A Certain Threat (The Merriman Chronicles Book 1)

by Roger Burnage

  “Well thank you Sir, most generous of you I must say, most generous.” He beamed at the doctor and passed the bottle round for the others to see, calling for fresh glasses to be brought to the table.

  “Small glasses if you have them,” said the doctor, “this is best taken in small sips.”

  At the first taste, Captain Merriman’s eyes opened wide. “By God, Sir. This is exceptional, what say you gentlemen?”

  They all signified approval except for poor Matthew. His face went red, his eyes watered and he gasped for breath.

  “Powerful stuff, Matthew,” said his father with a grin. “Sorts the men from the boys eh? Thank you again Doctor. I’ll keep the rest of it for special occasions.”

  “Now Doctor, I hope you won’t mind if I mix a little business with pleasure. My wife and I are of a mind that if you are agreeable we would like you to be our doctor. Our previous doctor has recently passed away and we have not yet approached any other. What do you say Sir?”

  “I had anticipated that you might ask, Captain, after your son touched on the matter when we last met. As you know, I came home to retire, but I am prepared to take a few patients and would be happy to count your family amongst them.”

  “Capital, capital, Doctor. And your first patient shall be James here. Be silent James, your Mother and I are most concerned about your wound. It’s several months since he was wounded Doctor and it still troubles him. As you see, he still keeps a bandage on it and won’t let anyone see it. Now James, no more protests, we insist on it being seen. Doctor?”

  “I am more than willing to examine it, perhaps tomorrow morning would be suitable if the Lieutenant -----?”

  “Oh, very well then,” said Merriman with an ill grace, “if I must, I must.”

  “It’s for your own good James,” said his father. “let us say no more about it for now. Captain Saville, I would like your opinion of this excellent brandy, and yours Doctor. I wouldn’t be surprised if duty hasn’t been paid on it as we found it on the doorstep some six months ago.”

  The conversation turned to the subject of smuggling and the awful fate of the Revenue cutter’s crew. Captain Merriman told the visitors as much as was known of the affair although Merriman noticed that he was careful not to mention anything about his man Owen.

  “Now Gentlemen, I think we have kept the ladies waiting long enough. Shall we join them? I know that Emily has been practicing on the harpsichord and hopes to entertain us.”

  Merriman was surprised to see how fluently his sister’s fingers moved over the keys. She played well and he noticed how quickly Robert placed himself to be able to turn the sheets of music for her. He also noticed that his father was keeping an eye on the young soldier. The rest of the evening passed pleasantly enough, Mrs. Merriman sang and the soldier surprised everyone by quoting passages from plays by the Irishman Richard Sheridan.

  In the morning, the Doctor suggested that he and Merriman find a quiet room upstairs so that he might examine the wound. As he unwound the bandage, he asked how it had occurred.

  “I was told that it was lead shot and nails from some kind of blunderbuss. I didn’t see the man that fired it, but I believe I was lucky in that most of the shot missed me and killed one of my men. One piece hit my head a glancing blow, and my arm and hand, which must have been raised at the time, took the force of several other pieces.”

  “Hmm, I see. Hmm, ah-ha, hmm,” said the doctor in the non-committal way that doctors assume the world over . “Raise your arm, if you please, hmm, ah yes, a little further please. Now bend it at the elbow, good, good, now then grasp my hand as tightly as you can. Ah, I see that it pains you and your hand does not have a great deal of strength. Am I not right?”

  “Yes Sir, you are, but I am sure that it will improve given time.”

  “And I Sir, am certain that it will not. In fact I would expect it to become a great deal worse.” He pressed his thumb on a point below Merriman’s elbow on his forearm. Merriman winced and groaned and sweat broke out on his forehead.

  “There is still a piece of something buried in your arm, you see, that will have to come out before the arm will improve.”

  “But the doctor who cared for me in Gibraltar put me through hell, with his digging and probing and declared himself satisfied that he had found all the pieces.”

  “Well young Sir, I can tell you very definitely that he was wrong. I’m sure he did his best, but he missed one. I’m surprised that the wound has not festered. If it had you would have been fortunate not to have lost your arm entirely. I strongly recommend that you allow me to deal with it as soon as possible.”

  Merriman sat down with a bump, clutching his arm, his eyes closed in anguish at the thought of more surgery.

  “I know what you are thinking” said the doctor, “You’re like most people, you would rather face an enemy broadside than the surgeon’s knife. However, I can promise you that you will not feel anything at the time though there will be some discomfort while it heals.”

  “Very well then, you had better do what you think is best Doctor.”

  When they returned downstairs they found Mrs. Merriman waiting in the hall.

  “Oh Doctor, how is it, how is James’ arm?” she asked anxiously.

  “Don’t fret Ma’am, all will be well. I must open the arm and remove a piece of shot, but I am sure that it will heal satisfactorily. Now if my carriage can be called I’ll go home to collect what I need and return as fast as I can. The sooner I do this the better.”

  “Thank you Doctor, you see James, I was sure that you needed help.”

  “Yes Mother, you were right as usual.” said Merriman resignedly, “I must go and have a large brandy before the good Doctor starts cutting me up.”

  “No Sir, no spirits of any kind. As your doctor I forbid it. I shall be giving you a draught to make you sleep and it does not mix well with spirits.”

  The doctor departed and Merriman and his mother joined the rest of the family and guests to tell them what was to happen.

  “Pleased to hear it,” said Captain Merriman, “we were sure that something could be done for you.”

  In due time the doctor returned with his bag of necessities and he and Merriman retired upstairs after instructing a maid to bring up some boiling water.

  “Please strip to the waist and lie down James. I trust that you do not mind if I call you James.” He busied himself with a small phial of some clear liquid. “Now James I want you to drink this. It will send you into a deep sleep and all will be over when you waken.”

  It was even so. Merriman came to his senses some time later to find his mother sitting beside him holding his good hand. His other arm was bandaged from the elbow to the fingertips but apart from a dull throbbing he could feel nothing.

  “The doctor tells us that you will be right as rain in a few days,” she said .

  “That’s right James” said another voice. He turned his head to see the doctor on his other side. “Would you like to keep a souvenir of my efforts?”

  The doctor extended his hand. “This is what I removed from your arm whilst you slept.” Merriman saw a piece of metal about an inch long together with a small nail.

  “Thank you Doctor, I was foolish to doubt you. I suppose I was frightened to admit I needed help.”

  “Never mind that James. Now If you feel able to sit up, your mother and I will make you presentable. Everybody wants to come and see you.”

  Merriman sat up on the edge of the bed. The room spun round a few times then settled down. His mother and the doctor helped him on with a fresh shirt and the doctor tied a cloth round his neck supporting his arm. “I want you to keep your arm as still as possible for the next week,” he said, “it will help the wound to heal.”

  They helped him into a chair and his mother fussed around him, sponging his face and combing his hair. “Mother, I’m not a complete invalid,” he protested.

  “I know dear, but it gives me great pleasure to do it for you. It’s be
en too many years since I could.”

  The whole family wanted to see him. His father cheerful and hearty, Emily giving him a kiss and a hug and brother Matthew rather subdued, perhaps only now really understanding what the King’s service demanded in terms of pain and suffering.

  The next to enter was his friend Robert, with a big smile on his face. “How is the wounded hero? Your father has been telling me of how you came to be hurt. A fine action I hear. I must go back to town now but there is someone else who wishes to see you.”

  He opened the door to reveal the doctor’s daughter Helen. She moved towards Merriman, saying “I am pleased to see you looking so well Sir, I hope, no, I’m certain that you will be yourself in a day or two.”

  “Thank you Ma’am for your concern. I shall be about as soon as I can.”

  “Now,” said the doctor, “That’s enough for now. Mrs. Merriman Ma’am, I look to you to ensure that your son has complete rest and does not agitate his arm at all. I’ll call again in three day’s time but if you need me earlier pray do not hesitate to call for me.”

  As he was left alone, Merriman was annoyed to realize that he felt as weak as a kitten but his good sense brought him to the realization that it would pass and hopefully he could look forward to using his arm and hand properly again.

  As promised, the doctor returned, inspected Merriman’s arm and pronounced himself satisfied with its progress. “As you see James, The cut is healing nicely and I’ll be able to remove the stitches in another few days.”

  “Doctor, I’m surprised at the neatness of your stitches. I’ve seen many a wound sewn up by our navy surgeons but none of them was as good as this.”

  “Oh, didn’t you know. It was Helen who did it, not me. She is far more skilful with a needle than I am.”

  Merriman was about to make some kind of remark about the unsuitability of such a thing for a young lady to do but he thought better of it.

  “The next thing I want you to do James, is to hold this small tightly bound ball of rags and try to squeeze it. You will find it difficult at first, but if you persevere you will find it easier each day. Keep the arm in the sling for a few days longer and practise with it as much as you can. It will strengthen the muscles of your arm and hand.”

  It was difficult and Merriman often swore in frustration, but as the days passed he found that his grip was becoming stronger as the doctor had told him it would.

  Chapter 9: Merriman reports to the Admiralty

  Eventually, one morning at breakfast, one of the servants whispered in his ear that Owen had returned late the previous night and wanted to speak with him.

  Owen looked tired and his clothes were dirty and torn but he had an air of satisfaction about him when Merriman met him. On seeing Merriman his face split into a broad smile, “I’ve done it Sir, I’ve done it, I’ve found out a lot.” Then his face fell, “But I ‘ad to kill a man Sir, in cold blood it were and I regret that, even though ‘e needed killing.”

  “Right then, wait there until I bring my Father in. Then you can tell us everything.”

  When they were settled, Merriman indicated to Owen that he should begin his tale.

  “Well Sir, I did as you suggested and pretended I’d run, I took to sleepin’ under ‘edges and stayin’ in the shadows in some of the taverns used by the fisherfolk and farm people. Most of ‘em looked at me suspicious like, but nobody spoke to me until one night a man approached me and bought me a drink. He was a Welshman, no doubt of that. He said ‘e could see I was a seafaring man and started asking questions, like who was I and what ships I’d served on. and such, ‘e seemed satisfied and told me to go back the next night as ‘e might find work for me, but ‘e wouldn’t say what.”

  Owen went on to relate all that had happened.

  “An interesting story, these smugglers are well organised I must say,” Captain Merriman said with some asperity, “They seem to have no fear of discovery.”

  “No Sir, and that’s not all,” continued Owen. “The same thing ‘appened for two nights more. I helped with more landings of brandy and such but I don’t know where we were taken those times though I kept my eyes open. I must ‘ave pleased the man in charge because I wasn’t blindfolded again.”

  Owen finished his account and stood there, nervously waiting to see what effect his tale would have on his audience. Both of his listeners looked at him for a long moment without saying anything, then Captain Merriman rose to his feet and paced up and down, his brow furrowed in concentration. He turned to his son, “James, what do you make of this man’s story? I’d like your opinion.”

  “I believe it Father. Don’t forget that he didn’t have to go, it was my idea and as for killing that man, Owen had no option and the fellow would have been hanged if the authorities had managed to get hold of him.”

  “My view exactly. I don’t like killing if it can be avoided, but in this case I believe it to be justified.” He swung round to face the big sailor. “Do you understand what I am saying? We attach no blame to you for the man’s death, but not a word about this affair must go beyond this room..”

  “Aye-aye Sir, and thank’ee Sir, I’ll not tell a soul,” said Owen with a relieved look on his face. “But that’s not all Sir. I found out where they take some of the stuff to in Chester.”

  “Did you by God!” said the Captain, “Maybe we’ll be able to catch these rogues before too long. We could go to wherever it is with the Revenue and catch them red-handed, what do you say James?”

  “I think we should hear what more Owen has to tell us before we make any precipitate plans Father. As we’ve said before, there must be somebody with a good brain behind this affair and we don’t know if the man that Owen met, the leader of the gang, is the one we want.”

  “Blast it! You always were the thinker James, and you are right again. I’m too ready to lay alongside and give ‘em a broadside. Right then, tell us the rest of it”

  “Well Sir, as I said, after I killed that man they seemed to trust me a bit more because one night I was taken in a loaded wagon into Chester. O’ course it was dark and I was told to keep under the cover, so I couldn’t see the name of the tavern we stopped at but I reckon I could find it again. It was a tavern Sir, I know, and the wagon turned into a big yard at the back of it.”

  “The driver said I was there because I looked strong enough to do the work of two men and we set to to ‘elp unload the wagon. There were three other fellows there and we moved the load and split it up between three smaller wagons. We ‘ad to be quiet and could only work by the light of a couple of lanterns. As each wagon was loaded, one of the men drove it away.”

  “Have you any idea where they were going?” asked Merriman.

  “No Sir, sorry Sir,” replied Owen, shaking his head. On the way back I asked the driver about it, casual like, but he told me to mind my own business. I didn’t want to press him Sir, in case he got suspicious.”

  “No, quite right. You have done well Owen, I’m very pleased.”

  “Thank’ee Sir. Mebbe I can learn more when I go back..”

  “Going back may not be easy. How did you manage to get away to come here?”

  “I told ‘em I wanted to see my sister who works on a farm near here. O’course I ‘aven’t got a sister but I think they believed me.”

  “Well we certainly need to know as much as we can about these fellows, but you must be sure of your safety. I suggest that you do exactly what you are told to do and don’t try to come back here unless you have something really important to report, or if you think that you may be in danger.”

  “Aye-aye Sir, I’ll do that.” And with that he left Merriman and his father alone.

  “You’ve got a good man there, James. When you return to sea with a command you could do worse than take him with you and make him your Cox’n.”

  “If I am given a command again, which is unlikely with no war and so many officers on half pay.”

  “I don’t like to see you so bitter James, y
our arm is healing nicely according to Doctor Simpson and your court martial cleared you. You have everything to look forward to and I should be very surprised if the Admiralty forgot about such a capable young officer.”

  “I hope you are right Father, but we shall just have to wait and see.”

  Captain Merriman’s optimism appeared to be well founded when a letter arrived a day or two later bearing the Admiralty seal. Merriman opened it with some trepidation, not knowing whether to expect good or bad news. Beneath the usual headings and greetings it appeared that their Lordships of the Admiralty, assuming that he was healed of his wounds, ordered him, “required and requested him” in Admiralty parlance, to report to a Captain Edgar at the Admiralty in London, a week from the date of the letter at two o’clock in the afternoon.

  “Good God, that’s only three days after today,” said Captain Merriman when James showed him the letter. “We’d better send a message to the White Lion to ask if Mr. Paul can reserve a seat for you on the Royal Mail Coach tomorrow evening. It will have you in London about twenty-six hours after leaving Chester. That’s a lot quicker than the old rattler you came home on, eh!”

  “It certainly is Father, I’ll do that right away. Also I believe that I should go and see Doctor Simpson right away as these stitches are due to be removed.”

  Arriving at the Doctor’s house, Merriman was admitted by a maid and ushered in as the Doctor rose to his feet

  “Welcome James, come and sit down by the fire. What brings you out on such a cold day?”

  Merriman told the Doctor about his summons to the Admiralty and that he would be leaving the very next day. “So you see Doctor, I thought you should examine my arm again before I go. I understand that the stitches should be ready to come out now.”