Ram; being the tale of one Ramillies Anstruther, 1704-55 .. (46 page)

"My love," he protested, " 'tis only we've found. . . ."

Ignoring him, she turned to Sue. "So, ye thought I didn't note last night how ye mooned over my spouse like a lovesick cow? Indeed, ye presume too much to think to play the whore before my very eyes."

"Lucinda!" He thrust the eye and the red king into his pocket. How dared she spout such filth at Sue? He knew suddenly that unless he mastered her now he would forever be her lackey.

"If I'm mistress here, the girl goes—aye, and all her tribe!"

"Enough! 'Tis we who go. We set out at dawn, for I fear our bracing Yorkshire air warps your good sense." He bowed to Sue, who was sobbing from shock and humihation. "Cousin, permit me to take you below. I'm so much in your debt I can never repay you. Come."

"Ram!" Lucinda reahzed she'd gone too far. "I—indeed, Cousin Sue, I most humbly crave pardon." She giggled. "La, m'dears, don't ye know I was but playing a stage part? I was acting Lady Crave-forit in the School of Amour, a most gay comedy wrote in Restoration days. 'Twas a part that brought me high praise."

For all Ram knew this could be true, but he also knew his goddess had feet of clay. "The town's delightful at this season, ma'am," he said coldly. "Besides, urgent business calls me there."

Then, ignoring her now very real tears, he escorted Sue below and went out to warn Peg-Leg to make the coach ready.

As they started south, Lucinda was contrite and sweetly yielding. Perhaps she really had been play-acting. Ram reasoned. Yet even after he'd made all excuses for her, he was left with a sense of bitterness.

He was touched, however, on the first night—spent at a York inn—when shyly she returned the broken chain and amulet he had forgotten in the hurry of leaving.

They lodged again with the Blands, and next day he went to the trustees' office, intending to withdraw from the project.

"We've great news. Captain!" the secretar)', young Ben Martyn, greeted exuberantly. "I was about to write ye of it to Yorkshire. The first party's to sail the earliest moment—and Mr. Oglethorpe himself goes with it."

"Eh?" This was news, though not what the secretary thought. What surer way to betray the colony than for James to go in person? Ram reversed his decision: now he had money to return whenever he wished, he'd go after all—and enjoy thwarting James's treachery.

"The news sheets are full of it," Martyn was saying. "And all over England parishes collect funds, thinking thereby we'll take their wastrels and beggars, though that's far from our intention." He spread a large sheet. "Have ye seen the plat of the proposed city?"

The town was to be laid out geometrically. All streets running

north and south were bisected by others going east and west, so that the house lots were in blocks of ten, with open squares at intervals. "Where's it to be?" Ram was eager once more. "Perhaps, sir, I can give you an idea," a voice interposed. "Captain Anstruther, permit me to present ye to a fellow adventurer," Martyn said. "\h. Noble Jones, who goes as our surveyor," Of about Ram's own age and with humor in his eye, Jones bowed politely. "You also go in an official capacity, Captain?"

"I served with Mr. Oglethorpe at Belgrade," Ram explained. "He thinks my militar)- qualifications may be of use."

"They will, sir. Already the Dons complain our project encroaches on their territor}', though certainly it belonged to Charles II when he granted it to the Carolina Proprietors in 1665." Jones unrolled a large map. "Here's the Savannah River, Carolina's southern boundarj'. Our town's to be on the south bank, but we'll not know just where till we're there." It was the most detailed map Ram had seen, at least along the coastline, though much of the interior was marked Unexplored. Soon his practiced eye noted a small coastal town high on the Florida peninsula and marked as a fortress.

"Yes, St. Augustine's the rub," Jones agreed. "Sir Francis Drake took it in 1586 but didn't hold it. It's now a Spanish fortress." "When do the settlers sail?"

"Before the year's end, for Mr. Oglethorpe's anxious to arrive in time for the spring planting," Martyn explained. "Captain, don't you agree we're most generous to them? A town lot each, five acres for growing garden stuff and forty-five for a plantation—truly a vast amount."

Ram smiled. Dalesview had 170 acres, besides free commonage in the fells for cattle grazing, so he didn't think the settlers were getting so much, not in a colony thousands of miles in area.

"How many servants must I take to obtain five hundred acres?" "Ten, sir, all hale, male and indentured for at least five years." The secretary beamed. "D'ye then contemplate a gentleman's grant?" Ram nodded and asked for a smaller grant for Rob. With military duties, he'd need an experienced farmer to care for things, and the rogue would go to the earth's ends to escape Dalesview. "Affairs call me to Holland, but I'll be back in a week." He left feeling

elated. The die was cast, but no longer need he go as a mere discharged debtor. He chuckled. How delighted Lucinda would be he was taking a gentleman's grant!

If not delighted, she was pleased; but more so that they were leaving immediately for Amsterdam. Happily she began deciding which of her new gowns would most impress the Dutch ladies.

When Ram told the Blands about Georgia, he found that Joseph had already heard of the colony from an accepted settler, ex-Sergeant Carwell. Soon he blurted that he and Maria wanted to go to America too. "Ye'll need us to serve ye, sir. And now the boy's gone, there's nothing for us here. You'll take us?"

Ram swallowed hard. No questions about his finances or what he could guarantee; no, just the right to go with him. "My friend, true I must take servants, but farmhands and the like, not a butler and a housekeeper. Besides, you're a man of propert)-, so I doubt the trustees would consider sending \ou out on the charity like Sergeant Carwell."

"I'll sell the house and glad to, sir. I never thought but to pay our own way. We'll be no cost to you, Captain."

"Ecod, then why not take servants of your own? Why not take out a grant alongside mine?"

"Capital, sir! We'll make a rare go of it. I'll throw my land with yours and we'll be as ever, with Mrs. B. and me seeing to your needs. Oh, and Peg-Leg, sir, he wants to come too. He's a rare useful one he is, wooden pin or no."

He went to the door and called, whereupon Tom Parker stumped in. "Reporting for duty, Captain. I got me rations ready for the campaign. Meaning, your honor, I can pay me whack."

"But I need farmhands," Ram protested. "And this land's cut up b\' rivers and marshes and bordered by the sea. How would you get about?"

"Sir, I'm Lincolnshire born." Peg-Leg's eyes danced. "Me cradle was a punt and I can handle small craft in river, marsh or sea. Why, with half a gale blowing, I've taken a dinghy out of the Wash and into the North Sea! Sir, ye can't do without me!"

"Damme, no! But if you've hard money, better come as Joseph does, with servants of your own, and take a grant with ours." While Joseph hurried below for wine with which to celebrate,

Peg-Leg chuckled: "Captain, didn't I say ye'd be high again? Takes more'n ill luck to keep down Howe's Foot—or the Foot Guards!"

He was back in London. Though the eye had not brought all he'd hoped, he now felt far wealthier with 3,500 guineas than when he'd come from Amsterdam before with nearly twenty times as much.

His grant was already confirmed, and 100 acres each for Rob, Joseph and Tom, on condition they take two sen'ants apiece.

Also the projected city had just been named—Savannah.

The Anne frigate, 200 tons, would take the first thirty-five families, their goods and sufficient stores. But since Ram was taking so large a party at his own expense, he'd need a vessel of his own. Trustee Tom Coram came to his aid. A former shipmaster who'd lived in Massachusetts, Coram, now wealthy, knew many English shipowners. So, on learning that Ram would get most of his people, stock and goods from Dalesview, he suggested Liverpool as his embarkation port and wrote there on his behalf. This meant, however, that Ram couldn't sail in consort with the Anne, even if he were ready in time.

Joseph, meanwhile, had sold his house and must vacate it by the year's end. When Ram spoke to him about redeeming the plate he had pawned, he looked embarrassed. "I've had it safe for ye all the time, sir," he confessed. "No sense letting them sharks make profit on ye. I'd have advanced more, but 'twas all the readv money I had."

Ram blinked. "But suppose I hadn't found the diamond again? You might have whistled for your money."

"Didn't ye stand by us in our trouble? With the house money, I've more'n enough for me and Mrs. B. And don't think to repay me now, not till vour plantation's making profits."

Ram protested, but for the first time Joseph was insubordinate. "Chartering ships and buying food and stores is costly. And I dare say even in America guineas are useful. You'll need 'em, sir."

He was right. Soon Ram's capital was dwindling as he bought muskets, powder, ball, bolts of osnaburg for clothing, tools, tents, seed and, especially, food, for after feeding his people on the voyage he must provide for them until the first crop was in. At Oglethorpe's suggestion, he bought hatchets, pots, beads, mirrors, bright cloth, light hunting guns and ironware for trading with the natives.

He met many of his fellow settlers: Thomas Causton, a bankrupt

merchant, who was to be one of Savannah's three baihffs or magistrates; and Robert Parker, a former alderman of Lynn, in Norfolk. There were also Noble Jones's pretty wife and baby son, Wymberley; Mr. Cox, the surgeon; the Reverend Herbert, Lord Cherbun-'s son, who would care for their spiritual needs; and many more.

But when the Anne was ready to depart, he still had no ship. Disappointed, he went down to Gravesend with several trustees on a bleak November day to see Oglethorpe and his 130-odd colonists sail.

Word came at last from Liverpool that the Endurance pink, 160 tons, was available. Coram saw to details for him and, after he'd paid down half the charter price, he set out for Dalesview. Lucinda remained behind, buying buttons, mohair for thread, stockings and all such items within a woman's province. Joseph would take her and the others from London direct to Liverpool.

During the bitter ride north, Ram hoped Rob had been able to recruit enough servants. Three generations of Anstruthers had led local men to fight in wars; surely they'd now follow an Anstruther to a new land where, when their indentures were out, they'd each have twenty-five acres of their own?

All was well. "One mason-bricklayer—young Seth Whiston—and Jim Topping, the smith's son," Rob enumerated. "Then there's Cooper Fred Green, three lads from Bowes and four of our own hands; ten in all, and four'll bring wives and bairns. For my own I've got Roger Gilbert, as fine a hand with a horse as ye'll find, and Dave Lann, a miner who's wed to Nell, our own dairy wench. She's already big with child to make a new settler."

With his help and Sue's, Ram worked endlessly over details and writing orders to London and Liverpool. Already the snow was deep and he worried how to get his people and goods through. But Captain Burrows, of the Endurance, agreed to sail up to Lancaster, so that the road distance would be halved.

The final morning came, bleak and lowering. After seeing the straggling column start. Ram made his adieux. Will was garrulous about the mines, Joan weepy and John and his brood boisterous.

Then Sue, who waited in the office. "Oh, 'tis hard to see ye go again, and so far," she choked. "Be kindly to Rob, won't ye? For all his university learning, he's much of a fool."

"I'll keep him from harm," he promised, kissing her.

Moaning, she clung to him. "Why amn't I going with ye? I'd work and slave just to be near ye—I'd even act maid to your wife!" She began to sob.

Blindingly he knew then that she loved him and always had. And he? He'd been drawn to a girl who looked like her; more beautiful, true, but . . . ! Here was the substance. He'd married the shadow.

"Crybaby still!" he chided gently. "I'll be back before ye know. Come, sweet lass, away with tears and wish me Godspeed."

She forced a wan smile. "I'm a fool. I'd no right to speak so!"

Slowly he kissed each of her wet eyes, then hurried out and mounted Alan o' Bowes. Curse me for a bhnd fool! he thought. Yet, even if I'd known, it's against church law for kin so close to wed. But what a wife she'd make for a colonist! He remembered bitterly that Lucinda was bringing a French maid so that her hair might be dressed modishly in the wilderness.

The journey was hard: first, south by Richmond, then west by a poor road through Wensleydale and into Lancashire, the women and children in the lumbering wagons, the men riding the horses or driving the half-frozen, protesting cattle and sheep.

But the Endurance awaited them, and soon humans, cattle and freight were aboard. The pink then sailed down the coast and into the Mersey to Liverpool, where Ram lodged his people ashore and sent Rob with some men to buy hogs and fowls, part to be eaten on the voyage, the rest to stock the future plantation. He himself took rooms at the best inn, where Lucinda soon arrived with her maid, Margot Ferae—Peg-Leg having driven them in the old coach. The rest were following more slowly, for the heavy carts were often stalled in snowdrifts.

Peg-Leg said Joseph had indentured an experienced carpenter, as well as a sawyer. He himself was bringing an apprentice boat builder whose master had died, and also a fifteen-year-old boy.

Later, Ram started down from his rooms with the intention of selecting the inn's best wines for supper. As he reached the floor below, a man backed out of a room so abruptly he cannoned into him. "Servant, sorr," the clumsy one flung over his shoulder, then called back into the room: " 'Tis desolated I am to be leavin' ye even for a minute, me charmer, but I must engage our passage aboard the Dublin packet this instant."

"La, Sir Dennis, I too am desolated," came a reply. "Return soon."

Ram halted. He knew that voice, knew it well!

The Irishman clattered downstairs without a backward glance, so Ram knocked and was told to enter. Annie sat at a window, wearing a handsome gold-fringed black riding dress and a man's cocked hat.