‘Take command ?’
‘Well, well, ye’ve already took it, have ye not? All we do here is make it official. I cannot write it all out as a warrant. I am too tired and discommoded. Just say I do , I beg of ye, and let us be done with it.’
‘Oh, very well.’ A sigh. ‘I do.’
‘Thankee, James. Y’will occupy the great cabin, in course, sleep in the coach, and so forth. You know what to do, exact.’ A sniff. ‘Ye’d better shift into my spare undress coat, hey?’
‘Very well.’
‘Good, good. I must take my rest.’
And he put down the water glass, lay back in his cot, and at once fell asleep.
Presently James wearing Rennie’s borrowed hat and undress coat went on deck and spoke to the boatswain Mr. Catermole.
‘We will continue the urgent work of repair into the dog watches, Mr. Catermole, and on into the first and middle watches tonight.’
‘Erm may I ask a question, sir?’
‘You may.’
‘Has you took command of the ship, sir ?’
‘At Captain Rennie’s request, I have took his place for the present.’
‘I see ’
‘It is a temporary undertaking. Until the captain, or one of his lieutenants, is able again to tread the quarterdeck. And Mr. Catermole ?’
‘Sir?’
‘I would take it as a great kindness if you will aid me particular at what is a difficult time for us all in the ship, with so many men hurt and killed. Your very able assistance will be invaluable to me.’
‘You may count on me, sir.’
‘Very good, thankee, Mr. Catermole. We will head south west by south, main staysails aloft and alow. Let us crack on as fair as the repairs will allow. And pray God we do not find any more damned devil ships to hinder us.’
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
Eight days later, Expedient was entering the Tyrrhenian Sea. The repair was now as complete as it could be without the ship visiting a dockyard. Of the wounded two more had died, and the rest were recovering under Dr. Wing’s care. Lieutenant Latimer remained incapacitated with a head injury, and his broken left arm was yet giving the surgeon concern it would probably have to be taken off above the elbow, if gangrene was to be avoided. The second lieutenant Mr. Plunkett had recovered sufficient to be able to take his watches, but Captain Rennie had decided that he was too inexperienced and junior an officer to take command, and James had remained as acting captain. Mr. Tancred was presumed lost, having likely been hit the first fire, and fallen overboard. Since there was no official third lieutenant in the ship, the senior mid Mr. Richards that Rennie had lifted to acting third before their departure remained in that position.
Captain Rennie himself at Thomas Wing’s stern insistence had remained at rest in his sleeping cabin, with occasional slow and hesitant footed forays to the quarterdeck to take the air and aid his circulation. Rennie was a reluctant and difficult patient, but had submitted to the surgeon’s strictures when he found that he could not walk steadily without an accompanying shoulder to lean upon, and that dizziness assailed him if he rose too quickly from his cot.
‘I cannot call him a patient at all,’ Dr. Wing had complained to James, in his peculiarly precise voice, as they dined together in the great cabin two days after the action. ‘He is altogether im-patient, the fellow.’
‘The commission has been altogether difficult, Thomas. You must not judge him over harsh. He is a man past forty, and has suffered too many injuries and blows already, leave alone these most recent setbacks.’
‘In course, I was not with you the first leg.’ A nod, and a little sigh.
‘I am damned glad you are with us now, though.’ A pull of wine, then: ‘What brought you back into the service, if it ain’t too probing a question?’
‘To the service? Oh, I had finished the paper I was writing on anti-scorbutics, and sent it for publication and found myself at a loose end, d’y’see.’
‘You did not think of returning to the Haslar, to work with Dr. Stroud?’
‘Ah. Stroud. Yes. Hm.’ A nod, and a frown. ‘He and I .how can I put it delicate? I had been there, but we had what might be called a marked difference of opinion, as to .well, we could not mend the difference, and I took myself away to another part of the country. I have not spoke to him since.’
‘I see ’
‘Nay, James, I think y’do not. Stroud and I had enjoyed an amiable and profitable association in the past indeed he was my tutor and mentor in my youth.’
‘I do know that, Thomas.’ A smile. ‘You came direct from the hospital into Expedient our first commission.’
‘However, as I grew to maturity, and began to produce medical hypotheses of my own following his example, and enhanced by my extensive experience at sea the benefits of scrupulous hygiene in ships, the thorough cleansing of wounds, and the like he began to show impatience with me when I presented these views in written form. He felt that I was attempting to usurp his position of authority. This was absurd, given that I was nearly always at sea and he was ashore at the Haslar, presiding. How could I usurp his position, good heaven?
My sole wish was to aid and assist him, when I could. At length, a month or two since, the thing came to a head when I was again at the Haslar. There was a well, a fierce exchange of words and I went away. I undertook a brief period of study, and then wrote my paper on anti-scorbutics, again based in part on what I had observed of the diet of men at sea our previous voyage, and the rest on scientifical analysis. Afterward I happened again to be in Portsmouth a few days, and learned that Expedient was in a need of a surgeon. And so I offered myself and was accepted.’
‘And I say again I am glad, Thomas, very glad.’
‘Stroud no doubt believes, because he wrote his own celebrated paper on anti-scorbutics long since, that the field is his, and his alone, and that no other studies may be made except with his permission. Pfff. That is petulance. It is foolishness. Science is a broad discipline. Several and many disciplines, with many advocates and adherents, and a like number of opinions. No man but an arrogant one would assume the contrary.’
‘You are very eloquent in your own defence, Thomas.’
‘Defence? I do not defend myself, James. Not to you, nor to any man that I respect.
I state my opinion, and give my reasons for it. That is all.’
‘In course, in course, I did not mean to question your integrity .if I did, I beg your pardon.’
‘I am touchy on the question, James, I admit. Very touchy. And I must beg your pardon.’
‘I would offer you a glass of wine but in course you do not like it.’
‘Nay, I don’t. It fuddles the mind, interferes with work, and produces headache and queasiness the following day. Therefore I never take it.’
‘Everything you say is true, Thomas. And yet I am going to give myself another glass. What a fool I am, hey?’ And he laughed, and poured the wine.
‘I will not like you to think me a prig.’
‘Good God, Thomas, in course I don’t.’ A sip of wine.
‘Sometimes I think that perhaps I am not like other men.’ A frown, and he put down his napkin. ‘In truth, I know that I am not.’
‘Eh?’
‘Nay, I don’t mean that I am short, and small.’ Quietly. ‘I have long ago learned to accept and accommodate that simple truth. Nay, I meant that I am too much alone, inside my own thoughts. I am not convivial, and hearty, like other men. I am not a great hand at cards, nor at horse-play, nor jokes. I cannot readily join in the chatter and hubbub of life. In truth it makes me uneasy.’
‘I have never noticed it ’ Surprised.
‘No? Then I have concealed it well.’
‘Do you mean that sometimes you feel lonely?’
‘Oh, yes, certainly that.’ A nod. ‘But a studious man must accept solitude, else he could not do his work.’
‘You have never wished to marry ?’
‘Marry?’
�
�Aye take a wife.’
‘Captain Rennie is married. You are married, James. Thus, I expect, you see it as a necessity to take and keep a wife. I have never done it, and therefore do not know the condition.’
‘Condition ?’
‘Marriage.’
‘Good heaven, you make it sound like a medical complaint hhh-hhh-hhh. I can assure you, Thomas, marriage is a great deal more delightful.’
‘If you say so, James.’ A smile. ‘If you say so.’ A breath. ‘I have talked too long, and allowed too many private thoughts to spill out careless, as if I had not drunk plain water, but copious draughts of your wine. I must return to solid good sense, and to my duties.’ He rose.
James reflected on that dinner now, as he lifted his glass to observe Cape Spartivento, the southernmost tip of Sardinia, far to the north. Naples lay three hundred miles to the east-north-east, two or three days sailing, depending on the wind. The weather was fair and warm, the wind light but steady.
James lowered his glass, and saw that Mr. Symonds very pale but walking without difficulty had come on deck from the companionway. James beckoned him aft on the quarterdeck. Mr. Symonds joined him.
‘I am glad to see you recovered, Mr. Symonds.’
‘I am recovered, thank you. I have been very unwell, many days together, but now I am hale again .thanks in great measure to Dr. Wing, that has been very kind. He saw that I was not neglected, even after the battle which in course I regret having missed.’
‘I think you should not regret it, Mr. Symonds. A hard fought action at sea is never a handsome thing.’
‘I am aware it ain’t. I have seen the bitter consequence below. I wish that I had seen it, all the same.’ He looked forrard along the deck, and drew in a breath.
‘Why so?’ James looked at him, his glass under his arm. ‘Let us walk a little.’
They walked forrard toward the breast rail together, and Mr. Symonds: ‘You ask me why? I will tell you. I have never been a soldier, nor a sea officer neither. No doubt you will find it laughable, but men such as myself that have never known warfare, the din and bloody terror of battle, and the courage and strength of purpose required to prevail think poorly of themselves.’
‘Think poorly ? D’y’mean surely you cannot mean they think of themselves as cowardly?’
‘Something very like.’
They turned and walked aft again, and Mr. Symonds steadied himself on the rail as the ship rode a wave. James looked at him again, and:
‘Well, nay, I don’t think it laughable, exact. Nor foolish, nor fanciful, neither. I do think it mistook, however. You are not a coward, Mr. Symonds. A coward would have stayed at home in England, and you are here.’
‘Perhaps you are right.’ A pale smile. ‘I thank you for saying so, at any rate. By the by how should I address you? As Captain Hayter, given that you have took Captain Rennie’s place?’
‘It is only temporary. I am really a civilian. This hat and coat are borrowed. As is my rank.’
‘Don’t the rank of captain continue into retirement?’
‘In truth, I had not thought much about it.’ A moment, then: ‘Listen now, we are coming to know each other a little better, and since we serve a common cause, and must place our trust in each other, whole hearted why not call me James ? Hm?’
‘I should like that very much if you will call me Hav ?’
‘Very good.’ A brief nod, then a smile. ‘Thank God that is settled.’
CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN
The day following Expedient’s rounding of the southern tip of Sardinia, in fair weather, with a light sea running, Captain Rennie insisted on resuming full command and treading his own quarterdeck. He was free of dizziness, and the bandages had been removed from his head and neck. He inspected repairs.
James had returned his borrowed hat and coat, and shifted into civilian dress. On deck he also offered to return the borrowed sword. Rennie demurred.
‘Ye’d better keep it, James. And thank you again for your assistance, I am greatly indebted to you. Erm I wonder if y’will aid me further ?’
‘In course, if I can.’
‘Hm.’ A glance at him, then: ‘What is your candid view?’
‘Of ?’
‘Let us move to the rail.’
They went to the rail, and in a lowered tone, Rennie:
‘Are we able to succeed?’
‘At Naples ?’
‘Aye, at Naples.’
‘Surely that is all decided. Mr. Symonds has brought the gold with him. I am to find Milson, bring him out of hiding, and he is then to be paid. Which in course was not as you will readily recall the intention in our previous attempt.’
‘Nay, it was not. That was its greatest flaw, among many. But that ain’t my question, James. Will we likely succeed this time, d’y’think?’
James shook his head. ‘I cannot tell.’ A breath. ‘I will do my best. That is all I can say with certainty.’
Rennie lowered his voice yet further. ‘Have you seen the gold, James?’
‘Eh?’
‘Have y’had sight of the twenty thousand guineas?’
‘Well, nay I have not. Surely you do not think that Mr. Symonds ?’ A frown, and he looked away across the gently rolling, sun reflecting sea, then: ‘Nay, I don’t
think Symonds is such a duplicitous fellow, after all, you know. Nay, I don’t.’
‘No?’ Raising an eyebrow.
‘Listen now, William, I am not nearly so skeptical of his motives and intentions as you would appear to be.’ He shook his head. ‘I cannot believe he would not pay Milson.’
‘No?’ A sniff. ‘Ah.’
They looked at each other. James frowned.
‘You are saying, are you, William, that Symonds intends to lure Milson to the ship, take from him his plans and drawings his entire invention without payment of any kind, exactly as we were supposed to do in our original scheme, and then what, exact? Murder him?’
‘Not murder him, no. Take him a prisoner, bring him to England, and hold him until his invention can be fabricated by our engineers and artificers at one of the naval dock yards, or another suitable place.’
‘And then? What will become of him then?’
‘That ain’t our concern, James. Our concern our duty is to bring him into the ship, and away from Naples. If Symonds is determined on the original plan in little, to hoodwink Milson into believing he will be paid, get him into Expedient, and then simply steal his invention well well: can it still be done?’
‘I think we must do something immediate before anything else.’
‘Aye, James. I am of the same mind. We must discover whether or no the gold is aboard.’
‘Exact.’
Mr. Symonds now emerged from the companionway, glanced about and saw Rennie and James standing at the rail. He came on deck.
‘Gentlemen.’
Rennie invited Mr. Symonds to dinner. Since he was now sufficiently recovered to enjoy a good dinner, Mr. Symonds accepted with pleasure.
‘You know, in course, that dinner at sea in the Royal Navy is in the middle of the
day?’ Rennie, politely.
‘Oh, yes, I had not forgotten.’
‘At two bells, then .one p.m.’
‘Very good, thank you, Captain Rennie. I shall look forward to it. Erm is it a formal occasion?’
‘Formal ? Ah, yes, I see what you mean. In usual I wear a dress coat, yes.’
After divisions and the declaration, when the people had gone below to their dinner, Rennie wrote up his log and his journal in the cabin, then permitted his new steward to prepare the table for the cabin dinner. This new man’s name was Ollary Dart, and he had come from service in an Indiaman. A short, balding, nondescript little man, except for his intelligent eyes, he had approached Rennie at the Marine Hotel at Portsmouth:
‘Captain Arbuthnot, that I served in the Indiaman Pondicherry, said you would likely consider me, sir, as you and him was well acquainted.’
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sp; Rennie was at first rather brusque, irritated as he was by the man’s presumption in approaching him at the hotel.
‘I do not know Captain Arbuthnot. I have never served in an Indiaman, at any time.’
‘He said you was middies together, many years since, sir.’
‘I do not recall .’
‘In the ship Torrington 74, sir.’
‘Torrington? Nay, don’t know her. Never served in her.’
‘Oh.’ Clearly crestfallen. ‘Then I .I beg your pardon, sir, for troubling you. I I will seek a berth elsewhere.’
‘Hm .wait just a moment, will ye? Dart, is it? Your name?’
‘Yes, sir. Ollary Dart, sir.’
‘And you have long experience of the sea?’
‘Oh, yes, sir. Many years. I was Captain Arbuthnot’s steward for six years, until he retired through ill health.’
‘Well well, it happens I am in need of a steward. Papers? Letters?’
Ollary Dart then produced a sheaf of papers, and Rennie had glanced through them, taken a chance, and put him on the books. He found him to be an ideal servant. He did his work with quiet efficiency, anticipating Rennie’s wants and needs and never getting in his way. Now, as the steward laid out places at the table, Rennie looked up from his desk and:
‘Ye’ve settled in well below, Dart?’
‘Ho, yes, sir, thank you. I am very comfortable.’
‘I expect you find a ship of war rather cramped below, hey?’
‘Cramped, sir ?’
‘Hammocks closer together than in an Indiaman, I expect.’
‘Ho, I do not sleep in a hammock, sir. Goodness me, no. No, sir, I has found myself a cabin space forrard in the orlop, where I has my cot, and my bits and pieces about me.’
‘Cabin? Cot?’ Astonished.
‘An empty space the boatswain said I might use for myself.’
‘Did he, indeed? Well well.’
‘It displeases you, sir ?’
‘Nay, nay. I will not like to interfere with your comfort since you look after mine so well, Dart.’ A nod.
‘Thank you, sir.’
‘A bottle of Madeira, and three bottles of claret. We shall be three at dinner.’
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