Thunder On the Sea: A Tim Phillips novel (War at Sea Book 11) by Richard Testrake Read Free Book Online

its instructions. In this case, since the commander of that little brig was actually a mere lieutenant, despite his courtesy title of ‘Captain’, there would be no possibility of his telling his superior where to place his ship. As the post ship closed the convoy, Phillips signaled he would assume the starboard position in the van. Alastor should take up the same astern.
    A day outside of Livorno, a small vessel was seen approaching to starboard. Mister Fitzhugh identified it as a tartane, probably French. Large numbers of these vessels were used for coastal trading in the Med, but this one’s actions made it suspicious. It seemed inordinately curious, as if trying to determine the make-up of this small convoy.
    Just to amuse the crew of the tartane, Phillips ordered the Union and commission pennant brought in. Seeing this, Alastor did the same. With no other sign of their martial status, the stranger could not be faulted if he assumed this convoy was a collection of various commercial craft on their own business.
    For a short period, the tartane briskly approached, but at the last moment sheered off, as if she suspected all was not proper here. Mister Drayer, the second officer as well as handling signals wondered why they did not snap this fellow up. Surely they could outpace the little craft.
    Phillips was about to answer but Fitzhugh replied first. “It’s like this Andy.  So far, she has done nothing inappropriate. If she would only fire at us or just run up the bloody flag, we could take action, but as it is, her captain could have us up on charges if we found no sign of evil aboard her.
    Nodding agreement, Phillips turned away and looked forward. A flotilla of innocent looking fishing boats were spread out before them. As if remembering his duty when he saw his captain eying the horizon ahead, the lookout shouted, “Deck there, fishing boats ahead. Too many to count!”
    Fitzhugh addressed the second officer. “Andy, you’d better say something to Dawson up in the tops. He needs to keep his mind on his duty rather than eavesdropping on his officers below.”
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

CHAPTER SIX
     
     
    Off Livorno, another lookout spotted a two-decker flying a broad pennant. thrashing along with a frigate in company. As they flew their numbers, the liner was identified as HMS Odin, 74 guns, Captain Wilson. She signaled the convoy to join and ordered the captain of the post ship to come on board.
    Commodore Wilson greeted Phillips at the entry port and invited him below. After ascertaining the health and well-being of the joining ships and crews, Wilson got down to business.
    “You have probably already heard Bonaparte is in Paris and there is not much this fleet can do to get him out.”
    “There is much unrest along the French coast though, so I am going to release your Major Bentley to raise as much mayhem ashore as he may. I have requisitioned a brig from a French owner here, who has been just a bit too vocal of his support for Bonaparte, and we will use that brig to transport the major and his troops where they must go. I will advise him he is free to ask you for assistance in case of need, and of course, you are permitted to give such aid when possible.”
    “However, I have a different task for you, which must be given priority. At the end of the previous war, there was a French frigate, up on stocks in a nearby shipyard, having some work done on her hull. When peace was announced her officers and crew vanished. She sat there for several months when a citizen, who had made a large sum operating privateers against British supply ships here in the Med, came forward and paid the owner of the shipyard to make the frigate ready for sea again.”
    “When a fisherman I was paying for information reported to me that the ship was almost ready to sail, I put two frigates off the mouth of the harbor. I had intended to seize the ship if she armed herself and put to sea.”
    “However, one of my frigate