The King`s Coat l-1

by Dewey Lambdin

  Dockyard officials had been aboard and had ordered the removal of her artillery to lighten her. They had poked and probed, measured and calculated, noting her new tendency to "hog," to bend down a bit at bow and stem, a sure sign that the keel structure was badly strained, some of her key midship beams weakened. It was supposed that once she could float on her own without aid, she would go into the dock for permanent repair. Though where they'd get the timber…

  The wounded were taken off to the hospital; the dead had been buried at sea. Altogether, they had suffered forty-one men discharged dead, and another seventy severely wounded, and half of those stood a good chance of dying yet. That was a quarter of the entire ship's company, and did not count those lightly wounded that had been returned to light duties..

  There were gaping absences in her crew. Thmer had been killed on the riddled starboard gangway. The master gunner, Mr. Tencher, had been killed up by the bow chasers. Harm and Roth, of course, were gone from the officer's mess. Two young midshipmen had died, as well as little Striplin, and his friend Beckett had lost a foot on that last broadside. Shirke was ashore with a broken arm, but looked likely to mend Chapman, on the other hand, had lost a chunk out of his right thigh from a grape-shot ball, and his future held in a precarious balance, for they thought the leg might have to come off near the groin.

  Finnegan and another of his mates had been made acting lieutenants, as had Keith Ashburn, since no officers could be spared from the other ships in port. Indeed, no captain would willingly give up a competent commission officer into such a ship, and no lieutenant would consider such an appointment, since if she were condemned he would be left high and dry without employment.

  Captain Bales, once he had made his dire report to the admiral, had kept his own silent counsel aft in his quarters. Lieutenant Church was nowhere to be found, and no one would admit knowledge of his whereabouts. Rolston also had gone, in custody of Marines, from the flagship.

  The remaining midshipmen had been run ragged in the days that followed, standing watches, ferrying groaning and crying wounded ashore and bringing back fresh supplies to feed the survivors, lumber to plug shot holes, emptying the magazines and hoisting out the great guns and their trucks, and the tons of round-shot to lighten the ship. They were also involved ferrying the dockyard officials, flag officers, the idle curious and the morbid who wished to come and gawk and marvel, praise or damn, inspect and condemn.

  Lewrie clambered up the ship's side and through the battered entry port, chafing in his uniform. The day was hot, and there was no wind in the harbor. He let Bascombe take his place and went to the scuttlebutt for a measure of fresh water, grateful for the shade of the old scrap canvas that was rigged over the quarterdeck as an awning. By God, I know it's unhealthy to bathe too often but I'd admire a dunk in a creek or something, he thought. With so much fresh water coming aboard, no one would miss a gallon in which he could take a quick, cooling scrub and put on some clean linen. ’Mister Lewrie?" the captain's cleri«said to him. ’Aye, Mister Brail?" Alan noted that even Brail wore his arm in a sling; fortunately not his writing arm. ’The captain would like to see you.’

  ’Me? What have I done?" Alan cringed, by rote. ’I have no indication that Captain Bales is displeased with you, Mister Lewrie. He would be, however, should you keep him waiting.’

  Lewrie straightened his sweaty clothing and went aft. "Midshipman Lewrie reporting, sir.’

  The captain stared at him, scowling with those huge eyebrows, and Alan was sure he had committed some grievous and punishable offense without knowing what, or how. "Mister Ashburn has informed me of your mess's request that I release some of your money for the purchase of fresh cabin stores. I have summoned you to take charge of it, since the others are away at their duties at present.’

  ’Whew…" was forced from him, barely audible. ’I will allow each of you no more than five pounds, as the prices here in the islands are higher than normal. That will have to be sufficient. And I'll not have it all spent on spirits, mind you.’

  Lewrie was mystified that Captain Bales sat there, in a ship that could still sink right out from under him, and took care of a small chore that his clerk or coxswain could have handled easily. Had he lost his senses, or could he no longer bear to face the larger issues? "With the artillery removed, you may consider livestock. Sheep or pigs are your best bet. Island bullocks are too lean and stringy, and usually overpriced. Hard-skinned fruits are plentiful, as are the onions hereabouts. You'll find cheese dear, as well as tea, but coffee is fairly cheap.’

  ’We shall try to spend it wisely, sir," Lewrie lied, knowing that Ashburn was ashore trying to get rooms and a private dining area for a long overdue shore leave, as well as some women. ’As I said in my report, and I shall say it to your face, Lewrie, you did extremely well when put to the test," Bales said, fingering a stack of guineas on his desk. "Eight months ago I despaired that you would ever amount to anything, and now here you are, the one bright bit in a dismal report. Had you not reorganised the lower deck guns and gotten them firing again there is a very good possibility that every man-jack in this ship would now be dead or a prisoner of war, and Ariadne sunk or a prize.’

  ’Thank you for your good opinion, sir…" Darnme, did I really do all that? And did you really put it that way in your report? If you did, I'm a bloody hero! "Of such good beginnings are great careers and reputations made in the Heet. And, you have worked diligently at your studies as well. I predict that you may do very well in the Navy, Mister Lewrie. But watch the course you steer well. There're a hundred pitfalls for the ambitious officer. No one can rush about blind to hazard, or forget to cover his back. I'd advise you to make caution your watchword and not let this fleeting fame be the high-water mark for you.’

  ’Aye aye, sir," Lewrie said, not knowing what the hell Bales was talking about, and a little unsettled at seeing such a stem man muttering to himself between phrases.

  Once dismissed, Lewrie went back on deck, just in time to see Keith Ashburn coming through the entry port, and went to join him. His friend was now half a commission officer at least, clad in breeches and stockings, and had replaced his round hat with a cocked one. He wore a new smallsword on his hip instead of a dirk, but his tailor must have been a slow worker since he still had to move about in a midshipman's short coat. "Twenty pounds, Keith," Lewrie said. "Excuse me, Mister Ashburn. Ours, Bascombe's and Shirlee's, though I don't see what a parson's son and a man with one arm in boards are going to do with a bareback rider.’

  ’He forgot Chapman," Ashburn said. ’Who wouldn't?" Lewrie shrugged. "What have you gotten for us?’

  ‘A good dinner for a start, and a suite of rooms, a dozen of wine. That's fifteen shillings apiece. Only two girls so far, but they have friends. A guinea apiece for them. ’

  ‘What are they, blood royal? There must be a whole island full of mutton that'd do it for half a crown, and that's a whole night of it. ’

  ‘These are gentlemen's doxies, not common trolls. Won't go for anyone less than a lieutenant, usually. The two I met are quite fetching," Ashburn promised. Since his promotion to acting lieutenant, he had been acting, all right, acting much more superior, reclaiming those languid airs he had grown up with in rich society. Lewrie was getting a bit peeved with his attitude. It was not a week ago that Ashburn was not above borrowing money from him until his packet arrived. ’There's a boat comin' offshore, sir," a bosun's mate told Ashburn, pointing over the starboard rail. "Headed fer us, I thinks.’

  ’Very well. Hail him, Mister Lewrie.’

  ’Boat ahoy!" Alan shouted. ’Aye aye!" came the answering hail, meaning the boat was for them, and from the fingers stuck in the air by the bowman, there was a full captain aboard. ’Bosun's Mate, muster the sideparty," Lewrie ordered. "Another ghoul come to marvel, I expect. I feel like the gatekeeper at Bedlam. Poking sticks, sir? Stir 'em up? Water squirts? Only a penny more." He wheezed, rubbing his hands.

  A youngish post captain came in through the
entry port and did a long survey of the splintered and stained decks, the lack of guns, and the many repairs still being done to the bulwarks. He carried a large canvas bundle of papers tied up with many fluttering ribbons. ’Welcome aboard, sir," Ashburn said. ’Stuyckes, flag captain to Rear Admiral Sir Onsley Matthews. I am here to see your captain.’

  ’This way, sir, if you please," Ashburn smiled smarmily. "Here, you. Inform the captain of Captain Stuyckes' arrival. You know, sir, I was looking forward to coming to Antigua. Sir Onsley is well known to my family in London.’

  ’Here, you, indeed," Lewrie grumbled as he ran off to inform Bales that he had a visitor, he being the "here, you" in question. I don't think this is going to be one of those friendships that lasts for generations, Keith. And if I ever have a daughter, God help her, your son can go hang before he marries her.

  But it didn't seem as if Keith's toadying was getting him anywhere with Captain Stuyckes, since that worthy wore an expression more in keeping with a funeral, and whatever his business with Captain Bales was, it didn't look like it was to be a social call.

  News of the visit did not take long to circulate through the vessel, so quite a few interested parties made it their business to take the air either on the quarterdeck, or as close as they could get to it. ’The flag captain, was he?" Ellison asked the general vicinity. "A Captain Stuyckes, sir," Lewrie volunteered. "With a bundle of papers all bound in ribbons. ’

  ‘Then it's bad news, no doubt of it," Ellison said bitterly. ’Poor old girl, shot to pieces. ’

  ‘You mean they might not be able to repair the ship, sir?" Alan wondered aloud. "She's bad sprung. Twenty years old, she is, and only brought out of ordinary because we need ships bad You ask 'Chips,' she's half rotten, and now too bad gut-shot to be repaired. Not out here, not in the tropics. Might make a powder hulk.’

  ’So there might be a possibility I could end up in another ship?" Lewrie speculated with a tingle of hope for better chances. ’Aye, a lot of us, most like," Ellison said, considering his slim chances for future employment. Another sailing master "Lewrie," Kenyon called as they were breaking up the sideparty. "Pass the word to all the midshipmen to be sure to wash and dress in their best uniforms in the morning. You'll be called to the flag," Kenyon ordered sternly. "You and a few of the others shall be called upon to testify at the court-martial.’

  ’Eh?" Were they going to try Rolston? "Ariadne has been condemned," Kenyon said bleakly, his own hopes for the future seemingly dashed. "Since she has been lost to the Reet, the captain and the first lieutenant are to face charges in her loss.’

  Just after breakfast, at one bell of the Forenoon watch, a gun boomed from the flag of the Inshore Squadron which Ariadne had been to join, the fifty-gun 4th Rate Glatton. A court-martial jack went up her masts, and boats from several ships in harbor converged on her, boats bearing the five captains that made a court-martial panel, and boats from shore bearing wounded witnesses, as well as two cutters from Ariadne, with her sorrowful-looking party. Once aboard, Bales and Swift were called aft to the admiral's cabins while Lewrie and the rest were led below to Glatton's wardroom and told to wait. Shirke was also there, his arm encased in a set of boards and wrapped with leather. ’I understand we are unemployed," Shirke whispered to Lewrie as he gave up his chair to him. "Accommodations ship, they tell me," Lewrie said softly. "We may be kept on. But I expect the fleet here in the islands is in sore need of people, what with sickness and all. ’

  ‘Pray God they've just had the plague," Shirke said, then grinned. "What about our party?’

  ‘I have five pounds of yours," Lewrie told him. "But with you laid up-’

  ‘Just get me a gentle one and I'll take my fences as well as anyone. What's my share?’

  ‘Three crown, say a pound total with tip for supper, rooms and wine. A guinea for the whore. ’

  ‘A guinea? For a guinea, she'd better be Salome!" would have to die before he could be taken aboard a ship already in commission. He could be temporarily derated to master's mate "for the good of the Service" and spend years trying to get his pay straightened out after stoppages. ’Shore duty for me, then, and my Marines," Osmonde said. "Some garrison work would not go amiss.’

  ’I'd love to get a frigate," Lewrie announced. ’Wouldn't we all?" Ellison snarled, stalking off. ’A chance to see more action, eh?" Osmonde asked Lewrie. "Aye, sir. As long as I have to be in the Navy, what better duty is there?’

  ‘Amazing what a taste of powder smoke can do for a boy. ’

  ‘You were right, Mister Osmonde," Lewrie said. "I almost ran and hid, but I didn't. Or couldn't. And then I didn't have any time to think about it, I just did it. It was terrifying, and I thought I had gone mad. But never more alive.’

  ’And you did extremely well," Osmonde told him. "In fact, you may be the only one to garner any credit from our encounter. One word of advice?’

  ‘Aye, sir, your advice has been good.’

  ’Don't go dashing madly after more fame and glory. They are always bigger than you are, and will eat you right up. ’

  ‘The captain said much the same thing, sir. At least, I think he did," Lewrie replied, repeating Bales' admonition. "Hmrn, I fear Captain Bales and I do not mean the same thing at all. Of course, he is right, in a way. This service is very political. Whig, Tory, City interests, country interests. Anyone who makes a name will always be desperately envied, and there's a hundred people ready to run you through for your p0sition. You must be cautious about the people you anger on your way up, and the people you espouse. But in your actions, too much caution can get you killed, or ruined. It's a fine line to walk, like the edge of a sharp sword.’

  The sideparty formed again as Captain Stuyckes took his leave of them. He was even grimmer in aspect than. when he had come aboard, and most conspicuously, was without his bundle of papers. ’Quiet, you two!" Kenyon admonished, from across the room. One at a time they were called upon as the morning wore on. First Kenyon as ranking officer, then the warrants. Ashburn went and was back in minutes. "That was quick," Lewrie said as a cabin steward circulated a tray of fresh coffee about the wardroom and he used it as an excuse to get close to Ashburn. "How was it?’

  ‘It doesn't look too good for them," Ashburn muttered. "There wasn't much I could tell them, except that I was on the quarterdeck, and never heard a word about clearing for action. Urn, good coffee. First real article I've had in weeks.’

  ’Passing the word for Midshipman Lewrie," a Marine called.

  On his way up to the admiral's cabins to testify, Lewrie saw two faces that he had not expected to run across again. The first was his dis-rated enemy Rolston. He stood by the larboard entry port with a small chest and canvas bag at his feet, going with a draft of men to one of the ships in harbor. He was dressed as a common seaman in slop trousers, checked shirt and neckerchief, with a flat, tarred hat on his head, and his feet bare. Evidently the needs of the fleet were such that there would be no further punishment for him, and he was attained hand able to hand, reef and possibly steer. Rolston saw him and gave him such a black look that Lewrie was afraid for his life for a second. Then the irony of it sITUck him and he waved hello gaily.

  The second face was their silent Lieutenant Church. He was in the company of a Marine Lieutenant, dressed in normal uniform but minus his sword. Lewrie attempted to speak to him, but Church turned away with a "the direct cut.’

  ’You'd think he could speak…" Alan groused. ’Not likely," his guide, an elegantly turned out midshipman on the admiral's staff, told him with a wry grin. "He's due in there himself tomorrow.’

  ’What for?’

  ‘Court-martial. Cowardice under fire," the boy took pleasure in informing him. "Seems you lot from Ariadne have no luck at all, eh?" Lewrie was announced, led in to face the assembled court and shown to a witness chair. Captain Bales and Mr. Swift sat to one side, and he nodded to them as he was sworn in.

  He was led through his name, his date of joining, his duties, and all
the mundane things. Then came the day of their fight. "My station at Quarters was on the lower gun deck. sir," he said, in response to the first serious question, and he tensed up, not knowing what would help or hurt Bales and Swift, and if he should even bother. ’And what occurred, Mister Lewrie?’

  ‘We were finishing dinner, sir, when we were called to Quarters. We had been at gun drill all morning. ’

  ‘Did you think it was another drill?" a sharp-featured captain asked. It was hard to figure out if he was a lawyer or a member of the court. "At first, sir. Just before one bell of the Day Watch. ’

  ‘What was done on the lower gun deck. Mister Lewrie?’

  ‘We turned to the fourteen thirty-two-pounders to starboard, sir. The larboard guns had three men each. Sand was cast, the gun tackles were cast off, tompions removed and the starboard battery loaded with eight-pound charges, and single round-shot.’

  ’You did not run out?’

  ‘No, sir.’

  ’I see. What else did you do to prepare for battle?’

  ‘That was it, sir." Lewrie squirmed in his hard chair as he said it, unable to look at Bales or Swift. ’You did not strike the mess tables? Take chests below?’

  ‘Tables had been raised to the deckheads, sir. But everything else was placed on the centerline away from recoil. ’

  ‘Wkat was… everything else?" the officer posed. "Seamen's chests, sir. Stools, plates, mess kits and bread barges. The gunroom was still standing and so was Marine quarters and the officer's mess.’

  ’You were on the lower gun deck. How could you know about the other?" another captain snapped. ’that Midshipman Lewrie and gunner's mate Cole took over at this time and did exceptional service with the lower deck guns.’