GLOSSARY
The coffee came in, Simkin placing the dented pot and a mug on Philip's table and then quietly withdrawing. Philip filled the mug and carried it to the stern windows, beyond which he could see the carpenter and his mates as they took measurements for the Badger's new gudgeons, and being thoroughly soaked in the process. Beyond them sailed the Chasseur, plowing along in the Badger's wake, one cable's length astern.
Philip was still working with the French orders when the carpenter knocked on the door - he begged pardon, but the armorer needed the hardware from Philip's doors for the new gudgeons in pintles.
By the time the carpenter retreated several minutes later, the latches and hinges of Philip's doors jingling in a small pouch he carried for that purpose, Philip had determined that the orders directed the Chasseur's captain to take charge of a convoy, originating at XXXXXX in three days, though he had yet to determine its destination. He sent for the master, meeting him in Mr South's day cabin.
"Mr South, what is our position?" he asked.
"Exact, sir, or within a few leagues, like?" the Master said, and seeing Philip's confusion, "I'd need the log board to determine our exact position, sir."
"Within a few leagues will do," Philip replied, and once South had pricked the chart, "Knowing the Badger as you do, how long will it take for us to reach 36° N, 14° E?"
"About two days, sir, under sail if this wind holds, like, which it should, sir."
"And under steam?"
"Perhaps ten hours, unless the wind heads us, sir, but we haven't got the coal, like."
"The Chasseur does. Rouse up the unengaged hands - rouse up the off-duty watch. Get the boats in the water. I want coal coming aboard in 15 minutes."
"Yes, sir." said the master. "If you'd prefer, we can tie up alongside the prize, the weather being fine enough, and just hoist the coal over in slings, like."
"As you think best, Mr South, but I want that coal coming aboard in fifteen minutes."
Author's Note|First Post|Previous|Next
GLOSSARY
No comments:
Post a Comment