Admiral (Ned Yorke)
Dudley Pope
Language: English
Pages: 352
ISBN: 0755104382
Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub
Charles II returns from exile bringing with him unease to the Spanish Main. In this vivid description of seventeenth-century buccaneers, Ned Yorke, the leader and hero of the swashbuckling band are depended upon for the defence of Jamaica, fighting with captured Spanish guns. Daring raids on the Spanish seem inevitable, as Yorke sets out on the high seas to distant adventures on behalf of the King and his own honour.
shadow, a jumbled mosaic of black and various greys. No doubt when it came the sun would show that the colours daubed on the houses were gaudy, and peeling or crumbling. Ned reflected that one rarely noticed a French or Spanish house newly painted, yet they must have been at some time or another to reach the faded state in which one always saw them. The wind was light – too weak to carry out to sea the stench of the town, which was strong enough to make Ned wish he smoked a pipe. A year’s
Why, that is absurd! We sighted your ships – your seven ships,” he said with sarcastic emphasis, “last night. We evacuated Providencia, manned our nine castles, fortresses, and batteries, and removed the bridge. So tell me please, why should I want a truce?” Hernández and the other officers and the civilian laughed dutifully. “You had good look-outs on duty yesterday evening,” Ned said, “and this morning at first light you saw the seven ships come in and anchor. Yes?” “Yes,” Vásquez said, his
is by leading all the buccaneers on a few big raids.” “Settle down!” Aurelia exclaimed. “I don’t think I could go back to that life again, either in Barbados or London. All that making lace and needlepoint and conversation limited to the colours of the thread and the patterns and some dreary woman saying she is expecting her fifth child and looking for a good wet-nurse – yes, and unfaithful husbands and sordid affaires and what is happening at court: not the politics but who was seen flirting
thought they had gone mad: it was common knowledge that the sun dried out the essential oils and left the body open to the noxious night vapours, to which everyone knew they were more vulnerable to anyway because frequently they slept on deck at night. However, Aurelia reflected as she looked at the tan on her belly, which was still as flat as when she was a young girl, everyone did not know, or believe, that the mosquitoes did not bite tanned skin as much as white, and it was mosquito bites, not
their long march from Panama!” By now the dogs had started barking, dozens of them; then the goats, startled by the dogs, began adding their sharp bleating protest, and in turn some donkeys started braying, sounding like oxen having their throats cut. Suddenly a bugle or trumpet began sounding from the ramparts of Triana. An alarm? No, the notes were too strident but not urgent. It might even be reveille and simply a coincidence. Or, hearing the approaching troops and expecting a senior officer