caleb seemed distant. Generally, Caleb would have been showing an interest and making himself as irresistible as possible. Was he showing the girls respect because of their recent ordeal? Was he having pain from the recent snake bite? Something was different.

  Little did Gabe know Caleb’s mind was on a woman, but not one of these. But one that was tucked away in Virginia. One named Kitty.

  “Sail ho!” Dagan called out. Half dozing at the tiller, Gabe was instantly alert.

  “Where?”

  “Two points off the starboard bow.”

  Without rocking the boat, Gabe stood up. He couldn’t see a thing. The sun was coming up and that made it even more difficult.

  “You sure?”

  For an answer Dagan just gave him a look. Dumb question, Gabe thought. It had been three nights and two days since they’d made their escape. This was the dawn of the third day. They had discussed putting in at Charlestown but it was agreed it would be safer for Gabe and Dagan to sail on toward Norfolk.

  Hopefully, they would meet up with Markham and the Swan. He was to have cruised these waters hoping for a rendezvous, but that would be a chance meeting only. The likelihood that the sail was British was good, but it could just as well be a Colonial ship.

  However, after three days and nights in a small boat the wear on the girls was starting to show. The fair-skinned Erin in particular was showing the effect of constant exposure to the sun and wind. If a meeting with a ship had not occurred by mid-day Gabe had already decided to put ashore. The winds had been light and at times almost nonexistent, but Gabe knew they had to have made enough progress to be off the coast of North Carolina.

  After another fifteen minutes Dagan called back, “She’s British and looks like a mail packet or dispatch ship.”

  Not wanting to be missed, Gabe had Rud fire off three shots. That should wake-up the buggers, he thought. However, there had been no cause for concern.

  The lookout on the mail packet, Parrott, had already called down his sighting, “Sail ho! Dead ahead, boat load of naked women.”

  ***

  Lieutenant Farnsworth Dean of HMS Parrott was most accommodating, as was his only other officer and the entire ship’s crew. It was not everyday you picked up a boat load of naked, well, near naked women. The lifetime dream of all sailors.

  Dean listened intently as Gabe related his story. When the Swan was mentioned, Dean related they had sighted Swan and talked with her commander two days ago. So they had in fact been keeping a sharp lookout. Dean surprised Gabe by telling him he had been a midshipman under then Captain Gilbert Anthony on HMS Recourse, and recounted their battle with Algerian pirates, “It was a hot time we had of it that day.”

  “Mr. Buck made me promise to take care, so he wouldn’t have to send me home in halves. Ha! Ha! I hear he’s a post captain now and Captain Anthony has raised his flag,” Dean continued.

  “Aye,” Gabe said, realizing how much he missed his brother and his own ship, the SeaWolf. How he longed to be back in his cabin. He needed the ship to take his mind off Faith. It appeared Dagan’s lady luck had finally changed. Not only changed but played a cruel trick as far as Gabe was concerned. He couldn’t come to grips with the many thoughts that were running through his head. He could resign his commission and maybe that would change her mind. But no, he couldn’t do that. He couldn’t dishonor Gil or his father, no matter what.

  Dean, seeing Gabe was lost in thought excused himself to give Gabe some much needed time alone. Gabe didn’t even realize Dean had gone on deck. It was the sound of music that brought Gabe out of his deep thought. A soft sound, a pleasant but a mournful sound.

  As Gabe stood up to investigate the noise, he banged his head on an overhead beam. “Damn,” he cried aloud without thinking. The lick caused tears to come to his eyes.

  Dagan came in just as the incident happened, “Clear your thoughts did you?”

  “More like muddled them for good I’m thinking,” Gabe replied still rubbing his head. “What’s that sound?”

  “It’s Lum playing a lotz.”

  “Damned if he didn’t pick a sad tune.”

  “To fit your mood?”

  “Well, it doesn’t miss it far. Dagan…I don’t know what to do. There she was, as good as mine, happy, then her mood changed and like quicksilver she was gone. Can you guess why, Dagan? I’ve never asked for anything for me, but tell me…will she be there Dagan? Will she be there when this is over?”

  Dagan sensed the pain in his nephew, knew he needed something to hold on to but he couldn’t bring himself to make a promise that this war could change. “I’ll think on it Gabe, I don’t have a true feeling right now, but I do know if the love is true, true like the Admiral’s and Maria’s, then only death can come between you.”

  After standing still a long silent moment, Gabe asked, “What’s a lotz?”

  Unable to hide his smile Dagan explained, “A lotz is a type of flute. Lum made it himself out of boxwood. He said the first one he made was out of river reeds but this one’s a touch more elaborate.”

  “It’s a pretty sound, Dagan, but that was definitely a sad tune.”

  Dagan then looked directly at Gabe, “Could be Lum is missing someone too.”

  ***

  “Sail ho, bearing down amidships to the starboard, looks like the Swan, sir.”

  Dean had a tight ship and a sharp, experienced lookout; he called down his sighting without having to be prompted for more information.

  Hearing the sighting excited Gabe. Markham. He had missed his friend. The two had been very close ever since they had been midshipmen together.

  It took another turn of the glass before Swan was alongside Parrott. Dean had bent on the signal “missing flock returned” so Markha
m had himself rowed over to Parrott. After much good-natured ribbing and back slapping Markham was introduced to the rest of the missing flock.

  “Lieutenant Frances Markham, ladies, Captain of HMS Swan.” As the girls were introduced, now more appropriately attired, Gabe caught Markham staring at Erin.

  Well, he ain’t dead , he thought, still not understanding the change in Caleb and his mannerisms where the women were concerned. Everyone made a big deal out of Kawliga and Jubal. Rud grunted a lot but wasn’t that talkative. Lum was silent and seemed nervous about the attention he was being paid. Gabe made up his mind to talk with Lum first chance he had when the two could be alone.

  It was decided Markham would take all of Gabe’s party aboard Swan and head toward Nova Scotia and Lord Anthony. Parrott would return southward to Saint Augustine and then to the West Indies.

  It was a happy and cheerful Mr. Davy that greeted Gabe, Dagan, Caleb and the rest of the group as they came aboard Swan. Once everything had been stowed Davy got the ship underway.

  “Not a sniffling little snit anymore, is he?” Markham asked his friend.

  “Nay,” Gabe answered, “He’s always been a brave one. He’ll go far if he’s not killed.”

  “Rud, where can we put you ashore?” Gabe and Markham had been discussing their human cargo. It didn’t make sense to take them all the way to Nova Scotia. Therefore Rud was called in for advice.

  “Where are we now?” the soldier asked.

  “Close to North Carolina,” Markham replied.

  “I’d be obliged if you could drop me off at Wilmington,” Rud said. “I got kin there and after a visit I’ll mosey on back down to Colonel Marion. You two share the same name,” Rud said speaking to Markham. “Him being Francis Marion and you being Frances Markham. Course you don’t look alike, him being from South Carolina and you being a Britisher and such.”

  Gabe could barely control his smile as a somewhat taken aback Frances Markham agreed to put a boat ashore off Wilmington circumstances permitting.