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

might learn of the location of McCoy’s quarters, from someone from that office.
    Surrounding the building was an array of weaponry, both of naval and military varieties. Toward the rear of the building were piles of large carronade barrels. Near them were stacks of the necessary slides. Some of these slides seemed functional, but most had been damaged by the weather and lack of care. The guns themselves were rusty but given a good cleaning, serviceable enough.
    Surprisingly, McCoy was present and functioning. He seemed to have no memory of their conversation of the evening before but when Mullins broached the subject, had no objection to Mullins taking as many of the heavy guns as he wished.
    Assuring Mullins that he could take what he wanted by merely signing an indent, he reminded the naval officer the extra guns would not affect the ship-sloop’s rating in any manner. The men walked through the gun park, where Mullins marked the guns he wished with a piece of borrowed chalk. Piles of thirty-two pound balls were available also, exposed to the weather and slowly rusting.
    Promising to send a working party later in the day to remove the weaponry, he went to the powder wharf where he attempted to persuade the master superintendent there to issue him the proper powder cartridges. These would be the same charges used in the twenty-four pounder long guns. Nothing he could say would persuade the official to issue the ready-made charges. Since the ship had already received powder to replace that shot away on the voyage out, no more bulk powder would be forthcoming, either. However, he would issue the necessary serge fabric for the shipboard fabrication of powder bags for his long nine-pounder guns.
    He was told since his ship had not been issued carronades, he had no need of ammunition for them. Mullins was not dismayed at his lack of success here. He had plenty of powder aboard ship for his nine-pounder guns. His gunner would not find it difficult to make up cartridges for the carronades using that powder. If necessary, it would not be strange if he were able to augment his supply from captured enemy ammunition.
    With a pair of 32 pounder guns in the two after ports, and another pair forward, Mullins felt confident in his ability to bring pain to his enemy.
     
    Freshly provisioned, Mullins was anxious to sail before his acquisition of new weaponry became noticed, but every signal sent to the flag was answered, “Wait’.
    At length, he was summoned on board the flag. The flag captain saw him and gave him the bad news.
    Captain Sawyer told him that it was well known in the fleet that he was a real expert in the training of good seamen. “You are sailing for the Med, a long voyage, in which you will have plenty of time to train a crew.”
    “HMS Lively however, here in the harbor, will be sailing soon for the blockade of Brest. Her crew is composed largely of convicts freed from their cells to serve in the navy. Since she will likely come in contact with the enemy very soon, it is desired she have some experienced people on board.”
    “Therefore, it has been decided to exchange some of her crew with well-trained members of Auroras’, this exchange to commence immediately.”
    Mullins was outraged, but was told he could do nothing about the matter. The needs of the service must come first.
     
    When fully provisioned again, Aurora raised her anchor, setting course for Toulon. On the long voyage, there was the opportunity to give the people extra training on the guns as well as some sail drill.
    His new crew were much as he had expected. Most were convicts freshly released from gaol. All of these people were shorn and washed down from head to foot, in an effort to discourage pests and disease. Almost at once he began hearing complaints from his petty officers of the men’s attitude. Mullins was not an advocate of the lash in the reform of wayward seamen, but he thought he might have to re-consider.
    No enemy ships were