The trip back to Saint Augustine was very uneventful.
The sky was clear, the wind steady. Dagan had challenged Caleb to a game of chess. Gabe watched intently but the game didn't engross him like it did Caleb and Dagan.
Lum, to get away from Mr. Jewels, took his lotz and went forward. Soon all the men not on watch had gathered round, most with their rum rations in their hands. Some downed their ration while others sipped at the metal cups, trying to make it last. A number of the men chewed tobacco, while most who smoked, lit up their pipes. A few had cigars and these were lit.
The crew was content after a successful operation, which yielded only a handful of wounded and no deaths.
Down in the wardroom the master had Jackson in stitches with his bawdy humor. The purser who never smiled was even laughing at Gunnels's last rhyme, having to do with a hermit who had a dead wench in a cave.
Dawkins could hear the laughter from the wardroom as he passed it going back to the captain's cabin. He had put a bottle of hock in the bilges to chill and had gone to retrieve it now that it was cool enough to drink. It amazed him how cool things stayed below the waterline 1
when the water itself felt warm to the touch. As he made his way into the cabin he could see Caleb leaning forward over the chess board frowning while Dagan was reared back with a smile across his face.
"Damme, sir, where in God's creation did you learn that move? I've not surrendered yet mind you, but it looks like its checkmate."
Caleb had got to where he spent a lot of time with Dagan. This had started after the overland trip to rescue Gabe, after stopping by Dagan's uncle's place seeking help for Gabe's rescue. He rarely spent much time away from his old traveling companion… was it a bond created by the trip or from a bond with Kitty, the uncle's daughter?
"I surrender," Caleb finally said.
Dawkins had gotten three glasses and was pouring the hock for the group. "This is the last bottle of hock, cap'n."
"Well, you'd better pour yourself a glass and enjoy what we have left," Gabe told his secretary.
This brought a smile to Dawkin's lips. "Don't worry, sir, it'll not go to waste."
"Likely he's been taking lessons from Bart," Dagan said.
"Well now Bart has learned a trick or two along the way," Dawkins answered, "But I believe I've got more time on the head than he's got in His Majesty's Navy." This brought a chuckle from the group. Dawkins picked up the bottle with the remaining hock and ambled off toward the pantry.
As the ole man entered the pantry he heard Caleb asked, "Dagan, have you heard from your folks in Virginia lately?"
Gabe instantly picked up on Caleb's question and he eyed Dagan who was eyeing Caleb.
Barracuda 1
"You interested in the whole clan or was there somebody particular?" Dagan asked, his head tilted back and angled a bit, his arms across his chest.
"Well, I'd like to know about the whole family," Caleb stammered, "but I was… ah… I am particularly interested in how Kitty is doing."
Enjoying the riposte between his two friends Gabe couldn't help but feel sympathetic towards Caleb. He knew how he longed for Faith and even though it had been only a day or so he had a burning desire to be back with her, to hold her, to feel those lips against his, to… ah… well… just to be with her. Dagan clearing his throat broke Gabe's train of thought.
"Well there was a letter sometime back," Dagan said then left the sentence hanging.
"Well," Caleb prompted.
"Well, I think you need to study your chess game a little more," Dagan said as he continued to toy with Caleb.
"Damn the chess game man, the letter, was there anything in the letter about me?"
"Humph! Not that I recall."
Then seeing the forlorn look creep across Caleb's face, Dagan appeared to be deep in thought then said,
"Well, maybe there was one bit where Uncle Andre said Kitty asked to be remembered to you and should you desire to come visit again you'd be welcome." The joy that filled Caleb's face was unmistakable, then a frown, "Why, dammit all, Dagan, why didn't you tell me?" Caleb exclaimed in a perturbed manner.
"Cause you didn't ask," Dagan flung back.
"Humph!" Caleb then reached for his glass and downed the hock. "I think I'll go topside and listen to Lum before I retire. He at least knows something about manners."