H.M.S. Valor
11 Aug 1808
48 Degrees 36’N, 7 Degrees 27’W
The routine of sailing in a Royal Navy frigate had settled in, the sailors were familiar with their battle quarters and becoming more and more proficient in the drill of clearing for action. Lieutenant Pike had exhibited leadership ability and technical prowess in training many of the new hands. He had led the gun batteries in drill twice daily since departing, dry runs early in the day and live fire in the evening. The ship’s combat abilities had improved dramatically in the short time since their departure. Captain Grimes demanded a very high standard and while they were not quite there, even he would admit, the crew was well on their way and on the right heading. A week of drill and discipline had laid a foundation for the newest of the crew and the experienced hands let none slack, knowing the captain would accept nothing other than excellence.
Lieutenant Pike had just come off his watch, he stood midnight to four bells as a matter of principle, after seeing the oncoming watch settled in, he made his way below to get some rest. It felt as if he had just laid himself into his hammock, almost before the slack was out of the lines suspending it from the timbers of the ship when a midshipman appeared in the berthing.
“Lieutenant Cobb’s compliments Sir. He has requested your presence on the quarterdeck.”
“Alright Mr. Shelton, I’ll be along.” William responded, biting down a flare of temper and wondering what could possibly be worth preventing his sleep in the pitch dark of night. He slipped his pants and shoes back on, grabbed his coat and headed back topside. Once on the quarterdeck, William immediately noted the wind had remained steady, sea conditions had not changed enough to note, perhaps the swells were even a bit smaller.
“Mr. Cobb, what seems to be the issue?” he asked, mindfully keeping an even tone with the junior lieutenant.
“I heard a bell that wasn’t ours Sir, out of place like, and when I went forward to look, I swear I saw a light for a moment.” Cobb replied in a hurried, hushed tone. The implication that they could be in that close of a proximity to another ship sent a chill up and down both men. William immediately turned to the petty officer on watch.
“No bells or whistles, no calls, pass the word.” William instructed, “Quietly now, no shouts, no calls and douse all lanterns.”
“Aye Sir,” the petty officer responded and immediately began passing word to each individual man on deck, before climbing ratlines himself to pass the command to hands above in the rigging.
“Mr. Cobb, station lookouts and men to pass the word on larboard and starboard bow,” William ordered, then turning to another petty officer, “wake the gun crews and stand by smartly, no calls and no shouts. Then give the Captain my compliments and request his presence on the quarterdeck. Lively now man. Go!”
“Aye Sir!” the sailor replied in a hushed tone, hurrying below to complete his tasks. Watch had changed not more than ten minutes ago. “If we can hear their bells, they could have heard ours.” William mumbled to himself.
“Hold steady course quartermaster, I’m going forward to have a look.” William commanded, departing the quarterdeck and walking up the starboard rail for the bow. There was dead silence aboard the Valor, just her hull sliding through small rolling waves was the only sound to reach his ears. Satisfied that his orders were being heeded, William had just begun to question in his mind Cobb’s senses when he smelled something. It was just a passing sensation but through the salty sea air, William could almost detect the smell of something cooking. His mind was trying to process how this could be, Cobb specifically pointed ahead of the bow, the sound, the light he thought he saw was ahead of them and most importantly and problematically for William’s logic, downwind. This was important if the ship that was out there was hostile, but if William was smelling cooking there could possibly be another ship and they would have the weather gauge on the Valor!
Captain Grimes came to the quarterdeck and got a report from Cobb, then proceeded up to where William was scouring the dark for any sign of a ship out ahead. The winds held steady out of the east and the Valor was moving along at a slight 6 knots with her top gallants and royals reefed. Grimes reached William just as a faint sound floated in over the gentle swells.
“What was that?” the Captain asked.
“Not sure Sir, I heard it also, Mr. Cobb was alerted by what he thought were bells. But I think our situation could be more complex than that.” William said, bracing himself, unsure of what Captain Grimes’ reaction would be to his suspicion.
“What is it Will?” Grimes pressed, looking out over the bow.
“Sir, I smelled cooking food as I approached the bow. It was only for a passing moment, but it could not be from us and it could not possibly have come from a ship downwind.” William stated, flatly presenting the dilemma he had been working through.
“Very well, Mr. Pike. Good observation. We need to come to some kind of conclusion then. If we approach the ship ahead and she is hostile, which is quite likely given our relative position to France, we will be forced to pursue and engage. However, if there is another ship out there, this one with the weather gauge on us, engaging a ship and giving away our position would be folly. But if there is no other ship, we risk losing contact with this bugger.” Grimes was now looking at the deck, deep in thought, talking to William but also himself. Before William had a chance to respond Grimes straightened his neck, looked out
