The Privateer's Revenge

with the captain; he supped with Standish and the others in what passed for a wardroom, the cramped space outside the cabins below.

'Tut, tut,' the master said, after the meal had advanced sufficiently for tongues to be loosened. 'Where are our spirits? Why are we cast down? Th' chances are we'll soon have our heart torn out on some Godforsaken rock and out o' this 'un quick enough.'

'Mr Dowse! F'r shame!' said the boatswain, Purchet. 'Could be th' Frogs are out an' then—'

'And then they fall on these pawky islands?' Standish sneered, from the head of the table. 'I don't think so, Mr Hellfire Bosun. No, if they've got a handful of hours to crowd across the Channel, they'll not waste time here.' He tossed back his wine.

'Then why's his grandevity Sir James o' Algeciras sent here?' Dowse asked. 'Must be f'r a very good reason.'

'Ha!' Standish came back instantly. 'You really can't smoke it? He's here for just the same reason as we are.' He glanced quickly at Renzi, who had taken no part in the discussion, then went on, 'In course, he's run afoul of some higher and sent here to keep the natives quiet!' He went on strongly, 'Stands to reason, dammit—commander-in-chief of an island four miles thick and not a ship-o'-the-line in his command? What other reason than he's been exiled too?' he said bitterly.

'What's your opinion, if y' please, Mr Renzi?' Dowse asked politely.

By now, in this company, Renzi had been accepted for what he was—an enigma, but no threat. He had kept to himself, scrupulously careful never to take anyone's part, his relationship with Kydd seen as that of an eccentric and needy scholiast taking advantage of the free board and lodging due a ship's clerk. A quiet and amiable manner, however, had ensured him the warmth of these men. 'Why, I've seen nothing so far that might lead us to suppose there has been some form of alienation, but this presents a mystery. I fear that without facts I'm as much at a loss as you are.'

Standish snorted. 'If you insist on making it a mystery, sir, I do not.' He banged down his glass. 'Rather more to the point is our predicament.'

'Our which?' said Renzi, mildly. Over time they had come to see that he did not carry tales to Kydd and were increasingly open in his presence. With his ear to mess-deck gossip and to the confidences of the commander, he was in a unique position—which might well end in an impossible situation if he did not tread circumspectly.

'You do not call this a predicament that we're to spend the rest o' the war flogging up and down this coast while all the victories are won elsewhere? I have my hopes of a sea career, gentlemen, as won't be found here. Remember, out of sight, out of mind. We'll not be noticed in this pawky scow.' He took a savage pull at his wine. 'And,' he paused for breath, 'I asked to be appointed into Teazer because I'd heard Tom Cutlass was to be her owner and we'd ride to glory together in some famous mauling. In just six months he's thrown the lot away! In with the admiral's daughter and set fair to be made post into a frigate for his trouble, me as his premier, and he takes up with some country milkmaid!'

The table remained silent. 'And the worst is, the looby lost the wench and has clearly taken leave of his wits, been touched in the headpiece. God knows what he'll do next—do you?' he threw at Renzi.

Renzi cleared his throat. 'The man is to be pitied at this moment, I believe. He confided to me something of his feelings for the young lady and his present state is perfectly understandable, given—'

'So we must all suffer while he comes to his senses.'

Dowse stirred uncomfortably. 'Er-hum. Them's strong words, sir,' he said quietly. 'Th' man only needs time.'

'Which we ain't got!' Purchet came in unexpectedly. 'I don't mind sayin' it before yez all but I'm afeared. He's comin' down hard f'r no reason an' unsettlin' the hands, then forgets things as are needful. If he is, um, not as who should say, square in his reason, then God help us if ever we come up wi' a Frenchy.'

A day later a lieutenant from Cerberus brought orders for sea: a neutral had sighted two French corvettes heading west. To the open Atlantic—or Brest? Either way, Saumarez wanted this immediately investigated by Cerberus to the south and another frigate to the north, to sail without delay.

Throughout Teazer there was a quickening of pace, a lightening of spirit. A corvette would be easy prey for a frigate but the other must be theirs. It would be a rare match and hard fought—unless Cerberus's bird tamely gave in the fight early and Cerberus turned to claim both.

There was point now to the mindless cleaning and blacking of guns, the make-work tasks of a ship in harbour. Kydd could be seen everywhere about the decks, and when Cerberus's signal to unmoor was bent on, Teazer was ready. The hoist went close up, and at the midships capstan men placed themselves at the bars, seamen and marines both.

'Stir those mumpin' dawdlers!' Kydd bawled down the deck to Standish. 'If we're still hook down when Cerberus weighs, I'll—I'll make 'em rue it!'

To the reedy sound of a fife and the stolid thump of a drum they set to the task with renewed determination. Well before the frigate won her anchor, Teazer 's was clear of the seabed and coming in rapidly. Renzi, on the quarterdeck at the ready with his notebook, pursed his lips. They must now throw sails aback to keep from running down the still-tethered frigate; on the more senior ship, would this be seen as a brazen attempt to do them down?

Eventually the Union Flag at the jack of Cerberus whipped down to indicate her anchor was aweigh and, with a flurry of flapping and banging, Teazer set her sails loose to the wind and settled to follow in her wake.

'Two cables astern, until th' open sea,' Kydd told Standish. The low coast slipped past but more of the appalling rocks showed until it seemed they were surrounded by them. For the moment they would be in no danger, in the wake of the experienced bigger ship.

Queripel came forward and stood next to Kydd. 'It's not th' rocks ye should be most concerned of,' he began, 'y' can see 'em. It's the tide set an' currents round 'em that c'n vex even th' most experienced. When th' tide state is —'

'Stand down, Mr Queripel,' Kydd said. 'Ye're not required.'

The man's eyebrows rose but he said nothing and retired to the wheel. Renzi knew better than to interpose