The Baltic Prize

Chapter 35

They had made good landfall – Tyger was squarely astride the line of rendezvous off Karlskrona – but there was no fleet. Not a ship in sight.

The day was dull, metallic, the seas an unbroken expanse to the horizon, the winds fitful.

‘They’re off to settle the Russkies,’ Bray said darkly.

Why else would Saumarez and his battle-fleet be absent from his carefully chosen strategic base among these islands?

To make certain, Kydd sent Snipe and Fenella on opposite courses along the rendezvous line; both were back before dark with no news. The age-old worry of a detached commander came back to haunt Kydd: should he go off in search of the fleet or stay where he was and wait for them?

He spent the night hours polishing his report. Whether the fleet had seen battle or no, the commander-in-chief would need his account of the Arctic regions of the enemy. There was nothing to say about a famous action, but he was satisfied with his initiatives to distract the Russians – there’d be consternation in Moscow when they discovered their entire northern flank exposed, and Saumarez would be grateful therefore at the breathing space this would give him as the Russians regrouped.

The morning broke with no grand line of sail lifting above the horizon.

The fleet could be in any direction – defending Stockholm to the north, standing before the Russian fleet to the east or meeting some threat from the southern Baltic. The only reasonable course was to stay on station and trust the commander-in-chief would remember them.

In the early afternoon Snipe came at a clip out of the west, leading a cutter, which brailed up in their lee.

‘Admiral Saumarez sends his compliments and desires you do join him at Matvig,’ came the hail.

‘What’s that?’ Kydd blared back.

‘The Baltic Fleet’s new base. Follow in my wake.’

It was less than fifty miles to the west in the middle of the great bay of Hano, with two approaches entering either side of a scatter of offshore islands and a broad harbour within. And with the priceless ability to relay warning of the advance of any hostile presence from island to island in minutes.

Victory was anchored in the heart of the fleet, her commander-in-chief’s flag prominent. Kydd lost no time in putting off and making his number.

Saumarez rose and greeted Kydd cordially, sitting him immediately and taking a seat opposite. ‘You’ll have news for me of the high north, Sir Thomas,’ he said.

Kydd detected an air of distraction but this was hardly surprising given the burden the man carried. The flag-lieutenant took his leave and Kydd loosened. ‘I have, sir. There are no signs of any kind that lead me to suppose the enemy has a presence of significance there.’

‘I’m pleased and relieved to hear it.’

‘And Archangel cannot have any ships of force at hand. This I can assure you, sir. The north is quite without menace.’

The lines on the admiral’s face eased fractionally. ‘One less anxiety for me in these fevered hours. You’ve done well, sir.’

‘Thank you, Sir James. I should mention further that on passage I took the liberty of entertaining the enemy ashore, such that he is now to be distracted by fear for his unprotected north. I trust this will cause him to divert resources to its defence at the cost of those facing our friends.’

Saumarez stiffened. ‘Am I to understand you took it on yourself to make descent on Russian sovereign territory? To attack the Tsar’s realm?’ he asked sharply.

Kydd quickly detailed the actions, at a loss to account for the suddenly hostile attitude. ‘As they are the enemy, sir,’ he concluded defensively.

The admiral got slowly to his feet and went to the broad sweep of the stern windows where he stood facing out for a long moment. He turned back wearily and took his chair, his face now lined with worry. ‘It’s not your fault,’ he muttered, looking away. ‘I should have seen it.’

‘Sir?’

‘Sir Thomas. You are deservedly a renowned and much-applauded officer. And from your position you believe it your bounden duty to take the war to the enemy.’

‘I do, sir.’

‘To seek out and destroy and so forth.’

‘Sir James,’ Kydd said resentfully, ‘do you feel I’ve failed in my professional obligations to you in some way?’

‘As you see it, no. As I must, it has been … unfortunate.’

‘May I be told why this is so?’

‘Very well. I will be candid, as your conduct is essentially blameless and correct.’ He collected his thoughts and went on: ‘The very qualities that make you an outstanding breed of officer are those very same that are an embarrassment to me at this time.’

‘I do not understand you, sir.’

‘The character of dash, initiative, daring. These are the qualities of a first-class frigate captain. Yet they are not what is wanted on this station. I shall be plain-spoken, as is your right to hear, and tell it from my side as commander-in-chief.

‘Your reasoning for your actions is not to be faulted. Yet it does not take into account the larger picture, which I must tell you is delicate in the extreme.’ He paused. ‘What do you know of Russia?’

‘A backward peoples ruled by a tyrannous tsar, who happens to possess the largest war-fleet that faces England at this time.’

‘This is true, very true. Should I then fall on it with all my force and settle the matter once and for all?’

‘That would seem logical, sir.’

‘Then what of my orders, the principal one of which is the security and continuance of the Baltic trade?’

‘As it is so preserved.’

‘What if the fortunes of war favour the enemy, that my fleet is scattered? In a moment we are undone, the Russians are upon us as a wolf in the fold. All is lost. Better I stay my hand that the enemy are in doubt as to my motions.’

‘I see, sir.’

‘Now, conceive of what you may have brought about by your actions. The Tsar is a proud man, stubborn and imperious. He hears of your assault on the soil of Russia, an insufferable insult. How do you say he will react?’

‘To take troops and guns from before the Swedes and-’

‘No, sir, he will not. He knows that we have no interest of our own in the north and, in any case, it would be foolish to invade or garrison it. There would be no point therefore in the transfer of valuable troops. Instead he will take other action as will restore his dignity before the world. He will be obliged to suffer his fleet to sally from Kronstadt and thus bring about the very thing we least desire.’

Kydd kept silent. This was not how he’d anticipated his reception.

‘Not only that, but the Tsar, recently humbled at Tilsit, has his people to think on. A wretched crew, but their merchantry may well be turned against us by your destruction. These, sir, are the very ones we wish to take our goods and now they’ll be driven into the hands of the French.’

‘I – I’m truly sorry for what I’ve caused you, Sir James.’ It was the only thing he could say in the circumstances.

‘Don’t concern yourself so. On balance, I rather think it may not occur thus. Tsar Alexander has much to occupy him with his incursion into Finland, which requires all his resources. And, as I said so lately, it were my fault to send so enterprising an officer into this situation and not expect him to act naturally.’

‘It was only from my desire to aid our Swedish ally, sir.’

‘And laudable for all that. Yet even there our condition is … intricate.’

‘Sir?’

‘Are you not curious that we are in this remote anchorage, in no way reliant on the support of this ally? When we could be safely within the bastions of Karlskrona? It is because of … of circumstances that demand I remain independent of action.’

‘If you could explain further, sir,’ Kydd prompted, picking up on the hesitation.

Saumarez gave a small smile. ‘I shall do better than that. You shall discover it for yourself.’

‘Sir?’

‘After a series of reverses in Finland the Swedes are asking for naval assistance. I shall reply when I have greater intelligence of their capability – or lack of it. To this end I’ve been asked by the Swedish Admiralty to release an officer of rank to advise them. This same should be neither a junior officer they will not respect, nor a senior whose rank will flatter them for their importance. In fine, Sir Thomas, you are providentially on hand to render me this service.’