by David O'Neil
Before resuming their journey down the east coast of America, Martin sat down with Dominic and discussed the information they had been given, and Dominic’s part in the next stage of the voyage.
At his own suggestion Dominic undertook to carry out the formal duties of diplomat, suggesting that he trawled the official side of their tour, leaving Martin free to contact the agents’ en-route.
He suggested, “I would prefer that we spoke regularly on my role, and on the attitudes I encounter. I am aware of my inexperience in these matters, but I have been trying to get as well informed as possible in anticipation of taking an active part in our mission.”
Martin listened to the man sitting before him, impressed by his manner, and the obvious thought behind the suggestions made. “I agree. I will be happy to discuss, and advise, if necessary. It will make it easier to carry out the undercover aspects of our mission, though I fear Sir Bertrand MacIlroy has already given the game away.”
“We are calling at Boston, I believe?” Dominic ventured.
“We are. It is an important port and diplomatically important as a former capital and major base for the American Navy. We have a very good agent there who will be in danger, according to Mr. Stuart. I do not know the name of the agent, though I am told he will contact me if it is safe. Curiously, Stuart made a point on the subject. It may be where our roles are reversed. You may, in fact, be the point of contact through your diplomatic negotiations. For that reason. I must divulge the identification sequence for an open meeting in public.”
Dominic looked puzzled for a moment, then smiled. “I understand. Of course it makes sense to make contact in a social meeting. How will I know?”
“Mr. Stuart indicated that you will be asked if you were able to see the performance of Catherine Steel in the play, ‘The Pioneer’, while you were in Halifax. The answer would be, ‘no’, the lady is currently playing ‘Juliet’. The identity of the person should not be remarked in any but a natural way. Contact, subsequently, will be as he or she designates.”
“She?” Dominic questioned with raised eyebrow.
“It is possible. Consider Alouette! She spent several years after the death of her husband, as an agent for the service she now runs.”
“Of course. I did not even think of that.” Dominic said thoughtfully.
***
In the Boston headquarters of the Savage Trading Company Julia Savage sat checking off items of inventory. The company, started by her grandfather, was involved in the trade with Native American tribes. The profitability of the trade had been increasing on a regular basis since the trading began 45 years ago.
In the period since the country had become independent there had been increasing problems with the relationships, long held, with the Iroquois Nations. The formerly friendly relationships were being eroded by the advancing tide of settlers entering the hunting grounds held by the nations from past times. The tribes were being pushed back. More and more villages had moved north over the border into the Canadian lands still part of their nation.
Thomas Savage, Julia’s grandfather, would have moved over the border himself but he had fallen ill. His son and daughter, Julia’s parents, had been killed in an attack by Hurons six years ago, when they were visiting friends near Albany.
Julia sighed and sat back from her work. For the last months she had been liquidating the assets of the company, so that, with her grandfather, she could cross the border prepared for a new life. Most of the company assets were already lodged in Montreal. The transfer of the last ships was already arranged.
There was trouble on the horizon. She was sure of it, now the assets of the company had been transferred to Montreal. The company ship, Sweetwater, at present in harbour, would be leaving with her grandfather this evening. She would follow next week in their other ship, Sagamore after her meeting with the Englishman.
Porter Williams came into the office and spoke. “Miss Julia, the British are entering the harbour.” The bang of the saluting guns could be heard in the background. “There they go. Haven’t heard British guns since Bunker Hill.”
Porter Williams, fifty five years of age, had been with the company for nearly thirty-one years. He had inherited this local office and the current American business from the Savage family for services rendered over those years.
They had made no announcement and Porter had not even told his wife. Julia put her books in the drawer and turned the key. She passed the key to Porter and accompanied him to the door. They left the building and walked together down the sidewalk to the nearby harbour.
The reception committee stood on the dockside. Julia took her place alongside Hiram Goss, the Mayor of Boston. As council convenor for the town she was part of the reception committee sent to greet the diplomatic visitor.
The barge dashed up to the quay with a flash of the oars as the boat came alongside the pontoon especially provided for ease of landing. As the visitors came ashore Julia found herself looking at the young man with the slightly tousled blond hair. He was dressed in the high necked tunic of the diplomatic corps.
Dominic took her extended hand as she nodded her head in greeting. The words spoken were almost lost as she remembered to ask if he had seen the play ‘Pioneer’ while in Halifax.
His reply took her very much by surprise when he completed the code referring to ‘Juliet’. Her shock was reciprocated when Dominic caught the comment about the ‘Pioneer’, regardless of the comment by Martin earlier. He had not really expected the agent to be female, and such a female!
Martin and the group were handed into the carriages for the trip to the town hall where the banquet would be held. The council chamber had been set up for the official talks to take place during the afternoon.
The proceedings were brisk. After a short speech by the mayor the two parties discussed the worsening situation and the interference with trade by the pirates. Martin promised he would do all in his power to remove the threat, but was unable to prevent the individual intervention of naval ships with the American trading craft. There was mutual agreement that the practice should be stopped with hopes, privately, that the looming war could be averted.
At the banquet Julia found herself sitting next to the Commodore. She noticed that his eyes twinkled when he mentioned Juliet in his conversation.
“So, Julia,” he corrected himself. “I have the feeling there are things you would like to say to me that should not be for other ears.”
“Why, Commodore. I believe you are flirting with me.” Julia said with a small smile.
“Miss, there is nothing I would rather be doing at this moment. But I confess, in this company, flirting would be definitely suspect. However a private word would be useful. Perhaps you could be induced to take a stroll with my colleague, Dominic Gordon? ”
“Would this be an attempt to play cupid, sir? In your position too?”
“Do I presume an assignation with Dominic would not be acceptable?”
She looked at him seriously. “You really mean that, don’t you?”
“It’s him or me, I’m afraid.” The eyes were twinkling again.
“How could I refuse an invitation like that?” She said demurely. “Commodore, I have the feeling that my invitation to take tea with me would be acceptable?”
“Your servant, Madam.”
“It’s Miss, actually, sir. And why not bring Dominic with you? The shop is just up the street and I can supply provisions for trade with the Iroquois nations.”
***
Later, when the official luncheon was concluded, the party walked through the immediate area of Boston and called in for tea at the Trading Company. It was there that the opportunity came for Julia to pass over the report she had prepared for onward transmission to Canada. At the same time she reported her plans to transfer her operations to Montreal.
Chapter eighteen
Ending and Beginning
As she watched her grandfather depart in the company ship for Halifax, she wa
s joined on the quay by Porter Williams. “Hey, Julia. I am sad to see the old man go. You don’t need to go, you know. I would gladly hand the business back to you if you decided to stay.”
She looked up at him, towering over her, a big solid man, dependable and reassuring.
“I must go. Grandfather needs me and he cannot stay here. He has too many enemies.”
“Hell, they are just windbags, got nothing better to do than pick on people. The revolution has been over 30 years or more. It don’t mean a thing now.”
“You know that’s not true, Porter Williams. It’s yesterday to the Harpers and the Mitchells.” She named two of the most powerful families in Boston at the time.
A boat approached the quay, the faces of the occupants difficult to distinguish in the twilight. Julia called out, ‘Sagamore?’
One of the rowers called back.“Aye, Miss!”
At the quay the man rose from his seat and helped Julia down into the boat.
***
On board the Vixen Lieutenant Brooks knocked on the Captain’s door and, being called, to enter he went in.
Martin and Dominic were talking over a glass of wine.
As Martin looked up, Brooks said, “Bo’sun Peters thinks a ship has dropped her hook just offshore of Spectacle Island. They were very quiet. A boat has pulled to shore.
Martin and Dominic both rose to their feet. Martin took his sword and a pistol from the table top, as Dominic rose he looked around, he was unarmed, Martin took the sword, given him by Charles Bowers when he became a lieutenant, from its place on the bulkhead and tossed it to the younger man. “Let us see what we can see,” he said lightly, and led the way on deck. The dinghy was returning, making a wide sweep around the moored frigate.
Martin called down to the bo’sun’s mate and the jolly boat crew at the foot of the accommodation ladder, “Quietly, lads. Let’s take a look at that dinghy passing ahead of us.
Martin and Dominic descended the ladder and boarded the jollyboat.
They pulled away with a will and rounded the bow of Vixen, they were within a few yards of the dinghy when the men noticed the jolly boat approaching.
“Bear off, mates. We’re passing through.” The Dorset burr almost put Martin off for a moment. Then they were alongside the dinghy, and the fact that there was a bundle in the bilge, jerking and grunting, came into the conversation.
“Just taking a pig back to the ship for provisions, the Dorset-man said.
The bo’sun’s mate chuckled. “Sounds as if that pig is not too willing.” He leaned across and ripped back the cloth covering the supposed pig. The cloth was a boat cloak and the pig was an angry Julia Savage, gagged with the skirt of her dress pulled up for the purpose. It incidentally revealed her considerable length of leg to the interested onlookers. Dominic removed the wedge of dress from her mouth and pulled her skirt down to cover her exposed legs. He released her hands. As he untied her ankles she lashed out and punched the oarsman in the mouth. Then stood and treated the other man to the same medicine with her other fist. “Bastard pirates!” You’ll be over by Spectacle Island, I guess.”
Neither man said a word. Julia swung round to Martin. “Thank you, sir. That would not have been a comfortable passage for me as you may guess. I thought they were from my ship, the Sagamore moored opposite the quay.
Martin turned to the two men and pulled out the dirk attached to the scabbard of his sword. He tested the blade then turned to the two men. “Now, which one of you two would like to tell me what ship you come from and what you are doing here? As he spoke he fingered the knife and started to draw diagrams on the wooden thwart. The men looked at the dirk apprehensively. One said “She is the Mohawk out of New York.”
Julia looked at the two men hard. “Did Captain Hanson send you for me?”
The man hung his head. “Not for you particular, Miss. Just to find a filly for the voyage like. You were there on the quay askin’ if we was from a ship. We thought you were booked like. So we took the chance and grabbed you.”
Julia lifted his chin and looked him in the eye. “You are a lying bastard. I would have been used by the crew and passed on to Captain Newton’s bunch of pirates when you got to Florida, if not over the side in shark waters. The dirk was snatched from Martin’s hand and plunged into the man’s stomach. The man doubled over in agony. Dominic grabbed Julia. To his surprise she was in tears.
“What? Why?” He asked at a complete loss.
“He is wearing my grandfather’s watch.” She said, tearfully. “Sweetwater sailed today for Halifax. My grandfather was aboard. It was one of my ships taking him to our new home in Montreal. They must have taken her today.”
Martin looked at the bo’sun’s mate. “Back to the ship, rouse the men and get the longboat in the water. Quietly now.”
“Aye, Aye, sir. “Pull with a will, lads. We’re hunting tonight!”
***
At the ship the men gathered. The dinghy crossed to the Spartan, and passed the news and orders on. By the time the boats left the Vixen there were boats from Spartan, Lively and Hera. Antonio Ramos arrived in time to join the party as the boats passed around Thompson Island to approach the ship lying between Spectacle Island and Thompson Island. A shadow without lights, the boats stopped rowing up-tide. They drifted with the tide down on the silent ship. As they closed the ship it was possible to see the outline of two men at the stern rail, watching for the dinghy toiling the last few yards against the tide. The men jeered the rowers, and then flung a line to them. At the stem, Martin and his men mounted quietly over the bows of the ship. Four of the men ghosted down the deck. The two men at the rail died. They were laid out on deck beside the rail as the remainder of the boarders scattered around the deck waiting for the signal.
When Martin was sure they were all in place he cocked his pistol and fired.
The men smashed hatches and plunged into the interior of the ship. There was no quarter offered, and none given. Pirates received the same treatment they handed out.
***
Captain Hanson survived, battered and bloody, but he survived. Dragged up on deck he was defiant and loudly abusive at what he saw was a raid by British sailors on an American ship. When he saw Julia Savage he was not so sure. When Julia held up her grandfather’s watch in front of him, he looked blank.
“This,” said Julia, “was my grandfather’s watch. It was being carried by one of your men. He was abducting me at the time. Thanks to the efforts of the Commodore and this gentleman,” she indicated Dominic. “I have been rescued, and I have recovered my grandfather’s watch. Now I would like to know where my grandfather is.”
“I know nothing of this. I do not know your grandfather.”
“Think Sweetwater, brig registered in Boston, en-route to Halifax with a cargo of trade goods.” She snapped her fingers. “Just like the goods you have in your hold, you know, the goods consigned to Hudson’s Bay Company, Montreal.”
The light faded from Hanson’s eyes. He knew there was now no answer he could give to convince her that he was innocent, his shoulders slumped in defeat. After all he wasn’t innocent. He had joined forces with a private schooner, Pelican. She had been engaged against the Sweetwater when he had come upon them, His men had boarded the brig and that must have been when that fool had taken the old man’s watch.
***
The raiding party had lost two men killed and several wounded. The pirates had suffered badly. There were fourteen dead and twenty-six wounded. Several had gone over the side and were unaccounted for, plus six unwounded prisoners.
The entire party was taken into the Harbour, the boats towing the ship to where it could be secured properly.
Hiram Goss was at a loss. On the one hand there was the matter of a pirate ship taken by British seamen in Boston harbour. Good, that a pirate had been captured, a known man, long overdue for the rope. Bad, a British ship had been involved.
Julia walked in at this point. “Hiram, two things; first, they are ha
nding the Mohawk to me to replace the Sweetwater. Second, they are suggesting they use her to get into the pirate base in Florida, to destroy it.”
Hiram thought for a few seconds, working it out. “Can you trust them?”
“I’ll be with them. I will captain the Mohawk myself.”
“Are you sure? She is a bigger ship than Sagamore and Sweetwater.”
“As you well know, I have been sailing the East Coast since I was thirteen years old and skippering ships since I was seventeen. I recall you were bo’sun at the time on Sagamore, the time we fought off that French cutter in ’06?”
Hiram smiled as he remembered the fight they had, eventually smashing the bowsprit of the Frenchman, allowing them to force her to run aground. “I get the message. Just look after yourself, girl. If you come back here, make sure you know who is calling the shots before you step into a mess of trouble. There are folks in the town who still think of the Savage family as traitors, King’s men. Therefore enemies of America.”
“Thanks, Hiram. I’ll miss you, and the place. But there are folks I’ll not be sorry to leave behind.”
Hiram rose to his feet and escorted her to the door. She kissed his cheek, and there was a tear in her eye when she left his office for the last time.
Hiram pulled out his handkerchief and blew his nose noisily. Then turned and went back to his desk.
***
The carpenters were busy on Mohawk, replacing the broken hatches and furniture. Several men came forward, looking for work to crew the ship.
Julia conducted the interviews personally. Several of her key personnel came from within the squadron, but there were still positions among the crew. For Julia it was important that they realised that there could be danger from the attack on the Florida base of the pirates. She was not concerned about their politics, only that they would be loyal to the ship in the first instance.