William Brand

Oh I do. I'd much rather have the lace.

Is it made of hemp...?

I've taken the plunge. Hemp canvas for slops and breeches. A deep golden wool for my waistcoat. A dark brown for my frock coat. Linen for lining. Time is short.

August 1, 1704 - Aboard the Dog Alan Woodington arrived and departed, coin in hand, and the last of the Larboard Watch was paid, but for Mister Pew ashore. William placed the ledger and the remaining shares in the strongbox and cleared the table of parchment and quills. He ate what food remained in the quiet of the Ward Room before gathering his oilskins again. Then, as he was about to return to the weatherdecks, he turned back again to search the stern bench. He rifled through charts, bottles, bags and small parcels until he found the small, wrapped box he was looking for. He tucked it into a pocket of the great coat and went up to the quarterdeck. Tudor Smith was there, standing where the quarterdeck met the poop deck. She knuckled off a salute and he called for a report. "Storm appears to be abating, Captain. The recruits are settling in below and Mister Franklin is gone ashore by way of the Heron. He has Kampaert, Tuygertgen and the Russian with him." "Very good, Miss Smith. Have the longboat swung out. I'm bound for the Heron." "Aye, sah." Two bells of First Watch ~Larboard Watches on Duty~

Tonight's special is spiral cut ham with rice and beans...

"Argus may remain, but the trial remains. If he should not learn to keep his bark I shall send him ashore. I'll not have him give warning to our enemies at sea. I'll not permit him to wake those who sleep in turn after a day's work. And I won't abide a din from him when so many others keep their tongues." "I understand, sah. I'll make him a quiet dog." "Then we have an accord, Miss Tribbiani. Take the plate and send in the next sailor." "I will, sah. Thank you sah." She gathered up the plate and made to leave. As she was passing out through the door he added, "Please see to it that Mister Argus is introduced to the rats aboard."

August 1, 1704 - Ward Room of the Watch Dog "I cannot imagine a cross being amiss in Catholic Martinique, but that aside, my concern for Argus is this...he will soon grow to such a size as to rival Manus or Robert. He will not gladly except hard tack and a rum ration. He will likely eat much more flesh than anyone aboard and consume more in fresh water than we can reasonably afford. In short, he will cost us, perhaps dearly." "I understand, sah...I" William waved her off. "I just need to be sure that you can except the finer points of Argus being at sea if we should find ourselves adrift in...desperate choices." "I think so, sah." "Argus would become less important then, except perhaps as food." she didn't say anything to this. What could anyone say? It was the sobering realism of a life at sea, where water and food or the lack of either could make the future beautiful and unchartered, or horrible. "If I may amend my suggestion regarding your shares..." "Of course, sah." "Consider the purchase of some additional stores. A goat perhaps. Chickens. Supplies against that unexpected day." ~Larboard Watches on Duty~

August 1, 1704 - Ward Room of the Watch Dog William didn't say anything. He might have said much, and there was much to say, but he didn't. Instead, he raised his glass to her a little in a toast without words and she answered in kind. Then his eyes fell on the food. "Take some of this." he implored in good humor, and before she could refuse he filled a plate. "There..." he said, as he passed it to her, but he paused. "Sah?" she questioned, for whatever thought had come to him then changed his face. His smile lost some if its humor. He set the plate down. "Argus." "Sah?" "We've not had time to speak of him since he came aboard. Have you considered what might happen should we find ourselves adrift or without sufficient wind in some desperate hour?" ~Larboard Watches on Duty~

Blast it all. My schedule fell apart these last few weeks and I gained back nine pounds. Blast.

Ahhhh...so more of a lower, West-end suburb of 1700s London than a true seaside pirate festival. I understand. I'm not a mud fan myself.

August 1, 1704 - Aboard the Watch Dog William raised a solitary eyebrow. "I wouldn't court the Lieutenant just yet." he began carefully. "The Navarra, like any other ship of her kind, is a merchant ship first and last. She and those aboard her are bound by coin...first and last. I imagine that their interests are purely mercenary." he paused a moment, for Treasure's interest seemed to redouble. "No..." he laughed. "...that was a poor choice of words. What I mean to say is this, Capitán Avendano wants his cargo to reach the destinations it is intended for unharmed. He respects the fact that we are a privateer of questionable loyalties sitting at anchor just off his starboard quarter. He may, as it has been surmised by those of us who dined with him yesternight, be considering an alliance which mutually benefits the 'Dog and the Navarra." ~Larboard Watches on Duty~

August 1, 1704 - Ward Room of the Watch Dog "No." he said simply. "And yes." A knock came at the door then and Mister Gage put his head in at the door. He was carrying a tray of mixed fare and William waved him in. Lazarus looked tired and William asked after him and the galley. Lazarus understated his mood as easily as William had the weather. He set the tray down and informed the Captain that the recruits were all fed. "Very good, Mister Gage." The cook made to leave, but William called him back, handing him a heavy laden purse. The cook's mood changed noticeably and he went out of the room a bit improved. "I predict two inns. One in England and one in the colonies, with a ship to sail between them." First bell of First Watch

Pirates...discussing rain as though it were a bad thing. Interesting. Fresh water at sea.

"Steady on, Treasure." he said, dropping his usual formality. He reached out and patted her hand and whispered confidentially, "It was meant only as a suggestion. No more. No less." he smiled again then, and as he began to lean away he suddenly leaned back in again. "The ward room is just a ward room. Not a confessional." She could see the mirth in his face now. That scoundrel's smile that was more often seen on the Kate than the 'Dog. It was subtle. Impish. He leaned back in his chair and sipped his drink. "You'll marry." "I doubt that very much, sah." she assured him, but he pressed on, undaunted. "Six or seven times at least." he mused aloud. "Six or seven...?" she looked appalled at the idea. "At least. A pirate mistress. You shall have a good Dutchman. All in black. Severe. That will be your first husband. You'll keep him in Manhattan where he will trade in brocades and fine silks for you while you keep the other six husbands in various, other ports." She raised her eyebrows and he pressed forward. "That Spanish lieutenant, on the Navarra, you'll keep him at Trinidad..."

William filled a heavy glass and slid it across the table to her. He smiled then, quietly, shaking his head. "The suggestion is not a reflection of your service, but an honest one, based on your gifts as a woman, not a sailor. You have a voice wasted on the sea. Sirens are shore creatures, tied to the sea only by...well...I do not know what." "I like it here." She said, and her voice still had a certain something to it that made William continue. "I know that you do. I like it to. Heaven help us both." He smiled, as did she, and he gestured to the glass which she had not untouched. "Rummy is going ashore." "Aye, sah. It's been...whispered about the ship." William shook his head. "That whoever of the Company shall breed a Mutiny or Disturbance..." he began, smiling. "You asked me what you might do with your share." he said, pointing at her.

"Do...?" William returned, amused and perhaps a little surprised. "I should think you shall...eat, drink and be merry. There is a rumor going about ship that 'Tomorrow we die'." he said in a rather glib manner. "I shouldn't like that at all." she admitted. "Neither should I?" he agreed, smiling. "But perhaps, and I say this with all soberness, you might consider a place ashore."

August 1, 1704 - Aboard the Watch Dog Just prior to first bell of the First Watch William was stepping out of the officer's head off the quarter galley as Miss Tribbiani entered the Ward Room. They exchanged certain formal greetings and he invited her to sit while he found her name in the ledger. Treasure crossed the room carrying some of the weather across the floor with her before taking a chair. William sat at his accustomed spot, bent over the large book before him. He ran a finger back and forth across the lines of tally marks and calculations. Outside, a shimmer of lightning, which had touched down somewhere on the southern edge of the Cul du Sac Royal, greased its way through the shuttered windows. This was followed in short order by a significant boom which rolled over the bay and into the foothills and jungle beyond St. Louis and the fort. "Marvelous weather." William said without looking up. "Aye, sah." she returned, unsure if he was joking or not. Marvelous was not the word which most of the men were using aboard ship at present. "We'll have replenished all of our fresh water stores with no more effort than a gambol." he added, still tracing his hand down the ledger. "Ahhh...here we have it. Your portion of the elephant, Miss Tribbiani. Bought, butchered and baked." ~Larboard Watches on Duty~

I feel salty, arrrr.

I shopped around at a few sutlers who deal in candle lanterns. I couldn't find anything similar to the horn-paned lantern we wanted in the price range we had hoped for, and many of the sutlers I tried couldn't meet our volume anyway. Then I found Maryland Sutler. They have enough lanterns to cover a group buy. The lantern they offer is a four sided lantern of wood and glass with a copper heat strap and a wire bale for a handle. The lanterns come in a natural wood that can be stained by each owner according to his or her own personal taste. They normally run $20.00, but he said he'd knock it down to $18.00. He estimated the shipping would be about $2.50 per lantern, bringing it to $20.50. If we round it up to $21.00, this would allow us to ship additional spare panes of glass in case any of them are damaged in shipping or broken at the event. This is the best deal I've found. Please let me know ASAP so that we can guarantee the group buy while he has these in stock.

I've made the appropriate updates. I'm still trying to get a few more people to attend. Please take a look at the roster and let me know if there are any names not shown.

Ahhhh...the Kate. I'm going to string up a hammock under the date palms.

I am all but travelled out at present. I could use a tall glass of orange-lemonade and two more hours of sleep.

August 1 1704 - Aboard the Watch Dog Rummy introduced Mister Greene at the galley, but was surprised to find the ship's cook in a mood she had never seen before. Lazarus was polite, but brief. He did not extend his usual, casual friendliness to the new recruit, but offered him a steaming bowl of fare which more than made up for any curtness on his part. Rummy did not press the cook with questions, but simply steered Jonah away and below. "He seems..." Jonah began, but Rummy shook her head before he could finish. "That is not typical of the climate over our cook." she explained. Jonah simply nodded affably and complimented the fare itself, eating as they walked. Rummy lead him, bowl in hand, to steerage where she kept her things and the compliment of the ship's carpentry tools aboard ship. While Jonah ate, she explained what tools she had come by since coming aboard at La Desirade. Most of the tools were old, but Rummy had hand picked every one of them for their use and the care that their previous owners had given them. She had also purchased a number of new tools at Margarita and taken a full third of the Maastricht's tools when the fluyt was looted. The rest, she explained, had gone over to the Heron. "Has the Heron a carpenter?" Jonah asked. "Aye." Rummy returned. "A Mister Alder Wenge. Capital fellow...recently a captive of that same ship, though his position as carpenter there or here may still be in question." "I see. Am I to understand that my position as a carpenter may also be in question?" Rummy shrugged. "That is a question for the Captain, but my departure from the frigate is imminent. You should know that Mister Hawks and I will be going shore, there to remain, so your opportunities will broaden within a few days." "May I ask...why leave here?" Rummy said nothing and she smiled several times after without beginning. She replaced a large auger in the casement she had made for it, fetching up a satchel of tools. Then she stood, still smiling, though she didn't answer his question. Instead she said, "Any man or woman forward can see you to a hammock until your position aboard is secured. I must inspect the bilge. Welcome aboard, Mister Greene."

August 1, 1704 - Aboard the Watch Dog Shares from the sale of the Maastricht were passed out in quick succession, owing to the exactness of coin in weight and denomination which had come from the accounting house of Goddu and Charpentier. The purchasers of the fluyt had been mindful to bring mixed coin from both France and Spain, for William had requested both specie in preparation for their journey to Trinidad. William hoped that the two currencies would keep the crew in coin a bit longer than Martinique, since the men and women of the two crews might be less likely to spend Spanish coin here when it would fetch more in Trinidad. It was a vain hope, but he hoped it nonetheless. Surprisingly enough, several of the men and women aboard had guarded their shares jealously already, keeping a significant sum in reserve for various personal reasons. Still, not all of the men were frugal. Manus Hingerty had spent nearly all of his Ilex shares on women and rum and Pascal was decidedly poor from similar sprees ashore. "May I ask where our lookout spends his shares?" William inquired as Ciaran came in to receive his portion. Ciaran smiled and said. "Drink. Diversions." William nodded as he counted out Ciaran's four shares into a neat little pile. "Nothing else...?" "A good glass." Ciaran added. William smiled at that and Ciaran gathered up the coins. "It has good lenses and a fine casement. I mean to have Owen cover it over with some good knotwork and braiding to protect it against the sea and much use." "That's a very good idea..." William said, wondering why he had not thought of it himself. "A very good idea." "Thank you, sah." "Send in the next man or woman." A steady line of crew members came and went as did the shares. The piles of coin disappeared into so many eager hands and William was glad to see it dispersed. With portions of the Ilex fortune still locked away in the Ward Room and so much cargo from the Maastricht still waiting to be sold in the holds, William was glad to see this extra money from the fluyt sale pass on to other hands. Let them do with it what they would, if only to be rid of the responsibility of so much extra fortune. William had seen larger sums of coin than this, and the Maastricht was not the largest prize he had ever taken, but with so many new recruits and previous prisoners of war serving on the 'Dog, the inequality of fortune might spark fights, theft or worse. William tried not to imagine worse. Elsewhere on Martinique It was dark in the small shop, but for the solitary lantern. The rain continued unabated outside, but inside it was dry. Quiet. The two men stood about a work bench of significant size, littered half with wood shavings and tools, and half with the body of a young girl, muddied and still. "Where did you find her...?" the older of the two asked, peering over the wet, half frozen girl. "She was in the cart road..." the larger man began. "I almost went over her...cart and cargo...but the horses shied." The older man peered over her with a lamp in one hand, bending to check her wrists and ankles. "She's a slave, no doubt...and by the look of her wrists, recently brought over..." his voice trailed off. "Oui." said the larger man who stood hard by wringing a wet hat and dripping on the earthen floor. "Come from the Tonnant...or the Ville de Varsovie!" "Oui." The older man continued, never ceasing his examination. He pressed back the unconscious girl's lips and checked her teeth. He felt her arms and thighs. He also checked her for cuts or bruises, and finally, to the larger man's embarrassment, he even checked to see if she was 'intact'. He leaned back, nodding. "She'll fetch a good price...should no one come looking for her, that is." "A good price...?" the larger man said hopefully. "Do you think so?" "Oui. She's sound and should grow up straight and strong. She has been fed well enough." "Can't be from the Tonnant then." the larger man observed. "Try not to think so much, Gaubert." the older man scolded. "We shall keep this one and see what becomes of it." The larger man simply nodded. ~Larboard Watches on Duty~

That's fantastic. It's nice to see porjects from beginning to end, now, and for future participants.