04 Amazon at the Nile by Brian Withecombe

Author:Brian Withecombe [Withecombe, Brian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: B006VXFG8Q
Goodreads: 19219631
Published: 2012-01-08T23:00:00+00:00

There were one or two occasions when the wind dropped away, although not completely and the heat bore down on them relentlessly. Courtenay fumed and fretted at the delay because he wanted, needed more like, to get Jessica Laycock and her father to Gibraltar where they would be safe. If a man o’war came over the horizon he could hardly avoid action if she belonged to an enemy, but he was concerned for his passengers’ safety, nonetheless.

The crew had been impeccable. When Jessica had been on the quarterdeck getting some exercise and fresh air the men working there had been careful to moderate their language and to keep as clear as they were able. Many a glance was cast at her though, and many a member of the crew secretly envied their Captain’s luck.

The Surgeon, Clifton Turville, had had a word with both of them and he had said neither of them appeared the worse for their experience. Even he had stammered a little when Jessica had enquired about the men who had been hurt whilst rescuing her and her father. She had wanted to visit them but he had refused to allow that, although when some of them came onto deck to take advantage of the good weather she had been one of the first to talk to them.

At last, after seven days the mainmast look-out sighted Gibraltar. They had passed Cadiz the day before yesterday and looking through his glass at the Squadron at anchor there Courtenay realised that compared with when they were last there, some ships were missing.

When the anchor finally plummeted down into the blue waters of Gibraltar’s harbour, Courtenay felt both glad and sorrowful. He would have to part from Jessica as she and her father would be going on board a powerful Indiaman which was sailing in convoy with a number of other merchantmen and a strong escort for home. They had spent a lot of time in each other’s company and he would miss her dreadfully. So would the ship’s company.

“Signal from the Admiral’s Headquarters, sir!” Steven Jeffrey was calling out as Courtenay issued commands for awnings and windsails. ”Captain to report to Admiral as soon as convenient”.

When Campbell explained to Jessica what the flags meant she was furious. “Well,” she said, “he might have allowed your Captain to get his breath back. Doesn’t he realise what you have all done?”

“I am sure he does Ma’am. In fact he was being kind to the Captain. If he had been nasty he would ordered him to go there forthwith!” was the dour reply.

Courtenay came up on deck in his best uniform, much to Jessica’s delight. She took him out of earshot of the crew, aside from the off-duty helmsmen who were pretending to polish the gleaming spokes of the wheel. “You look wonderful in your best uniform Giles. So handsome!”

Courtenay glanced at the helmsmen, who looked quickly away but not before they had seen his look. which said it all. ‘One word to

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