Gabe had seen it approaching but his mind was elsewhere. They had made excellent time since weighing anchor in Barbados. The weather had held with warm days until the last day when there was some briskness in the air. “No squalls,” Gunnells had said. “Neither privateer nor perversity of the elements. A fine cruise indeed.” Gabe had already sent a midshipman to rouse Sir Victor and let him know they were approaching the anchorage. In the distance Gabe could make out a two-decker with an admiral’s flag flying from the mizzenmast. Shifting his gaze back to the guard boat, Gabe could see a lieutenant in the bow instead of a flag to mark where Peregrine would anchor. Gabe barked out orders to reduce all sail and heave to rather than proceed to the anchorage. The guard boat was finally alongside and Lieutenant Lee from Admiral Graves’s staff came aboard. “Did you not come in contact with the patrol frigate?” the lieutenant asked, full of self-importance.
