Chapter FourteenPeleg Wadsworth slept ashore, or ra<strong>the</strong>r he lay awake on <strong>the</strong> river's bank and must have dozed, because he twice awoke with a start from vivid dreams.In one he was cornered by <strong>the</strong> Minotaur, which appeared with Solomon Lovell's head crowned with a pair <strong>of</strong> blood-dripping horns out <strong>of</strong> a nightmare. Hefinally sat with his back against a tree and a blanket about his shoulders, and watched <strong>the</strong> dark river swirl slow and silent towards <strong>the</strong> sea. To his left, toseaward, <strong>the</strong>re was a glow in <strong>the</strong> sky and he knew that red light was cast by <strong>the</strong> ships still burning in Mill Cove. It looked like an angry dawn, and it filledhim with an immense lassitude, so he closed his eyes and prayed to God that he was given <strong>the</strong> strength to do what was needed. <strong>The</strong>re was still a fleetand an army to rescue, and an enemy yet to be defied, and long before first light he roused James Fletcher and his o<strong>the</strong>r companions. Thosecompanions were now Johnny Fea<strong>the</strong>rs and seven <strong>of</strong> his Indians who possessed two birch-bark canoes. <strong>The</strong> canoes slipped through <strong>the</strong> water with muchgreater ease than <strong>the</strong> heavy longboats and <strong>the</strong> Indian had happily agreed to let Wadsworth use <strong>the</strong> canoes in his attempt to organize a defense. "Wemust go downriver," he told Fea<strong>the</strong>rs.<strong>The</strong> tide was flooding again and <strong>the</strong> ships were using that tide to escape upriver. <strong>The</strong>ir topsails were set, though no wind powered <strong>the</strong> vessels, whichei<strong>the</strong>r floated upstream on <strong>the</strong> tide or were being towed by longboats. <strong>The</strong> canoes passed six vessels and Wadsworth shouted to each crew that <strong>the</strong>yshould take <strong>the</strong>ir ship past <strong>the</strong> place where <strong>the</strong> river turned sharply eastwards and <strong>the</strong>n anchor. "We can defend <strong>the</strong> river <strong>the</strong>re," he called, and sometimesa captain responded cheerfully, but mostly <strong>the</strong> sullen crews received his orders in silence.Wadsworth found <strong>the</strong> <strong>War</strong>ren aground where <strong>the</strong> river widened briefly to resemble a lake. Three o<strong>the</strong>r warships were anchored nearby. <strong>The</strong> frigate wasevidently waiting for <strong>the</strong> tide to float her free <strong>of</strong> a mud bank."You want to go on board?" Johnny Fea<strong>the</strong>rs asked."No."Wadsworth had no stomach for a confrontation with Commodore Saltonstall, which, he suspected, would be fruitless. Saltonstall already knew what hisduty was, but Wadsworth reckoned pointing out that duty would merely provoke a sneer and obfuscation. If <strong>the</strong> fleet and army were to be saved it would beby o<strong>the</strong>r men, and Wadsworth was looking for <strong>the</strong> means <strong>of</strong> that salvation.He found it a quarter mile downstream <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>War</strong>ren where <strong>the</strong> Samuel, <strong>the</strong> brig which carried <strong>the</strong> expedition's artillery, was being pulled northwards bytwo longboats. Wadsworth's canoe went alongside <strong>the</strong> brig and he scrambled up and across <strong>the</strong> Samuel's gunwale. "Is Colonel Revere here?""He went away in his barge, sir," a seaman answered."I hope that's good news," Wadsworth said, and walked aft to where Captain James Brown stood by his wheel. "Did Colonel Revere ship a cannononto <strong>the</strong> lighter?" he asked Brown."No," Brown answered curtly, nodding to <strong>the</strong> ship's waist where <strong>the</strong> cannons were now parked wheel to wheel."So where is he?""Damned if I know. He took his baggage and left.""He took his baggage?" Wadsworth asked."Every last box and bundle.""And his men?""Some are here, some went with him.""Oh dear God," Wadsworth said. He stood irresolute for a moment. <strong>The</strong> Samuel was inching upstream. <strong>The</strong> river was so narrow here that branches <strong>of</strong>trees sometimes brushed against <strong>the</strong> brig's lower yards. Wadsworth had hoped that Revere's one cannon, placed at Spider Bend, would be a marker for<strong>the</strong> rest <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> fleet and <strong>the</strong> first <strong>of</strong> many cannon that could hold <strong>the</strong> British pursuers at bay. "You'll keep going upstream?" he suggested to Brown.<strong>The</strong> Samuel's captain gave a mirthless bark <strong>of</strong> laughter. "What else do you suggest I do, General?""Ten miles upstream," Wadsworth said, "<strong>the</strong> river turns sharply to <strong>the</strong> right. I need <strong>the</strong> guns <strong>the</strong>re.""We'll be lucky too make two miles before <strong>the</strong> tide turns," Brown said, "or before <strong>the</strong> damned English catch us up.""So where is Colonel Revere?" Wadsworth demanded and received a shrug in answer. He had not passed Revere's white-painted barge as hedescended <strong>the</strong> river, which meant <strong>the</strong> colonel and his artillerymen must be fur<strong>the</strong>r downriver, and that gave Wadsworth a glimmer <strong>of</strong> hope. Had Reveredecided to fortify a place on <strong>the</strong> Penobscot's bank? Was he even now finding a place where a battery could hammer <strong>the</strong> British ships? "Did he give youinstructions for <strong>the</strong> cannon?" Wadsworth asked."He asked for his breakfast.""<strong>The</strong> cannon, man! What does he want done with <strong>the</strong> cannon?"Brown turned his head slowly, spat a stream <strong>of</strong> tobacco juice onto <strong>the</strong> portside scupper, <strong>the</strong>n looked back to Wadsworth. "He didn't say," Brown said.Wadsworth went back to <strong>the</strong> canoe. He needed Revere! He needed artillery. He wanted a battery <strong>of</strong> eighteen-pounder cannon, <strong>the</strong> largest in <strong>the</strong> rebelarmy, and he wanted ammunition from <strong>the</strong> <strong>War</strong>ren, <strong>the</strong>n he wanted to see <strong>the</strong> round shot crunching into <strong>the</strong> bows <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> British frigates. He thought briefly<strong>of</strong> returning to <strong>the</strong> <strong>War</strong>ren, which also had <strong>the</strong> big guns he needed, but first, he decided, he would discover what Colonel Revere planned. "That way,please," he told Fea<strong>the</strong>rs, pointing downstream. He would go to <strong>the</strong> <strong>War</strong>ren afterwards and demand that Saltonstall give <strong>the</strong> artillery all <strong>the</strong> eighteenpoundershot <strong>the</strong>y needed.<strong>The</strong> sun was up now, <strong>the</strong> light clear and crisp, <strong>the</strong> river sparkling, and <strong>the</strong> sky spoiled only by <strong>the</strong> smear <strong>of</strong> smoke from <strong>the</strong> ships still burning south <strong>of</strong>Odom's Ledge. A quarter mile beyond <strong>the</strong> Samuel <strong>the</strong>re was a whole group <strong>of</strong> anchored ships, both transports and warships, all chaotically clusteredwhere <strong>the</strong> river divided around <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn tip <strong>of</strong> Orphan Island. On <strong>the</strong> eastern bank, just upstream <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> island, was a small settlement about half <strong>the</strong>size <strong>of</strong> Majabigwaduce. "What's that place?" Wadsworth called to James Fletcher who was in <strong>the</strong> second canoe."Buck's plantation," James called back.Wadsworth gestured that <strong>the</strong> Indians should stop paddling. <strong>The</strong> river bent here, and Wadsworth wondered why he had not chosen this as a place todefend. True, <strong>the</strong> curve was not so pronounced as <strong>the</strong> sharp turn higher up <strong>the</strong> river, but in <strong>the</strong> early-morning light <strong>the</strong> river's twist looked sharp enough andon <strong>the</strong> western bank, opposite Buck's plantation, was a high bluff about which <strong>the</strong> Penobscot curled. He needed a place on <strong>the</strong> western bank so thatsupplies could come from Boston without being ferried across <strong>the</strong> river, and <strong>the</strong> bluff looked a likely enough spot. <strong>The</strong>re were already men ashore at <strong>the</strong>bluff's foot, and <strong>the</strong>re were plenty <strong>of</strong> guns aboard <strong>the</strong> nearby ships. Everything Wadsworth needed was here, and he pointed to <strong>the</strong> narrow beach at <strong>the</strong>base <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> bluff. "Put me ashore <strong>the</strong>re, please," he said, <strong>the</strong>n called across to James Fletcher again. "You're to go back upstream and find <strong>the</strong> Samuel,"he shouted. "Ask Captain Brown to bring her back downriver. Tell him I need <strong>the</strong> cannons here.""Yes, sir.""And after that go to <strong>the</strong> <strong>War</strong>ren. Tell <strong>the</strong> commodore I'm making a battery here," he pointed at <strong>the</strong> western bluff, "and say I'm expecting his ship to joinus. Tell him we need his eighteen-pounder ammunition!""He won't like me saying that.""Tell him anyway!" Wadsworth called. <strong>The</strong> canoe scraped onto <strong>the</strong> beach and Wadsworth jumped ashore. "Wait for me, please," he asked <strong>the</strong> Indians,<strong>the</strong>n strode down <strong>the</strong> beach towards <strong>the</strong> men who sat disconsolate at <strong>the</strong> high-tide line. "Officers!" he shouted. "Sergeants! To me! Officers! Sergeants!To me!"Peleg Wadsworth would pluck order from chaos. He was still fighting.Lieutenant Fenwick was obeying Commodore Saltonstall's orders, though with a heavy heart. <strong>The</strong> <strong>War</strong>ren's main magazine had been half-emptied, and
<strong>the</strong> powder charges were being carried down to <strong>the</strong> bilge and up to <strong>the</strong> maindeck. <strong>The</strong>re was a growing pile <strong>of</strong> powder bags on <strong>the</strong> ballast stones at <strong>the</strong>foot <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> main mast in <strong>the</strong> bilge's darkness, ano<strong>the</strong>r under <strong>the</strong> forecastle and a third beneath Saltonstall's cabin. On deck <strong>the</strong>re were heaps <strong>of</strong> bagsaround each mast. White trails <strong>of</strong> slow-match were laid from each pile, <strong>the</strong> snaking canvas ropes meeting in a tangle on <strong>the</strong> foredeck. "What we cannotdo," Saltonstall told Fenwick, "is allow <strong>the</strong> enemy to capture <strong>the</strong> ship.""Of course not, sir.""I will not allow British colors to fly from my ship.""Of course not, sir," Fenwick said again, "but we could go upriver, sir?" he added nervously."We are aground," Saltonstall said sarcastically."<strong>The</strong> tide is flooding, sir," Fenwick said. He waited, but Saltonstall made no comment. "And <strong>the</strong>re are French ships, sir.""<strong>The</strong>re are French ships, Lieutenant?" Saltonstall asked caustically."A French flotilla might arrive, sir.""You are privy to <strong>the</strong> French fleet's movements, Lieutenant?""No, sir," Fenwick said miserably."<strong>The</strong>n kindly obey my orders and prepare <strong>the</strong> ship for burning.""Aye aye, sir."Saltonstall walked to <strong>the</strong> taffrail. <strong>The</strong> early light was pellucid and <strong>the</strong> air still. <strong>The</strong> slow tide gurgled at <strong>the</strong> <strong>War</strong>ren's waterline. He was gazingdownstream to where a gaggle <strong>of</strong> ships was clustered by a bluff. Two sloops were using <strong>the</strong> tide to come upriver, but it seemed most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ships haddecided to stay by <strong>the</strong> bluff where longboats and lighters were carrying supplies to <strong>the</strong> western bank. <strong>The</strong> British ships were out <strong>of</strong> sight, presumably stillbelow Odom's Ledge where <strong>the</strong> smoke rose to tarnish <strong>the</strong> sky. <strong>The</strong> smoke rose vertically, but Saltonstall knew that as soon as that pillar <strong>of</strong> smoke wasruffled by <strong>the</strong> wind <strong>the</strong> enemy sloops and frigates would start upstream.It had been a shambles, he thought angrily. From start to finish, a goddamned shambles, and to <strong>the</strong> commodore's mind <strong>the</strong> only successes had beenachieved by <strong>the</strong> Continental Navy. It had been <strong>the</strong> marines who captured Cross Island and <strong>the</strong> marines who had led <strong>the</strong> fight up <strong>the</strong> bluff at Dyce's Head,and after that Lovell had quivered like a sick rabbit and demanded that Saltonstall do all <strong>the</strong> fighting. "And what if we had captured <strong>the</strong> sloops?" <strong>the</strong>commodore demanded angrily."Sir?" a sailor within earshot asked."I'm not talking to you, damn your eyes.""Aye aye, sir."Would Lovell have captured <strong>the</strong> fort if <strong>the</strong> sloops had been taken? Saltonstall knew <strong>the</strong> answer to that question. Lovell would have found ano<strong>the</strong>robstacle to prevent a fight. He would have whined and moaned and tarried. He would have demanded a battery on <strong>the</strong> moon. He would have dug moretrenches. It was a shambles.<strong>The</strong> <strong>War</strong>ren trembled as <strong>the</strong> tide lifted her. She shifted a few inches, settled again, <strong>the</strong>n trembled once more. In a moment she would swing her sternupstream and tug at her anchor rode. Lieutenant Fenwick looked at <strong>the</strong> commodore with a hopeful expression, but Saltonstall ignored him. Fenwick wasa good <strong>of</strong>ficer, but he had little comprehension <strong>of</strong> what was at stake here. <strong>The</strong> <strong>War</strong>ren was a precious piece <strong>of</strong> equipment, a well-found, well-armedfrigate, and <strong>the</strong> British would love to hang <strong>the</strong>ir damned flag from her stern and take her into <strong>the</strong>ir fleet, but Saltonstall would be damned to <strong>the</strong> deepestcircle <strong>of</strong> hell before he allowed that to happen. That was why Saltonstall had declined battle <strong>the</strong> previous day. Oh, he could have sacrificed <strong>the</strong> <strong>War</strong>ren andmost <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r rebel warships to give <strong>the</strong> transports more time to escape <strong>the</strong> enemy, but in making that sacrifice he might well have been boarded and<strong>the</strong>n <strong>the</strong> <strong>War</strong>ren would become His Majesty's frigate. And it was all very well for Fenwick to suggest sailing upriver, but <strong>the</strong> <strong>War</strong>ren had <strong>the</strong> deepestdraught <strong>of</strong> all <strong>the</strong> fleet and she would not get far before she grounded again and <strong>the</strong> British, seeing her, would do <strong>the</strong>ir utmost to capture her."Boat approaching, sir!" a bosun called from <strong>the</strong> <strong>War</strong>ren's waist.Saltonstall grunted an acknowledgment. He went and stood by <strong>the</strong> ship's wheel as <strong>the</strong> longboat pulled across <strong>the</strong> tide. He watched <strong>the</strong> Pidgeon, atransport schooner, being towed upstream and noted that <strong>the</strong> river's current was fighting <strong>the</strong> tide and giving <strong>the</strong> oarsmen a hard time. <strong>The</strong>n <strong>the</strong> longboatbanged into <strong>the</strong> frigate's hull and a man climbed onto <strong>the</strong> deck and hurried aft towards <strong>the</strong> commodore. "Lieutenant Little, sir," he introduced himself, "firstlieutenant <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Hazard.""I know who you are, Lieutenant," Saltonstall said coolly. In <strong>the</strong> commodore's opinion Little was a firebrand, an impetuous, unthinking firebrand from <strong>the</strong>so-called Massachusetts Navy which, so far as <strong>the</strong> commodore was concerned, was nothing but a toy navy. "Where is <strong>the</strong> Hazard?" Saltonstall asked."Upstream, sir. I was lending a hand to <strong>the</strong> Sky Rocket, sir." <strong>The</strong> Sky Rocket, a fine sixteen-gun privateer, was aground by <strong>the</strong> bluff and waiting for <strong>the</strong>tide. "Captain Burke sends his compliments, sir," Little said."You may return <strong>the</strong>m, Lieutenant."Little looked about <strong>the</strong> deck. He saw <strong>the</strong> powder bags, <strong>the</strong> slow-matches and <strong>the</strong> combustibles stacked around <strong>the</strong> masts. <strong>The</strong>n he looked back to <strong>the</strong>immaculate commodore in his black shining top-boots, white breeches, blue waistcoat, blue tailcoat, and with his brushed cocked hat glinting with goldbraid. "Captain Burke wants orders, sir," Little said in a curt voice."Captain Burke is ordered to deny his ship to <strong>the</strong> enemy," Saltonstall said.Little shuddered, <strong>the</strong>n turned so suddenly that Saltonstall instinctively put a hand to his sword's hilt, but <strong>the</strong> Lieutenant was merely pointing to <strong>the</strong> placewhere <strong>the</strong> river swirled around <strong>the</strong> bluff. "That's where you should be, sir!""Are you presuming to give me orders, Lieutenant?" Saltonstall's voice was icy."You haven't even fired a gun!" Little protested."Lieutenant Little'" Fenwick began."Lieutenant Little is returning to his ship," Saltonstall interrupted Fenwick. "Good day to you, Lieutenant.""Damn you!" Little shouted and sailors stopped working to listen. "Put your ship at <strong>the</strong> bend," he snapped, still pointing to where <strong>the</strong> river swirled around<strong>the</strong> western bluff. "Anchor her fore and aft. Put springs on <strong>the</strong> anchors so your broadside points downstream and fight <strong>the</strong> bastards!""Lieutenant'" Saltonstall began."For God's sake, fight!" Little, an <strong>of</strong>ficer <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Massachusetts Navy, was now screaming into <strong>the</strong> commodore's face, spattering it with spittle. "Move allyour big eighteens to one side! Let's hurt <strong>the</strong> bastards!" Little's face was just two inches from Saltonstall when he bellowed <strong>the</strong> last four words. Nei<strong>the</strong>rSaltonstall nor Fenwick said anything. Fenwick plucked feebly at Little's arm and Saltonstall merely looked disgusted, as though a turd had suddenlyappeared on his holy-stoned deck. "Oh, for God's sake," Little said, struggling to control his anger, "<strong>the</strong> river below <strong>the</strong> bend is narrow, sir! A ship can'tturn in <strong>the</strong> width <strong>of</strong> that channel! <strong>The</strong> British will be forced to come single file, bows to our guns, and <strong>the</strong>y can't answer our shots. <strong>The</strong>y can't answer! <strong>The</strong>ycan't bring <strong>the</strong>ir big ships up here, <strong>the</strong>y have to send frigates, and if we put guns <strong>the</strong>re we can slaughter <strong>the</strong> bastards!""I am grateful for your advice, Lieutenant," Saltonstall said with utter disdain."Oh, you cowardly bastard!" Little spat."Lieutenant!" Fenwick seized Little's arm. "You don't know who you're speaking to!"Little shook <strong>of</strong>f <strong>the</strong> lieutenant's hand. "I know who I'm speaking to," he sneered, "and I know where I am and I damned well know where <strong>the</strong> enemy is too!You can't just burn this ship without a fight! Give her to me! I'll damn well fight her!""Good day, Lieutenant," Saltonstall said icily. Fenwick had beckoned two crewmen who now stood menacingly close to <strong>the</strong> furious Little. JamesFletcher had evidently come aboard during <strong>the</strong> argunment. "Get <strong>of</strong>f my ship!" Saltonstall snarled at Fletcher, <strong>the</strong>n turned back to Little. "I command here!On this ship you take my orders! And my orders are for you to leave before I have you put in irons.""Come ashore," Little invited <strong>the</strong> commodore, "come ashore, you yellow bastard, and I'll fight you <strong>the</strong>re. Man on man, and <strong>the</strong> winner takes this ship.""Remove him," Saltonstall said.Little was dragged away. He turned once and spat at Saltonstall, <strong>the</strong>n was pushed down to his waiting longboat.<strong>The</strong> <strong>War</strong>ren lurched and came free <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sandbank. A breath <strong>of</strong> wind touched Commodore Saltonstall's cheek and lifted <strong>the</strong> snake ensign at <strong>the</strong>frigate's stern. <strong>The</strong> smoke in <strong>the</strong> clear sky wavered and started to drift northwest.Which meant <strong>the</strong> British were coming.<strong>The</strong> men on <strong>the</strong> beach beneath <strong>the</strong> bluff had come from <strong>the</strong> transports that were anchored or grounded in <strong>the</strong> river. <strong>The</strong>y now sat disconsolate andleaderless on <strong>the</strong> shingle. "What are your orders?" Wadsworth asked one sergeant."Don't have any orders, sir.""We're going home!" a man shouted angrily."How?" Wadsworth demanded.
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THEFORTA Novel of the Revolutionary
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A voice in the darkness, a knock at
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A Note on Names and TermsIn 1779 th
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Chapter OneThere was not much wind
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ecome a base for Britain's Royal Na
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"I bloody hope so," Moore said with
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Chapter TwoLieutenant-Colonel Paul
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magazines that would keep the ammun
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"So you will take the oath?" McLean
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Excerpts of a letter from the Selec
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inflate a company into a battalion
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"The world would be better without
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So now one less man would sail east
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Chapter FourThe fleet sailed eastwa
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"We were maltreated in Boston," Cal
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Tyrannicide had also confirmed that
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From the Oath demanded by Brigadier
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"Plug it!" Little shouted at the ma
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"You promoted me to general yesterd
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"Long as it takes."They had to wait
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Chapter SixThe daylight was fading.
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"He's a patriot!" Lovell said in a
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"What are you doing?" Revere again
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A rowboat banged against the Centur
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- Page 57 and 58: sir," McClure shouted over the musk
- Page 59 and 60: Solomon Lovell's heart seemed to mi
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- Page 111 and 112: Historical NoteThe Penobscot Expedi
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- Page 115 and 116: About the AuthorBERNARD CORNWELL, "
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