HMS Centaur: A Charles Mullins novel, Sea Command 8

by Richard Testrake

  Mister Reynolds, senior aide to Admiral Curtis, had heard these kinds of excuses before. “Then you had better return to the Frisians’ to get updated orders. You will get no ship here.”

  Mullins replied, “Yes sir, I will take the next ship back to the Frisians. Since the orders I just showed you came from Lord Mulgrave, should I not first return to London to report my inability to follow them?”

  Reynolds, furious at the unwanted discussion seized the orders again and peered at them closely. “Why did the First Lord send you to me?”

  Mullins replied, “Sir, he sent me to see Admiral Curtis, who I am told is not available. I believe he expects I will get a ship and sail it to the Caribbean forthwith.”

  Mullins was told to wait out in the anteroom and await further instructions. After an hour staring at the wall, a servant appeared and handed him another set of orders. These orders placed him in command of HMS Stalwart, a thirty-two-gun frigate that Mullins had seen often enough.

  Walking down to the quay, he entered a public house that ships’ officers often frequented. Looking around, he spotted a young commander whom he had served with when they were both midshipmen. Gravitating to his table, Mullins was welcomed warmly and provided with a drink. Commander Douglas wanted to know what Mullins was up to these days.

  Pulling out the packet of orders, Mullins asked, “Do you know anything about her?”

  “HMS Stalwart, oh yes, that is, or was, Captain Quail’s command. He has been sickly of late and has asked repeatedly for relief. The port admiral has been reluctant to replace him, saying no other suitable captains are available.”

  “Anything wrong with her?” Mullins wondered.

  Douglas thought a minute. “Not really, she is of course an elderly frigate, and a bit under-gunned to be able to face a modern enemy frigate. I know she has a capable crew, who will hate to lose their present captain who takes rather good care of them. I wonder if he knows of these orders yet? I visited him just yesterday, and he said nothing about losing his command. Of course, he is very ill.”

  Having learned what he had come for, Mullins bought another drink for Douglas and left as soon as he decently could.

  He found a boat at the pier which would deliver him to Stalwart, and was greeted at the starboard entrance port by the first officer and the Marines. Mullins explained to Mister Daniels he had come to visit Captain Quail.”

  An embarrassed Mister Daniels replied that his captain was gravely ill in his bed, and he hated to wake him.

  “What seems be the difficulty?”, Mullins asked.

  “It seems to be some griping of the guts, sir, He is in great pain, much of the time.”

  Taking out the packet of orders, Mullins asked, “Do you think Captain Quail would welcome a relief from this command?”

  “Yes sir, I do. It’s just the aide that does much of the administrative duties in this port believes there is nothing wrong with him. He says Captain Quail should voluntarily surrender his command if he is too ill to sail. The captain fears that if he does that, he will be beached permanently. He hopes to return to duty when his ailment is cured and does not want to go down that path. I understand we are to sail next week and I will have to take the ship out since Captain Quirk is unable.”

  Handing the orders to the first officer, Mullins asked, “I would be pleased if you would glance through these Mister Daniels, and tell me what you think.”

  Glancing through the orders, Daniels said, “You are to take the command, Captain?”

  “Yes I am. We will sail to Jamaica as soon as the ship is ready.”

  “Sir, the ship can be ready to sail tomorrow. We just need to put our mail ashore and perhaps the wardroom will wish to purchase fresh stores.”

  “Very well, Mister Daniels. Before I am read in to take command, perhaps you could inform Captain Quail of what is happening.”

  Moments after Daniels went by himself to the captain’s quarters, he returned to the quarterdeck, followed by two burly seamen with a carrying board. A slight figure was strapped to the wide board. This was Captain Quail who asked Mullins, “I understand you are relieving me at this time?”

  Embarrassed at depriving this frail figure from his authority, Mullins agreed that it was the port admiral’s wish that he assume command and take the ship across to Jamaica.

  “Very well, Captain. Have you read yourself in yet?”

  Moments after Mister Daniels read aloud Mullin’s orders to the crew assembled on deck, Captain Quail was lifted over the side on his carry board and laid across the gunnels of the ship’s launch, to be pulled to shore.

  Mister Harris, the second officer, would accompany his old captain and ensure he was properly admitted to hospital. As Captain Quail was lowered over the side, Mullins handed his escort a purse for the patient’s use.

  Harris protested, saying his captain was a wealthy man and could cover any expenses, but Mullins insisted, saying that ready funds might be useful.

  There was little reaction among the crew to Mullin’s assumption of command. As far as Mullins could see, the ship was in proper order. The punishment book was almost bare of entries, indicating there had been no need to rig the gratings. The few punishments listed were entries relating for stoppage of grog for minor offences. Remembering previous commands, where he had found surprises after sailing, he took care to go about the ship, looking carefully for defects.

  The only difficulty he found was some beef casks that had been swayed aboard shortly before he had come aboard. The purser had purchased this beef from a local merchant. Examined closely, some staves on each cask were found to have been planed down to obscure painted markings.

  Calling for the cook and his helper, Mullins asked for a cask to be removed from its tier and opened. The purser protested, saying that opening would allow the contents to rot.

  Addressing the purser, Mullins replied, “Mister Otis, if this beef is acceptable, we will let the cook use it for the meal today, to avoid any loss.”

  Once the head of the barrel had been removed, an unbelievable stench permeated the surroundings.

  Mister Daniels, standing by Mullins, looked questioning at him. Mullins said, “Mister Otis, this beef is unacceptable. It should be returned immediately and new beef brought on board.”

  Otis protested vigorously. “Sir, this beef has been bought and paid for. Captain Quail accepted it. I cannot return it now.”

  Mullins shook his head in disgust. “Mister Otis, I think you are the one who assured your ill captain the beef was suitable. Do you wish for me to go ashore and file a complaint? I doubt if there would be any disagreement if the necessary funds to purchase new beef were to be obtained by forfeiture of your bond. Of course, in that case, since it is necessary for a purser be fully bonded, it would be necessary for you to relinquish your position on the ship and go ashore.”

  Angrily, the purser agreed to send the spoiled provisions ashore and replace them with newly packed beef. Upon Mullins suggestion, Daniels was sent along with the purser to oversee the transaction,

  Reporting back to his captain later, Daniels reported the chandler refused to return Otis’ money, saying he had knowingly purchased previously condemned goods at a reduced price. After purchasing the proper food, Daniels suspected Otis had lost his anticipated profit for the coming voyage.

  Mullins expected to sail on the turn of the tide, providing the wind served. Inspecting the contents of the pantry holding the captains’ stores, he noticed the contents were rather sparse. Apparently, the old captain was not a trencherman. Unless he wanted to subsist on boiled beef and biscuit on this voyage, he must go ashore and purchase more edible provisions.

  Accordingly, he had his gig’s crew alerted and he went ashore to a respectable supplier of foods and wines for naval officers. The proprietor had a large selection and promised to have his selection delivered aboard ship before dark.

  He was standing before a pile of crated wines when a familiar figure appeared before him. Tom Doo
ley was standing there, now clad in clean respectable clothing, such as a merchant might wear. Waving off Mullins compliments, he said, “I have been awaiting you forever, it seems. I am afraid I have a favor I must ask of you,”

  Mullins had a premonition of disaster. Every time he had dealings with this mans’ activities, everyone involved was usually placed in deadly danger. Dooley went on to explain, “Horse Guards have become interested in this report that you delivered to the Admiralty. Since it is based on the word of a young French officer, they have asked me to go back to France and determine the accuracy of the rumor. Since we are used to each other’s’ ways, I asked for you to transport me across the Channel”

  Mullins was appalled. “Mister Dooley, I must tell you that it will be impossible for me to take you to France. I am under orders from the First Lord to take my frigate across to Jamaica to investigate matters there. My orders require me to expedite the voyage.”

  Dooley replied, “Now then, Captain. I too have sat down with the First Lord. Indeed, he is the one that gave me written orders for you to take me across before your voyage to Jamaica.”

  Resigned to the inevitable, Mullins agreed and charged Dooley with the necessity of being aboard HMS Stalwart before the turn of the tide in the morning.

  Dooley answered, “It’s grateful that I am with your kind hospitality, Captain, but I wish to make arrangements to meet your ship out in the Channel, to avoid prying eyes.”

  Exasperated, Captain Mullins asked Dooley what type of craft would they be meeting, once out at sea.

  “It’s like this Captain, a friend of mine is a former fisherman who operated from a small port near Cherbourg, has lost his boat and livelihood and finds himself on our shores, doing others’ bidding. Recently, a fishing lugger out of Cherbourg was caught in the Channel with a cargo of uncustomed brandy, in the process of transferring this cargo to smugglers. The brandy and boat were confiscated and the boat has since been turned over to me for my use.”

  “We have agreed that he will take me to his village and assist my entry into local business circles. In return, we will give him this captured boat, which he retain after the crossing. He fears taking me the entire distance in the boat, though. There could be a mishap with your blockade or from an enemy naval vessel.”

  “We think a proper plan would be for your warship to tow the boat across. If a blockading warship should have any questions, then you could give the correct answer. By the same token, you could see off any French warship that interferes.”

  “We hope you will take the boat in tow and deliver us to the fishing grounds near my friend’s port. We would then board the boat and my friend will take us to his village. If he can deliver me to his village, I will give him the boat and he will be able to resume his trade It has already been furnished with the proper nets and kit used by the other fishing boats of those parts.”

  “Dooley, I could care less about this friend of yours. What about yourself? I understand every gendarme in the country is searching for you, hoping to be the one to take you and have you sent to the guillotine to have your head removed.”

  “Captain Mullins, in my work before, I posed as a Prussian contractor selling fodder to French military units. This time, I have papers saying that I am a Danish fish merchant purchasing fish to hopefully sell to Bonaparte’s navy. My mission will be to confirm this report you submitted, I will be spending much of my time dealing with fishermen, chandlers and the like, many of whom do not love their present government. My friend thinks he can shield me from unwelcome interference. We will board our boat very early and meet you out in the Channel.”

  Next morning, with the captain’s larder filled, Stalwart unmoored and set out into the Channel. Well offshore, she rendezvoused with the fishing lugger. The action of the little vessel did not suit Dooley’s constitution, so he was brought aboard Stalwart and a pair of seamen took his place.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Once her passenger had made his way safely to the French mainland, HMS Stalwart was now out in the Atlantic, with nothing between them and America but several thousand miles of ocean. A week went by, with no sightings of anything but a few birds. Then, the foretop lookout shouted he had a sail in sight right ahead, approaching. Everyone with an excuse appropriated a glass and was peering at the stranger.

  The sighting proved to be a small frigate or perhaps a British sloop-of-war. The officers thought it unlikely to be an enemy, since the only other nation likely to have a warship in this sea was Spain and she was now allied with Britain. Mullins was not prepared to make a prediction of its nationality. He had been surprised before. The ship had not wavered from its course, except for a moment when it appeared to begin to come about, then resumed its former course. This satisfied the other officers, but Mullins wondered. “Why had she made that initial course change, then resumed its old course?”

  Perhaps a junior watch officer had attempted to evade a presumed enemy, but her captain, realizing this must be a British ship and therefore not a danger, intervened.

  As the ship drew closer, those watching with glasses observed she was flying Spanish colors. The surprising thing about the ship was her state of repair. Dirty and shabby, it seemed unlikely to be a national ship of war. Perhaps a privateer, although there were few of that tribe of this size. There were some French corvette type privateers, but Mullins thought most of them had been taken or destroyed by this time, at least this far out at sea.

  If Spanish, Mullins could not understand why her captain and crew had allowed her to sink into such a state. Perhaps a mutinous crew had turned pirate? At any length, she was worth investigating. She was signaled to identify herself, but that signal went unanswered. If she was from the farther edge of the Spanish empire, it was possible she had not received the appropriate signal codes. That might be the reason for her state of repair. If from the Philippines, she might have been at sea for months, unable to beautify herself.

  Mullins decided it was useless to over-think this situation. She was either a friend or an enemy, if not a neutral. With that thought in mind, he ordered the ship prepared for action. There were some strange looks directed at the quarterdeck as the hands began tearing down the internal partitions and throwing the materials below.

  As the two ships closed, Stalwarts’ guns were run out testifying to her resolve. This frigate was too much for the stranger to face, she put herself about and put the wind on her quarter. The ensuing race was no contest. The others’ sails were nothing but rags, more patches than whole cloth. At last, the other captain realized there was no further purpose in running, and the Spanish flag was hauled down, only to be replaced for a moment by the tricolor. This too came down and the stranger hove to and awaited boarding.

  Mullins sent over his second officer and Marine lieutenant with his men and a dozen armed seamen. From close alongside, Stalwarts’ guns threatened the helpless ship. Soon Mister Harris came to the rail of the prize and declared, “Sir, this is the French national ship Robespierre. She has been hiding among the various islands of the Caribbean for over a year, sometimes raiding smaller towns on the Spanish mainland. She took fever aboard on one of those forays and lost half her crew. Her provisions are mostly gone and her powder has spoiled from improper storage.”

  Mullins asked, “When was the last new case of fever?

  There was a pause, while Harris questioned some of the crewmen. “A good two months”, was the reply.

  There were frightened glances and murmurs among Stalwart’s crew as the hands digested this news. Calling his people aft, Mullins assured them that the fever had run its course and was of no danger now. There were dubious looks on some faces, but no one protested.

  “Mister Harris, can you sail the ship with the hands you have aboard?”, Mullins asked.

  “Aye sir, but we are desperate short of provisions.”

  Mullins told Harris to stand by while the longboat was filled with food and water. When all was ready, a heaving line was hurled to the cor
vette and fastened to the boat’s painter. The hands on the corvette pulled the boat over and rations and water were issued to the prisoners.

  Mullins asked for volunteers from his crew to go to the prize and assist. Sailmakers’ crew were especially needed to renew the prize’s canvas. No one stepped forward, even when extra grog was promised. When the boat was emptied and pulled back to Stalwart, Mullins had his people load it with some old canvas and a spare set of sailmakers’ tools. Hopefully, someone on the Robespierre, either English or French, might be able to utilize the tools.

  Then Stalwart came to the wind and set her course for Jamaica, with the prize in her wake.

  After an otherwise uneventful voyage, Stalwart and her prize made safe harbor in Kingston, Jamaica several weeks later. Stores were now very low after sharing those of Stalwart with the prize. Immediately after Stalwart took up her mooring, Mullins left the ship in the hands of his first officer and took his gig ashore. His first duty was to report the capture of his prize and to visit Government House to confer with the governor, the Earl of Manchester.

  They discussed briefly the question of a possible incursion of a French fleet into Caribbean waters, but Manchester was dismissive of the possibility. “Bonaparte is on his last legs. Wellesley is giving him trouble in Spain and he has insufficient resources to enter into more foreign adventures.”

  Mullins was not entirely satisfied with this forecast, but he could not argue with the governor. He decided he would leave the captured corvette in the hands of the prize court here and sail on to Antigua, to see if additional intelligence could be gained there.

  Back at his ship, he found lighters alongside delivering necessary stores. The prisoners had also been removed and he found a young subaltern of the garrison here awaiting his return, with a story to tell.