“Thank you. I desire you will allow me to make use of your boats.”
“By all means.”
From below came a procession. Stretchers with wounded, pale and bloody. Some moaning, some very still. They were handed down into the boat with the utmost care and it put off.
Another piteous procession followed them. Five canvas shrouds. These were sent down with equal tenderness as Tyger’s company lined the side, taking off their hats. The milling boats quietened as they made way for men taking their last journey back to the land that had given them birth.
“Sir. The men are now all relieved at the pumps. We’ve … we’ve made it, sir.” Bray’s voice had turned husky and Kydd was nearly overcome, it coming from such a lion-hearted soul.
“Ah, yes. You’ve just an hour to write liberty-tickets for the whole ship’s company. They’ll go ashore at once, do you hear?”
“Aye aye, sir.”
It was all so unreal, so dreamed of but never expected.
“Sir?” Bowden seemed to sense his mood and spoke quietly.
“Yes?”
“It’s the admiral. Came aboard without we knew he was here. Will you see him?”
Kydd blinked. Admirals only came out to ships with much fuss, fanfare and good warning. Was this a matter of some urgency? Kydd hurried to greet him.
“Ah, Sir Thomas! My, are we glad to see you. Word from the North Sea squadron was that you were sore injured, and when Lively lost you, we thought you’d gone down.”
“I’ve the entire ship’s company to thank that we didn’t, sir.”
“I’m sure. Now, I know you’re much overborne with matters but I can’t allow that you will refuse me if I desire you to come to dinner very soon and tell me all about your great action.”
“I’d be glad to, sir, should I be at liberty to do so.”
“Splendid! Perhaps at-”
But Kydd’s first lieutenant had come up and was standing by impatiently.
“Yes, Mr Bray?”
“Could I have a word, sir?”
They went to one side and Bray coughed in embarrassment, saying, “I’ve never heard of it in all my years in the service.”
“What’s that, then, Mr Bray?”
“It’s like this, sir. When I told the clerk to prepare the liberty-tickets he said as how he’d been approached by the men who said they’d be damned if they’re to take their rest before the barky does. They’ll not set foot ashore afore they sees Tyger’s safely at her ease in dock.”
“Thank you for telling me this, Mr Bray. They shall in course be allowed to stay aboard.”
The admiral looked on in concern and, when Kydd returned, asked, “Not a case of worriment, I trust?”
“No, sir, just … nothing as can’t be arranged.”
“Well, sir. If there’s anything I can do, please tell. You’re to be indulged, I believe, sir!”
In a surge of feeling, Kydd replied, “Yes, sir, there is one service that would gratify me in full measure.”
“Do fill and stand on, sir!”
“The people conceive that they will not step ashore while Tyger awaits her rest. Their wish is to stay aboard until then. We’re at a stand for comforts and so …”
“Yes?”
“I ask that you do send out the marines to every tavern, ordinary and hostelry in Sheerness. They’re to bring back to Tyger a piping hot pie or similar, enough for all our company. This to be to my expense, of course.”
The admiral looked at him in astonishment, then leaned forward and barked, “Impossible!”
“Sir?”
“I won’t have it!”
“Sir.”
“This will be done-but to my expense.”
After Kydd had seen him over the side he called for Bray once more. “The men to remain aboard. There’s only one thing I can do.”
“Wives and sweethearts?”
“Just so.”
The word was passed and spread ashore. In a remarkably short time a joyous armada of boats put off and Tyger was invaded by a gay throng of womenfolk.
Kydd watched from the quarterdeck, his heart full. The mortal tiredness had receded and it was time to take joy in the hour.
He especially rejoiced at the news of gunner’s mate Stirk. The tough old seaman had come to and, with no sign of derangement, was able to let his views be adequately known about being landed from Tyger.
Then across the thronging decks he saw a pair threading through, moving purposefully towards him-and rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
“Nicholas! Cecilia! Wha’?”
“Well, we were just passing by and-”
“My love, don’t chouse Thomas so. Dear brother, your hero fight is known throughout the land these last days, since those dispatches. We heard even in Wiltshire, and Nicholas put a carriage on the road in the same hour, you must believe! He worked out that the nearest dockyard you’d make for would be Sheerness and he was right, the darling man, and here we are!”
To see his sister and her noble husband, his sea companion of years, was touching to a degree. He’d sent a terse message before he’d first joined Tyger under a cloud and they would have had no news since then.
“So this is your new ship, Thomas,” Cecilia said, looking around her curiously. Her striking dark good looks were arresting in such bare surroundings. “It’s so much bigger than L’Aurore.”
“Yes, sis. An eighteen-pounder o’ the first water,” Kydd said proudly, then led them below to his cabin
She saw the needlework sampler on the bulkhead and rose to read it.
Tyger Tyger, burning bright,
In the forests of the night;
What immortal hand or eye,
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
“How intriguing!” she said in admiration. “Who wrote these words, I wonder?”
They turned simultaneously to Renzi, who held up a hand and gave a wry smile.
“It was written while we two were in Seaflower cutter in the Caribbean. By a gentleman who was taken up for sedition on the eve of Trafalgar for saying, ‘Damn the King. The soldiers are all slaves!’ Your William Blake is not to be claimed by those who set at an eminence England’s crown and sceptre.”
“But Thomas’s ship was named after this, I’m sure of it!”
“I feel that it is rather more the stout Tyger of Sir Francis Drake, as mentioned by Shakespeare, my love.”
“I’m keeping it anyway!” Kydd said rebelliously, and shepherded Cecilia back to her chair.
Tysoe entered with refreshments. The silver salver had an ugly twist and scoring on one side. “My lord, I do apologise for its appearance. We did not entirely escape the malice of the enemy as you may see.”
“And I didn’t like to remark it, Thomas, but your ship is sadly out of countenance. She must have suffered, poor creature.”
“No more than our gallant crew, Cec,” Kydd said, in a low voice. Then in a stronger tone he declared, “But she’s blooded now, and when she’s set to rights we’ll take the tight little barky out to meet the enemy and bid Boney do his worst!”
“I’ll drink to that in a bumper!” Renzi said, raising a glass.
The three did so, then Renzi regarded Kydd with a quizzical look. “Knowing you, old trout, I’m sanguine you’ve given no thought to what it is you’ve brought to pass.”
“We came through it without disgrace, Nicholas. That’s all I desired.”
“As I thought. I beg you will understand that the world will no longer remember Sir Thomas of Curacao. From now on, the frigate captain who faced three frigates and bested them will be ranked with Pellew and Blackwood, his name coupled with his ship, like Keats of the Superb, to the glory of this kingdom. It will be by his bare name that Kydd of the Tyger will be spoken of henceforth.”
Kydd coloured, but muttered darkly, “As will give the Admiralty something to choke on!”
Renzi smiled gently. “Dear fellow, forgive me if I point out some home truths. Your contretemps with Lord St Vincent is as nothing in the eyes of the world now. No one is listening to the old gentleman these days, for the navy and the world are quite changed and his views are sadly set at naught.”