Read Thunder On the Sea: A Tim Phillips novel (War at Sea Book 11) for Free Online

mounted the battens to the entry port, he saw he had two naval lieutenants as well as one from the Royal Marines.
    He greeted each officer individually, making note of their names. The senior of the two lieutenants, Mister Fitzhugh, he immediately pronounced to be his first officer, and charged him to take up his duties immediately. Addressing the Marine officer he asked, “When do you expect your men?”
    Lieutenant Haynes had no idea. He had received his orders by post at his parent’s home and had taken coach immediately to the ship. He expected the ship‘s complement of Marines would soon be sent from their barracks.
     
    When the prospective captain’s servant, Jacobs, returned from his shopping expedition, he brought with him a boatload of such supplies that the commander of a ship might find necessary on a long voyage. He had a list of everything he had purchased and the amount he had paid for each item. Phillips, satisfied with his performance, passed the word for Mister Fitzhugh and had Jacob’s name entered on the books as ‘Captain’s Servant’.
    The crew was occupied for the next week with taking on stores. Phillips and his officers had to be alert for any provisions of poor quality. It was not unknown for unscrupulous merchants to offer ancient or even spoiled provisions as if they were new stores. Knowing as he did the ship would soon be at sea, far from land, it could well be a disaster should any of these provisions become rotten while at sea.
    The last major task before putting to sea, was the loading of their powder. The ship was required to make her way to a part of the harbor where an accidental explosion would not lay waste to the whole complex, then the powder hoys came out and the potentially deadly transfer was made. .
    With the ship now ready in all aspects to sail, Phillips requested permission to depart. Surprisingly, this permission was not forthcoming. The reply was simply ‘Wait’.
     
    The ship swung at anchor another day, then the flag hung out the signal for ‘All Captains’. Moments later, every ship in harbor had a boat in the water, delivering its captain to the flagship. Phillips was piped aboard the hulked old three-decker right after a young commander from a sloop of war made his way through the entry port.
    The port admiral was still not present. Rumor had him still in London discussing important matters at the Admiralty. Captain Horner presided over the gathering and told them what he knew.
    It seemed Napoleon had escaped from Elba and was reported to be at sea, presumably searching for a port on the mainland that would give him refuge.
    After his abdication as Emperor of France, he had been exiled to Elba near the Italian peninsula where he was to spend the remainder of his days. Allowed a small force of men, he was allowed to take control of the island as his own principality. Now, fragmentary reports which had just reached London, suggested he had boarded a vessel with some of his men and escaped from Elba.
    Captain Horner quieted the tumult that erupted with the news.”
    “All this is likely just a rumor, with no basis in fact. Even if he has, if fact escaped, I fail to see how this can have important consequences for Britain. We know very well the French people do not want him. If he does go ashore in France, we can be sure the forces of King Louis XVIII will soon bring him to heel. At any rate, I am told to get every ship to sea to nab this culprit.”
    “All King’s ships prepared to sail are ordered to make their way without delay to Gibraltar, where they shall report to the senior officer present. Probably, it will be found at that time Mister Bonaparte is now in irons and no longer a fugitive. Should that not be the case, each and every captain will do his best to bring the fellow into the bag.”
    “Captain Phillips, will you remain for a few minutes? All other captains are dismissed.”
    After the others had left, Horner turned to Phillips. “You said your