Sailing Orders

by David O'Neil

  Martin looked at him sharply, “Why do you ask?” He said..

  The Lieutenant stood firm “Sir, I am worried. He has been acting a little oddly lately. I fear he may be ill.”

  “Has the doctor seen him?”

  “The doctor has difficulty in seeing anything, Sir. His sojourn in China has resulted in a dependence on the opium to the extent that he is seldom conscious.”

  Martin looked intently at the Lieutenant. “At the rendezvous I will board and I will bring the doctor from my ship. I will decide at that point if any action is needed, and will act accordingly. Until that time you will, of course, support the Commodore to the best of your abilities!”

  “I will, sir. He is a popular man with all of us, sir.”

  “I gathered that from the manner and attitude of the crew. Carry on now and we will meet again at the rendezvous, in two days’ time.”

  Martin climbed down into the cutter. They cast off, leaving the flagship and dropping back to the Diane.

  Back on board he discussed matters with the doctor. James Corder had become close friends with Martin as far as their relative positions allowed. His thoughts, reference the Commodore, were interesting. “Without seeing the man I cannot be sure. But I have the feeling that he may well be suffering from lead poisoning, or even arsenic. Both are possible and unfortunately both substances are fairly freely available.

  “There is another possibility and that is worrying. Does the Commodore have any plants in his cabin?”

  Martin thought about it. “Yes. He has a plant in one corner, a tall sort of cactus thing as I recall. It was still in bloom when I was there.”

  The doctor looked up sharply. “A cactus, you say, that has just recently bloomed?”

  “Yes, it was taller than me I recall, and above the blossom was a scatter of white flecks on the bulkhead and the deckhead. It seemed as if it had exploded rather than just opened.”

  “Oh, my god. We must get to the flagship immediately. The Commodore is in serious danger.”

  “Danger?” Martin was taken aback. “What do you mean? Is this something to do with the plant?”

  “Sir, we must go to him immediately.”

  The two men were making their way on deck as they were talking, the doctor almost running.

  On deck the Daisy was visible still close enough to recall.

  “Mr. Reed, signal the cutter to return forthwith.” Martin snapped.

  “What will you need, Doctor?”

  “Only my bag and the services of a pair of strong arms. Once we get rid of the plant the cabin must be thoroughly scrubbed clean.”

  “What about the Commodore?”

  “I fear it may be too late to stop the process. If the plant is what I think it is, the effects are progressive. From what you say the Commodore must have been there when the blossom bloomed. The plant is not a cactus as such. It is apparently a form of Agave, very rare. I was only aware of it when an Indian doctor showed me some spores from the plant which had been given to him by a monk from a monastery in the Himalayas. He said the spores were useful for certain conditions, but were actually toxic for people who suffered from respiratory conditions. If inhaled, they caused internal blockage because the young spores start growing within the lungs.

  “My feeling is that either the plant was given in ignorance, or more seriously and possible, deliberately to dispose of someone without the threat of prosecution.”

  The Daisy came alongside. Without even waiting to tie up the two men were swung out on ropes from the main yard and lowered into the tossing boat below.

  Chapter twenty

  An odd situation

  Lieutenant Hammond ordered all sail set and caused the cutter to fly through the water tossing spray to the sky in her efforts. The urgency of the orders made it clear that speed was of the essence.

  They came up to the flagship and took the leap on the top of a wave to the ladder up the side of the ship. Both managed safely and boarded the flagship. The doctor immediately asked for the Commodore. Martin arrived and was in time to prevent the lieutenant from having the doctor either clapped in irons or thrown overboard. Martin’s appearance smoothed things over and the doctor was taken to the Commodore’s cabin. Sir Henry was seated on the deck his back to the desk, looking bemused.

  “Assist him to the quarterdeck quickly, and get rid of that bloody cactus overboard.” Martin nodded to the First Lieutenant. “Tell the men to wear cloths round their nose and mouth when they take the plant and ditch it out of the stern windows. Then have the cabin scrubbed by masked men to begin with. Get rid of all those flecks of white around the plant blossom. Once that’s organized, report back to me on the quarterdeck!”

  The First Lieutenant dashed off to perform his tasks. Later on the quarterdeck he reported to Martin.

  “Tell me. Where did the plant from the Commodore’s cabin come from?”

  “As I recall he was presented with it by the Chinese Lord who was the Emperor’s agent in Canton. A particular gift, I was told.”

  “Did the Commodore have any problems in port there?” Martin persisted.

  “There was just a small matter of the concubine.” He sounded doubtful.

  “Explain this small matter?”

  “Well the truth is, Sir Henry is Presbyterian, and inclined to rescue people, especially young women who are used and abused. There was no impropriety. Sir Henry is simply charitable. This is not always understood. It seems his misunderstanding extended even further than the normal distrust of the Chinese for the ‘round eyes’.”

  “By giving the plant as a gift, he in effect murdered Sir Henry.”

  The Lieutenant watched as Doctor Corder worked over the Commodore. The sick man was half sitting on a pad on the quarterdeck. Suddenly he broke into a paroxysm of sneezing into a cloth held by the doctor.

  When he stopped he fell back looking exhausted. The doctor sat Sir Henry upright. “We will repeat the treatment when he is more recovered.”

  Martin looked at him. “Can you give any idea?”

  “In this the cure may kill him. I have to try and get the spores from within his lungs, this is the only way I can think of to do that here.”

  The Commodore beckoned to Martin. “Captain,” he gasped, he raised his finger to the Lieutenant, to join them. “Captain, you will find my orders in my desk. I am not able to exercise proper judgement at present, and I hear it is possible that I may be dying anyway. You,” he motioned the First Lieutenant, “And you, doctor. Witness my words at this time. Bring paper and pen and if I am able, I will write my decision.”

  Twice more the sneezing was induced before the doctor allowed Sir Henry to rest. Sir Henry then dictated orders for Martin to assume control of the convoy.

  Deciding to retain his place in HMS Diane, he changed the position of the ship to better control things when the convoy split. Otherwise things remained as before. At the 15th parallel they encountered the two China squadron sloops, plus two additional ships for the Cape convoy and an additional ship bound for China.

  There was a certain amount of backing and filling, and two near collisions before the ships managed to divide into their appointed convoys. Finally with an exchange of signals the ships parted on their divergent courses.

  Martin watched the China convoy as it disappeared over the horizon. Turning to Lieutenant Reed. “Well, Mr. Reed. We have a command once more and responsibility for twenty-four ships.”

  “Including a ship of the line, sir.” Reed commented.

  “As you say, including a ship of the line!” Martin said almost to himself. He had no real illusions, being of the opinion that Cape Colony would provide a new senior officer for the convoy, and probably a new commander for HMS Boscombe, the Commodore’s ship.

  The next few days saw little activity apart from the ongoing frustration of dealing with stubborn shipmasters, who seemed incapable of understanding the simplest of instructions on station-keeping and the need to keep riding lights at night to pr
event colliding with the next in line.

  The attack occurred as they drew close to Reunion Island. Having navigated their way through the Seychelles Island chain, the convoy had managed to scatter itself fairly effectively, creating considerable effort for the escorts who finally managed to gather them into some sort of order after wasting a day chasing stragglers halfway to Madagascar.

  The Daisy really earned its captain the gratitude of the escort commander. As Martin commented to Reed, the lively little cutter was a godsend in these circumstances. The convoy was together when the French frigate appeared on the far side of the convoy. As luck would have it, the Hampshire was on that side of the small fleet, one of the largest and most heavily armed East-Indiamen. Her captain was an ex-naval captain who ran his ship on the same lines as his former command, with a broadside of 12 x 12 pounder guns, he ensured would be loaded and ready to run out, as soon as they were needed.

  At the appearance of the frigate the fiery captain had no hesitation in turning his ship to keep the weather gauge. His flag signals would have been approved by the Admiral. They announced the presence of the frigate hull down from the direction of Reunion.

  Later signals verified it was French. The raiding party manifested itself with the appearance of other sails. Smaller craft that were revealed to be an armed dhow, and an armed schooner. All three ships exhibited the Tricolor.

  Martin deployed HMS Dido, to the support of the Hampshire. HMS Pluto was ordered to remain with the convoy accompanied by HMS Daisy.

  All of the Indiamen were armed to a varying extent. The majority had an array of 9lb guns for defence against pirates. The attacking ships appeared to be French Navy. They, therefore, were a greater threat than the average pirate.

  Throughout the convoy the sound of the preparations to repel the attack could be heard. The rumble of guns being run out and loaded seemed to reverberate from ship to ship. For Martin there was the threat of the frigate to be countered. HMS Boscombe was stationed on the weather side of the convoy. Her First Lieutenant was looking forward to action at long last. The Commodore was hanging on and the Doctor seriously hoped that he might survive providing they could reach the Cape Colony. Doctor Corder had confided to Martin that he was convinced that the sneezing therapy had given Sir Henry a real chance to recover.

  Martin placed his ship to intercept the French frigate, sending Lieutenant Asquith, a young firebrand who was commanding HMS Dido to intercept the dhow. The schooner was reaching across the course of the convoy and would be under the guns of the Boscombe, which was showing no signs of her true purpose, appearing as she did to be just one of the martially-painted Indiamen. Albeit rather larger than some, she did not stand out without her flags, as several of the merchantmen were of her size.

  There was a mass of ships. Surely it would be possible to collect one or two. Captain Michel Charlet strode back and forth across the quarterdeck of his ship, Mirabelle. His mind working on ways and means of cutting out as many of the ship with their rich cargos of trade goods for the English market.

  There were no doubts in his mind that his 38 guns should overcome the smaller number of guns of the British frigate. HMS Diane was rated as a 32 gun frigate. In fact the number related to the former broadside guns. On the quarterdeck there were four more guns mounted on slides. These were carronades, firing 18lb balls at shorter range than the other guns in the broadside. It also did not take into account the pairs of chase guns, mounted at bow and stern. These guns fired a 9lb ball at considerable range.

  All in all the weight of a broadside combined was nearly the same, though that figure diminished with distance owing to the short range of the carronades.

  For the French Captain any doubts were swiftly dismissed. It was true to say that after the defeat at Trafalgar the French navy carried very little weight in the eyes of Napoleon. A spectacular success here would allow the Captain to return to France in triumph, a matter and an aim close to Captain Charlet’s heart.

  As Martin approached the French ship he allowed the ship to fall off the wind a little, just give his opponent the idea that the ship was a little sloppily handled.

  Charlet did notice and was a trace more casual in his approach himself. Martin was watching hopefully and he saw the minute opening for his idea. “Let her fall off a little more, cox’n. Let’s see if he notices. Carefully now.” The bow of the French ship came up a little more in response. “Right, cox’n. Bring her up sharply. Port guns run out, Mr. Reed.”

  The Diane spun to starboard, the weight of the guns assisting her to come round. As the guns came into line with the enemy ship, Reed did not hesitate. “Port guns, on the uproll, fire!”

  The smashing effect of the broadside was immediately apparent. The manoeuvre had placed the two ships broadside to broadside, at that moment. The effect of the shot had been to shatter sections of the bulwarks of the French ship and dismount four of her guns. The carronades had done dreadful damage, shattering the after deckhouse and sweeping the men on the quarter deck into a bloody mess against the starboard rail. The shattered wheel, and the pulpit on which it was mounted, were scattered in pieces among the other debris on the scarred planking. The Mirabelle lost her Captain and her steering at the same time, to a lucky shot from the forward port carronade, while the solid ball of its companion gun hit and shattered the deck where it joined the hull of the quarterdeck. The grapeshot loaded in the other gun, slightly lighter in weight, distributed its cargo of pistol balls like a leaden flail smashing all before it.

  The ship’s head fell off the wind. Without a hand at the wheel and under near full sail, it careered round before the wind, sailing in a series of jerking movements while the crew attempted to gain control of the rudder from the second position below decks.

  For Martin, there was no suggestion of allowing the French ship respite. The Diane took up the pursuit immediately, bringing her second broadside to bear despite suffering several hits from the enemy, fire by the gun captains who saw the chance and took it. The broadside when it came was enough to cause the Tricolor to be hauled down.

  On the other side of the convoy the unfortunate French schooner had encountered Boscombe. She was sinking by the head after suffering a 24lbs cannonball on the stem-head which had sprung the bow planking, creating a massive inflow of water.

  Dido had missed its chance at the dhow. The Hampshire had used its preparedness to close the gap on the French ship, so had been able to fire its broadside at the dhow. A lucky shot had taken the mast of the craft, stopping it in its tracks and allowing Hampshire to come alongside and hold it under its guns, until Dido came to take over the prize.

  Mirabelle, with a jury steering rig, was joined to the convoy with a prize crew. The schooner was beyond salvage, and continued its journey to the sea bed. The dhow was taken into tow while a jury mast was rigged, and the convoy resumed its progress toward the Cape of Good Hope.

  There were no more attacks on the convoy for the rest of the trip to Cape Colony, though the weather deteriorated. The storm that developed caused the ships to lose two days being re-gathered into some sort of order. Repairs were needed to several damaged ships so that they could proceed to the facilities in the settlement. Certainly Martin was delighted to see the coast of South Africa loom over the horizon. As they sailed into Table Bay he at last realized just how tired he was. Having the responsibility for the convoy for most of the voyage was harder work than he had anticipated.

  The arrival at Table Bay did not mean that he would be able to relax, with reports to write and the matter of the health of the Commodore to explain. As one of the most senior officers in the port at the time, the responsibility for locating a new captain for the Boscombe was largely his. A week passed before order was finally restored to the section of the convoy which would continue the voyage to England.

  The command of the Boscombe was given to Lieutenant Acting Commander William Armitage of the sloop Pluto. The Commodore being too ill to travel, Martin was given command of the
reconfigured convoy now reduced to 18 ships. The sloop, HMS Pluto, would sail commanded by her First Lieutenant, a Cornishman named Penrose.

  The prizes were retained at the Cape. The eventual repairs would provide work for the shipyard. The dhow would be sold. The frigate, once repaired, would be taken on the colony strength. There were many stranded seamen and officers who could be appointed to sail her.

  The Commodore was unhappy at having to remain in Capetown. Unfortunately there was no option. He was not fit to make the voyage by that time. Doctor Corder was pleased with his progress, but would only predict eventual recovery. The sad part was that though he might recover, the attack had, in his opinion, shortened the Commodore’s life by several years.

  Chapter twenty-one

  Homeward bound

  Summer 1807

  The Privateer lay at anchor in lee of Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Canary Islands. Her Captain, Patric Vanier, was tall dark and almost handsome, his eyes perhaps a little too close together for true good looks. In nature also his friendly smile had proved winning with the ladies, but it could very swiftly turn to a snarl as many had found out to their sorrow.

  He was pacing up and down his cabin at the moment, still mulling over the news brought by a Portuguese ship bound for the Azores.

  A British convoy from India was a prize worth having, especially since the French Indiamen were becoming fewer and fewer. There was of course a ship of the line and a frigate in the escort. He disregarded the two sloops and cutter as meaningless in real terms. He knew he had a fast ship in the captured French corvette which was armed with 24x12 lbs guns. All were well served by former naval gunners. His only problem was creating a distraction so that he could cut out as many of the merchantmen as possible. His lieutenant came into the cabin with a message from the island Governor.