A Sloop of War by Philip K. Allan

Author:Philip K. Allan [Allan, Philip K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: RO:NAV
Publisher: Penmore Press LLC
Published: 2018-03-14T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Convoy

‘Back home at last,’ said Appleby. He spread his arms wide as if to embrace all of his fellow officers gathered around the wardroom table. The sailing master of the Rush had long arms and he seemed to fill the space as if a large bird had suddenly opened its wings. To his fellow officers it served only to emphasise how cramped and dark their accommodation was when compared to the rooms they had now relinquished in the Moro Castle.

‘Back home, and yet soon to be on our way, to judge from the armada gathered in the bay,’ said Faulkner. ‘Do you have any more intelligence for us yet, John?’ Sutton looked up from the game of backgammon he was playing with Macpherson and shook his head.

‘None yet, but I trust I shall have some soon. The captain is away at a conference on board the flagship now, and with the Rush fully restored I hope we shall shortly play our part in whatever is afoot.’

‘Do you have any notion to which part of St Lucia we will be heading?’ asked Macpherson, rattling the dice in the cup and spilling them onto the board. ‘Ah, double four. Excellent.’

‘All I know for certain is that we are to operate alongside the Agrius, Tom,’ replied Sutton. ‘Beyond that I have no certain knowledge. My turn I believe.’

‘Yet the arrival of all those troop ships from Jamaica in the night must signify a departure of some immediacy?’ persisted Faulkner.

‘Perhaps, Charles, but if so the captain has not yet taken me into his confidence. Seven again for me, Tom.’ Several turns of backgammon passed in companionable silence, before Faulkner spoke again.

‘I am intrigued by this game you play,’ he said, indicating the board. ‘Tell me, when does one place a wager?’ The two players exchanged glances.

‘This is principally a game of skill, Charles,’ Macpherson replied. ‘It needs no pecuniary element to give it savour.’

‘You don’t say?’ said Faulkner. ‘Yet the main activity would seem to be the casting of dice. Surely it is therefore also a game of hazard?’

‘There is a degree of chance, for sure,’ conceded the Scotsman. ‘But over a run of games that will even itself out. In backgammon the more skilful player almost always wins.’

‘I regretfully have to agree,’ said Sutton. ‘Tom soundly beats me eight times out of ten. I for one am pleased we play only for honour. Have you loaded these dice, Tom? I have thrown yet another seven.’

‘Does it lose its interest for you if it is not played for money, Charles?’ asked Macpherson. Faulkner looked a little awkward at this.

‘Not entirely, no,’ he replied. ‘Although I will concede that I have found that a financial risk does add materially to the ability of a game to divert.’

‘Did Sir Richard not say that you are a member at Whites?’ asked Sutton, his eyes fixed on the board as he moved his counters.’

‘I was once a member, but that was some time ago. I have not been back there for several years,’ said Faulkner.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.