Flashman and the Seawolf by Robert Brightwell

Author:Robert Brightwell
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Robert Brightwell
Published: 2012-02-04T00:00:00+00:00

Editors Note: The duel really did happen as described and both Cochrane and historians have been puzzled at the lack of serious injury when both participants were shot by their opponent. Flashman’s account solves this mystery. I have not been able to find other accounts of such hollow balls being used in duels but if there were flaws or bubbles in the lead when the ball was cast it could break up on firing and so detection of this sharp practice would be difficult.

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Chapter 14

We set sail from Malta a few days after the duel incident and I for one was pleased to see the island fall astern. I had been harbouring the fear that the much maligned Lieutenant Gaston would be seeking satisfaction from me over the claims I had made of his gunpowder but all parties seemed keen to forget about the incident. Cochrane thanked me for my help at the duel and if he had any inkling of what I had really done he showed no sign of it.

The weather was warmer now, it was late April 1801. Life was good. We captured a small ship off the coast of North Africa with a cargo of exceptionally good wine, we met local fisherman and bought fresh fish. One of the crew even managed to catch a huge tuna fish, which was big enough to feed the entire crew for one night. We often spent our evenings sitting under the stars around the cooking pot sharing tales and our thoughts of the future. For the other officers their futures were set at the mercy of the Lords of the Admiralty. If they were lucky and diligent then they should progress up the ladder. Cochrane was all too aware though that he did not have many friends in the Admiralty. He had been court martialled less than two years ago for insubordination to a pompous first lieutenant in an Admiral’s flagship. The court had cleared him but the Admiral had admonished his behaviour and sent a report to the Admiralty and to the First Sea Lord, Lord St Vincent who was a stickler for discipline.

He had captured more ships in the Mediterranean than anyone else over the last 12 months but they had been mostly small ships that had given up without a fight. He had no patron to promote his achievements among senior officers. I remember on one night he said wistfully that he would have to do something really spectacular so that they could not ignore him. I really should have paid more attention to that comment for if I had known the sort of thing he had in mind, I would have abandoned ship at the first opportunity!

For my part I knew that my time with the Speedy must soon come to an end, but while I was enjoying myself with some of the truest friends I had ever known it was hard to tear myself away. The fact that I was not eating into my savings but earning money from our prizes and my honorary midshipman’s pay was a bonus.

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