The Great South Sea by Andrew Wareham

Author:Andrew Wareham [Wareham, Andrew]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2023-08-10T00:00:00+00:00

“Beg to report, sir, Jimmy Tong took the three merchantmen as ordered, being a Bermuda rigged schooner of about one hundred tons and two smaller tubs of pole-masted local rigs at about eighty tons. None was armed. The two smaller stank of shit, sir. They are on the saltpetre lay, from small islands off the coast. Guano, they call it, sir. They were empty.”

“Useful stuff, saltpetre. We have seen no warehouses full of it.”

“No, sir. They offload to a set of coastal barges that carry it south to a larger haven where it is put aboard a larger cargo carrier and sent to Spain. Not sensible to my mind, sir, handling such a cargo so many times, but that is what they always have done so they will not change. Some small amount is shovelled onto wagons here, and goes out to the local farms, for their fields. I suspect that is illegitimate trade, sir.”

Nick agreed that was ordinary enough – captain and crews taking a small backhander for the privilege.

“What of the schooner?”

“Equally empty, sir. I suspect her to be a fast trader along the coast, bringing delicacies for the officers and local bigwigs in exchange for an unlawful reward of some sort. There is always some opening for a smuggler, sir, in any land where taxes are high.”

“Very philosophical, Mr Traddle. Bring the three out when we sail, set them afire offshore. We cannot prize the hulls and have no use for them, no matter how pretty the schooner might be.”

Traddle agreed, he had seen no other possibility.

“Now, to more important business. Mr Simpkins! Join us please.”

Nick could bellow loudly when need arose, was easily heard on the quarterdeck.

“Now, gentlemen. Diego, the interpreter, who has asked to be known by his proper name, a minor request which I have granted… Right. As I was saying, Diego tells me there is a two-decker flute due up from the south in the next few days to collect the copper and tin and silver. It will be part-laden already. It may have an escort, of a nature he could not describe. Hawke will leave harbour as soon as the prize metal is aboard. The lorcha will set sail at soonest, making out to sea as wind shall dictate and then heading south to discover this pair of vessels – which may not exist – and then to inform me of their nature. If at all possible, you will remain unseen, Mr Traddle.”

“Should the cargo carrier be unescorted and the opportunity arise, sir, may I prize her?”

“No. Wiser to leave her to Hawke, with the exception, that if she sees you and tries to run away, you are at liberty then, and then only, to make an attempt on her.”

“Aye aye, sir. Fully understood, sir. Might I be so bold as to beg the loan of Captain Maidment and his soldiers, sir?

“No… Yes… I don’t know… On condition, Mr Traddle, that you do not kill them and yourself, you may take the soldier lieutenant and one half of the detachment.

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