HMS Aphrodite (Sea Command Book 1)

by Richard Testrake

  Chapter Twenty

  The ship-sloop set out on the long voyage across the Med. A few balls had come aboard while they were in close proximity of the battle, but no damage of any importance had occurred.

  Of more immediate concern, was their ship’s complement. Some hands had been sent away on prizes and there had been several injuries.

  The ship had taken aboard a dozen French seamen in various stages of health, and a pair of British seamen had been found clinging to a floating spar. The surgeon refused to allow them to return to duty, saying they had suffered exposure from hours spent in the water, and must rest for a day at least before being put to work.

  As they sailed northwest, tops’ls were sighted ahead. As they neared, they proved to be a French convoy, apparently on course for the Nile Delta, presumably provisions for the French Army landed there with their general.

  Normally, Mullins would have set upon it straight away, but the escort of a small frigate and a brig deterred him. The frigate appeared to be more than a match for Aphrodite and with the brig might well be more than he wanted to engage. A few weeks ago, he might have chanced it, but with his reduced crew, he would not fight unless forced to.

  Accordingly, he had the helmsmen steer wide of the convoy, which consisted of a dozen merchants, as well as the warships.

  As soon as Aphrodite veered away from the convoy, the frigate followed, leaving the brig with the convoy. Apparently her Captain thought he might be able to snap up a valuable prize. Mullins had no wish to engage this ship. Not only was she larger, with more guns, but he was under orders from Admiral Nelson to make his way to Gibraltar without delay.

  Therefore, he put his ship on the starboard tack and sailed in a northerly direction. The frigate, signaling constantly to the brig, put itself in Aphrodite’s wake. As the day wore on, Mullins tried various strategies to outdistance his pursuer. None had any positive effect. Both ships were of about the same speed.

  Mister Harrison suggested pumping the top-tier of their water supply overboard. This would lighten the ship by many tons and allow her to sit higher in the water. At this stage, Mullins opted not to try this approach. With no British ports handy, in order to replenish the ship’s water supply, it would be necessary to creep into some hidden bay to find water later.

  It was now late in the evening and Mullins expected the frigate to reverse its course at any time. On this course, he himself was headed north and a chain of islands was directly ahead of him 20 miles away.

  Just as soon as he could, he needed to resume his course toward Gibraltar. Now the wind was picking up and so was the sea state. As they closed on the islands ahead, what had been a mild breeze, was now a gale. The ship was pitching and not a few crewmen were bent over the rails casting their accounts to Neptune.

  When the clouds burst open and dumped a vast amount of water upon them, the wind shifted. Had it not been for an alert sailing master, they would undoubtedly have lost some canvas. As it was, the ship was put about and was sailing toward the frigate at a remarkable turn of speed. In the rain squall, the frigate was not visible, and as a precaution the men were sent to the guns.

  Suddenly, there she was, off to port a bit, with no indication that Aphrodite’s course change had been noted. As they neared, Lieutenant Harrison had the ports opened and the guns run out.

  When the two passing ships were at long musket shot apart, the guns fired. The sea was rough, the ship pitching and probably only half the shots struck their target. Even so, they had delivered a half dozen nine-pounder shot at close range it to the frigate, without receiving a single shot in return.

  Mullins had intended to sail off into the darkness leaving the ship behind. However, seeing the frigate had been unprepared, he thought he might try another exchange. As they came upon the enemy’s stern, Aphrodite backed her main tops’l and fired another broadside into the frigate’s quarter.

  Alerted now, the frigate managed to fire a few guns in reply, but only one of her aftermost guns was able to reach its target. Pitching and rolling, the two ships battled each other until the storm swept them apart. Aphrodite had received a few more enemy balls, one of which smashed the helm. Until new tiller ropes could be installed, the ship had to be steered by men on the tiller below decks.

  The ship’s crew remained occupied with these repairs until dawn, when daylight and increased visibility revealed their opponent from the evening before about 2 miles distant. The frigate’s mizzen was overboard, and her fore and main tops were a tangle.

  As Aphrodite approached the stricken frigate, it tried firing a few shots. Aphrodite, unaffected, came around on the frigate’s stern, and fired a raking broadside down the length of the ship. The wind was blowing directly toward the frigate, and Aphrodite was being pushed closer. Standing on his quarterdeck, Mullins looked over at the other captain. He would have time for one more broadside before he would need to stand clear.

  The deck of the enemy ship was covered with bodies and smashed equipment. The enemy’s mizzen was gone. The main topmast had been shot away, and the fore tops’l had been shot to ribbons..

  Pointing at the tricolor, he looked questioningly at the enemy commander. After a moment’s pause, the French Captain nodded and the banner came fluttering down. It was only right that Mister Goodwin would take a price crew over to the frigate. As the first officer of a warship that had defeated a more powerful one, he could expect to receive a reward, possibly even a promotion. Mullins intended to have him on the captured frigate’s quarterdeck when it made harbor.

  First though, it was necessary to do something about that mizzen. The wind and sea had quieted so men and tools were ferried over to the prize, and prisoners brought back. Having left port only a week before for an intended voyage to the Nile delta, she was well equipped with ship’s supplies. Among them was a spare main topmast, which could serve in place of the missing mizzen. Goodwin took charge of his ship’s repairs, while Mullins kept watch in the Aphrodite for unwanted guests.

  By nightfall, the jury mast was erect and in the morning a lateen sail was raised. It was a strange looking rig, but it served its purpose. There was much discussion that day over how much prize money the capture would bring. Petty Officer Aikens was heard to invite various members of his party to visit him after he had the new pub and he would see each had a good drunk.

  A delegation came to him, asking if they could go back and search for the convoy the frigate had been escorting. Mullins had to explain that with their reduced crew, they would have a difficult time defeating a well-manned jolly boat and it was now time to take their spoils home and count their money.

  Despite his good intentions to avoid more prize taking though, nearing the Spanish coast, a merchant was sighted. Ship rigged and low in the water, she appeared to be one of the British transports bringing supplies to Gibraltar. But, what was she doing alone here in the Med in Spanish waters?

  The ship made no effort to flee, which would have been highly unlikely to succeed anyway. Closing the ship, it was seen she had been involved in an action, with damage to her hull, and a fished foremast. She raised British colors when she first observed Aphrodite, but failed to give the proper reply when Aphrodite’s numbers were hoisted.

  Using the latest code, the order to heave-to was signaled, which the stranger ignored. Sailing right up on the ship’s port beam, Aphrodite’s starboard guns were run out. At that threat, the British colors were lowered, and the tricolor raised for a moment. Then, it too came down and the transport backed its tops’ls, awaiting boarding.

  With both of his lieutenants away on prizes, Mullins decided to investigate this ship himself. Leaving the sailing master in command of Aphrodite, he took the launch over, filled with armed seamen and the few Marines he had left aboard. Mister Midshipman Reynolds accompanied him, in case an extra officer might be needed.

  Reynolds had been one of the mids taken aboard back in Portsmouth and had lately proved to be a valuable member of the ship’s company. Comin
g to the ship’s beam, there were no man-ropes rigged. Mullins was tempted to call over to the Aphrodite to have them fire a shot into this fellow to teach some manners. Ezra Benson, at stroke-oar, allowed as he could climb the short distance from the water-line of the heavily laden ship to its entry port.

  Giving him the nod, Benson was up the side like a monkey and soon appeared at the ship’s rail with a coil of line, which he dropped down into the boat. Mullins own seaman skills were not as developed as Bensons’, but he too made it to the deck.

  He soon found this was indeed a British transport which had been taken by a French privateer and was being sent into Cartagena. Her prize crew were mostly on deck, swilling expensive wines looted from the captain’s cabin. There was only one member of the original ship’s crew aboard, a twelve-year old cabin servant. The remainder of the crew had been put into boats and given a course to sail into Gibraltar.

  There was one other Briton aboard, a female passenger. Apparently the British captain, finding he was about to be boarded by the enemy, sent the boy and young woman down into the orlop, in an effort to keep them from harm.

  The Spanish crew had discovered the pair the next day, but Miss Davis assured Mullins they had been treated with respect by the prize crew and had suffered no insults.

  Mullins had never had many dealing with members of the opposite sex, having gone to sea at a very young age, but found this young woman to be a fascinating specimen. Despite her ordeal of hiding in the bowels of a ship while it was being captured by foreign seamen, she was clad in a fresh dress and was as pretty as a picture.

  With his two ship’s officers away, he had plenty of room in which to place Miss Davis. He decided not to put her in either of his lieutenant’s cabins however. These were tiny dog-kennels of cabins, off the wardroom, where there would have been no privacy.

  Instead, he turned over his own great cabins to her and appropriated the first officer’s cabin for himself.

  The ship’s crew had reason to be well pleased with the re-capture of the transport. It had been a good two weeks since her original capture and Mullins thought there might be a real possibility of her being treated as an ordinary prize, rather that salvage.

  Now, it was only necessary to get her safely into Gibraltar without coming afoul of any enemy warship. Aphrodite’s crew was now so thin on deck she would find it difficult to fight off any resolute enemy.

  Not daring to sail directly to their destination, Mullins avoided any sail sighted, in fear that it might be an enemy warship. As a result, it took an extra week before arrival at Gibraltar and he had a chance to become better acquainted with Miss Davis during that period.

  She was a bubbly, happy person, always on deck in fine weather, perpetually stopping crewmen to ask them what they were doing. Of course, all were delighted to have this lovely young woman take notice of them, and before reaching port, Mullins thought there was little the crew would not do for Miss Davis.

  Early on, she stopped him from calling her Miss Davis and insisted on being addressed as Helen. The day before reaching port was a day with light winds and a rather calm sea, perfect for ship visiting. Mullins asked Mister Goodwin to dinner and sat with his cook to plan the meal.

  After this long at sea, there was little fresh food suitable for a dinner, but Goodwin hailed him and reported a supply of carrots and some potatoes aboard the prize as well as a young pig.

  The meal went well enough, but the blue devils took hold of Mullins. He thought Goodwin to be better at conversation with young women than he was himself. He sat through almost the entire meal hardly saying a word, while Goodwin monopolized the conversation. It was only after Goodwin was well into his third bottle of claret and his voice was becoming strident and insistent that Helen announced it was time for her to retire.

  Mullins was furious with Goodwin for spoiling the dinner. The thought briefly crossed his mind that he could insert something into his report that would stop Goodwin’s career. After reflection though, he realized that would be a coward’s way of settling a grievance and decided to drop the whole idea.

  Aphrodite entered port the next day with the prize and Mullins was busy the entire time, barely having time to see Helen into the boat that would take her ashore. His reports were gone over carefully, the whole establishment becoming excited when it was learned that Admiral Nelson had defeated a superior French naval fleet. The acting governor invited him to an elaborate dinner the next evening.

  He was tempted to be pressed with work on that occasion so that he could avoid the festivity

  until he learned that Helen would also be at the dinner. It was too much to hope that he would be seated near Helen. She was up near the head of the table, seated near the wife of the acting governor, while Mullins was down near the end with the nobodies. However, the acting governor toasted his ship and its captain for their intrepid activities and assured the party that England owed much to officers like this.

  Later, a dance began and Mullins watched as Helen was whirled around the floor by one subaltern after another. As she went by him on her way to freshen up, she whispered that she wished he could rescue her. Her feet were being trampled upon by the booted feet of one cavalry officer after another.

  He attempted to explain to her that he had no knowledge of dancing and would be worse than the most clumsy hussar.

  She shook her curls. “Oh shaw, sir. We could at least go out to inspect the garden.” Mullins then quickly agreed to escort her outside when she returned.

  The remainder of the evening was a delight for Mullins. Their conversation soon became intimate and he learned her mother had died long ago, while her father had until recently been attached to the court of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. A bout of malaria had taken him a year ago and there had been no way for her to return to England at the time. Recently, she had been able to take ship for Gibraltar, where she boarded a transport for home. Unfortunately, that transport had been taken by a French privateer and she soon found herself back in the Med again.

  Helen hoped she would have better luck at reaching home this time. She wondered when Aphrodite would be leaving for England. She would feel much safer travelling on a British warship than an unarmed transport.

  The thought had not occurred to Mullins. It was true that his ship-sloop was sadly deficient of seamen, but the decision to sail home was not his to make. He assured her that he would keep her appraised of any possibility of taking her home to England.

  Somehow the night seemed to become warmer, as she moved into his arms. Her body pressed against his and her lips were melted against his. Mullins had no idea of what he was supposed to be doing. He had never had any experience with women. He could kill a man without a second thought, but making love to a woman was a new experience to him.

  Helen was wearing a gown, the very tiny amount of fabric comprising the top was miniscule and sheer. Some very interesting portions of her body were on display. Mullins knew very well he was not meant to ogle women’s bodies, but thought she probably had no idea of the effect her attire had on him. While he was avoiding glancing at what he was not meant to see, she had maneuvered him toward a stone bench at the edge of the garden.

  Then, Helen asked if she could drape his coat over her shoulders since she was becoming cold. Glad to be doing something other than exercising his fevered imagination, he took off the coat and draped it around her, covering the interesting portions of her body.

  While they sat there and discussed the beauties of the Kent countryside, she took his hand and placed it under the coat. With a shock, he found he was holding her breast. His fears left him and matters soon became steamy. When he became impatient for more experiences though, she stopped him, saying they must leave something for later. She casually took off the coat and arranged her top, making sure he had a good look before putting herself together.

  His mind was swirling with what what had happened to him that night but by the time he followed her inside, he found her in the arms of
an artillery major whirling around the dance floor.

  This was all too much for Mullins and he collected his hat and sword and dazedly made his way to the quay where his boat lay. A nod to the cox’n caused him to wake the boat’s crew. As they prepared themselves, one of them dropped a flat brown bottle. His boat crew had apparently had their own entertainment for the evening.

  Mullins did not see Helen for several days. Goodwin had been ordered to take the prize frigate home the day before and there was little to do to occupy his time. Shore boats delivered the slight amount of provisions Gibraltar could spare. One of the boats brought his sailing orders. Being unable to resupply his needs at Gibraltar, the ship was being sent on to Portsmouth, where he could take on a crew and other necessities. He received notice that he was to provide passage for Helen Davis as well.

  With memories of the evening in the garden fresh in his mind, he had a talk with his carpenter. The carpenter agreed to the construction of a partition in his sleeping quarters. The larger partition, with the hanging bed, would be occupied by Miss Davis. The smaller would be his own bedchamber, although he would use a hammock, rather than another bed.

  Chapter Twenty One

  Helen came aboard just after first light the morning they were to sail. She was cool when she came aboard and went straight to the cabin. She was surprised when she saw the work that had been done and wondered what the small space remaining was for.

  He explained that he had grown tired of sleeping in the tiny cabin in the wardroom and would swing a hammock in this little space. She nodded and went to work unpacking her clothing.