Lieutenant Markham.’
Aramon’s voice thundered out. ‘You will stay clear of any danger de Puy, do you hear me. You are too valuable to be taking risks. Markham must manage without you.’
The object of this remark was amidships, which on the Syilphide was not too far away. But his thoughts were, and he wondered, as he saw a dispirited de Puy turn away, if Germain shared them. Markham was operating in a strange environment. But certain things applied to military affairs whether they were carried out on land or sea. Numbers and weight of firepower respected no individual location. And if Germain was right, and the enemy ship was a privateer instead of a proper rated vessel, then there were certain conclusions that could be drawn.
The first was that no such vessel was in the game of engaging in long drawn out fights, especially against proper warships. If Syilphide had been anything bigger than a sloop, then it was almost certain they would have put their helm over the minute they’d sighted her. But they’d come on, which must mean that they were prepared to do battle. That in itself was singular. The aim of a privateer was to capture, intact, both the ship and cargoes of her nation’s enemies, then to sell both for the highest sum they could command. To this end they carried numerous crew, bloodthirsty rogues in the main, who worked for profit rather than any patriotic feelings. What could they possibly want with a sloop of war?
He’d heard Germain’s reply to Aramon, and that too had given him cause for concern. Germain had gone on enough about the manoeuvrability of his new ship. Yet here he was proposing to throw that advantage aside and seek to engage the enemy on what could only be his terms. Why not lay off her stern as he’doriginally proposed, out of the arc of her guns, and try and reduce the odds by bombardment. Clearly he was angry, smarting from having been outwitted by what looked like an easy capture. But was he letting his temper get in the way of his better judgement?
‘If you will forgive me,’ he said, as de Puy approached the companionway. Markham smiled reassuringly at the Frenchman, before slipping past him to approach Germain’s back. ‘May I have a private word, sir?’
‘What!’
Markham touched his arm, causing Germain to jerk it a way in response. He’d also leant close, so that the words he spoke would not be overheard.
‘I can understand your desire to pay them out in kind, but boarding against superior odds is hardly a wise idea.’
‘You as well, Markham?’ Germain responded loudly, green eyes flashing and cheekbones covered with taut skin. ‘Am I to be plagued by unwanted advice all day? Neither you nor the Monsignor has the faintest notion of naval tactics, yet you both see fit to lecture me.’
‘I have no desire to do anything of the sort, sir. But since it is my men who will lead the assault, I would be happier if the numbers on the enemy deck could be reduced somewhat by firepower.’
‘Is this the same man I watched at Calvi?’
‘Exactly the same, sir. The man at Calvi knew just as well the difference between an unarmed ship and that vessel we are pursuing. We have the ability to lay off and use our cannon.’
‘I intend to take that ship, Markham, and send her to Lord Hood in a condition that will guarantee she fetches a decent price. That will no be got for something whose stern I have reduced to matchstick. No Frenchman can hold a candle to us in rate of fire. And as for the numbers you so fear, by the time I have swept their deck with grapeshot a couple of times, I daresay they will have evened out somewhat. Now be so good as to take up your proper station.’
‘Can I put men in the tops as sharpshooters?’
‘No. We are carrying too much sail. They will do more to start a fire with their damned powder flash than the enemy.’
Markham had to agree with that, and was slightly annoyed with himself for not realising it before asking. He went back
Aramon’s voice thundered out. ‘You will stay clear of any danger de Puy, do you hear me. You are too valuable to be taking risks. Markham must manage without you.’
The object of this remark was amidships, which on the Syilphide was not too far away. But his thoughts were, and he wondered, as he saw a dispirited de Puy turn away, if Germain shared them. Markham was operating in a strange environment. But certain things applied to military affairs whether they were carried out on land or sea. Numbers and weight of firepower respected no individual location. And if Germain was right, and the enemy ship was a privateer instead of a proper rated vessel, then there were certain conclusions that could be drawn.
The first was that no such vessel was in the game of engaging in long drawn out fights, especially against proper warships. If Syilphide had been anything bigger than a sloop, then it was almost certain they would have put their helm over the minute they’d sighted her. But they’d come on, which must mean that they were prepared to do battle. That in itself was singular. The aim of a privateer was to capture, intact, both the ship and cargoes of her nation’s enemies, then to sell both for the highest sum they could command. To this end they carried numerous crew, bloodthirsty rogues in the main, who worked for profit rather than any patriotic feelings. What could they possibly want with a sloop of war?
He’d heard Germain’s reply to Aramon, and that too had given him cause for concern. Germain had gone on enough about the manoeuvrability of his new ship. Yet here he was proposing to throw that advantage aside and seek to engage the enemy on what could only be his terms. Why not lay off her stern as he’doriginally proposed, out of the arc of her guns, and try and reduce the odds by bombardment. Clearly he was angry, smarting from having been outwitted by what looked like an easy capture. But was he letting his temper get in the way of his better judgement?
‘If you will forgive me,’ he said, as de Puy approached the companionway. Markham smiled reassuringly at the Frenchman, before slipping past him to approach Germain’s back. ‘May I have a private word, sir?’
‘What!’
Markham touched his arm, causing Germain to jerk it a way in response. He’d also leant close, so that the words he spoke would not be overheard.
‘I can understand your desire to pay them out in kind, but boarding against superior odds is hardly a wise idea.’
‘You as well, Markham?’ Germain responded loudly, green eyes flashing and cheekbones covered with taut skin. ‘Am I to be plagued by unwanted advice all day? Neither you nor the Monsignor has the faintest notion of naval tactics, yet you both see fit to lecture me.’
‘I have no desire to do anything of the sort, sir. But since it is my men who will lead the assault, I would be happier if the numbers on the enemy deck could be reduced somewhat by firepower.’
‘Is this the same man I watched at Calvi?’
‘Exactly the same, sir. The man at Calvi knew just as well the difference between an unarmed ship and that vessel we are pursuing. We have the ability to lay off and use our cannon.’
‘I intend to take that ship, Markham, and send her to Lord Hood in a condition that will guarantee she fetches a decent price. That will no be got for something whose stern I have reduced to matchstick. No Frenchman can hold a candle to us in rate of fire. And as for the numbers you so fear, by the time I have swept their deck with grapeshot a couple of times, I daresay they will have evened out somewhat. Now be so good as to take up your proper station.’
‘Can I put men in the tops as sharpshooters?’
‘No. We are carrying too much sail. They will do more to start a fire with their damned powder flash than the enemy.’
Markham had to agree with that, and was slightly annoyed with himself for not realising it before asking. He went back
Similar Books
