Sails Across the Sea: A Tim Phillips Novel (War at Sea Book 8) by Richard Testrake Page A
Authors: Richard Testrake
Ads: Link
women and did not want his soldiers around them.
I doubt if he ever thought the place would be assaulted from the sea. There is only a narrow path leading to the top, and it could be defended with just a few men. Most of the people he had to consider to be threats lived inland, and would attack by land if so inclined. To guard against that, he kept most of his garrison in the old stone fort where the galley slaves were kept.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
That evening, as soon as the sun dipped, Terrier began making her way closer to the promontory. A mile offshore, the leadsman showed thirty fathoms, and the sailing master, after examining the traces of sediment on the lead, pronounced it good holding ground. The anchor was let go, and Phillips instructed the first officer of his intentions.
“Mister Davison, our orders are to reconnoiter the area to determine whether a rescue by units of the fleet might prove to be successful. We are to determine depths and sea conditions in the harbor and spy out activities on land.”
“I have been given permission to rescue Lady Forsythe if it seems such an effort might succeed.”
“My intentions are to take the launch and cutter, filled with our Marines and as many armed seamen as we can take. We will proceed in the dark to the beach and reconnoiter the approaches to the path leading up the cliff. Once close to shore, I will consider the possibilities and go from there.”
While we are gone, you will command the brig. All else being well, you will send Mister Roberts in the jolly boat into the harbor, surreptitiously taking depths and bearings to landmarks on shore. The guns will be manned by skeleton crews, and all hands armed. Should the brig encounter any danger, you will take her to sea, if necessary sailing her back to the fleet. I do not wish you to engage in any ill-considered rescue attempts. Are we clear?”
The moon was not due to arise for a few hours, and Phillips wanted to utilize the present darkness to cover his approach to the landing site. With little time to properly brief his petty officers, he merely had the launch and cutter manned with armed men. Three men were equipped with axes in case any doors might need to be broken down. The Marines were armed with their muskets while the seamen carried a mixture of weapons. Cutlasses, boarding pikes, pistols and a few muskets. The firearms were loaded, but were not primed. Phillips wanted no accidental discharges to warn defenders.
The party approached land with no notice taken of them, but once ashore, a watchman on one of the beached boats casually greeted them. Phillips grunted noncommittally to the man, held up his hand in greeting and approached with the Sergeant of Marines beside him. Now becoming alarmed, the man rose up from his seat and opened his mouth to shout. Before he could, Sergeant Harris struck the man with a canvas tube partially filled with pistol balls. His skill fractured, the man fell without a sound.
Devers led the party toward the path leading up the cliff. It had probably once been just a goat path, but now consisted of a rather wide stone stairway leading to the summit. At the base was a stone shelter, inside of which six men were sleeping. When they awakened, each had a Marine’s bayonet at his throat, which was a powerful inducement to keep silent. The prisoners clothing was cut up and used to bind them. Two Marines were left with the prisoners to insure they kept their silence. Devers informed the prisoners that, if they kept their silence, they might well still be alive in the morning.
Their rear now protected, the remainder of the men mounted the stairs. It was a long climb to the top, and some of the men, not used to such activity, were winded by the time they reached the top. There, two other guards were found, both asleep. Both were secured and Phillips ordered Devers to question the men concerning the possible location of Lady
I doubt if he ever thought the place would be assaulted from the sea. There is only a narrow path leading to the top, and it could be defended with just a few men. Most of the people he had to consider to be threats lived inland, and would attack by land if so inclined. To guard against that, he kept most of his garrison in the old stone fort where the galley slaves were kept.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
That evening, as soon as the sun dipped, Terrier began making her way closer to the promontory. A mile offshore, the leadsman showed thirty fathoms, and the sailing master, after examining the traces of sediment on the lead, pronounced it good holding ground. The anchor was let go, and Phillips instructed the first officer of his intentions.
“Mister Davison, our orders are to reconnoiter the area to determine whether a rescue by units of the fleet might prove to be successful. We are to determine depths and sea conditions in the harbor and spy out activities on land.”
“I have been given permission to rescue Lady Forsythe if it seems such an effort might succeed.”
“My intentions are to take the launch and cutter, filled with our Marines and as many armed seamen as we can take. We will proceed in the dark to the beach and reconnoiter the approaches to the path leading up the cliff. Once close to shore, I will consider the possibilities and go from there.”
While we are gone, you will command the brig. All else being well, you will send Mister Roberts in the jolly boat into the harbor, surreptitiously taking depths and bearings to landmarks on shore. The guns will be manned by skeleton crews, and all hands armed. Should the brig encounter any danger, you will take her to sea, if necessary sailing her back to the fleet. I do not wish you to engage in any ill-considered rescue attempts. Are we clear?”
The moon was not due to arise for a few hours, and Phillips wanted to utilize the present darkness to cover his approach to the landing site. With little time to properly brief his petty officers, he merely had the launch and cutter manned with armed men. Three men were equipped with axes in case any doors might need to be broken down. The Marines were armed with their muskets while the seamen carried a mixture of weapons. Cutlasses, boarding pikes, pistols and a few muskets. The firearms were loaded, but were not primed. Phillips wanted no accidental discharges to warn defenders.
The party approached land with no notice taken of them, but once ashore, a watchman on one of the beached boats casually greeted them. Phillips grunted noncommittally to the man, held up his hand in greeting and approached with the Sergeant of Marines beside him. Now becoming alarmed, the man rose up from his seat and opened his mouth to shout. Before he could, Sergeant Harris struck the man with a canvas tube partially filled with pistol balls. His skill fractured, the man fell without a sound.
Devers led the party toward the path leading up the cliff. It had probably once been just a goat path, but now consisted of a rather wide stone stairway leading to the summit. At the base was a stone shelter, inside of which six men were sleeping. When they awakened, each had a Marine’s bayonet at his throat, which was a powerful inducement to keep silent. The prisoners clothing was cut up and used to bind them. Two Marines were left with the prisoners to insure they kept their silence. Devers informed the prisoners that, if they kept their silence, they might well still be alive in the morning.
Their rear now protected, the remainder of the men mounted the stairs. It was a long climb to the top, and some of the men, not used to such activity, were winded by the time they reached the top. There, two other guards were found, both asleep. Both were secured and Phillips ordered Devers to question the men concerning the possible location of Lady
Similar Books
