Dead Reckoning by Parkinson C. Northcote Read Free Book Online Page B

then, through his speaking-trumpet, called on the Indiaman’s crew to surrender. A figure now appeared on the Indiaman’s forecastle and shouted back through his own speaking-trumpet: “What do you say?” Audenet repeated his demand, wondering what scene of confusion there must be behind the flapping foresail. His victims did not even know how to surrender! He hailed them once more: “Haul down your colours—or else I’ll sink you! Haul down your miserable flag!”
    On board the Laura, Delancey now gave the order for his men to man the starboard battery. Behind the foresail which momentarily hid the scene from her opponent the frigate sprang to life, every man running to his action station. The tangle aloft began to sort itself out and the ship began a slow swing to port, gradually presenting her broadside tothe Charente. Too late, the French frigate’s first lieutenant saw what was going to happen. “Back to your posts!” he yelled. “Prepare to open fire!” shouted the captain. “Look out!” bawled a dozen other voices but the general reaction was far too slow. Delancey could now be seen on the Laura ’s quarterdeck and his drawn sword, sweeping round, pointed at a quarter-deck carronade. It fired and then, after a count of five seconds, the entire broadside fired all but simultaneously. There was a crashing of woodwork, a whistle of grapeshot, a screaming of the wounded, and a babble of orders. “Fire!” shouted the first lieutenant. “Make all sail!” bawled the captain. The Frenchmen were still trying to organize themselves when the Laura ’s second broadside followed the first and with murderous effect. Her decks littered with dead and wounded, the Charente managed to break off the duel and pull clear of her antagonist. Audenet then made all sail to rejoin his Commodore, making the signal that he had sustained a loss of thirty-four dead and seventy-one wounded. Seeing this signal, Garnier ordered the Charente to resume her station in the line. He had now to decide what to do next. The Charente had walked into a trap and it was a mistake he could not afford to repeat. He was puzzled over his own opponent, observing that his own ship had so far sustained relatively little damage. Was she really a man-of-war? But then there was that other ship with a Commodore’s pennant. Could she be the real escort? There had been a trap—the mishandled ship lagging astern—but was that the only trap? If the Tourville were handled as the Charente had been, he would have to end his cruise and return to the Ile de France. He decided to break off the engagement and allow the convoy to go on its way. By nightfall he was out of sight to the southward and the China Fleet was heading for the Straits of Malacca.
    On the following day, in calm seas, Woodfall gave a dinner for Delancey and the other commanders. Healths were drunk in an atmosphere of mutual congratulation. John Tarleton was something of a hero and made a suitably modest speech. A ceremony then followed in which Delancey was made an Honorary East India Commander. Longhurst, commanding the David Scott, the ship ahead of the Laura, who had enjoyed the nearest view of Delancey’s skirmish, was lyrical in his description of it.
    â€œAt one moment there was chaos with a ship in utter confusion, badly commanded, ill-trained, ill-disciplined, tottering somewhere between a mutiny and surrender. Then came the transformation scene! In a minute there was a frigate in action, every man at his post, every gun manned and armed. Then—crash—came that first broadside! I never saw anything like it!The French did not know what had happened to them. And before they had recovered their wits the next broadside hit them. That ship was completely silenced and I wonder now that you did not go on and capture her. A success like that, frigate against frigate, would have earned you your