Baltic Mission by Richard Woodman Read Free Book Online Page B

skyline.
    The British frigate and her small convoy entered the Baltic Sea.

3
April 1807

The Shipment of Arms
    Mr James Quilhampton peered over the ship’s side and watched the little bobbing black jolly-boat, from the nearer of the two brigs, hook neatly onto the frigate’s main chains. The man in her stern relinquished the tiller, stepped lightly upon a thwart and, skilfully judging the boat’s motion, leapt for the man-ropes and the wooden battens that formed a ladder up the frigate’s tumblehome. He was met by Midshipman Lord Walmsley and Quilhampton straightened up as the man, hatless despite the cold and in plain civilian dress, strode aft.
    â€˜Good morning, Lieutenant,’ he said in the rolling accent of Northumbria.
    â€˜Good morning, Captain Young,’ responded Quilhampton civilly. ‘I have informed Captain Drinkwater of your approach and here he comes now.’
    Drinkwater mounted the quarterdeck ladder and cast a swift and instinctive glance round the horizon.
Antigone
and the two brigs lay hove-to on a smooth grey sea which was terminated to the north and east by an ice-field that seemed at first to stretch to the horizon itself. But beyond it to the east lay the faint blue line ofland, a low country of unrelieved flatness, almost part of the sea itself.
    â€˜Captain Young,’ said Drinkwater cordially, taking the strong hand and wincing with the power of its grip. His right arm already ached from the cold seeping into the mangled muscles of his wounded shoulder and Young’s rough treatment did nothing to ease it. ‘I give you good day. I take it that you and Captain Baker and your ships’ companies are well?’
    â€˜Why aye, man. As fit as when we left London River.’
    â€˜What d’you make of this ice?’ Drinkwater disengaged his arm from Young’s eager, pump-handle grasp and gestured eastward.
    â€˜The Pregel Bar is not more than two leagues distant, Captain Drinkwater. It is unlikely that the ice will last more than anothersennight.’ He smiled. ‘Why, man, Baker and I’ll be drinking schnapps in Königsberg by mid-month.’
    â€˜You think the ice in the Frisches Haff will have cleared by then?’
    â€˜Aye, man. Once thaw sets in ’twill soon clear.’
    â€˜In view of the presence of ice I think it better that I should remain with you. You might have need of my protection yet.’
    â€˜As you wish, Captain.’
    â€˜You have your instructions as to the formalities necessary to the discharging of your arms and ammunition?’
    â€˜Aye, Captain.’ Young smiled again. ‘You may allay your fears on that score. They will not fall into the wrong hands.’
    â€˜Very well. But I could wish for more positive assurances. News from the shore that Königsberg is not in danger from the French . . .’
    â€˜No, Captain, I doubt there’s any fear o’ that. At Vinga we heard that Boney’s had both his eyes blacked proper by them Russians. You’ve no need to fear that Königsberg’s a French port.’
    â€˜Let’s hope you are right,’ said Drinkwater.
    â€˜What about your own cargo, Captain Drinkwater?’ Young asked.
    â€˜Eh? Oh. You know about that do you?’
    â€˜Of course,’ Young chuckled, ‘have you ever known a secret kept along a waterfront?’
    Drinkwater shook his head. ‘I have to deliver it to Revel but, as you can see, the ice prevents me for the time being.’ He attempted to divert the conversation. He had no business discussing such matters with Young. ‘What will you do once you have discharged your lading at Königsberg?’
    â€˜Coast up to Memel and see what Munro has for us.’
    â€˜Munro?’ asked Drinkwater absently.
    â€˜A Scottish merchant who acts as my agent at Memel. He and I have been associates in the way of business for as many years as I’ve owned and commanded