The Admiral's Daughter

'Or a third further if y' charge is th' same,' Kydd retorted, but his curiosity was piqued. It was seldom he came across the naked powder: guns were served with it sewn safely inside cartridges of serge or flannel to be rammed home out of sight, and priming powder had a different grain size.

'Ah, well, as t' that, sir, ye must know that it's an Admiralty order as we takes aboard twenty per centum fewer barrels.' A sceptical look appeared on the hovering boatswain's face, which disappeared at Kydd's sharp glance. 'And, o' course, ye'd be aware we gets less anyways, bein' Channel duties only.'

'Are ye sayin', Mr Duckitt,' Kydd snapped, 'that we must land the powder we now has aboard?'

'Not all of it, sir. We keeps a mort o' White LG for close-in work an' salutin'. For th' rest it's all Red LG powder, best corned an' glazed, charge a third y'r shot weight and a half f'r carron-ades, one fourth for double-shottin'. It's all there in m' orders jus' received.'

It would take time to discharge from their magazine, cramped into the after end of the hold. Then there was the swaying inboard of the lethal copper-banded barrels from the low red-flagged powder-barges, no doubt only now beginning their slow creep down from the magazines further upstream. 'Very well. I'd have wished t' know of this afore now,' Kydd growled.

Purchet turned anxiously. 'Shall I rouse out th' larbowlines below now, sir?'

'No, no, Mr Purchet, th' forenoon will do. Let 'em lie.' The thought of breakfast was cheering.

As he turned to go below he saw Standish emerge on deck, ready dressed for the day against Kydd's shirt and breeches.

'Sir—a very good morning to you!'

'Oh—er, thank 'ee.' He had asked that his new first lieutenant present himself in the morning. Clearly the man had taken him literally and was prepared for the morning watch, which started at four. 'I had expected ye later. Has all y' dunnage been brought aboard?'

'It has, sir—all stowed and put to rights. Cabin stores coming aboard this afternoon.' He glanced up into Teazer's bare masts. 'If we're to get to sea this age it were better I begin my duties directly,' he said briskly.

Kydd paused. Was this an implied slight at Teazer's untidy state or the sign of a zealous officer? 'It does ye credit, Mr Standish, but there's time enough f'r that. Shall we take breakfast together at all?' he added firmly. There was no reason why he should be cheated of his own repast and it would give him proper sight of the man for the first time.

'Why, thank you, sir.' Standish seemed genuinely flattered and followed Kydd respectfully to the great cabin.

'Another f'r breakfast, Tysoe,' Kydd warned. His own meal was ready laid at one end of the polished table— wiggs, dainty breakfast pastries, and sweet jelly, quiddany of plums, in a plain jar, the coffee pot steaming gently. 'Well, Mr Standish, the sun's not yet over the foreyard but I'm t' welcome ye into Teazer, I believe.'

Tysoe brought napery and cutlery and set another place.

'Pleased indeed to be aboard, sir. You'll understand that to be idle when your country stands in peril sits ill with me.' Standish was well built, his strong features darkly handsome, hair tied back neatly in a queue, like Kydd's, but with a studied carelessness to the curly locks in front.

Kydd helped himself to one of the wiggs, added a curl of butter and a liberal spread of the conserve, then asked casually, 'Tell me, sir, may I know why y' asked f'r Teazer especially?'

Standish seemed abashed. 'Oh, well, sir . . .' He put down his knife and paused, turning to face Kydd. 'Do you mind if I'm frank, sir?'

'Do fill an' stand on.' The man held himself well and Kydd was warming to his evident willingness.

'You'll be aware that you, sir, are not unknown in the service,' he began respectfully. 'Your boat action at the Nile has often been remarked and, dare I say it, your courage at Acre has yet to see its reward.'

'That's kind in ye to say so.'

'I will be candid, sir. My last post was a ship-o'-the-line, and while a fine enough vessel, she was to join Cornwallis before Brest.' He went on earnestly, 'For an officer of aspiration this is, er, a slow route. A frigate berth is too much sought after to be in prospect—then I heard of L'tenant Hodgson's misfortune.'

Kydd nodded for him to continue.

'Sir, my reason for requesting Teazer—you'll pardon the direct speaking—is that I believe you to be an active and enterprising captain who will see his chance and seize it. In fine, sir, prospects of a distinguished action for all will be better served in Teazer than another.'

It was true that the only sure path to glory and promotion was distinction on the field of battle and subsequent recognition above one's peers. Standish had heard something of Kydd's history and had made a cool calculation that this captain would not hold back in the event of an engagement, so his chances were better for a bloody victory in Teazer than in a battleship on blockade duty.

'Thank ye f'r your frankness, Mr Standish. But it may be that within a short time th' Channel Fleet will meet the French an' their invasion fleet. Glory enough f'r all, I would say. Coffee?' The officer looked sincere and was clearly eager to be an active member of Teazer's company. 'Tell, me, Mr Standish, have ye been fortunate in th' matter of actions?'

'I was at Copenhagen, sir, third o' the Monarch,' he said modestly, 'and was fourth in Minotaur when we cut out the Prima galley.'

This was experience enough. In Nelson's squadron during the bloody affair against the Danes, and before, in the fine exploit off Genoa that saw the difficult capture of the heavily manned vessel. 'Were ye in the boats?'

'I had the honour to command our pinnace on that occasion, yes, sir.'

This was no stripling learning his trade in a small vessel. Standish was going to be a distinct asset—if his other qualities were as creditable. 'Well, I hope Teazer c'n afford ye some entertainment in the future.'