Sails Across the Sea: A Tim Phillips Novel (War at Sea Book 8) (7 page)

Once on the beach they picked up the men they had left behind earlier and Phillips waved at the launch and cutter standing offshore. The boats came in, picked them up and they were on their way to the brig.

Someone up on the cliff top got a small gun prepared and fired two shots at the boats. Mister Davison of the brig saw this and opened with his starboard broadside. The brig was now just within range with her carronades, and her long French eights especially, had no trouble reaching their target. After two broadsides, the gun ashore did not fire again. Had he been on the ship, Phillips would have ordered the guns to keep firing, and that is just what Davison did.

With everyone accounted for, the boats made the rest of their way to the brig, boarding on the port side so as not to interfere with the gun crew’s work. Phillips was busy with ship’s business, getting the anchor up and sail set, so it was some time before he had time to spare for his new passengers. Jane, the pregnant girl, was bubbling with joy and the various crew members were competing with each other to assist her.

Lady Forsythe was another matter, however. Sobbing uncontrollably, she had made her way to the bow and refused to talk with anyone. On his own, Private Hornsby approached her and asked if he could take care of the baby for a spell. She was slightly familiar with the Marine, since he had helped her with the child down the long steps. She handed him over without a word.

With the ship settled on her course back to the west, her exasperated captain approached Lady Forsythe. “Madame, I hope you will excuse me for bringing this up, but every man on this brig would give his arm to assist you in your trouble. I, for one however, have no idea of your problem or what may be done to correct it!”

“Captain”, she said. “The problem is you have taken me away from my new home by force. I feel my life is over and I have no idea of what will happen to my baby.”

“Lady Forsythe, you will permit me to wonder about your happiness back there. You did not appear to be well fed, you were, and still are dressed in rags, and you have bruises over your face. It appears to me you have been ill-treated. Why on earth would you protest leaving such a place?”

“Because, Captain, my son, at least, will have at least a chance there. He is the son of the most powerful man on the island, and even though he was born to a slave woman, could well have become successful. Back in England, he will just be another bastard born to a whore. Neither he nor I will have any kind of life. My husband will refuse to accept either my son or myself. I would throw myself from this ship now if not for my baby”

“Lady Forsythe, I was given only a very brief account of your capture from the merchant vessel you travel on from Naples. I was under the impression you were with child at the time going back home for better care.”

“And that is exactly correct, Captain. However, taken aboard the pirate, I was raped incessantly until I lost the baby. That did not prevent their attentions, however and they kept it up until we reached the island.”

“I was purchased by Al Raschid, who gave me to his wives as their slave. They almost worked me to death. One of those men quickened me with his seed and I became pregnant again. I do not know who it was. I assured Al Raschid it was his baby though, so he prevented his wives from doing me serious injury. When the boy was born, Raschid seemed to take pride in him, even though he had many other children. I think it was because Raschid’s other children were all girls. Al Raschid himself named the child, and I think would have seen the boy advance,”

Phillips’ brain was working. Thoughts were coming to him rapidly as she talked. Finally he asked, “Lady Forsythe, how far along were you when you lost your first baby?”

“About three month, I think. What difference does it make?”

“Only this, Madame. You were quickened shortly after you lost your first. This child seems to me about a year old. Thus, had your first been born alive, that one would now a year and four or five months old. Now, most men, especially those who are not fathers themselves, find it difficult to judge accurately the age of a small child.”

“You feel Lord Forsythe back home would be unwilling to accept a baby fathered by a Muslim pirate. But, would he accept a child borne by his faithful wife who had gone through tremendous trials to keep the child alive?”

“Captain, you are mocking me! Everyone will know what has happened to me when we get back to England.”

“Lady Forsythe, I will ensure no one on this brig will say anything about the actual circumstances of the child’s parentage. As far as anyone is concerned your child is Lord Forsythe’s. You were known to be with child when you were taken. Here is the child. What can anyone say?”

“But Abdul is too young to be my husband’s baby. Everyone that sees him will know!”

“First of all, Lady Forsythe, you must stop calling the baby Abdul. You must give him an English name. Why not that of your husband? Secondly, as to this child appearing too young, you and the baby have gone through a terribly stressful time. One would expect the child to appear smaller than his presumed age might indicate.”

“But he does not look like my husband!”

Phillips sighed. “Madame, addressing you every sentence as ‘Lady Forsythe’ grows tiresome. Is there another name that I can use?”

“My friends back home used to call me Emily.”

“Very well Emily. I must also tell you that your continued determination in portraying yourself to be mistreated also becomes tiresome. You may recall your insistence upon travelling home on an un-escorted merchant vessel against professional advice brought you into this difficulty. Now, you wish to be back on the island to be mistreated some more. If I were given my choice, I would put the brig about right now and land you on the beach back at the island. I could then take the baby home to England and tell them a story about how you gave your life to save the child. Unfortunately, I must follow orders and take you home.”

“But what if my husband takes one look at the baby and realizes it is not his?”

“Emily, the boy has fair skin and brown hair, like most other boys in Britain. As far as his appearance goes, I am sure if you thought a minute, you could think up a relative or ancestor that looks remarkably like the boy. Your future and that of your son will be what you make of it. If you are determined to believe your husband will be immediately suspicious, then it will probably happen. However, should you make an effort, you, your son and your husband could lead normal, happy lives.”

On their way back to the western Mediterranean to rejoin the fleet, Captain Phillips was anxious to avoid combat if possible. The crew had gone to great lengths to retrieve Emily and her child and he wanted to do nothing to jeopardize his cargo. Too, as the brig sailed by the boot of Italy, Jane had her child. Doctor Persons stayed with her all that night and into the morning, the crew entertained during that time with her constant piercing screams. Emily assisted the doctor with his duties, leaving her child in the care of the crew.

Approaching the French coast off Toulon, where the blockading fleet might be expected to be found, an enemy frigate found them instead. She was a svelte warship of twenty eight guns, probably either eight or twelve pounders. Terrier immediately put the wind on her quarter, her best point of sailing and tried to outrun the enemy. From her long voyage in the warm Mediterranean waters though, she had picked up weed growth on her hull, copper or no. The frigate, with a clean bottom, slowly gained on her.

Phillips tried every trick he could think of to coax a little more speed from her hull. Perhaps he could extend the chase into the evening and lose the pursuer in the dark. It soon became evident that this was not going to work. The enemy would come up with her long before the sun set.

Terrier’s captain was not really concerned about being possibly taken. He knew his eighteen pounder carronades would far outweigh any gun the frigate had aboard. The trick though, would be to enter the fight at rather short range. At close quarters, his large shot could destroy or cripple the enemy in short order, and loaded with grape or canister, would also destroy its crew.

Should the frigate become suspicious early on though, she could pound the brig with her long guns outside carronade range until Phillips was ready to surrender. Phillips decided to play the game a little differently. He remained on course and the frigate steadily gained. Terrier had to withstand the intermittent fire of the frigate’s bow chasers. At long carronade shot, Terrier having received some telling shots that fortunately did little to impede her fighting ability, came to and her port broadside faced the enemy.

While the carronades did have limited range, there were some positives. The interior of the short barrels were accurately bored to tight tolerances, and the carefully made thirty two pound balls fit them with little windage between the ball and the gun’s bore. In addition to making the gun more accurate, it made the gunpowder burn more efficiently.

Even with a short barrel and a small charge of powder, the gun could still reach out farther than one would expect. In addition, the smashers did have sights, if only rudimentary, and used an elevation screw to more accurately control elevation rather than the old wooden quoin the long guns used.

When the frigate copied the brigs turn, Phillips was not concerned. His men had a considerable amount of practice with their guns, and he doubted most enemy captains were as diligent at gun drill as he was. With the long axis of the frigate facing Terrier’s broadside, he gave the order to fire. With his glass, he could see the effects of the shot. The two long eights he had forward and aft had no problem striking the frigate, while the carronades, firing at maximum range had a little more difficulty.

To reach, his gunners were using maximum elevation and lobbing the balls high and hoping they would come down on deck or the rigging. The shots that missed short or wide were easily seem though the telescope, but it was sometimes difficult to see a hit. One hit he did see. A gust had heeled the enemy ship over a bit, and suddenly a ragged hole appeared in her foredeck. Those thirty two pound iron balls falling upon the enemy were doing enormous damage, damage Phillips hoped the frigate would not choose to continue receiving.

His men reloaded rapidly, much faster than the enemy gun crews, and fired again. The frigate was thundering away, firing regular broadsides at the speed of the slowest gun, probably on orders of the enemy captain. Many of those shots missed, while the ones that hit caused much less damage than the balls from the smashers.

Firing away her ammunition at a rapid rate, Phillips was wondering if it would last until the frigate was defeated, when the enemy came before the wind and sailed away. As she left, a shrewd shot from Terrier knocked her fore topmast askew, and she slowed right down while making repairs.

Now would be a good time to savage the frigate. With her damage, she could no longer keep up with the brig, and Phillips knew he could get on her quarter and just pound her until she struck. He was tempted, but then an eight pounder shot from the frigate struck the brig’s lower hull forward, and simultaneously with the sound of the impact came a piercing scream from below.

Sending Mister Roberts below to investigate, he reluctantly turned his ship away. His previous reasons for avoiding combat were still valid.

When he came back to the quarterdeck, he reported the women were alarmed at the gunfire. An enemy ball had smashed into the hull right over the orlop where the women had been stowed, Roberts was sent below again with a message to the ladies that the gunfire would cease forthwith.

It was an anti-climax when the topsails of the fleet were spotted. Terrier’s number was hung out, and the flag answered with the signal for ‘Query’.

Answering with “Passengers Aboard’, the flag displayed Terrier’s number and flew the signal for her captain to repair on board the flagship. Anticipating Admiral Cotton’s wishes, he took Emily, Jane and their babies with him.

Phillips spent the day on the flag, being interviewed by everyone from the Admiral’s political advisor to the Physician of the Fleet. He was called in by Sir Charles himself in the afternoon. Sir Charles advised him he was sending Lady Forsythe and her maid aboard a transport that was sailing for home any day. Terrier would escort that transport and should allow nothing to hinder its safe passage. He should defend it even at the cost of his own brig, if necessary.

Sir Charles mentioned he thought the two woman would be more comfortable on the larger ship equipped with more amenities for their gender. Phillips was directed to return to Terrier, remove the women’s belongings and send them aboard the transport ‘City of London’ immediately.

Once back upon deck, Phillips approached the flag captain who was walking the deck with the flag lieutenant.

“Captain”, he wondered. “I am ordered to send Lady Forsythe’s belongings over to the transport. My problem is, neither Lady Forsythe nor the other woman we freed have any belongs save what they wore when we freed them. Some of the hands have sewn up simple garments for them, but none of the hands are really ladies dressmakers.”

The flag captain chuckled. “This is the very least of your problems, Captain. Better you think of what to say when you are presented to the King back home.”

He added, “Some of my officers have accumulated a variety of lady’s apparel they purchased to send to their wives or sweethearts back home. I suspect we may well obtain some kind of wardrobe to outfit your passengers.”

“By the way, what is the standing of this young woman accompanying Lady Forsythe?”

“Well sir, Admiral Cotton refers to her as Forsythe’s maid. All I know is she was in the same women’s barracks as was Lady Forsythe. As you can see, she is very young, and when we found her she was about to give birth and was British, we took her along with us,

Captain Hornsby nodded, then commented. “Captain Phillips, I need to bring up some delicate points. Exactly what was the women’s status on that island?”

“Sir, there were any number of women there. I understand a few of them were wives of the local strong man. Some were concubines of the same man while Lady Forsythe was a slave of his wives. I have not asked what Jane’s status was and did not care to do so.”

“Yes, many a pitfall when discussing women’s’ histories! However, I suppose Lady Forsythe must have led a dreadful life, passed from one man to the next?”

Prevaricating, Phillips replied. “It was not quite what you are thinking, Captain. Al Rashid, Lady Forsythe’s owner was the richest, most powerful man on the island. He kept all of his women in isolation, separated from other men. Even the guards were eunuchs. I suppose you know what the term means?”

Hornsby grimaced. “I believe I do, Captain. You may not know, I am acquainted with Lord Forsythe. I am sure he will question me closely about his wife’s ordeal. I need to study my probable responses to his questions.”

“As I understand you, the pirate chief was the only one that had access to Lady Forsythe?”

Phillips decided for the wellbeing of Lady Forsythe, it might be better to edit his response a little. He decided the flag captain did not really need to know all the unpleasant details of the woman’s treatment to relate to his friends.

“Sir, as I understand the situation, this Al Rashid was only interested in young, inexperienced girls. Married women such as Lady Forsythe, women not in the bloom of youth, were kept as household slaves for the wives to do with as they might wish. Lady Forsythe has told me these women were most severe with her. But no men had access to her save Rashid, and he regarded her as beneath his notice. Lady Forsythe was only intended to do his various wives’ labor.”

“Thank you, Captain Phillips. That is just the type of account to give to Lord Forsythe. His wife has suffered physically, but she will recover. Fortunately she has not suffered the type of indignities that other women in the same situation have had to endure. Probably the presence of her child prevented unwanted attention.”

“For your information only, Captain, as a father many times over myself, I do pride myself on being able to determine the accurate age of a child at a glance. A skeptic of the lady’s story might say the child appears to be several months younger than we are told. To these, I would say the child’s diet was probably insufficient and the child’s growth was stunted. I have myself looked at the boy and I will write his father and inform him the boy is the very image of him.”

“Now then, Sir Charles is anxious to have you presented to the Crown, and has already penned letters to some Members of Parliament to arrange this. I am sure the London press will be beside themselves to get your story. This notoriety will certainly have a positive impact on your career. I wonder though, if some inquisitive newsman may unearth some scurrilous tidbit that might ruin Lady Forsythe?”

“In light of the information you have just given me, what if I could convince Sir Charles to send you off someplace where these hounds could not question you? Of course, you would have to wait some time before basking in your glory.”

“Glory be damned, Captain. Send me where you will.”

“Very well, Captain. In the mail bags, I hope a will be a report signed by the Admiral requesting you be assigned duty at sea away from the country. I will do my best to convince Sir Charles this would be for the best.”

It was another two days before the duty boat from the flag brought Terrier her sailing orders. The two women had been since transported to the transport ‘City of London’ designated to return home.

The orders specified ‘forthwith’ so all being ready, they set sail. At the last minute they were joined by an elderly 64 gun third rate, HMS Argonaut. All went well on the voyage, as they passed through the ‘Gut’ and into the Atlantic. It was not until after entering the Channel they met an enemy. Off Plymouth. A pair of French privateers, a brig and a large schooner, were sighted. Argonaut, with her higher masts spotted them first. They were on Terrier’s starboard bow as they went up-channel and as soon as Phillips satisfied himself of their identity signaled Argonaut of his desire to engage them.

Captain Ralston on Argonaut replied with first a ‘Negative’ then another signal ordering Terrier to form line astern behind ‘City of London’.

The two strangers approached the pair of fat looking ships and the little brig trailing, but when Argonaut satisfied their curiosity by running out her upper tier of guns, they turned away from the threat of the third-rate line-of-battle ship and left the scene in the direction of Cherbourg.

‘City of London’ and HMS Argonaut ended their voyage at Portsmouth, but Terrier was directed to continue on to the Nore anchorage at the Thames estuary. There, he received orders to leave his brig at the anchorage in the care of his first officer and proceed up-river to London, where he was to report at the Admiralty. A sailing barge took him upriver. On the way up the Thames, he decided he may well have had a more uncomfortable journey earlier in his lifetime, but could not quite recall exactly when.

Reporting in at the Admiralty, he waited for no more than half an hour before a porter collected him and took him to Lord Eckersley’s office. Eckersley greeted him effusively and commented how grateful Government was of his successful completion of his mission to the Med.

“Captain Phillips, I hardly need to tell you of the many officers on the list who feel threatened by your rapid elevation and prestige on the commander’s list. I tell them that when you are assigned a task, you go ahead and accomplish it, I have discussed giving you a post ship to the First Lord, but he will have nothing to do with that idea yet. He seems to think you are too young to be a lieutenant, let alone a post captain.”

Before I get into my plans for you though, I thought I would bring you up to date with those women you have rescued from the Moors. Lady Forsythe and her son have been re-united with Lord Forsythe. I am sure his joy at their return will make itself felt by a positive shower of funds upon the Royal Navy voted by Parliament. I was present when Forsythe was reunited with his wife. He himself was ecstatic while Lady Forsythe seemed stunned by it all.”

“Lord Eckersley”, essayed Phillips. “I am concerned about the other young woman and her child I brought back with me. I am not without funds and would be willing to contribute something for her and her child’s care.”

“Not to worry Captain. My wife discussed matters with Lady Forsythe and the young woman. Forsythe assured my wife she would find a place for the young woman in her establishment, but after speaking with Jane, my wife offered her the position your friend Hilda vacated when she married. She said Lady Forsythe was much relieved. I suspect she and her husband and son will be busy learning to become a family again.”

Now, on to yourself. In the recent mail bag from the Med was a missive from Sir Charles to me personally. He seems to think there are reasons why it may be best to remove you from London for some time. He did not specify his reasoning, but I may perhaps guess the reason. Without going into any details, is it your wish to be assigned away from the country for a period of time? I must tell you, the King is interested in your career, and that interest can only have positive benefits. A year or more from now, that interest may have subsided and your career may suffer.”

“Sir, if I could be assigned sea duty where I was not expected to face the press, I would be grateful.”

“So it shall be, Captain. As it happens, you may be able to solve a problem that has just fell on my shoulders. Tell me, are you acquainted with a Commander Welles?

“Phillips thought a bit, and answered, “His name is not familiar to me, My Lord.”

“No reason it should. Much of the Navy breathed a sigh of relief when his father, Post Captain Welles reached the top of the captain’s list and was appointed Rear Admiral’. The Lords of the Admiralty were unanimous in their opinions that there was no further need for this officer. He was immediately sent ashore. He will never see the deck of a ship again, at least while I occupy this desk. While it is not my habit to discuss officer’s difficulties with their juniors, let us just say the Royal Navy will be better off with officers like Admiral Welles at home, tending to their cabbages.”

“In Admiral Welles case, he has bought a seat in Parliament and has been able to use his new influence to have his son promoted from a very new lieutenant to commander. Recently given a new ship-sloop of eighteen guns, he has done his best to ruin a perfectly good ship’s crew. I have reports from other captains that he is incessantly flogging his men for the most frivolous reasons. His ship is now at the Nore, and I greatly fear another mutiny there, such as happened some years ago.”

Another difficulty facing the country, is the proliferation of privateers operating off the east coast of Southern Africa. Formerly based in Mauritius, an island known by the French as ‘Ile de France’, they have moved their bases to other islands in the Indian Ocean after we took the base last year. These privateers are causing serious harm to our eastern trade routes.

“With your skills at resolving problems of our Navy, I intend to remove Commander Welles from the command of HMS Badger and assign you to the sloop. Since there is some need for speed, I will authorize you to take up to twenty five of your seamen from Terrier to fill any vacancies aboard Badger.”

“Now, how would you describe the present first officer on Terrier?”

“Sir, Acting-Lieutenant Davison is an able, conscientious seaman. He was a master’s mate when I appointed him and he has not disappointed me in any way.”

“Has he passed his boards, yet?”

“Yes sir, but was never made.”

“What are your recommendations? Would he make a good commissioned officer?”

“Yes sir, I would be pleased for him to sail with me again.”

“Well, perhaps we should write orders appointing this young man as first officer of HMS Badger. By the time you return, he should be a seasoned officer, able to stand his ground as a wardroom officer of a liner. I will have to think about who I want to send to Terrier. We will leave Davison on board until the new administration arrives.”

“Please excuse me while I get the clerks busy writing up the necessary orders. You may take Davison’s with you. Start getting your ship worked up. As soon as I send someone to take care of Terrier, I want you to sail as soon as possible.”

In the meantime, you may wish to drop by my home and see your former passenger before you depart. Lady Forsythe, of course, has left with her baby and husband, but Jane will be happy to see you.”

The girl was indeed happy to see him. She had not been noticeably affected by her ordeal, and seemed well satisfied with her new life with her baby in a fine household. She was effusive with her thanks, when he left her to go back to sea.