HMS Athena: A Charles Mullins novel (Sea Command Book 4) (18 page)

The time was nearing for his promised visit to the frigate and Mullins wondered if Heyward had a decent coat and hat in which to report aboard. Heyward did indeed, keeping the attire intact for the occasions he must report to Admiralty to collect his quarterly half pay.

Heyward lived close by and could be back in minutes clad in his best uniform and hat, along with his sword, and a packet containing his orders. Mullins decided he would have Heyward report aboard ship first with the mids, then he himself would board minutes later. Doubtless, this would cause extra work on the ship for the present second officer, but that must be expected.

Mister Heyward did not have funds to pay for a shore boat, so Mullins advanced him the sum, assuring him he could be paid back when the officer drew his first pay. The new first officer of Juno made a brave appearance in his best attire, the midshipmen, less so.

When Mullins saw the boat bearing Heyward hook on to Juno, he hailed a passing boat and asked to be taken out to his ship. Stroke-oar, apparently a part owner, wanted to chaffer over the price, but Mullins merely agreed to pay the first price demanded. The cox’n had to elbow the loquacious oarsman to get him to shut his mouth.

The hands of the Juno were awaiting their captain when he arrived. After the welcoming ceremony, he read his orders to the assembled ship’s company, making him their lawful commander. Without giving the customary speech, he invited the ship’s officers into the bare captain’s cabin to offer his thoughts. There was not a stick of furniture inside, so they were forced to sit on sea chests and some casks of small beer that had just come aboard.

He explained his philosophy toward discipline, mentioning he was no great believer in the lash, preferring to enforce his displeasure with errant crewmen by denial of alcohol or tobacco. If pressed however, he could order any measure of lashes that the situation might demand.

The second officer, Mister Hakes, in turn, explained the unusual state of affairs aboard ship. It seemed the old captain and first officer had been at war with each other for much of the past commission. The captain, a slave of the wine bottle, was frequently incapacitated, and the first officer ran the ship. This officer was a hard-horse officer, given to brutal and frequent punishments of the men.

Then, when the captain came out of his stupor, he upbraided the officer publicly of his actions, assuring the hands they never needed to fear him again. He then gave the hands rewards they had not earned. The men, many of them unschooled and some unused to the sea, never knew what to expect, the lash or a reward. There began to be talk of mutiny on the mess deck. The problem finally became apparent through poor ship-handling. When the squadron commander became aware of the situation, he sent the ship back to port, saying he wanted neither officer under his command again.

Once the ship made port, the captain retired, and the first officer was sent ashore, not to be seen again.

When asked his opinion of whether the men could be trusted, Hakes thought perhaps, given proper discipline, that might be managed, but it might be wise to have their Marines aboard soon. The last Marine contingent had become infected with the unease aboard ship and had been sent back to the training barracks.

The ship had not received her sailing orders yet, and all of her stores had not yet come aboard. It would likely be a matter of days before she could sail.

It was now early in the evening, and having taken command, it was forbidden for him to sleep off the ship without permission. Tomorrow though, he must return to his home and patch matters with his wife. He knew Doris would be thoroughly displeased with the cavalier swiftness of his departure.

Shipboard duties kept him busy for most of the morning. He found his new midshipmen had lost, sold or pawned all of their equipment and he had to advance funds to them to secure used kit.

His hands were all aboard now, but had spent two weeks aboard the receiving ship where they had acquired a host of vermin, which must be removed before the ship became badly infected.

Somehow, he must find the time to visit the nearby naval outfitter and purchase furniture for his cabin as well as cabin stores to see him through what might be a long commission. And, he must not delay the visit home to hear Doris’ outburst at his precipitous departure.

At length, he lay down the borrowed quill and ink pot on the crate he was using for a desk and decided he had signed his name to enough paper for today. It was evident he was going to have to find a clerk soon, but where to look, he had no idea. Most captains found such a person in their crew, someone who was perhaps not suited to the hard work aboard ship but was literate. Perhaps a failed cleric or solicitor’s clerk.

Coming on deck, Mister Heyward was in evidence in his good coat. When he asked if a boat was in proper condition to take him ashore, his first officer answered the gig was ready, but there might be a problem with the boat crew.

It seemed a rather large proportion of the hands seemed ready to run, and it might be necessary to keep a very close eye on the boat crew.

With no Marines aboard yet, Mullins ordered Mister Hakes into the boat to insure the hand’s obedience. Hakes surprised him when he settled in the stern sheets with a double-barreled fowling piece. “No one was going to run on his watch!”, he said.

Once on shore, he engaged a chaise to carry him to his home. Doris was waiting for him, displaying her displeasure by her tapping foot. Deciding to delay his punishment as long as possible, he waved at her and went around back to the stable. Simmons, the ancient hostler, was asleep on the horse’s hay, but the stable boy was busily at work polishing his master’s chaise.

Giving the lad orders to have the cook’s cart at the back door in half an hour, ready to load the sea chest and kit to take to his ship, he gritted his teeth and went inside.

The delay may have been a mistake. Doris had had a chance to gather her ammunition. He had to listen for that half hour to a lengty lecure of what a delinquent husband and father he was to even consider leaving his home to disport around the high seas.

Knowing his lines, at every pause while she came up for breath, he mouthed his ‘Yes Dears’ and nodded once in a while.

Finally, when she ran out of complaints, he said the cart was waiting and it was time for him to leave.

Thankfully, the stable hand had already loaded his kit into the cart and he was able to climb up on the box while Doris glared speechlessly at him from the door.

A careful lookout from the ship spotted the cart approaching the quay and the launch was soon on its way, again with Mister Hakes present with his fowling piece.

As Mullins awaited the boat’s approach, the itinerant scribe from the afternoon before came up to him, meekly wondering if the captain had any custom for him today.

Wondering at himself, Mullins engaged the man in conversation. Commenting on the scribe’s penmanship, he wondered if he was equally capable with his sums.

The fellow looked him in the eye and explained he was once a schoolmaster. After losing his position, he made a living as a scribe for those souls who were unable to write. He was indeed able to do his sums.

“Sir, I am Captain Mullins of the frigate HMS Juno, presently moored out in the Pool. I am in need of a clerk who, in addition to penning various documents, can also decipher lists of provisions and stores. This clerk would be paid at the same rate as an able seaman. Additionally, if that clerk would choose to tutor young midshipmen, he could expect to receive extra pay for this duty. Would you be interested?”

The scribe was indeed interested. His name was Saul Rutherford and he was prepared to go aboard ship this moment. He had once been a clerk for Captain Johnson in the old Indefatigable, back in the American war, so was somewhat familiar with the duty.

Asked about the pushcart, Rutherford said he would leave it by the quay for the next man to use.

The launch arrived at the pier, with Mister Hakes keeping a sharp eye on his oarsmen. After Mullin’s kit was loaded, he introduced Rutherford to Hakes, telling the second officer he needed to visit the naval outfitter but Hakes should see that Rutherford was signed on as Captain’s Clerk and settled in. Mullins would hopefully be pulled out in the outfitter’s boat.

The outfitter was able to supply the captain’s needs. Besides the cabin furniture, the necessary personal stores would fill the outfitter’s boat. His expenses had made serious inroads on his purse, but once at sea there would be little chance for extravagant expenditures. There was room in the outfitter’s boat for him to beg a ride to Juno. On the way, he observed a well-appointed launch casting off from his ship. A handsomely-uniformed lieutenant lifted his hat to him as their boats passed.

The cox’n of the outfitter’s launch hooked on under the starboard entry port to let him board, then went around to the port side to unload.

Mister Heyward approached him after the salutes were exchanged. “Sir, our sailing orders have arrived.”

In addition to the sailing orders, the Marines had arrived. Lieutenant Baker had arrived with a sergeant, a corporal and thirty privates. Mullins had been greeted by the Marine’s stamp and clash version of the ceremonial welcome.

First inviting the first officer into his cabin, where his furniture was being unpacked, they went into the chart room where they could examine the orders in some privacy.

Reading through the papers, Juno’s captain learned they were to proceed to the Mediterranean where they were to locate the commander of that fleet, most likely off Toulon. Vice Admiral Collingwood would have further orders for them there. HMS Juno was to sail when wind and tide next permitted.

Since the sailing orders were not secret, Mullins was able to share the contents with his first officer. Heyward thought the wind was veering and might soon be fair for sailing. He advised taking on a pilot for the journey down the Thames. Mullins ordered him to make it so. Two hours later, they were making their way down the Thames on their way to the sea.

To Be Continued

Other books by this author

War at Sea Series in Kindle e-book format

On The King’s Sea Service, print version also available

For the Honor of the Flag, print version available

Trafalgar and Beyond

Frigates of War

HMS Dreadnaught

HMS Resolve

His Majesty’s Brig Alert, print version available

Sails Across the Sea, print version available

Across to America, print version available

Ships of Oak, Men of Iron (print version available)

Thunder on the Sea (print version available)

Sea Command Series in Kindle and print

HMS Aphrodite

HMS Valkyrie

HMS Aurora

On to Berlin Series in Kindle and print

A Road to St. Lo

Assault on the Rhine