Once more the two frigates put about and beat upwind outside the harbour. The Spanish flag flew high over the forts that made the harbour impregnable to external threat. The army was going to have a hard time when it came to the siege.
‘Boat putting off – flag o’ truce, sir.’
The captain of HMS Aurora held up his hand to acknowledge. It was a rare sight, as the blockade around Minorca was as tight as could possibly be. Still, the diversion from duty would be welcome. ‘Heave to, if you please.’
Under sail out in the open sea the boat made heavy weather of it but came on stubbornly in sheets of spray. As it neared he could see only a few figures in it. It was one of the straight-stemmed Minorcan llauds that he had seen fishing here. The boat rounded to, the soaring lateen sail brailed up expertly as it came lightly to leeward.
‘Aurora, ahoy! Permission t’ come aboard!’ hailed the deep-tanned figure at the tiller in a quarterdeck bellow, to the great surprise of the frigate’s company agreeably passing time in watching the exchange.
‘One to come aboard, Bosun.’
The boat nuzzled gently against the ship’s side and the figure sprang neatly for the side-ropes and pulled himself aboard, correctly doffing his hat first to the quarterdeck and then to the captain.
He was a striking character. Strong in the frame and attractively open in the face, he was nevertheless in a wildly inappropriate mix of English army and navy uniform – a Spanish ruse? ‘L’tenant Kydd, sir. Late o’ the Port Mahon naval detachment t’ Colonel Paget.’ His English was faultless if individual.
‘What may we do for you, Lieutenant?’ the captain of Aurora said carefully.
‘Sir, Colonel Paget desires y’ should not fire on th’ Spaniards on any account, but that ye proceed into harbour without delay.’
‘I see. I should sail my frigate under the guns of the fortress yonder, and forget the presence of the boom across to the Lazareto?’
‘Oh, pay no mind t’ the boom, sir. We’ve just triced it in this hour.’
‘Are you not forgetting something, Lieutenant?’
‘Sir?’
‘That fortress flies the Spanish flag, which I have observed unchanged these three days.’
‘Ah – I should explain. Colonel Paget came upon the town, which surrendered a little precipitate before they could fin’ a military man. Y’r flag flies above Fort San Felipe where the only soldiers are t’ be found. The fort is in ruins, havin’ been demolished by the Spaniards t’ discommode us but the soldiers say they won’t surrender until they’ve found the king’s lieutenant and get a proper ceremony.
‘Meanwhile, sir, we have the possession and occupation o’ the whole port. If ye’d kindly sail upon Mahon directly the colonel will be obliged – he is anxious to make inventory of the ships and stores that have fallen into our hands.’
Chapter 9
The ordered calm and routine aboard HMS Tenacious was a welcome reassurance of normality and Kydd paced the decks with satisfaction. His ship was now moored inside the deep emerald harbour of Port Mahon with the rest of the fleet; watering parties were ashore in Cala Figuera.
Kydd contemplated the prospect of an agreeable summons from the commodore in the near future. It had been an extraordinary achievement – the entire island was now in English hands, from the time of landing to capitulation no more than a week, on their side without any loss. And he had played what must surely be seen as a central part in the success.
‘Sir, if y’ please…’ One of the smaller midshipmen tugged at his sleeve.
He turned, frowning at the impropriety, then softening at the boy’s anxiety to please. ‘Aye?’
‘Mate o’ the watch sends his duty an’ the commodore would be obliged should you spare him an hour.’
‘Thank ye,’ said Kydd, a little surprised at the informality. He had been expecting something of a rather more public character, but supposed that this was preparatory only. After all, while this was a commodore he did not have the standing and powers of a full admiral. Any form of honours would have to come from the commander-in-chief, Admiral Nelson, still in Naples. His heart beat faster.
After reporting to Captain Faulkner in full dress uniform, as befitting a visit to the flag-officer, he was stroked across to Leviathan in the gig, thinking warmly that life could not be bettered at that moment. The day before, he had come back aboard and spent an uproarious evening in the wardroom telling of his adventure, being heartily toasted in the warmth of deep camaraderie. Now, dare he think it, he had been noticed and therefore was on the golden ladder of preferment and success. His instinct had been right – Nelson was showing the way. Seize the moment when it came!