at the gratings. Or worse. I’m sorry I’m such a coward.”
He was working himself into a state, and Marshall couldn’t see why. “That’s enough of that!” He said it more sharply than he’d intended, but it did get Archer’s attention. “Davy, when I was cornered in that powder room on the Impulsive , you got me out. I’d have been blown all over the Atlantic if you hadn’t. I don’t want to hear you calling yourself a coward ever again.”
“That wasn’t courage,” Archer said.
“Oh, for—what was it, plum duff?”
“No. I—I was scared witless, Will. It looked certain we were going to be taken prisoner anyway. And I was going to have to watch you die first. I had to do something. I thought there was a chance and if I couldn’t save you, at least it would be quick.”
Marshall sighed in exasperation. “Well, Barrow said it was the bravest thing he’d ever seen, and I’m inclined to agree. If that happens to be how you define cowardice, you have my full permission to go on being cowardly. Just call it something else, if you please!”
He had meant to make a joke of it, but Archer only nodded glumly.
“Very well. Now, what about the deck? I thought I saw four small guns, maybe six- or eight-pounders.”
“I saw the same. There might have been a little stern-chaser, as well. I couldn’t be sure, what with the moonlight and other distractions. And if there’s a stern-chaser—”
“— probably a bow-chaser, too. Six small guns. A merchant vessel, then. She almost has to be. Just enough armament for protection from minor piracy. There must be a perfectly legitimate cargo to cover what’s really going on.”
“And it’s likely a cargo necessary to the war, or he’d have lost crew to the press gangs by now,” Archer suggested. “He couldn’t afford to keep losing sailors who know what he’s up to. Sooner or later, someone would be bound to talk.”
“That’s true... Davy, that’s brilliant! Even if we can’t escape on our own, we’ve got him, now. All we need to do, once we’re free, is get hold of the harbormaster’s list of ships present on the 16th and 17th, and check their cargos. Busy as Portsmouth is, the list for two days can’t be very long.”
He really couldn’t understand why Archer didn’t share his enthusiasm.
Return to TOC
Chapter 7
Supplemental Log, HMS Calypso, in for repair, Portsmouth.
Lt. Anthony Drinkwater, in temporary command. 20-7-1799
They are alive! Barrow has just brought in a letter from Captain Smith, addressed to Port Admiral Roberts and myself. As the letter must be carried to Ad. Roberts directly, I reproduce it here:
Sirs: I regret to inform you that Mr. Marshall, Mr. Archer, and I have been detained by a group of brigands who, as you are aware, have been conducting a series of abductions for the purpose of ransom. They seem unconcerned with the damage this may do their country. At present we are at an unknown location and will apparently remain so until ransom is paid. Unfortunately, our abductors have not yet set their price on us, so we must waste yet more time awaiting their decision. Please contact my business agent immediately and ask him to see to it that funds are available commensurate with what has been previously demanded by these criminals. I would prefer to have my agent deal with the ransom for all three of us; the fewer details involved, the less delay. I enclose a letter to Mr. Archer’s father, the Earl of Grenbrook; please see that he receives it with all due haste.
As I would have likely taken a brief shore leave while repairs were effected on Calypso , I hope the Admiralty will consider this excursion as that leave. Mr. Drinkwater, I have every confidence in your ability to manage the situation; it is no more complex than the one we faced off France last summer. Please assure the men that we shall return as soon as possible; I have every expectation that this should be well before Calypso is ready to return to
He was working himself into a state, and Marshall couldn’t see why. “That’s enough of that!” He said it more sharply than he’d intended, but it did get Archer’s attention. “Davy, when I was cornered in that powder room on the Impulsive , you got me out. I’d have been blown all over the Atlantic if you hadn’t. I don’t want to hear you calling yourself a coward ever again.”
“That wasn’t courage,” Archer said.
“Oh, for—what was it, plum duff?”
“No. I—I was scared witless, Will. It looked certain we were going to be taken prisoner anyway. And I was going to have to watch you die first. I had to do something. I thought there was a chance and if I couldn’t save you, at least it would be quick.”
Marshall sighed in exasperation. “Well, Barrow said it was the bravest thing he’d ever seen, and I’m inclined to agree. If that happens to be how you define cowardice, you have my full permission to go on being cowardly. Just call it something else, if you please!”
He had meant to make a joke of it, but Archer only nodded glumly.
“Very well. Now, what about the deck? I thought I saw four small guns, maybe six- or eight-pounders.”
“I saw the same. There might have been a little stern-chaser, as well. I couldn’t be sure, what with the moonlight and other distractions. And if there’s a stern-chaser—”
“— probably a bow-chaser, too. Six small guns. A merchant vessel, then. She almost has to be. Just enough armament for protection from minor piracy. There must be a perfectly legitimate cargo to cover what’s really going on.”
“And it’s likely a cargo necessary to the war, or he’d have lost crew to the press gangs by now,” Archer suggested. “He couldn’t afford to keep losing sailors who know what he’s up to. Sooner or later, someone would be bound to talk.”
“That’s true... Davy, that’s brilliant! Even if we can’t escape on our own, we’ve got him, now. All we need to do, once we’re free, is get hold of the harbormaster’s list of ships present on the 16th and 17th, and check their cargos. Busy as Portsmouth is, the list for two days can’t be very long.”
He really couldn’t understand why Archer didn’t share his enthusiasm.
Return to TOC
Chapter 7
Supplemental Log, HMS Calypso, in for repair, Portsmouth.
Lt. Anthony Drinkwater, in temporary command. 20-7-1799
They are alive! Barrow has just brought in a letter from Captain Smith, addressed to Port Admiral Roberts and myself. As the letter must be carried to Ad. Roberts directly, I reproduce it here:
Sirs: I regret to inform you that Mr. Marshall, Mr. Archer, and I have been detained by a group of brigands who, as you are aware, have been conducting a series of abductions for the purpose of ransom. They seem unconcerned with the damage this may do their country. At present we are at an unknown location and will apparently remain so until ransom is paid. Unfortunately, our abductors have not yet set their price on us, so we must waste yet more time awaiting their decision. Please contact my business agent immediately and ask him to see to it that funds are available commensurate with what has been previously demanded by these criminals. I would prefer to have my agent deal with the ransom for all three of us; the fewer details involved, the less delay. I enclose a letter to Mr. Archer’s father, the Earl of Grenbrook; please see that he receives it with all due haste.
As I would have likely taken a brief shore leave while repairs were effected on Calypso , I hope the Admiralty will consider this excursion as that leave. Mr. Drinkwater, I have every confidence in your ability to manage the situation; it is no more complex than the one we faced off France last summer. Please assure the men that we shall return as soon as possible; I have every expectation that this should be well before Calypso is ready to return to
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