Tales of the Barnacle

The year 1713 sees the war between England and Spain end with the treaty of Utrecht, putting privateers like Captain Daniel Quillian and thousands of others suddenly out of work. So with empty pockets and equally empty bellies, and little if any peaceful prospect for the future, they are out of options. Their only trade, the one thing theyve trained for, being praised and rewarded handsomely for, is now not only illegal but punishable by death at the end of a rope. These are the waters Captain Daniel Quillian and his crew of the Barnacle sail along the eastern seaboard and among the islands northwest of Hispaniola. It has been a good year thanks in part to the settlements along the Mexican coast, who were most accommodating that spring. With a good cargo in their hold and a small but elegant prize ship, they drop the anchor looking forward to several days of good food, strong drink, soft company, and at least a dry bed and change of clothes for once. Aye, but things dont always go as one would like. Fair winds to ye all, so say I, Captain Andrew Graybeard Mather.