1805 Read Online Free PDF Page A

had Rogers, the first lieutenant, split all the whale-men into different messes so that they could not confer or form any kind of a combination. For a minute he was tempted to send Waller with the two score of pressed men taken aboard from the
Nore
guardship as replacements for the Channel Fleet. But he could not abandon his responsibilities that easily. It was better to keep Waller under his own vigilant eye than risk him causing trouble elsewhere in the fleet. The rest behaved well enough. Good seamen, most had come from the
Melusine
where they had originally been volunteers during the short-lived Peace of Amiens.
    â€˜Hoist the signal for dispatches, sir?’
    Drinkwater turned to find the diminutive Mr Frey looking up at him. He nodded. ‘Indeed yes, Mr Frey, if you will be so kind.’ He smiled at the boy who grinned back. All in all, reflected Drinkwater, he was one of the most fortunate of all the post-captains hereabouts, and he cast his eyes round the horizon where ship after ship of the British fleet cruised under easy sail in three great columns with the frigates cast out ahead, astern and on either flank.
    Drinkwater sniffed the fresh north-westerly breeze and felt invigorated by the delightful freshness of the morning. The storm of two nights previously had cleared the air. Even here, a hundred miles off the Isles of Scilly where already the first crocuses would be breaking through the soil, spring was in the air. He nodded at Rogers who walked over to him.
    â€˜Mornin’, Sam.’
    â€˜Good morning, sir. Sail’s shortened and the barge is ready for lowering.’
    Drinkwater regarded his first lieutenant, remembering their previous enmity aboard the
Hellebore
when they had been wrecked after an error of judgement made by Samuel Rogers, and of their successes together in the Baltic in the old bomb-vessel
Virago
. Rogers was a coarse and vulgar man, no scientific officer and only a passable navigator, but he was a competent seaman and his valour in action was too valuable an asset to be lightly set aside merely because he lacked social accomplishments. Besides, in his present situation he would have precious little opportunity to worry over such a deficiency. He was, Drinkwater knew, perfect as a first luff; the very man the hands loved to hate, who was indifferent to that hatred and who could take the blame for all the hardships, mishaps and injustices the naval service would press upon their unfortunate souls and bodies.
    â€˜She’s looking very tiddly, Sam. Fit for an admiral’s inspection already. I congratulate you.’
    Rogers gave him a grin. ‘I heard about your appetite for tiddly ships after the
Melusine
, sir.’
    Drinkwater grinned back. ‘She was a damned
yacht
, Sam. You should have heard the gunroom squeal when I cut off her royal masts and fitted a crow’s nest to con her through the ice.’
    â€˜She was different from the old
Virago
then?’
    â€˜As chalk is from cheese . . .’
    They were interrupted by Lieutenant Quilhampton. ‘Flag’s signalling, sir: ‘Captain to come aboard”.’
    â€˜Very well. Bring the ship to under the admiral’s lee quarter, Mr Q . . . Sam be so good as to salute the flag while I shift my coat.’
    â€˜Aye, aye, sir.’ The two officers began to carry out their orders as Drinkwater hurried below to where an anxious Mullender had coat, hat, cloak and sword all ready for him.
    * See
The Corvette

Chapter 3
March 1804
The Spy Master
    Admiral Sir William Cornwallis rose from behind his desk and motioned Drinkwater to a chair. His flag-lieutenant took the offered packet of Admiralty despatches and handed them to the admiral’s secretary for opening.
    â€˜A glass of wine, Captain?’ The flag-lieutenant beckoned a servant forward and Drinkwater hitched his sword between his legs, laid his cocked hat across his lap and took the tall Venetian goblet from