Barracuda: The Fighting Anthonys, Book 3

by Michael Aye

  It all boiled down to how well the three did being cross examined by the provost marshal. Lum was the key. If he did well Lancaster would be free, otherwise…

  The governor had appointed a judge to hear the case as he had stated. However, Tonyn had left it up to the Army to provide a prosecutor and the Navy a defender. Lord Anthony had immediately picked Knight to act in Lancaster’s defense. He of all the other officers was the only one who didn’t know the midshipman or Lum so it was felt he would be more objective.

  He had also been present for Sir Percival and the flag captain’s court martial after the flagship had been sunk. Therefore he was familiar with the proceedings. A knock at the cabin door broke Knight’s train of thought.

  “First Lieutenant, suh,” the marine sentry announced and stood aside to let Lieutenant Brooks enter.

  “It’s time captain. Your cox’n has your gig ready.”

  “Thank you,” Knight said as he buttoned his shirt, put on his coat and took a quick look at shoes. “Well, Mr. Brooks, Neptune is yours till I return.”

  “Aye, captain, I’ll keep a sharp lookout.” Brooks also knew about Knight having to fight a one-sided battle in a sinking ship right here at this anchorage.

  I’ll not let the damn rogues get within cannon range without being sighted, Brooks thought. Nay, the buggers will find a heated welcome should they try it again.

  “Gentlemen, this trial is called to order,” the judge called from his seat behind a large table. “While we have military officers in key roles please remember this is a civil matter and as the defendant has waived his right to a jury, I will decide as to the verdict, innocent or guilty. Is there any questions?”

  Since neither the Army provost, a Major Macpherson, nor Captain Knight had any questions, the judge continued.

  “As long as order is maintained I will allow those interested into the courtroom. I will allow each of you a quarter hour then we will start. Major Macpherson, you will begin.”

  Lord Anthony and Gabe sat behind Knight and Midshipman Lancaster and listened as Macpherson went through the incident with the soldier who was a Corporal Johnson.

  “Now Johnson,” Macpherson’s thick brogue resonated throughout the courtroom, “On the night in question did you provoke the midshipman before he attempted to murder…ere before he assaulted you?”

  “No suh,” the corporal sounded off as if he was on parade.

  “Did you slander the midshipman in any way?”

  “No suh.”

  Unable to contain himself, Gabe whispered to Lord Anthony, “A shilling says the lout doesn’t even know what the word slander means.”

  “We have all been made aware of your grievous injuries so we will not go into specifics, but tell me now corporal, were you intoxicated to the point you may have said or did something that was so objectionable to cause Mr. Lancaster to act so violently?”

  “No suh.”

  “Very well,” Macpherson said and turned to Knight and made a slight bow.

  Knight approached the corporal and said, “Tell me, do you know what it means to tell the truth?”

  “No suh,” the corporal responded automatically as he’d been doing then realized what he’d said. He tried to correct himself but before he could the courtroom erupted in laughter.

  “Could you define intoxicated, corporal?” Knight asked as soon as things were quieted.

  “Sir,” Macpherson said rising, and then looking at the judge he said, “We are not here to discuss this man’s vocabulary.”

  Knight then turned to the corporal and said, “Do you drink?”

  “Yes suh!”

  “Have you ever been drunk?”

  “Yes suh!”

  “When you get drunk do you often pick fights?”

  “No suh!”

  The corporal continued to answer but started to sweat as the last few pointed questions were asked.

  Seeing Johnson sweat, Knight continued, “Do you ever get drunk and desire men?”

  “No suh! I ain’t no sodimite suh.”

  “But you do like to bully young boys don’t you corporal?”

  “No suh!”

  Looking at the pitiful man Knight figured he’d never get more out of him. “No more questions,” he said.

  Major Macpherson then stood, “I have nothing further. I feel it is evident the accused acted impulsively over some imagined slight or insult and should be punished for his actions.”

  “Indeed?” the judge replied. “Captain Knight, do you have a witness for the defense?”

  “Yes sir, I do.” Then making a quick decision he continued, “I have two witnesses but I feel one could add very little other than to attest to the corporal’s character and I feel we are all aware of that at this point.”

  This comment caused Macpherson to raise his eyebrows but he didn’t respond. Knight then called Lum. After Lum was sworn in, Knight asked several questions to establish Lum’s presence and his witnessing the event.

  “Now, Lum, the defendant states he was accosted by the corporal. Is that what you saw?”

  “Well suh, I don’t rightly know what dat word accosted means but I see’d dat sodjer grab Mistah Lancaster’s arse and try to kiss ’em. Ata’ Mr. Lawrence slapped ’em a wallop, dat sodjer says he’s gona make poh Mistah Lancaster squeal lak a pig. He den started biten on Mistah Lancaster’s ear and bit it clean off. Then Mistah Lancaster shot ’em wid a pistol.”

  “Thank you, Lum,” Knight said, amazed at how the black man had told his story without being prompted, unlike the corporal. Then not to be outdone, Knight turned to Macpherson and gave an exaggerated bow.

  Macpherson seemed to be thinking, then approached Lum and said in an audible whisper, “Would you lie for the midshipman?”

  “Lawd Gawd, no,” Lum cried out, “Not ata’ I done sworn to tells the truth. Maybe if I hadn’t sworn on dat bible I mightun’ stretch thangs a mite but Lum don’t lie oncst he done laid his hand on God’s word.”

  The judge tried not to smile at Lum’s frank honesty.

  “Well,” Macpherson continued, “Lum, you said you were at a table sitting by the stairs?”

  “Yah suh!”

  “And you said the corporal and Lancaster was standing about five feet away with Lancaster facing the bar and Johnson facing toward the fireplace?”

  “Yah suh! Dats de way it was.”

  “And you saw Johnson bite off Lancaster’s ear?”

  “Yah suh!”

  “Humph! Tell me Lum,” Macpherson said picking up the bible from the judge’s table, “Can you see my hand through this bible?”

  “No suh. I shore can’t.”

  “Then tell me,” Macpherson said sarcastically, “How you saw through Mr. Lancaster’s head to see Johnson biting off his ear? Now the truth is sir, you didn’t really see Johnson biting off the ear did you?”

  “Naw,” Lum said with his eyes looking upwards seemingly in deep thought. “Nah suh, thinking back I don’t recon I can truthfully sat I saw dat sodjer bittin’ off Mr. Lancaster’s eah.”

  Damn, thought Knight.

  However after a slight pause Lum continued his testimony, “But he was looking straight at me when he spat it out.”

  Upon hearing Lum’s statement the courtroom erupted into hysterical laughter. It was several minutes before order could be restored.

  Chapter Eleven

  The day had dawned clear and warm with a humid sea breeze blowing its way across the harbour and onto the land around Saint Augustine.

  Sir Raymond Knight had not slept well. After the trial, which ended in complete dismissal of all charges against Lancaster, he had gone along with Gabe, Markham and Stephen Earl to have a “victory wet” at the Mermaid. That is when he saw her. Domingo Chavez had a daughter, a goddess. Knight was immediately struck by the woman’s beauty.

  Her hair fell in ringlets and was black as a raven’s wings, her eyes as green as the emerald sea; and her lips…lips as red as a ruby. She was medium height
, slender and moved with a graceful light step. She had looked into Knight’s eyes and he felt as if he’d always known this lovely creature he’d just met. He knew instantly however that she was the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.

  Gabe had been talking about the sudden uproar of laughter during the trial when Lum had said matter-of-factly, “but I seen him when he spat it out.”

  Glancing Knight’s way, then following his gaze to the beautiful Spanish girl it was all to clear to Gabe what held Knight’s attention. He felt a pang of jealously as he thought of Faith in Savannah, not a day’s sail away.

  However, being the good shipmate he was, Gabe declared to all at the table, “Damme, but I do believe Sir Raymond has been struck by one of cupid’s arrows.” Pointing out the beauty that had captured Knight’s eye, Markham and Earl had joined in on the tirade, “Damned if he ain’t.” The results of which cost him a round to shut everybody up.

  Now glancing at his watch, Knight found it was time to report to the flagship for a meeting. Well he’d go to the meeting and if duty allowed he’d stop by the Mermaid and maybe meet up with this dark-skinned woman who had already captured his heart. Nancy…damned if the name wasn’t lovely too.

  By the time Lord Anthony’s captains had gathered in his dining area the sea breeze had died but the heat and humidity remained ever present.

  The attitude of Captain Buck when he entered the dining area seemed to be as oppressive as the heat and humidity. Today there would be no jokes or toasts. Today was business.

  When Lord Anthony entered with Bart at his side everyone sat anxiously awaiting…news, new orders or whatever his lordship had on his mind.

  “Gentlemen,” Lord Anthony started off, “we are doing little to achieve our mission with our current plan so therefore we are going to make some changes. First, we are going after information. Something we have very little of. I want every ship, island trader or bumboat you encounter on your patrols stopped, searched and questioned.”

  While no one spoke, all knew for his lordship to be taking such aggressive action the Governor must be applying pressure. However, other than the action in which Neptune had been captured, all had been relatively quiet. Swan had captured a small island schooner that held a party of rebels raiding coastal villages.

  Noting the look of dismay on his officers’ faces Lord Anthony continued on, “These are trying times gentlemen and desperate measures are called for. You will be given your sailing orders before you leave. Now is there or has there been anything unusual within the city or the harbour that you’ve recognized?”

  Gabe started to speak but held his tongue. Dagan had told him of a conversation with Bart while having a wet and enjoying a bowl of tobacco. A jollyboat had passed close to Warrior’s stern. The passengers in the boat were mostly drunk and speaking very loudly. Bart had turned to Dagan and said, “Damned Dagos, everywhere you turn they’s one and now we’s can’t even have a quiet evening without their blabbering spoiling it.”

  After hearing Dagan out Gabe went topside to view the harbour and verify Dagan’s concerns.

  When no one spoke up Lord Anthony said, “We’ll leave it to two old tarpaulins to see and hear the obvious. Not to make a scene gentlemen but on your way back to your ships take note of how many Spanish vessels are at anchor here or inside the harbour. Listen to the talk in boats plying back and forth. It’s mostly Spanish. When we are in port our ships are being attacked, when we’re out they’re not. The Governor was undoubtedly right about spies in the Spaniard’s quarters.”

  “But Lord Anthony,” Lieutenant Kerry from the Pigeon had stood, “we are not at war with Spain and Saint Augustine used to belong to Spain so how do we get rid of the Spanish without creating a national incident and maybe even bring them into war with the Colonies?”

  “Well sir,” Anthony answered the young lieutenant, “nobody said anything about getting rid of the Spanish. What I said was gather information. If that brings us to open conflict so be it. Most feel it will only be a matter of time and both the French and the Spanish will enter the war with the Colonials. I’m almost certain the French will.”

  “Now before you go, Captain Buck will give each of you your orders. Thanks to Captain Markham who recently captured the little island schooner, Rose, we now have means of communication with the Governor. Pigeon and Audacity will now be used to communicate between the flagship and the patrols.”

  This brought smiles from the gathered officers who knew it was a compliment for the admiral to address a lieutenant as a captain even if he was commanding a ship.

  Gabe, Markham, and Earl were saying their goodbyes to Bart when Knight approached in tow with Buck.

  “Damme sir, but I do hope this war hasn’t spoiled our fearless captain’s romance,” Markham chimed.

  Seeing the mischief in Markham’s eye, Buck asked, “Who pray tell has been smitten?”

  In unison the group replied, “Sir Raymond.”

  “Humph!” Buck said with an exaggerated frown. “Well, maybe I should do the honorable thing and keep this maiden well entertained while our brave captain is away doing his duty. I’m sure it’s a service Sir Raymond would perform for me if I was away on King’s business.”

  This caused a round of applause and laughter by all but Knight who seeing his cox’n was ready said, “I shall depart to my ship but you gentlemen can go to hell.”

  This brought out an uproar again. Markham laughed till tears poured from his eyes. Buck then raised his hand to quiet the group then said, “Dry your tears Captain Markham. Then if you and Captain Anthony can make your way to his lordship’s cabin without demeaning some poor soul along the way, make yourself available to your admiral.”

  Then turning to Captain Earl, Buck said, “Let’s share a glass while his Lordship talks to our wayward lads, and then he will tell you about orders.”

  Looking out Buck could see Knight’s gig approaching Neptune. “Tsk, tsk,” he said, “had our Sir Raymond not been in such a hurry he could have enjoyed a glass with us. Now, however, he will have to gather the gig crew together and that time will be spent rowing back to the flagship.”

  Seeing the Fifth Lieutenant Johns, Buck ordered, “Please make to Neptune. Captain repair on board.”

  This brought a chuckle from Earl but he’d seen the black-haired beauty that infatuated Knight and damned if he wasn’t a bit smitten himself.

  Oh well, Knight will be good and thirsty by time he returns in this heat. Do him good, Earl thought, I should have seen her first.

  Chapter Twelve

  Lord Anthony’s meeting with Gabe and Markham brought mixed feelings from Gabe. An attempt to occupy Savannah was to be undertaken sometime next year. However, to prevent such a fiasco as the attempt to occupy Charlestown, time would be first spent gathering intelligence as to resistance and help from Loyalists.

  Since a group of Colonial militia had broken into the Powder Magazine in May of 1775, the area had been relatively quiet on behalf of the Colonials. In January 1776, British warships entered the Savannah River without resistance and on March 2 and 3 of that same year, British ships again entered the Savannah Harbour and seized several merchant vessels laden with rice.

  Lord Anthony explained all this then said, “Thomas Browne was sorely treated in his own residence on the South Carolina side of the Savannah River. He has convinced the Governor that other than the little town of Thunderbolt, minimal resistance would be met were we to seize Savannah.”

  “Do you think his motivation is revenge for his treatment or do you think he is earnest in his feelings about minimal resistance from Loyalist?”

  After a momentary pause, Lord Anthony said, “I’m sure it’s both. He wanted to be part of the intelligence gathering but we thought this unwise as he’s so well known. So he’s sending one of his rangers who knows the area well. Gabe, you and Lum will also do some intelligence gathering. You will pose as a seafaring man which you should be able to pull off.”

  Thi
s brought a chuckle from Markham.

  “However,” Lord Anthony continued, “You will leave your uniform on board SeaWolf. I don’t have to tell you what this means if you get caught. I thought you could take Lum with you and that will help your cover. You know the coast but I’m told there’s a small island…Warsaw Island, where you, Lum and Browne’s ranger, a man named Finch can be put ashore. You will rendezvous back there at such time as you set up. While you are attending to your assignment, your first lieutenant will sail in the company with Markham, up the coast and back keeping an eye open for the likely lair of our privateer men.”

  “Markham?”

  “Aye, my Lord.”

  “If it appears safe you may take a peek into the Savannah River up to the harbour entrance and see what reaction you get.”

  “Aye, sir.”

  “Very well gentlemen, you may be on your way.”

  As the two rose to take their leave, Lord Anthony spoke again, almost an after thought. “Gabe, one moment please.”

  Once Markham was out of the cabin, Lord Anthony went from being the Admiral to the older brother. Placing his hand on Gabe’s shoulder he said, “If duty allows I would not think it amiss if you were to visit a friend.”

  Gabe smiled and grasping his brother’s hand said, “Thanks, Gil.”

  Under full sail, SeaWolf and Swan cut through the ocean waters like a hot knife through butter. Gunnells, the master, stood by the helm and spoke to Gabe who was perched by the taffrail.

  “It’d make a purty painting sir. Two nimble ships built for speed and doing what they were meant for, slicing through the water like God’s own cheeks blew the wind that filled our sails.”

  “Aye,” Gabe answered. He knew from looking at Swan under full sail that an artist who could capture the appearance on canvas would indeed have a purty painting. “Too bad we can’t build such ships.”

  The comparison of Colonial shipwrights with the British had long been a touchy subject with Gabe. The Colonial built ships tended to have taller, raked masts and a waist more slender. Graceful ships made for speed. He had once been called down by his brother, who was then Captain Anthony, about his remark, “we build tubs while they build ships.”