Tenacious

ashore over the reef in that hurricanoe?

'I don't deal in logic overmuch—I've seen too much o' how quick the world c'n go all ahoo to worry about plotting m' course too far ahead. But what I've learned—an' it's a lesson well taken—is that when things are on the flood f'r you, take it in both hands an' clap on all sail. If it's going a-foul then snug down an' ride it out without whining.'

'This is an observation I cannot disallow.'

'I've been fortunate, this I'll be th' first t' admit to—a foremast hand crossed t' the quarterdeck. But who's t' say that this is an end to my portion o' luck? Where will I go to next?'

'Quite so. Be you always ready for anything that chances by.'

'No!' Kydd snapped. 'That is not what I'm going t' do.'

'Er—'

'I've seen how a reg'lar-built hero goes about it. Nelson—is he one t' wait for what comes his way? Heaves to 'n' waits f'r the enemy to sail over to him? No! He makes his chances by rising up an' seizing 'em.'

Renzi watched him but made no comment.

Kydd folded his arms. 'You see, Nicholas, from this day forward, I'm t' make my own luck. Like Adm'ral Nelson I'm looking for my chances an' taking 'em the very instant I see them. An' if that means perils an' hazard t' me, then this is what I must do, an' I hope I won't prove shy in that hour.'

As the heat of his words cooled he gave an awkward smile. 'So y' see—I mean t' make something of m'self, is all.'

Looking at him seriously, Renzi said quietly, 'This I can see, brother. Let us pray it leads you not into tempestuous waters some day.'

'Nicholas, be sure an' this is what I mean—'

' 'Finish, good sir; the bright day is done, and we are for the dark ...''

Heat built quickly in the morning calm. The ships lay listlessly at anchor in the bay and Kydd and Renzi walked languidly about the decks of Tenacious. The gunports were triced open to allow the small zephyrs to bring some measure of relief to the humid conditions in the 'tween decks.

Boarding nettings were not rigged below them, less in respect of the unlikelihood of unfriendly visitors than in recognition of the disinclination of seamen to desert in such an unfamiliar port.

Bumboats, however, were always to be seen alongside, hoping to entice sailors through the open gunports with gew-gaws.

Wiping his forehead, Kydd tried to ignore his dull nausea and uncertain footing, and asked Renzi, 'Tell me true, did you mark what th' dwarf was doing with the blackamoor and the straps?'

Renzi avoided his eye. 'I rather feel that on this occasion we were unfairly gulled into a lower class of entertainment owing to our—our agreeable acquaintance with the famed Lachryma Christi wine.'

Kydd peered over the side at the bumboats, but he was not an officer-of-the-watch in harbour: this was a job for a master's mate who would turn sullen if advised of his duties by an idle officer. Signals were now in abeyance: in port the admiral would distribute his orders and dispatches by midshipman and boat, and in any case it was rumoured that Nelson had accepted an offer of hospitality from Sir William Hamilton and was staying ashore in their house, resting.

Treading carefully around three seamen who were eyeing him warily, he noted that their splicing and bolt-rope sewing had not progressed far since his and Renzi's last turn round the deck, for this was the second occasion that the boatswain had been too 'ill' to take charge of his men.

It was inevitable, the toll on discipline and spirit in a harbour of such allure. Rawson and Bowden had sampled the delights together, overstayed their leave and were now confined to the ship, while Adams was refusing morosely to show his face ashore after a mysterious encounter involving a lady.

Other incidents were more serious: one seaman had been brought back by his messmates stabbed in the neck, and over fifty were unfit for work. It was proving difficult to overcome the lassitude that seemed to pervade the air after their recent extremity of effort.

With Houghton and Bryant away up country inspecting fortifications, Bampton had been left acting captain and at seven bells there was the depressingly more frequent 'clear lower deck— hands to witness punishment.'

'Sir, Henry Soulter has been a top-rate petty officer an' fo'c'sle hand, always ready t' step forward when there's perilous duty to be done—'

'It's not his character that's at question now, Mr Kydd,' Bampton said acidly, 'it's his actions. Did he or did he not make threatening gestures and thereafter strike Laffin, boatswain's mate?'

Kydd stifled a weary sigh. He had the essence of the matter from Soulter's friends. Inflamed by unaccustomed grappa, Soulter, a gifted seaman and steady hand, had responded too readily to taunting of a personal nature from Laffin and had laid into him. Unfortunately this had been witnessed by Pringle, the captain of marines, who had thought it his business to take the matter further.

It was splitting hairs as to whether Laffin was in fact Soulter's superior, but if it were so adjudged then it was a very serious matter indeed, requiring a court-martial and the death penalty not discounted.

'Aye, sir. Soulter admits th' charge, but states that it was under much provocation that—'

'There can be no extenuating circumstances in a crime of this nature, Mr Kydd,' said Bampton, importantly. 'If he admits the charge ...'

Kydd's temper rose. Soulter was in his division and he knew his value, but now Bampton was playing God with them both. 'He does,' Kydd snapped.

'So, striking a superior. This is a grave charge, Soulter.'

'Sir,' Soulter said woodenly.