Read Online Come Looking For Me by Cheryl Cooper - Free Book Online

ports, escorting British merchant ships, hunting down enemy frigates – to name a few.
    â€œFurthermore,” said Captain Prickett, spraying bits of cake onto the oak table, “it is believed that up to ten per cent of the United States Navy consists of men of British origin. The question is: are they deserters or were they pressed into the service by the Americans?”
    Mr. Bridlington clasped his delicate hands under his chin. “We’re not faring much better on land. The number of our regulars is very low indeed. We are forced to fight alongside Indians. Quite frightening, really!”
    Captain Prickett wiped his whiskered mouth with a napkin and examined the plates of unfinished food set before him. “We must soon finish our business with Old Boney; otherwise, this Yankee campaign will be our undoing.”
    Biscuit came into the cabin with the silver coffee pot.
    â€œAh, coffee would be nice. And I’ll have more beef and potatoes. Your beans are quite good too, Moreland. We won’t be seeing fresh vegetables again for a time.”
    Amusement registered in James’s faded blue eyes.
    â€œThe day before we met with Captain Uptergrove, his Expedition had come upon a most mournful scene,” said Mr. Bridlington. He dropped four teaspoonfuls of sugar into his coffee cup before casting his gaze upwards. “A British merchant ship robbed and its hull beaten to a pulp most dreadfully before being burned about fifty miles southeast of Halifax. It was sinking when the Expedition first spotted it in a telescope and Uptergrove said there was a terrible carnage drifting on the water.”
    James straightened in his chair. “And its crew? Were there any survivors?”
    â€œBy the time Uptergrove arrived on the scene, a good number were floating lifelessly on the water,” said Prickett, his face now flushed with good food and wine. “He was, however, able to rescue a babbling old woman, a wounded young man whose injuries had rendered him unconscious, and a child.”
    â€œThat’s all? ” asked Captain Moreland. “Could the old woman provide Mr. Uptergrove with any information?”
    â€œApparently she had quite lost her wits. Uptergrove could only glean that they’d been bound for Upper Canada and that it’d been an American ship that had struck them before dawn.”
    James became irate. “If she was a merchant ship, why the devil was she destroyed by an American warship? Stealing her crew and cargo I can understand, but such barbaric destruction I cannot.”
    â€œQuite a mystery, isn’t it?” said Mr. Bridlington, shaking his thin face.
    â€œHow many weeks back did this occur, gentlemen?”
    â€œFour perhaps,” said Captain Prickett, just then discharging a tremendous fart. “Good Heavens, excuse me, gentlemen. It must have been that exquisite cut of beef.”
    Mr. Bridlington giggled. But James took no notice. He leaned back thoughtfully in his red-velvet chair and studied the rich colour of his wine.

4
    Sunday, June 6
    9:00 a.m.
    (Forenoon Watch, Two Bells)
    â€œâ€˜â€¦ She played over every favourite song that she had been used to play with Willoughby, every air in which their voices had been oftenest joined, and sat at the instrument gazing on every line of music that he had written for her, till her heart was so heavy that no farther sadness could be gained …’”
    â€œGus, could I ask you to stop your reading for now?” Emily pleaded from her bed.
    Beyond the canvas curtain, Leander paused in his letter writing.
    â€œAre you tired?” asked Gus.
    â€œTired? How could I be? I’ve done nothing but sleep for the past several days. No, I am not tired, but this part in the novel is so sad.”
    â€œShall I come back this evening before my watch?”
    â€œPlease do. You read so well. I am sure I could not read that well when I was your age.”
    Gus reluctantly