Ramage and the Freebooters

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

As the Triton, with the Jorum in tow, followed the two privateers for the last two miles down the coast to St George, Ramage listened to Southwick speculating why La Merlette should be anchored in the Roads.

'Anyway, shows the Admiral did buy her in,' the Master concluded more cheerfully. 'That means we'll all see a bit o' prize money—if those thieving agents don't get up to their usual tricks.'

With a new mainmast, La Merlette looked a fine ship, he added. 'And a nice command for one of the Admiral's favourites.'

Ramage nodded. A nice command, and a fast ship. Ideal, in fact, for carrying orders between the islands. And he had little doubt that her new commanding officer had, locked up in his desk, a letter for him from the Admiral.

'Must say they look nice,' Southwick said, gesturing to the Triton's two prizes ahead. 'Still plenty of work for the shipwrights 'afore they're really ready for sea!'

Again Ramage nodded. It'd taken two days to re-float the two privateers and the Jorum, and he was thankful none was leaking. Two days' work had repaired them enough to be ready lor sea but the Jorum's foremast had been too badly damaged to repair, so it had been hoisted on board and the Triton had taken her in tow.

Southwick chuckled. 'I'll take a small bet that Gorton never reckoned he'd ever be doing this!'

Ramage glanced up. 'Doing what?'

Well, acting as prizemaster to two prizes. Not bad, considering.'

Had the old Master guessed?

'Considering what?'

'Come come, sir,' Southwick chided. 'He's got "Run" writ ten all over him!'

'Maybe, but I've left my spectacles in England. He's been more useful to us than twenty extra petty officers.'

'Oh I wasn't criticizing, sir,' Southwick said hastily. 'In fact it was a good idea on your part making him prizemaster. I can just imagine their faces in St George when Gorton sails 'em in and goes alongside the careenage!'

'It's about the only reward he'll get,' Ramage said.

'It'll be more than enough. He as good as told me so.'

'Good—and I'm glad Appleby understood. Anyway, I had to put him in the Jorum—she could whip our masts out if she started yawing around!'

Half an hour later, for the wind was light in the lee of the land, the two former privateers tacked in through the harbour entrance and, at a signal from Southwick, the Jorum cast off the tow and anchored. As soon as the hawser was hauled on board the brig she anchored to windward.

As Southwick made sure the yards were square and ordered the boats to be hoisted out, the Marine sentry at the gangway reported a boat leaving La Merlette. A few minutes later Ramage was greeting her commanding officer as he stepped on board. He'd guessed correctly—it was Fanshaw, the Lieutenant who'd been bustling around in the Admiral's cabin on board the Prince of Wales. Fanshaw was proud of his new command but obviously embarrassed that Ramage would guess why he'd been given it. Ramage led the way down to the cabin.

'How does she sail?' he inquired.

'Well enough,' Fanshaw said, his tone implying he was speaking from a wealth of experience of all types of ships.

As soon as Fanshaw was seated on the settee, Ramage inquired: 'And what brings you from across the water?'

'From the Admiral.' Fanshaw produced a letter, and his voice told Ramage all he needed to know about its contents.

Putting it carelessly in his pocket he said: 'I have to go on shore to see the military commander. Would you care to come?'

When Fanshaw nodded cautiously, Ramage picked up the 'report he'd written for Admiral Robinson the previous day, outlining how the privateers had been captured, and led the way on deck.

Colonel Wilson had been watching from the Fortress and was waiting on the battlements when Ramage arrived, his face flushed with pleasure, and before Ramage could say a word exclaimed:

'I knew it, I knew it I So they're the villains, are they------'

he pointed to the two privateers, which Gorton had now secured alongside in the careenage below. 'We hope old Fishpot's watching from Government House! Now, come along to my office and tell me all about it!'

Glancing at Fanshaw occasionally, Ramage told Wilson the whole story, and while the Colonel frequently slapped the top of his desk with glee, the Lieutenant's face was getting longer and longer. As Ramage finished, he said to Wilson, 'I wonder if you'll excuse me a moment—Lieutenant Fanshaw brought me a letter from the Commander-in-Chief.'

'I know he did,' Wilson said sourly, 'he's been pestering me for the past couple of days to find out what's been going on.'

Ramage broke the seal and began reading. The letter was curt, telling him of the Admiral's extreme displeasure at not having received a report from Ramage indicating that he was carrying out his orders to find and destroy the privateers, and giving him—Ramage hurriedly recalled the date—another five days. If the orders were not carried out by then he was to sail at once for Barbados and report on board the Prince of Wales. Knowing his reaction would be reported to the Admiral, Ramage managed to keep his face impassive. He folded the letter slowly and put it in his pocket, taking out his report.

He tossed it to Fanshaw.

'You'd better get under way at once and deliver that.'

Fanshaw glanced at the superscription and said without thinking:

'That's for me to decide!'

'Do you have orders to the contrary from the Admiral?' Ramage demanded.

'Well—no, not exactly.'

'Then you'd better sail at once or give me your reasons in writing why you refuse.'

'But------'

'What's your seniority?'

'Oh, all right. But I'll have to------'

'—Tell the Admiral you refused to sail with an urgent despatch? Yes, do that by all means.'

Fanshaw stood up, said a stiff good-bye to the Colonel, nodded to Ramage and left the room.

'Pompous young ass,' Wilson commented as the door shut. 'Isn't La Merlette the slaver you captured?'

Ramage nodded.

'And I'll bet that lad was fetching and carrying for the Admiral, waiting for a plum to ripen and fall in his lap.'

Ramage grinned. 'You seem to know a lot about the ways of the Navy.'

'Hmm,' Wilson growled, 'favouritism's not the Navy's monopoly. By the way, the Fishpot's very cross with you.'

'I guessed as much.'

'Hardly a surprise to me, either. Gave him your letter and he stamped and shouted. Reckoned he should have been consulted before you sailed. Told him I couldn't agree.'

'Thanks.'

Wilson waved a hand. 'Pleasure was mine. Anyway, he wrote a report and sent it off to Admiral Robinson—hired one of Rondin's schooners. She must have passed La Merlette on the way.'

'Fine—he's done me a good turn I'

Wilson looked puzzled until Ramage said: 'Fanshaw brought me a stiff reprimand for not having caught the privateers yet and giving me another five days. Then I must report on board the flagship. So with the Admiral already angry, Sir Jason's letter will make him livid. Then Fanshaw turns up with my despatch!'

The Colonel laughed, his whole body shaking.

'Well, your next orders should be more to your liking, anyway.'

'Why?'

'My dear chap—he was all ready to make you the scapegoat. Suddenly you succeed in doing what he thought was impossible. He'll make sure he gets the credit in London— that's the prerogative of a Commander-in-Chief. But he'll be .anxious to make sure that no one saw through his little scheme. And in case you had any suspicions you can be sure he'll give you new orders that'll leave you happy—and grate full'

'I hope you're right, sir.'

'Well, I suppose we'd better be getting up the hill to tell Sir Jason his Golden Fleece is safe from moths and freebooters.'

'I was wondering------'

'I have the letter here,' Wilson interrupted, opening a drawer. 'She's well and still staying with us. I don't think she's had a proper night's sleep, worrying and fretting, but the minute your armada was sighted I sent word to her.'

He slid the letter across to Ramage who looked at it nervously.

'I should open it,' Wilson said banteringly offering him a paper-knife, 'it won't explode.'