Barracuda tfa-3

by Michael Aye

  Caleb had made his way on SeaWolf's deck, "We have two dead and only a handful of wounded."

  "Good," Gabe said, "I'm thinking you'll be needed more on yonder hulk."

  It's not good if you're one of the dead ones, Caleb thought, but fate… er… Bart's lady luck was with them. Whoever heard of a brigantine attacking a large frigate anyway?As SeaWolf closed with Neptune a cheer went up. As Gabe, Dagan and Caleb went aboard Neptune the scene was horrifying. Men's faces were black with powder stains. Corpses littered the deck, great pools of drying blood was everywhere. One had to step over falling spars, rigging and ripped up planking. A few, under the supervision of the boson and the carpenter, were trying to set the ship back to rights.

  "No holes below the water line," the carpenter said,

  "I'm not sure how long the mizzen will stand, not long if the wind gets up. The main mast appears untouched but we've no steerage. We'll have to be towed." Looking about Gabe didn't see Knight or any of the officers. Dreading the answer he asked, "Did any of the officers survive?"

  "Aye," the bosun answered, "the cap'n is hurt bad but is in his cabin, Mr. Dey is gone and they were taking off Mr. Brooks arm. The rest 'sides what you see," the bosun said, swinging his arm to emphasize the men on deck, "is dead."

  "Caleb, would you be so kind as to check on Captain Knight?"

  Without answering, Caleb made his way to the captain's cabin.

  "Caleb has about had his fill of this sort of thing, I'm thinking," Dagan whispered.

  "Well, so am I," Gabe responded, "So am I."

  Chapter Twenty-One

  It was a somber meeting when Gabe reported aboard the flagship. After he had finished his report Lord Anthony said, "I see you were able to salvage the Indiaman."

  "Aye, sir, I sent Dagan and Lieutenant Lavery along with a boat crew over to search the vessel and Dagan returned saying that while the ship had been holed, very little damage was below the waterline. Lavery had already manned the pumps and was dumping debris over the side. Once we lightened her up a bit I felt she was seaworthy so we sailed her back."

  "Were there any survivors?" Lord Anthony asked.

  This brought a smile to Gabe's tired face. "I asked Lum that very question, sir. He had gone with the first boarding party and when I came aboard Lum was tossing bodies over the side. Any survivors I asked. He gave me a look of surprise and replied, 'You know Cap'n, Bart done told me you couldn't put no confidence in nuthin a Dago says, so I ain't ask if they's alive or not. I's jus' been dumping 'em over de side to help lighten da load like Mr. Lavery ordered." This brought an appreciative smile to both Lord Anthony and Captain Buck.

  "Gawd," Buck exclaimed. "I'm glad we don't have Bart and Lum together all the time."

  The mood returned somber again when Lord Anthony asked, "Has Sir Raymond been taken to the hospital yet?"

  "No sir," Gabe answered. "He's still aboard SeaWolf where we moved him before we towed Neptune back.

  Caleb said he's afraid to move him just yet. He had multiple wounds… gunshots and splinters. I waited as long as I felt wise before we started back, giving Caleb time to work on Captain Knight as well as the other wounded. Neptune 's surgeon was lost at some point so Caleb had his hands full."

  "What are Sir Raymond's chances of recovery?" Lord Anthony asked. "Did Caleb give you any hint?"

  "No sir, he just said a lesser man would be dead.

  Lieutenant Brooks said that Captain Knight continued to fight the ship even after he'd been wounded several times. All the survivors on Neptune said Knight's ship handling is what saved them. He outmaneuvered those two ships time and time again so that until the very end only one of the enemy ships was able to fire on him at a time."

  "And what of Neptune," Buck asked. "Is she seaworthy?"

  Shaking his head, Gabe said, "I don't think so.

  Maybe if she was at some yard, but here… I think it unlikely."

  "So," Lord Anthony said, "We've lost a nimble frigate and gained an old tub of a merchantman."

  "Begging your pardon, sir, but the Indiaman is in overall good shape. The carpenters said she's well built… mostly of teak and she's sound. She's filthy and needs some repairs but I think she could be beached and put to rights here, sir. She's got forty guns, all new British pieces and she has lots of spare sails, ropes, cordage and Barracuda

  even some spars in the hole. I put Lieutenant Jackson on board in charge of the prize crew and he said she handled well enough."

  "Well, we'll see how repairs go," Lord Anthony said, not committing to any set course or plan. Then he spoke again, "I didn't see a name on her."

  "No, sir," Gabe replied. "She had once been the Lord Cromwell but that's painted over. We were able to find some paper with the date of August 1775, so it appears the rebels took her about a year or so ago."

  "What about the troops she was carrying?" Anthony asked, almost as an afterthought.

  "I believe most made it to shore. Lavery did a quick count when he went aboard and said at least one hundred were dead."

  "Damned, if Sir Raymond didn't make them pay dearly," Buck interjected.

  "Aye," Gabe replied, "and we still don't know what damage Barracuda suffered. Something caused her to break off the action," he said. "I am sure it wasn't SeaWolf's pop guns."

  "She may have believed the ruse with your flags," Buck said.

  "Or perhaps like Sir Raymond," Lord Anthony added. "Her captain may have been wounded. Keep me posted on Sir Raymond's condition and when he can be moved ashore, Gabe."

  "Aye sir."

  Gabe sensed the interview was over. He was almost out of the admiral's cabin when Lord Anthony called, "If we salvage the Indiaman, what would you name her, Gabe?"

  After a thoughtful second or so Gabe replied,

  "Defiant."

  "Why Defiant?" Lord Anthony queried. "Why that name?"

  "Because the rebels took her, we took her back and now we defy them to try again."

  "Good… very good. If you've no prior engagements sup with me tonight."

  "My pleasure," Gabe replied. "I'll bring Lum and let him play you a tune on his fiddle. He is becoming very good with it."

  "Good, see you then. Now, I must go fill in our Governor, else he'll send a messenger requesting my presence. He'll not be happy about those troops getting ashore."

  Well, I could give a tinker's damn what he thinks, Gabe thought but kept his silence. Politicians were quick to make war and quick to criticize but rarely did they have to suffer the hardships the fighting men did, be they soldier or sailor. Damme, I'll be glad when this war is over.

  The days and weeks that followed the battle with Barracuda were filled with monotonous patrols. Anthony had stretched his patrol area as far north as Charlestown and south to Havana. A few smaller privateers were taken but nothing was heard of the ghost ship. The Florida weather held true with hot days, frequent afternoon showers and warm humid nights.

  The social activities paled in comparison to those experienced on Antigua. Still the governor had been gracious with invitations to Anthony's officers when an occasion did arise. Unlike the mostly British presence on Antigua, Saint Augustine was a very mixed bag culturally. Anthony had met a Minorcan priest, Father Pedro Camps, who was a very interesting man. He had started a book of records in which he kept births, deaths and marriages for the entire Minorcan community.

  Anthony also met Reverend John Kennedy who was the schoolmaster of east Florida. He was a very educated Barracuda

  man who never seemed to tire when talking of arithmetic, Latin or Greek. Anthony had allowed the good reverend aboard Warrior so that he might add a rudimentary knowledge of a sailor's life to his vast knowledge.

  Of all of Saint Augustine 's inhabitants, Anthony found he enjoyed spending time with some of the paroled prisoners of war the most. A few had their slaves with them and once their parole had been obtained, roamed freely about the city. Most of these were from Virginia, a few of which knew Dagan's Uncle Andre.
r />   Anthony spent many a night enjoying a good southern meal and listening to the talk of raising good Virginia tobacco and fine horses.

  When not at sea Dagan spent considerable time with his uncle's friends learning more about the country where Andre chose to settle down. One night when Dagan and Lord Anthony were walking back to the waterfront Dagan remarked, "Is it not ironic that the people we enjoy the most are the ones we are at war with?"

  Anthony nodded in agreement but his mind was on his wife and child, as of yet an unseen child. Sitting at the dinner table with the Colonial family and listening to the chatter had caused him to be morose.

  Damn this war, he thought, I wish it were over. Gabe could marry Faith and I could go be with my wife and daughter. But what of Dagan, he suddenly thought. What would become of him after the war was over? Would he want to move to Virginia to be close to his family or would he stay close to Gabe? What about Maria, Gabe's mother and Dagan's sister? Would she want to be with the family or stay in the house she'd shared with his and Gabe's father? So much that needed deciding, he thought. So much.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Work had been started on the captured Indiaman to make her ready for sea and was now near being completed. Gabe had been right. Once cleaned up and repaired she proved to be a good ship. Without any official approval the men had taken to addressing the ship as Defiant, as Gabe had suggested.

  Now that she was once again seaworthy Anthony faced another challenge. How to man her? Sir Raymond had improved enough to be moved from SeaWolf to the hospital at Saint Augustine but it would be a long time before he had recovered to the point he was fit for duty.

  Anthony knew Stephen Earl was his only viable option to command her but whom would he put on Merlin: Earl's first lieutenant or Gabe? Gabe was ready for the next step up the ladder of promotion but then what about SeaWolf. Well, for now it was a moot point, because he didn't have enough crew to man the vessel, even with Neptune 's crew available.

  Thinking of this caused Anthony to think of the lieutenant's exam. Mainly it made him think of Mr.

  Davy. It was rare Gabe would approach him or try to influence him in anyway. But lately there had been hints dropped that Davy was ready to be made lieutenant.

  "He's not yet eighteen," Anthony had argued.

  "Neither were we," Gabe responded, "and he has twice the experience I had at that age."

  "What about the six years aboard ship rule?" Anthony had mentioned. "Davy's only got four."

  "That's just since Drakkar," Bart interjected, obviously an ally to the scheme. "Seems to me yew be's forgettin' them two years wot he was on board Recourse."

  "He wasn't aboard Recourse," Anthony said somewhat sarcastically.

  "See I tolds yew, yew be gettin' forgetful." It was a common ploy to carry a name on the ship's books when the person had never set foot aboard in order to accumulate sea time, but to claim to be on board and your name not be on the rolls! Anthony had however relented ever so slightly as he did agree with Gabe and Bart. If anyone was ready for lieutenant it was Davy. Besides we're at war. Some consideration had to be allowed for this.

  "Bring me his affidavits and if they look plausible I'll allow him to sit for the examination." Then looking at Gabe, Anthony said, "If anybody can round up a forged set of documents I guess Bart will know who he is." Then without thinking Gabe said, "Bart and Gunnells already have them."

  Seeing the look of disbelief on his brother's face Gabe made a hasty departure but not before Anthony had commented, "We'll all be on the beach if you two keep it up."

  "Don't yew forget about Dagan," Bart said.

  "Dagan, aye Dagan."

  "See I told yew, yew be gettin' forgetful. Yew know iffen we's on the beach Dagan will be there with us."

  "Damn your hide," Anthony bellowed but he was speaking to an empty doorway.Davy and several other mids had passed the examination for lieutenant and now they were all at the Mermaid to celebrate. Now they couldn't wait for a billet to come open so they'd actually be commissioned. Buck and Earl had pulled Gabe and Markham aside and explained how hard they had drilled Davy. He did not get frustrated; he thought out his answers and did very well.

  Then Buck said, "But anyone who could talk two King's officers into forging such a set of affidavits ought to be a lieutenant."

  "Four," Markham said.

  "Four, what do you mean four?" Buck questioned.

  "I mean four officers. You two have known Davy as long as we have so you are as much a part of this as we are."

  "Then it's five," Earl said. When the other three looked at him Earl continued, "Don't forget about his lordship."

  "Humph," Buck said. "Best we be remembering.

  Gunnells signed his certificates and as one of the finest masters in the Royal Navy, I'd not question his word."

  "Here, here," the group replied. "A toast to Gunnells."

  As the merriment was winding down Domingo made his way over to Gabe. "To be a midshipman, is this something anybody can do?"

  Amazed at his friend's inquiry Gabe said, "Yes.

  Generally there's a desire on behalf of the boy to have a life at sea. Then the father or guardian seeks a sponsor or perhaps they themselves will apply to a ship's captain for their son or someone they know to be favorably considered a midshipman. Most often if it's a relative of an admiral or person of influence; it's just being able to outfit the lad and provide him with enough of an allowance to live on. I must tell you Domingo that most

  midshipmen come from families with influence. A few such as Mr. Davy make lieutenant but without influence, to go beyond is almost unheard of."

  "Do you think that I, as a humble merchant, would be able to outfit my son and provide enough allowance long enough so that he could decide if he truly wants to live a life at sea?"

  Gabe was not sure how to respond. With what the tavern was now making, Domingo could outfit the boy, but with his Spanish heritage and no influence life would be rough. Even with his father being an admiral, it had been very tough for him at times. Gabe could only imagine how things would be for a Spanish tavern keeper's son in the Royal Navy. How did you explain to a 'landsman' what went on in the midshipmen's berth?

  How once signed on, the captain couldn't interfere least he is accused of favoritism. The lad would have to face up to bullies, poor food and a list of dangers that could take a life in a slip of a second. Not to mention the added dangers of war.

  "Are you talking of Alejandro?" Gabe asked.

  "Si."

  "Has he ever been at sea?"

  Domingo shook his head, "No."

  "How is his education?" Gabe asked.

  "It is well, senor. He speaks English and Latin and can do his arithmetic."

  "Can he write well?" Gabe asked.

  "Si, senor, he is very smart."

  "How old is he?" Gabe asked.

  "He is fourteen."

  "Well," Gabe said. "He's older than I was and he's big and healthy enough to handle the rigors of shipboard life. Is he easy to anger?" Gabe asked.

  To this Domingo raised his eyes and said, "Yes, sometimes too quick."Well, thought Gabe, what do I do?

  "Let me think on it Domingo and if I decide to take him on, I'll be his sponsor. That may prove helpful at some point."

  As Gabe left the tavern he discussed the situation with Markham.

  "I don't know," his friend said. "It would be a long shot at best. I'd talk to Dagan and see what he thinks.

  You know he's the one who'd know best except maybe his Lordship."

  "Thanks," Gabe said, "for telling me what I already knew."

  "Well there's no charge for the obvious," Markham quipped. "By the way have you seen Nancy lately?"

  "Not that I can recall. Last time I saw her she was giving the nurses what for at the hospital for not taking proper care of Sir Raymond."

  As the two friends walked on a thought came to Markham, "You know Gabe, Domingo is liable to lose both his children to the Navy: Nan
cy to Sir Raymond and Alejandro to SeaWolf. Bet he never expected that before we showed up."

  The day dawned clear and warm with a humid breeze blowing across the anchorage toward the harbour. Gabe was hard to rise as was usual for him. He'd talked with Dagan and decided to allow Alejandro to come aboard for a trial. Dagan had felt it would be good for the boy to see another side of life, even if it was for just a short period.

  Dagan had told Gabe, "If Domingo convinces some other captain to take the boy aboard, whether it is a merchant or naval vessel the chance of the boy coming home in less than a year would be doubtful. This way if in a few days he decides this is not what he wants, he can

  slip anchor and go ashore. If he takes to the sea you can sign him on."

  Dagan had also recommended he spend some time with Davy while he was still a middy. "Let the two talk man to man so to speak," Dagan had said.

  Gabe had sent word to Domingo for the boy to be ready this morning and Gabe would send for him.

  "I'll go," Dagan had volunteered, "and on the way back we'll stop and visit on the Swan for a while. I'll see if Markham 's anymore chipper in the morning than you."

  "Take Lum with you," Gabe said. "We need several things for the pantry and have him check my store of cigars before he leaves."

  "I'll tend to the tobacco," Dagan replied. "I'll get us some good hand-rolled Virginia leaf cigars." Gabe hadn't missed the "us" in Dagan's comment.

  "You enjoy your evening visits with the Virginians I take it."

  "Yes," was Dagan's only response.

  "Gil tells me Colonel Manning's wife has a sister, a recently widowed sister. Does she add to the pleasure you enjoy during your visits?"

  "She doesn't take away from it," Dagan replied matter-of-factly.