Free The Bomb Vessel by Richard Woodman Page A

round the thirteen-inch mortar. Next the two centreline tackles were hooked on. To cope with the additional weight of the larger mortar Drinkwater had ordered these be rigged from the main and mizzen tops, arguing the mizzen forestay was insufficient for the task.
    Again the hauling parts were led forward and the slack taken up. There were some ominous creakings but after half an hour the trunnions settled on the bed and Mr Willerton secured the second set of capsquares. The sliding section of the mortar hatches were pulled over and the tarpaulins battened down. The last of the daylight disappeared from the riot of cloud to the west and the hands, grumbling or chattering according to their inclination, were piped below.
    For the first time since the days of disillusion that followed his joining the ship, Nathaniel Drinkwater felt he was again, at least in part, master of his own destiny.
    â€˜Well, Mr Tumilty, perhaps you would itemise the ordnance stores on board.’
    â€˜Sure, and I will. We have two hundred of the thirteen-inch shell carcases, two hundred ten-inch, one hundred and forty round, five-vented carcases for the thirteens, forty oblong carcases for the tens. Five thousand one pound round shot, the same as you have for your swivels . . .’
    â€˜What do you want them for?’ asked Rogers.
    â€˜Well now, Mr Rogers,’ said Tumilty tolerantly lowering his list, ‘if you choke up the chamber of a thirteen inch mortar with a couple of hundred of they little devils, they fall like iron rain on trenches, or open works without casemates, or beaches, or anywhere else you want to clear of an enemy. Now to continue, we have loaded two hundred barrels of powder, an assortment as you know of fine cylinder, restoved and mealed powder. I havethree cases of flints, five of fuses, six rolls of worsted quick-match, a quantity of rosin, turpentine, sulphur, antimony, saltpetre, spirits of wine, isinglass and red orpiment for Bengal lights, blue fires and fire balls. To be sure, Mr Rogers, you’re sitting on a mortal large bang.’
    â€˜And you’ve everything you want?’ Tumilty nodded. ‘Are you happy with things, Mr Trussel?’
    â€˜Aye, sir, though I’d like Mr Willerton to make a new powder box. Ours is leaky and if you’re thinking that . . . well, maybe we might fire a mortar or two ourselves, then you’ll need one to carry powder up to the guns.’
    â€˜Mr Trussel’s right, Mr Drinkwater. The slightest leak in a powder box lays a trail from the guns to the filling room in no time at all. If the train fires the explosion’ll be even quicker!’ They laughed at Tumilty’s diabolical humour; the siting of those ugly mortars had intoxicated them all a little.
    â€˜Very well, gentlemen. We’ll look at her for trim in the morning and hope that Martin does not say anything.’
    â€˜Let us hope Captain Martin’ll be looking after his own mortars and not overcharging them so that we haven’t to give up ours,’ said Tumilty, blowing his red nose. He went on:
    â€˜And who had you in mind to be throwing the shells at, Mr Drinkwater?’
    â€˜Well it’s no secret that the Baltic is the likely destination, gentlemen,’ he looked round at their faces, expectant in the gently swinging light from the lamp. From the notebooks he had inherited from old Blackmore, sailing master of the frigate
Cyclops
he had learned a great deal about the Baltic. Blackmore had commanded a snow engaged in the timber trade. ‘If the Tsar leagues the navies of the north, we’ll have the Danes and Swedes to deal with, as well as the Russians. If he doesn’t, we’ve still the Russians left. They’re based at Revel and Cronstadt; iced up now, but Revel unfreezes in April. As to the Swedes at Carlscrona, I confess I know little of them. Of the Danes at Copenhagen,’ he shrugged, ‘I do not think we want