STO'B 4-9

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Chasseur sent up a cloud of black smoke as her donkey engine came to life. On the beach the last of the water barrels rolled down to the shore, guided by seamen. Another party clustered on the mole, ready to cast off the mooring line as the marines closed their perimeter inward in preparation for departure. Several fathoms below Philip the Badger’s crew scrambled into place hauling on the cable that bound her to the mole, bringing the messenger to the donkey and clapping nippers on. The bosun, supervising the operation, waved his hand, the engineer engaged the donkey, and the Badger paid out the cable to give the men on the mole slack to work with.

Out to sea the Spaniard settled on her new tack. Her new course would take her past the English brigs, probably within random shot. Philip held her in the glass, considering. Yes, it was better to fight from his current position: the Spaniard would have to sail into his fire if she was to attack. “On deck, there, Mr Horrace, belay that last order! Send the men to quarters and fire a gun to windward! On the mole! We will remain at anchor, return to the sloop! Chasseur! Prepare to fight at anchor!” He collapsed the telescope and slung it over his shoulder, took the speaking trumpet in his teeth, and grasped the backstay, wrapping his legs around it and shooting down to the quarterdeck.

Badger now resembled an upturned anthill, with some men fulfilling his new orders, others still recovering from his old orders, and three of the stupider landsmen trying to scrub the deck. Philip turned away from the chaos - it was for his officers to sort out - and came face to face with Dr M’Mullen, incongruously sipping tea from a china cup. “Doctor, how do you do?” asked Philip, but at the same time one of the Badger’s guns went off, and he had to repeat his question before Dr M’Mullen understood.

“Well enough, I thank you,” he said. “I imagine you’ve seen the ship that’s now approaching.”

“I have,” said Philip.

“Do you suppose she’s the enemy?”

“I think she is.”

“She appears quite large.”

“Even so, I mean to sink, take, burn, or destroy her. Mr Wilkins!” Philip broke off to hail the midshipman. “run out when ready!

Author's Note|First Post|Previous|Next
GLOSSARY

Cross-posted at http://hkitchen.wordpress.com/2010/02/14/stob-4-9/