Halfhyde Outward Bound by Philip McCutchan

Author:Philip McCutchan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: McBooks Press
Published: 2018-05-05T04:00:00+00:00

VON MERKATZ would not be so easily disposed of, and Halfhyde said as much to Captain Graves once the Tacoma was clear of the port and headed on her course for Australia.

“A tenacious man, and one who detests being bested. In addition to which, I assume he has a roving commission—his squadron will be the German Special Service Squadron, which customarily roves the world upon its Emperor’s business and as often as not upon that of its Admiral—”

“I’m aware of the fact of the squadron’s mission, Halfhyde,” Graves paused and stuffed tobacco into his pipe. “I happen to be a senior lieutenant of the reserve—”

“A lieutenant RNR?” Halfhyde knew he had had a stroke of luck: the Royal Naval Reserve, formed in 1862, was composed of officers and men of the merchant service who did an annual training period with the Fleet and had contracted to be called up in time of war to serve the Queen. Graves could be a valuable ally, and Halfhyde expressed such a hope.

Graves nodded. “I shall help you, never fear.” He added, “You’re not entirely unknown to me as it happens. I was last with the Fleet a year ago, serving aboard the Royal Sovereign, and your name was mentioned. You have something of a reputation, as I gathered.”

“Largely for being a nuisance to my seniors, which explains my presence on the half-pay list. But that’s in the past, sir. I’m more concerned now to rejoin my Captain in the Aysgarth Falls, and with avoiding Admiral von Merkatz and his confounded guns!”

Graves cocked an eye at him. “You believe he’ll follow. He hasn’t done so yet—but no doubt there’s time. He’ll be extricating his squadron from the effects of the earthquake, I imagine. Is he likely—surely he isn’t—to use his guns?”

“He’s very likely to in my opinion.”

“And cause an international incident?”

Halfhyde shrugged. “He’s a law unto himself, sir.”

“And doesn’t stop to think?”

“Exactly. His passions take charge.”

“That’s certainly the impression he gave me—outlined by the lightning, acting like a cat that’s inadvertently sat on a gas lamp.”

“It happens to admirals, sir. Sometimes I suspect they can’t help it. They are fawned upon too much by sycophants hoping one day to occupy their positions.”

“Possibly. But those guns. I’m not keen to put my ship and crew at the mercy of gunfire. I have my owners to consider, you know!”

“Yes, indeed,” Halfhyde agreed readily. “But a means must be found to inhibit the use of his guns, and I’ve no doubt a stratagem will present itself when needed.”

Captain Graves pulled at his pipe and blew a cloud of smoke. “A stratagem, eh?”

“I’m seldom short of them, sir. They have a habit of coming to me, though if you asked me at this moment to outline a plan, I would have to confess I’ve not a thought in my head.” Halfhyde had other matters on his mind as the Tacoma proceeded south-westerly, making little more than ten knots. He was something like four days behind the Aysgarth Falls

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