On the King's Sea Service: A John Phillips Novel (War at Sea Book 1) (15 page)

“Just farm produce, sir. The man is taking it to market in the village.”

Phillips was anxious to get the cart removed before the carriage arrived. He walked over to it. It held a box of over-wintered potatoes, a bag of spring greens, a container of wrapped packages of butter and some wrinkled apples. He told Mullins to tell the driver he wanted to buy the whole load.

The driver wanted to bargain, but time was a commodity they did not have. Phillips drew a pair of golden guineas from his purse and told Mullins the man could have them if he dropped his load and left instantly. Mullins was shocked. “Sir, you could buy his whole farm for that money. I can get it for much less.”

“Mullins, I have no time to bargain or argue. Will you obey me or not?”

A quick “Yes sir” got the desired results. The wondering driver, delighted at his good fortune, turned his empty cart around and left. The landing party had hurriedly removed the produce to the edge of the cliff and tossed it down to be out of sight.

The squealing axle of the cart had barely subsided when the jangling of harness hardware became evident on the other side of the roadblock. Precautions taken before ensured that muskets were primed and men were prepared for action at the sound. The outriders came first, ahead of the coach. Four men in the uniform of French Cuirassiers, their bronze breastplates gleaming in the morning sun.

The procession came to a halt upon reaching the entangled branches of the downed trees. Horses rearing, the coach came to a halt. The few men, both outriders and coach passengers, attempted to defend the pouches, but that effort ended when the seamen and Marines came out of the bushes along the road, muskets leveled. A junior officer of cuirassiers extended his sword, as did a major inside the carriage. After seizing the leather pouches of military correspondence, the naval party tossed the captured weapons into the surf, retreated to the boats and were off, leaving the French soldiers to deal with the roadblock.

Next morning, the ship being well at sea, Phillips had Mullins in to translate the captured documents. “Sir, this is all secret French Naval information, codes and the like. I think the admiral would like to see this.”

“You’re probably right, Mullins. Admiral Howe will likely not be too happy to see us, but we should report this. Make sure you do not divulge any of this to your mates.”

It took a week for the Courageous to locate Admiral Howe, but they eventually found one of his frigates and were directed to the new rendezvous. Howe was not at all happy to receive Phillips, but they were finally ordered to proceed to long pistol shot to windward of the flag. The mood was decidedly cool when Phillips went aboard, but warmed soon after.

“Phillips”, the admiral asked, “Do you understand the importance of these documents?”

“I have a fair idea, My Lord.”

“I want them taken to Portsmouth immediately. Report to the port admiral and do as he orders.”

They made a fast passage across the channel and upon reporting, Phillips was soon ordered to post to London with the captured documents. There, handing over the documents after explaining his mission, he waited in an Admiralty office for hours until taken in to a harried man in civilian dress.

The admiralty official, without introducing himself, motioned to a figure standing at the window. “Captain Phillips, please meet Hawkins, from Horse Guards. I’ll leave you here to talk.”

Hawkins came over and examined the sea officer. Phillips could make no judgment whether the man was either military or civilian. Hawkins spoke for the first time. “Captain, while this package was in your hands, how many people have read the contents?”

“Only one sir, a midshipman named Mullins aboard my ship. He was the only person aboard who could read French.”

“You do not read the language yourself?”

“No sir.”

“How about later. How many others have read the contents?”

“Sir, I reported to Admiral Howe with them about a week after we took them. I do not know who they were shown to. I was ordered into Portsmouth, reported to the port admiral there and was then sent to the Admiralty.”

“To satisfy your curiosity, Captain, one particular document, among hundreds you brought back, was of major political importance. It is important the French military do not realize this has been captured.”

“Sir, I took the pouches from an officer in a carriage guarded by four cuirassiers. I am sure the French officials have been notified by now.”

“Captain, the documents were dated several months before the occasion you captured them. We think someone put them furtively in the French military mail for his own reason. We know the person to whom the paper was addressed no longer works in the office the paper was being sent to. For whatever reason, we now have them. Hopefully, the individual mailing the documents will decide to keep his own council. Perhaps he or she will never find out.”

“Now, are we clear? You are never to divulge the existence of these papers.”

“Sir, I of course will never volunteer the information. However, I am a commissioned naval officer and would be forced to answer any questions by competent authority, unless, of course, I was covered by proper orders.”

“Very well Captain. Horse Guards thanks you for the intelligence gift you provided. Goodbye.”

Mister Jordan was the next person Phillips saw in the Admiralty building. He said, “My word, Phillips. You do keep popping up.” As Phillips started to explain, Jordan held up his hand. “Not another word, sir.” he cautioned. “We both know more than we should about a certain subject and it would be better if no one else heard about it from us. Have you heard from Sarah Forsythe yet?”

“No sir, Courageous just returned from the French side of the Channel coast. I posted up here from Portsmouth and reported here this morning. No time to make my manners with anyone.”

“Well, she is now living with her uncle near there. Shall I post her informing her of your presence? I am sure she would like to see you again after the last abbreviated meeting.”

A tentative meeting arranged with Miss Forsythe in Portsmouth, Phillips had other matters on his mind.

He was sure Courageous was in good hands back in Portsmouth, so decided to pay a quick visit to Mary Harkins. He still felt guilty about his abrupt departure and thought a few minutes spent at the inn would be advised. He engaged a one horse chaise to transport him there. At first glance, all seemed the same after he climbed down at the King’s Arms. Then he noticed the sign had a new coat of paint. At the bottom of the sign was penned, “Amos Harkins, Prop.”

This was a puzzler. Old Amos was in America, while Mary was now full owner of the inn, having spent money given her by Phillips to purchase the half interest formerly owned by Amos, her dead husband’s brother. Why would his name be on the sign?

The driver of the chaise asked, “Would you like me to wait for you, Yer Honor?”

Tossing the man an extra sixpence, Phillips said, “Would you please wait a few minutes? I’ll need a few minutes before I decide.”

He started for the inn’s door, when it opened with a bang and Mary came running out. “John, I didn’t expect you. You should have warned me.”

He explained to her about the ship being moored in Portsmouth and his being in London on the King’s business, but he did now have a few minutes to spare.

“Oh John, you’ll never guess at my news. I am married. Old Amos Harkins asked me and I couldn’t say no.”

Dumbfounded, Phillips stood there a minute. “Mary, a few months ago, Harkins was hiding in America and a solicitor wanted you to buy your brother-law’s debt from them. I gave you five hundred guineas to pay them. What happened?”

“Well”, she admitted. “I posted him by fast packet that the debt had been paid, so he no longer had to hide. Then he returned and we decided to marry.”

“But why him? You owned the inn free and clear. By marrying him, you put him back in the driver’s seat as the owner. He can do what he wants to with the property, now.”

“Oh, don’t scold, John. I needed a man to care for and I knew you would never marry me.”

Phillips shook his head in wonder at both Mary and himself. He had thrown away five hundred guineas to assist Mary gain her independence and she had in turn thrown that independence away. He was glad he had the ship. The sea, while sometimes a harsh mistress, was much easier for him to understand than women!

The ordnance people were aboard when he arrived, taking measurements for the long delayed carronade installation. The ship was due to receive four of the big thirty six pounders. Two guns would replace the forward long eighteen pounder guns, while the others went into the enlarged ports occupied now by the after eighteen pounders. In addition, a pair of twelve pounder carronades was to be installed on the quarterdeck.

It being made clear to him that the ordnance crew had little time to spend discussing the armament with him, he went below to go over all the paperwork that had accumulated since his departure. Just below the top, was a letter from Sarah, said she was staying near Portsmouth with her uncle and hoped to see him. He had just digested that, when the master’s mate of the watch reported that a young lady standing by a carriage was waving a handkerchief at the ship. She appeared to be the same lady that came aboard earlier in the year.

Sarah Forsythe came aboard in the company of a middle aged matron who she identified as her dead father’s cousin. This lady remained on deck, entertained by the sailing master and several other warrants. After a brief period of socializing, Phillips asked Sarah below to give him advice on possible means of decorating the cabin.

It developed, hours later that, they had spent little time discussing that subject and rather much more exploring each other’s personalities.

It was only the Marine’s stamp outside his door, with the warning, “First Officer, sir.” that brought them to the present. It seemed Miss Arnold, Forthythe’s companion wished to return to the carriage.

There was a flurry of activity as the ladies left. Burns hurried up with a packet destined for Admiral Howe, as well as a report that mail bags for the fleet had been left by a boat from the flag while Phillips had been incommunicado. The ship was ordered to leave as soon as wind and tide permitted. An affirmative signal was the only acknowledgement required. It was time to leave.