Tregembo approached him with a crestfallen look. 'Mr Drinkwater, zur.'
'Eh? What is it Tregembo?'
'Your sword, zur, you forgot your sword.'
'Ah… er, yes, I'm sorry, and thank you for attending to it yesterday.'
Tregembo grunted and handed the weapon over. Drinkwater took it. The leather scabbard was badly worn, the brass ferrule at the end scratched. The stitching of the scabbard was missing at one point and the rings were almost worn through where they fastened to the sling. He half drew the blade. The wicked, thin steel glinted dully, the brass hilt was notched and scored where it had guarded off more than a few blows and the heavy pommel, that counterbalanced the blade and made the weapon such a joy to handle, reminded him of a slithering fight on the deck of a French lugger when he had consigned a man to oblivion with its weight. The thought of that unknown Frenchman's murder made him think of Edward and he looked at the horizon to the north west, where the spires of Copenhagen were emerging from the night. He could see the line of the Danish ships, even pick out the tiny points of colour where their red ensigns already fluttered above the batteries. He buckled on the sword.
A feeling that something was wrong entered his head and it was some time before he detected its cause. The boat marking the southern end of the Middle Ground was missing.
It was clear Nelson had not slept. Drinkwater learned afterwards that he had laid down in his cot and spent the night dictating. He reported the missing mark only to hear that Nelson had already been informed and had sent for Brisbane to move Cruizer onto the spot and anchor there as a mark.
'Thanks to you and Hardy we have the bearing from Elephant so Brisbane should have no very great trouble.'
'Yes, my lord.'
'Come, Drinkwater, help yourself to some coffee from the sideboard there…'
'Thank you, my lord.'
'There should be something to eat, I shall be sending for all captains shortly so you may as well wait. Ah Foley…' Drinkwater did as he was bid, breakfasted and tried not to eavesdrop on Nelson's complex conversations with a variety of officers, secretaries and messengers who seemed to come into the cabin in an endless procession.
At seven o'clock every commander in Nelson's division had assembled on board the Elephant. Among the blue coats the scarlet of Colonel Stewart and Lieutenant-Colonel Brock commanding the detachment of the 49th Foot made a bright splash of colour, while the dull rifle-green of Captain Beckwith's uniform reflected a grimmer aspect of war.
Apart from the council aboard the flagship the British fleet seethed with activity. Drinkwater had little choice but to trust to the energies of Rogers and Tumilty in preparing the Virago for action, but he was learning that as a commander in such a complex operation as that intended by Nelson, it was more important to comprehend his admiral's intentions. Boats swarmed about the ships. On the decks of the battleships red-coated infantrymen drilled under their sergeants and were inspected by the indolent subalterns. Mates and lieutenants manoeuvred the big flat-boats into station while on every ship the chain slings were passed round the yards, the bulkheads knocked down, the boats not already in the water got outboard and towed astern, the nettings rigged and the decks sanded. Officers frequently glanced up at the masthead to see if the wind still held favourable.
Nelson explained his intended tactics by first describing the Danish line of defence:
'The enemy has eighteen vessels along the western side of the King's Deep. They mount some seven hundred guns of which over half are estimated to be above twenty-four pounds calibre. At the northern end, the line is supported by the Trekroner Forts. It is also supported by shore batteries like the Lynetten…' Each officer bent over his copy of the chart and made notes. Nelson went on, '… the force of the batteries is thought to be considerable and may include furnaces for heating shot. The Trekroner also appears to be supported by two additional heavy blockships.
'The channel into the port, dockyard and arsenal lies behind the Trekroner Forts and joins with the King's Channel just north of the forts. It is thought to be closed by a chain boom and is covered by enfilading fire from batteries on the land. Other ships, a seventy-four, a heavy frigate and some brigs and smaller vessels are anchored on this line.
'Batteries are also mounted on Amager, supporting the southern end of the line. In all the Danish defences extend four miles.'
The admiral paused and sipped from a glass of water. Drinkwater thought his face looked grey with worry but a fierce light darted from his one good eye and he watched the expressions of his captains as if seeking a weakness. He cleared his throat and went on.
'Each of you will receive written orders as to your station in the action from my secretary as you leave. These are as concise as possible and written on card for ease of handling. However it is my intention to explain the general plan to avoid needless confusion.
'As you have already been made aware, all the line of battleships are to have their anchors ready for letting go by the stern. They will anchor immediately upon coming abreast of their allotted target. Edgar will lead with Mr Briarly temporarily serving in her. Fire may be opened at your discretion. Captain Riou in Amazon is to take Blanche, Alemène, Arrow and Dart and co-operate with the van in silencing the guns commanding the harbour mouth, or as other circumstances might require. The bomb vessels will take station outside the line of battleships and throw their shells into the dockyard and arsenal. Captain Rose in the Jamaica, frigate, is to take the gun-brigs into position for raking the line at its southern end, thus discouraging reinforcement of the floating batteries from the shore. Captain Inman in Désirée will also take up this station. Captain Fremantle with five hundred seamen will concert his action with Colonel Stewart and the 49th Regiment to embark in the flat-boats and storm the Trekroner Forts as soon as their fire is silenced.' Nelson looked round the assembly. 'It looks formidable to those who are children at war,' he said smiling inspiringly, Imt to my judgement, with ten sail of the line I think I can annihilate them.' There was a murmur of agreement. 'That is all. Are there any questions? Very well then. To your posts, gentlemen, and success to His Majesty's Arms.'
The captains, commanders and lieutenants-in-command filed out, collecting their written instructions as directed and Drinkwater, looking for his boat among the throng of craft pressing alongside Elephant's flanks, found himself button-holed by Mr Briarly of the Bellona.
'Hold hard, sir. I ask you for your support for a moment. Lord Nelson has sent for masters and these damned pilots. They are still arguing about the approach to the King's Deep. You know Fothergill's boat is missing this morning?'
'Aye, it must have been driven off station by an ice floe, I warned…'
Briarly nodded. 'I heard,' he broke in impatiently, 'Look, Mr Drinkwater, you seem to have the admiral's ear, can you not persuade him that although there may be greater water on the Middle Ground side it is so steep-to that a small miscalculation…'
'Mr Briarly, his lordship has appointed you to lead the fleet in Edgar, surely the rest will follow.' Drinkwater was getting anxious about preparations aboard Virago.
'I was out this morning at first light, if each ship steers with…' he pointed out some conspicuous marks to Drinkwater which ensured a lead through the King's Deep.