The Pursuit

by Peter Smalley

  ‘Ah . . . well.’ James, a nod and a brief grimace.

  ‘You know this?’ A puzzled frown.

  ‘No, sir, no. It’s simply that we were obliged to take just such a new gun into Expedient our first commission, sir – with calamitous consequence.’

  ‘Yes, the Waterfield pattern, that proved a failure, and cost lives. I do not think this new gun can be compared to anything that has gone before, James. According to Mappin it will change the nature of warfare.’

  ‘Ah.’

  ‘You are sceptical, I see. I was myself, until Mappin revealed a detail or two.’

  ‘If den Norske is indeed here, sir, then presumably he intends to interest the Americans in this gun?’

  ‘One American. George Wynn Holbourne, a man who made his fortune trading with the French before and during the War of Independence. He owns a large merchant fleet, with which he imported great quantities of munitions and other matériel during the war, and men – mercenary soldiers. He resides on Chestnut Street, in the same district as Mr Hendry.’

  ‘Is Mr Hendry associated with him?’

  ‘Nay, Mappin thinks not. Hendry is quite genuine in his fondness for England. Holbourne’s mother was French, and he has deep and lasting connections with France, above the purely commercial. He means, in little, to support her in the coming war. To this end he wishes to purchase den Norske’s design, and manufacture the gun at his own foundry, here in the United States.’

  ‘But surely, sir – surely if den Norske wished to aid the French with his design, he would already be in France, would not he?’

  ‘Nay, James. According to Mappin, Mr den Norske believes that his gun should and will be used purely for American defence.’

  ‘He has no wish to aid the French?’

  ‘None. He could raise no interest in his design at home in Norway, nor Denmark. Then Holbourne offered him the opportunity to see his design realised here.’

  ‘Where is the foundry? At Boston?’

  ‘At Lexington.’

  ‘Lexington? That is where—’ He broke off.

  ‘Eh?’

  ‘No, nothing. I did not mean to interrupt.’

  Rennie glanced at him, then continued: ‘As you may imagine, I asked Mappin pretty forceful why we was told nothing of this before we weighed at the Nore, but was instructed merely to pursue, and make a report of where Terces went.’

  ‘And . . .’

  ‘He would only say that he was not then in possession of sufficient intelligence, that he had heard rumours, and had suspicion, but no more. The important thing now, he believes – and I agree with him, James – is that he should get hold of den Norske’s design before Holbourne does.’ ‘Oh, but surely Holbourne has the design in his hands already, sir, if den Norske is here?’

  ‘Mappin’s information is to the contrary. Mr den Norske is in hiding, and has evidently made some very particular conditions that he expects Holbourne to meet, before he will relinquish the design.’

  ‘D’y’mean – he has doubts about Holbourne’s motives?’

  ‘Ay, Mappin thinks that after the action at the fjord, and Terces’ escape, den Norske became deeply distrustful of Captain Broadman’s motives, and Holbourne’s, and reluctant to proceed with the arrangement, and thus when Terces came to Boston he straightway fled ashore and hid, and Broadman departed in Terces, having fulfilled his part of the bargain to bring den Norske to America. Negotiations continue between den Norske and Holbourne, but den Norske is very far from satisfied. Mappin is having Holbourne’s house watched.’

  ‘How has Mappin come into possession of all this intelligence, when he has been here so short a time?’

  ‘We may not think very high of Mappin, James, but this is his profession, and he is a very resourceful fellow.’

  ‘By “resourceful” you mean money, sir, do y’not? Large sums of money?’

  ‘I do. A great part of that money will be offered to den Norske, as soon as Mappin can discover where he is hid, and go to him.’

  ‘What is our place in this, sir? What role are we expected to fill?’

  ‘We are to transport Mr den Norske, and his design, to England, as soon as Mappin can arrange it. Mappin will come with us.’

  ‘And . . . that is all? We are to lie idly here at our mooring until Mappin brings den Norske aboard?’

  ‘Ay, James. That is Mappin’s scheme.’

  ‘I see. But you said that we must have a stratagem of our own, sir, did not you?’

  ‘I did.’ A grim half-smile, and a nod. James waited as Rennie refilled his cup, drank it off, set it down with a sniff, and:

  ‘Now then. We—’

  The muffled bumping of a boat against the side of the ship.

  ‘What’s this . . . ?’ Rennie rose from his chair, and reached for his sword. ‘Sentry!’

  ‘Sir?’ The startled sentry on duty at the great cabin door.

  ‘Alert Mr Harcher! An attempt is being made to cut us out!’

  Rennie and James jumped up on deck, swords drawn, and saw that Lieutenant Tindall, who had the deck, and the two duty mids – had noticed nothing.

  ‘Mr Tindall!’ Rennie, running aft to the tafferel. James ran there with him, and they both peered over the counter, and at once saw a small boat, occupied by two men, being rowed rapidly away into the glancing darkness of the harbour. Lieutenant Tindall joined Rennie and James at the rail, and peered in dismayed surprise at the retreating boat.

  ‘Ahoy there, the boat!’ bellowed James. ‘Who are you!’

  There was no response, and the boat was soon lost in the gloom. The clatter of feet and the rattle of weapons as Lieutenant Harcher, his sergeant and their Marines came running on deck, shrugging into their coats and carrying their muskets.

  ‘A false alarm, Mr Harcher. Y’may stand down.’ Rennie strode forrard from the tafferel. ‘A boatman that had lost his way, nothing more.’

  ‘Very good, sir.’ Mr Harcher put his hand to his hat, found it was not there, and was briefly embarrassed.

  ‘Mr Tindall!’ Rennie, at the companionway ladder.

  ‘Sir?’ Lieutenant Tindall, again attending him.

  ‘You will write a full account of what has occurred tonight, and bring it to me at the change of the watch.’

  ‘Full account, sir . . . ?’

  ‘An account, accurate in every distinction, as to why you, and by God the anchor watch entire, failed to notice the approaching boat.’

  ‘I – I . . . very good, sir.’ His hat off and on.

  ‘Further, y’will be doubly vigilant hereafter. Do you apprehend me?’

  ‘Yes, sir.’ Clearing his throat.

  ‘Are ye suffering from a cold, Mr Tindall?’

  ‘No, sir.’

  ‘Then kindly do not cough in my face when I am addressing you. Return to your duty.’

  Rennie and James went below to the great cabin.

  ‘What did they want, I wonder?’ Rennie, laying aside his sword.

  ‘You do not believe, then, that they had merely lost their way?’ James.

  ‘In their own harbour? Nay, I do not.’ Firmly.

  ‘Perhaps, instead, they came looking for the boat we borrowed, sir – don’t you think so?’

  ‘By God . . .’ a chuckle ‘. . . can you be right, James? We took a boat, they thought we had stole it, and came to find it.’ A pause, a sniff, then: ‘But why did not they reply when we hailed them? Why did they flee into the darkness, if they had a perfectly legitimate reason to come to us? Nay, on second thought, those men did not come looking for a missing boat, James. They had another motive.’

  ‘They could not have come to attack us, when they were only two.’

  ‘I think Mr Holbourne has sent them, or associates of Holbourne.’

  ‘But would Holbourne be interested in Expedient, sir? He could not link us to den Norske, when we have had no contact with him here.’

  ‘Holbourne may have heard of our enquiries about the Terces. If he has even an inkl
ing of a plot to deprive him of den Norske’s design, it is very likely he has arranged to have us spied upon.’ Before James could interrupt: ‘Any British ship of war, coming out of the blue to Boston, will arouse Holbourne’s suspicions, because of his hatred of England and his love of France.’

  ‘D’y’think he has discovered that his own house is watched?’

  ‘I am in no doubt Mappin has enjoined his men to go very careful, but nothing is certain in an affair of this kind.’ A moment, a sniffing breath, and:

  ‘By the by, James, who was that young woman you engaged in such close conversation at dinner?’

  ‘Young woman?’ Innocently. ‘Oh – d’y’mean Miss Dunne? She is Mr Hendry’s niece, sir. I thought it good manners to draw her out, you know, since her uncle had gone to such trouble to be kind to Expedient.’

  ‘Hm. Hm. And is her home, by any chance, at Lexington?’

  ‘Lexington . . . ?’ A thoughtful frown. ‘Yes . . . yes, I think she did say—’

  Over him: ‘Think? Come, James, you blurted out “Lexington!” when I mentioned that Mr Holbourne’s foundry was located there.’ Another sniff. ‘Ye’d better have no further dealings with Miss Dunne.’

  ‘No further . . . but good heaven, why not?’

  ‘She may be a spy for Holbourne at Lexington, and elsewhere.’

  ‘With respect, sir, I think that is just wholly absurd. You said yourself that Mr Hendry was a good friend to England. Why should not his niece fall under the same distinction, exact?’

  ‘Well well, I noticed you was becoming infatuated with her, James. This ready inclination in you has led to very grave consequence in the past, therefore y’must be protected from yourself. I forbid you to see Miss Dunne again while we are engaged in this vital matter.’

  ‘Forbid . . . ?’

  ‘That is the word. It is my instruction to you, and my wish.’

  ‘Sir, again with respect, I think you have clearly mistook a harmless conversation at dinner for something else entire, and that—’

  ‘I have mistook nothing. Declare to me now that was you to go below to your cabin and there discover Miss Dunne naked in your hanging cot – you would turn her out of it, and out of the ship. Well? Would you?’

  James had gone pale with anger.

  ‘Sir, I really do not think I will countenance such an attack on my honour, nor upon the lady’s, neither. What you have just said to me is a damned insult.’

  ‘Be quiet, sir.’ Curtly.

  ‘Nay by God, I will not, unless you offer me an apology.’

  ‘Apology! What fucking dishwater is this, when I am trying to save you from utter wretched foolishness, that could put us all in mortal danger!’

  ‘You have accused Miss Dunne of being an harlot and a spy, merely because I behaved gentlemanlike to her. In other circumstances that would be tantamount to an outright challenge. I therefore demand—’

  ‘James, James . . .’ Rennie held up a hand ‘. . . before you overreach y’self, and say something y’will only regret, I have no wish to quarrel with you. We must stand together as Expedients, and think of our duty. Our duty is to aid Mr Mappin in taking den Norske and his design out of Holbourne’s reach, and away to England.

  You agree?’

  James was furiously silent.

  ‘You agree?’ Insistently, raising his eyebrows and looking at James very direct.

  At last, James: ‘I agree.’ Averting his gaze as he said it.

  ‘Very good.’ A nod. ‘Thankee, James.’

  Rennie now noticed a sheet of paper lying on his desk, and took it up. Presently, half to himself: ‘Ah. Yes. The doctor’s amended list of men that are restored and fit for duty.’ He put the list down, took up a quill and added something to the bottom, then: ‘By the by, James . . .’ Laying down the pen.

  ‘Sir?’

  ‘I had forgot it until now. Mappin brought some welcome incidental news from England. Thomas Wing has made a full recovery, and is presently assisting Dr Stroud at the Haslar.’

  ‘That is excellent news indeed, sir.’ Bending a little.

  ‘Ay. Wing is better off where he is, I think.’

  ‘You would not want him back?’ Puzzled.

  ‘I would not wish anybody with us this cursed commission that was not obliged to be.’ Quietly. ‘I fear the worst of it is ahead of us.’

  ‘Do you wish me to remain, sir?’

  ‘Eh?’ A frown.

  ‘You wished to discuss our own stratagem . . . ?’

  ‘Oh, yes. Yes, I did, and we was interrupted. I will like something stronger than tea while we talk. Cutton! Colley Cutton!’

  His steward did not respond, and Rennie found a bottle of Madeira and glasses in his pantry, and brought them to the table. James joined him there, and the two sea officers, restored for the moment to amity, fell to earnest conference over their wine.

  *

  ‘Mappin wishes us to remain aboard Expedient, ready to weigh and depart the moment he comes to us with den Norske. He wishes us to stay aloof from the town and its society. I do not think that will answer, James. We must play a more active part in this, and we can circumvent Mappin’s instruction easily enough. Because of our continuing repair, one or both of us must go ashore frequent to see about timber, rope, nails, and the like – copper, even. And we need not remain always in the confines of the wharves. We can move about the town.’

  ‘Yes, sir, during the hours of daylight. And we may very probably receive other invitations to dine, which we could not in all conscience ignore – could we?’

  ‘Well well, possibly. I cannot imagine that Mr Hendry is overly pleased with me, when I have broke up his carefully arranged dinner. Perhaps he will convey his displeasure to others in Boston, that was thinking of playing host to us, and dissuade them.’

  ‘That was not my impression of Boston society, sir.’

  ‘Was it not? Was it not?’ A nod, a little grimace. ‘What was your impression?’

  ‘Very welcoming, I should have said, sir. Eager to please, with open arms, and open hearts.’

  ‘You are thinking of one young woman in particular, I am in no doubt, as illustration of your case?’

  ‘It was my sense of the gathering as a whole, sir.’ James, carefully neutral and polite.

  ‘Was it? Very good.’ A breath, a pull of wine, and: ‘The reason we cannot simply stay aboard Expedient all the time and wait, James, is that I do not believe Mappin has told me the whole truth, even now.’

  ‘D’y’mean – about den Norske, or Holbourne?’

  ‘About the whole damned business, James. From the moment we began the pursuit of Terces, and Broadman first turned on us and fired without warning – I have been ill at ease.’

  ‘Well, yes, indeed. A discreet pursuit became hot action, bloody action, we lost a great many of our people, and—’

  ‘Nay, James, I have never shirked an action at sea, and nor have you. Great guns and blood are a sea officer’s lot, and we have snuffed burning wad since we was mids with voices yet unbroke, and our dirks shining new. Nay, action don’t make me ill at ease. It is what lies behind. Olaf Christian den Norske is here in Boston, ay. But is he here in truth to offer this new gun to America, and to negotiate favourable terms for its manufacture here? Or does he know very well that Holbourne – just so soon as he casts the first example of the gun – will offer it to France?’

  ‘In effect then, den Norske is helping France? But he is a Norwegian. Why should he wish France to have his gun before Norway, or her masters in Denmark?’

  ‘Don’t forget that Norway spurned his design, as did Denmark. Perhaps he then offered it in Sweden, and was again turned away.’

  ‘Yes, but why? If this gun is so wonderful, miraculous effective, why did they reject it?’

  ‘You may have hit on the reason. Perhaps it is so radical in concept, defying all conventional notions of ordnance, that the qualities den Norske claims for it are – in the conventional wisdom – mere fantasy. I say
perhaps.’

  ‘Yes, but—’

  ‘Pray let me finish, James. It is pure speculation, I grant you, but I believe agents of Holbourne – who has wide mercantile interests in Europe through his fleets – or agents of France, heard of this design for a new gun, and alerted den Norske to the possibility of its manufacture in America.’

  ‘Ain’t it likely, sir, if what you say is true, that the French would already have made an offer for this gun, if they believed in it?’

  ‘No, no, no.’ Rennie held up a hand, breathing through his nose, his eyes closed. ‘Y’see, James, I do not think Mr Olaf Christian den Norske is altogether the mild, polite, diffident-seeming young fellow you described to me, after one brief meeting aboard Terces. I believe on the contrary that he is a most ruthless, determined and ambitious fellow, with two things in his head. He means to see his gun realized, and he means to make his fortune. In this he is neither Norwegian, nor Danish, nor French in his sympathies, nor American. He does not care a fig for any of them. His colours are those of one Olaf Christian den Norske. Another possibility occurs to me, James.’ Holding up a finger. ‘Supposing the ships that was apparently protecting Terces in the fjord had other notions. What if they was merely trying to prevent den Norske and his design from escaping Norwegian waters? What if he had, after all, engendered strong interest in his gun in Denmark – but had not received a handsome enough offer? Hm? What if he and Broadman, in the fleet-footed Terces, was obliged to outrun those ships when Terces had eluded us in the action? Hey?’ Nodding, warming to his theme. ‘And accordingly, what if he has shown a full and complete set of these plans to nobody as yet? Has merely described his idea? He will vouchsafe the full design for his gun only to whomsoever will give him what he wants, entire, in gold. And for the moment – with reservations – he believes Holbourne offers him his best opportunity. Ay, that is the most plausible explication.’

  James had listened attentively, but now he could not conceal the depth of his doubts.

  ‘Well, sir . . . I will not like to argue with you, but as you yourself have said . . . most of what you suggest is pure speculation.’