by David O'Neil
***
Elsewhere in London things were happening, Admiral Malmby still in residence was pleased to have the Morbihan added to the Preventive fleet. With the return of Roister he was hoping she would undertake more work for the Service. He was unaware of the part the ship had played in Quiberon Bay and therefore had no idea of the possible plans Lord Mills may have for the ship.
He was also looking forward to the handover of his post to Admiral Keith, who was due to return from his current posting in the blockade off Brest.
Chapter nineteen
For Robert, the events of the past two years had made him a rich man. He was restless despite the variety of jobs they had undertaken over that period. Things were happening in the world. Napoleon had declared himself First Consul of France, in essence King. Now the news of the recovery of Malta from the French, and here he was kicking his heels in London waiting for the world to wake up and recognize that he and his perfectly good frigate could be involved somewhere actually doing something.
His irritation must have been observed by the Admiral, who suggested that while Lord Mills was away it would be an idea for him to contact Captain Leclerc and get up to date on the current situation in the channel.
They met at Dover Castle in the officer’s mess, conveniently placed at the disposal of the Preventive officers stationed in Dover. The artillery men stationed in the castle were a friendly bunch and Leclerc had integrated well. In fact, he lived in the bachelors’ quarters when he was ashore.
In the corner of the great ante room, the two men were undisturbed as they sat over coffee discussing the activities of the past two months. It was while relaxing after they had been talking for over an hour, that Robert heard that Marc Charles was dead, hanged at Tyburn like the other convicted pirates in history.
Despite the chapter being closed, Jean Leclerc was not feeling any better. It was taking time to sink in, but he now had only himself to think of. If he was going to make a future for himself he was going to have to consciously put the events of the past two years behind him. He could no longer live for revenge.
“So what will you do?” Robert liked the taciturn Guernsey man and had noticed his restlessness; it was this that spurred him to invite him to London for a few days.
Leclerc surprised himself by accepting and one week later found himself dressing for dinner in a guest bedroom of the house In Knightsbridge.
His share in the prize money for the cutting out of the Corbeau Noir, and the arrest of the Tregarth brothers and their ship, had made money little problem. Added to the fact that his social life had been suspended since the loss of his family, meant that financially he was well off.
At the table he found himself seated between a rather pompous Lieutenant of the Life Guards, and the cheerful wife of the adjutant of the Grenadier Guards battalion currently stationed at the barracks across the way. The party consisted of twelve people evenly divided between six ladies and six gentlemen. Opposite Leclerc was sitting a rather grave-faced lady he judged to be 25-27 years old. She wore a ring and he recalled she had been introduced when he had come down for dinner, but he could not recall her name—just that she had no husband present. He spoke to her on two occasions during the meal and received a very civil reply on each occasion; it was after the men rejoined the ladies in the drawing room that he found himself standing next to the young lady.
He introduced himself formally and learned that she was the widow of Captain the Honourable Michael Yorke, of the Lancers who died in service under General Sir John Moore in Holland just over a year ago in 1799.
Margaret Yorke herself demonstrated a lively wit and Jean noticed her face lit up when she relaxed and smiled. The fact that she made no effort to remove herself from his company was noticed by Barbara, who had arranged the meeting in the first instance. Even Robert was unaware that the party had been organised specifically for the benefit of Leclerc. Hearing Robert’s comments on his meeting with the Guernsey man, and having met and been impressed by him in Plymouth. Barbara took it upon herself to arrange the party.
Margaret Yorke had been a friend ever since the house in Knightsbridge had become their London home. Barbara had found Margaret a charming companion when she was left alone in town whilst Robert worked. Pragmatically, she thought Margaret’s widowhood a challenge, one she kept strictly to herself.
The introduction of Captain Jean Leclerc to the scene created the ideal situation. As she mentioned to Robert that night, the two people seemed to suit each other very well! When Robert mentioned the coincidence of the two meeting, Barbara pointed out that a good hostess has to arrange for suitable balance of people at the table for dinner. Having invited Margaret she had to find a detached male to make up numbers. The visit of the Captain to London was fortuitous. At this comment Robert smiled to himself. He liked Margaret and also Jean Leclerc, so why not?
The call to the Admiralty came after three weeks, and after a meeting with the secretary, he left with orders to form part of the convoy to India.
“Being in all ways prepared for departure you will rendezvous with the convoy in three weeks time and report to Commodore Hillard on HMS Beacon 74.”
“You will open your second orders when you arrive at Capetown, and pass the enclosed envelope to Commodore Hillard.”
The days before the sailing date were all too short. For Robert and Barbara the time was taken with arrangements for the long separation.
For the rest of the crew of HMS Roister provisions had to be ordered, barrels scoured and washed with vinegar water, selected casks of beef and pork stowed and at the last minute, nets of limes taken aboard.
Billy Beaufort had the gun ports raised, wind sails rigged and the entire ’tween decks scrubbed down, giving the ship a fresh smell for a day or two at least. Powder was sieved and tested and stocks renewed and the entire arsenal of round shot was lifted from the hold and cleaned off, removing the rust patches that were produced by the damp atmosphere below decks. The boxes of fine powder for preparing cartridges for the rifle arsenal were carefully stacked away behind the felt curtains of the powder magazine. The Pre-prepared cartridges, well packed in their sealed boxes, also found their way to the Magazine, to ensure they would not get damp.
Preparing a ship for a long voyage was not the work of a moment, and though three weeks seems quite a long time, for the purser it’s all too short, Judith scolded him because he returned each night exhausted but she was aware of how important it was for him to do his work as he saw it. The scolding was for his benefit and she loved him none the less for his disregard of her comments.
When all was finally ready, the ship sat laden with stores, the final touches were being made to the paint and gilding work, otherwise all was ready for sea.
Robert sat with Barbara in the drawing room at Tamar House, the child David had been put to bed—still too young to understand the ways of grown up’s, Barbara was writing a note to Margaret Yorke, inviting her to stay for a few days in the coming month. Robert was smoking the long clay pipe, that lived on the rack on the over mantle. “It will be at least three months, if not considerably longer. You have sufficient funds and if you need more speak to Mr. Fisher at Cox’s.”
Barbara chided him, “Please, Robert, I have plenty of money and I will certainly know what to do if I need more.” She rose and went to him, sitting on his lap and hugging him. “I am more concerned about you, I will miss you terribly. So far we have been lucky; you have not needed to be away for long periods of time. I fear our son will not recognise his father if you are away too long.”
Robert wrapped his arms round Barbara. “As long as you remember who I am, we’ll manage. I have your picture beside me at all times on the ship and I’ll write whenever I can.”
The knock at the door interrupted their personal moment. The butler announced a messenger to see Robert.
The messenger had a package from Lord Mills. Asking the man to wait, Robert told his butler to see the man had refreshment and broke
the seal on the package.
The documents within were divided into two sections. The first section was a simple directive to sail with the India convoy as far as Capetown, from there to the Indian ocean island of Madagascar, and at Tamatave on the east coast a man was to be uplifted. He would identify himself with the badge. The passage from there should be made with the intention of reaching India in the fastest time possible.
The second package was marked personal and to it was attached a note to Robert. ‘Open this packet only if you feel unhappy with the instructions given by your passenger. I trust you to make the right decision and I will back whatever decision you make’. It was signed Simon Mills.
Astonished he passed the instructions over to Barbara. He rang for the butler, and when he came he instructed him to tell the messenger there was no reply to be taken.
***
As the ship reached the softer weather south of the Bay of Biscay, the men became bronzed with the increasing sun. They abandoned the heavy oilskins and for three days the ship seemed to be surrounded by a cloud of steam rising from drying clothing. The first lieutenant permitted the clothing to be draped around the deck and lower rigging while the windsails were rigged to clear the fetid atmosphere below created by the foul weather encountered since leaving Plymouth.
The convoy stretched out to the West, as the frigate covered the possibility of interference from the African coast, clearly visible to the east.
The trade winds coming abaft of the port beam, made easy comfortable sailing and despite the irritation of having to herd the recalcitrant merchantmen back into position each morning; the task made few demands on the frigate.
Robert had been at the gathering of the Captains at an uncomfortable rendezvous on the flagship in the English Channel off Ushant. The flagship with her greater bulk and size was much steadier than the smaller ships of the convoy tossing about in the channel chop. The naval officers present made a stark contrast to the civilian dress of the merchant captains. The Commodore himself was a bluff senior Captain given the rank for his present command, probably his last in service. HMS Beacon was not the newest ship of the line in the fleet, but her sailing capabilities were adequate with the assistance of the other escorts. Apart from Roister, their old friend Jaipur was there and the frigate Penelope 36, the two other sloops, the Ajax 22, and the brig-sloop Richmond 20. The cutter Mavis had been added for swift communication throughout the large convoy.
The Captain of Penelope, Charles Grayson, was the senior after Commodore Hillard. Robert was quite happy with the arrangements which allowed him to concentrate on the training of the crew in their alternative role as riflemen. The crew was given their training by watches, the competition was fierce but the men were all encouraged to support each other, and through the easy sailing area of the north east trade winds the drills went well.
Robert was pleased to entertain Commander Keith of the Jaipur along with Lieutenant Ward of the cutter Mavis to dinner during the gentle weather. He was surprised to discover that the Jaipur was under sealed orders to detach from the convoy at the Cape. His further orders were to be opened at that time.
As the winds died and the temperatures rose in the doldrums, Robert requested permission from the Commodore to launch his boats, and to mount the small taffrail cannon in the long boat in case of attack by galley from the African coast. The ships were in the grip of the Guinea current which ran south and east following the West African coastline.
Using the opportunity of the moment, Roberet had the boats manned and the crews competing in sailing and rowing. The Commodore, who had presumed that the boats were launched to keep the seams tight, was amused and entertained to the extent that a competition was arranged between the escort ships, and a light-hearted regatta was held. The spectators spent most time in the rigging of the competing ships as the boats would disappear periodically in the long Atlantic swells.
Despite the frustration of the doldrums, the voyage progressed, stopping at Freetown to water and take on fresh fruit, dried fish and meat.
By the time Table Mountain hove into view, the convoy had settled to a routine that it seemed would go on forever; but anchored in Table Bay, the whole scene altered.
Robert delivered his orders to Commodore Hillard, who was upset at not having been informed beforehand.
The ship re-provisioned and a round of farewells was made. As he had suspected, the Jaipur had been placed under his command for a specific task that would take them to Madagascar and India in the first place, thereafter who knew?
“Well, at least we won’t have to battle the Mozambique current to get there, and from Tamatave north the currents should help.” John Keith nodded and drank his wine. They were discussing the orders in Robert’s cabin.
“I have strict orders to place Jaipur and my crew at your disposal, I am not sure why but I also have a separate sealed order to opened only if I am out of contact with you without orders for more than a month. Do you know what that is all about?”
“Sorry, John, I’m afraid I have no idea, and unless I am forced to open my own sealed orders I will never know. Now I think it’s time we were on our way. If you keep to a course parallel to mine but just over the horizon perhaps people won’t realise that we are together. I suggest you sail as soon as possible and I will sail tonight.”
The friends shook hands and arranged to rendezvous one degree south of Tamatave in a week’s time.
Robert was ashore in Capetown when HMS Jaipur sailed as he stood on the veranda of Government House discussing the progress of the war in Europe with the Governor and Commodore Hillard. The India convoy was waiting in Capetown for a complete week before sailing on to Bombay.
The Commodore had been unhappy to receive his instructions from the letters carried by Robert and Commander Keith, but he had to admit the two ships were not really required for the escort of the convoy; though he was convinced that the presence of the two ships had discouraged any interference on the journey so far.
The Governor had mentioned that there had been reports of a strange ship seen off the coast recently. She had not been identified as she showed no colours, but all the reports had stated that she was pierced for at least 36 guns, and she avoided contact with other ships.
When Roister sailed it was without formal signals or other ado. The anchor was raised as quietly as possible and she equally quietly sailed away. To most she disappeared without trace.
They sailed due east for two days before turning north following the Eastern shore of the great island of Madagascar. Keeping well clear of the shore they sailed north along the 50 degree line of Longitude to the meeting place on the 19 degree line, where the topmasts of Jaipur were spotted as she awaited their arrival.
Contact established, Robert was interested to hear that Jaipur had spotted the mysterious ship in the distance, ‘on the rise’, the expression used when two ships can be in sight because both rise on the waves at the same time allowing a brief sighting if you happen to be looking in the right direction at the right time. The mystery ship seemed to be following a course to the east parallel to the two naval vessels.
The entrance into the harbour at Tamatave was tricky at the best of times, and the politics of Madagascar Island were questionable always. The French had several trading posts here and the township Tamatave was one of the largest settlements on the east coast; based around the import-export operation of the major trading establishment. The Island itself was ruled by a warlord society, its history riddled with a succession of rulers from Arabs in the eighth century to Pirates in the eighteenth.
The forts at the entrance to the harbour were currently unmanned as the French who had designs on the Island had just moved out, trouble in Mauritius requiring their presence.
The two warships sailed unhindered into the harbour and dropped anchor, dominating the township under their guns.
Robert, accompanied by Abel Jackson, was rowed ashore by armed men who waited at the quay until John Keith joined t
hem. The three men made their way to the big store that stood on the hill at the head of the street up from the docks. Within the building Abel made his way to the counter and spoke with the tall, stooped man waiting there.
They were almost immediately in deep conversation haggling over the price of the goods Abel was ordering. At the tables off to one side the two friends seated themselves and Robert called for a bottle of wine. Several others seated around the dark room resumed their conversations.
A stocky man carried a tray over to the table for the English officers. He placed the bottle on the table and returned to fetch the glasses. As he put the glasses down, he slipped a coin on the table and went back to the bar. Robert drew silver money from his pocket and counted it on the table lifting the coin placed by the waiter with his change. He inspected the money in his hand. The coin was marked with the M of D sign identifying the man as the agent they were sent to collect.
Abel Jackson came to the table, reporting that he had arranged for fresh water and fruit to be delivered to the quay. Glancing at the waiter he signalled to pay for the wine and the waiter came over. He accepted the money passed to him including the Identifying badge. As he leaned over to pick up the dirty glasses he said in a whisper he would board tonight before midnight.
***
The long swells lifted the ship in smooth surges that in turn, revealed and concealed the accompanying sloop. The lookouts had reported the sighting of the strange sail at first light, the tops being revealed against the dawn sky. To Robert this meant either their shadow was unaware he had been spotted, or intended that they know. He felt uncomfortable with the realisation that he was being manipulated by Lord Mills, and his meeting with his agent did nothing to ease that feeling.