HMS Aphrodite (Sea Command Book 1) (15 page)

After entering the Mediterranean and proceeding up the coast of Spain, Aphrodite was involved in a major storm. She rode it out under storm canvas, with Mullins mentally thanking the dockyard hands who had put the ship back together.

With plenty of sea room, he was assured they were safe now. Desperately tired, he had just told the officer of the deck he was going to retire when Mister Lafferty, the sailing master, approached and announced they were being set toward an island in the Balearics. They would probably miss it handily, but that island had an unpleasant crop of rocky shoals around it, shoals that could tear the bottom out of the ship.

It was necessary to work their way farther out to sea, when at any moment, a blown out sail might put them on the snags. The men fought the storm for another day before it subsided and they were safe. Two days later, they found themselves at the rendezvous and Nelson was there in his Vanguard, along with HMS Alexander and Orion.

Nelson was delighted to hear he was going to be re-enforced by a large contingent of third-rates with orders to search the entire Mediterranean, if it became necessary to find the elusive French fleet. He confided to Mullins that he had lost four frigates because of a misunderstanding. Aphrodite was going to have to serve as a scouting ship for now.

She was now to scout on ahead and rendezvous in a week off Syracuse. Should she gain any information sooner, she should seek out the fleet and report.

On her own now, with a view to acquire information as to the French fleets whereabouts, Aphrodite began running down any vessel she came across. A Genoese brig out of Malta reported the French had already been there and had captured the island, leaving a French garrison. Their fleet had left however and it was not known exactly where it might be headed.

With the prevailing wind from the north-west, Mullins thought it was not likely the enemy fleet was bound for the Straits or Ireland. Perhaps it might be bound for Constantinople. Continuing to the east herself, a Spanish ship was sighted and sailed down after a short chase. Her captain professed to have no knowledge of the French fleet, but a Venetian crewman aboard, upset at the French for taking his country, assured the midshipman commanding the boarding party, numerous sails had been sighted the day before, sailing southeast.

Sending the ship on under a British prize crew to the rendezvous with Admiral Nelson, Aphrodite sailed on. Her crew was happy now, with the taking of a prosperous prize. The ship had been heavily laden with a cargo of oil in barrels and bulk wheat, which should bring a good price in hungry Gibraltar. Nothing but small fishing vessels were seen for the next day. With their crews denying having seen their quarry, it was time to report back to the rendezvous themselves.

At the appointed position, nothing was to be seen but their prize. Mister Rayner came over to Aphrodite and reported having met with Admiral Nelson and passed on the information to him.

Nelson had relieved him of his prisoners, furnished him with a few more hands and told him to meet with Aphrodite, then to sail for Gibraltar. Aphrodite was given a second rendezvous point ahead, just off the Nile delta.

Since the date of the second rendezvous was very close, Mullins decided to refrain from actively searching for the enemy and make directly for Admiral Nelson, keeping a close look-out on the way.. As they were closing the mainland, a promising ship came sailing right toward them. This was a brig, pierced for ten guns. She approached until Aphrodite hoisted her colors and then she went about and tried to escape.

Mullins felt he had to pursue, rendezvous or not. He might very well receive valuable information from her. The brig was a fast one and led them a merry chase. They chased until night, then lost her in the dark. But, next morning, there she was, to starboard, hull up, trying to go around them, back the same way they had come.

Again there was a chase. The brig was just the slightest bit slower than Aphrodite, but it was a question whether the brig could stay out of reach until dark. At dusk, the brig began popping away at her pursuer with a pair of four-pounder stern chasers she was firing from her stern windows.

Their gunnery practice was atrocious and Aphrodite was within a cable’s length before the first shot struck. The ball took a piece from the cutwater, but caused no real damage other than cosmetic. On orders from Mullins, Mister Lafferty brought the ship around so that her starboard broadside was trained upon the enemy. Without further struggle the brig gave it up and lowered her flag. Mister Harrison went over with a boat crew to take possession. After rummaging around for a lengthy period, Harrison shouted over through a speaking trumpet that he needed to return to the ship. The launch was sent over and Harrison and an apparent crew member of the brig dropped into it.

When Harrison boarded Aphrodite, he was carrying a sailcloth bag. He ushered the stranger to the quarterdeck and introduced him.

“Sir, this is Monsieur Henri Phillipe, a surgeon from Toulon. He was acting as the brig’s surgeon and approached me when I boarded. He wishes to come over to us, and I fear if we leave him aboard the brig the crew will tip him overboard. Apparently, he has differing views of the future of his nation than the other officers and crew.”

“Very well, Mister Harrison. You will take command of the brig. I will put M. Phillipe in your quarters until we find the fleet. Now, what have we caught?”

“Sir, she is a French national ship, a scout for the main enemy fleet. Phillipe tells me the fleet is bound for Egypt, which is to be taken. Apparently General Buonaparte has plans of constructing a canal across Suez connecting to the Red Sea. He intends to use this canal to send ships to the Orient to interfere with our trade in those parts.”

“Good work, Mister Harrison. Please ask Mister Goodwin to give you more men to man the ship and send some of her captured crew to us. For now, you will accompany us as we search for Admiral Nelson.”

The pair approached Egyptian waters, where they were spotted and pursued by a heavy French frigate. One of their forty-gun newly built ships, Aphrodite was in no way fit to fight her, especially with her now reduced crew. Consequently, they escaped out to sea, where the frigate was lost in the darkness.

The next morning, the pair cautiously approached the rendezvous point again, but their fleet was not sighted. They were two days past the rendezvous’ expiration date and Mullis expected the fleet had gone to search some other part of the Med.

With no other options, Mullins decided to beat his way toward Syracuse, hoping to find the fleet there. Giving copies of his information to Mister Harrison, the two separated, with hopes that one of them might find Nelson. Days later, he learned the fleet had indeed spent a little time there but had departed for the Greek archipelago. Proceeding in that direction, they met a Turkish lateener who was able to report seeing a vast fleet sailing southeast.

Once again they changed course. This time, on the third day, they spotted topsails in the distance. This was Nelson’s fleet. As they closed enough for signals to be read, Mister Harrison began reporting their previous encounters with the enemy fleet.

It was difficult to send the complex signal and probably more difficult to read it. Nelson flew the signal from Vanguard for Aphrodite to come under her lee, then for ‘Captain to repair on board the Flag’.

Aboard Vanguard, Mullins explained his contacts earlier with French ships that had revealed the French commander’s intentions. Nelson nodded and said they he had also received similar information. HMS Alexander and Swiftsure, scouting ahead, had spotted transports but no warships. As the fleet continued ahead, Mullins waited in the flag captain’s office while Admiral Nelson’s secretary drafted some reports which he was to take back to Gibraltar.

As he waited, some confused shouting on deck brought him out. Both HMS Zealous and Goliath were reporting the French battle fleet to be in sight in Aboukir Bay. While he stood at the rail, trying to catch a sight of the quarry they had pursued across the Mediterranean, the clerk and flag lieutenant came out with the relevant papers in a weighted bag. Lieutenant Gainer said, “Admiral Nelson’s respects, sir. You are to take this packet aboard your ship and remain clear of any forthcoming action. You are to observe the action so long as you may safely do so then, unless otherwise directed, set course for Gibraltar and report what you have witnessed.”

Back in Aphrodite, Mullins gave orders to take station in the rear of the fleet. He knew Admiral Nelson intended to attack the French fleet at anchor in Aboukir Bay. The question was, just how was it to be done? On the ship’s chart, out-of-date and probably inaccurate, the bottom was reported to be very shallow. The French fleet though, including some second-rate ships and a single first-rate, L’Orient, had managed to get in and were in two rather staggered lines, parallel with the curved shore.

Five third-rates were in the first line, with the powerful bigger liners backing them up. Five more third-rates were behind these liners and very close to the shallows. The ship-sloop remained at the entrance of the bay while Admiral Nelson led his fleet in.

Mullins could not understand Nelson’s strategy. During the long search for the enemy, the admiral, in the right conditions, would invite the captains of his fleet aboard Vanguard where questions of procedure during certain conditions were discussed.

Unfortunately, with Aphrodite frequently absent on scouting missions, Mullins had missed many of these discussions. It appeared Nelson was going right toward the enemy fleet while it was at anchor. First, they had to pass Aboukir Island, apparently surrounded by shoal water. All of the fleet passed that obstacle, save for Culloden, which went fast aground.

The French vessels were spaced about 160 yards apart, leaving room for the British ships to pass between the enemy at single anchor. The first five of the British line-of-battle ships passed through the enemy line and anchored by the stern, each beside an opponent. The succeeding ships anchored on the seaward side of the line. Some of the enemy ships were set upon by two of the British ships. The fighting was furious for the next few hours, although the French Conquérant hauled down her flag soon after the bombardment began.

After the sun went down, the spectators aboard Aphrodite were only able to follow the action by the flashes from the guns. By nine o’clock, some of the French ships began to lower their flags and the thunder from the guns began to die down. Soon after, some of the hands reported flame visible from the great cabin area of the massive 130-gun first rate ship, L’Orient.

Immediately, fire from her British opponents was directed at that area of the French warship, to inhibit fire-fighting efforts. As the fire spread on her upper decks and began to climb the masts, some of the nearby British ships began to move away, even as the first-rate continued to fire.

One of the British 74’s, HMS Swiftsure, which had been pumping broadsides into L’Orient, logged the time she blew up. At forty-seven minutes past nine, L’Orient exploded, in a roar that none of the other participants had ever experienced previously. Men, body parts, equipment and parts of the ship were hurled to amazing heights.

There was silence aboard Aphrodite for a moment as her people digested this catastrophe. Then, Mullins had the ship put to the wind and she closed the site of the explosion. Guns had resumed their firing, and some balls, directed at bigger ships, splashed uncomfortably close to their own.

Every boat aboard ship was launched and a search was started for French survivors. The few brought aboard were generally in very sad condition. The firing, which gradually died down during the night, resumed the next morning. At this time, Apphrodite, still engaged in searching for survivors, was signaled by the admiral to proceed to Gibraltar and give word of the British victory.

The ship-sloop set out on the long voyage across the Med. A few balls had come aboard while they were in close proximity of the battle, but no damage of any importance had occurred.

Of more immediate concern, was their ship’s complement. Some hands had been sent away on prizes and there had been several injuries.

The ship had taken aboard a dozen French seamen in various stages of health, and a pair of British seamen had been found clinging to a floating spar. The surgeon refused to allow them to return to duty, saying they had suffered exposure from hours spent in the water, and must rest for a day at least before being put to work.

As they sailed northwest, tops’ls were sighted ahead. As they neared, they proved to be a French convoy, apparently on course for the Nile Delta, presumably provisions for the French Army landed there with their general.

Normally, Mullins would have set upon it straight away, but the escort of a small frigate and a brig deterred him. The frigate appeared to be more than a match for Aphrodite and with the brig might well be more than he wanted to engage. A few weeks ago, he might have chanced it, but with his reduced crew, he would not fight unless forced to.

Accordingly, he had the helmsmen steer wide of the convoy, which consisted of a dozen merchants, as well as the warships.

As soon as Aphrodite veered away from the convoy, the frigate followed, leaving the brig with the convoy. Apparently her Captain thought he might be able to snap up a valuable prize. Mullins had no wish to engage this ship. Not only was she larger, with more guns, but he was under orders from Admiral Nelson to make his way to Gibraltar without delay.

Therefore, he put his ship on the starboard tack and sailed in a northerly direction. The frigate, signaling constantly to the brig, put itself in Aphrodite’s wake. As the day wore on, Mullins tried various strategies to outdistance his pursuer. None had any positive effect. Both ships were of about the same speed.

Mister Harrison suggested pumping the top-tier of their water supply overboard. This would lighten the ship by many tons and allow her to sit higher in the water. At this stage, Mullins opted not to try this approach. With no British ports handy, in order to replenish the ship’s water supply, it would be necessary to creep into some hidden bay to find water later.

It was now late in the evening and Mullins expected the frigate to reverse its course at any time. On this course, he himself was headed north and a chain of islands was directly ahead of him 20 miles away.

Just as soon as he could, he needed to resume his course toward Gibraltar. Now the wind was picking up and so was the sea state. As they closed on the islands ahead, what had been a mild breeze, was now a gale. The ship was pitching and not a few crewmen were bent over the rails casting their accounts to Neptune.

When the clouds burst open and dumped a vast amount of water upon them, the wind shifted. Had it not been for an alert sailing master, they would undoubtedly have lost some canvas. As it was, the ship was put about and was sailing toward the frigate at a remarkable turn of speed. In the rain squall, the frigate was not visible, and as a precaution the men were sent to the guns.

Suddenly, there she was, off to port a bit, with no indication that Aphrodite’s course change had been noted. As they neared, Lieutenant Harrison had the ports opened and the guns run out.

When the two passing ships were at long musket shot apart, the guns fired. The sea was rough, the ship pitching and probably only half the shots struck their target. Even so, they had delivered a half dozen nine-pounder shot at close range it to the frigate, without receiving a single shot in return.

Mullins had intended to sail off into the darkness leaving the ship behind. However, seeing the frigate had been unprepared, he thought he might try another exchange. As they came upon the enemy’s stern, Aphrodite backed her main tops’l and fired another broadside into the frigate’s quarter.

Alerted now, the frigate managed to fire a few guns in reply, but only one of her aftermost guns was able to reach its target. Pitching and rolling, the two ships battled each other until the storm swept them apart. Aphrodite had received a few more enemy balls, one of which smashed the helm. Until new tiller ropes could be installed, the ship had to be steered by men on the tiller below decks.

The ship’s crew remained occupied with these repairs until dawn, when daylight and increased visibility revealed their opponent from the evening before about 2 miles distant. The frigate’s mizzen was overboard, and her fore and main tops were a tangle.

As Aphrodite approached the stricken frigate, it tried firing a few shots. Aphrodite, unaffected, came around on the frigate’s stern, and fired a raking broadside down the length of the ship. The wind was blowing directly toward the frigate, and Aphrodite was being pushed closer. Standing on his quarterdeck, Mullins looked over at the other captain. He would have time for one more broadside before he would need to stand clear.

The deck of the enemy ship was covered with bodies and smashed equipment. The enemy’s mizzen was gone. The main topmast had been shot away, and the fore tops’l had been shot to ribbons..

Pointing at the tricolor, he looked questioningly at the enemy commander. After a moment’s pause, the French Captain nodded and the banner came fluttering down. It was only right that Mister Goodwin would take a price crew over to the frigate. As the first officer of a warship that had defeated a more powerful one, he could expect to receive a reward, possibly even a promotion. Mullins intended to have him on the captured frigate’s quarterdeck when it made harbor.

First though, it was necessary to do something about that mizzen. The wind and sea had quieted so men and tools were ferried over to the prize, and prisoners brought back. Having left port only a week before for an intended voyage to the Nile delta, she was well equipped with ship’s supplies. Among them was a spare main topmast, which could serve in place of the missing mizzen. Goodwin took charge of his ship’s repairs, while Mullins kept watch in the Aphrodite for unwanted guests.

By nightfall, the jury mast was erect and in the morning a lateen sail was raised. It was a strange looking rig, but it served its purpose. There was much discussion that day over how much prize money the capture would bring. Petty Officer Aikens was heard to invite various members of his party to visit him after he had the new pub and he would see each had a good drunk.

A delegation came to him, asking if they could go back and search for the convoy the frigate had been escorting. Mullins had to explain that with their reduced crew, they would have a difficult time defeating a well-manned jolly boat and it was now time to take their spoils home and count their money.

Despite his good intentions to avoid more prize taking though, nearing the Spanish coast, a merchant was sighted. Ship rigged and low in the water, she appeared to be one of the British transports bringing supplies to Gibraltar. But, what was she doing alone here in the Med in Spanish waters?

The ship made no effort to flee, which would have been highly unlikely to succeed anyway. Closing the ship, it was seen she had been involved in an action, with damage to her hull, and a fished foremast. She raised British colors when she first observed Aphrodite, but failed to give the proper reply when Aphrodite’s numbers were hoisted.

Using the latest code, the order to heave-to was signaled, which the stranger ignored. Sailing right up on the ship’s port beam, Aphrodite’s starboard guns were run out. At that threat, the British colors were lowered, and the tricolor raised for a moment. Then, it too came down and the transport backed its tops’ls, awaiting boarding.

With both of his lieutenants away on prizes, Mullins decided to investigate this ship himself. Leaving the sailing master in command of Aphrodite, he took the launch over, filled with armed seamen and the few Marines he had left aboard. Mister Midshipman Reynolds accompanied him, in case an extra officer might be needed.

Reynolds had been one of the mids taken aboard back in Portsmouth and had lately proved to be a valuable member of the ship’s company. Coming to the ship’s beam, there were no man-ropes rigged. Mullins was tempted to call over to the Aphrodite to have them fire a shot into this fellow to teach some manners. Ezra Benson, at stroke-oar, allowed as he could climb the short distance from the water-line of the heavily laden ship to its entry port.

Giving him the nod, Benson was up the side like a monkey and soon appeared at the ship’s rail with a coil of line, which he dropped down into the boat. Mullins own seaman skills were not as developed as Bensons’, but he too made it to the deck.

He soon found this was indeed a British transport which had been taken by a French privateer and was being sent into Cartagena. Her prize crew were mostly on deck, swilling expensive wines looted from the captain’s cabin. There was only one member of the original ship’s crew aboard, a twelve-year old cabin servant. The remainder of the crew had been put into boats and given a course to sail into Gibraltar.

There was one other Briton aboard, a female passenger. Apparently the British captain, finding he was about to be boarded by the enemy, sent the boy and young woman down into the orlop, in an effort to keep them from harm.

The Spanish crew had discovered the pair the next day, but Miss Davis assured Mullins they had been treated with respect by the prize crew and had suffered no insults.

Mullins had never had many dealing with members of the opposite sex, having gone to sea at a very young age, but found this young woman to be a fascinating specimen. Despite her ordeal of hiding in the bowels of a ship while it was being captured by foreign seamen, she was clad in a fresh dress and was as pretty as a picture.

With his two ship’s officers away, he had plenty of room in which to place Miss Davis. He decided not to put her in either of his lieutenant’s cabins however. These were tiny dog-kennels of cabins, off the wardroom, where there would have been no privacy.

Instead, he turned over his own great cabins to her and appropriated the first officer’s cabin for himself.

The ship’s crew had reason to be well pleased with the re-capture of the transport. It had been a good two weeks since her original capture and Mullins thought there might be a real possibility of her being treated as an ordinary prize, rather that salvage.

Now, it was only necessary to get her safely into Gibraltar without coming afoul of any enemy warship. Aphrodite’s crew was now so thin on deck she would find it difficult to fight off any resolute enemy.

Not daring to sail directly to their destination, Mullins avoided any sail sighted, in fear that it might be an enemy warship. As a result, it took an extra week before arrival at Gibraltar and he had a chance to become better acquainted with Miss Davis during that period.

She was a bubbly, happy person, always on deck in fine weather, perpetually stopping crewmen to ask them what they were doing. Of course, all were delighted to have this lovely young woman take notice of them, and before reaching port, Mullins thought there was little the crew would not do for Miss Davis.

Early on, she stopped him from calling her Miss Davis and insisted on being addressed as Helen. The day before reaching port was a day with light winds and a rather calm sea, perfect for ship visiting. Mullins asked Mister Goodwin to dinner and sat with his cook to plan the meal.

After this long at sea, there was little fresh food suitable for a dinner, but Goodwin hailed him and reported a supply of carrots and some potatoes aboard the prize as well as a young pig.

The meal went well enough, but the blue devils took hold of Mullins. He thought Goodwin to be better at conversation with young women than he was himself. He sat through almost the entire meal hardly saying a word, while Goodwin monopolized the conversation. It was only after Goodwin was well into his third bottle of claret and his voice was becoming strident and insistent that Helen announced it was time for her to retire.

Mullins was furious with Goodwin for spoiling the dinner. The thought briefly crossed his mind that he could insert something into his report that would stop Goodwin’s career. After reflection though, he realized that would be a coward’s way of settling a grievance and decided to drop the whole idea.

Aphrodite entered port the next day with the prize and Mullins was busy the entire time, barely having time to see Helen into the boat that would take her ashore. His reports were gone over carefully, the whole establishment becoming excited when it was learned that Admiral Nelson had defeated a superior French naval fleet. The acting governor invited him to an elaborate dinner the next evening.

He was tempted to be pressed with work on that occasion so that he could avoid the festivity

until he learned that Helen would also be at the dinner. It was too much to hope that he would be seated near Helen. She was up near the head of the table, seated near the wife of the acting governor, while Mullins was down near the end with the nobodies. However, the acting governor toasted his ship and its captain for their intrepid activities and assured the party that England owed much to officers like this.

Later, a dance began and Mullins watched as Helen was whirled around the floor by one subaltern after another. As she went by him on her way to freshen up, she whispered that she wished he could rescue her. Her feet were being trampled upon by the booted feet of one cavalry officer after another.