The Privateer's Revenge(25)

This was a small force to set against the might of the French but if a ship-of-the-line was present it would necessarily be compelled to remain powerless far offshore, and with the bomb-vessels warped close in only smaller craft could keep with them.

"Under whose command will the covering force be?" Carthew asked. He left unspoken his realisation that any valiant defence of the bombs would certainly be applauded but only the man in command would bear the public credit.

"For this task I will be asking Commander Kydd," Saumarez replied levelly.

"Sir! I must protest!" Carthew said hotly. "This officer has been in these waters only a few weeks and, besides, I feel I must draw your attention to the fact that he is considerably my junior in the list of commanders."

"I'm not in the habit of defending my decisions, sir," snapped the admiral. "However, you will recall that Mr Kydd has had a recent and intimate acquaintance with the object of our expedition and has done nothing to disabuse me of his suitability for the post. He will assume charge and I expect all my captains to support him."



Sailing with the early-morning tide the small fleet laid course for the enemy coast—the flagship Cerberus in the van and HMS Teazer immediately following, leading the close-support squadron.

However, even before Jersey was laid to larboard it was clear that the bomb Terror was unable to stay in the line, her broad, flat-bottomed hull making atrocious leeway in the combined south-south-westerly and strong tidal current. It was essential that she be in position before dark: her mooring arrangements were complex and technical, for it was not the mortar she aimed but the whole ship.

Her sister Sulphur was delayed in port. There was now every prospect that the assault would fail even before it started and there were bleak looks on every quarterdeck. Later in the afternoon Cerberus backed her topsails and hove-to with "Teazer's pennant and the signal for "come within hail" hoisted.

Saumarez's voice sounded through the speaking trumpet, strong and calm. His orders were to go on and anchor before Granville and await the bomb-vessels, which would now necessarily be obliged to conduct a difficult night moor. A council-of-war would be called upon arrival.

Pointe du Roc was raised by five o'clock, and well before dusk Cerberus let go her bower anchor, a second streamed out by the stern. She settled just outside range of the guns of the fort on the louring heights. The signal for "all captains" was immediately made.



"As you see, gentlemen, we have set ourselves a challenging task," Saumarez opened, with a tight smile. "I propose to place the bomb-vessels to seaward of the peninsula. Their fire will overarch and descend into the harbour the other side among the dense-packed shipping with the object of causing general damage and the utmost confusion, for there is nothing that the French might do to prevent it falling among them." He looked meaningfully at Kydd. "Unless, that is, they are able to make a sally against the bombs."

"They'll not touch 'em, sir—that's m' promise."

"Good. May I know how you plan to dispose your forces, sir?"

Scorpion and Harpy t' take close station on the bombs, Elingschooner f'r communication and Carteret cutter with Teazer at th' entrance o' the harbour t' bar any who thinks t' leave."

The captain of the schooner was visibly crestfallen and Carthew curled his lip in a barely concealed sneer. "And if there is a concerted attack on any one position?"

"Red rocket, all vessels attend at the harbour entrance. Blue rocket, t' fall back on the bombs."

"Very well. We lie here until the bomb-vessels reach us, at which point we close with the shore to begin the bombardment, paying particular attention to the state of the tide. If any vessel takes the ground, there will be no help for it—with this tide range there can be no relief." Saumarez hesitated. "It does occur to me," he said, in a troubled voice, "that our actions will be alarming in the extreme to the civil populace, living as they do in the town beneath the flight of the shells and in sight of them exploding. Captain Selby, do you take a flag of truce ashore and warn them of what will occur and—"

"Warn them? Sir! The bombs are now able to approach under cover of darkness and can achieve a fearful surprise and—and—" he spluttered.

"Nevertheless this is what you will do. Can you not conceive, sir, the mortal dread that must seize every female heart at the sudden thunder of Jove we will unleash? I will remind you that our duty is to make war against soldiers, not children and womenfolk."



Terror had touched on a reef, which delayed her progress, and it was not until after midnight that she was reported approaching. In the wan light of a fading moon she was shepherded in.