Tenacious(7)

‘Sir, Vanguard is signalling,’ Rawson reported to Kydd.

‘Well?’ growled Kydd, in mock exasperation at his signals midshipman.

‘Er, sir – union   at the mizzen topmast-head, distinguishing pennants, er, that’s “Captains repair on board Flag”. An’ they are… let me see… Orion, Alexander, Emerald, others – and us!’

‘So?’

‘Er, yes, sir – acknowledge.’

‘My duty t’ the captain, an’ acquaint him of the signal, if y’ please.’

Houghton wasted no time: his barge disappeared quickly into a throng of small craft, but he was back just as rapidly and summoned all officers to his cabin. He motioned them to sit at the polished table, but remained standing and leaned forward, animated. ‘Gentlemen, I have to tell you that intelligence of the gravest kind has been received from overland concerning the French intentions.’ Every eye was on him. ‘It seems that they are at this moment massing in Toulon and are about to make a sally.’

He spread out a small-scale chart of the Mediterranean. ‘This is far more serious than a simple adventure. It has the attention and presence of their highest general, Napoleon Buonaparte, and could mean either a mass break-out from the Mediterranean to join up with their forces in Brest, or some descent to the east in a move towards the Ottomans or India.

‘They have had the Mediterranean as their private sea for too long – it has made them ambitious, and the danger this poses to our country is incalculable. Therefore I have to tell you that Sir John has determined that at last we shall re-enter the Mediterranean. There shall be an immediate reconnaissance in force towards Toulon to discover the French intentions. It will be led by Rear Admiral Nelson – and we shall be a part!’

In this major fleet off Cadíz, in addition to a full admiral as commander-in-chief, there was a vice admiral for the van of the line-of-battle and a rear admiral for the rear. Exceptionally, there was also a separate squadron whose task was to rove close inshore, harrying the enemy at every opportunity and this was the particular command of Rear Admiral Nelson.

There was a stunned silence, then excited babble broke out. Houghton grinned and straightened. ‘If you please, gentlemen, Sir Horatio will brook no delay. He intends to sail for Gibraltar in two days. I will not have Tenacious disappoint so you will bend every effort to ready her for sea. Carry on!’

The Rock of Gibraltar resolved from the haze like a crouching lion, dominating the vessels that drew up to its flanks to join the ships-of-the-line and frigates already there. As anchors plunged into a gunmetal blue sea, the thunder of salutes acknowledged the visiting Princess Royal as the flag of a senior admiral.

The ships came to rest and the slight breeze brought a smell compounded of sun-baked rock, goats, donkey droppings and Moorish cooking, which irresistibly took Kydd back to his service there in Achilles – and the adventures that had followed.

‘I do believe it will now be granted to us to glimpse the grand panjandrum himself,’ Renzi said, looking at Vanguard, anchored a few hundred yards away. Kydd held back a reproof: his friend had been at the great battle of St Vincent and witnessed Nelson’s achievements at first hand.

‘Oh?’ said Bampton. ‘Is he so much the swell he must parade before us?’

Kydd’s colour rose at Bampton’s tone.

‘Not as I would say,’ Renzi replied. ‘Rather, I have heard he keeps a splendid table and is the most affable of hosts.’

‘Should you have seen him here a year or so ago in Minerve frigate you’d clap a stopper on y’r opinions,’ Kydd added, and recounted the daring escape of Nelson’s ship from two Spanish ships-of-the-line. From the top of the Rock, Kydd had watched the whole incident. Nelson had bluffed the enemy by heaving to and, suspecting he was leading them into a trap, the Spaniards had sheered off. But the real reason for his action was that he had lowered a boat to rescue a man overboard.

The talking died as Vanguard’s boat was hoisted out and several figures boarded. It stroked strongly for the shore, and was met at Ragged Staff by a file of redcoats, a military band and a reception committee.

‘Making his number with the governor,’ murmured Adams.

‘O’Hara,’ said Kydd, with a grin. ‘They call him “Cock o’ the Rock” on account of him being so… amiable t’ the ladies.’

After a short interval there was a pealing of boatswain’s calls and the captain of Tenacious departed.

‘God knows, Our Nel isn’t one to waste his time lingering in port,’ the first lieutenant said. He turned to the boatswain. ‘No liberty, all hands to store ship. Turn to, part-o’-ship.’ The boatswain called his mates and stalked forward, the piercing blast of their pipes echoing up from the hatchways. ‘All the water an’ provisions we can take aboard – our ships are on their own once we sail,’ Bryant growled.