When all were assembled and settled Merriman began. “Gentlemen, I have devised a plan for action early tomorrow morning. Mr. St. James, the first part is for you and your marines to land at night and take the fort on the headland. Captain Little will take you ashore in his brig. I suggest that the two of you decide if the brig will have enough boats to do that, otherwise take one from this ship. When you have successfully secured the fort, fire off a red flare signal to seaward. If you can destroy the guns and the fort do so, but if at all possible create as much damage as you can before retiring back to the ship. Any questions Gentlemen? No? Good.”
“You Mr. Egerton will wait with me out at sea until we see the flare and then the two frigates will enter the harbour with my ship leading. Now, you must remember that Beypore is a big trading port, the biggest and busiest on this part of the coast and we must be certain that trading vessels are not harmed. There may be pirate ships mixed in with them, but, and I emphasise but, they will have to be left alone. Our objective is to create as much damage as we can on any big ships being built in the dockyard and on the three ships anchored on the other side which I believe to be frigates. Captain Egerton, when we are far enough inside you go to larboard side and fire into the dock yard and concentrate on the big ships, then go about and repeat with another broadside, two if you have time. I will take my ship to pass the frigates and do the same to them. As long as the fort has been eliminated we should be fairly safe unless there are any hidden guns. You Captain Anderson can lurk about outside and give us warning of any ships approaching. That is all Gentlemen, all you all sure about what must be done?”
Captain Egerton commented “An excellent plan Sir, but I believe there is a sand bar just beyond the narrowest part of the entrance and we should go in to either side of it.”
“Thank you Captain, we’ll do that then,” replied Merriman. Before you leave my servant will serve an excellent wine recommended by the Governor in Bombay.”
Chapter 27 – Marines attack the Fort
There was little but faint starlight when the boats grounded on the beach well out of sight of the fort. The marines waded ashore with muskets above their heads. Leaving a party of seamen to guard the boats, they started to climb up the dunes until they found the more solid ground of the headland. There they took cover behind some low bushes and windswept trees to avoid being spotted. Mr. St. James and his sergeant crept forward, stopping at a point from where they could see the fort clearly. “Idle buggers have left the gate open Sir, beggin’ your pardon” whispered the sergeant.” St. James inched forward a little more, “Can’t see any sentries up there either sergeant. Go back and ask Lieutenant Goodwin to have the men load their muskets and fix bayonets ready, then fetch them up, quietly now. Tell them that if any man makes a sound he is in very deep trouble.”
“Aye aye Sir, they won’t dare breathe when I’ve finished with them.” He disappeared into the darkness. Stealthy sounds could be heard as the marines loaded and then they moved forward. “Pass the word Sergeant, when we charge that gate I want no shooting unless absolutely necessary, bayonets may be enough, and no shouting, no cheering, this must be done as silently as possible.” He waited a few moments to allow the sergeant to repeat his orders and then he said to the men behind him “Right here we go, come on.” The marines rose to their feet, diligently following their officer towards the gate and slipped through and inside the fort. A man, a guard probably, woke and started to shout a warning but his voice was quickly silenced by a marine with a well-judged thrust of his bayonet to the man’s throat. The guard’s shout and brief struggle had managed to wake another guard nearby who took a moment or two to decide what to do, by then it was too late, his hesitation cost him his life and he died by the ready bayonet of another marine.
“Lieutenant I’ll have some men on the ramparts and the others can spread out round the yard and check every doorway. Again there was no sound from the garrison and St. James was beginning to think that success had been achieved with little bloodshed when shots erupted from a doorway. Two marines fell back dead as a large group of armed men burst out into the yard. Instantly fierce hand to hand fighting began with the marines on the ramparts picking targets when they could. It was soon over, although the Indian soldiers would not surrender and to a man went down fighting. The brief fight had raised the alarm and St. James noticed that more lights were appearing around the harbour.
“Sergeant you know what to do, spike those guns and tip them over the side if you can. Mr. Goodwin, you and your man with the fuse come with me now, we must find the magazine.” They looked into three or four doorways until they found one opening to a few steps leading down to a wooden door. “This must be it Sir, there is a glass window in the door and a lantern hanging on that nail,” said Goodwin, “I’ll get the lamp lit and then we can see.” He carried the lamp up the steps and lit it. It was a very good brass lamp with glass on only one side and a tightly fitting door for safety. Goodwin held it up so that the light shone through the window to reveal a pile of kegs of gunpowder, one of which had been opened, the bung removed and the black grains of powder could be seen. “Take the lantern as far back as you are able Mr. Goodwin and I will open the door.” The door was fastened with only a wooden latch to avoid any sparking but powder could be seen scattered on the floor.
St. James sat down on a step, pulled his boots off and unbuckled his sword belt. “Hold these for me Lieutenant and give me the coil of fuse.” Carefully he moved into the magazine, without his boots there was no chance of a spark but he took no chances and gently pushed the end of the fuse into the opened bunghole and wedged it with an empty cloth powder bag from a nearby pile. Cautiously he retreated, uncoiling the fuse as he went until he was back in the yard well away from the magazine. “Right Lieutenant, give me the lantern and have the men assemble by the gate ready to go. Pulling on his boots and his sword belt he suddenly realised that he could see more clearly. Dawn was breaking revealing that the men were ready to go carrying the bodies of the two dead marines. Opening the lantern he applied the flame to the fuse and ran for the gate, “Come on men, as fast as you can back to the boats. Sergeant, have some marksmen ready to cover our retreat.”
They scrambled over the dunes towards the beach and were nearly there when they heard a volley of marine’s muskets firing. St. James was relieved to observe that it was an organised and well-practiced retreat with regular files of marines firing and then scrambling behind the next file which fired in turn. They were nearly at the beach when with a hear splitting boom the fort exploded, masonry flying through the air and St. James saw the barrel of a cannon spinning end over end until it disappeared behind the headland. All of them reached the boats safely and the seamen were rowing strongly towards the brig when they saw the two frigates passing and moving into the river, a magnificent sight.
Chapter 28 – The shipyard destroyed
The two ships had been waiting hove-to close off shore and Merriman and probably everyone else aboard was anxiously waiting for the signal flare. Just as dawn was beginning to lighten in the eastern sky, the fort exploded with a great roar. “We couldn’t have a better signal than that Mr. Cuthbert, take the ship straight in.”
“Aye- aye Sir” replied the portly Master bawling out the necessary orders. Everybody aboard was ready, the Topmen waiting to go aloft and handle the sails, the Waisters on deck to handle the sheets and braces and on the gun deck every gun was loaded and ready. Merriman was watching keenly as the ship entered the river. “Mr. Green, run below now, give my complements to Mr. Weston and Mr. Shrigley and that they can run the guns out now, but wait for the order to fire.” The boy scampered off and looking down from the quarterdeck rail Merriman was pleased to see all guns moving as one as the port lids were raised.
The Bombay kept close astern until as planned they separated to go either side of the sandbar. The wind was only a gentle breeze but enough to move the ships fast enough. “Wind’ll change in a few moments Sir,” said Mr.
Cuthbert, “It should be enough to take us out again.” Merriman was watching and waiting for the Lord Stevenage to reach the anchored frigates which appeared to be anchored fore and aft, pointing seaward although only one of them appeared to be ready for sea, when he was startled to hear the Bombay’s guns open fire. She was already near the shipyards and as he watched Merriman could see baulks of timber shattering and splinters flying. A part built ship collapsed as its supports were blasted away and another almost disintegrated. Egerton was controlling his broadside exactly, each gun finding a target. He turned as Lieutenant Andrews shouted “One frigate is running out its guns Sir, but not a full broadside and the other two are not doing anything.”
It was so, “Probably only a skeleton crew aboard that one David, we’ll see.” As the Lord Stevenage closed on the manned frigate Merriman shouted “As your guns bear fire.” The starboard guns erupted fire and smoke, one at a time as they passed by, the balls smashing into the other ship, even a second shot fired from the forward guns as they were rapidly reloaded. A few guns on the enemy frigate answered, some balls hitting the hull and others passing overhead. Then they were past it and ready for the next. That one didn’t even have masts rigged and the next broadside did immense damage to the stationary ship. “Prepare to go about Mr. Cuthbert as soon as we have passed the third one. Again the starboard battery fired with no response and as the ship turned Merriman instantly reviewed the situation and had another idea.
Mr. Andrews, prepare a boarding party with some of our best seamen, I’ll go alongside the first one and try to take it as a prize. Have a tow rope ready astern, we may have to tow it out.” “Aye-aye Sir,” Andrews replied. Once again the constant drill showed its worth, they had practiced for every conceivable event and as they passed back and fired into the third ship the boarding party was already assembling on deck. Another broadside hit the second frigate and then they were alongside the first. Ropes and grapnels were thrown and pulled in and the boarding party climbed aboard spoiling for a fight. The hardened fighting men were to be disappointed as there was nobody there left to fight; in fear for their lives they had all jumped overboard and were swimming to shore.
Andrews quickly saw what the situation was and yelled “Topmen aloft, loose topsails and jibs. Three men on the wheel, and you and you find axes, be ready to cut the anchor ropes. The crew of the Lord Stevenage had begun cutting the grappling ropes and as the ship sheered away from the prize Merriman shouted “Is all well Lieutenant?” “Yes Sir, we’ll be under way in an instant, Andrews replied.” “Well done, follow me out.”
The Bombay had also turned and was almost abreast of the dockyard again when some hitherto hidden cannon opened fire. What damage was done Merriman could not see apart from a hole or two in the topsails. She continued to fire her starboard broadside causing even more damage, and then she was past and following the Lord Stevenage and her prize.
Chapter 29 – Turn back to Bombay
Later that day all the ships stopped far from Beypore on the way north and the captains and their first lieutenants were rowed over to Merriman’s ship. The usual ceremony due to the Captains’ arrival completed they all gathered in Merriman’s great cabin, chattering away until Merriman silenced them with an upraised hand. “Be seated Gentlemen, I think a toast to our success is called for. Peters you rogue, where are you?” Peters and Tomkins were ready and a very palatable wine was served to all. Before Merriman could do so, Captain Egerton rose to his feet. “Captain Merriman Sir, the adventure we have just completed has shown us all once again that your plans work perfectly, our objective has been completed and you even took a prize. I never thought we would have managed to achieve all that we have. Captain Merriman I must insist on proposing the first toast to you and your ship, Gentlemen, raise your glasses to Captain Merriman and his crew.” The toast was quickly drunk and Peters and Tomkins hastily refilled the glasses.
“Thank you Captain and Gentlemen for that but you all played your part well. Captain St. James and his marines destroyed the fort with the loss of only two men and five wounded, well done Sir.” Applause died down and he continued, “Captain Oliver with his men did a first class task in landing the marines and collecting them again and you Captain Egerton along with your men did all that we planned. Did you have any damage or loss when those guns fired at you, it was a surprise but I suppose not unexpected?”
“No Sir, we were lucky, only minor damage and only one man injured by a flying splinter. Did your ship have any damage?”
“Nothing of note” replied Merriman, “But sadly along with those two marines at the fort we lost a valued seaman from our boarding party. We buried them at sea two hours ago. Now then, the frigate we captured. I hope that the Company will buy it in for the Marine and all who took part in the action will receive prize money. And on the subject, I have an excellent prize crew aboard her but if you could spare a few men from your ships it would be appreciated. I know that you Captain Oliver lost men in the defence of the convoy, so I won’t expect any from you. So Gentlemen, I think we can be pleased with our efforts, and now I think we should now make our way to Bombay as fast as we can.”
Chapter 30 – Agents report to Graham
The sloop Villain slipped quietly into Bombay harbour in the midnight darkness relieved only by the fitful light of a gibbous moon. No salutes were fired because as Lieutenant Johnson told Merryweather, it was thought that gunfire in the night would awaken the town believing it to be an alarm. Merryweather was disappointed not to see the Lord Stevenage at anchor but he decided to stay on board the sloop and visit the Governor in the morning.
Arriving at Government House he asked for an audience with Governor Duncan. He did not have long to wait, the governor’s secretary Morgan called him in to a warm welcome from the Governor who wanted to know what he had been doing. “Only an exploratory cruise along the coast sir to see if we could find any more pirates Sir. We came back because supplies were running low. “And did you find any?” asked the Governor. “Nothing significant Sir.” replied Merryweather, mindful of what Grahame had told him about spies. “That’s a pity Lieutenant what do you intend to do now?” “Well Sir, I was hoping my ship would be here but it seems they are not back from escorting the convoy.” The Governor smiled, “No, it has taken longer than we expected but your friend Mr. Grahame has rented a bungalow not far from here. I am sure he can find you a bed. Mr. Morgan will show you where it is.”
Merryweather approached the bungalow cautiously. The sight of three armed Sepoys in front of it and with two sturdy looking men on the verandah armed to the teeth alarmed him, was Grahame under arrest? When he got nearer he was relieved to see Grahame on the veranda sitting in a lounger and talking to a small Indian man who quickly disappeared as soon as he saw Merryweather. Grahame leapt to his feet and said “I’m delighted to see you Lieutenant. Come in, come in to where it is cooler and have some refreshment. When they settled, each with a cool glass of punch in their hands Grahame asked Merryweather what he had discovered, commenting “I see you have lost your hair Sir, lice was it?”
“Yes Sir, I had the devil’s own job getting rid of them out of the stinking clothes Gupta provided for me. Well Sir, the sloop dropped us off ashore one night and we walked a long way until we reached a small town called Bhatkhal. There was some small local shipbuilding going on but nothing in the way of big shipbuilding. It was a different matter at Mangalore. There is a large shipyard there with three very big warships being built there, pierced for about seventy guns and three others, frigates I think moored on the other side of the river. We were lucky to see so much before some soldiers appeared and chased us away.”
Merryweather recounted how his disguise had worked, “I must have smelt like a cesspit, they all stayed upwind of us. We found a boat and we rowed down river, passing a big fort on the right hand bank. Then the ship picked us up again and brought us back here. Gupta was marvelous, I played the idiot and he passed me off as his imbecile uncle. He kept hold o
f the end of a rope around my waist.”
Grahame roared with laughter, I would have loved to see you, but you did well. Where is Gupta now.” “Thank you Sir, I left Gupta back on the sloop. But what has happened here Sir and why are you surrounded by armed men?”
“Somebody tried to kill me that’s why.” Grahame recounted his actions over the last few weeks and that he must have upset somebody by talking loudly about spies. The Sepoys are from the Company army, the officer commanding insisted upon it. The two tough looking men outside are my personal body guard, the Governor told me that they have sworn an oath to protect me with their lives and I could trust them.”
“So it seems that you have made some progress in your enquiries Sir, and stirred something up. May I ask what you will do next?”
“You may, but I am at a bit of a loss, I need Gupta to help me and maybe you in your disguise as a simpleton can help too. Oh, I see that you have finished your punch Mr. Merryweather, would you like some more?” “Yes please Sir, it is delicious, what is in it?” “Well it is the favourite drink of most people here in India. It consists of tea, sugar, lemon, water and arrack which is quite a potent alcohol. Five ingredients which mixed together the people call Panch, Punch to the English. Mind you I don’t have as much arrack in it as most people do.”
The Threat in the East (The Merriman Chronicles Book 3) Page 12
