Harper's Round Table, March 3, 1896

Set in the bustling New England harbor of 1775, the story opens on a bright May day as young Jack Leverett steps aboard the Royal Navy ship Margaretta. Dressed in crisp black stockings, buckled breeches, and a rakishly cocked hat, Jack is more striking for his quiet determination than his finery. He carries a sealed letter from his father, a message that could tip the scales in a colony on the brink of rebellion.

When Jack meets the seasoned Captain Moore, a subtle battle of wits unfolds over loyalty to the Crown and the whispered stirrings of independence. Their tense exchange, framed by the creaking sloop Priscilla and the shanties of dockworkers, hints at deeper allegiances without revealing the outcome. Listeners are drawn into a world of maritime life, youthful courage, and the quiet undercurrents that will soon shape a nation.