‘I do, sir. In any venture to put troops ashore we are critically reliant on our understanding of the enemy’s positions, that they are not in sufficient numbers to prevent our disembarkation by any means. What intelligence do you have, sir, that encourages you to believe Fornells is open to us?’
Stuart paused. ‘I do not have direct information, true. There is a species of revolutionary Minorcan zealot opposed to Spanish rule assisting us but their intelligence leaves much to be desired.’ His lips thinned. ‘It were better we rely on our own estimates, Colonel. If it transpires that the enemy presses us too hard in Fornells we must abandon the attempt – and strike elsewhere. Addaya to the east has been mentioned.’
‘With respect, sir.’
‘Colonel?’
‘Just three miles inland there is a road marked, here, passing between the two. If the enemy uses this to transfer forces rapidly between, we will not see them – we will have no warning until they fall upon our exposed landing.’
‘Colonel Graham! In war, risks must be taken. The landing must take place somewhere – have you any other suggestion? No? Then, sir, we land as planned in Fornells, accepting casualties if need be. Now, on to the details. In the matter of—’
‘Sir!’ Kydd felt the same exhilaration, the same unstoppable conviction that had carried him on to make the fateful decision to hand over his signal codes to the American navy. Now he was stepping forward in a council-of-war to propose a seaman’s solution to an army difficulty.
Stuart stopped, raising his eyes questioningly.
‘Sir, L’tenant Kydd o’ Tenacious – we can’t see th’ soldiers from where we are, coming in fr’m the sea as we will.’
Stuart continued to look at him stonily, the rest of the cabin turning curiously to look at the usurper. ‘Yes?’
‘Sir, Minorca is a low island, not many hills as you’d say, but in th’ sea service when we navigate past we always take a sight of Monte Toro, a single mount y’ can see leagues out to sea without ever ye sees the island.
‘Should anyone climb t’ the top with a spyglass, then nothing can be hid from him – all th’ motions of the soldiers will be made clear, it bein’ less’n four miles distant, and by this you shall know for a surety in which place to throw in your own forces.’
Graham thumped the table. ‘Preposterous! How is your spyglass man then going to advise General Stuart? Run helter-skelter back down the mountain?’ There were sniggers from the other army officers. ‘Even with a fast horse—’
‘Colonel Graham, I am – er, was, signal l’tenant in HMS Tenacious. Gen’ral Stuart, I’m sure, will be very satisfied should he take intelligence on th’ quarterdeck of Leviathan that informs him hour b’ hour of where the Spanish are. We have a fine enough set o’ signals in the navy we can use for th’ purpose.’
The murmuring died away as Stuart contemplated Kydd. ‘Possibly. For this it will mean crossing unknown territory occupied by the enemy…’
‘Aye, sir, but did I not hear about y’r Minorcan patriots? They c’n see us through t’ the mountain right enough.’
‘Commodore?’
‘Er, I can see nothing wrong in principle at this stage, sir, but—’
‘Mr Kydd, you are prepared that you may be taken up as a spy, as most assuredly you are?’
‘Sir.’
‘One moment, if you please, sir.’ A young army subaltern stood up and banged his head on a deck-beam, which made him sit again abruptly. ‘This is an army operation, sir, and on land. I cannot see how the navy can be expected to recognise military movements. Therefore I do volunteer for the task.’
Kydd bristled. He swung on the young officer. ‘I think I c’n be trusted to recognise a parcel o’ Spanish redcoats. But can you, sir, tell if the wind is foul f’r a landing if we have to shift from Fornells? I have m’ doubts of it…’
‘Quite so,’ said Stuart. ‘But do I understand you to mean that you can undertake to observe the enemy from their rear, signal over their heads to my headquarters at sea to advise on just where their forces are massing to oppose us?’
‘Yes, sir – and give ye warning should reinforcements be afoot.’
‘Hmmm. Reliably?’
‘Sir, a line o’ frigates ahead of a fleet c’n watch sixty miles o’ sea – an’ there’s three hundred signals in the book they can use t’ advise the admiral.’ Kydd did not mention there was no signal hoist in the book he could remember for ‘Fornells’ or ‘marching towards’ or any other military terms for that matter.