Merriman and the French Invasion (The Merriman Chronicles Book 2) by Burnage Roger

Author:Burnage, Roger [Burnage, Roger]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2013-10-01T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13: Attacked in the dark

In the miserable conditions of the small, dirty, earth floored farmhouse, Moreau and Major Marmont stared gloomily into the poor fire of peat smouldering sullenly in the hearth which did little to warm them.

“The Englishman was right Monsieur Moreau, where can we go? The longer we stay here the more force will be raised against us and with barely half our men armed we cannot resist for long.”

For a while Moreau did not answer. His fertile mind was looking for a way out for himself regardless of what happened to the rest of them.

“Whatever we do Major, I must not be captured. The English already know I am an agent of the Assembly and I know too many secrets the English would dearly love to beat out of me. However I have an idea. If you will call in your lieutenants and the other officers I will explain.”

When they were settled as best they could in the cramped conditions Moreau looked round the dispirited, cold and shivering men.

“As you all know, our situation is desperate. It seems unlikely that we can expect help from our own fleet simply because they do not even know we are here. Apart from the fact that our four ships arrived in the wrong place, they would assume that we are still somewhere at sea after we were separated in the fog.”

“I apportion no blame for the wrong landfall,” he added hastily as one of the naval officers began to argue, “The weather was foul and we were fortunate to be able to anchor. The real misfortune began when we were seen by the English ships. Had they not done so we would all have anchored safely and a scouting party would have discovered the absence of our fleet and we could have put to sea again when the gale abated. Then La Sirene was dismasted by the frigate and could not continue to fight.”

He held up his hand as another of the officers tried to interrupt. “What has happened is past Messieurs, what we must do is plan what we are going to do from now. I will tell you what I suggest, you will listen and comment afterward.”

Moreau spoke in clear terms, trying to convince his listeners that there was one good chance of success and only one. “We expect no help; to move deeper inland would be folly, merely putting us further into the arms of whatever force may even now be marching to oppose us and to stay here will only prolong the inevitable.”

A storm of protest arose from the officers. Moreau sat silently until the clamour died down.

“No, Messieurs, there is only one way we can go ------- back to sea. I know all the difficulties, but the inescapable fact remains that the English have the advantage and we are too few in number to continue with the original plan. If we are to see France again we must try to reach La Sirene, which as you know is but a few miles away with the crew making repairs.

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