we had a certain amount of difficulty on our voyage , involving a ) the royal navy , in the person of one captain stebbings , who attempted to press your father and your cousin ian ( it did n't work ) ; b ) an american privateer ( though her captain , one-and one of him is more than enough-asa hickman insists upon the more dignified `` letter of marque '' as the designation of his ship 's mission , which is essentially piracy but executed under the authority of the continental congress ) ; c ) rollo ; and d ) the gentleman i mentioned to you earlier , named ( i thought ) john smith , but who turns out to be a deserter from the royal navy named bill ( aka `` jonah , '' and i begin to think they are right ) marsden .