in such a matter. The
Marines and the Royal Navy, acting together, will be a better
instrument. You will aid me by remaining here.'
'Sir, I must go to London without delay. I must obtain new
documents, restoring my authority to act as instructed.
Without them I am powerless to proceed.'
'I know nothing of that, since you will tell me nothing. You
will remain at Portsmouth, if y'please.'
James effortfully kept his temper, and made no reply.
'D'you hear me, Lieutenant?' Growing severe.
'Very good, sir.' A brief bow, and James put on his hat and
turned to quit the room.
'I have not given you leave to go.'
'You wish me to remain in this room, sir? Remain in
Portsmouth, in this room?'
'Do not be impertinent, Mr Hayter.' A warning glare.
'I am very sorry, sir.' Icily.
The marine officer sighed, and put the list into a leather
fold. 'Look here, Hayter, we must not be at odds in this. A
good man has been killed, and we must discover why, and by
whom. We will go together to Admiral Hollister, first of all,
and obtain your release from him. Agreed?'
'Very good, sir.' His bearing less rigid.
'I am remiss, I have not introduced myself. I am
Lieutenant-Colonel Brian Macklin of the corps of Marines.
Will you shake hands?'
They shook hands, and James managed to relax his grim
facial expression.
'To say the truth, the local magistrate is not what I
would describe as the sharpest sword in Portsmouth.
You apprehend me?' Colonel Macklin put the fold in his
pocket.
'In short, he is a dullard?'
'You apprehend me. You came ashore in your own boat?'
'I did, sir. The boat lies at the Hard.'
'I will fetch my cloak.'
James knew that he must humour Colonel Macklin, must
go with him to Admiral Hollister in Vanquish . He knew that
to demur further, and then attempt to leave Portsmouth,
would in all likelihood prompt Colonel Macklin into placing
him under close arrest. As they made their way to the Hard,
and then walked across and down the gentle slope toward the
water:
'No, I must go to Vanquish , and as soon as I am able
thereafter go to London, by the fast mail coach.' To himself.
He would seek out the only person known to him at the
Admiralty, the Third Secretary Mr Soames. Soames might
probably be able to help him obtain further documents – if
not from the First Lord, then at least from some other high
official – so that he could begin his pursuit of the Lark cutter
and her master Sedley Ward. Ward was almost certainly
behind the murder of Captain Marles.
James, in sea boots, pushed the twelve-foot jollyboat out,
and helped Colonel Macklin aboard, who had clearly
expected a much larger boat, a launch or pinnace, with a
proper boat's crew. James hoisted the single sail, and brought
the boat to the wind. The little craft pitched and heeled, the
sail taut in the stiff onshore breeze.
'Aye, almost certainly he is,' repeated James to himself.
'Certainly?' Colonel Macklin gripped the gunwale with
white knuckles. 'You think we will certainly capsize?'
James had spoken aloud, without knowing it. And now he
did say aloud: 'No, sir, no. We are quite safe.'
'I am not much at sea, you know. My duties have kept me
altogether ashore of late. Oh!' As a wave smacked in under
the boat's bow, and splintered in drenching shards over the
two occupants.
The single loose-footed lugsail was not ideal for beating
close-hauled by the wind, but James managed both sheets and
tiller with ease. He enjoyed this direct, spray-flying form of
sailing, and had quickly learned the jollyboat's foibles, and
how to master them.
'Tacking!' he called now, and Colonel Macklin was obliged
to duck low beneath the swinging foot and leech, clutching at
his hat, as James brought the boat through the wind.
Presently they came to Vanquish , and were hailed from the
deck:
'Boat ahoy! Who are you?'
And James, with a little swelling of pride in his breast, was
able as commander of a commissioned vessel to make the
traditional reply:
' Hawk !'
'Come aboard!'
'Ah,
Marines and the Royal Navy, acting together, will be a better
instrument. You will aid me by remaining here.'
'Sir, I must go to London without delay. I must obtain new
documents, restoring my authority to act as instructed.
Without them I am powerless to proceed.'
'I know nothing of that, since you will tell me nothing. You
will remain at Portsmouth, if y'please.'
James effortfully kept his temper, and made no reply.
'D'you hear me, Lieutenant?' Growing severe.
'Very good, sir.' A brief bow, and James put on his hat and
turned to quit the room.
'I have not given you leave to go.'
'You wish me to remain in this room, sir? Remain in
Portsmouth, in this room?'
'Do not be impertinent, Mr Hayter.' A warning glare.
'I am very sorry, sir.' Icily.
The marine officer sighed, and put the list into a leather
fold. 'Look here, Hayter, we must not be at odds in this. A
good man has been killed, and we must discover why, and by
whom. We will go together to Admiral Hollister, first of all,
and obtain your release from him. Agreed?'
'Very good, sir.' His bearing less rigid.
'I am remiss, I have not introduced myself. I am
Lieutenant-Colonel Brian Macklin of the corps of Marines.
Will you shake hands?'
They shook hands, and James managed to relax his grim
facial expression.
'To say the truth, the local magistrate is not what I
would describe as the sharpest sword in Portsmouth.
You apprehend me?' Colonel Macklin put the fold in his
pocket.
'In short, he is a dullard?'
'You apprehend me. You came ashore in your own boat?'
'I did, sir. The boat lies at the Hard.'
'I will fetch my cloak.'
James knew that he must humour Colonel Macklin, must
go with him to Admiral Hollister in Vanquish . He knew that
to demur further, and then attempt to leave Portsmouth,
would in all likelihood prompt Colonel Macklin into placing
him under close arrest. As they made their way to the Hard,
and then walked across and down the gentle slope toward the
water:
'No, I must go to Vanquish , and as soon as I am able
thereafter go to London, by the fast mail coach.' To himself.
He would seek out the only person known to him at the
Admiralty, the Third Secretary Mr Soames. Soames might
probably be able to help him obtain further documents – if
not from the First Lord, then at least from some other high
official – so that he could begin his pursuit of the Lark cutter
and her master Sedley Ward. Ward was almost certainly
behind the murder of Captain Marles.
James, in sea boots, pushed the twelve-foot jollyboat out,
and helped Colonel Macklin aboard, who had clearly
expected a much larger boat, a launch or pinnace, with a
proper boat's crew. James hoisted the single sail, and brought
the boat to the wind. The little craft pitched and heeled, the
sail taut in the stiff onshore breeze.
'Aye, almost certainly he is,' repeated James to himself.
'Certainly?' Colonel Macklin gripped the gunwale with
white knuckles. 'You think we will certainly capsize?'
James had spoken aloud, without knowing it. And now he
did say aloud: 'No, sir, no. We are quite safe.'
'I am not much at sea, you know. My duties have kept me
altogether ashore of late. Oh!' As a wave smacked in under
the boat's bow, and splintered in drenching shards over the
two occupants.
The single loose-footed lugsail was not ideal for beating
close-hauled by the wind, but James managed both sheets and
tiller with ease. He enjoyed this direct, spray-flying form of
sailing, and had quickly learned the jollyboat's foibles, and
how to master them.
'Tacking!' he called now, and Colonel Macklin was obliged
to duck low beneath the swinging foot and leech, clutching at
his hat, as James brought the boat through the wind.
Presently they came to Vanquish , and were hailed from the
deck:
'Boat ahoy! Who are you?'
And James, with a little swelling of pride in his breast, was
able as commander of a commissioned vessel to make the
traditional reply:
' Hawk !'
'Come aboard!'
'Ah,
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