William Brand

mmm...

The Master Gunner made no objection to having one or two ships. He had given little thought to the Heron since the battle some days before. He did however voice his concerns that the Watch Dog was short of good gunners. He understood the added firepower that a second ship would bring, but he drank and spoke only of the 'Dog. "Why not auction the Watch Dog and transfer all hands to the Heron?" Mister Badger asked. This raised a few eyebrows and Mister Badger explained, "This frigate is much older. She's already once seen one refitting that we know of and a half dozen careenings by the look of her." "I like her too much." William returned. "You favor this ward room." Mister Pew corrected and William tried not to smile and failed. "Aye. True." "I favor this ward room." Petee added with emphasis to a murmur of laughter, and William was reminded that he was not the only one nominated to fill Captain William's post when he died. "We shall dine here more often after Martinique, I assure you." William said, refreshing one or two glasses. "Either way," Mister Badger continued, "I don't mind the company of two ships, provided the elephant is gone." "Metaphors aside, Mister Badger, does Maastricht mean 'elephant'?" Petee asked, packing a pipe for a smoke topside. William was already shaking his head, having visited the town of Maastricht himself, and knowing the word, but Mister Badger explained his repetition of the name. "The Maastricht was 'Witte Oliphant' before the war." "Really...?" William said surprised, for he had known another ship by the same name some years before, though it had been a smaller vessel. Mister Badger nodded. "Never a more fitting name for such a lumbering thing." "Well, Gentlemen, if we are agreed that the Heron might be retained, then we will wait to call a vote concerning the Heron's future once all are gathered again in one place." There were nods and a few 'Ayes' followed by a pause in the conversation. William took the opportunity to return to matters discussed several days before on the subject of marines. "Mister Pew." "Aye, sah?" "Do you remember that we discussed uniforms for the marines?" "Aye, sah." Mister Pew returned promptly, for he had hoped to cover this subject before landfall. He was quite enthusiastic on the subject, though he was uncertain ho popular uniforms would be among the marines themselves. He could have not have known then how many of the marines had discussed this very subject privately among themselves, for it was agreed among most of them, if not all, that uniforms would make a fine impression among the throngs ashore, and many of them hoped to make a personal impression or two. "I would like uniforms for them, if it might not take shares away from any." "We shall keep all of the small arms from the Maastricht. This way we might find among those, and ours aboard, the best pistols. We shall keep all of the best pistols for ourselves and sell the bulk of the bad for coin in which to buy uniforms. In this way, we might improve the armory, and buy coats for the marines." William turned to the Master Gunner and added. "And the gunnery crews." Mister Youngblood nodded gratefully. William continued. "If done properly, I believe few aboard can argue the trade. Anyone who disagrees with this, may choose for himself or herself a good pistol from among the finest to be kept or sold. What say you?"

Every once in awhile there is a food request that makes me stare blankly into the abyss. This is one of those moments. Salted lard over rye toast with a chaser of liver dumpling soup...wow.

Antelope Palm Crow Prudent Mary

When I woke up this morning it was 0 degrees. I'm longing for Baja California.

Antelope Palm Crow Prudent Mary

I'm uncertain if there is a term other than wrecking, but here is a site on the subject of wrecking. http://keyshistory.org/wrecking.html

I was all set to remove Crow from my list until I found a species of crow out of Hispaniola and Cuba called a "Palm Crow". I like the sound of that more than the others I have proposed. Palm Crow. Yep. Right back on the list. Antelope Dispatch Palm Crow Prudent Mary Southernmost

And still the list continues to grow. It is already larger than last year's list and I hope that as the year progresses, it will grow without losing anyone from it.

I can limbo but once a year. My back.

Alright, the list isn't getting any shorter. Everyone read through and choose their five favorites overall. Then we'll pick from the repeats.

Tonight's special is beef wellington with a side of asparagus. And now I am very, very hungry.

Fantastic pictures, Jack. Fantastic. My compliments to the photgraphers.

My wife.

Aye, there are some good bird names and there are a lot of birds that nest in Florida... Grebes Pied-billed Grebe Brown Pelican Double-crested Cormorant Anhinga Magnificent Frigatebird Great Blue Heron Great White Heron Tricolored Heron Green Heron Black-crowned Night-Heron Yellow-crowned Night-Heron White Ibis Glossy Ibis Roseate Spoonbill Wood Stork Black Vulture Egyptian Goose Mandarin Duck Blue-winged Teal Hooded Merganse Allies Osprey Northern Harrier Cooper's Hawk Crested Caracara American Kestrel Sandhill Crane Laughing Gull Royal Tern Bridled Tern Sooty Tern Brown Noddy Black Skimmer Mourning Dove Mangrove Cuckoo Burrowing Owl Nighthawk Antillean Nighthawk Chuck-will's-widow Chimney Swift Belted Kingfisher Great Crested Gray Kingbird Loggerhead Shrike Fish Crow Purple Martin Marsh Wren Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Wood Thrush Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Bahama Mockingbird Brown Thrasher Northern Cardinal Red-crested Cardinal Blackbird Eastern Meadowlark

I miss sunlight. The winter has been a cold one, and while I've seen worse winters, I still miss sunlight.

The subject of prizes had been on everyone's minds since the battle, and while each of them was anxious to voice his opinion, they waited for the Captain to come back from the window. He continued to look out through one of the open shutters, watching the Maastricht bob upon the current of the Cul de Sac Royal. After a time, he turned again. "Sorry, Gentlemen. I was lost in thought." he said smiling. "I have not enjoyed such good fortune in a long time, the Kate notwithstanding." There were many nods, for more than one of them had visited the crippled frigate at La Desirade, and to some of them, it seemed like a lifetime ago. "The Maastricht will be towed into port for auction within the week, I should think, if all goes well ashore. The Heron...? Well...to be perfectly honest, Gentlemen, I cannot remember a time in recent years when I felt more safe, more sheltered, then I have with the Heron going before us on the water." Some of them nodded at this, for their tiny flotilla had indeed created a sense of shared strength that the Dutch and English had most likely enjoyed just prior to the loss of their ships. And perhaps it was a false feeling and perhaps it was foolish to place so much comfort in the quantity of ships. Either way, William continued. "The Heron affords us an added distance of range, giving us a greater scope of horizon, firepower and boarding parties. She is a goodly ship." "Aye." Dorian agreed, and perhaps with some enthusiasm, and this caused a few to smile, for it was evident that Mister Lasseter had enjoyed his time aboard the cutter. "A shallow draft. She sail strong into the wind..." "Aye. I propose to keep the Heron...at least as far as Trinidad." William explained, then he waited to see what each of them might say.

We have a fine mulled cider and a warm fireplace which should do nicely. We might also talk about warmer climates and sun drenched climbs.

I'm still hoping for more pirates out this way.

Aye, I've seen that one before. That is a very good site.

Welcome aboard, Rob. A fine crew you have there.

These will be some very thin slices. Lady Snow gets a large piece first.

We should ask who 'doesn't want cake'. It will be easier to count.

July 27, 1704 - The Watch Dog, anchored off Fort Royal at Martinique Eight Bells of the Afternoon Watch William watched the approach of the jollywatt from the quarterdeck for a moment before signaling the Maastricht to send Mister Badger over, and by the time Dorian arrived aboard the 'Dog, the bosun was headed across from the fluyt. "Welcome aboard, Captain." William said, greeting Dorian with more formality then before. He swept off his hat and offered his hand. Dorian looked bemused, but he returned the title and the handshake. William called the Master Gunner and Master-at-arms aft as Mister Badger arrived at the frigate. With all of them were gathered, William gave the deck over to Mister Warren while He, Dorian, Jacob, Petee and Preston went below to the ward room. William invited every man to sit while he fetched up a glass or two. Miss Smith came in then and gave him a lighthearted, but also reproachful look for tending to duties that were hers alone. He graciously surrendered the cups and she served the men at the table. "Gentlemen. A fine bit of sailing into the wind these past few days. My compliments." This was followed by appreciative nods and a few thumps on the table. "And my many thanks to Mister Badger. A bit of good sailing for such a troublesome craft." "A boxed elephant with a pocket handkerchief." Mister Badger muttered, as he sipped his drink. "Aye." William agreed, for he doubted that he himself would have done as well with the fluyt. "You were the only man for such a task." Mister Badger smiled, and while he looked tired past understanding, he raised his glass a little in a return salute before draining the contents. "We had seven more prisoners pass." Mister Badger said suddenly without prompting. "That damn Dutchie of a captain ordered me to a 'parade rest' so that he might bury 'em." "I don't recall that you stopped..." Petee said, with a narrowing eye. "I didn't." Mister Badger said. "He buried 'em on the move." "He might have waited until Martinique." William said, refreshing Jacob's glass. "Not him...the bastard." Mister Badger growled, and took up his glass to drink then, added by way of explanation. "French waters." There was an understanding 'Ahhhhh.' which circled the table. "It is just as well." William replied. "I noted trouble on th' 'Dog, Cap'n." Dorian said, hoping to discover what many of them had speculated about on the Heron. "Ahh, yes." "What happened with this Tawny fellow?" William raised an eyebrow at that, for he had not expected Dorian to know of Tawny. Dorian explained at once. "The new lads on the Heron..." "Ahhh." William returned nodding. "I'll explain." William laid out the events of the last few days, including the unexpected discovery of the man Tawny, now labeled a pirate. William also touched on other insignificant details of the trip. Mister Badger talked at length, once the third drink was in him, and he spoked on the leaks, burials and every troublesome matter which had taken place aboard the crippled fluyt for the past few days. He was mindful to add many colorful descriptions of the 'Dutchie Bastard' as he went along, and many of them had trouble hiding their smiles as he went, for Mister Badger was notorious for mumbling his opinions of others aloud. Even Mister Lasseter was want to talk, though his thoughts and feelings tended to be all praises and compliments. He had many good things to say about the Heron and the lads both new and old. The discussion continued in this fashion for a time. ~Larboard Watch coming on Duty~

Ahhh...pirate legend indeed. Welcome to the club of computer chatting pirate fanatics.