Distant Gunfire

by David O'Neil

  Robert looked at her in astonishment. “You say that they are in love and they haven’t even spoken. How can that be?”

  She looked about to see if anyone was near.

  “Dear Robert, how innocent you can be. It is in their eyes as they look. It shows in their manner when they are near. You will see I am right.”

  She sat back and sighed, her own feelings for Robert were, she guessed, equally obvious to all but the man himself. She was aware that there could be no future in it but she had suffered from her husband’s lack of attention for many months now and she was a woman of normal needs. With a shiver she chided herself for thinking such thoughts in the presence of a man who could never be hers.

  Thinking of her husband, she was becoming seriously worried at his increasing dependence on the draughts that he was taking increasingly these days. He was eating less and less and it was affecting his health adversely.

  She had spoken to the surgeon John Sweet who had already tried to get him to stop using the draught but there was little either could do without the cooperation of Sir Marcus himself.

  She sat back and closed her eyes ,the sewing sampler dropped unheeded into her lap as she dozed off. Robert looked at her with a smile. He was seriously attracted to the lady, in other circumstances he felt he would have fallen in love with her, but just as well she was married and therefore beyond reach. He stood and walked over to the binnacle to check the course.

  Robert’s good intentions were overcome two nights before they arrived at Macao. They had met on deck during the night as they had habitually done since the pirate attacks, this time the imminence of their separation lent urgency almost an impatience, to their conversation. Words took on meaning. As they descended to their cabins to go to bed they touched, and before they realised it they were in each other’s arms, kissing. Robert carried her into his cabin and laid her on the bed. Impatiently he had opened her wrap to find her naked beneath; she wrenched and tore at his clothes until both were wrapped in each other’s arms. They made love with abandon, the frustration of the past month behind them. As if, Robert afterwards thought, it was for the last time.

  In fact it was the first and last time, but it was a time that neither would ever forget, and it marked a voyage that would live for them both thereafter. He felt guilty afterward and could find no excuse for his behaviour, he loved Barbara and missed her terribly, but he could not undo what had been done, and he decided it would not occur again.

  At Macao Adam Tamar requested permission to marry Maria. With the cooperation of Eve it became possible, and before Roister left for the next stage of her journey round the world, the wedding took place in the English Church in Macao.

  Chapter twenty four

  Sir Marcus Stephen collapsed as he stepped ashore in Macao; he died one week later in the hospital run by the Sisters of Mercy. The Doctor diagnosed death from a tropical seizure. Privately John Sweet confided in Robert that the death was from starvation due to overuse of Opium, the substance which was being supplied to the Chinese people by the East India Company.

  In the circumstances, Lady Stephens and her children were required to take passage home in the packet ship departing for England three weeks after the funeral. Her children were accompanied by the newlywed Mrs. Tamar after a tearful separation from her new husband who sailed on the Roister in the opposite direction.

  Commodore Britten was helpful in getting the ships fitted out for the long voyage home; luckily all carried spare spars, as the supply of timber available in Macao was limited. The Chinese labour proved adept and efficient, considering the time available if they were going to avoid the worst of the weather en route.

  The short, irascible Commodore was one of the no-nonsense officers who got things done. He had been advised of the current situation in Europe, and was frustrated to be so far away when great events were occurring on the other side of the world. Hearing of the conquest of the Middle East by Napoleon despite the defeat of his fleet at Abukir was not good for his temper or his blood pressure. Even the fact that Napoleon seemed to have abandoned the sea to settle for land conquests at present was no compensation, he was still frustrated by his far eastern posting.

  Additional crew for the prize were found from the survivors of several skirmishes between Chinese and English ships in the river on the way to Canton. The Commodore commandeered the frigate Rivage giving Robert a note of hand for the purchase based on a value mutually agreed. He also provided a Captain and officers from his own local sources which permitted Roister and Jaipur to sail with their own crews once more.

  The two officers who had taken passage with the prize were accommodated in Roister and Jaipur for the final stages of their journey, despite causing a certain amount of congestion among the officers in the wardrooms of the ships.

  The Mail Packet Mercury sailed two days before the return voyage began and the departure of the twins had caused considerable sadness among the crew who had adopted the pair since their appearance on board in India.

  So it was a surprise for Robert when the lookout reported her emerging—hull up—from a mist bank, sailing towards the Philippines. The two ships gave chase, and despite the Mail Packet’s sailing capabilities, the inept handling by her crew enabled them to catch the ship before evening.

  The Mercury was armed but faced with the overwhelming force offered by the two warships, the pirates who had captured her took to their boats. Jaipur was there to herd them back under the guns while the boarding parties took over the ship and searched for survivors. The twins were found with Maria looking after their mother who had been wounded in the fight with the pirates.

  Of the crew there was one officer and seven men still alive. The others had been thrown to the sharks. The ship had been attacked off Hainan Island by a group of boats disguised as fishermen. The crew had no real chance to do much, the odds were too great. Lady Stephen had been injured when she had shot one of the pirates attacking Maria; the pirate’s Kris had cut her upper arm raised to fend him off. The leader had ordered the others to leave them alone for ransoming.

  Her wound, received two days ago, was looking angry and she was feverish, in considerable pain. The surgeon John Sweet had her carried into Roister so that she could be looked after personally, Maria and the twins accompanied her on board. Robert then made a decision after consultation with Captain Keith, to send Jaipur back to Macao with Mercury and his report. He arranged to meet Jaipur at Rarotonga, in the Cook Islands where he would collect water and wait for her to catch up. Roister would take Lady Stephen and her family with them so that the surgeon could look after her wound. She would have a better chance of complete recovery at sea away from the fever climate of Macao.

  Mercury and Jaipur departed carrying between them the pirates taken with Mercury. Roister carried on alone across the broad Pacific.

  Eve was cared for in the Great Cabin, the fanlight and the windows open to produce a breeze. John Sweet was not happy with her condition. Robert sat with her holding her hand as she tossed and turned while the fever raged through her. After three days it began to abate.

  “Tell me, John, is it over. Will she recover now?” Robert was concerned since Eve was looking thin and wasted.

  “I cannot promise anything, she has had blood poisoning, probably from the blade of the knife. It is often fatal in a cold climate, Here? Who knows? Now the fever has broken perhaps, but I make no promises.”

  In the great cabin Eve, conscious once more, grasped Robert’s hand. “Please, Robert, keep my children safe. They have no relations in England. We, Marcus and I were both orphans and though there is plenty of money for them I would like them cared for by someone I know and trust. Promise you will look after their care, promise?”

  “You will be able to do that yourself, but of course if anything happens, I would be proud to take care of them. Now concentrate on getting better and look forward to enjoying them yourself.”

  Over the next few days Eve’s condition improved and she
was soon able to join them on deck, resting in a chair and chatting to the midshipmen and other officers on the quarterdeck. The crew had taken the twins in hand and they were running through the rigging once more. Sam Callow had resumed his lessons in Mathematics whilst Billy Beaufort undertook their reading and writing. Maria saw her Adam every day and looked after Eve and the children when needed.

  The weather was kind for the next week, no sail sighted though the bo’sun caught a shark, much to the excitement of the twins. It was brought on deck thrashing about causing all sorts of problems until Hanson clouted it with the carpenter’s maul. The cook made sharksfin soup and Hanson removed the jaws of the shark and boiled off the flesh, he polished the result and presented it to the twins as a memento of their voyage.

  It seemed sometimes that the voyage would go on forever the horizon stretching away to the east with the occasional sighting of an Island to break up the journey. It came as a complete shock when Maria went to call Eve one morning and she could not wake her. John Sweet came and examined her and shook his head sadly, “I’m afraid there is nothing I can do, Lady Stephen is dying!”

  Robert came and was holding her hand when her eyes opened, she gripped his fingers fiercely.

  “Robert, you promised; look after them.” Lady Eve Stephen died.

  Robert bowed his head and laid the lifeless hand on the sheet; he rose to his feet and went on deck, leaving the sobbing Maria, with her mistress. He called for the twins and sat in the chair that was placed already for their mother, and broke the news to them, putting his arms round them both as they sobbed their hearts out.

  The entry in the log book recorded that Lady Eve Stephen died from blood poisoning and was buried at sea on the 12th of July 1801 at 08 degrees N, 176 degrees W at twelve noon.

  ***

  They made the rendezvous at Rarotonga Island with time to spare, and despite the gloom created by the loss of Eve, the golden beach and the break in routine entailed in fetching the water butts ashore lightened the atmosphere a little.

  Scrubbing and refilling them from the fresh water stream coming down from the hillside was hard work but the men were happy to get off the ship and stretch their legs on shore.

  Robert allowed groups of the crew to go ashore hunting and gave them the chance to frolic in the water from the beach. The people of the island were friendly and happy to trade for food and cheerfully helped with the water.

  There was a whaling ship anchored in the lagoon and the crew of Americans brought news of increasing frustration among the former colonists over interference with their shipping by British ships. Although there was no conflict locally as Robert pointed out there was a lot of support for the French among Americans which did cause resentment in Britain.

  The twins enjoyed the break immensely and had a great time exploring the island and the whaling ship poking their noses through the nooks and crannies under the supervision of the bo’sun. All in all it was a more cheerful group that greeted the eventual arrival of Jaipur three days later.

  John Keith brought revised orders from the Commodore covering the change of plans due to the pirate attack. After a further two day break the ships set sail once more South of East for the passage of Cape Horn.

  Rounding the Horn from west to east is not quite the same as rounding from east to west. The prevailing winds blow from west to east so that the transit is at least with the wind. In addition, the Cape Horn current flows in the same direction so that ships are not fighting the current and the wind as they do in the other direction.

  Nonetheless, going either way is no picnic and it is always a relief when the ship turns north after the passage has been made. Both ships rounded the Horn without too much difficulty, the weather could not be described as kind but it could have been much worse.

  Once round, they were soon set safely on the northern course and the crews felt that they were really on their way home at last. The weather began to improve and the spirits of both crews lifted the further north the ships sailed. The weather warmed day by day and the clothing became less and less with the increasing warmth of the sun. Days of wind and sun were succeeded by days of sun and calm as they entered the doldrums.

  The crew and passengers found the calm waters of the doldrums a relief at first after the tossing about that had been seemingly endless since the departure from Macao. The long Atlantic swells lifted and lowered the ships smoothly. Swimming groups went overboard; the twins quickly grasping the elements of swimming and taking to the water like a pair of dolphins. Watch was kept for sharks of course but generally the swimming went untroubled by incident.

  The novelty soon began to wear off, as the heat, untempered by wind, became a live thing and tempers began to fray. Robert ordered the boats launched, initially to keep the wood from shrinking, but he soon decided that towing the ships using the boats would be useful. It would occupy the men and tire them. In addition, it could bring them into range of a breeze; and finally it would also make some progress towards the homeward journey.

  Six windless days passed before relief came and the first small gust of moving air reached the becalmed ships. Within four hours the ships were being battered by the northeast Trade winds and they were plunging through the waves while the wind shrieked in the rigging, both ships under storm foresails only scudding north, logging a steady 8 knots through the long waves that had been building unchecked for over one thousand miles.

  The weather calmed as they approached the Azores and the break to water and provision was a welcome relief for all.

  From the Azores north the sailing was easy, they had been informed that a truce existed between Britain and France so there should be no problems with encounters with the French en-route. The passage through the Bay of Biscay was no worse than usual, though Robert found it strange to pass up Channel without encountering the blockade fleet off Ushant.

  The approach to the end of the long voyage was welcomed by most though for some there were mixed feelings. After nearly one year away, some found the idea of living away from the closed community of the ship a daunting prospect.

  For the twins the thought of life with strangers in a country they hardly knew was worrying. They had left England when they were three years old; over seven years ago, and without their mother or father they were apprehensive, entering the strictures of a strange society was not easy.

  Robert called them to his cabin and seated them on the bench beneath the stern windows; the sun was breaking through the broken clouds revealing patches of blue sky.

  “Before she died your mother asked me to look after you both. I am very happy to do that, and if you do not object I will make proper arrangements to become your legal guardian at least. That means I will be responsible for your education and welfare until you become of age to take over your own lives. I am saying this to you now before we land at Plymouth. If you have objection to this I would like to know before we arrive?”

  Peter Stephens spoke, sounding very responsible and grown up. “Sir, my sister Jenny and I would be obliged if you would look after us as you suggest, we know no one in England and we would rather not be placed with strangers.”

  “You are, since the death of your father, Sir Peter Stephens, and you Jenny, are Lady Stephens. However I hope you understand that within my household you will continue to be Peter and Jenny to the family?”

  “Oh, I hadn’t realised; please, we would both prefer to stay as we are at present, be as our friends know us now if you don’t mind.” Peter said anxiously.

  Robert was pleased. “Good! Well, I’m pleased that’s over, off you go and start packing. We will be arriving in Plymouth tomorrow and you will need to be ready to go ashore.”

  HMS Roister returned to Plymouth to a flurry of salutes and the sight of many ships crowding the anchorage. Robert was ordered to report to the Port Admiral and was met at the quay by Barbara, with little David in the carriage. Peter and Jenny who had come ashore with him hung back while the couple hugged each other
with joy at their reunion. Robert stood back and examined his wife with admiration and pride. “You are more beautiful than ever, my love and David is so big and strong.” The baby was gripping his finger in that serious interested way that babies do.

  “But here may I introduce two friends of mine whom will be our guests. Barbara, please greet Sir Peter and Lady Jennifer Stephens.”

  Peter stepped forward and bowed while Jenny curtsied to Barbara. Barbara nodded to the two children and looked a question at her husband, Robert answered the unasked question. “Their parents both died during the passage from India, I made a promise….” Barbara held up her hand and stopped him. She reached out and swept the two children into her arms and said, “I just knew we would be friends as soon as I saw you. Come into the carriage with me while the Captain goes and sees the Admiral. We will see him later at home, I’m sure. Meanwhile I would like to introduce you to my horses. You do you like horses, don’t you?”

  As the three boarded the carriage and Barbara turned to Robert and kissed him, “Please don’t take too long. Bring Alan if he is permitted, we need some life about the place it’s been too long without you both; it has been an eternity.”

  Chapter twenty five

  The Treaty of Amiens between England and France gave both countries breathing space; though in England, politics ruled. Despite cynical disbelief of the majority of the general public; the government used it as an excuse to divert funds from the maintenance of the navy and the army. It was only when it became obvious that recently elected First Consul of France had no intention of giving up his ambitions of including Britain in his European Empire, that the refitting of the fleet and the re-expansion of the army was undertaken. As ever, too little too late. leaving the services expected to defend the nation to perform miracles with inadequate provisions and resources.