“TheFollansbeeis pulling away, Mr. Landis, and we’re gaining on Alex.” Cloud took another look at Alexis’s ship and caught sight of her arsenal. Now it was he who whistled. “Take a look, Mr. Landis. You too, Harry. You might as well see what we’re up against if she decides to turn and fight.”
Landis was not a praying man but he sent up a distress signal of his own. From Harry’s face he got the impression he was not alone.
Cloud chuckled softly to himself. “We’ll know soon enough if anyone heard you. But it’s Captain Danty who is going to give us the answer.”
He looked out again at the ship. They would be on her soon. The question no one would dare ask aloud was: would she fight?
“We can’t outrun them, Captain,” said Jordan.
Alexis had already known that but hearing it from him was like a period at the end of her thoughts. Final. Travers was slipping away and the Americans were gaining rapidly. “Why doesn’tFollansbeeengage theConcord?” she asked. “Do you think Travers knows what we’re doing?”
“Had to,” Jordan answered. “And if I were Travers I’d be thinking we are part of a scheme that includes the Americans. He knows he can’t fight both of us.”
“Then why aren’t the Americans giving him chase?”
“Because they probably think we are in it with him and we’re a damn sight easier to get.”
Alexis shook her head. “You make it sound plausible but I want to be sure. Order the guns pulled in and see what the Americans do. Drop our flag and put up the Quinton banner. Let’s give them every reason to believe we are only hauling cargo and see what they do.”
The order was given whileDiamond Mariamaintained a steady course toward theFollansbee.
“It won’t work, Alex,” Cloud whispered as he watched her maneuver. He ordered another hard to port to catch the wind and theConcordmoved within firing range.
“Damn!” Alexis swore for the fifth time when she saw theConcordwas not giving up. “We have lost Travers and I don’t know why, Mr. Jordan.” The despair was gone, only bewilderment remaining. She grimaced as if she were in physical pain as theFollansbeemoved far beyond their firing range. Had Travers realized it was Alex Danty who was chasing him? She fought the urge to laugh. Even if he knew he would never suspect the Americans had saved him from certain death. It was almost comical. But not quite.
Alexis sighed and tugged at her mask. “I’m going below to change. You’re the captain now, Mr. Jordan. Let’s see what these Americans want. Since they have probably already seen our guns make sure you convince them they’re a necessity because of Lafitte. Have some of the men secure our contraband. I don’t want a search or they will never believe us. And for all our sakes, remember you’re supposed to be British this time. No drawl!”
Jordan smiled but it was an unconvincing effort. There was a sadness in his grin as well as in his sharp blue eyes. His limp smile faded as he shouted the new orders. He was now addressed as captain and as he watched Alexis move toward the hatch he noticed there was something unfamiliar about her gait. A tremor interrupted her normally smooth stride and he wondered if his wife’s seasickness was going to be an act this time.
He ordered the men to heave to. While theConcordmoved to broadside he prepared himself for his new role.
“They’re not going to fight!” It was Harry who loudly spread the news.
Cloud sighed patiently at Harry’s exuberance. “That’s because she doesn’t know it’s us. Keep busy and try to hide your faces until it’s too late for her to change her mind.”
The men did as they were told when theConcorddrew besideDiamond Mariaand used grappling hooks to pull the two vessels closer.
Cloud stood on the monkey rail with Landis, holding onto the main chains. “TheConcordrequests permission of your captain to board and search your vessel,” he called. His eyes combed the deck for some sign of Alexis but he could not find her.
A tall man with sun-streaked hair stepped forward and called to him.
“I am the captain. Permission to board is granted but you will have to state your reasons for a search.”
Cloud gripped the hilt of his sword as he jumped. He was followed by Landis, Mike, and three others. He did not allow his confusion to show as he approached the man who called himself captain. Watching the man’s reaction, he spoke, “I am Captain Tanner Cloud of the USSConcord.”Nothing. The man’s face might as well have been made of stone. His name meant nothing. Had Alexis really kept his name from her men? He decided to change his tactics in the event this was all a gross mistake. “You gave a distress signal, Captain. What is the problem?”
“There is no problem. We were simply trying to warn theFollansbee oíyour presence.” He smiled smugly. “It worked. You came after us and the frigate is safe from your guns.”
“Your name?” Cloud asked brusquely.
“Jordan. Kurt Jordan.”
“And your guns, Captain Jordan? All these guns are not usual for a merchant, if that’s what you truly are.” His green eyes left Jordan’s face. He was not interested in the answer to his question. He already knew what Jordan would say. He continued to scan for some sign of Alexis and he saw his men doing the same.
“Surely you must be aware Lafitte is in this area, Captain Cloud. We are bound for New Orleans with a cargo of material goods. That pirate would love to get his hands on our hold.”
Cloud nodded. It was what he expected. They were not aware he knew Lafitte did not prey on Quinton ships. “You have a manifest and proof of your destination?”
“Of course,” Jordan answered easily. “But you have not given me sufficient reason to allow you to see it. We are not in the territorial waters of the United States. You have no reason for stopping us, especially when it was obvious we were not of any mind to fight you.” Jordan stared at Cloud, trying to guess the game. “Why did you not engage the frigate, Captain? You are wasting your time here.”
