LEGACY a thrilling historical naval adventure by Christopher C. Tubbs

Author:Christopher C. Tubbs [Tubbs, Christopher C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lume Books Historical Naval Adventures, A Joffe Books Company
Published: 2024-03-21T00:00:00+00:00

Trapped

The fleet returned to Maracaibo to bad news. The citizens had taken over the fort and a spokesman informed them that the Spanish Navy was blockading the exit from the channel. The spokesman told them quite smugly, “The Armada de Barlovento is outside the channel and the fort is fully manned with new guns fitted, even more than before. You have nowhere to go.”

“I have ten ships all armed with cannon and five hundred men. I’m not beaten yet,” Morgan said in reply.

“What ships are out there?” Scarlett asked.

The spokesman who was trying to convince them of the hopelessness of their situation boasted, “Don Alonso del Campo y Espinosa has three ships. The Magdalen, Soledad and Argo, a broadside of one hundred and sixty cannon, and then you have to pass the fort which has been rearmed with many cannon.”

* * *

“They have us bottled in. The ships anchored across the channel will have cables run between them. I know the Magdalen; she is a hundred-and-twenty-gun three-decker,” Morgan said at the all-captains’ meeting he called as soon as he got back on board.

“The Soledad is almost as big, but I don’t know the Argo,” Hopkins added.

“A frigate about the size of the Fox,” le Clerk said. Then he added with a gallic shrug, “We have two frigates and a collection of smaller ships and are outgunned.”

“I will try and negotiate our passage. Scarlett and le Clerk, you will accompany me,” Morgan said.

“We should take Montoya or Archie in case we need an interpreter,” Scarlett said. Morgan nodded his agreement.

Morgan sent a message to the admiral requesting a parley and was told that he should present himself on the Magdalen at noon the following day. Morgan wrote back that they would if the Spanish would send three officers as surety for their safe return. A rather terse reply agreed – it seemed that he may have wounded the admiral’s sense of honour.

At Scarlett’s suggestion they used the Cub to sail within easy rowing distance of the Spanish blockade. The three ships were very impressive. The Magdalen, in the centre, was huge with two decks of big guns and one of smaller. Smaller being relative, thought Scarlett as the upper-deck guns looked to be the same size as her biggest.

They climbed the side to the entry port which was manned by a contingent of soldiers and officers in immaculate uniforms. Three of the officers, all young and junior, went down into the boat which pushed off to return to the Cub.

“Probably the admiral’s nephews,” Scarlett said with only a hint of sarcasm.

“Por favor ven conmigo el Almirante está esperando,” a richly uniformed man said.

“He says, admiral is waiting, follow him,” Montoya supplied.

They were shown to the admiral’s cabin which, by all standards, was enormous and luxuriously furnished with a large mahogany desk and a suite of comfortable chairs. A large sideboard held a selection of glasses and decanters and what looked like a silver dinner service.

“Captain Morgan, welcome. I know Monsieur le

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