Unknown Read Online Free Page A

partitions left by the previous captain. They hid his sleeping cabin and the chart room. The man had also left his table, chairs, a mahogany wardrobe and desk. All were of good quality and had to have been expensive. Anthony couldn’t help but wonder if his predecessor was extremely wealthy or just in an extreme hurry. Either way, he was thankful for the furnishings.
    The marine sentry announced Buck’s arrival. “First Lieutenant, zur.” Buck entered and nodded his greeting to Bart and Silas.
    “Well, Rupert, what do you think of her?” Anthony asked.
    “To tell you the truth, sir, I’m in love. She’s a big ‘un all right, nigh onto 1,300 tons but she’ll sail as well as any keel-laid 38. I figure she’ll out-sail anything she can’t out gun.”
    “What about the crew?” Anthony asked.
    “We got two-hundred ninety-six aboard now. That’s twenty-four short, but the port admiral said he’d have us another two dozen before we sail. Probably clear out the prison hulks and such. However, we’re fortunate in our warrants. True professionals they are. Even with the purser. He can count, knows his weights, and seems more honest than most of his kind. Ole Peckham, the master off of Recourse, has reported. I know you asked for him. The bosun is big, burly, and Irish, God help us. He is a little too free with his starter to suit me, but he’ll learn my ways before too long. As for the young gentlemen, we got a full load. Most are ripe and bursting at the seams to make captain.”
    This brought a chuckle from Anthony.
    “Gabe, your brother, is senior,” Buck continued. “He seems to have settled in well enough already. We got an Admiral’s nephew on board. His name is Frances Markham. He and Gabe seem to have hit it off well enough.”
    Buck then took a breath and expelled a sigh. “Your brother-in-law, however, has sent us a little shit that could pass for a drowned rat along with a letter. I, ah, took the liberty of reading it since it wasn’t sealed or addressed to you privately.”
    Anthony nodded.
    “Seems the little fellow’s father was killed sudden-like. So as to help the boy’s mother out, the local squire used his influence with Hugh to help the young gentleman get a berth. Probably to get him outta the way, so to speak. All buxoms and smiles, I’m told!”
    Anthony glared at Buck and exclaimed, “The young gentleman?”
    “Ere, uh, no sir, Cap’n . The lad’s mother, the one the squire is bent on helping out.”
    ***
    “Cap’n? It’s time, Cap’n. Here’s ye a cup of coffee jes like ye like it. Silas is getting some hot water for your shave.”
    Anthony raised himself and grunted his thanks to Bart. The coffee was scalding hot. He took a careful sip. This helped to wash away some of the leftover taste of cigars and brandy. It had been a tradition with Anthony since his first command to invite all the officers, warrants, and midshipmen to dine their first night underway. It was a good way to learn a bit about each. It was amazing what a captain could elicit from his officers after a good meal and a glass or two of wine. Often, the captain would discover strengths and weaknesses that might otherwise take weeks to discern. One frequently spied the petty tyrants, the snobs, etc. It was a trick his father had passed on to him. A second sip of coffee and Anthony realized Bart was in mid-sentence and he hadn’t heard the first of it.
    “What’s that?” he asked Bart.
    The cox’n eyed his captain. “More-n-usual with the spirits, Cap’n?”
    “Hush! Damn your ugly eyes,” Anthony snarled.
    “Huh!” snorted Bart. “I were telling ye the master, Mr. Peckham, said it was to be unseasonable warm today and we’s headed in the right general direction with a fair wind.”
    Anthony couldn’t help but laugh even though it caused his head to hurt. “Right general direction.” That sounded like old Peckham, but God help the man who didn’t steer the course the master set.
    Silas entered.