Quarterdeck

by David O'Neil

  Without further ado, Cameron swept her up into his arms and mounted the stairs. She snuggled against him making him aware of her presence so close in his embrace, he could feel her breath against his cheek, and the brush of her lips as she whispered, “Dear William,” so quietly that he only just heard her.

  She indicated her room, and without missing a step he carried her through the door and laid her on the bed. Kissing her on the forehead whilst he was still bent over her. She smiled and hung on, not allowing him to straighten up until she placed a gentle kiss on his lips. “Thank you, William, for everything.”

  He heard the rustle of skirts behind him and straightened up as Catherine’s maid came over to her mistress. Now awkward and embarrassed, he withdrew from the room, closing the door quietly.

  Marie, Catherine’s maid, looked at her mistresses face, “He the one?” She asked in the island lilt.

  Catherine smiled dreamily, “He the one!”

  “Do he know yet?”

  “Not yet. I’ll tell him soon.” She allowed Marie to help her out of the dress, and the breeches that were still in place when she hastily donned the dress to confront her father.

  In the office below Sir Anthony asked Martin about young Cameron.

  “He is young but has great promise. His father is the local squire in a Devon parish as I recall. No other attachments to my knowledge.” He paused puzzled, “Is there some reason for your …..? Ah, I see what you mean.” The attitude of the pair came to his mind. He remembered the way she had sprung to Cameron’s defence, especially since nobody had accused him of anything. The way she had turned to him in tears. “You think, perhaps?” he left the suggestion in the air.

  “I have the feeling that she has decided that Mr. Cameron would make a fine husband. In the absence of her mother, I will have little to say about it. It’s my impression—hope even—that the young man will live up to her expectations.” Sir Anthony leaned back in his chair and rang the bell on his desk. When the servant appeared he said, “You’ll join me in a nightcap before you return to your ship, Commodore?”

  As he returned to the ship Martin reflected on the events of the evening. The sang-froid of the Governor and his daughter throughout the entire proceedings, made him change his opinion of the nature of some at least of those serving their King in distant parts. Life was not only parties, balls and diplomatic presentations. When a situation like the attempted coup here in the Bahamas occurred, cool heads and attention to detail were an essential part of recovery. And he had been privileged to see them at work here.

  Chapter fifteen

  Decisions

  Antonio Ramos with the Sao Paulo was on the other side of New Providence at Andros Island, showing the flag at Andros town, to re-assure the population that the Union flag still flew over the islands. Martin had more or less guessed that the ships under Roger Newton on the former frigate Hasty would hear the news of the arrival of his squadron and withdraw.

  The detachment of the Portuguese ship on an independent patrol was a matter of practicality that gave Antonio Ramos the chance to shake down the ship and crew at leisure. Though they had all worked together for several months the ship they had formerly occupied had been old and cranky. The frigate they now had was comparatively new and its characteristics were very different from the San Andreas. The Sao Paulo responded swiftly to sail and wheel, and the crew had quickly learned to react faster.

  They were exercising the guns when they came across the slave ship. The smell would have given it away if nothing else. With a broken fore-mast the ship was a sorry sight. The crew were involved in clearing the broken timbers from what was once a deckhouse. It appeared that the falling mast had smashed the frame of the deckhouse allowing the seas to cause a certain amount of havoc below deck. With her cargo of slaves, it was surprising that they were not employed to clear the deck and lend a hand with restoring the damage.

  Antonio was wary of the men on the ship especially since there seemed to be something wrong with the whole feeling of this encounter.

  He hove-to, and made his mind up not to take chances.

  “Run out the guns, starboard broadside.” Raising his voice he called across to the stranger, “I am going to board you. Tell your men to lay down their arms and assemble on the foredeck.”

  Lieutenant Da Gama, first Lieutenant of the Sao Paulo, reported. “The guns are run out and ready for action. I believe there are more men than there appears to be in that ship. If she is a slaver, I would lay money that this crew did not bring her from the Gold Coast.”

  Antonio nodded. “I am inclined to agree. Get together an armed party. Keep them out of sight.” He raised his voice and called over to the other ship. “Come over, Captain, and bring your papers with you.”

  Da Gama returned and reported, “I have 30 men below deck, all armed including the marines.”

  “Good! I anticipate they may try something pretty quickly, otherwise they will lose the initiative. I suspect that you may be right about the men on board at present. From here we cannot see the other side of the ship there could be boats full of men hiding behind her.”

  He turned to the master gunner. “Perez, send a shot over the bow of that ship. Let us see if there is any reaction.” Turning to the second lieutenant he ordered, “Have the swivel guns mounted to the rails. I think we may need them. The man ran below calling orders. Then men appeared carrying cradles with the swivel guns, three of them. All three were clamped to points on the ships rails. Another party appeared with powder and shot. Sacks of small musket balls for maximum effect against men.

  The master gunner lined up his selected gun and standing back fired. The sound was loud in the comparative silence.

  All the swivel guns were loaded, muskets were issued and men stationed along the starboard rail waiting.

  For a time nothing happened, then the midshipman at the foretop called a warning and pointed to both ends of the damaged slaver. The swivels adjusted their aim, and the gunners on the foremost and aftermost guns of the broadside levered their carriages around to point to each end of the other ship, waiting for something to happen.

  Antonio had become aware of a growing murmur coming from the depths of the slaver, there came a sudden roar of noise, and some screaming.

  The deck hatches erupted and a stream of humanity burst through onto the deck.

  The horde stopped for a few moments, as if holding its breath, then men poured over the far sides of the ship. Shots were fired, and there was screaming. Struggling men fought and at the bow of the ship the water churned into foam as they glimpsed bodies falling into the sea arms and legs snatched down into a frenzy of blood, torn clothes and body parts, as sharks gathered and fed in an orgy of feeding and death. As the sea calmed the noise continued, though the cause was out of sight of the watchers.

  The small boat with the captain on board had left the side of the damaged ship, the oarsmen frantically trying to get clear of the carnage behind them. From the deck of the slaver, a shout brought men to the side, they produced muskets, and without ado opened fire on the small boat, one of the rowers was hit and the man steering in the stern also, the boat sheered round and began drifting back toward the slaver, the other rower, grabbing his dead partner’s oar, tried to straighten the boat and regain control, but more musket fire came and the surviving oarsman collapsed. The captain still unhit, stood pistol in hand, and watched the gap between boat and ship shrinking. He lifted the pistol placed the barrel in his mouth and fired, the pistol, obviously, hastily reloaded, misfired, the flash in the pan, blasted the skin of his face and eyes. His scream echoed across the water as he tottered in the boat.

  Reaching hands caught him and dragged him on board. His screams were short lived, and parts of his body were tossed overboard to the ever hungry sharks that still patrolled the waters around the ship.

  Antonio called La Gama, “Stand the men down from the guns. We’ll wait!”

  As they watched, the small boat was hauled ro
und to the starboard side of the slaver. At the call of the Midshipman aloft, Antonio gestured to let the head of the ship fall off, as they cleared the bow of the slaver the boats came into view, all crowded with slaves, headed for the scatter of small islands lying between North and South Andros Islands.

  ***

  The working party sent on board the slaver wore cloths wrapped around their faces, as they collected the dead found throughout the ship, men, women and children. Slaves and their captors, possibly pirates also. All were consigned to the sea. The pumps were manned and salt water scoured the slave decks and the blood-spattered main deck. The log book and other documents in the captain’s cabin were found untouched. In the strong-box were documents and a bag of gold coins to be delivered to a man in Georgetown on Great Exuma Island to the south of the archipelago.

  Da Gama and a prize crew, with the help of the carpenter re-rigged the foremast and sailed for Nassau, while Antonio continued to the south to visit the consignee for the gold, in Grand Exuma Island.

  ***

  News of the sighting of the three ships, under the command of the erstwhile Captain of the Royal Navy, came as an unpleasant reminder that the former Captain Newton was of a different opinion to Martin.

  The approach of the three ships was signalled by Hera, patrolling the strait between Governor’s Island and New Providence. At the news Martin set sail with Lively, Spartan, and Vixen, meeting with Hera off Hog Island. The enemy sails were all in sight and Martin took a course to give the best advantage with the wind. It was unfortunate that it was at the time of year when the wind was inclined to be fluky, shifting and fitful, ranging at times from a light breeze to almost a gale.

  Spartan took first blood, the experienced Lieutenant Marlow having been already nearest to the schooner to windward. Her shots punched holes in the canvas of the schooner’s mainsail. The name, Abigail, was picked out in gold on the stern of the schooner, which demonstrated her sailing qualities by adroitly coming about and letting the Spartan feel the benefit of her stern chasers which managed to inflict damage to Spartan’s fife rail, causing the sails on the mainmast to fly free as the cleats to which the sheets were secured were smashed.

  The first blood went to Abigail but Martin was realistic about the skirmish, for that was what it was. As the two frigates closed the range, matters began to look a little more serious

  The two ships were fairly evenly matched, Vixen with her forty guns and the Hasty a 32 gun frigate with the four extra 18 pounder guns on the after deck. She may not have had as many guns but in weight her guns more than outweighed the broadside of Vixen. The former Hasty had been re-named Huron, and was still commanded by Captain Roger Newton.

  The bow chasers on Vixen fired at the extreme range, as the bow rose on the waves. One ball splashed into the sea on the port side, the other hit the starboard anchor bowsed at the bow of the Huron. The released anchor dropped into the sea, the trailing chain and rope causing the bow to drag round to starboard. Martin called the helmsman. “Steer to port, east by north. Starboard guns, stand-bye.”

  Brooks’ voice was heard, calming the gun crews eager to get into action. As the bow came round to the new course his voice could be heard, “Run out your guns. Captains, on the uproll as you bear, there came a rapid succession of explosions, as the guns came into line with the target.

  Immediately the discharged guns were reloaded. Answering fire was coming from the other ship.

  Hera meanwhile was chasing the Abigail whose captain was jockeying for position to support the Huron.

  Lively closed up, joining the action, catching the second schooner Martin Horner 22 guns, with a withering broadside that took the schooner’s mainmast and turned the wheel and helmsman into bloody splinters. The Martin Horner came sharply up to the wind with guns still manned and firing, HMS Lively was caught unprepared and her mizzen toppled. While the crews of both ships chopped and hacked to clear the raffle of gear, the guns of both ships continued to fire causing damage and casualties to both ships. HMS Spartan joined the fray. The guns of the Martin Horner gradually ceased their efforts. The American flag appeared and was dropped to indicate their surrender. HMS Vixen’s the battle with Huron was ongoing,

  Captain Newton, realising that the attempted coup had failed, found the determined opposition more than he expected, decided to extricate himself with as many of his people as could. Martin Horner was already lost, but Abigail was still active. He signalled her to break off the action and headed for the rendezvous point at Key West, off the Florida Coast.

  The suspended anchor had been chopped away and the Huron was now under proper control. The guns of both ships had been in action for what seemed like hours but was in fact thirty five minutes only. The guns of the Huron were doing damage, and Martin welcomed the assistance of HMS Spartan. She created a diversion, taking pressure off Vixen.

  It seemed to Martin that the battle was going to result in both ships being reduced to matchwood, beyond repair. So-far the damage was not critical, but that could change in an instant. He could hear the pumps working down below. The doctor was rushed off his feet with casualties, though the bill could have been worse.

  Martin soon realised that the man he was up against was a wily opponent, his experience was clearly demonstrated by the skill he showed handling his ship, despite being attacked from more than one direction.

  The Huron took her chance, as the battle raged back and forth the ships changed position until the Huron was sailing in the opposite direction to Vixen. The schooner, Abigail, had eluded Hera and was running north. Huron drew clear and took her chance, taking after Abigail on a northerly course, abandoning from the scene of battle.

  Brooks, with his blood up, was bewailing the fact that they had lost ground and the chase would be a long one.

  Holding up his hand Martin stopped him, ordering the ships to return to Nassau harbour. To Brooks he said, “There will be another time at another place. This is not over, just temporarily deferred. Now is the time to return and re-fit.”

  ***

  Captain Roger Newton was unhappy. His own assessment of the capabilities of his opponent, Captain Sir Martin Forest-Bowers RN, had fallen rather short of real life. Underestimating his enemy had been something that he had not been guilty of in the past. He was at first inclined to dismiss his near defeat as bad luck.

  The sneaking feeling that he might be fooling himself was suppressed. He would have to set his mind to other ways of influencing the politics of the Caribbean. The ease with which he had suborned Sir Adrian Maxwell demonstrated clearly that while national spirit existed, money was still the great equaliser. As long as the British continued to charge heavy taxes on trade to and from the islands, there would always be people who could be persuaded.

  At the Key West base used by Newton and his partner they discussed the result of the Bahamas sally.

  “British got wind of things and had ships there waiting for me.” Newton said bitterly.

  “What about ‘what’s his name,’ Maxwell? What happened with him?” Absolom asked.

  “He’ll hang, I guess. He made the mistake of acting too soon, blinded by his lust for the Governor’s daughter. He could have bought any number of wenches, but he had to have her and it’s cost him everything.”

  ***

  Absolom Warner had been a partner of Roger Newton since the pair had met up for a second time in the Mediterranean four years before. Their first meeting had been five years earlier. Absolom had been involved in piracy working from the Barbary Coast. His ship had been captured by the ship on which Roger Newton was first lieutenant. The extent of Roger’s debt was not by his current status, large. At the time however, it had seemed enormous.

  The private deal agreed between the pirate prisoner and the naval officer was struck one dark night off the coast of Algeria. Both kept their side of the agreement. The pirate got his freedom and therefore kept breathing. The officer paid his debts with enough over to keep him in some comfort for the
next few years, by which time he had reached the exalted rank of Post Captain. The return to the status of debtor was almost inevitable and the plans for his departure from the navy began with bare-backed departure, desertion in other words, with whatever he could carry. Then, when the raid on the Sicilian village occurred, he took a chance and made his men aware that they could have the women, provided the men were eliminated. One thing led to another. It was apparent they could leave no witnesses, so the women had to join their men-folk. He had to admit many were already dying, having been used to an extent not normally endured by women. Allowing the witness to escape had been a stroke of genius. He had made sure that the crew realised that they would all get the rope if they were caught. Thus, when he proposed that they tried their luck as pirates, the majority of the men joined him in stealing the ship. With the aid of his friend, Absolom, the wreck was staged. The bodies were provided by the dissenters in the crew, who had been summarily executed to add veracity to the story, to convince the navy that his ship had been lost with all hands.

  The journey from Sicily, having carried out a few cosmetic alterations, had been a hair-raising one. Provisioned by a series of savage attacks on passing ships the renegades had reached the harbour used by Absolom. The partnership had been agreed and the decision taken to create a new base in the Americas. Their choice of the Florida Keys was based on the location and the undeveloped state of the islands. The settlement on Key West had been visited during Newton’s service as a Midshipman before its acquisition by the new American Nation. Since they had been established on the island it had prospered. The Islanders sensibly accepted the situation they had no way of changing.

  ***

  Absolom spoke after the pair had considered matters for a while, over their brandy and cigars. “I can say that, despite the Bahamas business, our accounts are showing a considerable profit from the other work we have undertaken over the past few years. Perhaps we should hold back a little over the next few months.” He held his hand up to stop the comment his partner was about to make. “The Americans are involved with their acquisition of the Louisiana Purchase at this time but they are getting more and more upset with the British. My sources are confident that, when they have completed reinforcing their fleet with the new frigates, they will be challenging the way the British stop and search of their merchant ships. It will offer us an unprecedented opportunity to collect all sorts of ships while the two nations squabble. Their conflict will cover many sins. Each will blame the other and we will make a killing.”