The Beothuk Expedition Read Online Free PDF Page B

even has a Red Indian in his employ. His knowledge should be most valuable.”
    The captain limped to his writing chair and eased into it with a sigh. “Now then, Mister Squibb. When you have finished provisioning the vessel, I want you to take a watering party ashore. And while you are there, look in on a midshipman from the Liverpool , who is quartered at the surgeon’s house. The petty officer says that he is quite ill. Of course, he may be dead by now, in which case you must see him properly buried.”
    â€œYes, sir. And captain?”
    â€œYes?”
    â€œThe swivel guns in the shallop, sir—I assume they came from the Liverpool ’s quarterdeck?”
    â€œYes, I suppose they did. What of it?”
    â€œShall I have the gunner look them over, sir? To ensure they’re properly mounted and have enough powder and shot?” From the corner of my eye I saw Tench’s pale, disapproving face turn to me.
    â€œYes, Mister Squibb. You may.”
    â€œAnd the shallop’s rigging, sir. Perhaps the boatswain could see that everything is in order?”
    â€œOf course, of course.”
    â€œAnd I should point out that she has no boat, sir. May I take our spare jolly boat in tow?”
    â€œIndeed you may. Sound thinking, Mister Squibb. Very sound indeed.”
    â€œThank you, sir.” I withdrew from the room under two very different sets of eyes, one quite approving and the other as cold as a Newfoundland winter.

Hugh Palliser
    Damn my eyes if it isn’t the Valeur again! Damn them if it isn’t. That boat has been the gall of my existence since I became governor and still the French persist in testing the limits of my patience. But this time they have gone too far. I will tolerate no more of this posturing and tomfoolery. Lurking around the Change Islands, are they? Not for long, I can promise you. The captains of the Liverpool , Lark and Tweed know the terms of our treaty with France. Any armed French vessel on this coast will be boarded and its officers arrested, and my ships may use what force they require. I shall soon put a stop to their excursions in that damnable brigantine. Even if I have to send it to the bottom.
    Oh Lord, the pain I have today! There is weather coming, I can swear to that. Thunderheads in the northeast and the wind and swell nearly doubling in the past two hours. And this blasted leg of mine—I need to put it up on something. There, that’s better, though I know the pain will be unbearable before the day is out. What was I saying? Oh yes. Blister my tripes but the French have more swagger than common sense. Imagine cruising English waters with that little Valeur , when they know there are four English ships-of-war about. And to what end? To harass a few poor fishermen? Or more likely, to remind us that the French shore begins at Cape Bonavista. Which is what the treaty says, though the reality is quite different.
    This all began in 1763, at the end of the Seven Years’ War, when France was obliged to recognize our sovereignty over Newfoundland. In return, they were permitted to catch and dry fish between Cape Bonavista and Cape Riche, which is on the northern half of the island’s west coast. But they were not content with that and struck upon a clever scheme to claim that Cape Riche was actually Cape Ray, at the southern extremity of the west coast. I ask you, has there ever been a more transparent fraud? They even said they possessed the maps to prove it! Imagine, if you will, an error of nearly three degrees north latitude, giving France the entire west coast of the colony.
    Well, if that was their game, then we were equal to it. If they intended to twist the terms of the treaty, then what was to stop our own people from moving into the coves and harbours north of Cape Bonavista? That is exactly the case at present and the French have threatened war unless their rights to the shore are upheld. They even sent a naval squadron