still unknown, and the Maltese seamen appeared capable but would they remain steady under fire?
Yet more than any other worry he had one crucial concern.
Would he measure up? Or was there to be this day a blunder that would set all Malta laughing? Or, worse, a casting of Teazer ashore in a helpless wreck . . . “Mr Dacres, if th’ hold is stowed, I believe we shall hazard a short cruise t’ try the vessel. Pipe the hands to unmoor ship in one hour, if you will.”
The die was cast. Watching the preparations for sea, Kydd tried to appear impassive. He sniffed the wind: a playful southerly with a hint of east. They were going to be let off easily in their first venture to sea, just a matter of slipping from the mooring buoy and at the right moment loosing sail to take up on the wind on the larboard tack and shape course for the open sea.
It should be straightforward enough, but Grand Harbour was dotted with sail and no place to be aimlessly straying about. The sooner they opened deep sea the better.
Kydd heard the squealing of blocks as the boats were hoisted and saw the decks being readied fore and aft: braces, sheets, tacks, halliards—these were laid along clear for running; the helm was put right over on each side to prove the tiller lines, and all the other familiar tasks, large and small, that were essential before proceeding to sea, were completed.
56
Julian Stockwin
Activity lessened. Then, finally, the shriek of Purchet’s call, quickly followed by Laffin’s, told Teazer that every man aboard should take station leaving harbour. There was the sound of a rush of feet, which gradually died away into silence. Dacres was in position at the foot of the mainmast, Bowden at the foremast, groups of men ready at the pin-rails looking warily aft. From right forward the knot of men on the foredeck at the moorings straightened and looked back expectantly.
Kydd’s pulse raced. “I have th’ ship, Mr Bonnici,” he said, formally, to the master next to him. If there was to be any mistake it would be his alone. “Lay aloft t’ make sail, the topmen!” he roared. Men swarmed swiftly at his command.
He had already decided to move out under topsails alone, with staysails and jibs and the big mainsail—on Teazer, the large fore and aft sail abaft the mainmast. “Lay out an’ loose!” he bawled, and the topmen moved out along the yards, casting off the gas-kets that held up the sails tightly. “Stand by—let fall!”
It was a heart-stopping time: while sail cascaded down from fore and main they had to slip the mooring cable at just the right time to catch the wind and release the vessel for a surging start in the right direction. “Man tops’l sheets ’n’ halliards,” he bellowed to those on deck. “An’ clap on t’ the braces!” A last glance aloft and alow, then: “Let go!”
The crowning moment! The slip rope slithered free through the mooring buoy ring and Teazer was now legally at sea!
“Sheet home: brace up, y’ sluggards!” Kydd roared, fighting to keep the exhilaration from his voice. Teazer ’s bow even as he watched was paying off to leeward, her bowsprit sliding past the long line of ramparts across the water. “Haul taut!” There was a perceptible heel as her canvas caught and the headsails were hardened in. He snatched a glance over the side. They were making way: Teazer was outward bound!
Command
57
A ponderous merchantman began a turn dead ahead and Kydd’s heart skipped a beat. “Two points t’ starb’d,” he snapped at the helm. This was taking them perilously close to the castel-lated point under their lee but he guessed that the shore would be steep to there and a quick glance at Bonnici ressured him that this was so.
Teazer picked up speed as they passed to leeward of the ungainly merchantman and before he knew it they were clear of the point. The brig had a fine, uncluttered view forward and Kydd shaped course seaward with increasing confidence.
Excitement
Yet more than any other worry he had one crucial concern.
Would he measure up? Or was there to be this day a blunder that would set all Malta laughing? Or, worse, a casting of Teazer ashore in a helpless wreck . . . “Mr Dacres, if th’ hold is stowed, I believe we shall hazard a short cruise t’ try the vessel. Pipe the hands to unmoor ship in one hour, if you will.”
The die was cast. Watching the preparations for sea, Kydd tried to appear impassive. He sniffed the wind: a playful southerly with a hint of east. They were going to be let off easily in their first venture to sea, just a matter of slipping from the mooring buoy and at the right moment loosing sail to take up on the wind on the larboard tack and shape course for the open sea.
It should be straightforward enough, but Grand Harbour was dotted with sail and no place to be aimlessly straying about. The sooner they opened deep sea the better.
Kydd heard the squealing of blocks as the boats were hoisted and saw the decks being readied fore and aft: braces, sheets, tacks, halliards—these were laid along clear for running; the helm was put right over on each side to prove the tiller lines, and all the other familiar tasks, large and small, that were essential before proceeding to sea, were completed.
56
Julian Stockwin
Activity lessened. Then, finally, the shriek of Purchet’s call, quickly followed by Laffin’s, told Teazer that every man aboard should take station leaving harbour. There was the sound of a rush of feet, which gradually died away into silence. Dacres was in position at the foot of the mainmast, Bowden at the foremast, groups of men ready at the pin-rails looking warily aft. From right forward the knot of men on the foredeck at the moorings straightened and looked back expectantly.
Kydd’s pulse raced. “I have th’ ship, Mr Bonnici,” he said, formally, to the master next to him. If there was to be any mistake it would be his alone. “Lay aloft t’ make sail, the topmen!” he roared. Men swarmed swiftly at his command.
He had already decided to move out under topsails alone, with staysails and jibs and the big mainsail—on Teazer, the large fore and aft sail abaft the mainmast. “Lay out an’ loose!” he bawled, and the topmen moved out along the yards, casting off the gas-kets that held up the sails tightly. “Stand by—let fall!”
It was a heart-stopping time: while sail cascaded down from fore and main they had to slip the mooring cable at just the right time to catch the wind and release the vessel for a surging start in the right direction. “Man tops’l sheets ’n’ halliards,” he bellowed to those on deck. “An’ clap on t’ the braces!” A last glance aloft and alow, then: “Let go!”
The crowning moment! The slip rope slithered free through the mooring buoy ring and Teazer was now legally at sea!
“Sheet home: brace up, y’ sluggards!” Kydd roared, fighting to keep the exhilaration from his voice. Teazer ’s bow even as he watched was paying off to leeward, her bowsprit sliding past the long line of ramparts across the water. “Haul taut!” There was a perceptible heel as her canvas caught and the headsails were hardened in. He snatched a glance over the side. They were making way: Teazer was outward bound!
Command
57
A ponderous merchantman began a turn dead ahead and Kydd’s heart skipped a beat. “Two points t’ starb’d,” he snapped at the helm. This was taking them perilously close to the castel-lated point under their lee but he guessed that the shore would be steep to there and a quick glance at Bonnici ressured him that this was so.
Teazer picked up speed as they passed to leeward of the ungainly merchantman and before he knew it they were clear of the point. The brig had a fine, uncluttered view forward and Kydd shaped course seaward with increasing confidence.
Excitement
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