serves as a port of sorts. The local strongman was months ago a petty chieftain of nomadic tribesmen who based themselves in that village.”
“He murdered the previous ruler and pronounced himself emir. Sooner or later, someone will be able to remove him, but at the moment he has a large number of native tribesmen at his call. His people, when not looting or pillaging others, are primarily herders and farmers. One of his agents contacted me recently offering to sell quantities of sheep and cattle. I posted a letter to Governor O’Hara here about the possibility of trade. He was most interested in the prospect and will give me an open contract for the importation of livestock and corn from this source.”
Mullins wondered, “Captain Warner, just how is it that you are known to this ruler? Why has he come to you?”
Warner answered, “Emir al-Hassan doesn’t know me from Adam’s off ox. When I was a young seaman sailing out of Plymouth, the fishing boat I was working on was taken by Moorish raiders, right outside the channel. They took what catch we had and cut the throats of all the crew but myself. They let me live since I was young and fit in those days and they needed another oarsman.”
“I pulled an oar for five years and was about on my last legs when the xebec in which I was pulling an oar attacked a small convoy of merchants near Sicily. They were not well armed and had no escort, which meant that several of them would probably be taken. When my xebec came up on the starboard beam of a poleacre, a brig to our starboard came right at us. That brig’s captain was being bloody minded and crushed our hull right in.”
“There were a few hundred Moors on the xebec and they tried to board the two merchants but the 24-pounder guns we had in our bow pulled us right down when the hull went.”
“I was chained to my bench, but the impact tore something free and I was able to get clear before the xebec went down. I still had my irons on and would have soon gone under myself, but grabbed a big spar next to me and that kept me afloat until I was rescued.”
“I went back to sea and after twenty years was master of my own ship. Since I knew the language, I often arrange for cargoes through some merchants I do business with. These people have friends and relatives in most ports around the Med and are usually honest.”
“I can mostly trust their word as to any danger involved. In this case, the man that contacted me assured me this emir could deliver his cattle and corn, but would likely cut my throat if he thought there was profit in it. Governor O’Hara said he could get me a Royal Navy escort, and that convinced me to take the risk.”
Mullins and Warner finished another brace of claret before they decided to call it a night. Mullins head was still muddled the next morning, and he could recall little of the previous evening. Fortunately, Warner had left behind his notes for the undertaking. They were well written and easily understood.
Calling Mister Danton as well as the sailing master into his quarters, Mullins went over the plans. Ralston produced his charts of the North African coast and the destination village was located. The chart showed the old breakwater. From all the information Mister Ralston was able to obtain, this breakwater consisted of remains from an ancient Roman harbor. Much of the stonework had been removed over the centuries, but enough of the huge blocks of stone remained in the water to offer some protection to small craft.
Ralston was dubious about the accuracy of the marked depths on the charts, but thought a pair of boats going in ahead of the ship, sounding as they went, could give adequate warning of any dangers.
Chapter Eight
The sloop-of war was escorting a big ship-rigged merchant across the Mediterranean. The ship ‘City of Glasgow’ had a cargo of cast off muskets of various European countries to offer in trade for the cattle they hoped to obtain. Mullins
“He murdered the previous ruler and pronounced himself emir. Sooner or later, someone will be able to remove him, but at the moment he has a large number of native tribesmen at his call. His people, when not looting or pillaging others, are primarily herders and farmers. One of his agents contacted me recently offering to sell quantities of sheep and cattle. I posted a letter to Governor O’Hara here about the possibility of trade. He was most interested in the prospect and will give me an open contract for the importation of livestock and corn from this source.”
Mullins wondered, “Captain Warner, just how is it that you are known to this ruler? Why has he come to you?”
Warner answered, “Emir al-Hassan doesn’t know me from Adam’s off ox. When I was a young seaman sailing out of Plymouth, the fishing boat I was working on was taken by Moorish raiders, right outside the channel. They took what catch we had and cut the throats of all the crew but myself. They let me live since I was young and fit in those days and they needed another oarsman.”
“I pulled an oar for five years and was about on my last legs when the xebec in which I was pulling an oar attacked a small convoy of merchants near Sicily. They were not well armed and had no escort, which meant that several of them would probably be taken. When my xebec came up on the starboard beam of a poleacre, a brig to our starboard came right at us. That brig’s captain was being bloody minded and crushed our hull right in.”
“There were a few hundred Moors on the xebec and they tried to board the two merchants but the 24-pounder guns we had in our bow pulled us right down when the hull went.”
“I was chained to my bench, but the impact tore something free and I was able to get clear before the xebec went down. I still had my irons on and would have soon gone under myself, but grabbed a big spar next to me and that kept me afloat until I was rescued.”
“I went back to sea and after twenty years was master of my own ship. Since I knew the language, I often arrange for cargoes through some merchants I do business with. These people have friends and relatives in most ports around the Med and are usually honest.”
“I can mostly trust their word as to any danger involved. In this case, the man that contacted me assured me this emir could deliver his cattle and corn, but would likely cut my throat if he thought there was profit in it. Governor O’Hara said he could get me a Royal Navy escort, and that convinced me to take the risk.”
Mullins and Warner finished another brace of claret before they decided to call it a night. Mullins head was still muddled the next morning, and he could recall little of the previous evening. Fortunately, Warner had left behind his notes for the undertaking. They were well written and easily understood.
Calling Mister Danton as well as the sailing master into his quarters, Mullins went over the plans. Ralston produced his charts of the North African coast and the destination village was located. The chart showed the old breakwater. From all the information Mister Ralston was able to obtain, this breakwater consisted of remains from an ancient Roman harbor. Much of the stonework had been removed over the centuries, but enough of the huge blocks of stone remained in the water to offer some protection to small craft.
Ralston was dubious about the accuracy of the marked depths on the charts, but thought a pair of boats going in ahead of the ship, sounding as they went, could give adequate warning of any dangers.
Chapter Eight
The sloop-of war was escorting a big ship-rigged merchant across the Mediterranean. The ship ‘City of Glasgow’ had a cargo of cast off muskets of various European countries to offer in trade for the cattle they hoped to obtain. Mullins
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