The Privateer's Revenge(9)

Teazer put to sea on the tide and stood out into the Channel. Seen from the rolling green hills of Devon, there was nothing to suggest that this was anything other than one of the many small men-o'-war going about their vital business in great waters. Her spars and rigging properly a-taunto, her pennant streaming out, sails trimmed to perfection, she was a picture of grace and warlike beauty—but on her quarterdeck, with the marks of grief and misery on his face, a figure stared astern over the widening seas at the receding coast.

Renzi watched Kydd unnoticed. It would be long months before England was sighted once more. Was there a chance that his friend could heal, away from the memories? He made his way below, guiltily aware that for himself the exile would not be wasted: he had heard enough of the Channel Islands, with their neither truly English nor certainly French character, to be looking forward keenly to his time there. An earnest guidebook was waiting on the bookshelf and opportunities in the future for exemplary ethnical comparisons would be limitless.

At daybreak they raised the southwest of Guernsey and, with the customary pilot aboard for entry into harbour, rounded the south-eastern tip. The island itself was only a few miles long, but a dismaying number of vicious rocks, reefs and islets were visible in the approaches to the harbour, scores of black fangs waiting on every hand.

St Peter Port was guarded by the brooding mass of Herm offshore, and closer to, a squat castle on a rocky islet before an inner harbour. Between, there was a broad expanse of clear water, sheltered from the prevailing westerlies. There, upwards of thirty ships were moored, including three warships riding to anchor.

"Ye'll be wantin' the two-decker, o' course," the pilot said respectfully. "Diomede, an' flagship o' y'r admiral." She was only a 50 but boasted a splendid gallery with a real, old-fashioned sternwalk. "Teazer's small swivel cracked in salute as six marines—all that could be found room for on the afterdeck—were drawn up and, with much stamping and slapping of muskets, brought proudly to attention.

"Away the gig." Kydd, in full dress uniform, stepped gravely into the boat. Renzi watched it stroke smartly away for the flagship. The twittering of pipes carried over the water as Kydd mounted the side and was gone.

"I'll be below," Standish announced, a bored look on his face. He clattered down the hatchway, leaving Renzi with the pilot, whose work would not be done until Teazer had anchored safely.

"This is Admiral Saumarez," Renzi pondered aloud to the pilot.

"Aye, it is."

"And something of a hero, I believe," Renzi added. "Was it not Orion at St Vincent and the Nile? And, of course, Algeciras . . ."

"A Guernseyman first an' always," the pilot said stoutly.

"This is his fleet?" Renzi said, gesturing at the other two ships, both frigates of some maturity. Even the small flagship Diomede was of an obsolete and derided class, not big enough to fight in the line of battle or fast enough to stay with frigates.

"Well, an' there's another two frigates out on a cruise, like," the pilot said defensively. "Plenty an' enough for Sir James t' see away Johnny Frenchman, I'll believe."

To Renzi it was unsettling: at a time when England stood in such peril why consign one of Nelson's band of brothers, a proven leader and experienced admiral, to be a full commanderin-chief of a tiny island or two and a handful of frigates?

He held his doubts, but that didn't stop the boatswain pressing the case: "As it may be, cully, but it don't say why such a right copper-bottomed fightin' man as him tops it the admiral-in-chief here when a little one'll do, does it?"

The pilot drew himself up. "No mystery, m' friend. He's a Guern', as I said, an' he's come back t' stand by his people in their time o' need. Anything y' can see wrong wi' that?"

*

Kydd returned, his face set. "Great Road, astern o' Cerberus," he ordered Standish, who had come back on deck and was awaiting the order to moor. "Mr Renzi, please t' attend on me," he added, and disappeared below.

There was a marine on duty outside the captain's cabin. As a naval officer, Renzi had been accustomed to due obeisance but as a ship's clerk he was not to be noticed; Kydd, however, received the respect of a musket clash as they passed into "Teazer's great cabin.

Kydd emptied his dispatch case of papers. "I'd be obliged if ye'd see t' these. Orders o' the station as will touch on "Teazer's standin' orders, forms o' the sort as y' will see bear on our new standing."

"New standing?"

"Aye," Kydd snarled. "As second t' Cerberus 32. Attached t' her for victuals an' stores, f'r duties as her captain will fr'm time t' time direct."