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CHAPTER 7
April 1815
Anne dreamed she
was floating in a cloud - a cloud with a firm wall on one side.
She was drifting through the air. She could see Portsmouth and
all the ships in the harbor, drifting peacefully. In an instant
she was flying over Somerset - yes, there was Kellynch Hall!
How beautiful it looked from up high! There - was that Sophy…?
Suddenly there was
the crash of a landslide - in the air?
Anne's eyes flew
open - What was that noise? "Frederick! Frederick!
Oh, what has happened? Frederick!" The grinding of stones
against wood was no dream.
Her husband awoke
next to her in alarm. His flailing about almost overturned the
hanging cot. "What! Anne, what is it? Is something amiss?"
"That noise
- can you not hear? Have we run aground?"
Frederick blinked
at her. "Noise? What noise…?" He listened. "Oh!"
He pinched his lips, trying to stop a laugh. "Ohhhh…that
noise. It is nothing to worry about, my dear. Just the crew scouring
the deck."
"They mean
to make that racket? What on earth are they using, great stones?"
Frederick could
not keep from grinning. "Actually, yes - that is exactly
what they are using."
"I beg your
pardon?"
"We use soft
sandstones, called holystones, to scour the deck before washing
it down with seawater. Keeps the deck smooth and polished."
"Every morning?
What time is it?"
"Oh, a bit
after two bells in the Morning Watch." With mischief he
watched Anne trying to recall what she had been taught. Finally
he took pity on her. "Five in the morning, love."
"I would have
eventually remembered, Frederick," she said with just an
air of impatience. "How can you sleep with that going on?"
"One becomes
accustomed to it. How did you sleep, by the way?"
he asked as he lay back down again, with a twinkle in his eye.
She joined him,
holding her captain tight. "Like I was dead to the world.
This hanging bed is a wondrous invention." It was not the
only reason, she recalled with a smile; their loving last
night was sweet and exciting at the same time - trying so hard
not to make a sound… "Do you have to get up now,
dear?"
"I usually
arise at four bells - that's…"
"Six o'clock,
you teasing man."
"Ah…you
remember. You are an observant student." he said as he bent
to kiss her.
"As are you,
darling."
Less than an hour
later, Nowak's soft knock upon their door alerted the captain
that it was time for him to start the day. Leaving his wife's
arms, not without a bit of regret, he left their quarters to
dress and go up on deck. Anne allowed herself to enjoy the cot
by herself until she could hear five bells ring out. Half
after six, she thought, time to prepare for breakfast.
Cautiously she climbed
out of the cot. Once accomplished, she put on a robe and exited
the bedroom. She noted with relief that the cabin did have a
latch on it. She accomplished her morning ministrations then
dressed in a light cotton dress. She did up her hair in a kerchief
- a cap seemed silly aboard ship. At six bells (7:00) the steward
knocked upon the door.
"Beggin' your
pardon, ma'am," he said as she opened the door, "Are
you ready to see to the breakfast?"
"Yes, Mr. Nowak
- bacon and eggs, if you please. Is there any toast?"
"Yes ma'am
- we'll have fresh bread for another week or so."
The words "for
another week or so" reminded Anne that she wasn't in
England any longer. "Fine. Please make enough for Dr. Maturin,
as well. And coffee, please."
Nowak's grin showed
his missing teeth. "Right away, ma'am."
A few minutes later
Nowak returned and began to set the table for breakfast. Anne
learned where the plates and glassware were stored ("stowed"
as Nowak referred). He then left and returned with a pot of coffee
just as Anne heard eight bells ring out. The sound of hundreds
of feet pounding the decks and stairways filled the air. Fifteen
minutes later, Frederick entered the cabin.
"Good morning,
my dear," he said as he kissed her cheek.
"Breakfast
is on its way. Would you care for some coffee?"
"Thank you.
Coffee's just the thing to set me up."
They were halfway
through their first cup when Nowak brought in two covered dishes.
"The toast's on its way, sir, and Dr. Maturin's plate has
been delivered."
Stephen struggled
to awaken at the sound of the knock on his door. With a groan
he arose and moved to the door. "What is it?"
"Breakfast,
sir."
The servant almost
jumped back at the reptilian look of dislike on the face of Dr.
Maturin as he opened the door. "Must you awaken a body in
the middle of the night, for all love?"
"Sir, it's
not first bell of the Forenoon Watch…"
"Indeed? I…I
beg your pardon…I have lost all track of time. Come in."
The man placed the tray on the small table in a corner of the
cabin. Stephen looked upon the offering with little appetite.
"Will you be
wantin' anything else, sir?"
Stephen dismissed
the man as quickly as he could; too quickly as it turned out.
There was but a cup of coffee on the tray, rather than the pot
he had been looking forward to. With a sigh, Stephen began picking
at his plate.
Anne walked up the
stairs to the quarterdeck. She found the ship under full sail
making her way swiftly through the waves. The sun sparkled on
the sea, deeply blue and clear. Anne leaned against the side
of the ship and slowly made her way forward from the waist to
the forecastle. The men she passed took a moment to salute her
in that peculiar naval fashion of touching their foreheads with
the knuckle of their forefinger.
Anne soaked in the
steady breeze and bright sunshine. The ship moved in an agreeable
rolling motion, the waves lightly splashing against her sides.
Birds were flying over the waves, diving occasionally into the
water. At first Anne was concerned that something bad had befallen
the gulls until she saw them float to the surface again before
taking wing, sometimes swallowing a small fish.
A bright smile was
fixed upon Mrs. Wentworth's face as she surveyed the scene about
her. All at once a loud splash caught her notice. To her amazement
she beheld a large fish leaping out of the water alongside the
moving ship. "What in Heaven's name…?" she thought
out loud.
"A dolphin,
madam," said a voice behind her.
Anne turned her
head to see Dr. Maturin standing behind her. "Doctor - I
see you are up and about," she said. "Good morning,
sir."
"Good morning,
Mrs. Wentworth. Thank you for breakfast."
"I hope it
was to your liking."
"Indeed it
was, ma'am; a better breakfast I could have not hoped for."
Stephen was being kind; while the food was to his liking, he
had gotten used to drinking a whole pot of coffee before noon,
rather than the measly cup he was provided this morning.
"Dr. Maturin,
I believe you named that fish a dolphin?" asked Anne.
"Yes, madam,
Tursiops truncates - the bottle-nosed dolphin. Extremely
common in these waters. Closer to the French shore you would
see the harbor porpoise - Phocoena phocoena. But I am
afraid you err calling that creature a fish, for it is not. It
is a mammal."
"I thought
it some sort of shark," Anne admitted. "A mammal you
said. You mean like a cow?"
"A cow it is
not, save that it breathes air, like the great whales. Look closely,
Mrs. Wentworth; watch as the dolphin breaks the surface - see?
The hole upon the top of the head?"
"My goodness!
Yes I see it - it opens and closes like a second mouth!"
"It is breathing,
ma'am."
"Marvelous.
But why is it leaping out of the water, sir? It seems to be racing
the ship."
Stephen shook his
head. "I do not know. Perhaps just for the joy of it, like
dogs running after a carriage." He sighed. "I am afraid
that there will be little that will not be common on this trip,
Mrs. Wentworth - nothing like what you would see off Southern
Africa or the Pacific."
"Doctor,"
Anne said with a smile, "you must remember that all of this
is new to me."
"Have you never
sailed before, or been to the seashore?"
"This is my
first time aboard a ship, sir. I have been to Lyme, but I must
admit I paid little attention to the creatures of the sea. I
was too busy admiring the rocks and waves and wind."
"A fine scene,
indeed. But rather sterile without the cries of the gulls or
the barks of the seals."
"I am sure
you are right. Perhaps I may develop a greater appreciation for
them during this voyage."
The two continued
to talk, not aware of the drama that unfolded below their feet.
Pyke followed his
fellows down into the bowels of the ship. "Where're we going?"
he asked. They had had the Morning Watch and Pyke hoped they
would rest during the Forenoon Watch. Seven hours sleep interrupted
by keeping watch in the middle of the night was not something
he was used to.
Radle answered him.
"Cap'n wants the ballast shifted."
That sounded like
something unpleasant. "So what does that mean?"
"Quiet back
there!" shouted a bo'sun's mate.
Radle whispered,
"We move the stores in the hold to improve the balance of
the ship - Cap'n Wentworth's very particular about it."
The men continued down to the orlop and the hold. There they
found Captain Wentworth waiting for them.
"Alright lads,"
Frederick said. "A smidgen of sweat and we'll be all done
here. Stokes, she's a bit down in the bows."
"We'll take
care of that, sir." The boatswain turned to the crew. "Rig
up those tackles and be smart about it." Minutes later the
men were engaged with rearranging the barrels of provisions in
the hold. Casks of meat, flour, biscuit and other stores were
manhandled around. An hour later, Pyke found himself towards
the forward end of the hold, hard against the cable tier. Nowak,
the captain's steward, was just opening a chest by Pyke's feet
when an abrupt shift in the deck was followed by a crash and
a cry, which caused everyone to look aft. Utley, a man in Pyke's
mess, was screaming while holding his ankle. Apparently, the
unexpected pitch in the ship had caused a cask to smash against
Utley's leg.
"Hold what
your doing, there!" shouted Wentworth. "Get Mr. Utley
to Sick Bay as soon as may be done!" As the men closed upon
their injured comrade, Nowak among them, Pyke noticed what was
in the chest that was opened beside him. Buried in sawdust were
several cases of wine, with two bottles beside the chest. Pyke
then noticed that the chest had "Wentworth"
written on it.
Pyke had barely
seen the treasure before he moved. With practiced hands he seized
two bottles out of the chest and swiftly deposited the ill-gotten
gains into the cable tier. It was but a moment's work; by the
time Nowak had turned to re-lock the case and gather up the wine
he had already removed, Pyke was leaning against the bulkhead,
staring intently at the men surrounding Utley. Out of the corner
of his eye, Pyke could see that Nowak suspected nothing as the
steward replaced the key into his pocket and picked up the bottles.
"Is Utley alright?"
Pyke was able to ask Lauck a few minutes after his mess mate
was removed to Dr. Powell's care.
"Don't know,
mate." Lauck was worried - no one in the Laconia had much
faith in the skills of Dr. Powell. I just hope that damn sawbones
don't lop off poor Utley's foot without first tryin' to save
it.
"All right
men," called out Wentworth, "let's finish this job,
but stay sharp! We don't need any more accidents."
Pyke got back to
work. His "reward" would wait for later.
Stephen was returning
to his cabin on the gun deck when he was approached by Mr. Stokes.
"Beggin' your pardon, sir," the man said. "I don't
know if you remember me - Stokes, topman aboard the Worcester…"
"Yes,"
replied a weary Stephen. "What can I do for you, Mr. Stokes?"
"We just had
an accident down in the hold - Seaman Utley's likely broke his
leg."
"I am sorry
to hear that. Has he been brought to the Sick Bay?"
"Oh, yes sir.
Dr. Powell's with him now."
"I am sure
that my colleague will see to him, sure."
"Uhh…"
Stephen could see that Stokes was uncomfortable. "Yes, he
will… Oh, Doctor - could you not go see him?"
Stephen could tell
that Dr. Powell did not have the full confidence of the ship's
crew, but he would never blatantly overrule a fellow medical
officer. "Dr. Powell is well versed in his craft, Mr. Stokes,
I am sure; Mr. Utley is in very good hands. But I see no harm
in consulting with your surgeon."
Stokes broke into
a wide smile, which displeased Stephen. "Oh, thankee, Doctor
- thankee."
Stephen left the
grinning boatswain and was making his way down to the mess deck
when he was accosted by Captain Wentworth. "Oh, Doctor,
good to see you out and about."
Stephen was mentally
exhausted by his trials and physically weak from poor eating
- he was not in the best of moods. Stokes' request was his breaking
point. "Yes," he snapped, "what can I do for you,
sir?"
"I was wondering
- may we expect your company at dinner today?"
"No - no; I
am far too busy. Another time, Captain. If you would excuse me,
there is an injured man in the Sick Bay…"
Wentworth's face
became grave. "Of course, Doctor - forgive me." He
stepped away to give Maturin passage. He turned to watch the
doctor proceed to the Sick Bay before continuing to his own cabin.
What an ass!
Stephen was soon
in the Sick Bay. "Dr. Maturin - what an honor!" cried
Dr. Powell.
"The honor
is all mine, sir," said Stephen as he eyed the patient.
"Just a little
fracture here, doctor - no great thing."
Except to the
man whose leg is broke.
"Very interesting, colleague. May I examine him?"
"Of course,
of course!" Dr. Powell's pride was puffed up by being regarded
as the famous Dr. Maturin's colleague.
Stephen looked at
Utley. "This may hurt; it is unintentional."
"It's all right,
sir…" groaned the sailor.
It only took Stephen
moments to conclude that the fracture was a simple one and that
the other bone in the lower leg was sound. "I am sure you
have diagnosed a simple fracture of the fibula, Dr. Powell. The
tibia is undamaged, I am sure."
"The swelling
is great, sir," replied Powell. "Is the ankle sound?"
Stephen made a great
show of reexamining the damage. "As I am sure you have noticed,
the location of the injury, being close to the ankle, has cause
a great deal of swelling about the leg and foot. It may give
the appearance of a shattered ankle to an unlearned eye; but
I am sure you have noticed how the foot is carried properly,
which would not be the case if the ankle was damaged."
Dr. Powell nodded.
"Yes, just as I thought. A simple fracture - nothing to
it." The expression on the face of the loblolly boy gave
the lie to that statement. "All that is required is to slap
on a splint."
Stephen put on his
most innocent expression. "May I assist you? It has been
some time since I have applied a splint."
"Be my guest,
Sir!"
A few minutes later,
Stephen finished with a flourish. "That is an interesting
method of securing a splint, Dr. Maturin," said Powell.
"It is a newer
style now coming into fashion in London. It may be unfamiliar
to you." Stephen had actually used this method for seven
years.
"Usually I
just tie it fast around the limb. You immobilize the leg?"
"'Tis a theory
that the bone knits faster if the muscles are restrained for
at least a fortnight."
"Interesting…
Is it effective?"
"It has served
in many cases of my acquaintance. Care must be taken to re-secure
the splint as the swelling goes down."
Powell was positively
giddy. "By Jove, what a lucky occasion is was for me to
have you aboard the Laconia, Dr. Maturin! To work with
a physician of your reputation - you see that, Utley? That is
the work of a real London physician! You are a very fortunate
man!"
Utley gazed at the
doctor with eyes glazed with pain. "I…I am indeed,
sir…"
Stephen leaned over
the patient. "You are in good hands, Mr. Utley." He
turned to Powell. "I shall return to my cabin now, but I
would like to look in on Mr. Utley from time to time, if I may."
"Consider my
Sick Bay yours for the duration of your time with us, my dear
colleague."
"How was your
morning, my dear?" Frederick asked Anne as they sat for
dinner.
Anne talked for
a while about her new routine before adding, "…and
Dr. Maturin pointed out a dolphin to me today."
"Indeed?"
"Yes - I saw
this great fish jumping near the ship, and the doctor was kind
enough to name him for me. Did you know that dolphins are not
fish but mammals? Oh - but of course you do."
"In my years
at sea I have seen many a dolphin and porpoise, too. But I am
glad Dr. Maturin was polite to you, Anne. I must say he cut me
quite severely just before dinner."
"Oh, my…
I am so sorry…"
"Ah…perhaps
I judge him too severely. He was on his way to the Sick Bay,
after all."
"Really? Was
there any reason why?"
"I'm afraid
so. One of the men, a Mr. Utley, smashed his leg whilst working
in the hold."
"Oh. I shall
visit him after dinner."
"That would
be very good of you, my dear. Ah, Nowak… that looks tasty…"
"Mrs. Wentworth
- To what do we owe this pleasure?"
Anne frowned a little
at Dr. Powell's question as she entered the Sick Bay. "I
have come to visit a little while with your patients, if that
is agreeable to you, sir."
"Of course.
Utley - wake up! Mrs. Wentworth is here!"
"Dr. Powell
- there is no need…"
"That's alright,
ma'am," said Utley, "I weren't sleeping. Thankee for
coming."
"I have here
a book of poetry. Would you like for me to read to you?"
"That would
be very kind, missus."
Just before 4:00
- First Dog, I must remember, First Dog - Anne found herself
on a bench built into the stern of the ship, Lucky the dog in
her lap. Nowak had handed her a cup of tea and she was just raising
it to her lips when eight bells rang out. She watched as two
midshipmen walked to the stern railing, acknowledged her with
a nod, and one of them tossed overboard a weighted piece of wood
that was secured with a knotted line. The line ran through his
fingers over the side. The other young gentleman was watching
a small sandglass intently.
"Time!"
he called out.
"Eight and
a half!" cried his partner. He then began to reel in the
line and board.
"There you
are, Lucky!" cried her owner.
"Lt. Greengard,
I trust it is all right - Lucky was keeping me company."
"I hope she's
no bother, ma'am." The Marine bent to rub the dog's ears.
"She is a dear,
sweet thing. May I ask what just occurred here?"
"The mids?
Oh…they were manning the log-line. It's how we keep track
of our speed. Did you notice the knots tied to the log-line?
Those knots are 47 feet 4 inches apart. One man tosses the log-ship
- that's the wooden piece on the end - and counts the number
of knots that flow through his fingers while his fellow watches
a log-glass, a 28-second sandglass. When the sand runs out, the
number of knots is equal to the number of nautical miles we are
traveling in an hour. That's recorded on the log board."
"I see - ingenious."
"I say there,
Greengard - don't you have some duty to attend to?" Anne
looked up to see Lt. Colonel Tarleton walking towards them.
Greengard's face
became impassive. "I was retrieving my dog, sir. Good day,
Mrs. Wentworth. Come along, Lucky. I will see you at supper,
sir."
"There,"
said Tarleton as Greengard walked away from them, Lucky following
behind. "I have saved you from a most boring conversation."
He sat down on the bench next to Anne and turned to her. "A
lovely day and better evening, wouldn't you say so, ma'am?"
Anne began to protest
the colonel's outlandish behavior when she saw an even better
salvation approaching from the Marine's blind side. "Indeed."
"And finer
company, I'll wager."
Anne's eyes sparkled.
"Do you think so, sir?"
"Ask me what
you will, Mrs. Wentworth. I have seen the world - much more of
it than some wet-eared lieutenant. You are to Bermuda, are you
not? I am to take command of the Marine garrison there. We shall
be neighbors."
Anne fought hard
not to look beyond the braggart. "I think that will be unlikely,
as I will not be living in the garrison."
"Ah, but Bermuda
is a small island - we shall meet constantly, I am sure. Balls,
dinners, parties… I know all the finest people."
"Is that so?
That is comforting to know."
"Of course
- after all, rank is rank."
"I believe
you have said that before, Colonel," said Frederick from
just behind him. "In this case, at least, I must agree with
you."
Tarleton began blustering.
"Ah…Captain! I…I did not see you…" Wentworth
said not another word; he only smiled mirthlessly down upon him.
"Ummm…yes, I believe I shall join my comrades in the
wardroom. Good evening sir; Mrs. Wentworth…"
Anne was able to
hold in her laughter until the short Marine was below desks.
"Well, sir, that was well judged!"
Frederick took his
seat next to Anne. "I am happy to have been of service,
Mrs. Wentworth. I see you have found your bench."
"My bench,
sir?"
"I had it especially
built for you. A comfortable place to enjoy the air…"
"While watching
you prowl the quarterdeck?"
Frederick smiled.
"Just so."
Anne returned the
smile. "I can think of no better way to while away the hours…"
"SAIL HO!"
cried the lookout.
Frederick rose to
his feet. "WHERE AWAY?"
"QUARTER OFF
THE LARBORD STERN!"
Ice water drenched
Frederick's heart. Larboard stern - East - France? Fighting
a sense of dread, remembering Sir Joseph's warning, Frederick
crossed over to the wheel, seized a telescope and leapt to the
main shrouds. To Anne's amazement, Frederick climbed up the shrouds
like a man half his age. Her heart was in her mouth as Frederick
climbed around the futtock shrouds - hanging over the deck -
and ascended higher up the topmast shrouds.
High up the main
topgallant mast, Frederick turned his telescope towards the object
on the horizon. It was a ship, but he could not tell what it
was: brig or three-decker, merchantman or warship, British or…someone
else. "Can you make it out?" he asked the lookout.
"No sir - could
be a three-master…maybe…"
Frederick stared
at the intruder, trying to make up his mind. Could he take any
chances with Dr. Maturin on board? Finally he descended back
to the deck, using the backstay most of the way. Anne almost
fainted.
Frederick noted
that the wind was coming out of the northwest. "Mr. Price,
make your course southwest - that's two points large. And cancel
the gunnery practice."
"Yes sir. We're
running from her sir?"
"Like smoke
and oakum, William."
Price turned and
began giving a series of orders. Men labored as the great ship
turned to the right as the wind came on the beam. Once the Laconia
was settled on her new course, Wentworth approached Lt. Price.
"We'll hold this course until nightfall, Mr. Price, and
then we will come about to the southeast and fly before the wind.
I want everything she can take, even the studdinsails. And in
blackout - no lights at all, mind."
Price nodded as
he understood Wentworth's plan. "Yes sir. All lights out
after dark and then to the southeast." What Price could
not understand was why Wentworth was fleeing - Had the presence
of Mrs. Wentworth made the captain shy?
"I shall take
the First Watch." Wentworth returned to his wife, his face
a mask of stone, all good cheer gone. He had read the unasked
question in Price's face. "Shall we retire to our quarters
for supper, my dear?"
"I never thought
I would see the day," said Lauck over supper. "Wentworth
runnin' from a fight."
"It's that
wife o' his - he's scared for her," offered Eades.
Radle shook his
head. "I was wrong about Miz Wentworth, but I ain't wrong
about this - Wentworth ain't shy. Either he's got somethin' in
mind, or else that there sail is part of a squadron."
Pyke looked about.
"Why not ask Stokes?"
"I don't know,
lads," Stokes responded when asked. "All I know is
that we are to turn about after dark and make for the southeast
- and all lights out."
Eades: "He
is runnin'!"
"We'll see
in the morning, Eades. Come along; it's nearly time to go on
duty," said Radle.
The next day dawned
cloudy. "ANY SIGHT OF HIM?" cried Lt. Price to the
lookout.
"NO SIR - NOTHING
AT ALL."
"You see?"
whispered Eades, "he ran!" Radle could say nothing;
he only shook his head.
Price turned to
the helm. "Make your course southwest."
Wentworth stood
alone upon the quarterdeck, looking astern, his thoughts darker
than the sky.
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