Wednesday, 11 May 1870
~later~
Captain Rodgers' injury is serious. The doctor doesn't expect him to regain consciousness for several days. Lt. Cooper summoned Wooster and urged him to officially take command during the captain's incapacity. Wooster took the news slightly calmer than I had expected.
Mrs. Cuthbert, Miss Whitnell, and Mr. Ramsey contrived a healing ritual in the sick bay. I hope that it is successful. Sir Cosmo asked Miss Chigwidgeon to walk with him around the rail of the ship. Meanwhile, Miss Sinclair decided to climb to the crow's nest to verify for herself that there was no French warship bearing down upon us. After assuring herself that we were not in imminent danger of battle, she joined Sir Cosmo and Miss Chigwidgeon.
Wooster assembled the officers for a meeting. Sir Cosmo slipped into the meeting before it ended.
Several of the crew members, most notably Mr. Brinkley, were drinking outside the mess later in the evening. They were also grumbling a great deal about Lt.Wooster. Miss Sinclair broke up the gathering. Later she reported the incident to Mr. Caine.
Miss Chigwidgeon wanted to visit the galley. While there she asked Mr. Yeardsley for use of the facilities to cook a special dinner. Mr. Yeardsley indicated he would have to ask Lt. Cooper for permission.
Edward helped gather the spilled balls and cartridges, and in so doing found a broken rivet head. Miss Sinclair sent him on a mission to discover from where the rivet had come. During his search, Edward discovered a disturbing package hidden within a ventilation shaft: a canvas bag containing a spanner, a length of pipe, a steam pressure gauge, and a forth metal machine part which neither Edward, Sir Cosmo, nor Lt. Nottle (who examined it some time later) could identify.
It seemed to everyone that this package was part of a saboteur's plot. A false steam pressure gauge, it was explained, might lead to a boiler explosion. Later, when Sir Cosmo and Lt. Nottle checked the engines to ascertain whether one had already been tampered with, they discovered the purpose of the fourth object: it was perfectly suited to disable a saftey valve without being obviously out of place to a casual inspection.
It was decided to mark the package both magickally and chemically, and return it to its hiding place in hopes of catching the saboteur.
Eventually everyone went to their beds, though from what I heard at my post in the corridor, very few slept soundly. Sometime after everyone turned in, Mr. Caine and Lt. Wooster came down from the captain's office. Apparently Wooster spent the evening going through the logs and reports.
The galley master, Yeardsley, came to Wooster's room and spoke to him briefly about something to do with the ship's stores. Later in the evening, I heard Mr. Caine trying to talk Wooster out of drinking "so much brandy."
I do hope Mr. Caine can keep Wooster in hand.
Thursday, 12 May, 1870
Breakfast was an interesting exercise. I had no idea a human face could assume as many shades of red as Lt. Spodes did. Fortunately Miss Sinclair distracted him with discussions about moths and other insects.
When the crew was assembled on the lower deck, as they customarily are each morning after the officer's breakfast, Commander Wooster addressed them. Why he chose to lead them in song first, I can not guess, but the song seemed a better idea than the speech which followed. There were many important and possibly inspiring points in the speech, though I doubt many of the men could recognize them in the muddle.
While the crew was assembled, Mr. Ramsey identified the sailor that his magicks had indicated is the saboteur--a gunnery crew member named Vanderlay. He does not strike me as the sort willing to place his own life in jeopardy for his cause, so it does not seem likely he will attempt to sabotage the engines while we are on open seas.
The morning lessons proceeded without incident. After the language lesson, Sir Cosmo informed the members of the League that the cabin boy, Jimmy, had delivered the inheritance letter to Dawkins. Dawkins was very pleased with its contents, which was not the effect which Miss Whitnell and the others had hoped for. Dawkins further asked Jimmy to report to him on the contents of Dr. Wilson's, Sir Cosmo's and Mr. Cuthbert's cabins. Since these three men are the most obviously wealthy members of the group, it seems not unreasonable to conclude that Dawkins is plotting a theft of some sort.
After lunch the crew drilled in fire fighting. They have a very efficient system designed for such matters. There are four pumps, to forward and two aft, which can fire impressive streams of water at virtually any portion of the decks. After the drill was completed, the water had to be mopped up. It was during this task that a number of the sailors could be heard discussing their fears about the trip. They believe that the manifestation earlier is a bad omen. They are worried about the captain's injury. At least one of the men offered the opinion that bad luck is a result of having women on board.
Lt. Locksley overheard this and admonished them roundly. He spoke rather forcefully and eloquently to them regarding duty and bravery. I had no idea that his gilded exterior contained such an enormous spirit. It seemed to burst forth from him and stir the emotions of all of those listening.
Dr. Wilson and Edward have made extraordinarly progress on their two projects. Sir Cosmo assisted each for a portion of the day.
The captain briefly regained consciousness today. Perhaps it would be more accurate to report that he nearly regained consciousness. Mr. Muirhead, the ship's surgeon, reported that the captain asked where he was, then began talking incoherently before he lost consciousness again.
Miss Chigwidgeon's request to use the galley had been approved. Miss Sinclair joined her in the endeavor. Unfortunately the contents of one of the pots caught fire, and somehow a bottle of brandy was knocked onto the flames. I am quite disappointed in myself for not being on hand when the fire began, but Dawkins had been lurking about much of the day, and I was outside keeping on eye on him.
Moments after exiting the galley, Miss Sinclair noticed that Miss Chigwidgeon's skirt was on fire. I was on my way to assist when Dawkins came running with a wet blanket, looking all-too-eager to wrap it (and his arms) around Miss Chigwidgeon. I stopped him and passed the blanket to Miss Sinclair. Once the flames were smothered, Miss Sinclair declined to grant me permission to finish off Dawkins. I briefly considered pointing out that it seemed entirely too convenient that he had a soaked fire blanket ready so quickly, but the smoke was getting thick, and the crew would surely be directing the jets of water at us in moments.
Miss Sinclair told me to bring Dawkins out of danger, believing that he might yet provide us with valuable information. She did not instruct me to carry him all the way to the infirmary, so I dropped him at the first place we passed which seemed to be out of the way. Miss Chigwidgeon's injuries were judged to be minor.
Edward spent much of the day setting up some sort of experiment involving a wash tub and some toy boats.
Supper consisted of bread and sausage. The bread was very good. Edward told me quite enthusiastically that the sausage was, as well. I chose to take his word for it. Miss Sinclair and Miss Chigwidgeon decided to dine in their cabin. Sir Cosmo was late to supper, being down in the infirmary sitting with the captain. After supper, he invited Miss Chigwidgeon, Miss Sinclair, and Miss Whitnell to some games of cards in his suite.
Earlier Miss Sinclair had dragged Edward to our cabin, where she instructed him to record the results of his experiments. She neglected to tell him how long he had to stay within, and he went up on deck while the card game was being played. Miss Sinclair apparently heard him climbing the stairs, as she left the cabin to collect him. I had expected them back in short order, but they lingered on deck for some time. When they returned below deck, they reported overhearing a conversation between a cabin boy and Vanderlay concerning sales of some unspecified goods. Several other sailors stopped to speak to Vanderlay, some of them purchasing small amounts of contraband (mostly rum, Edward tells me). One of these was Dawkins, who seemed to be trading information about the activities of some of the officers. Vanderlay indicated he would be interested in any designs for inventions that might be found among Dr. Wilson's papers.
Friday, 13 May, 1870
Morning dawned with no sign that the captain would awaken soon.
Dr. Wilson locked his plans in the safe in Sir Cosmo's suite before going to breakfast.
Not long after we completed the morning exercises, the sailor in the crow's nest began tapping his telegraph set (Edward had explained to me earlier how the ship has several telegraph sets at critical stations on the ship so that the crew members at each location can communicate with the commanding officer in the wheelhouse). Miss Sinclair rushed up the ladder, barely beating Lt. Cooper to the lookout position.
The French aerofrigate was on the eastern horizon. A storm was on the western horizon, and coming our way. Cooper's opinon was that the aerofrigate would be forced to return to it's slower tender to ride out the storm.
The storm, when it came upon us, was rather mild. Rain and a small amount of lightening. Miss Whitnell and Mr. Ramsay believe that someone on board the aerofrigate was using magick to try to manipulate the storm. It was during the subsequent discussion that Mr. Ramsey mentioned that his Order has long suspected that the commander of the French navy, Admiral Le Coq, is not wholly human. They believe he might be the product of a mating between a human and some demon or other supernatural creature.
Mrs. Cuthbert attempted to learn more by gazing in her crystal, with Mr. Ramsey and Miss Whitnell assisting with some ritual. They reported that a mystical storm identical to the manifestation which threatened our ship on Tuesday evening.
Sir Cosmo, Dr. Wilson, and Edward spent part of the time below decks becoming acquainted with the diving suits. Apparently Sir Cosmo intends, when we reach St. Damian Island, to investigate what lies beneath the waves around the island.
Saturday, 14 May, 1870
The sun had not quite crossed the horizon when Miss Sinclair quietly exited her cabin. She apparently had not slept all evening. She climbed the stairs to the deck, indicating she wanted some fresh air, and to see if there was any sign of the aerofrigate.
She had been gone for several minutes when I heard a gunshot near the aft of the ship, on the port side. I rushed toward the scene, though my presence, it transpired, was completely unnecessary. When I arrived Miss Sinclair was agitated, and busily trying to straighten her hat pin. Vanderlay was unconscious on the deck. Lt. Cooper, Capt. Rodgers, Mr. Kirati, and a sailor whose name I do not know were all present as well. The Captain was wearing a dressing gown and slippers. Mr. Kirati was just retrieving his jacket and outer shirt from the aft end of the ship. I daresay that Miss Sinclair's former employers would have found the situation far too shocking.
Several members of the League heard the gunshot and followed me. Cooper had sent for Locksley, who was dispatched with a oair of his marines to round up Dawkins, Yeardsley, and Tommy Flynn (one of the cabin boys).
Eventually we were told what had happened.
Mrs. Cuthbert's healing ritual had worked quite nicely. The captain regained his senses midday Thursday, but pretended to be incapacitated so that he might spy upon Vanderlay at night. The captain had learned that someone on board ship was offering small bribes to the cabin boys in exchange for frequent reports on the movements of the officers and their batmen. While it was possible that those involved in the black market on board wanted this information to keep their business flowing smoothly, the captain concluded that a saboteur would also want to know this information.
Captain Rodgers and Lt. Cooper concocted a scheme by which the captain would feign illness during Wednesday's supper, and by morning be confined to his bed, after officially transfering command to Wooster. This would make it possible for him to spy unobserved. The captain informed Sir Cosmo of his plan, and Sir Cosmo agreed to it.
When the captain found himself in the infirmary on Thursday, he decided to consider the accident a lucky break and continue with the plan. Each night, after Mr. Muirhead retired, the captain slipped up onto deck and hid near where he expected the contraband seller would be. He made notes of his observations which were picked up by Sir Cosmo and Lt. Cooper.
As the sun rose Saturday morning, Vanderlay was at the rail, hidden from the decks by the lifeboats, and attempting to signal the aerofrigate with a pair of signal flags. The captain confronted Vanderlay. Vanderlay pulled a pistol on him.
Miss Sinclair heard the hammer being cocked on the pistol, and rushed to the wheelhouse, where she reported what she had heard to Lt. Cooper. Cooper and a sailor went to investigate, Miss Sinclair following along.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kirati had also heard the gun, and determined what danger the captain was in. He stripped off his outer jacket and shirt, so as not to have any of the buttons make an unfortunate noise, and began crawling under the lifeboats toward Vanderlay.
Miss Sinclair had a similar notion to go under the boats. She reached Vanderlay's ankles just as Cooper and the other crewman were getting into position try to jump Vanderlay. Miss Sinclair assaulted Vanderlay's ankles with her hat pin, the captain wrested the gun away from Vanderlay, and Mr. Kirati knocked Vanderlay unconscious. The gun discharged once during the struggle, but no one was struck by the bullet.
Unfortunately, someone on the aerofrigate had seen the signal flags. The aerofrigate was moving toward us. After some discussion of the benefits and risks of trying to send a fake message pretending to be Vanderlay, it was decided to signal the ship with the technically inoccuous message: "Compliments to the admiral. Please stay at safe distance." The captain also ordered Feathergill and Wooster to the turrets, to arm, and to bring all guns to bear on the aerofrigate, just in case.
The French did approach the ship, and signalled to ask if we were in need of assistance. The captain had the message, "No. Stay at a safe distance" sent. After a tense minute or so, the aerofrigate veered off.
Proceed to Dr. Wilson Takes a Dive
Contents this page copyright 2002 by Gene Breshears. All Rights Reserved.