“That is all very interesting no doubt but is there nothing else?” asked Grahame earnestly, “No mention of where else they are to go to spout their rubbish about equality, not that the slaves would be any better off?” “No Sir nothing, but I'm sure Sergeant Wrigley would be pleased to have another try.” At those words the sergeant smiled and rubbed his knuckles again.
“Leave them for an hour or so to think about it Lieutenant, then you can try for more Sergeant”, said the Major. “We shall wait here for any more news.” When the men had gone Grahame quietly said “I don't like the idea of beating prisoners but I do think in this case that the ends justify the means. We now know a lot more than we did and hopefully we will know more in due course.”
The Lieutenant was soon back. “We found out some more Gentlemen but not a lot. Not until the Sergeant beat three of them almost senseless did they say anything else. They think that man 'Le Seigneur' wants to buy up those estates where the rightful owners are dead or have fled. He could buy them cheaply I'm sure Sir” replied the Lieutenant. “Thank you Lieutenant, you may go. Have the prisoners fed and watered while we decide what to do with them,” said the Colonel.
“Well that gives us plenty to think about James,” said Grahame. “And now with your leave Colonel we must go back to the ship to think out our next move.”
“Certainly you may Gentlemen, but not before I urge you to accept Army hospitality this evening and the Doctor has examined my wound.”
Chapter 18 - The French Plot Discussed
Merriman, Grahame and the Doctor returned to Aphrodite where they settled in Merriman's cabin with freshly brewed coffee provided by Peters the servant.
“Quite a well thought out plot James, if all we have learned is true. Would you go over it again and give me your views?” “Yes Sir, if the information is correct, and I emphasise the 'if', there is some French trader masquerading as an Englishman and living in Jamaica. He sends his bully boys along to plantations to encourage the slaves to revolt and when the owners have been frightened off or killed he can buy everything at a rock bottom price. I think he will then bring in his own overseers, settle the slaves down with violence if necessary and then carry on what is now his own sugar production. He has his own ships to transport it to wherever he can sell it. I can think of nothing more Sir.”
“Well done James, your thoughts parallel my own exactly. Now we must decide what to do next, any ideas?” “Not much beyond today Sir. The deserters must be handed over to the Admiral but I would like to keep the man Plover and his mate. I did more or less promise him his life. As for the French it is up to the army to deal with them and the authorities here can investigate recent sales of plantations and to whom they were sold.”
And all happened as expected, the marines escorted the deserters down to the shipyard where they were locked up to await the inevitable court martial when sufficient officers could be gathered together. Merriman had Plover and the other man taken aboard the Aphrodite as pressed men and the French prisoners were forced, in chains, to work on the construction of more fortifications.
A convivial evening followed at the army barracks to which the Admiral and all the naval officers were invited. There was only one sour note, the unpleasant and drunken Lieutenant Orson challenged Merriman to a duel but the Colonel had him forcibly removed and urged Merriman to forget it if he would. “The man's a fool Mr. Merriman, useless with a sword or pistol and I have no doubt you would quickly deal with him. But it was you the man challenged and if you feel you must accept his challenge, you can of course do so.”
“Thank you Sir, but the man was drunk and hardly knew what he was doing so I am prepared to forget it.” “Very well then, I will deal with him tomorrow, severely you may rely on it.” It was in the early morning when they left the Colonel with their thanks for an excellent dinner. Dawn found Aphrodite well out to sea heading towards the next islands governed by Britain.
Chapter 19 - The Traitors put to work
The first work Robinson and Beadle were given was to sort out all the documents and ledgers in the cupboard. This was work Beadle was well suited for and he took charge with Robinson fetching and carrying and cleaning them. They were mostly deeds, copies of property dealings, bills of sale, ship's manifests, estimates, valuations of cargoes of sugar and other goods, with a surprisingly big pile of letters and invoices relevant to the details and dates in the ledgers. It took most of the day but it was done at last and Robinson went downstairs to tell Meyberg. Thomas admitted him again and Robinson found Meyberg in conversation with a man who was obviously a sailor. He was not introduced and quickly left.
Meyberg followed them upstairs, looked at the results of their work and expressed his satisfaction and asked if there was anything else they would need. “Indeed yes Mr. Meyberg,” replied Robinson, “I shall need suitable headed paper, ink and quills and sealing wax before we start.” “Very well, you shall have them. You will start again early tomorrow.” He gave them some more money and left them. Over a meal in a tavern they discussed what they had done.
“It seems to be all the usual stuff one would expect in a lawyer's office all quite usual and above board,” said Robinson, “But what I'd like to know is what is locked away in those other rooms.” Beadle sniffed, “No idea, but it may be something illegal, I'd gamble on it. We may get to know some time, but if we keep our master happy he may trust us more.”
And so it went on. Meyberg disappeared regularly on his actuarial business, visiting clients and the like. His notes were given to Robinson and Beadle to transcribe into correct legal documents which were then entrusted to Beadle to deliver. A stable in the yard behind the office held two horses and eventually he was shown where these letters and documents were to go. Time passed, days into weeks and eventually they learned more about their employer. Meyberg used one of the locked rooms upstairs as his bedroom and Thomas acted as his bodyguard and servant. That other heavily sealed letters were written by Meyberg and dispatched by other messengers and not shown to Beadle they knew. It became very obvious that Meyberg was deeply involved in some other dubious business as various strange characters visited at all times in the day and night; from upstairs they could hear men dragging things out of the one room they had not been allowed into and heaving them onto a wagons.
Certainly they were well paid, the money enabled them to purchase new, more suitable clothes for themselves and they began to eat at better places than the tavern they had first used. They were wise enough not to pry into any of Meyberg's other affairs and they had fitted their sleeping room with some new furniture and bedding. In short, life was almost idyllic and memories of England and their crimes began to fade into insignificance and they began to hope that they were safe.
How wrong they were, nemesis was on its way aboard a Royal Naval sloop by the name of Aphrodite.
Chapter 20 - Anguilla. The English Trader and the French Plot
Aphrodite was moving slowly with only a light and fickle wind to help her. Both Merriman and Mr. Grahame fretted at the slowness of progress. Merriman spent hours on deck, alternatively tugging at his ear and squeezing the small tightly wrapped bundle of rags given to him by Helen's father - the good Doctor Simpson - to strengthen his damaged arm. That bundle took his mind back to thoughts of home, of Helen who had agreed to marry him when he returned, and of his family and his Father's collection of old swords. He remembered that it was his companion Grahame who had encouraged him to ask Helen to marry him and his surprise when she said yes. “It could be months, even years before we see each other again,” he mused gloomily, “she may have regretted agreeing, she may already have forgotten what I look like.” His gloomy, frowning face kept everyone away from him, with all men except the Master and his mates at the wheel busy trying to look busy. With an effort he dragged his thoughts back to the present.
His seaman's instinct told him that the weather was changing. The day had been almost windless with only a few cat's paws on the surface of the s
ea and now the wind was freshening a little and clouds were gathering on the eastern horizon. He turned to the Master, old Mr. Cuthbert, whose knowledge of wind and wave around the world was second to none. “Looks as though we may be in for a blow Master, what do you think?”
“Yes Sir, as you say, I'd have the tops'ls and t'gallants off her directly and may I propose a double reef in the courses.” “Yes, see to it if you please Master.” Merriman beckoned the Officer of the Watch, Second Lieutenant Andrews to him, “David, we are in for some bad weather, have all the gun lashings checked and make sure that the boats are secured properly and all hatches battened down. You know what must be done.” “Aye-aye Sir” replied Andrews cheerfully as he began to shout the necessary orders. The Master already had Topmen aloft to reduce sail but in the few minutes since Merriman had first spoken the sea was changing, the blue was becoming greyer and the wind had risen even more and was backing northerly. The wind briefly lessened then blew again with an exceptionally strong gust and one of the tops'ls not yet quite reefed fully, blew out with a noise of a musket shot. Merriman saw a man fall from aloft into the sea with his mouth open in a scream and then he was gone, with no hope of the ship turning to rescue him in what was becoming a gale. The rain approached like a veritable wall of water and his man Owen appeared with Merriman's waterproofs. “Thought you might need these Sir, it's going to be wet.”
Grahame suddenly appeared on deck clad in his own waterproofs and clinging on to everything he could. “Mr. Grahame Sir, you should be below, the weather is going to get worse.” “I will in a moment James, I have remembered a quotation from Shakespeare which is suitable and I couldn't wait to tell you, it's from Julius Caesar I think and is “I have seen the tempests when the scolding winds have riv'd the knotty oaks and I have seen the ambitious ocean swell and rage and foam.”
“Very good Sir, now I must insist that you go below and remember the old saying 'What cannot be cured must be endured.' I'm sorry but I am too busy to talk more.” Grahame vanished below, already a touch green in the face with his usual malady, sea sickness.
The gale did not last long and quickly blew itself out; the blazing sun re-appeared in a cloudless blue sky almost as fast as the gale had risen. The wind was stronger than before the gale and with all sail set Merriman noted with satisfaction that the ship was able to progress much faster to its next port of call - St Kitts and Nevis which were two small islands, volcanic with large central peaks covered in forest and well watered. The land flattened out nearer the sea enough to support some small farms and plantations. As Aphrodite approached the main harbour all officers surveyed the land keenly through their telescopes and Merriman gave the order to Mr. Laing to beat to quarters, to load the guns but to keep the port lids closed.
“We must be careful here James,” remarked Grahame, “We only took over this place ten years ago, for all I know the French may have taken it back again but even if not, there could be some French sympathisers left there.”
“I quite agree Sir, which is why I have the men at their stations for action.” However there was no difficulty, the union flag was clearly visible above a small fort on a slight eminence on the shoreline and people could be seen waving from the harbour wall.
Grahame and Merriman went ashore with a guard of marines and visited the English Governor, Sir Graham Dobson who had no knowledge of any French activity on the islands. He was informed about their suspicions and requested that he investigated all plantation and land sales for the past few years. “Nothing there James”, said Grahame as they were rowed back to the ship. “The next stop will be Anguilla to the north of here”.
At Anguilla they approached with care from the north, avoiding the various small islands and cays, to anchor in Crocus bay overlooked by the capital known as the Valley. The island had been British owned for years, it was a pleasant island, cooled by the north east trade winds and they received a warm welcome from the Governor. Over refreshment they asked if he had any information about possible French interference on the island, and sales or changes of ownership of land which might be significant. “I can tell you that in few minutes, my secretary will know” said the Governor, shouting “Brougham, Brougham, where are you?”
A small man almost tumbled into the room such was his haste, “Yes Sir, what can I do? The Governor told him what his visitors had asked about. Brougham screwed up his face in concentration, thought for a few moments then said “I believe there was one only perhaps two months ago. The owners Mr. and Mrs White left here in poor health and went back to England. As usual we sent notification to all British possessions that it was up for sale and I think it sold very quickly Sir. I can't remember who bought it but if you will give me a moment I can find out.”
He soon returned to the room with a heavy ledger and various papers. “I've found it Sir, the plantation, very run down it was, was sold to an English trader name of Simon Edgerton from Jamaica. He uses a lawyer in Kingston, a Mr. Isaac Meyberg. The money was sent here and then to the White's bank in England. The documentation was all in perfect order Sir.” He ran his finger down an earlier record, raised his eyebrows and said “Strange, there is another one Sir, the owner, Mr. Burton, suddenly put his property on the market and also left for England. In both cases the properties sold for under the expected prices and both to the same man, the trader from Jamaica.”
“Thank you Brougham I hope that is what you wanted Gentlemen.” “Indeed yes Sir,” replied Grahame, “I think we will find that information most useful.”
The Governor invited them to stay and have dinner with himself and his wife and to stay there for the night. They gratefully accepted the invitation to dinner but declined to stay. “Sorry Sir,” replied Merriman, “but we must proceed to our next destination very early in the morning so we must decline your kind invitation to stay. In any event I must be aboard my ship, but with many thanks for your hospitality Sir.”
“Oh dear, my wife will be disappointed, she hoped to hear more about the fashions in London and all that sort of feminine nonsense, but I quite understand, the King's business cannot be delayed.” And so with “Best Wishes' and 'God Speed' ringing in their ears they departed. Once aboard Merriman issued orders for the ship to be got under way at first light, bound back to Antigua.
Chapter 21 - Old friends meet. More details of French plot
Arriving at English Harbour again and after all the usual gun signals completed, both Merriman and Grahame made their way to Admiral Howarth's office, still cool under the shade of the palm trees. “Welcome back Gentlemen, sit down, please, sit down. May I offer you some refreshment? After you left we found out some information on land and property sales. One plantation is currently in the process of being sold, the final documents are on their way to Jamaica in the hands of a representative of a lawyer in Jamaica but the money has been paid. A farm was sold months ago to the same man, a Mr. Edgerton, a trader from Jamaica. It seems that he acquired them at rock bottom prices.”
Merriman and Grahame looked at one another significantly before Grahame nodded and said “That seems to agree with our suspicions James don't you think?” Merriman nodded, “It would seem so Sir, and now that we have more information than we had from the French prisoners last time Admiral, may we be permitted to question them again? I think we now know what more questions we need answers for.”
“Certainly you may, I'll have the Army take them down from the new fort where they are working, into the barracks where they can be dealt with as before.”
A servant was dispatched to make the arrangements and before very long a soldier arrived to inform them that the prisoners were now at the barracks waiting to be questioned. Merriman and Grahame walked there and were ushered in to the Colonel's office. He came forward to greet them, limping a little but using a walking cane. “Welcome Gentlemen, it's a pleasure to see you again. Sit down, you will take some refreshment I'm sure. He sat and grinned over his desk at Merriman. “Got a surprise for you Captain,” he called ou
t “Come in Captain.” The door opened and Merriman turned to see none other than his friend Robert Saville whom he had not seen since the last time he was at home.
Merriman leapt to his feet and thrust out his hand, “By God Robert, it's good to see you again.” They shook hands, grinning at each other like a pair of Cheshire cats. Robert was dressed in the regimentals of the 22nd Regiment of Foot, the red coat with buff and gold facings as he had been when they first met on a coach from London to Chester at the end of last year. The two of them and Mr. Grahame had met at a coaching inn where Merriman had been instrumental in saving them from a number of card cheats. Grahame smiled and shook hands with the soldier “A pleasure to meet you again Captain, maybe we shall see more of you. “
Colonel Shawcross intervened, “Gentlemen, this is all very good but we do have a serious matter in hand, your reminiscences can come later. You asked if you could question the prisoners again and they are waiting in the cells for you with our Sergeant Wrigley.” “Good,” exclaimed Grahame, “I will go and talk to them and you James, why don’t you stay and catch up with your old friend.” Outside and walking in the welcome shade of the palm trees Merriman and Saville could hardly contain themselves and both tried to talk at once until Merriman held up his hand for silence. “Now then Robert, I can see that you are well but please tell me about my family.”
The Threat in the West Indies (The Merriman Chronicles Book 4) Page 9