Bruce Alexander - Watery Grave

Nevertheless, sometime during Tom’s recital I happened to glance at his mother. She was neither excited by the tale nor fascinated by his telling of it. Her jaw was set. Her lips were pursed. Her face expressed an attitude of stern disapproval.

Thus it was that when at last it was quite concluded, I was not entirely surprised, as Tom and Sir John seemed to be, when Lady Fielding rose to her feet and announced that she was for bed.

“I’m afraid the powerful sentiment of this day has exhausted me,” said she.” Jeremy, you’ll clear the table? ‘

I promised and declared I would do the washing up, as well.

“Good night then, Jack, Tom. Stay up as long as you like. I can see you have much to talk about.”

We three stood as she departed. Tom stepped to her, bestowed a kiss on her cheek, and whispered a few words to her just as she made her exit from the dining room.

Resuming our places, we sat in silence for many moments until at last Tom Durham spoke up.

“I fear I was the cause of that,” said he.

“Your story?” ventured Sir John.” I thought it a good one.”

“Oh, the story, I suppose-yet even more, my refusal to listen to her pleas for me to remain here ashore. I mean to ship out again on the A()i’entiire. She thinks she can hold me here by persuasion, and that you, Sir John, will make it right with the Navy. Aline was a seven-year enlistment-and lucky I was to get it. I haven’t thanked you properly for that — I never can. But obligation or no, I would return to the sea. It is the life for me.”

“Your mother spoke to me of this whilst you and Jeremy went forth after the doctor.”

“You understand my feelings perhaps better than she.”

“Oh, I understand very well, ” said Sir John.

“Your own time at sea, of course,” said Tom.

“Indeed,” said the magistrate.” Those years were happiest in my memory. But tell me, what has happened to that other lad who shipped out with you on the Adventure ? I believe his name was Jonah Falkirk.”

“It was, yes. I regret to say he fell in the very battle with the Angrians I described. He caught a ball in the throat. Though I was separated from him in the fight, I’m told he comported himself well.” Tom hesitated but a moment; then he added, “I thought it best not to include that in my account with my mother present.”

“You thought well,” said Sir John.” But hear me, Tom Durham, I’ve a plan to put before you. First, let me ask you, did you return a landsman?”

“No sir, I was made ordinary seaman shortly after the battle with the grabs. Toward the end, with much of our crew Lascars, I was made a foretopman.”

“A foretopman, is it? Well, indeed! I think that excellent, Tom. I commend your progress. And it is specifically that I wished to address-your progress. I may have it in my power to beg for you an appointment as midshipman. What would you say to that, lad?”

Tom Durham was quite overwhelmed.” I know not what to say,” he blurted, then fell silent as he considered the matter.

“You would then,” said Sir John, “have an officer’s career ahead of you. You would have the advantage of your age, your maturity, and your experience as a seaman on a frigate. But I would not seek tor you a midshipman’s berth until I were to hear from you that you wanted it.”

“Oh, sir, I want it certain sure, ” said Tom Durham.” You may have no doubt of that. My only concern is this: If indeed you were to win for me a midshipman’s berth, I would not wish to return as such to HM.S. Adventure .”

“Tom, I understand entirely, and I think your attitude commendable. You would not want to be in a position of modest command above your former mates belowdecks — indeed commendable.”

“But do you think they would take me as a midshipman with my — with my history?”

“That is my problem, is it not? Remember, I said I may have it in my power. I make no promises. I had to know, first, however, if you would accept such a boon if it were offered you.”

“I would, sir, with great thanks.”

“Then with that step done, I may proceed. I believe, by the by, that it would ease your mother’s mind considerable if you were a midshipman. She no doubt has the mistaken notion that an officer — even the most junior of officers — is safer aboardship and in particular in battle than are ordinary members of the crew.”

Tom Durham smiled then with knowledge I did not have — and indeed would never have.” No doubt she does, Sir John.”

“It would ease her mind some — and make her proud of you.” Then, with an emphatic nod: “I shall see what can be done. But again, I have a question, or perhaps more than one, to ask of you.”

“I shall answer as well as I can.”

“I am sure you will.”

He tapped the table, as if deciding from which angle to attack the problem. Whilst he was thus engaged, Tom gave me an inquiring look, which I answered with a reassuring nod of my head. Then at last Sir John began again at the point where he had left us:

“It is not a usual thing for a ship such as the Adventure to return from near three years in the Orient and dock at Tower Wharf. Do you know why you have come to London and not to Portsmouth?”

“But a day ago,” said Tom, “I would have said no. Yet last night a most astonishing bit of news ran through the forecastle — near unbelievable, it was. To wit, sir, that one of our officers. Lieutenant Landon, had been confined to quarters and would stand before a court-martial.”

“What is the charge against him?”

“Murder — murder of the captain of the Adventure .”

Sir John seemed somewhat taken aback at this.” Murder, is it?” said he.” And when did this supposed murder take place?”

“That is a thing that struck us all as most peculiar, sir. The captain was washed overboard in a Fierce storm more than two years ago. It had gone down as an accidental death until now.”

“And why not now? What has changed?”

“Little that we know, except that Lieutenant Hartsell has lodged charges against Lieutenant Landon, an officer well loved by all, a decent man.”

“And who is Lieutenant Hartsell?”

“Oh, yes, of course, sorry, sir. He is the first officer o(the Arenture and has been our acting captain.”

“He is not so well loved by the crew?”

“Lieutenant Hartsell is not so popular,” said Tom, leaving the impression that he could have said more.

“I see. Jeremy has told me that upon landing at Tower Wharf, the leave party was addressed by an officer of considerable rank.”

“That was Admiral Sir Robert Redmond, sir.”

“And he asked that any who know of this matter might step forward. None did, said Jeremy.”

“For the good reason, sir, that none of us knows anything of it — or so I believe. There were no rumors at the time of the captain’s death, no sly suspicions whispered. This came to us as if from the blue.”

Sir John said nothing, merely pushed his glass forward to be filled from the bottle of wine which stood nearest me. I obliged him. He sipped at the glass and waited, almost as if he hoped to hear more from Tom. Yet the young seaman apparently had nothing more to tell.

“It may interest you, Tom,” said the magistrate at long last, “to know that Sir Robert has written me regarding this matter, asking my opinion in it. Yet he was very parsimonious of details. I find, for instance, talking to you, that a charge of murder is involved here. He alluded simply to a troublesome matter aboard the H.M.S. Adventure that would likely result in a court-martial at which he must preside. He and I are old friends. We were shipmates on the Resolute. As I said, he has asked tor my help. What this will entail I cannot guess, yet as a friend I am bound to give it. Jeremy and I will see him tomorrow afternoon at Tower Hill.”