A Shot Rolling Ship Read Online Free Page B

our lookouts, on the mizzen top, should pay particular attention to that quarter.’
    ‘Good.’
    ‘Do you anticipate French warships?’ asked the fish-eyed surgeon, Lutyens, in his high-pitched voice.
    Everyone else stiffened. You did not question a captain on his own quarterdeck, and certainly not one as tetchy as Ralph Barclay. It was common knowledge that Lutyensknew nothing of the sea or naval life, just as it was common knowledge abaft the mainmast that his powerful connections ashore were such that it was a wonder he had chosen to serve in the Navy at all, never mind a lowly frigate. It was that which saved him from a bad-tempered blast. For a man with little interest to aid his career, Ralph Barclay needed to be careful with one who had so much that he could decline to employ it. The telescope never wavered, though the voice was far from friendly.
    ‘The French Navy may be in revolutionary ruin Mr Lutyens, with most of its competent officers fled or dead, but there are still men who can sail and fight their vessels. It is also the case that these are their home waters, and Brest is their main naval port, so it behoves me to be aware of the threat.’
    Lutyens whipped out a little notebook, one that he carried everywhere, much to the annoyance of all aboard and did what he always did, scribbled some note in it. Many aboard had speculated as to what that book contained and thoughts amongst the crew of pinching it and getting someone to read its contents were commonplace, for all were convinced it could not be laudatory.
    Brilliant was close enough now to see the tiny figures on the barque’s deck, all crowded in the bows on the weather rail. Ralph Barclay had no doubt that they were French, another privateer out on the hunt for an English merchant vessel. He had a sudden vision of the way the one he had previously pursued had humbugged him, not once, but three times; that and other considerations made him act.
    ‘I would wish to alter course slightly, Mr Collins. Take us inshore a trifle. I want this fellow left with only the option of the open sea and an unfavourable wind when he wakes up to our presence. Mr Digby, a word to the lookouts, if you please, to cast their eyes well beyond our friend yonder. From our higher masts we should be able to pick out the convoy before we overhaul him.’
    ‘Sir.’
    One nimble young mid was sent aloft with the message, while Farmiloe was despatched to inform the captain’s wife that there was something of interest for her to see. Her coming on deck, well wrapped in a hooded cloak, coincided with the slight alteration of course, which meant adjustment to the yards to take full advantage of the wind. It also coincided with someone aboard that barque casting a look over the taffrail, for their deck was suddenly a hive of activity, as the reefs came out of her sails and her speed increased markedly.
    ‘Deck there, sail due south. Two sail. More.’
    ‘Our convoy, my dear,’ said Ralph Barclay, as he took Emily’s arm. ‘And between us and them a French dog waiting for nightfall to sneak in and snap up one of our charges.’
    ‘Chase has altered course to starboard. And he has hoisted a French flag.’
    ‘That means he is heading out to sea, my dear, into the wind and away from his home shore, hoping to outrun us, perhaps even that some French warship is in the offing to aid him.’
    ‘I can barely make out what he is doing husband.’
    ‘Mr Digby, I wish you to fire off one of the forward cannon.’ That got him several discreet sideways glances, for they were well out of range of the barque. ‘No ball, just powder, and keep firing. Let us alert those ahead of us to the presence of an enemy. If Captain Gould has his wits about him he will put up his helm to investigate, which will give our friend yonder something else to think about.’
    ‘Now, Emily, my dear, let us see if I can help you to master this telescope.’
    ‘Is this the time husband?’
    ‘None better, my