The Greater the Honor by William H. White

Author:William H. White
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781888671209
Publisher: Tiller Publishing
Published: 2003-09-30T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

“Sir, do you think it possible that Commodore Preble might carry a letter with him to pass on to Edward through Captain Bainbridge? 1 would sorely like to let my brother know that I am well and in receipt of his own letter.” I hesitated in asking this momentous favor (after all, I was merely a midshipman) after hearing Captain Decatur announce that Preble was taking Vixen to Malta expressly for the purpose of communicating with the prisoners in Tripoli, and leaving that very day!

“Have you written the letter, Oliver? I am sure the commodore will not mind a bit, as long as he is not forced to wait for you to pen the letter. Especially in view of your discovery.” Decatur paused in stepping below after concluding a conversation with Mister Lawrence and Mister Morris. I had happened only to be nearby.

“Oh, sir. Yes, sir. I have only to add a few lines to it and it will be ready. Should I mention the . . . secret part of his letter?”

“No, Mister Baldwin. I suspect that the commodore will manage to convey to Bainbridge the fact that we deciphered it and are taking action. Now hurry along and finish your letter. I will put it with some other papers from Mastico which Preble has requested when I return to the flagship.” Then Decatur disappeared down the scuttle.

Sending the letter to Edward—actually several were included from the first I had written some months ago to the most recent, finished only last night— lifted a heavy weight off my mind. I had also written to our parents to inform them of our, Edward’s and mine, situation. Having once received a letter from Edward in captivity, my heart was now impatient for another, even though my brain knew one would be unlikely for a great while.

I watched as Captain Decatur was rowed, first to Constitution, and then to the Vixen schooner to find the commodore. After a brief visit with Lieutenant Joseph Bainbridge as he was taking his leave, he returned to Enterprise, smiling broadly.

“Gentlemen,” he pronounced as he climbed over the bulwark, “we will be remaining here in Syracuse until the commodore returns, but then, I suspect, he will have employment for us!”

For a week and more, until Vixen returned with Preble from Malta, the air on Enterprise was filled with anticipation; it had taken less than an hour for Decatur’s announcement to filter into all corners of the schooner. Officers and sailors alike were eager for action and speculation was rife as to just how the ship would be employed. The mids were, perhaps, the most creative in their estimation of how Commodore Preble would use us.

“I’ll tell you what is going to happen,” spoke Thomas one day, after keeping his peace for much of the guesswork in which we indulged. “You ain’t got it right yet—none of you. Preble will order us to sail with Vixen and Nautilus right into the harbor at Tripoli and cut out that frigate.

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