Free HMS Aurora: A Charles Mullins Novel (Sea Command Book 3) by Richard Testrake Page A

cluster of ships were seen. These full-sized, ship-rigged vessels usually traded along the continents’ sea-routes. Six of them, there was no dedicated escort. Each ship had a collection of old guns, which the French seemed to be every proficient with. Again, Mullins stormed each ship in turn, giving them no chance to prepare themselves.
    The enemy ships had little canvas on board that was of much use, so they were easily overtaken. The surprise came when the assigned prize crews signaled the prizes’ lading. Each ship had been converted to be a horse transport, to be used to transport remounts for the French cavalry regiments.
    In this case, each transport was filled to capacity with the regiment’s mounts. Many of the animals looked to be of good stock.
    The convoy smelled like a barn yard when it was first brought together. Once the captures were brought into some order, it was necessary to return, first to the fleet, then to Portsmouth, to land their captives, both human and equine. The horses especially, consumed an incredible amount of stores every day. The prizes themselves required a large proportion of Mullin’s crew, so he wanted to rid himself of their responsibility as soon as convenient.
    Admiral Nelson bid them goodbye, off Boulogne, believing Aurora would not soon be returning to his command. His prediction was accurate. As soon as they anchored in Portsmouth, an officer came aboard, inquiring when they could get back to sea.
    Officials of the prize court took custody of the captured ships and Mullin’s men came back aboard Aurora. There was some commotion ashore as provisions were prepared and brought aboard in the ubiquitous lighters. Working parties were mustered, and under the direction of the sailing master, the casks of salt beef and pork were struck below. Having had problems before with stores newly brought aboard, Mullins directed the next beef cask opened be one of the new issue. If any unpleasantness was found, perhaps the food could be replaced before their sailing.
     
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter Ten
     
     
    Obliged to wait in port a few days while the Impress Service rounded up some men who had deserted their merchant ship, Captain Mullins found himself in a waterfront pub next to a large individual who was as near to be falling-down-drunk as one could be while remaining on his feet.
    Interested in what might befall this individual, Mullins stood beside him and listened to his maunderings. It seemed this individual was Master of Ordnance here, and had just been charged with the responsibility for the care and safekeeping of a quantity of thirty-two pounder British carronades that had been removed from a captured French privateer.
    Mister McCoy had no storage suitable for the guns, and resented the additional responsibility. For tuppence, he would hand them over to the Navy to be used for anchors.
    In due course, McCoy satisfied Mullin’s curiosity and slowly slid from his stool to the floor. Next morning, Mullins, still waiting for the press and their charges, was walking his quarterdeck, thinking over what that ordnance master had said the night before. On the spur of the moment, he called over the deck officer and asked that his gig be readied to take him ashore.
    He wondered whether this ordnance officer really did have surplus carronades to dispose of. After all, HMS Aurora had four vacant ports in which to install extra guns.
    When the ship had been captured from the French, her twenty-two gun ports were filled French long eight pounders. Re-armed with British nines, four ports were left empty so she could be designated as a ship-sloop, captained by a commander, rather than a post ship, commanded by a post captain.
    Mullin’s first task would seem to be finding this official. From what he had seen the previous evening, it seemed likely this ordnance officer might still be unconscious. Deciding to plan his mission carefully, he first located the ordnance office on shore. He thought he