The Admiral's Daughter by Julian Stockwin

Author:Julian Stockwin [Stockwin, Julian]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, azw3
Tags: Fiction, Historical, Seafaring Life, Sea stories, Kydd; Thomas (Fictitious Character), Napoleonic Wars; 1800-1815
ISBN: 9780340898611
Publisher: BBC Aufiobooks
Published: 2007-01-01T13:30:00+00:00

the Admiral’s daughter 169

Another rocket sailed up, this time at a sharp angle out to sea.

“God rot it!” Kydd swore, looking over the side at the pitiful speed they were gathering. But with half Teazer’s number on shore nothing could happen quickly.

Still no lights, no signals—and no ship. “Anyone sees anything—

anything a’tall!” But there was nothing.

A chance thinning of the clouds lifted the level of illumination enough to show that Stackhouse Cove was empty.

But two rockets was no accident. Could the landing be taking place on the other side?

Fervently grateful for the fair south-westerly, Kydd brought Teazer about and hauled for Cudden Point, which they passed as close as he dared—and at once made out a large two-masted lugger lying inshore, motionless.

“Lay us alongside, Mr Dowse,” Kydd snapped. The information had been false and had successfully lured the two forces away from the true landing-place. But for Kydd’s precautions of having men ashore and Standish wisely keeping lookout on both sides they could have landed their tubs safely out of sight.

A musket’s fl ash stabbed the darkness from the lugger, then another, followed by the crack of a four-pounder. Kydd burnt with anger—for such vermin to fi re on seamen defending their country!

A broadside from Teazer could settle the matter on an instant, but that was not the way it must be. Tysoe appeared with his fi ne fi ghting sword, which had seen so much honourable action. In the absence of the fi rst lieutenant it would be Kydd leading the boarding. He shook his head. “No, Tysoe, thank ’ee, they’re not worth its bloodying.” He crossed to the arms chest and took up a cutlass.

“No fi ring ’less they do,” he roared, and prepared to leap. The fi ring died away as they neared, and confused shouting came from the shadowy fi gures in the lugger. “They’re skinning out,” yelled 170

Julian Stockwin

a foremast hand, pointing. A boat was in the water on the other side and men were tumbling into it.

The two vessels came together in a mighty thump and heavy creaking and Kydd jumped down the foot or so to the deck of the lugger, racing aft towards the wheel, followed by a dozen Teazers.

“Secure th’ helm,” he ordered, and strode to the side. The boat was in a tangle of panicking men. “Get out!” Kydd roared.

“Mr Kydd, they’re in a mill ashore, sir.” Andrews’s voice was cracking with excitement, and as Kydd watched there was a fl urry of shots in the shadowy cliffs. “They’re making a fi ght of it, sir.”

The smugglers had scores of accomplices on shore to carry away the contraband and Standish might be in real trouble if he chose to make a stand. “Into th’ boat, Teazers!” he bawled.

In a frenzy they pulled into the small cove and grounded on a tiny patch of sand. A rush of men met them, but it was cutlasses against cudgels and they broke and fl ed, scrabbling up the steep, scrubby cliff. In the distance hoarse shouts rose and faded.

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