The Golden Flask (46 page)

Jake slipped against the sideboards of the bow as the
man filled Alison with tales of adventure on the high
seas. How much might be true or not, only he could
say, but it was a fact that privateers did frequent these
waters. Indeed, a sailing man working for the patriots
could make a fine fortune fitting out against the British.

And vice versa.

Whether he would choose this stretch of Jersey coast
to stash his treasure was another story. The sun was
just rising as they neared the shore; Jake saw a beached
boat and a canoe. A red cloth lay casually over the canoe's gunwale.

Daltoons.

"Alison, you hide near that boat," Jake said quickly,
pointing to the canoe. "You see the red cloth? That is
Lieutenant Daltoons's sign. Show yourself to no one but him, do you understand?"

"Yes."

"I'm going above. Run up when you hear the pistols
fire. If I am shot, tell them pure water is the antidote, and' it must be poured directly into the wound. He is not to apply it to Bauer. Be positive about that."

Alison nodded.

"Tell him to make some excuse that he will bury
Bauer himself. I expect he has already come up with a plan, but impress on him that it is important whoever is
with Bauer think nothing is amiss. We must have se
crecy."

"I could have told you that," said Alison. "But what
are you going to do with Bauer?"

"Never mind. Just follow my directions for once. Do
you swear?"

"Aye-aye."

"Swear it."

Alison pressed her lips together, then reluctantly held up her right hand. "I swear it."

Jake turned to the old pirate, whose toothless grin lit the grim morning.

"You, sir, thank you for your help. I will recommend you to the Continentals, if ever you should need assistance."

"And I will recommend you. You're a brave young lad. And you, young lady, you are as courageous as you are pretty."

Jake helped her out of the boat, and she dashed through the water, holding up the folds of her damp dress as she ran for the canoe.

"I don't even know your name," Jake said to the boatman as he put one foot in the water.

"Just an old pirate, sir. Nothing more, nothing less. Good luck with your revolution."

Jake hurried ashore, going as fast as he could manage with his wounded leg. As he started up the winding path toward the summit, where the duel was to be fought, he turned and saw the boat and the old pirate were gone, as if into thin air.

Chapter Thirty-nine

Wherein, the lamentable death of Jake Gibbs is fully recorded and properly mourned.

“
I
might have expected
the man was a coward. The city is filled with them these days.” Clayton Bauer
folded his arms and walked back toward the thick, gray
stone wall where his brother-in-law stood. He had
drunk two cups of strong whiskey before putting him
self into the boat to come here, and another upon
reaching the shore. His courage thus ran ahead of him,
strutting heavily in the thinning mist of the morning.

"The sun is not quite on the horizon," said Daltoons,
who had chosen the uniform of a British captain as his
disguise. "The meeting was set for dawn. His honor
entitles — "

"Honor." Bauer spat in derision and paced back toward his brother-in-law and the servant who had rowed them here. The hilltop seemed isolated and
empty, save for the three Tories and Daltoons; the four
men could easily be alone in the world. Not even the
birds were out, the earth blanketed in gray desolation. A painter could not have created a better morning for a duel.

"A man who insults a lady has no honor," Bauer told
Daltoons.

The disguised patriot thought for a moment how
pleasant it would be if Jake did not show up: he would
thrash the Tory bastard around the mouth several times
before carrying him off for questioning. Culper's elaborate
web had failed to turn up any new information of the invasion, and torturing Bauer for Howe's destination seemed their only option.

Daltoons had several men stationed in the nearby
woods, dressed as redcoats and ready for any contin
gency. Each was armed with a pair of double-loaded
muskets. Nor was Bauer's guard nearby. Reports that escaped rebel patriots in the area near his mansion had
given them something better to do than traipse to Jersey.

In any event, Bauer was not so cowardly nor so con
fident of the outcome to invite them along. He stalked
back toward Daltoons, wearing the face of an outraged
suitor, though secretly glad at this easy victory.

"The sun is here, or would be, if this fog were not so
heavy. Your friend has failed to attend. The insult
against the lady is expunged by his lack of character,
unless you yourself wish to uphold his honor."

"Who said I insulted her?"

The men turned in surprise as Jake walked across the hilltop, the limp in his leg barely noticeable.
He had a large grin on his face and the sack with the
pistols on his back.

"Here are my pistols," said Jake, presenting the bag
to Daltoons. "You will have my opponent's second ex
amine them, and then load them."

"Where is Doctor Clynne?" asked Daltoons, remov
ing the gun case from the sack. He looked for some
sign from Jake as to which gun to favor — or for any
thing that might indicate his plan.

"Doctor Clynne?"

"Our surgeon," prompted Daltoons. "I believe he
went to fetch you this morning. He claimed to know all
your haunts."

"I'm sure he'll turn up," said Jake, adding in a whis
pered aside that the bullets must be handled gingerly. He turned to Bauer. "A nice morning to die, isn't it? Gray and overcast?"

The Tory gave him a grimace. To his credit, there was
no show of fear in his face. "Etiquette requires that you be given a chance to renounce your insult."

"Hardly," said Jake. "A kiss is a kiss and can never be denied."

Lord William's hands began to shake as he took up the copper bullet to load his brother-in-law's gun.
Daltoons reached over and caught the ball as it slipped
toward the ground.

"What sort of bullets are these?" Bauer asked.

"I would not shoot you with common lead. A man of
your circumstances deserves finer metal. If you object to copper — "

"The right of weapons is yours," said Bauer. He reached angrily for the gun Daltoons had originally loaded for Jake.

His brother-in-law put out his hand to stop him.
"Perhaps it was not meant as an insult," said Lord Wil
liam. "This is a silly matter for two civilized men to fight over. No offense was taken."

"Stand out of the way, William." Bauer sneered at the pistol's lack of ornamentation, then sighted down the barrel. The gun was lighter than the one he had practiced with and promised an easier kick.

Jake remembered Bebeef’s advice that his victim's
coat be removed to insure the poorly propelled bullet
would prick the skin. He took off his own jacket, hop
ing it would entice Bauer to do the same.

It did not.

He turned to Daltoons. "It will look as if we are
dead. Make an excuse to take both of us with you, and
send Lord William back by himself."

"Easily accomplished," said Daltoons. "But are you
going to be shot as well?"

"Alison is by the boat," Jake whispered, turning around as he heard Lord William behind him.

"I beg you, sir, to renounce this foolishness."

"I renounce nothing," said Jake. "It is an excellent day to die!" He took his pistol and began walking
toward Bauer. "Is that the suit you're to be buried in?
Where would you like the bullet hole?"

"Braggadocio ill becomes you."

"Hold my gun," said Jake, holding the pistol out to him. "Go ahead, I trust you won't shoot me before the
proper time."

Unsure what his opponent was up to, Bauer took the weapon cautiously. Jake promptly stripped off his vest
coat, exposing his white shirt.

"I want you to have a bright target. You'll excuse the
tear in the back; a rebel and I recently had a disagree
ment. You will note where the coward struck me, but he paid for his impudence."

Jake grabbed his gun back and began walking to his
mark. This last bit of bluster finally achieved its pur
pose. Bauer, deciding he could not be outdone, took off his own outer clothes.

"Shall we draw lots for the first shot?" Jake asked.

"The first shot is mine, by right," said Bauer. "If we
are to observe the London etiquette."

"In that case," said Jake, "I choose position. Start here, three paces, and fire."

Concern flickered across Bauer's face. "I believe the
general prescription is for a wider distance."

"I will concede five," said Jake. "Unless you are afraid?"

Bauer turned abruptly, aiming his gun toward the
ground. "Your second may count us off."

Jake nodded at Lord William. "Recommend me to your wife. I wish her Godspeed back to England."

Lord William hesitated. He had lost his son a few
months before, and now confronted the possibility of
losing his brother-in-law. While he had not liked Bauer
over-much, the man had always been decent to him
and was, after all, his wife's brother. It was his honor at
stake, in a way, as it was his wife who had been in
sulted, yet the entire matter seemed foolish and blown
considerably out of proportion. But it was beyond his power to stop any of this; he nodded weakly and slipped to the side.

"Start, Captain Daltoons, before the insult is com
pounded," demanded Bauer.

"Wait!"

The men turned and saw Alison running from the
ridge, her dress flowing behind her. Daltoons guessed
from the frown on Jake's face that this was not part of the plan. The lieutenant reached to his back and took hold of the small pistol hidden there.

"Cousin, I wish to give you a kiss," said Alison, run
ning forward.

Hoping the dress and dim light would keep the To
ries from recognizing her, Jake stepped forward and was rewarded with a quite accomplished kiss.