Free The Corvette by Richard Woodman Page A

assumed the duties of both sailing master and executive officer, and not for the first time Drinkwater regretted the system of patronage that promoted a man like Germaney and denied a commission to Stephen Hill.
    Drinkwater turned forward and began pacing the windward side of the quarterdeck. Since they had returned Sawyers to his ship off the Spurn lighthouse the wind had held at west-north-west and they had made good progress to the north. Four more whalers had joined them from Whitby and this evening they were well to the eastward of the Firth of Forth, the convoy close hauled on the larboard tack and heading due north.
    Drinkwater stopped to regard the whalers as the sun westeredbehind him. He could see a solitary figure on the rail of
Narwhal
. Taking off his hat he waved it above his head. Jaybez Harvey returned the salute and a few seconds later Drinkwater saw the feather of foam in the whaler’s wake jerk closer to her stern as Harvey’s men pulled in the cask at which
Melusine
’s gunners had been firing.
    It had been a good idea to practise shooting in this manner. He had been able to manoeuvre up to, cross astern of and range alongside the cask, making and taking in sail for a full six hours while Harvey maintained his course. Finally to test both their accuracy and their mettle after so protracted an exercise, he had hauled off and let the hands fire three rounds from every gun, before each battery loosed off a final, concussive broadside.
    The Melusines were clearly pleased with themselves and their afternoon’s work. There was nothing like firing guns to satisfy a British seaman, Drinkwater reflected, watching the usual polyglot crowd coiling the train tackles and passing the breechings. He took a final look at the convoy. One or two of the whalers had loosed off their own cannon by way of competition and Drinkwater sensed a change of mood among the whale-ship masters. It was clear that preparations were under way for the arrival at the fishing grounds and he fervently hoped the differences between them were finally sunk under a sense of unanimous purpose.
    He had stationed the Hudson Bay Ships at the van and rear of the convoy where, with their unusual ensigns, they gave the impression of being additional escorts, while
Melusine
occupied a windward station, ready to cover any part of the convoy and from where all her signals could be seen by each ship. He turned forward and looked aloft. The topmen were securing the topgallants and he could see the midshipmen in the fore and main tops watching over the furling of the courses. He considered himself a fortunate man in having such a proficient crew. Convoy escort could frustrate a sloop captain beyond endurance but the whalers, used to sailing in company and manoeuvring with only a handful of men upon the deck while the remainder were out in the boats after whales, behaved with commendable discipline. They were clearly all determined to reach the fishing grounds without delay. Even Ellerby seemed to have accepted his humiliation off the Spurn in a good grace, although it was at
Nimrod
that Drinkwater first looked whenever he came on deck.
    â€˜Beg pardon, sir.’
    â€˜Mr Mount, what is it?’
    â€˜I should like to try my men at a mark, sir, when it is convenient.’
    â€˜By all means. May I suggest you retain the gunroom’s empty bottles and we’ll haul ’em out to the lee foreyard arm tomorrow forenoon, eh?’
    â€˜Very good, sir.’
    â€˜Have the live marines fire at the dead ’uns, * eh?’ Mr Mount’s laughter was unfeigned and, like Hill, he too inspired confidence.
    â€˜Are there any fencers in the gunroom? Mr Quilhampton and I have foils and masks and I am not averse to going a bout with a worthy challenger.’
    The light of interest kindled in Mount’s eye. ‘Indeed, yes, sir. I should be pleased to go to the best of . . .’
    A scream interrupted Mount and both men