With that childish voice?
Kydd snapped back, “What year were you born in, pray?”
“Th-that would be seventeen and ninety-three,” he stammered, after a pause.
“The year they did for King Louis?”
“Oh, did they?”
They were caught out and he found himself facing a child of eleven and another of twelve.
He had to make up his mind: a midshipman was rated as a petty officer and had a place on both the watch bill and at quarters and was expected to pull his weight with the men. These were under-age for a midshipman, even if it was only by a year or two, but that counted when in a position of authority, taking charge of a crew of hardened man-of-war’s men.
But then he recalled the slow-talking but meticulous Jarman patiently explaining the requisite tables to the eager young seaman he had once been. Without doubt he and his sister were anxiously waiting for word-and he hadn’t the heart to send the boy back. Besides, he had the look of a sailor and-who knew?-he might do well in a happy ship like L’Aurore.
And if he accepted one and turned away the other …
“I’m not pleased you’ve flammed me this way,” he harrumphed. “We’re a crack frigate, not a nursery. I should turn you both down, send you back to your mothers, do you hear?”
They stood rigid, their childish faces pale.
He let it sink in, then said sternly, “But I’m minded to give you a chance. Should you faithfully promise to me that you’ll bend your best efforts, night and day, to hoist inboard the elements of your profession in double-quick time, then there’s a berth as midshipman for each of you in L’Aurore.”
“We promise, sir!” they chorused ecstatically.
“So get your dunnage below, then report to master’s mate Calloway. Smartly now!”
They scurried away.
A wartime frigate on active service could see them without any warning in fearfully dangerous waters or under savage fire from the enemy. Was it fair to thrust a child into such peril when their school-friends were still at their books and games?
It was the way of the Navy. There were ship’s boys aboard L’Aurore who were still younger, one nine years old, who had been a whole voyage in her. They had found, among other things, that there was nowhere to hide in a ship-of-war but they had taken to the life-these lads, no doubt, would too.
He turned back to his work.
The next morning, amid all the bustle of storing ship, it was time to take stock. He was more than satisfied with the way L’Aurore was readying herself for sea. At this rate he could look to a departure the day after next, presuming the powder barges were alongside at the time promised.
“How’s the watch and station bill proceeding, Mr Curzon?” he asked the distracted first lieutenant.
The evolution of turning to the entire ship’s company for the task of victualling would be taxing enough for any brand new first lieutenant, without the added burden of the careful assignment of stations to every man. Each must know what was required of him, not only at quarters in battle but in all-hands exercises like coming to anchor-as well as his routine part-of-ship and station for watch-keeping.
It needed fine judgement to ensure there was an equal balance of skill in both watches but Curzon was starting with a crew he knew intimately and a ship that was already in commission, and if it cost him midnight oil, well, that had ever been the lot of a first lieutenant.
Later in the morning L’Aurore was visited by a respectful young officer. He was piped aboard by Boatswain Oakley, for he was the captain of his own ship.
“Lawson, Sir Thomas. Lieutenant-in-command Weazel, brig-o’-war.”
In the privacy of his cabin Kydd found out the reason for his coming. “We’ve a Mediterranean convoy scheduled to sail, sir. I’m senior officer escorts, and I’ve just been advised by the admiral that you’ll be accompanying us to Gibraltar.”
“Oh? I’ve yet to decide our sailing date, let alone our dispositions for the voyage.”
“The admiral assures us that should we await your pleasure, our escort will be greatly increased by your presence.”
“When did he tell you this?”
The young man had the grace to blush. “Perhaps an hour ago, sir.”
He had obviously found out L’Aurore’s deploying and had had the initiative to go to the admiral with a request. Just as he would have done, Kydd had to admit.
“What’s your number?”
“Ourselves, two cutters and a schooner. In the convoy, thirty-eight merchantmen.”
No wonder the lad had jumped at the chance: this was what it was to have prevailed at Trafalgar. Convoys worth millions were now being sent into the open ocean with the flimsiest protection, for had not the French been driven from the seas? It was a dangerous presumption and might one day cost the Treasury far more than any additional escorts.
“Very well. We’ll sail together.”
Kydd knew what was coming next, and waited for it.
“You being much the senior, Sir Thomas, you will, of course, have the honour of commanding the convoy.”
“Not at all,” Kydd came back. “The honour remains with Weazel and your own good self.” There was no way he would take on the onerous task of maintaining the convoy paperwork-signals, identification vanes, sailing diagrams and the like-the inevitable consequence of having issued his own orders.
“Thank you, sir.”
“At sea I shall be under your orders, Mr Lawson, and if we fall in with an enemy you will dispose of this frigate as you see fit.”
“Why, sir, if-”
“The convoy is your responsibility. And responsibility without command is an impossibility, don’t you agree?”
“Yes, sir.”
“You’ll be employing the Channel Squadron’s signal book?”
“Sir.”
“Then we’re in agreement. Kindly send across a copy of your convoy sailing-order folder, if you please, and I’ll undertake to give you twelve hours’ notice of our readiness to proceed.”
“That would be appreciated, Sir Thomas.”
It would be even more so by the merchant captains whose ships would be consuming stores while they idled at anchor.
“I’ve a notion we’ll be at sea the day after tomorrow. Good day to you, Mr Lawson.”
Storing complete, the powder barges were summoned and, with very great care, the copper-banded barrels were swayed aboard and stowed snugly in the magazines in the bowels of the ship.
That evening Kydd saw fit to declare himself at twelve hours’ notice to sail.
The last hours of a ship in her home port were always bittersweet. In the excitement of the outward bound every man in her also realised that, once anchor was weighed and sail set abroad, there was no longer any chance to provide for himself for the months-or years-to come within the wooden bounds of his sea world.
Small comforts in the misery of stormy night watches made all the difference: seal-fur warmers to slip under tarpaulin jackets, patent nostrums for chilblains, neat little sewing kits, an illegal Crown and Anchor throwing mat and dice, and other distractions, all eased a hard sea life.
Officers needed to ensure they were well stocked in reading matter, spare dress uniform accoutrements, perhaps a pistol, a pack of cards, a pocket spyglass, sketching gear or a private journal.
For Kydd it was also the laying in of cabin stores, having on hand pickled or canned delicacies and tracklements for entertaining important visitors aboard. A married officer would come well provided with touches a woman’s practical sense could produce: a lovingly embroidered cot quilt, an extra-long muffler, a dozen hand-stitched shirts. Fortunately Kydd’s valet, Tysoe, had spent most of his adult life at sea and could be relied upon in the article of personal comforts.
Their last night was an active time for those who could get ashore, but by nine the following morning the last boat was returning with newspapers, a small sack of mail-and a new addition to the frigate’s company.
Dillon pulled his cloak more tightly around him-it was so unexpectedly raw and blustery out here on the open water, away from the shelter of hedgerows and buildings. Here the wind ran wild and unconstrained, a metaphor perhaps for the freedom of the high seas.