For Love of Country by William C. Hammond

Agreen replied with an enormous grin. “A couple o’ days, t’ answer your question. I was aboard my brigantine, workin’ away, bein’ the good servant that I am, when I noticed this fancy topmast schooner prancin’ about the harbor. As
I’m watching her I’m thinkin’ her crew hasn’t a clue how t’ handle her proper; she’s bound to smash up there on the lee shore. So who else could be her captain if not my long-lost friend, Richard Cutler? And who else in his right mind would have the gall t’ paint such a beautiful hull yellow ? So I rowed over.”
    â€œWhat you mean is, you got my letter.”
    â€œWell, that too,” Agreen chuckled. “So what brings you up here, my friend? To offer me a king’s ransom t’ quit my employ and join yours, so I can fish up there on deck with your crew?”
    â€œNothing quite so glamorous, Agee.” Richard motioned to the settee. “Have a seat. We have some catching up to do.”
    The time invested in catching up was brief. After a few minutes, Richard said, “We can talk more about this over supper. You can stay aboard?” Agreen nodded. “Excellent. Now, Agee, here’s the situation. Falcon was launched a month ago. This is her shakedown cruise, as you know from my letter. For a destination I chose Falmouth—excuse me, Portland—for reasons you understand and also because there was the outside chance I might find you here.”
    â€œSo this here’s a social call?”
    â€œFar from it.”
    â€œWhat, then?”
    â€œI have a business proposition for you. I can’t pay you a king’s ransom, but I can pay you a fair wage if you’ll agree to join me on Falcon ’s maiden voyage.”
    â€œWhere to?”
    â€œAlgiers. With a stopover on the way at Gibraltar.”
    Agreen whistled softly. “Algiers. Jesus, Richard. You’re takin’ her right into the lion’s den.”
    â€œI am. That’s why she’s painted yellow. Ben Hallowell recommended it. Dark paint absorbs heat and cracks a ship’s planking.”
    Agreen nodded, his face grave. “I assume this has to do with Eagle ? Everywhere I go, people still talk about it. And they’re still mad as hell.”
    â€œAs well they should be. It’s why the states acted as boldly as they did in Philadelphia. America is tired of being pushed around, Agee. I’m going to Algiers to get Caleb and his shipmates out of there. This will cost my family a king’s ransom, but it’s worth every piece of eight we have to pay.”
    â€œAn’ you’re asking me t’ join you on this cruise?” Agreen asked rhetorically.

    â€œYes. As Falcon ’s sailing master. With the understanding that should you choose to remain in the employ of Cutler and Sons after we return home, you’ll be awarded a vessel of your own, most likely this very schooner. We’ll have with us a crew of twenty-five men, the same men you saw up on deck. Each is skilled at more than catching fish, I assure you. And we’ll be going armed into the lion’s den, Agee. Do you remember meeting General Lincoln when you were in Hingham? He’s requisitioning six 6-pounders for us through our mutual friend Richard Dale,” referring to a fellow prisoner-of-war in England and Bonhomme Richard ’s first lieutenant. Dale was one of the few former Continental Navy officers who retained meaningful connections with what remained of America’s military.
    â€œCarriage guns, Richard? On a merchant vessel?”
    â€œYes. And swivel guns. And not just on Falcon . Mr. Jay is calling on all American merchant captains to arm their vessels because we have no navy to protect them. There aren’t enough guns to go around, so we had to act quickly to get them.”
    Agreen reflected on that. “That’s the reason for the reinforced planking I noticed on