The Threat in the West Indies (The Merriman Chronicles Book 4)

by Roger Burnage

  “That is a surprise James, a real surprise. That means we have to find him if we can but that could be very difficult. If he really is a Spaniard he's probably somewhere in Hispaniola, the Spanish and French have been squabbling over it for years, and there is trouble with slave risings too. Also he could have escaped to any of the Spanish possessions in South America. With the present state of affairs at home and the fear that Spain will ally itself with France, we can't do anything that might make the political situation worse. I'll have think on it some more.” Merriman asked “Where do you think we might go next Sir, or do we stay here while the Governor and the lawyers sort things out?”

  “I don't know yet, but we are to go to the governor's dinner tomorrow and perhaps we will hear then. Now I must get my head down and my feet up James.”

  The following evening after a pleasant and enjoyable dinner, the ladies retired and left the men to their brandy and cigars. The guests were all either naval or army officers and the governor wasted no time in sending the servants out.

  “Now then Gentlemen, to business. You told us Mr. Merriman that one of the dead men left at Meyberg's office had been a lawyer and his clerk was a small man with a heavily wrinkled face. Colonel Weatherby tells me that when the army had a real good look around Egerton's plantation, apart from all the silks, satins, brandy and such they found two dead men. One was Meyberg and the other was the small man with the wrinkled face. Both had been shot and their throats cut. Evidently Egerton wanted to leave no traces behind him.”

  “Both of our two traitors are accounted for it seems, we don't have to worry about them any more Sir” said Merriman. “No, we don't” said Grahame, but it seems that we didn't catch the main conspirator in this cheap land purchase plot. Egerton told us just before he died that his wife's father, a Spaniard was behind it all, but they all must have been involved in the privateering and theft so I don't suppose that this business is completely finished yet.”

  Sir George commented “You are probably right Sir, it would be too much to expect. However, my staff and I with the Colonel and Major James have arranged for all the property that has been found to be moved into a big warehouse with an armed guard. It is staggering, absolutely staggering. A rough assessment gives us a total value of not less than seventy thousand pounds, not including the two ships. Of course we shall have to advertise this and ask traders who have lost these goods to come forward and identify them although I imagine many of them are dead, lost with their ships. This will take months or more but eventually what is left will be sold at public auction. If the navy buys the corvette that value is prize money to be shared out between your ships in the usual way as will the money from the sale of the Enterprise. The rest of the money will be put to good use here on public works.”

  “All the captains sat there amazed until Admiral Hawkesby remarked “Well, that will all go into the appropriate prize funds Gentlemen and I believe a similar amount will go to the army here.”

  “It will Admiral, it will. I think that is all Gentlemen, shall we join the ladies?”

  Several days passed, Merriman kept his crew busy on the multiplicity of tasks needed to keep the ship in first class fighting trim. The Governor had sent each ship a modest purse of money for the captains to share out with their men and so Merriman sent small parties of men ashore, but with only a small amount of money so that they couldn't drink themselves senseless, a common habit of sailors.

  The captains of the two frigates both asked for permission to visit Aphrodite to see for themselves and in detail, how the ship was designed and rigged, but the day came when Grahame announced that it was time he and Merriman went to see the Governor and the Admiral. Grahame explained that he felt it necessary to go back to Anguilla, Antigua and Barbados, first of all to inform the Governors and Officers in Command all that had happened in Jamaica and also to find out if there was any more news about French activities there.

  Chapter 36 - To Anguilla and Antigua

  So, early one morning with the sun just beginning to show itself above the horizon, Aphrodite left Kingston behind and set off for Anguilla. The wind was fair and cool but Merriman knew that before an hour or two had passed they would all be glad to keep to the shade. Mr. Cuthbert gave a prodigious sniff and said “I'm glad to leave that place behind Sir, too hot for me. My charts are now fully up to date thanks to the masters of the other ships and charts I found in the cabin aboard the Enterprise. They gave us much more information about the waters round these islands than our Admiralty charts did.”

  “I'm not sorry to leave either Master, I would have liked to go up one of the mountains to see the view but I was advised against it. Too many bandits I'm told, escaped slaves and the like.” “Yes Sir,” said the First lieutenant who had joined them, “it would have been a good view but I asked the soldiers about it and they aren't allowed to go far unless they are armed and with a sergeant or officer. They do patrols and often lose a man. Not a nice place really, the army patrols in Antigua are much the same.”

  The few days it took to go back to Anguilla passed quickly and on arrival both Merriman and Grahame visited the Governor but he had no further information for them and the same at St Kitts and Nevis. Arrival at Antigua was very different. The harbour was so packed with warships and transport vessels that Aphrodite had to anchor well offshore. As Merriman and Grahame were rowed ashore they could see rows and rows of tents both on flat land and on the slopes above with groups of soldiers marching and performing what Merriman assumed were military exercises and training.

  “Something serious is happening James,” commented Grahame, his voice muffled by a large kerchief he was holding to his nose in a vain effort not to breathe in the stench in the harbour. He was so right, on arrival at Admiral Howarth's offices they found the place filled with both army and naval officers discussing plans and a veritable army of clerks scribbling away on orders, lists of stores and all the multiplicity of forms needed to keep the navy afloat and the army organised.

  They had to wait nearly an hour before they were told that the Admiral could see them. They were ushered into his private office to find even that room filled with senior officers including Colonel Shawcross. The Admiral, looking a little more than just harassed, welcomed them warmly, introductions were made and he shouted for his servant to serve some refreshment. After the usual pleasantries, Colonel Shawcross was the first to speak.

  Captain Merriman, I have to tell you how pleased General Grey was to receive the information about the French in Martinique and St Lucia, he sent his warmest thanks to both you and Mr. Grahame.” There were murmurs of agreement from the other officers. “Indeed yes Captain, that should make our task much easier now we know what to expect,” said Major James.

  “Perhaps we should acquaint Captain Merriman with our plans Gentlemen, would you Colonel like to begin with the army's part in all this?” said the Admiral. Again nods and murmurs of agreement.

  “Thank you Admiral,” said Shawcross, “as far as Martinique is concerned General Grey plans the main attack from Barbados, arriving in Martinique on or around the fifth of February next year. There will be three main points of attack. The first in Galion Bay in the northeast and the second just north of Fort Royal Bay in the west and the third in the south-east of the island. The navy will supply covering fire to destroy or at least severely damage any forts and batteries they can see. Thanks to you two gentlemen we now know where most of them are. The two main forts guarding Fort Royal will have to be taken from the rear by direct assault.”

  “Thank you Colonel, that is all very clear,” said the Admiral. “From here we will send reinforcements and supplies but we will not take part in the main assault, arriving just after. Captain Merriman and you Mr. Grahame, will you want to go ashore to see if you can find any more of your agents?”

  “Yes Sir, but I doubt I shall find many alive, they will have been caught by now as we have heard nothing from them since the French landed.” replied Grahame, “but I m
ust try.”

  “Of course you must Sir and that means following the troops ashore as fast as possible. This brings me to another matter. Captain Merriman, I know you are not under my direct command but if you travel with the reinforcement ships we would be pleased if you would carry some of those reinforcements with you otherwise some of those troops may have to be left behind.”

  “Yes Sir, gladly, of course, but I will need to know exactly where to land them.” Merriman thought “here we go again; more creeping round in the dark for Grahame, but that is what I brought him to the Indies to do.”

  “Your orders will be given to you in due course Captain, but it will be a few weeks yet. As you know Gentlemen, the Christmas season will be upon us in a few days so whilst we are all together may I wish you all a happy Christmas and success in our endeavors.”

  Chapter 37 - Christmas

  Returning aboard Merriman immediately called his officers to a meeting in his cabin. Gentlemen, I must confess that I had completely forgotten about Christmas until I was reminded by the Admiral. I would like to suggest a big feast for all aboard. We should be able to buy ducks, chickens and geese ashore, maybe a big joint of beef and certainly a pig to butcher. We may have to have the beef roasted ashore somewhere. More vegetables and fruit would help. We shall have to go ashore, all of us and see what we can find although I think all the ships in the harbour will have the same idea.

  Sir, Sir, will we have decorations Sir,” asked young Oakley, jumping about with excitement. “Yes, if we can, we'll have to buy ribbon, coloured cloth, paper and such to make stars and bows and things. The men can do that if we find something suitable. Now you can all go ashore except the duty watch and see what we can buy but before you go wait while I tell the men.”

  “All hands, all hands on deck” bawled the bos'n, his mates and other petty officers. The men poured up from below and gathered on deck, looking worriedly at each other, doubtless wondering what was wrong. First Lieutenant Laing shouted for silence and Merriman hoisted himself up onto the mizzen pin rail and waited until all were silent. “Men, I have an important announcement to make” he said with a frown on his face. There was a shuffle of feet as the worried crew waited. Merriman waited a few moments longer and then with a broad smile said “Men, it is Christmas in three days and we are going to celebrate. We shall have as big a feast as possible and decorations. Now if any of you have ideas tell your petty officers who can tell me.”

  He stepped down to a roar of approval from the men who immediately started chattering excitedly. “Three cheers for the Cap'n lads. Hip, hip---” shouted a seaman from somewhere in the crowd, his voice drowned out by the noise of cheering.

  “My word Gentlemen, I hope this event lives up to their expectations. It is up to us all to make it a good Christmas for them, and for us gentlemen,” he added. “I will go and see what can be obtained in the way of drink, ale, wine and brandy from the hotel but if they have none for sale they will direct me to somewhere it is available. I can find somebody to roast our beef as well. You can separate to find butchers, poulterers and fruiterers and so on. You can take what is left of the money the governor sent aboard for the men but as I think this is all for the men I think it is fair to use it. Now off you go and take some men with you to carry what you buy.”

  For two days the men in their spare time were involved with carving bits of wood and bone, cutting cloth and ribbon and making dangling items of old bits of rope. On Christmas Eve the vegetables and fruit were aboard and most of the meat was prepared as were the birds ready to cook in the morning. The cook had enlisted three men to help him and was swearing at them as he tried to make them understand what they had to do. A butcher had agreed to cook the beef starting early on Christmas Day, the wine and ale was aboard and all seemed as ready as it could be by midnight.

  The cook and his helpers were up well before dawn to start the cooking. Extra pans and cauldrons had been found from somewhere, exactly where Merriman dared not ask. The awnings and wind sails were rigged and after all the usual duties had been completed the men disappeared below to change into their best clothes. Merriman had given permission for the crew's mess tables and benches to be brought on deck and these quickly appeared covered with pieces of old sailcloth provided by the sailmaker. Merriman and his Officers and Grahame and his uncle gathered in the great cabin for an aperitif and to discuss the details of the day. Merriman's servant Peters appeared with bottles of red wine and served it out.

  “The man in the hotel recommended this one” said Merriman, it is Spanish but I can't get my tongue round the name.” “It's very good Sir said Laing, a sentiment to which they all agreed. Merriman had purchased a big box of cigars which he passed round, giving each of them a handful of the fine smelling rolled tobacco leaf tubes. These will go well with our after dinner brandy Gentlemen. If you Charles and you Alfred can't manage them I'm sure somebody will buy them off you.”

  The two Midshipmen, somewhat amazed that their revered Captain had unbent enough to use their given names, grinned and shuffled their feet. That the feast was now ready was signaled by the cook beating a spoon on a piece of old iron and Merriman's bos'n Owen appearing at the cabin door to announce it.

  They all trooped up on deck to gather round Merriman's cabin table on the quarter deck to see the crew excitedly jostling for places at their tables. The cooks were ready, two men from each mess queuing up to collect the food with the Captain's servant at Peters at the front. A great shout for silence from Owen quieted everything as he announced “The Captain will speak to you now.” Merriman rose to his feet, “As you know this is an unusual event on a ship of war Gentlemen, but as we have the opportunity I thought we should all relax today. I see the beef is coming aboard now so there is plenty to eat and drink but I warn you, if any man disgraces himself or his mess by over drinking and disgraceful behaviour he will find himself hauled up to the crosstrees. Do I make myself clear?”

  “Aye-aye Sir, there'll be no trouble Sir,” shouted several voices as the huge piece of beef, almost a whole carcass was carried aboard by six sweating seamen and placed on rough table made by the carpenter. Owen had joined Peters at the front of the queue and the cooks began to serve the food. There was beef, lamb and joints of pork, fish and chickens. Tubs of ale stood in the middle of each of the tables together with half a dozen bottles of wine. Merriman had specifically ordered that no rum was to be available until the regular evening tot.

  Owen and Peters together with two conscripted helpers had secured two enormous trays which they heaped with some of all the different meats and vegetables and carried back to the officers on the quarterdeck. Silence descended as everybody tucked into the food and drink, trying some of the meats which some of them had never eaten before. The hush was broken by a lookout aloft shouting “Deck there. Admirals barge approaching Sir.”

  Frenzied activity took over, the bos'n and his mates together with the honour guard of marines - previously ordered by St James to hold themselves ready for such an eventuality - gathered by the entry port. The Officers had fled back to their quarters for their swords and hats and only just had time to be correctly dressed to welcome the Admiral.

  Admiral Howarth climbed up on deck and raised his hat as the marines presented arms and the whistles blew. Merriman stepped forward, “It's a pleasure to welcome you aboard Sir. As you can see, we're having a bit of a party; may I ask you to join us?” The Admiral looked round, at the tables and at the food laid out. All the men were standing up, some of them chewing furiously and trying to hide the bones clutched in their hands. “I think you should all sit down and continue your meal interrupted. Captain Merriman, I should be delighted to join you if you can find me a place.”

  Merriman asked Midshipman Oakley to give up his chair to the Admiral and whispered to him “Have that lookout changed for another on the Rota. He can come down for his meal now.” He turned to the Admiral, “Sir may I recommend this Spanish wine, it is really very good.” Peters hastily
found and filled another glass and gave it to the Admiral. “By Jove, Captain, you're right, this really is good. Now then, introduce me to the officers I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting.” That done, the Admiral selected a pile of meat and some vegetables and began to eat and drink as eagerly as the rest of them.

  The cook had excelled himself and finally produced a prodigious duff, well soaked in brandy and that too was served out. Where he got the dried fruit from Merriman was afraid to ask. Finally the Admiral sat back, looked round him and said “By Jove Captain, I cannot remember when I have had a finer meal. Your cooks should be congratulated. We looked on from the flagship at all the activity but I didn't expect all this and the ship seems to be in excellent order as well. May I walk amongst your men and have a few words with them?”

  “Of course Sir, I'll go round with you if you like.” “That won't be necessary Captain; I've walked among seamen before.” He picked up his hat and the officers watched in amazement as Admiral Howarth in all the finery of his full dress uniform, casually spoke to the men, plucked a chicken leg from a plate and took a mug of ale that one of the men passed to him. “You are lucky men, not many Captains would have allowed this and so,” he raised the mug and said “a merry Christmas to you all,” and he drained the mug with one long swallow. As he regained the quarterdeck a voice shouted “Three cheers for the Admiral lads –hip-hip----------------- the cheers rang out and the Admiral raised his hat in acknowledgement.