HMS Seawolf

by Michael Aye

  However, the girl was oblivious to all of this. Her mind was on a tall, dark, British naval officer. “Oh Gabe,” Faith thought, “In a moment of impudent pride I’ve ruined it. I never meant to hurt you,” Faith thought recalling the look of disbelief and shock on Gabe’s face as she called him ‘the enemy’. Had he made his escape she wondered.

  She had made her way to Savannah as she had told Gabe she’d do. She was given sanctuary in the home of her father’s friend and business partner. Gavin Lacy and his wife, Caroline, had been very kind to her. Faith had told them about her suspicions of Uncle Adam’s activities which had been rumored for some time. It was not much later that word had made its way to Faith that Colonel Francis Marion and General Gates had gone south to Port Royal and confiscated all the supplies her uncle had stored in his warehouse. Some of Montique’s men had gotten wind of the impending arrest and warned him that a warrant had been issued for treason and white slavery. Upon hearing the news from his men, Montigue loaded all he could aboard one of his ships and fled just prior to General Gates men’s arrival.

  One of the slaves got word to Nanny that Montique had vowed to do worse than murder to Faith and the British bastard she’d taken up with. Even with the ever constant protection offered by Mr. Lacy and his men Faith had woken several times from a nightmare where she was being raped repeatedly while her uncle looked on laughing. Nanny had slept in her room for weeks until Faith refused for her to do so another night.

  “Just look at you,” Faith scolded Nanny, “Sleeping in that chair has got your lumbago so flared up you’re worthless to anyone. I’ll not be the cause of all your ailments flaring up. From now on you sleep in your bed.”

  Seeing the truth in Faith’s words Nanny agreed, “You’s right child, I’s gona sleep in my bed from now on ‘wid dis heah hatchet under my pillow, and if a bad man messes ‘wid you chile, I’s gona chop off his head.” Still before Nanny went to sleep she prayed, “Lawd, keep yo hands on the missy, dem good-fur-nuthin’ men of ours, and if some left over keep me in mind too Lawd. Amen.”

  ***

  Gabe had met with his officers and caught up on what had happen during his absence.

  “The ship is in good repair, we need a few things but are ready for sea now if need be,” Hazard had assured Gabe.

  Nathan Lavery brought up the subject of Mr. Davy. “Is Mr. Davy gone for good, sir?” the lieutenant asked. “If so, we have an opening for another mid.”

  Gabe made a note to check on this when he dined with his brother that evening. He didn’t go into specifics but before dismissing his officers, Gabe said, “I have every belief we will be putting to sea very soon to engage a fair size force. When I told the men, tomorrow we work, I meant it. Starting tomorrow I want the crew put through all the drills. They know sailing and gunnery but I want them to be put through fire drill. Drill them on what to do if the tiller cable parts and we lose steerage. I want to see who steps forward if all the officers are killed.”

  Looking at the captain, Blake spoke what the others were thinking, “You think we’re in for a substantial battle with a sizable force, don’t you sir?”

  Gabe would not lie to his officers, “I have no way of knowing exactly what we’re to face, Mr. Blake, but I do expect the worse. If we prepare for it and there’s less…well we can all be thankful.”

  ***

  The officers had gone back topside and Gabe could hear the men padding around on the deck overhead going through their daily activities. Gabe had just finished writing in his journal, crew employed A.T.S.R, the abbreviation for ‘as the service requires’ when he heard the challenge, “boat ahoy?” Le Frelon!

  That could only be Earl, Gabe thought as he grabbed his hat and headed topside. It appeared Lord Anthony had given the corvette to Earl. “It was past time he had his own ship,” Gabe thought, “In reality he should have had a command before me.” Before he left the cabin, Gabe called out, “Dawkins?”

  “Aye, cap’n.”

  “I’m thinking we’re about to have a small celebration. Some glasses and a bit of something tasty if you will.”

  “Aye, cap’n, right away.”

  “Lum?”

  “Yes suh…aye, sir.”

  “Get your lotz, I want to show it to my friend.”

  Looking at Dawkins, Lum replied, “Aye, aye sir.” Then Lum looked pleased as Dawkins grinned and nodded his head.

  “We’ll make a sailor outta you yet, Lum, and that’s no error.”

  “The two seemed to be getting along well,” Gabe thought. Then it occurred to him Dagan had made himself scarce of late and come to think of it so had Caleb, undoubtedly to give him time to clear his thoughts on the ordeal that he had been through…then thinking of Caleb, Gabe thought of Mr. Jewels.

  “ Damme,” Gabe said to himself, “How my mind wonders,” as he climbed the companionway he couldn’t help but wonder what if any mischief the ape had been up to.

  ***

  Dagan made his way into SeaWolf’s captain’s cabin without the usual announcement by the marine sentry. He caught Gabe’s eye then holding up his watch he alerted him to the time then disappeared into the pantry.

  After seeing Dagan, Gabe patted his friend on the shoulder and said, “Stephen, old salt, I hate to be a bad host but its time I sup with the Admiral.”

  Earl then looked at his own watch, “ Damme, Gabe where has the time gone? You’d best make headway to the flagship. You can’t keep the Admiral waiting even if he is your brother.”

  “Aye,” Gabe answered, “Sometimes it’s hard keeping the two separated.”

  The two had shared more than enough wine, biscuit, fresh preserves and cheese in celebration of Earl’s promotion to Master and Commander and being given command of Le Frelon. Now Gabe wondered if he’d be able to do justice to his meal at the flagship. Earl had enjoyed Lum’s lotz and commented on how like a flute it was but still different in tone. “It has a melancholy sound does it not?”

  “Aye,” Gabe replied, “But Lum can make it dance a jig as well.” The three had passed it around and made attempts at mastering the instrument with instructions from Lum. Earl seemed to grasp it more readily than Gabe whose talents seemed to be more with stringed instruments.

  Surprisingly Lum did well with Gabe’s lute and said he’d played a violin as well. “We have a master musician in our mist,” declared Earl, which seemed to please the old black gentleman.

  Even with the distinct separation of officers and crew, Lum seemed to be treated better than he’d ever been treated as a slave. Dagan had told him, “You’re a slave no more; you’re a free man and will be paid for your labors. The Royal Navy don’t pay well but it pays and being the cap’n’s servant you’ll have more freedom than most.”

  As Earl waited for his gig he shook Gabe’s hand. “Thank you again. Lord Anthony told me you’d thought of me when the corvette was taken.” Gabe was touched by the sincereness in his friend’s voice.

  “Nonsense, Stephen, you were the only real candidate his Lordship had.”

  “Well, I hope I meet his expectations,” Earl replied. “I’d hate to fail his Lordship in anyway.”

  “I had the same concerns,” Gabe admitted. “There were some whose whispers were not so silent as not to be overheard. It was said that had I not been the son of one admiral and brother of another I’d never been given command at such an early age. A crib captain was one description I heard. Therefore, it was very important for me to succeed and my appointment not be viewed as that of special interest but be viewed as an accomplishment.”

  Hazard, the first lieutenant, approached the two captains in conversation and stood waiting until he was acknowledged.

  “Yes, Mr. Hazard?” Gabe stated.

  “My compliments, sir, and Captain Earl’s gig is waiting, sir.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Hazard.” As Gabe walked to the entry port with his friend, Earl grasped his arm. He stopped suddenly and faced Gabe.

  “The captain’s call tomorrow
Gabe…is it something big, something important?” Unsure of what to say but not wanting to make Earl wonder for another several hours he replied, “I’m not sure of what the Admiral’s order will be but were it I with a new command and an unproven crew I’d spend time in gunnery drill.”

  Earl gave Gabe a knowing look, “Gunnery drill it will be then sir. Gunnery drill it’ll be.”

  ***

  As Gabe boarded the flagship to dine with his brother he saw Bart smoking his pipe while sitting on one of the huge twelve-pounder cannons.

  “Tell me, Bart,” Gabe said, “how has Silas and Mr. Jewells been doing during my absence.”

  Bart’s face broke out in a grin, “Ah…Gabe, it’s been exciting at times, it has. Silas made a platter full of pastries for ‘is Lordship’s breakfast and put ‘em on the table. Then ‘e went to fetch some coffee. When ‘e returned ‘is Lordship was sitting at the table and all the pastries were gone. Silas thinks ‘is Lordship must’ve been hungry, but he pour’s ‘is coffee as be usual. He then goes back to ‘is ‘ole.

  “Soon his Lordship calls, ‘Silas, is there anything to break my fast?’ Surprised Silas says, ‘My Lord, I put a whole platter of berry pastries on the table.’ ‘Well, they were not here when I sat down.’ ‘But my Lord, they be right there when I went to fetch your coffee.’ ‘Well, damme man,’ his Lordship growled, ‘I didn’t eat the damn things and I’m hungry so find something for me directly.’ ‘Aye, my Lord.’ Then Silas puzzled as ‘e can be see’d me. ‘Did you eat ‘is Lordship’s pastries, Bart?’ ‘Nay, I just come up from me own mess,’ I swore. Now Silas is really fit to be tied but ‘e busy’s himself fixing ‘is Lordship’s breakfast. No sooner ‘ad ‘e set it down for ‘is Lordship than Mr. Jewells let loose ‘wid a fart that would make a broadside dull in ‘comparysum and stink. Gaw’d it was terrible. Pure made ‘is Lordship’s eyes water and ‘e gagged like ‘e was ‘bout to spew.

  “’ Damme, sir, but that was foul,’ he said to Silas, ‘is Lordship thinking it was Silas what smelt up the cabin so bad. Then ‘der was a ‘nutter fart only Silas was at ‘is Lordship’s side and the fart sounded from the pantry. This ‘un smelt worse than the first and set his Lordship to gagging again. Not wanting Silas to have to clean-up spew from ‘is Lordship, I took hold and said, ‘Come with me sir, let’s go topside to breathable air.’ We bout knocked the sentry arsehole over tea kettle as we flew from the cabin. The marine looking ill ‘is ownself as the smell follered us outta the cabin.

  “It was just a minute or two when I seen ole Silas aft by the taftrail. He was greener than a frog at the gils. ‘Silas, what’s wrong ‘wid you man?’ ‘It were the ape.’ ‘The ape?’ I quizzed. ‘Aye, the ape what done it. It was him that ate ‘is Lordship’s whole tray of pastries. He ‘ad berry stains on ‘is face and fingers.’”

  “Ah,” I said, “Them berries gave ‘im the farts.”

  “Nay,” Silas said, “Not farts, shats. That ape done shat all in ‘is Lordship’s pantry.”

  Gabe laughed till his eyes watered at Bart’s story.

  “Took a barrel-o-lemons squeezed on the deck two or three times a day for a week for the smell to finally go about. His Lordship promised a flogging if Silas ever brought Mr. Jewells back in ‘is cabin. That night the flag captain took pity on ‘is Lordship and gave an invitation to be ‘is guest for supper.

  ***

  Gabe was still in a humorous mood as he made his way to the great cabin. As he was announced he couldn’t help but notice the table was only set for two. So this was an unofficial meeting. Brothers, not admiral and lieutenant.

  “Ah, Gabe, I’ve missed you boy.”

  “I’ve missed you too, Gil,” Gabe replied, using his brother’s name. “I had times when I worried we’d not see each other again.”

  “I worried about that also, but trusting in God and Dagan’s lady luck, I wouldn’t give up on you.”

  Gabe could see moisture in his brother’s eye and feeling it build in his eye quickly changed the tone of the meeting. “I say, Gil, while I was being held I thought I’d starve and the only thing I could think of was Silas’ berry pastries. Did you and Mr. Jewells eat them all or is any left?”

  Gil looked blank at first then a smile creased his face. “That damn ape. I ought to have the damn thing set adrift. A menace he is, but now that Caleb’s back, I guess he’ll be your worry. Speaking of Caleb, he seems changed somehow. Not the rash, glib tongue he usually is.”

  “Aye,” Gabe replied, “I think the man has been shot by one of cupid’s arrows.”

  With the two brothers looking at each other Gil replied, “I understand you may have been pierced by one of those arrows yourself.”

  A smile touched Gabe’s face and shaking his head in acknowledgement he said, “Dagan or Caleb or both has been talking too much, but I’ll not deny it. An angel to look upon but a mouth like a sailor at times. I have lost my heart,” a sincere Gabe said to his brother, again feeling moisture return to his eyes.

  Gil stood and walked over to where his brother sat and clapped a hand across his shoulders, “It must have been rough.”

  It was then it all came forth, all the pent-up emotions came flooding out. Gil stood silently; hand on his brother’s back supporting him and listened as Gabe described his ordeal. A silent Bart and Silas sat in the pantry. Dagan had told part of it but now the true depth of the ordeal came through.

  “Aye,” Bart thought, “ brothers but more like father and son.”

  By the time Gabe had bared his soul, his concerns over his actions as commander in charge of the convoy, his captivity and his lost love he was feeling much better. A burden lifted.

  Gil was careful in his wording of his thoughts on leaving the convoy in the hands of someone less experienced. However, the information obtained because of it had proved most important. They would have to wait and see how things ultimately played out.

  Then the subject changed to Faith. “Do you think it could work out, Gil?” Gabe’s voice almost pleaded for an affirmative.

  “I don’t know Gabe. I know I never loved ‘till I met Lady Deborah. Had it not been for Lord McKean’s death by those blackguards, we would have never been as one. Therefore, all I can say is if it was meant to be, it will be.”

  The two then dined on cod, green beans, new potatoes, and hot bread and after a light wine, coffee and berry pastries. They talked of their father and family in England.

  Then as the evening was drawing near, Gabe asked, “Will you put forth a battle plan tomorrow?”

  “Aye,” Gil replied. ‘I’ve no doubt in the reliability of those papers; I just fear we will be spread to thin with such a few ships. I’ve sent a fair copy of the plans to Admiral Lord Howe and Admiral Graves in case Admiral Howe is not reached. But, aye, I fear we have a battle before us. One that is coming from all points.”

  “I’ll do my duty,” Gabe said stoically.

  “I’ve no doubt,” Gill said, “Not as your brother or as your admiral. But be careful, you’ve had enough close calls already. Your mother and Lady Deborah would never forgive me if I allowed anything else to happen to you.”

  “Don’t worry,” Gabe replied. “I’ll take care. I’ve a rendezvous with a blonde-haired beauty in the southern colonies. Say, Gil, what would my children look like with a dark handsome father and a beautiful blonde mother?”

  “I don’t know what they’d look like but they’d be imps every one, I’m thinking.”

  “Aye, imps they’d be.”

  “Gabe.”

  “Yes!”

  “Happy birthday!”

  “ Damme Gil, I’d forgotten, I can’t believe I forgot my own birthday.”

  “You didn’t, it’s not till tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow.”

  “Aye, tomorrow, Gabe.”

  Chapter Four

  The next morning all the captains gathered in the admiral’s stateroom. Wanting to start the meeting in such a way as to set the men at ease before delving into the task
at hand, Lord Anthony had Bart pass out a paper he’d had his secretary and the flag captain’s secretary copy.

  Captain Moffett cleared his throat to get the captains' attention. Most had gathered in a group to congratulate Earl on his promotion and his new command.

  “Gentlemen,” Lord Anthony began, “We have some serious business before us today. If you will gather in little groups of three, my cox’n will hand out a fair copy of some papers Lieutenant’s Markham and Anthony were able to obtain when they boarded the corvette which is now under British colors and commanded by our own Commander Earl.”

  “Here, here,” the group said in unison, to which Earl rose from his side chair and gave an exaggerated bow.

  “Now sirs, these papers are being handed out with the full knowledge that each of you, loyal as British subjects as well as naval officers are expected not only to know, but to do your duty.” Lord Anthony’s voice was very firm as he spoke. “Now Dagan, if you will pass out the papers to the groups.”

  Before the last two groups of men had gotten their papers laughter was erupting from the first two groups. “Good,” thought Lord Anthony, “If they can see the humor in my joke and laugh at it they’ll surely be ready to fight.”

  As Bart went topside he met up with Dagan. Lighting up his pipe, Dagan asked, “What stirred the captains so?”

  Bart gave Dagan a copy and soon he was chuckling as he read:

  Advertisement in Boston newspaper recruiting crew for privateer Deane

  An invitation to all brave Seamen and Marines, who have an inclination to serve their Country and make their Fortunes.

  The Grand Privateer ship DEANE,

  commanded by ELISHA HINMAN, Esq; and prov’d to be a very capitol Sailor, will Sail on a Cruise against the Enemies of the United States of America, by the 20th instant. The DEANE mounts thirty Carriage Guns, and is excellently well calculated for Attacks, Defense and Pursuit---This therefore is to invite all those Jolly Fellows, who love their country, and want to make their fortunes at one Stroke, to repair immediately to the Rendezvous at the Head of His Excellency Governor Hancock’s Wharf, where they will be received with a hearty Welcome by a Number of Brave Fellows there assembled, and treated with that excellent Liquor call’d GROG which is allow’d by all true Seamen, to be the LIQUOR OF LIFE.