The Colonial Post-Captain by Chris Durbin

Author:Chris Durbin [Durbin, Chris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Action & Adventure, Fiction, Historical, Naval
ISBN: 9781549827600
Google: 8TH6swEACAAJ
Amazon: B075WVPPJF
Publisher: Independently Published
Published: 2017-09-27T23:00:00+00:00

‘Deck ho!’ cried Holbrooke from the maintop. ‘There are two men-of-war standing out of the outer road. Fore and main topsails and it looks like they are shaking out their t’gallants. One of them may be Vulcain.’

‘Very good,’ shouted back Carlisle, who now it was pointed out, could just see the bare t’gallant poles of the frigates moving across the peaks of the low hills masking the small battery. ‘Look past the frigates, let me know when you can see into the road.’

In all the time Carlisle had been watching Toulon, there had never been a sortie in this strength. The whole French posture until now suggested that they were husbanding their strength so that the fleet, when it should sail, would be fresh and at the pinnacle of its powers. In any case, the French did not unnecessarily send their ships to sea; they were much more likely to be tasked to a specific mission and otherwise to swing around an anchor in their home port.

A response to Fury’s move into the bay? No, there had not been sufficient time for the frigates to observe his movements and get under weigh, even if de la Galissonière had given them anticipatory orders to do so, which seemed unlikely.

A determined, pre-meditated effort to deal with Fury? That could be so, but they would be disappointed. Carlisle just had sufficient time to open his view into the road before coming to the wind and escaping by weathering Point Salis. The French frigates would have to put in a tack to follow him. The best that they could achieve would be to chase him to leeward, away from his station; that had to be prevented, even if it risked some long-range shots as he beat back to the south.

Could this be the scouting group for the main battle squadron and invasion fleet? If so it was Carlisle’s duty to keep in contact and observe their movements. A tricky problem, but the wind helped, especially if he could keep to windward, to the southwest of the French.

Of course, it could be just two frigates departing on some unconnected mission, but every bone in Carlisle’s body knew that was not the case. Toulon itself, the French fleet, the transports and the supply ships were all poised and waiting for de la Galissonière and Richelieu to unleash the invasion. Whatever the objective of this great armament, it was their sole concern. No unconnected missions would be allowed to prejudice the main effort.

This multi-dimensional problem was quite easy to resolve. Carlisle had first to look around Cape Sepet into the outer road, which was just possible before the two frigates would be upon him. Then he had to retreat and keep to windward. Again, achievable by bringing the wind hard onto his starboard bow and tacking to the southwest, imposing himself between the French and Mahon.

It was obvious to Carlisle that he needed clear heads on the quarter deck, on the main deck and in the tops.

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