Lieutenant Fury

by G. S. Beard

  ‘That is kind of him, sir.’

  ‘Nonsense, it has nothing to do with kindness. Mr Douglas has given a fair appraisal of your abilities based upon what he has seen, no more.’

  Fury sat in silence, unsure of what to say. Hood sat studying his face for a few moments more, before glancing down at the package on Fury’s lap.

  ‘Those are your certificates and journals, I take it?’

  ‘Yes, My Lord.’

  ‘Excellent. Pass them to me, if you please, Mr Fury.’

  ‘Aye sir, I mean, My Lord.’

  His clumsiness over Hood’s title was doing nothing to calm his nerves as he half rose out of his chair and passed the canvas bag over the desk to him. Hood took the bag and passed it to Captain Knight, still sitting in silent observation. Knight opened the bag and proceeded to leaf quietly through the paperwork, heightening Fury’s curiosity and tension still further.

  ‘Tell me, Mr Fury, how have you found your duties since being made acting lieutenant?’

  Fury turned back to Hood. ‘I believe I have grown into it over the past months. I flatter myself that Captain Barber’s faith in me has not been misplaced.’

  ‘I don’t suppose it has. And you have continued with your studies?’

  ‘Yes, My Lord, every day when off watch.’

  ‘Excellent!’ There followed another small silence as Hood digested Fury’s response. When he finally spoke again his tone was firmer and more businesslike. ‘Suppose you are coming into soundings from a long voyage, Mr Fury. How would you prepare for going into port and anchoring?’

  Fury looked at Hood for a moment, completely taken aback by the sudden question. He could see out of the corner of his eye that Knight had abandoned his scrutiny of his certificates and journals at Hood’s question, and was now looking solemnly at Fury. Hood’s eyebrows came together in a frown.

  ‘Well?’

  ‘I, er …’ Fury tried to clear his brain under the intense stare of Admiral Hood. The continued silence prompted Hood to open his mouth again to speak, but Fury’s memory came back to him at that very moment. ‘I would order the anchors got off the bows and the cables to be bent on, sir,’ he replied hurriedly. ‘Single the stoppers and shank painters, and get the anchor buoys rigged.’ Fury paused for a quick breath and a chance to get his racing thoughts into order, before continuing. ‘Have the lead lines readied in the fore chains, with breast bands rigged for the leadsmen, and have the tiers cleared out and sufficient cable ranged along the deck.’ Fury opened his mouth to continue but Hood’s raised hand waved him into silence.

  ‘Thank you, Mr Fury, I think we can be satisfied on that score. Now, suppose you are on a lee shore, and had neither room to veer or stay, nor any anchoring ground. How would you put the ship’s head round the other way?’

  Fury’s brain was sufficiently warmed now after the initial shock of Hood’s first question, so that only a short pause for thought was necessary before the answer came to him.

  ‘I would put my helm hard alee. When she comes head to wind, I would have the fore and main tacks raised, make a run with my weather braces and lay all aback at once, then haul forward my lee tacks and bowlines as far as I can, that the ship may fall round on her heel. When the mainsail begins to shiver I would haul it up, fill my headsails and shift the helm hard aweather. Once the wind is on the other quarter, haul aboard the main tack and bring her close to the wind.’

  ‘Very good. Now you are in chase of an enemy’s ship of war, upon a wind with all your sails set. She is directly ahead of you. On which side would you engage her?’

  ‘That would depend, My Lord.’

  Fury disliked prevaricating in the face of a direct question from a senior admiral, but he felt he had no choice.

  ‘How so?’ Hood responded, with not a hint of surprise or irritation.

  ‘It would depend on the weather, My Lord. Ordinarily I would engage her to leeward, so she could not put away before the wind, and in anything of a sea, she may not be able to open her lower tier of gun ports. If in only light breezes and hot weather, however, I would consider attacking from windward, to let them receive the smoke and heat of the fire.’

  Hood nodded his head in apparent satisfaction. Again there was no sign from Knight in the corner.

  ‘You are chasing from the wind, and carry away your main topmast. How would you proceed?’

  ‘I would haul up the mainsail, and send hands into the top with a rope or hawser, to clap on that part of the mast which hangs down, then cut the lanyards of the main topmast shrouds and lower away. Once down and the rigging cleared away, unsling the main yard, get the fore tackle on it and bowse forward the yard, and get the spare topmast ready for the crosstrees. Clap the hawser on, and sway it high enough for the rigging.’ Fury took a breath to steady himself, and opened his mouth to complete his explanation, but Hood’s hand waved him into silence.

  ‘Very well, Mr Fury, I think we have heard enough.’ Hood looked across at Knight and received a nod in response. ‘Congratulations, Mr Fury, you have just passed your examination for lieutenant.’

  Fury thought for a moment that he had misheard. He opened his mouth to speak, but closed it again when nothing came out. Finally he found his tongue.

  ‘Sir?’

  ‘As I said, Lieutenant Douglas spoke highly of your conduct during the past year, and felt confident you were ready for the step up to lieutenant. There was a formal examination held on board the Agamemnon this morning, but unfortunately it was too late to have you allocated a place. In view of your late uncle’s achievements I decided to examine you myself in company with Captain Knight. I am pleased to say that Lieutenant Douglas’ confidence in you was not misplaced. I shall have your name added to the list of passed officers from this morning’s examination, and my clerk will draft up your commission upon receipt of your certificates and journals.’

  ‘I – I don’t know what to say, My Lord. Thank you.’

  ‘You have nothing to thank me for, Mr Fury. If I had found your seamanship to be lacking, I would have reduced you back to the rank of midshipman immediately. I shall have Captain Knight pass on your certificates and journals to my clerk, so he may write up your commission. You shall be informed in due course of your next appointment, so for the time being return to the Amazon and attend to your duties.’

  ‘Aye aye My Lord.’

  Fury got to his feet and touched his forehead in salute. Captain Knight led the way through the cabin door and forward through the admiral’s suite of cabins, pausing only momentarily to drop off Fury’s certificates and journals to Hood’s clerk, before escorting Fury towards the ladder leading down to the middle deck and the entry port through which he had arrived. One glance out of the port when they had reached it showed the Amazon’s launch still hooked on below.

  ‘Thank you sir.’

  ‘You are welcome, Mr Fury. With any luck you should know of your appointment within the next couple of days.’

  ‘Yes sir.’

  Fury saluted and made his way down the battens attached to the Victory’s side, scrambled into the bottom of the launch with the ease of long practice, and went to the stern sheets, infinitely more relaxed now than on the outward journey.

  ‘Push off! Give way all!’ he ordered, the men at the oars bending their backs as they started the stroke.

  Away from the Victory’s side, Fury looked up at her black and yellow striped hull, her masts and yards stark against the sky amid the tangled criss-cross of rigging. The sharpness of the grief that he had felt during the last few days since his uncle’s death had dulled for the first time at the realisation that he was now made lieutenant. His commission would start from last December when Barber had made him acting lieutenant, meaning he already had nearly six months’ seniority. The knowledge of the debt he owed to Barber resurfaced at that thought, so he turned his attention back to the Amazon as they approached in an effort to block his uncle from his mind. The journey back to her seemed to take only a fr
action of the time, and it hardly seemed two minutes before they were hooking on and making the launch fast with painters.

  Fury, his hands now free of certificates and journals, fairly bounded up the side and on to the deck, returning the salute of Hoggarth as he turned to go below to his cabin.

  ‘Mr Douglas requested your company in the great cabin as soon as you returned on board, Mr Fury.’

  Fury sighed his disappointment at not being able to reflect on his promotion in the solitude of his own cabin.

  ‘Very well, Mr Hoggarth.’

  He made his way down to the upper deck and hastily returned the salute of the marine sentry as he announced Fury’s arrival. Douglas was sitting behind the captain’s desk when Fury walked in, and looked up eagerly.

  ‘Well, Mr Fury. How did it go?’

  ‘Very well, thank you, sir. Lord Hood has confirmed my promotion to lieutenant.’

  ‘Excellent! I knew you would not let me down. Do you know of your appointment?’

  ‘Not yet, sir – hopefully in a couple of days.’

  ‘No matter. I am sure we can keep you busy enough until your departure.’

  ‘I understand you spoke well of me, sir. Thank you.’

  Douglas waved away his thanks.

  ‘You have deserved it, Mr Fury. And it is what your uncle would have wanted.’

  ‘Aye sir.’

  The cabin was engulfed in silence for a few moments at the reminder of Captain Barber. Douglas finally broke it.

  ‘Very well, that will be all.’

  ‘Aye aye sir.’

  Fury saluted and swept out of the cabin, feeling only relief. Not because he had actually secured his promotion – although he knew he had been extremely lucky in that respect – but because he would be leaving the Amazon soon. With his uncle now dead there was nothing left in the Amazon but memories, and he was glad to be free of those, whatever else the future might hold.

  Chapter Five

  ‘Here we are sir, all done!’

  The tailor placed on the table a package containing Fury’s new full dress lieutenant’s uniform – jacket, white single-breasted waistcoat, breeches, fine silk stockings and new tricorn hat. The hat had cost him a pretty penny and would go straight into his sea chest until needed for special occasions. Laid next to the package was his new undress jacket – a single-breasted blue lined coat with standing collar and nine buttons down the short front, while the back proceeded further down to end in tails. The pockets, round cuffs, lapels and collar had no fancy lace but were piped in white. Fury studied the three gilt buttons on each of the cuffs and pockets, gleaming with the plain fouled anchor design, gloomily deciding that it would not be long before they lost their shine. He pulled off his scruffy midshipman’s jacket and laid it on the table, pulling on his new jacket over his waistcoat and buttoning it down the front. The collar felt stiff, but would loosen with wear, no doubt. Other than that, it was an excellent fit. If only he could have afforded new black Hessian boots, he thought, looking down at the scuffed and worn pair he was wearing.

  ‘Would you like me to dispose of this for you sir?’ the tailor said, pointing to his old jacket. No doubt he would be grateful for the extra cloth he could get from it.

  ‘If you would, please,’ Fury replied, lifting his second new hat off the table and planting it firmly on his head.

  Carefully lodging the package beneath his right arm, he gave his thanks to the tailor and walked out on to the narrow street, the coolness of the shop immediately giving way to the bright sunshine and heat of Gibraltar’s early afternoon sun. It had been his intention to take a trip up to the Moorish castle situated on the north-western slope of the rock, but the heat made him think better of it. He had made the mistake a few days ago of climbing the rock in the noonday sun, and the memory of the discomfort was still fresh in his mind. It had almost made him sympathetic to the Barbary apes which lived on the rock, until one of them had picked up a large stone and hurled it at him for venturing too close.

  Instead he walked along the cobbled street back towards the harbour, the bustle of people making their way along the narrow road jostling him and increasing his irritation. The buildings were high on either side of the street, but even so they seemed to provide little shade from the sun, the whitewashed exteriors only serving to reflect the glare more intensely.

  He turned on to Main Street, glad to be out of the stifling atmosphere of the side streets, and quickly passed the Convent, the official residence of the governor, not even looking up to admire the gardens or the ornate balcony at the front of the building. He was engrossed in his thoughts, mentally going through how much he had spent in the last few days.

  All of it had been necessary of course – uniforms for his new rank, a sword to wear next time he went into action so he did not have to rely on a sea-service cutlass, and lodgings while he waited to join his new ship. His uncle’s belongings had certainly saved him a large sum of money. He did not need to buy a quadrant, telescope, pistols or a full dress sword, while he also now had all the books on seamanship he would ever need. Still, it was surprising how the money mounted up and he was lucky that his rank of acting lieutenant had been confirmed, so that he had been able to collect six months’ back pay. That, along with the small amount which had been in Captain Barber’s desk, had been just about enough.

  He was due prize money of course, but that would not come through for months; on top of the prizes the Amazon had taken in the Indian Ocean, there was now the Thetis. She had not yet been condemned by the adjudicator but there should be no problem on that score – she was seaworthy enough. It was ironic that the death of his uncle should result in Fury gaining a much larger share of prize money than he would ordinarily have received. It seemed like even in death, Barber was helping him.

  He reached the harbour and a turn left along the front soon brought him to the George Inn where he was staying. Like many sailors when ashore, he had instinctively found somewhere to stay overlooking the sea. He paused before going in to glance out to where the Amazon was still swinging gently to her anchor, the Thetis a cable to larboard of her.

  It had been nearly two weeks now since he had formally left her, a departure made easier by the fact that the crew had been kept so busy with repairs they hardly noticed he was leaving. As for the officers, only Lieutenant Carlisle, Midshipman Turner and Midshipman Howard remained, the new officers assigned by the admiral making his last day seem strangely unreal, almost as if he had been on another ship altogether. He was glad also to get away before the new captain arrived on board – he would no doubt have found it difficult seeing a stranger in his uncle’s cabin.

  He had received a message from Lieutenant Carlisle only a week ago, telling him that the new captain had arrived on board, and had transferred the entire complement of his old command over to the Amazon. The new captain had been given his step up in rank after a marvellous defence of his sloop against a much larger French frigate, escaping only by superlative seamanship and the onset of nightfall. Nevertheless, his sloop was so badly damaged she was condemned by the dockyard back at Gibraltar. As a result, Amazon found herself overmanned and distributed a number of Captain Barber’s original crew throughout the ships of Hood’s Mediterranean fleet. Fury wondered whether he would be reacquainted with any of them on his next ship; it would be good to see some familiar faces at the beginning of his first commission.

  He was sweating now. He could feel his thin shirt beginning to stick to him beneath his waistcoat and new jacket, prompting him to dive through the front door of the George Inn into the relative coolness. It seemed remarkably dark after the bright sunshine, and it took a moment for his eyes to become accustomed to it. The tables within were beginning to fill as more patrons sought to avoid the heat of the afternoon sun, most of them naval officers from what Fury could see, with the occasional scarlet tunic betraying the presence of an army officer.

  ‘A glass of wine sir?’

  Fury was startled by the app
earance of the innkeeper by his side – the man never missed an opportunity to increase his profits slightly.

  ‘No – no thank you,’ he replied quickly.

  The man’s face fell as he attempted to make his feelings clear about naval officers who lodged there but didn’t drink, all without saying a word.

  Fury walked towards the wooden staircase leading up to the landing. Several men, mostly wearing navy uniforms, glanced at him disinterestedly as he passed, perhaps wondering what ship he was from. The timber stairs creaked in protest as he walked up, reaching the landing at the top which was covered with a thick, dark blue carpet. His tread underfoot was silent as he made his way down the corridor, past rooms on either side with paintings of past naval engagements adorning the walls between each closed door.

  Reaching his room, he gratefully flung his jacket on to the bed and stripped off his waistcoat, opening his shirt to let the slightest breeze from the open window cool him. Sitting on the bed, he reached over to the small table next to it and picked up the commission sent to him by Admiral Hood’s clerk after his interview, signed at the bottom by Lord Hood himself.

  By the Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral of Great Britain and Ireland &c and of all His Majesty’s Plantations &c.

  To Lieut John Thomas Fury, hereby appointed Lieutenant of his Majesty’s Ship Fortitude.

  By Virtue of the Power and Authority to us given We do hereby constitute and appoint you Lieutenant of His Majesty’s Ship Fortitude, willing and requiring you forthwith to go on board and take upon you the Charge and Command of Lieutenant in her accordingly, Strictly Charging and Commanding all the Officers and Company belonging to the said Ship subordinate to you to behave themselves jointly and severally in their respective Employments with all due Respect and Obedience unto you their said Lieutenant; And you likewise to observe and execute as well the General printed Instructions as what Orders and Directions you shall from time to time receive from your Captain or any other of your superior Officers for His Majesty’s service. Hereof nor you nor any of you may fail as you will answer the contrary at your peril And for so doing this shall be your Warrant.