Read Online Wild Rover No More: Being the Last Recorded Account of the Life & Times of Jacky Faber by L. A. Meyer - Free Book Online Page A

have shipped and whom you have met,” says Lieutenant Tull, signaling for another round.
    â€œWell, Sir,” I say, having had a bit of time to come up with a plausible lie, “I was lately billeted on the
Shannon,
but I was sent off by the Captain with a last-minute message to a person here in Plymouth—”
    â€œProbably a letter to his American mistress,” mutters Mr. Mitchell.
    â€œ
—
and so missed her departure from Boston. I am to rejoin the ship in London, but since I knew there were no Royal Navy ships currently in Boston, I figured I’d take a coach to New York to see if I can catch a ride on one of our ships moored there, and so back to England.”
    â€œPut your mind at rest, Midshipman Wheeler,” says Mr. Mitchell, “for you shall travel with us back to New York by coach in the morning. I am sure our captain, Simms, will offer you a berth for the return journey. After all, what’s one squeaker, more or less. You certainly don’t look like you eat much.”
    â€œNo, Sir, I do not, and I thank you for your kind offer,” I reply, never for a second intending to be on that coach in the morning.
    Mr. Tull returns to the who-do-you-know game. “The
Shannon,
eh? Isn’t Seth Parsons on her?”
    â€œYessir, he’s First Officer. And do you know of a Lieutenant James Fletcher? He’s Second,” I venture.
    Both consider, but it’s Mr. Mitchell who says, “Fletcher, eh? Yes. I haven’t met him in person, but I’ve heard he’s a strong, silent type—knows his business as a sailor and a good man to have at your back in a fight. How about . . .”
    It goes on and on, but it’s no wonder, as there are not that many officers compared to the number of sailors, so, of course, we run into each other sometimes in the performance of our duties.
    â€œPerhaps you have heard of a Mr. Joseph Jared, sailing master on HMS
Dolphin
? I served with him on the
Wolverine,
at Trafalgar.”
    â€œHa!” cries Tull. “Joseph Jared! A fine man, indeed! A thoroughgoing seaman! Top notch! He is now a full lieutenant and Second Officer on our very ship. He will be delighted to see you when we return to the
Endymion,
I am sure.”
    I also am quite sure of that
—
but sorry, Joseph, it ain’t gonna happen . . .
    Â 
    Later, after all the toasts toasted, drinks drunk, a fine meal eaten, and many sea stories told, I beg to be excused, with a promise to meet in the morning, and I retire, a bit unsteadily, to my chamber.
    After I have made my ablutions, said my prayers, and climbed into bed, I let my mind wander and gleefully imagine the conversation that will surely happen in the officers’ mess of HMS
Endymion
when Lieutenants Mitchell and Tull return . . .
    â€œMidshipman Thomas Wheeler, you say?” asks Joseph Jared. “Of the
Wolverine
?”
    â€œWhy, yes, Joseph, he was quite clear on that,” answers Lieutenant Mitchell, a bit nonplussed. “Strange that he did not show up this morning when we all boarded the coach.”
    â€œOdd, indeed,” says Jared, his cocky grin beginning to spread across his face. “Perhaps, Jonathan, if you would describe this creature to me?”
    â€œWell, he was very small but neat and thin of face. He had blue powder spray next to his right eye. I believe I spied a curious tattoo on his neck, under his pigtail, when it swung to the side. A dragon, I think. Why do you ask?”
    Jared looks at his fellow officers with a widening smile.
    â€œBecause, gentlemen, I had the pleasure of seeing my former shipmate Midshipman Tom Wheeler not one month ago onboard HMS
Regulus
.”
    â€œB-but what . . . ?” stammers Lieutenant Tull. “But he said . . .”
    â€œ
Have you gentlemen checked your purses since that little encounter?” asks Jared, with a questioning eyebrow raised.
    Lieutenant