quaffing his stout and nattering with an aged commander who had been fruitlessly hoping to get a ship for a decade.
Dismayed at the officer’s misfortune, he took the opportunity to leave, when the fellow turned to make a trip to the necessary. In so doing, the slightly inebriated elderly officer nearly collided with another elderly officer, this one wearing the glorious uniform of an Admiral of the Fleet, Sir Richard Howe, himself.
Howe glanced at the ancient commander, shrugged off the near accident, then stared at Mullins for an instant. Captain Mullins was decidedly uncomfortable being noticed by Lord Howe, one of the more notable figures in the Royal Navy. He had recently been successful at quelling the recent mutinies at the Nore and Spithead. Lately, the rumor was the Fleet Admiral was in poor health. Howe nodded at Mullins and left the building.
Grateful for not being held to blame for the near collision, Mullins also left and headed for a nearby cabriolet waiting for custom. While he was bargaining with the driver over the fare to the quay, a beautifully dressed lieutenant hurried up to the cabriolet. He recognized this officer to be one of Admiral Howe’s party and decided it would be wise to heed what he had to say, regardless of the disparity in rank.
The officer introduced himself as Howe’s flag lieutenant and reported Howe had requested Mullins to call upon him at his earliest convenience. The lieutenant said, when pressed, that Howe was presently bound for a house that he had taken for his stay in Portsmouth and it might be best if Mullins would follow him there and report.
Mullins relayed the new destination to the now truculent driver. By the time Mullins had pacified his driver by the offer of an extra silver shilling, Lord Howe’s carriage had departed and it took some time for the cabriolet’s driver to puzzle out the exact destination.
Upon arrival there though, Mullins was expected and a glass of sherry was pressed into his hand almost as soon as he arrived. For over a half hour, Mullins remained in the dark as to the reason for his presence.
Howe made a brief appearance to greet him and ask a few questions about his family. He then disappeared, with his flag lieutenant reporting Lord Howe was indisposed and had retired for the evening. The lieutenant disclosed the purpose of this meeting was to give Captain Mullins the particulars of a task that had been put to the Fleet Admiral by His Majesty.
The officer requested Captain Mullins to report aboard the flagship early next morning for a thorough briefing. A team of specialists had arrived from the Admiralty for the purpose. Puzzled over all of this secrecy, Mullins went back to his ship and told the officer of the anchor watch to make sure his boat and crew were ready to take him to the flag in the morning.
As he made his way too his quarters, puzzling over the evening’s revalations, he saw Master’s Mate Gainer beckon to a figure standing by the lee quarterdeck rail. It was Midshipman Raynor, last seen on the deck of the sinking Andromeda. After an enthusiastic welcome, Raynor related how he and other members of the ship’s crew had recovered the jolly boat, patched the hole in her side and sailed her out to sea. After their rescue, the men had spent time on the Island of Guernsey, before sailing on another fishing boat. After meeting up with another boat from Plymouth, they transferred onto that boat and eventually made their way back to England.
Once on shore, the party split up. Ben and Edward remained with Mister Raynor. They assured him, Captain Mullin’s father, if they could reach his home, would see to them. Raynor had every faith that his captain had survived and thought the French might someday exchange him for a French prisoner of equal rank.
When the press printed the story of Mullin’s escape, the three posted to Portsmouth to locate him. Raynor had negotiated a note of hand so they were able to take rooms to stay
Dismayed at the officer’s misfortune, he took the opportunity to leave, when the fellow turned to make a trip to the necessary. In so doing, the slightly inebriated elderly officer nearly collided with another elderly officer, this one wearing the glorious uniform of an Admiral of the Fleet, Sir Richard Howe, himself.
Howe glanced at the ancient commander, shrugged off the near accident, then stared at Mullins for an instant. Captain Mullins was decidedly uncomfortable being noticed by Lord Howe, one of the more notable figures in the Royal Navy. He had recently been successful at quelling the recent mutinies at the Nore and Spithead. Lately, the rumor was the Fleet Admiral was in poor health. Howe nodded at Mullins and left the building.
Grateful for not being held to blame for the near collision, Mullins also left and headed for a nearby cabriolet waiting for custom. While he was bargaining with the driver over the fare to the quay, a beautifully dressed lieutenant hurried up to the cabriolet. He recognized this officer to be one of Admiral Howe’s party and decided it would be wise to heed what he had to say, regardless of the disparity in rank.
The officer introduced himself as Howe’s flag lieutenant and reported Howe had requested Mullins to call upon him at his earliest convenience. The lieutenant said, when pressed, that Howe was presently bound for a house that he had taken for his stay in Portsmouth and it might be best if Mullins would follow him there and report.
Mullins relayed the new destination to the now truculent driver. By the time Mullins had pacified his driver by the offer of an extra silver shilling, Lord Howe’s carriage had departed and it took some time for the cabriolet’s driver to puzzle out the exact destination.
Upon arrival there though, Mullins was expected and a glass of sherry was pressed into his hand almost as soon as he arrived. For over a half hour, Mullins remained in the dark as to the reason for his presence.
Howe made a brief appearance to greet him and ask a few questions about his family. He then disappeared, with his flag lieutenant reporting Lord Howe was indisposed and had retired for the evening. The lieutenant disclosed the purpose of this meeting was to give Captain Mullins the particulars of a task that had been put to the Fleet Admiral by His Majesty.
The officer requested Captain Mullins to report aboard the flagship early next morning for a thorough briefing. A team of specialists had arrived from the Admiralty for the purpose. Puzzled over all of this secrecy, Mullins went back to his ship and told the officer of the anchor watch to make sure his boat and crew were ready to take him to the flag in the morning.
As he made his way too his quarters, puzzling over the evening’s revalations, he saw Master’s Mate Gainer beckon to a figure standing by the lee quarterdeck rail. It was Midshipman Raynor, last seen on the deck of the sinking Andromeda. After an enthusiastic welcome, Raynor related how he and other members of the ship’s crew had recovered the jolly boat, patched the hole in her side and sailed her out to sea. After their rescue, the men had spent time on the Island of Guernsey, before sailing on another fishing boat. After meeting up with another boat from Plymouth, they transferred onto that boat and eventually made their way back to England.
Once on shore, the party split up. Ben and Edward remained with Mister Raynor. They assured him, Captain Mullin’s father, if they could reach his home, would see to them. Raynor had every faith that his captain had survived and thought the French might someday exchange him for a French prisoner of equal rank.
When the press printed the story of Mullin’s escape, the three posted to Portsmouth to locate him. Raynor had negotiated a note of hand so they were able to take rooms to stay
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