1805 by Richard Woodman Read Free Book Online Page B

that such an attack had been launched against Admiral Howe in New York during the American War. Drinkwater was apt to regard such arrogant dismissal of French abilities as extremely unwise. From what he had observed of those
chaloupes
and
péniches
there was very little wrong with them as sea-going craft. That alone was enough to make them worthy targets for His Majesty’s frigate
Antigone
.
    â€˜Beg pardon, sir.’
    â€˜Yes, Mr Wickham, what is it?’ Drinkwater dabbed his mouth with his napkin and pushed back his chair.
    â€˜Mr Hill’s compliments, sir, and the wind’s falling light. If we don’t make more sail the enemy will get away.’
    â€˜We cannot permit that, Mr Wickham. Make all sail, I’ll be up directly.’
    Rogers followed him on deck and swore as soon as he saw the distance that still remained. Hill crossed the deck and touched his hat.
    â€˜Stuns’ls, sir?’
    â€˜If you please, Mr Hill, though I doubt we’ll catch ’em now.’
    Drinkwater looked round the horizon. Daylight had revealed a low mist which obscured the sharp line of the horizon. Above it the sun rose redly, promising a warm day with mist and little wind. Already the sea was growing smooth, its surface merely undulating, no longer rippling with the sharp though tiny crests of a steady breeze. Hardly a ripple ran down
Antigone
’s side: the wind had suddenly died away and Drinkwater now detected a sharp chill. Beside him Rogers swore again. He turned quickly forward.
    â€˜Mr Hill!’
    â€˜Sir?’
    â€˜Belay those stuns’ls. All hands to man yard and stay tackles, hoist out and launch!’ He turned to Rogers. ‘Get the quarter-boats away, Sam, there’s fog coming. You’re to take charge.’
    Rogers needed no second bidding. Already alert, the ship’s company tumbled up to sway out the heavy launch with its snub-nosed carronade mounted on a forward slide. It began to rise jerkily from the booms amidships as, near at hand, the slap of bare feet on the deck accompanied a hustling of men over the rail and into the light quarter-boats hanging in the davits. Among the jostling check shirts and pigtails, the red coats and white cross-belts of the marines mustered with an almost irritating formality.
    â€˜Orders, sir?’ Mr Mount the lieutenant of marines saluted him.
    â€˜Mornin’, Mr Mount. Divide your men up ’twixt quarter-boats and launch. Mr Rogers is in command. I want those invasion craft destroyed!’
    â€˜Very well, sir.’ Mount saluted and spun round: ‘Sergeant, your platoon in the starboard quarter-boat. Corporal Williams, your men the larboard. Corporal Allen, with me in the launch!’
    The neat files broke up and the white-breeched, black-gaitered marines scrambled over the rails and descended into the now waiting boats. Drinkwater looked at the enemy. The invasion craft had already vanished but the brig still showed, ghostly against the insubstantial mass of the closing fog.
    â€˜Mr Hill! A bearing of the brig, upon the instant!’
    â€˜Sou’-east-a-half-south, sir!’
    â€˜Mr Rogers!’ Drinkwater leaned over the rail and bawled down at the first lieutenant in the launch. ‘Steer sou’-east-a-half-south. We’ll fire guns for you but give you fifteen minutes to make your approach.’
    He saw Rogers shove a seaman to one side so that he could see the boat compass and then the tossed oars were being lowered, levelled and swung back.
    â€˜Give way together!’
    The looms bent with sudden strain and the heavy launch began to move, followed by the two quarter-boats. In the stern of each boat sat the officers in their blue coats with a splash of red from the marines over which the dull gleam of steel hung until engulfed by the fog.
    â€˜Now we shall have to wait, Mr Hill, since all the lieutenants have left us behind.’
    â€˜Indeed, sir, we will.’
    Drinkwater