Alfred was sound asleep when they reached the ship and one of the seamen carried the boy aboard and put him in his hammock. After Mullins saw to his boy, Mister Persons approached him with a message from Admiral Montagu.
Directed to report to the flag at his earliest convenience, he went to his quarters and decided to scrape his face with the razor before leaving. Clean and smooth again he ordered his cox’n to make the gig ready for the trip to the flag.
The afternoon breeze had stirred up a chop in the water and without his boat cloak, he managed to have his good coat soaked with spray. Embarrassed with his appearance, he apologized to the flag captain who greeted him at the entry port.
Wondering if he should delay his appearance before the admiral until he could obtain a dry coat, he was told not to concern himself. “Admiral Montagu has more important matters on his mind than your appearance. I believe he wishes to see you at once.”
Ushered into the admiral’s quarters, Mullins was ordered to sit and the admiral’s servant offered him a glass of brandy and a cigar. Montagu addressed himself to the business at hand immediately.
“Captain Mullins, I have just received from the Admiralty, a copy of a dispatch from the captain of HMS Indefatigable, now in the Inshore Squadron of the Brest blockade. Are you by any chance acquainted with Captain Weyland of HMS Falcon?”
Mullins hated to answer that question. He remembered Weyland well from a time years ago. As a midshipman Mullins has served under Weyland when the latter had been fourth lieutenant of HMS Caesar. He had unpleasant memories of the man as a cruel, sadistic person unfit, in his opinion, to exercise command.
“Sir, I am acquainted with John Weyland. I had not heard he had advanced to the rank of captain.”
“Yes, well he was made post last year and given command of HMS Falcon, an old twenty-four gun post ship. The dispatch I referred to infers that the crew of Falcon is close on to mutiny. Other captains in the Inshore Squadron have reported this and the First Lord desires me to examine this at once, hopefully before any disciplinary action may become necessary.”
“Therefore, it is my intention to have you locate HMS Falcon and determine the conditions that exist aboard her. You will be under Admiralty orders with authority to order the measures necessary to ensure Falcon remains an efficient unit of His Majesty’s Navy.”
“Yes sir. I should submit that my ship, Hector, is needful of stores, water and powder. It would be well if we could have a few more hands, also.”
“Ah yes, you are the captain who had a number of his hands run, are you not?”
“Not exactly sir, I did have three men run, but they were taken and are presently in custody.”
“Now I remember. You wagered me that you would not lose any more men. I think I lost the wager and now must not send the men to a court martial.”
“Sir, I think that was the wager. I hope to have the men come before me at Captain’s Mast.”
“Very well, try them as you will. In the meantime, I cannot spare your frigate for a mission such as this. You will travel in the cutter ‘Rapid’ as a passenger. The captain of Indefatigable is acting as the Inshore Squadron commander. You will seek him out and determine the location of Falcon. You will board Falcon and ascertain just what is going on. If this is merely a personality dispute between officers, you will do what is necessary to correct such. If it is necessary to relieve Captain Weyland, you will do so by giving him the enclosed Admiralty orders requiring him to leave his frigate and report to the First Lord immediately.”
Leaving the flag, Mullins had a sour taste in his mouth. While he remembered Weyland with loathing, he still hated to be the one who would bring him down. He resolved to be as fair and impartial as he possibly could, giving Weyland every benefit of a doubt.
Upon returning to Hector, he found his wife in the quarters. She was in the process of embroidering a pillow for his bed. This was a new skill that Sarah Flowers had taught her, one in which she found pleasure.
Wise now in the ways of the service, she immediately wondered what the Navy would now have her husband doing. She was greatly relieved when she found he was not being called upon to fight the enemy at impossible odds, but merely being sent to admonish some errant captain.
She understood when he told her that while he would remain the captain of Hector, he might be away for a few months and it might be better if Mister Persons would move into the Great Cabin until his own return.
A conference with Mister Flowers brought an invitation for Doris to reside with Sarah Flowers here until the carriage could be brought down from London. Mullins hated the thought of subjecting his wife and young son to an unescorted trip to London on a public coach. His own coach would carry them home in some semblance of comfort and safety.
With his wife and son off the ship, he now felt free to deal with the trio of deserters. Mullins was not fond of the lash and rarely used it for punishment. His wife had never seen it used and he was not about to be the one to show her. Of course, since he would be departing on his mission soon after, he could leave the punishment for his first officer to preside over, but he did not consider that just.
Turning to that officer, who was standing beside him watching the ladies being pulled ashore, he said, “Mister Persons, let us call the men aft and rig for punishment.”
The order was passed; “All hands to witness punishment.”
The miscreants were led up from the mess deck, where they had been shackled, all of them blinking in the bright sunlight. Mullins had resolved to get the matter over as quickly as possible. The hands knew well why this punishment was taking place so there was no need to give them a long speech.
Looking over the assembled crew, he noted all of the men had gone to some effort to make themselves presentable. The officers had been warned to don their best. Only the men being punished presented a dismal picture, dressed as they were in the same garments they had worn when they ran from the ship days before. Now that clothing was torn and dirty and the men filthy.
He began by reminding the men they had been spared a court martial by the admiral. Instead, they would be tried by him before the mast, unless they wished to insist on a court martial. All watching knew the men would not grasp at that straw. A court could, and probably would, sentence the men to so many strokes that they would probably die under the lash.
Mullins then asked the men individually if they wished to be tried by court martial. All indicated they would accept the captain’s justice.
Nodding, their captain informed the miscreants of the charges against them and again asked if they wished to be tried at court martial. Upon their refusal he said, “Wilkins, Hardy and Davis, you have all been taken in the act of running from the ship, after being previously warned to return at the end of the first dog watch. Therefore, I find each of you guilty of the crime of which you have been charged. Each of you will suffer a dozen lashes of the cat o’ nine tails. Additionally, each of you will be deprived of your grog ration for the next thirty days. Master of Arms, do your duty!”
This punishment was much more lenient than was customary at the time and some hands were puzzled, while others merely nodded their satisfaction.
A hatch cover was stood upright and fastened to the mizzen. Wilkins was led over to the grating where his shirt was removed and a leather apron was tied over his lower abdomen.
A burly bosun’s mate was standing by with a freshly made cat and waited his orders. On the signal of the first officer, he drew back and slashed the victim across his upper back with all of his strength. This was repeated for another eleven strokes at which time the man was cut down and led below. After the other two had received their punishment, Mullins turned the ship over to Mister Persons and left the frigate to proceed on his mission.
Gripping the sailcloth cover containing his orders, Mullins dropped down into the launch for the pull over to the dispatch cutter that would deliver him to his destination. Compared to the ships he had commanded recently, Rap
id was a tiny vessel. With a pair of tiny guns up forward and another pair aft, she was no threat to anyone, but must flee any dangerous opponent.
A lively craft, with a motion all of her own, Mullins became dubious when they entered the Channel. A lengthy discussion of his orders with Mister Peters, the lieutenant commanding the craft, soon managed to eliminate all thoughts of sickness from his mind.
Captain Peters had his own strategy for dealing with strange sail they met. He merely ran from everything they saw. He explained he had no business with any other ship until meeting with Indefatigable, so he avoided everyone. He had reason to be wary of approaching even King’ ships. As a very junior commanding officer, he had to fear senior captains who might send him off on errands to fetch supplies or even order him to supply a few seamen. It was safer to avoid all ships.
Rapid was a fast cutter, able seemingly to find a wind no matter how calm the weather. Much sooner than he had a right to expect, the vessel found herself off Brest, and there was the heavy frigate, Indefatigible.
As junior captain, Mullins put his dispatches and orders under his arm and was pulled over. After being closeted in the cabin with her captain for several hours, Mullins had a fair idea in his mind of his coming actions when he climbed down into his boat again. He had been told to look at the punishment log of Falcon when he boarded her. He was warned it appeared to be an amazing account.
Indefatigible’s captain said that he could not abide the sight of that bloody Falcon and had sent her far to the flank of the squadron. Their quarry was far afield from her reported position and it took a week to find her.
From afar, the Falcon appeared to be a trim enough warship, lethal appearing and her crew seemed efficient enough although strangely lethargic. Upon boarding, her age became more apparent, but she seemed serviceable enough.
After some thought, Captain Weyland remembered his former midshipman from the old Caesar. Greeting Mullins heartily, he began regaling his guest with accounts of some of their adventures from those days.
Mullins found these old tales not at all entertaining. He recalled vividly the several times his old lieutenant had him bent over a gun with the ship’s gunner belaboring his behind with a rattan cane.
Today, the shoe was on a different foot. Weyland had received his captaincy at a later date than his former subordinate. Today, Weyland was the subordinate and Mullins had Admiralty orders to investigate improprieties aboard his ship. It was Weyland that was facing discipline, this time.
After refusing a glass of wine, Mullins pulled the first of his papers from his pouch. It explained his presence as an emissary of the Admiralty, charged with examining reports of incipient mutiny aboard Falcon.
Weyland’s face grew pale as he read the orders. He remained silent for a moment then tried to explain. “Mullins,”. he began.
Mullins interjected, “Captain Weyland, you will address me as either captain or sir.”
“Aye, aye, sir. Understood, my apologies, please.”
“Captain Weyland, I believe we will save some time if you would have your sailing master report to us with his punishment log.”
Weyland grimaced, as if a misdeed had suddenly surfaced. “Captain Mullins, I must regretfully report that Sailing Master Danton is under arrest in his quarters at the moment.”
“Indeed, Captain Weyland. What are the charges against him?”
“Sir, he was frequently questioning my orders, sometime refusing them entirely. I had no recourse but to confine him to quarters,”
“Very well, who is performing the duties as sailing master, then?”
“Sir, that would be Master’s Mate Forrest, sir.”
“Then, let us see Master’s Mate Forrest, Captain Weyland.”
Forrest was a gangly youth of twenty or so. He entered the cabin with a tattered logbook after a lengthy wait. He came in with an apology on his lips.
“Very sorry for the delay sir. He had the log hidden and it took me some time to find it.”
Mullins spoke, “I am Captain Mullins, young man. You are Master’s Mate Forrest?”
“Aye, sir.”
“I am under Admiralty orders investigating reports of unusual circumstances aboard this ship. Would you tell me just who had the log hidden?”
“Sir, that was Mister Hodges, the old sailing master,”
Mullins asked for clarification, “Hodges is the person under arrest in quarters?”
“Aye, sir.”
Mullins reached over and pulled the log to him. After a few moments of scanning the entries, Mullins marveled. “It appears you have rigged the gratings every day for the past week!”
Weyland answered, “Yes sir, my crew is a collection of mutinous dogs. They need a dose of the cat o’ nine tails frequently if anything is to be done aboard ship.”
Mullins replied, “Captain, it is the concern of the Admiralty that it is you who are the cause of reports of incipient mutiny. My mission is to determine the cause of such and correct if possible.”
Captain Weyland answered. “Captain, you are a captain yourself. You know the crews of our ships are little better than animals, who must be handled ruthlessly if any work is to be done.”
Mullins spoke again, “I would like to speak with your officers, Captain Weyland. Would you have the word passed for them?”
“Sir, I am afraid I have confined them to quarters except while standing watch.”
Mullins reached into his pouch and fumbled through its contents, finally pulling out a document. Reading it over carefully to ensure it was the proper one, he handed it to Master’s Mate Forrest.
“Mister Forrest, this is an order from the First Lord of the Admiralty, to me, with my instructions. You have my permission to read this. I am now ordering Captain Weyland into my boat which will take him to the cutter, HMS Rapid, Captain Peters, which will transport him to London. Captain Weyland is under arrest on my order and will report on arrival to the Admiralty where he will receive further instructions. I will assume command of Falcon, starting this moment, until such time as I am replaced by competent authority.”
Weyland stared at him, aghast. “Mullins, you have just ruined my career!”
“I am afraid you have already done that yourself, Weyland.”
Turning to Forrest, Mullins said, “You will oblige me Mister Forrest, if you will fetch the officer of the watch immediately. We need to discuss matters.”
Weyland frantically addressed the master’s mate. “Forrest, you will not listen to this officer. I am your captain. You will obey me.”
The young man looked at both men, trying to determine where his duty lay. Mullins said, “I realize that you are in a bad position Forrest, I will remind you that I have given you orders from the Admiralty. Many others know where I am and what I am doing. I would advise you to consider your actions carefully.”
Looking doubtfully at Weyland, Forrest said, “Sir, I am going to see the officer of the watch. I want to make certain we are on course.”
A middle-aged lieutenant entered the cabin, followed by the Marine sentry. “Yes sir?” questioned the officer.
Mullins handed the lieutenant his orders and after a pause while they were read, stated that he was taking command of the ship.
At that time, everyone looked at Weyland to determine what he might have to say, but all he could do was incoherently gobble his outrage,
The lieutenant said, “Captain Mullins, I am Lieutenant Drake, third officer of Falcon. Should I call ‘All hands”?
“That might be best, Mister Drake. That should include all officers and warrants who are under arrest, also.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
HMS Falcon reported to the flagship of the Inshore Squadron and took station in trail while Captain Mullins went aboard. He took with him the old sailing master and several of the ship’s officers together with their logs. It was determined that Mullins would remain in command until further advised and that Captain Weyland would be transported to London on Rapid.
A close examination of Falcon’s stores revealed she too must return to port very soon, so carrying copies of the various logs and reports, Falcon set sail. Somehow, on her way back to port, she blundered upon a little brig sailing under French colors carrying a cargo of fine lace.
There was no difficulty at all, the brig had appeared on Falcon’s starboard beam at dawn one morning. Her master was suffering from the effects of a birthday party the evening before and his mate had not understood the course he had been told to follow. Halfway across the channel the little brig Gloire became prize to Falcon. Officers and men were now richer, or would be when the valuable cargo had been sold at prize auction.
Given a prize crew, the brig went on its way into port, while Mullins attempted to get his new ship in order.
Upon first taking command, the men had all seemed almost lethargic, believing they were all at the mercy of the fates. Today, after the quick capture and the realization each man had earned a year’s pay in just an hour, many had brightened up.
As long as the men were in the proper mood, Mullins had the men practice their gunnery drill. Although short of nearly any other provisions, the frigate still had her initial allotment of ammunition, her previous captain not believing in the wasteful expense of firing practice rounds.
For two hours then, the thunder echoed as Falcon expended dozens of rounds of eighteen pound shot. The hands were exhausted but happy when they were stood down and Mullins ordered the grog ration issued early.
Some of the hands were beginning to stiffen from the unaccustomed exercise when the sails were sighted ahead. There were three, a small ship, probably a small frigate or large corvette, as well as two possible merchants.
Mullins was not certain whether he wished to engage this enemy in a new ship and strange crew. However, the strange warship approaching ran up the tricolor and came directly for him. He could hardly decline combat in these circumstances, so he had the ship cleared for action and went straight toward the frigate, as she now appeared.
HMS Hector: A Charles Mullins Novel (Sea Command Book 6) Page 16