The Threat in the East (The Merriman Chronicles Book 3)
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He stared up at them, terrified that they were going to cut off his leg and then the doctor said “Rest easy Sir, your leg is safe, it was a good, clean cut washed with its own blood. I’ve bandaged you and have you back in your quarters as soon as I find somebody to carry you.” Immediately there was a storm of voices, “I’ll carry him sir” shouted a burly bos’n’s mate, “No you won’t” shouted Biggins, I carried ’im down and I’ll carry ’im back up.” “If you are two determined on this you must do it together and keep his leg away from hitting anything.” Merriman was aware that the two men were carrying him, Biggins showing surprising strength for such a small man until he found himself in his part rebuilt cabin where they gently put him into his cot. He saw the stricken faces of Peters and Timmins then the world spun and he knew no more and was lost in darkness.
Finally he woke to see the sun shining through the windows and the ship moving gently with only the creak and groan of its timbers to show that she was moving. He dozed again and then woke with the memories of the battle flooding his mind. He cried out and then Peters was there and the doctor unwrapping the wound on his leg. The last bit came away with a gentle tug which made Merriman gasp. He saw the doctor sniffing at the bandage then he grinned, “All is well Sir, no indication of infection. “Never mind me” snarled Merriman “Tell me how the ship is and who have we lost?” “Rest easy Captain, you have been flat on your back for the last three days, you lost a lot of blood and the body takes time to recover. The ship is under the command of your First Lieutenant and repairs are almost complete. He wants to see you Sir, but I kept him away until I was sure about your health. My little office has been besieged by men asking after your health, they think very highly of you Sir.” McBride finished wrapping a new bandage on Merriman’s thigh and then said “Shall I send him in now Sir?” Merriman nodded weakly and said “Yes, I must know----------------”
A gentle tap of the marine sentry’s musket on the deck and his voice saying quietly “First Lieutenant Sir,” announced Andrew’s arrival.
He popped his head round the edge of the door, grinning all over his face at the sight of his captain awake. “The word has spread Sir, that you are awake, all the officers and others asked me to give you their best wishes for a speedy recovery.” “Yes, yes, man, but tell me about the ship, is she repaired and how many did we lose?” Andrews’ face fell and he hesitated, “Ship’s well sir, only superficial damage and Mr. Green the carpenter had all the hands working like madmen to do the repairs. He’s been a tower of strength Sir. All ships are anchored in Portuguese Bay including the prize.”
Merriman stirred restlessly, “Damn it David, tell me about the men, how bad is it?” Andrews’ face fell even more, “Well sir we lost twelve dead and some fifteen wounded although the Doctor says that most of them will recover---------------” he hesitated, “Oh get on with it man you’re shillyshallying like a woman on her wedding day,” snarled Merriman. “Yes Sir” he gulped, “the dead include Mr. Cuthbert Sir, and Mr. Weston and Mr. Hungerford. The rest are sailors and marines including the marine sergeant and Larkin, the man with the phenomenal eyesight. And two of Mr. Egerton‘s officers were lost and several others of his crew Sir. We buried the dead at sea Sir, two days ago.”
Merriman closed his eyes and groaned, “Not Mr. Cuthbert surely, did you see it David, did he suffer?” “Very little Sir, a ball took off both his legs at the knee and he bled out very quickly. McBride told me that the shock of the injury would have stopped him feeling much pain. Captain St. James saw him and was with him at the end and I believe he has a message for you. Mr. Weston was shot down when he followed you aboard La Marveilleuse and young Mr. Hungerford fell at his place by the signal locker. I’m very sorry Sir, Mr. Cuthbert was very well liked by all and he was almost a father figure to us.”
Merriman winced at the memory of how he had denied Cuthbert’s request to bring his wife and daughters aboard to see where he lived, thoughtlessly denied because the ship was a hive of activity taking on stores, new men and equipment. Now he regretted it. Now he would have to visit them when he got back to England. It would be a terrible task. He moved restlessly again and Andrews who had thought him fast asleep and was about to leave, leaned over him and asked if he should fetch the Doctor, “No, David, thank you, leave me to think about it all but you could send Peters in with a drink, and ask Captain St. James to see me.”
St. James duly presented himself with a huge smile on his face and a large bandage on his arm. “Can’t express how delighted we are to see you recovering Sir.”
“Yes, thank you. I am told that you were with Mr. Cuthbert when he died, is that so?”
“Yes Sir, when I got to him he was nearly gone, he was losing so much blood you see, but his last thoughts were for the ship. He managed to gasp ‘Tell the Captain I’m sorry to leave him, but Master’s Mate Henderson is well able to take my place.’ Then he called out a name, perhaps his wife Sir. That was all Sir, then he was gone.”
“I, we, shall miss him, he seemed to be a part of the ship.” Merriman seemed lost in thought and St. James thought he had gone back to sleep but Merriman stirred and said “My compliments to Mr. Andrews and will he come down and bring Henderson with him.” When the two men appeared he got straight to the point. “Mr. Henderson, you have had the strongest recommendation from Mr. Cuthbert that you should take his place, you are well able to do so and so I am rating you as Master from this moment. You may still have to take another test before you are officially accepted by the establishment, but we’ll worry about that in due course.”
“Yes Sir, thank you Sir. Mr. Cuthbert taught me everything he could and I’ll miss him too. I’ll not let you down Sir.” “Didn’t think you would Master, Mr. Cuthbert was always very sure of you. You can use his cabin and charts and all that but please put anything personal into a box and bring it here. Now go, and leave me with Mr. Andrews.” When the very pleased man had gone, Merriman questioned Andrews about the Frenchman Dumont. “What are your thoughts about him David? He has been of very great use to us and I don’t want to hang him.”
“No Sir and none of the others want you to either. I have allowed him to join us in the wardroom a few times and he has made himself most agreeable. Also I took the chance of not having him shackled at any time, I’m sure he doesn’t want to escape.” “My thoughts are the same David; I’ll have to decide what to do with him. If he wants to join us I‘ve a mind to let him, or put him ashore somewhere in France if he wants that”
Two days later Merriman had himself carried up on deck and installed in a chair under a sun awning. Looking keenly about him he could see no sign of repairs apart from some pieces of lighter coloured wood used as patches. The four Company ships were there, some repairs evident and La Marveilleuse still under repair. That reminded him and he called for Mr. Andrews. “David, what happened to the crew of that ship and did you catch the captain?” “We do have seven of them in chains below Sir, the rest were killed and all those ashore were killed by the natives. The only one missing is Den Bosch; I am told that he and four men rowed away to the top end of the bay before the attack started. He must have known we were coming Sir and probably took his share of his loot with him. We found a ton of gold and silver and silks and cottons in the hold too Sir.”
“Very good, we can take all that back to Bombay. The Governor will know what to do with it. Is any effort being made to catch Den Bosch?” “Yes Sir, The country there is thick jungle full of poisonous snakes and I don’t know what so I hesitated to send any of our men after him. But the natives are keen to find him and once they had grieved for their women, most of whom were dead, several parties of them set out to trace him. With any luck they will find him and bring him back.”
“Good, good, David“, he mumbled something more and then he was asleep to be roused by the shuffling of feet and muted whispers. Sleepily opening one eye he found a deputation of seamen in front of him with the man in front, Williams his cox’n being nudged forwar
d, “Go on tell him, he won’t bite,” said one. Williams drew himself up to his full height and said, “I’m elected spokesman Sir. All the men want you to know how pleased we all are to see you getting better Sir and they asked me to give you this.” ’This’ was a roughly wrapped parcel and on opening it Merriman found six mats, table mats made of cunningly and neatly woven pieces of rope and canvas and coloured linen. “The men made them for you Sir, Peters told us yours had been lost so we thought------------------”
“Thank you all very much lads, I really appreciate this and----------” Matthews interrupted him by shouting “A cheer for the Captain Lads.” Merriman was amazed at the volume of noise that erupted and he looked up to see men up the masts, on the spars and every possible vantage point from where they could see him. His officers stood in a group grinning and smiling and rarely had Merriman felt so moved. After leading men to possible death or injury they could still cheer him. He felt a prickling under his eyelids and waved his arm in thanks and then the Doctor was there, ordering men to carry him down to his cabin.
“Thank you Doctor, I felt that I might have broken down if you hadn’t moved me. I had no idea that the men thought so much about me.” “Oh they do Sir they do. I could see that it was affecting you Sir, so I had Biggins and another man carry you down, didn’t want the men seeing you shedding tears.” “Thoughtful of you Doctor, thank you, now leave me.” Once alone the dam broke and he wept for Cuthbert, Weston and Hungerford but mostly at the thought of how much his men loved him.
Chapter 41 – Prisoners executed
Once the doctor announced him fit enough, Merriman was astounded by all the officers from the Company ships who wished to see him and offer their congratulations and good wishes. Even Dumont the prisoner wanted to offer his best wishes. The Frenchman was no longer wearing shackles and was trusted to move as he wished although always with two big marines guarding him. There was so much excitement and enthusiasm that Merriman insisted on inviting them all to a meeting and dinner the following evening. At that meeting when all of them were settled he started the proceedings by saying, “I think that we have been here long enough Gentlemen, all ships including the prize are seaworthy and as for the prize I am hoping that you can each spare a few men to help my prize crew. Here there are only two things left to consider, one is ---- what do we do with our captives and the other is ---- what about Den Bosch? If the natives don’t find him soon we’ll have to leave him. What do you Gentlemen feel we should do with the prisoners we took? As far as I am concerned I think they should all be hanged and quickly, if we take them back to Bombay they will be hanged anyway.
There was no discussion on that matter, all agreed to have them executed the next morning. Captain Fitton said “I think one of the sloops should leave right away and report back to the Governor, he must be desperate for news. Some of us should stay a day or two longer to see if Den Bosch is found, I think all Bombay would like to see the man who has caused us so much trouble.” All agreed on that also and Merriman called for Peters and Timmins to serve the dinner. And a sumptuous dinner it was. Fresh roast pork bought from the natives, sweet potato and other vegetables followed by a concoction of tropical fruits. Captain Fitton had brought over some of his own selection of wines and the evening was getting louder and louder when a loud scuffling outside the door quietened everyone. The sentry thumped his musket on the deck and called “Officer of the watch Sir, master at arms and prisoner Sir“.
They entered, Lieutenant Shrigley the officer of the watch followed by the master at arms and two marines dragging their prisoner. “What’s this Mr. Shrigley, who have you got there?” demanded Merriman. “I’m sorry to interrupt the festivities Sir, but I thought all you Gentlemen would like to meet this man. The natives just brought him to us Sir, he is Den Bosch, they caught him in the jungle with some of his men. They killed the others but decided to bring him to you.” All the officers gazed with distaste on the wretched man in front of them. He was bearded and unkempt, unshaven for days and filthy dirty and covered in scratches, sores and bruises from his time in the jungle.
“Take him away and chain him up Lieutenant, but not with the others. There we are Gentlemen, our problem is solved, I see no reason why we should not leave tomorrow after we have rewarded these people for their assistance in dealing with these cutthroats, I think we should leave them with some of the cutlasses and such that we captured, with a special gift to the chief. What do you think?”
So it was done, the seven pirates were dragged ashore and hanged from a hastily contrived gallows formed by a spar lashed between a pair of convenient palm trees in full sight of the people they had offended. Once dead they were cut down and buried in the jungle a place which would likely be considered haunted in future by the native people. The prisoner Den Bosch had been thoroughly washed down by sea water and was made to watch the spectacle, standing there in his heavy chains. Merriman had a large piece of canvas spread out on the sand and had his men lay out the arms taken from the pirates. Bolts of coloured cloth from the pirates’ booty were also laid out and a very special silk material given to the chief together with one of the French swords, one with a gold encrusted hilt. He received all with gratitude, embracing Merriman and giving him a gift of a native dagger. Then they left, with the natives running the boats out to sea and all waving at the white men who had saved them.
Three days out, a great deal of shouting broke out and Merriman hastened up on deck to find a crowd of men and officers leaning over the foredeck rail. “All right, all right, what’s the matter, has nobody got anything better to do?” shouted Merriman. “It’s the prisoner Den Bosch Sir, He hit a guard with his chain, not seriously, and then he jumped and scrambled onto the bowsprit Sir. He is still there Sir, won’t move and curses anybody who speaks to him,” reported Lieutenant Shrigley. “All right I’ll try Alfred, but move all those men away first.”
He looked over and saw the miserable man clinging to the spar with his feet dangling below him. “Don’t be a damned fool man, climb back here or you’ll slip and drown.” Den Bosch shouted back, “What does it matter to you Captain? They will hang me when you get back to Bombay so what does it matter. He threw his head back and yelled “Damn you, damn you all,” then loosened his grip and letting out a final shriek he fell straight down to be run over by the ship’s prow. They all rushed to the taffrail but he had disappeared. “He’s gone Sir, we can’t see him.” “No, you won’t, if the ship didn’t hit him and kill him his chains would drag him straight down anyway.” He paused, “Perhaps it’s better this way, he would have had a trial but he was doomed by all he did. Forget him Alfred and don’t worry about it.”
Chapter 42 – Hero’s welcome
When the fleet entered Bombay harbour to the crashing of gun salutes and the cheering of the crowds of men and women on the quayside it seemed that all the population of Bombay was there. The fast sloop sent ahead to tell the Governor to expect them had arrived but the welcome was exceptional. A large dais had been erected with an awning spread over it and everyone who was anyone seemed to be there, the women waving their parasols and the men throwing their hats in the air. Two lines of Sepoy troops were between the quayside and the Governor’s party but they were struggling to keep a pathway open. The shouting and cheering was deafening and Merriman and his officers were almost overwhelmed by the press of people around them.
A smart carriage took Merriman, Grahame and Andrews to the Governor’s residence where there were even more people. “You are a hero Captain, exclaimed the Governor throwing his arms round him, an absolute hero. Captain Fitton’s reports which you sent in the sloop reached me and gave me all the details. His was at pains to ensure we fully understood that the success is all due to you Sir, your planning and clear thinking and the actions of your ship. Now come with me Gentlemen.” In a daze the three of them were introduced to person after person until they could no longer keep count and even Mr. Goldberg pressed him to accept their thanks, before they were
ushered into the Governor’s office where long cool drinks and snacks were laid out before them. The doors were shut and all took off their coats at the Governor’s suggestion and sank thankfully into comfortable chairs.
The Governor was practically bouncing with excitement, asking questions one after the other until Merriman raised his hand in protest. “Mr. Duncan Sir, I am sure that Captain Fitton told you all that was needful but I must also confirm that all the Marine ships and complements did what was asked of them without fault.”
“I’m sure that they did Captain and I would like to hear everything again tomorrow but for today I think you would like to rest, you were wounded I hear.” He reached into a drawer and pulled out a packet of letters, sorted through them then held two of them to his nose and said with a smile “A lady’s perfume I think, I’m sure you want to go back to your ship to read them Captain but first I must tell you about the arrangements we have made for tomorrow. He presented a list of things to each of them and said “What do you think of that? We have been very busy organising all that.” Again they were astonished at the preparations but Merriman couldn’t wait to get back to the privacy of his cabin and read his letters and they soon left through the crowds back to their boat.
“My God, I’ve never seen anything like it before” said Grahame and Andrews shook his head in bemused silence. A bag of post for the men had been brought out to the ship in their absence and as soon as he could Merriman escaped to his cabin to read his own letters. They were both dated on the cover so that he knew which was first, but he found himself pacing round the cabin, hesitating to read them, fearful of what he might find. At last he sat and took a deep breath and opened the first one. It was from Helen, she loved him and wanted him back as soon as possible, but the sad news she had to impart was that his Mother had died soon after he left and his Father had died some weeks later. Her Father had tended them both and had told her that they had both been content at the last. The next most important news was that she was pregnant and the birth expected in only a few weeks. The letter ended with more expressions of love and longing and ended with ----”Your ever loving wife Helen.”