Page 32 of Unlikely Heroes
“And I am to advance and engage the Combined Fleet.”
This was not a question. Even had it been, Able would not have presumed to respond. He stood at respectful attention.
“And who might you be?”
“TheMercury. Captain Saint Anthony’s old yacht.”
“What uniform is this lad wearing?”
“He is one of my students from St. Brendan the Navigator School in Portsmouth, sir,” Able said. “This is their uniform.”
“Aye, the bastard workhouse boys,” Admiral Calder said.
“Indeed, sir. I am one of those bastards, too,” Able said, keeping his tone cordial. “Admiral Gambier has assigned us messenger duty on an intermittent basis.”
He had to give the palm to Admiral Calder. The man could have been really rude. He could have turned his back on Able and Smitty. Instead, he tossed the orders on his desk and turned to the man beside him who was watching the whole business with a certain air of amused detachment.
“Captain Cuming, these…these…I know you have a nickname, Master Six. It’s been all around the fleet.”
“Gunwharf Rats, sir?”
“Aye, that was it. Captain Rose told me that himself, and with some admiration, I might add. We shall see how well your Gunwharf Rats acquit yourselves in battle. Will, assign them a position in our fleet and give such orders as you feel necessary.”
“Aye, sir. Do you want to summon captains here?”
“See to it. Good day, Master Six.”
Relieved to be on deck again, Able felt no reservations from Captain Cuming. To the captain’s question about victuals, Able said they could use hard bread and cheese. Captain Cuming directed Smitty to follow a midshipman below deck again to the commissary, then turned his attention to Able.
“What’d’ye think, Captain Six. Did you ask the fishermen about the general condition of the Combined Fleet?”
“I did, sir,” Able replied. “He said the ships had that tired look. You know what I mean.”
“I do. Anything else?”
“He had the same surmise I did, that probably many of the crew were sick with one or another of those Caribbean fevers.”
“Our chances?”
“Probably close to equal, sir, even with the larger numbers. These are weakened men.”
Smitty returned with a gunny sack and chewing on a bit of dried sausage, from the look of it.
“Off you go, Captain Six,” Captain Cuming said. “Sail close enough to us. We’ll use you as a repeater. Are your lads up to a fleet action?”
“We’ll find out,” Able said. Smitty had already tossed the sack to theMercury, bobbing far below thePrince of Wales. He climbed down the chains after it. “I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised, sir.”
Admiral Calder’s blockaders sailed through a moon-filled night for Cape Finisterre, and spotted the Combined Fleet before noon on the twenty-second of July. The winds were good, but they jostled for position until the battle began in late afternoon. Fog became an unwelcome combatant, rolling in thick, but dispersing into maddening patches until entire crews were disoriented.
Twice theMercurydarted in close so Avon March could read the signals from thePrince of Wales, as taken down by Davey Ten this time. Losing not a moment, Avon raised the flags and signaled to Whitticombe at the wheel, his eyes burning chips of fire, to take her out to the farthest ship needing the signal. Who knew the little fellow had so much heart in him? Grace Saint Anthony knew. Able reckoned he owed his fellow instructor a rum toddy toast, when they made port.
Able stood behind Whitticome, a hand on the boy’s shoulder, as he followed Smitty’s directions, spoken with confidence. Whitticombe trembled with the noise of guns all around, but calmed under Able’s steadying hand.
Ogilvie stood by Tots at the sheets, both of them braced against the railing as theMercurybent to the wind, sailed through the fleet with signals flying, and retreated out of harm’s way, until the next summons, and the next.
Even Able was hard put to maintain his steady composure when theMalta, close by and surrounded by five Spanish warships, blasted all cannon port and starboard at the same time. “What a show!” Whitticombe shouted. “Isn’t this the best, Master?”
“Undoubtedly,” Able replied, his ears ringing. “Glad you enjoyed it.”
