The Threat in the East (The Merriman Chronicles Book 3)

by Roger Burnage

  “Mr. Cuthbert, bring her round across her stern,” yelled Merriman.

  The helm went over and the ship began to turn rapidly as the crew hauled madly on the ropes controlling the sails. The constant gun drill now proved its worth as by the time the ship passed the big dhow’s stern Shrigley’s guns were ready and Weston’s only a minute later. Merriman had sent young Mr. Green down to the gun deck with a message for Lieutenant Weston, “The Captain’s complements Sir and will you fire as your guns bear.” The guns roared out one by one, the heavy shot bursting through the stern of the dhow and killing scores of the pirates. “Mr. Cuthbert, we’ll pass as close as we can behind the next two small ones and give them a broadside each before we go about to give the big one another broadside.” The big dhow shuddered as the shot went home and there was little cannon fire in return although many pirates were shooting badly aimed muskets. Some of the shots were effective as one of the marines fell back with blood pouring from a hole in his forehead and one of the men at the big wheel was lying in a crumpled heap on the deck.

  Looking back Merriman saw that he need not worry about either of the first two ships. Both were listing as water poured into them through shot holes on the water line and both of them had lost masts and screaming pirates were falling or jumping overboard. The other two small dhows were sinking slowly, also finished. “Now Mr. Cuthbert, have the reefs out of the tops’ls and steer for the ships ahead. Try to pass between two of them if you can. We should be able to catch them.” The orders were quickly passed and the Topmen going aloft like monkeys. With the extra canvas the ship immediately increased speed.

  Two of the dhows had passed their sinking comrades and were making for rear of the convoy where the Indiamen were waiting for them. Other pirates had all sailed nearer to the larboard side of the convoy whilst Merriman was dealing with the first four and the frigate Bombay and the small brig Hannah had turned to meet them. The Lord Stevenage was now on her best point of sailing and was catching up rapidly. “Mr. Shrigley, go for’ard see what you can do with the bow chasers. The crews are waiting for orders.”

  “Aye-Aye Sir” replied the Lieutenant quickly climbing up to the fo’c’sle where the two big guns were pointing ahead.. Almost instantly they both fired, one shot went well off target but the other ball struck a dhow full on the stern and crashed through the length of it, killing or wounding many of the men aboard. “Well done, again if you please Mr. Shrigley,” shouted Merriman. Both guns were ready in moments and two more cannonballs sent on their way. This time the aim was better, one shot again hit the same dhow on the stern which completely shattered its rudder. The other struck a second dhow, inflicting damage which caused it to turn away as its mast folded in the middle and crashed down onto the men beneath. As Lord Stevenage surged past them, carronades on either side of the fo’c’sle fired, a hail of musket balls sweeping aside the crowd of men on the decks of the dhows. The marines were firing as rapidly as they could, picking off the men up in the rigging, blood pouring down the sides of the ships in crimson streams. Those ships were finished as a threat but what of the rest? Continuous gunfire could be heard but the gun smoke ahead prevented clear vision.

  “Aloft with you Mr. Hungerford, tell me what is happening.” shouted Merriman. Hungerford climbed like a monkey up a tree and surveyed the action ahead. “One more of the enemy is sinking Sir. Bombay is engaging another two and one has managed to get alongside Hannah to board her. I think the Indiamen have dealt with the other two that passed us Sir, but three others are nearly up to the convoy.”

  Very good Mr. Hungerford, come down now. Mr. Cuthbert, I’ll have the courses reset, we must catch those three and if we can help the brig with a few shots into her attacker as we go past so much the better. Captain St James, have all your men ready to fire into the pirate when they can. Mr. Green, My compliments to Mr. Weston and ask him to fire some shots into the pirate’s waterline. ”

  The crew of the brig was fighting desperately to hold back the flood of boarders but were fast losing ground. Somebody on the pirate dhow saw the big frigate approaching and screamed a warning to his fellows. Panic ensued, half the pirates on the brig wanted to carry on fighting, the others desperately tried to get back to their own ship but too late. Three of the frigate’s cannon exploded as one, the balls ripping into the dhow right on the waterline. The marines were again shooting as fast as they could reload causing havoc among the pirates and with the sudden help given to them the brig’s defenders were able to deal with the pirates left aboard and cut the ropes used by the pirates to tie the two ships together. A loud cheer rang out as Lord Stevenage passed and an officer on the quarterdeck waved his hat wildly. Merriman raised his in acknowledgement.

  “Now for the other three,” he thought grimly. “Mr. Shrigley, try the bow chasers again but be careful not to hit a merchant ship.” Both fired with no visible effect but the dhows had slowed down to attack the slower merchantmen and the frigate, travelling like the wind, was nearly up with them. The pirates scattered but too late, the frigate caught up and passing between two of them unleashed both larboard and starboard broadsides. The two unfortunate vessels seemed to disintegrate but the third managed to turn to larboard and before the frigate could fire again or even attempt to turn, it was away, too fast to be caught.

  “Mr. Cuthbert, take her round and we’ll go back and see how the other ships are faring. “Aye-Aye Sir” replied the old sailing master with a big grin on his face, before bawling the necessary orders. “We’ll show those other ships how good a King’s ship really is.” Lord Stevenage seemed to spin round on the spot before heading back towards the Bombay and the Hannah. All gunfire had ceased and both ships appeared to be only slightly damaged. Merriman rubbed his hands together with delight. “Mr. Hungerford - signal for both the captains to heave to and report to me. Then signal to the Indiamen the same. Mr. Andrews, clear from action stations and have my cabin put back at once.”

  Both Captain Egerton and Captain Oliver arrived almost together, Oliver with a bloody bandage wrapped round his head. Both were bursting with excitement as the strain of battle was over, both wanting to shake Merriman by the hand and congratulate him on the success of his planning. The captains of the Indiamen, having further for their boats to row, soon arrived and joined in the congratulations. Merriman, not a little embarrassed by the praise heaped upon him, suggested that they all went below. “My cabin should be back to rights now Gentlemen and I think we all deserve a drink”

  The cabin was indeed ready, with Peters and Tomkins bringing up the last of the furniture and other items from below. Peters, the ever attentive and thoughtful servant had already brought wine and glasses up and he and Tomkins immediately began to dispense it to all the officers.

  “A toast Gentlemen, to the damnation of all pirates!” That toast drunk with great enthusiasm, Merriman asked for reports on damage and losses. “Mr. Oliver, I’ll start with you as your ship was the only one the pirates boarded. Apart from yourself how many men of your crew have been wounded and how many dead are there?” The jollity disappeared from Oliver’s face as he reported, “Little damage to my ship Sir, the attackers had only one cannon which they couldn’t use properly. Their principal mode of attack was to overwhelm the victim with boarders. My guns inflicted a lot of damage before they got alongside. The crew fought well Sir, but we were nearly beaten when your ship appeared. We lost eight men dead and fifteen wounded, some of whom may not live. We don’t have a proper doctor aboard to tend them so we will lose more,” he finished gloomily.

  “Thank you Captain, a very clear account. I have a very good surgeon aboard; I will send him over to you. Your written report should go to Captain Egerton but I would like to have a copy. Now then Captain, how did it go with you?”

  “ Well Sir, we sank one of them very quickly and were engaged with two more when you passed but we left both of them floating, burning wrecks. I have three dead and only six wounded. Those were due to badly aimed musket fire Sir.�
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  “And how did your ships manage Captains?” said Merriman, turning to the captains of the Indiamen. Both laughed and one replied, “No real trouble at all Sir, there were two of them but as you had suggested we had all our cannon direct their fire at the waterline. Between us we sank them both. We didn’t rescue any of them Sir.” he added significantly. “Between us we lost only five men to musket fire.”

  “Excellent Gentlemen, by my count the pirates have lost thirteen of the fourteen ships they started with and only one escaped. They must have lost hundreds of men. We have taught them a hard lesson which I hope will stop them raiding more Company convoys, for some time at least.

  “Our success is largely due to your careful planning ahead Sir, and to insisting that all of us knew what to do when the time came,” said Captain Egerton, “Your ship handling was wonderful Sir, and you destroyed four of them in as many minutes. I saw it before gun smoke obscured my view and we were in action ourselves.”

  “Thank you sir, but we all did well. I think you should all return to your commands now Gentlemen but I should like to entertain you to dinner here tomorrow evening. Meanwhile the convoy will continue on course.”

  Chapter 18 – Escort leaves convoy

  The next evening, after a convivial dinner of roast chicken and such vegetables as were still available, followed by a new dessert, an Indian concoction prepared as a result of Peters and the cook visiting the Governor’s kitchen as he had suggested, all captains were full and feeling happy with their world, including Lieutenant Anderson, captain of the sloop Clive which had been sailing far ahead of the convoy. Anderson had heard the gunfire but arrived back too late to help. Lieutenants David Andrews and Alfred Shrigley and the ship’s three midshipmen were there also, the midshipmen filling themselves with food as fast as they could.

  “Upon my word Alfred,” said Merriman, “I think you will have a new contender for the eating title that you had when you were a midshipman. Mr. Small seems to exceed even your capacity. Now Mr. Green, if you can leave that chicken leg alone for long enough I believe it is for you to propose the Loyal Toast.” “Y-y-Yes Sir” squeaked the boy fumbling for his glass. “The King, Gentlemen.” As the time had not yet come when a king had decreed that the navy could drink his toast sitting down, all stood and raised their glass, the taller ones standing awkwardly with bent heads beneath the deckhead.

  When all were settled, Merriman cleared his throat and said, “I think the time has come when we shall have to part company, Gentlemen. The convoy is now past the worst piracy area and keeping well to the east of Madagascar you should have no more trouble. If you two Indiamen can stay with the convoy at least until it reaches the Cape, your appearance as well armed frigates would have the desired effect. After that it should then be safe.”

  “Why must we part now Sir?” asked one of the Indiaman captains.

  “Because I have an even more urgent matter to attend to Sir,” and Merriman told them all about the Napoleonic threat to India and the possibility of Tipu building a fleet. “So you see there is more that I must do to find out what I can of that matter, and do what I can to disrupt any shipbuilding.” Of course the officers of the marine knew all about it but neither of the two captains of the Indiamen did and they were shocked at the news.

  And so it was arranged for the following day. The convoy hove to while boats rowed busily between them. All captains of the convoy were told why the escort was leaving them and apart from a few grumbles they accepted it. The afternoon found the two frigates, the sloop and the brig on their way back to Bombay with at least fourteen days sailing to get there. Merriman was relieved of the responsibility of the convoy but he was still desperately worried about Merryweather and Gupta on their spying expedition.

  Chapter 19 – Discoveries by British Agents

  The two beggars shambling along near the harbour of Mangalore seemed little different from the scores of other people making their way along the road. What made them seem different was that the smaller man was pulling the bigger man along by a rope tied round his waist. That man was walking with his head down, occasionally waving his arms about and when his face was seen it was like that of an imbecile, with staring eyes and open mouth from which strings of saliva ran down his chin and dripped onto his filthy shirt. He appeared to be dumb and could only make strange grunting noises.

  Merryweather, for he was the bigger man, was finding it difficult to keep up the pretence but sheer willpower drove him on. In truth he was regretting the decision that he should be disguised as a beggar, he was dirty and smelly and pestered by lice and hated it. The smaller man, Gupta, told anybody who asked, ‘that he had promised his mother to take the man, his uncle, his father’s brother, to other members of his family. Gupta’s father had died and his mother couldn’t cope with the imbecile anymore.’ That story had served them well over the days when they were ashore. They begged for food and shelter when they could and slept in the occasional barn whose owner took pity on them. Sometimes they slept outdoors well away from the road.

  Things had gone well for them after being dropped in the night into the small dhow which the East India Marine sloop had brought with them. They had sailed along the coast looking into many of the rivers and bays they could see, finding large shipbuilding activity at only one place by the name of Bhatkhal, which they took a note of. There seemed to be no forts to defend the harbour. Knowing that they were approaching Mangalore they decided to go on foot along the north side of the river having arranged with the three Company seamen to pick them up at the south side of the river mouth in four days and suitable signals were settled upon.

  “My God Gupta, I don’t know how long this will take, but the lice have made themselves quite at home in my hair and clothing. Damn the little blighters,” he emphasised with vigorous scratching. They had stopped for the night in a small clearing away from the road and Merryweather stripped off his clothing and occupied himself with searching for the lice and their eggs in the seams and popping them between his fingers. “The next water we find Gupta I must try to wash myself.” They spoke in whispers in case any other ears were near and Gupta replied “Yes Uncle, I will try and buy some soap in the next village.”

  So far they had observed several small villages up small rivers but found no sign of large shipbuilding other than at Bhatkal. They were more hopeful that Mangalore would show them what they had come so far to find. Mangalore town was well inland connected to the sea by a long, wide river which wound southwards for many miles before reaching the sea. Gupta said that he had been there as a slave on the pirate dhow and had seen big ships being built and a big fort on the other side of the river.

  At night they were put ashore on a deserted beach and began walking inland to find the river. As the eastern sky began to lighten they found a place to stop where they could sleep, hopefully without being seen, before going on to the river. Refreshed they continued, up and over small hills, until the river came in sight. They looked down on a huge shipbuilding site with three big ships under construction and three others, frigates by the size of them, moored together on the other side of the river stern on to a huge masonry wall and almost complete by the look of them. Some men could be seen on the decks and other men carrying timber and fitments aboard.

  Fortunately they still maintained the role of beggars because having seen the activity for only a few minutes they were accosted by three men, heavily bearded and wearing red turbans. Soldiers or guards carrying long muskets and each with a sword thrust through his sash. “Clear off you two, take your stinking selves away from here. Who are you anyway?” Gupta related their cover story whilst Merryweather continued to look as stupid and idiotic as possible on the end of his rope. The three guards carefully kept themselves to windward as the leader said “You are on the wrong side of the river if you are going south, you’ll have to go a long way upstream before you can cross over. Now, be off with you.” Gupta hopefully thrust out his hand, palm up, “Have pity Soldier Sahib
, we need to buy food.” “You’ll get nothing from us,” said the man thumping Gupta on the chest with the butt of his musket, “Clear off I say and take your filthy idiot uncle with you.” They watched for a while whilst Gupta and Merryweather shambled off along the north side of the river.

  “Your disguise was good enough to fool those three Uncle, even I could be fooled. Anyway we have seen what we needed to see but we still have to cross the river to find the coast again.” They shambled on, eventually coming to a village with a small temple where they were taken pity on by a monk and given some rice and water before being sent away. Two days later, as darkness fell with its tropical rapidity they came to a point where the river narrowed and they decided to try and cross to go south on the other side. Merryweather, with sundry grunts and arm waving pointed to a small boat tied up nearby which could suit their purpose. Therefore, later that night they stole quietly down to the water’s edge, untied the boat and set off for the other side, but they had misjudged the force of the current and the boat was borne quickly downstream. As dawn broke they passed a huge fort overlooking the river. “That is Sultan fort Sahib, big fort, many guns,” said Gupta.

  “Well Gupta, at least we know where it is. We are going in the right direction, it will save a lot of walking but we must try to row across at some point.” Their prayers were answered and the current split round a sandbar and they found themselves in slack water on the south side of the river. Quickly they waded ashore with Merryweather taking the opportunity to immerse himself in the hope of cleaning himself up a bit, but it only served to rouse the lice to further activity. They set off again with Merryweather still in his role of an idiot and Gupta pulling him along on the rope. They begged for food in every village they passed through, sometimes with success more often not, until on the late afternoon of the fourth day they realised that they were somewhere near a ruined temple behind the beach where they expected to be picked up. Gupta left Merryweather hidden behind the temple while he set off in the dark with the small lantern he had managed to keep hidden in his rags.