Chapter Thirteen

Canal Acion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Early on the morning of December the tenth, Roberta stood on the quarterdeck of a harbour tug as it approached the entrance to the Forth and Clyde Canal and watched as their tow―the forward half of the first spiteful to be sent to Tyneside for its engines and completion―yawed a little as the tow cable went slack. She did not want to criticize the master of the tug but felt he may have been too tardy in letting the ungainly piece of ship astern of them lose way.

Wha’ d’ye say, Lady?” he said as he turned to face her, his dark eyes piercing her like the muzzles of cannons.

You see how awkwardly it handles, Mister Tavish. If my crew cannot gain control and slow its progress before reaching the lock gate, I shall expect you to place the tug between the vessel and any damage from the stonework of the piers.”

Ah! Dinna fret, Lass. I ha’ been judgin’ its handlin’ ’ere since I took the tow at dawn. They two steersmen can back paddle tae slow it enou’.”

Roberta stared at him angrily but chose not to reprimand him for addressing her so familiarly. The two men at the “stern”, the mid-point where the two halves were to be joined at Grangemouth, were an idea she took from her study of Byzantine galleys when she first thought to build a steam ram. The ancients must have known what they were doing when they placed a steering oar on each side of the stern of vessels designed to ram an enemy. She had to acknowledge that Tavish had observed quite correctly the power of manoeuvre this gave the hulk.

I hope your confidence will be rewarded, Sir. I intended the steering to work in such a fashion but must remind you that this is the first time that the theory has been put to a real test.”

He smiled broadly. “Then we mus’ count on the power o’ yoer theery and my ’xperience—an’ the guid Lord’s mercy—to get thay job din right.”

She laughed. “Five shillings on it?”

Let’s say ten will do, if I have nay need to rescue yer vessel by riskin’ mah tug to yon teeth o’ yoer iron Beastie.”

Roberta nodded and shook his hand on it. Then she had to turn quickly away as a vicious pain made her wince. That was the third cramp she had felt since starting work on the water this morning. Oh dear God, please not that. Not that on this of all days.

She walked to the tug’s rail and made herself stand and watch in silence as the tow crept closer. The two watermen she had hired from the fishing fleet plied their steering oars like veterans, quickly turning their prior experience to just the right touch and coordination to keep the powerless iron from drifting off course. The deck crew came forrard and tossed the tow line overside.

The tug’s paddlewheel nearest to Roberta spun into action with a cloud of spray as it pulled them clear of the oncoming tow. Tavish’s deck crew hurried to haul the iron strengthened hemp cable aboard. As soon as the tug steamed clear and she could see her deck crew prepare to release the stern anchor that would hold the tow from hitting the lock gate, she felt able to turn away to go below to where Aunt Nelly had found herself a warm seat in the tug’s galley.

Come in, Lass, and ha’ some hot tea,” Aunt Nelly said as soon as she saw Roberta in the doorway. “Ye mus’ be cauld as an undertaker’s heart up there on deck.”

Roberta gathered her skirts and slid onto the bench beside her. “I cannot stay long, but I think I am . . . I believe . . .” She nodded at her midriff. “I am not sure . . . I have had three severe cramps this morning. What can I do? I must stay to ensure the crews have mastered the job of negotiating the canal.”

Aunt Nelly’s face turned white as she tried to hide their conversation from the cook. “Oh Lawd, Dearie. What can we do here? Ye must get back to Clydebank an’ see a physician. A new bride can ha’ all kinds o’ troubles from . . . well . . . you know.”

Roberta had been barely three when her mother had died in childbirth but her aunt seemed to be reliving the whole tragedy. She must be strong for the old dear’s sake. “Impossible, Auntie. I will manage. I have to. But what does it mean? The women’s troubles had ceased, as you told me they would. And now they have returned, but much worse.”

Aye, and a physician ye needs to see.”

Roberta took the steaming mug the cook handed her and smiled her thanks. She took a careful sip and waited until his back was turned before speaking again. “I’m not dying, Aunt. I am sometimes in pain, but I will have to ignore it and soldier on. We will be leaving the tug soon, but please be prepared to help if I should lose blood. I do not know how to control this, but none of the men must be aware of my trouble.”

Roberta drank her tea and warmed her hands and feet in the galley awhile before returning to the weather deck. Mister Tavish saw her return and waved a hand to where the first half of the spiteful nestled into the open lock. She was pleased to see that the big four-horsepower agricultural traction engine she had rented had backed up along the tow-path to receive the towing cable and was preparing to pull its charge into the lock. She had decided on the novelty when she had thought the strain would be too much for the usual horse teams that pulled barges along the canal.

She walked over to Tavish. “Here is your ten shillings, Mister Tavish. I am pleased that you were proven correct. Now, if you will be so good as to put my Aunt and myself ashore on the pier, we will get on with the next stage of the journey. You will return right away for the stern half of the vessel, I hope. How many hours behind may we expect it to be?”

An hour tae gang down Clyde to catch the tow, an’ three to bring it to the entry lock, M’Lady. Ye may expect tae see it here an hour after noon.”

Good. I will look for it. What weather do you expect while my charges traverse the canal?”

He cast an eye at the entry lock, where the lock gates were starting to close. “Yon iron hulks will nay gang through as fast as a canal barge. Who can tell’t weather fer several days? But I do ken one thing―’twill be cauld. Winter is comin’ down fra Noorth.”

Cold it proved to be as Roberta moved from tow path to tow several times to ensure her men and the canal bargees she had hired were working well together to negotiate the lock gates and canal banks. The halves of the vessel were designed to fit in the waterway, but there was never more than a foot or two leeway. All other barge traffic was moored in passing channels and private docks until her charge crept past.

Aunt Nelly had stayed for a while, but with no duties to occupy her she had eventually left to find a warm place in the inn across the access road from the canal offices. “Dinna stay lang, m’girl. Ye need to rest yerself and warm.” Her eyes, only, gave a reminder of the other troubles.

I will return to the inn by noon, Auntie. I need to be at the lock when the stern half of the vessel arrives.”

Roberta stayed with the tow for perhaps a quarter of a mile, when the pain resumed and she felt blood trickling down her leg. Luckily she was walking alone beside the tractor at the time and found a low brick wall to stand behind.

Some years ago, one of the girls at Miss Mather’s Academy had related the loss of her own mother in the care of a drunken midwife. Her most vivid memories were of the amount of blood everywhere. Roberta noted that her own little trickle was nothing like that description. She must not make too much fuss and upset her aunt for nothing. Only the poor mite was in peril, she thought as she wiped an unbidden tear from her cheek.

When the bow of the vessel came past, she called out to the foreman in charge of the work crew, “I have to return to the entrance lock, Mister Richardson. Keep going as you are and you may expect me to catch up to you before dark.”

Aye, M’Lady. We has it.”

Roberta hurried back to the canal offices and then joined Aunt Nelly in the parlour of the inn.

Aunt Nelly saw Roberta’s distress at once. “I has a room fer ye. Come upstairs at once.” In the room, they removed Roberta’s dress and washed away the bloodstains. Aunt Nelly fretted the whole time. “Ye needs to see a physician.”

I will . . . as soon as I have both halves of the vessel started on their canal journey.”

Ye needs ta’ see him now. Oh, if I were only a married woman an’ knew the signs.”

Send for Doctor McCall, and I will see him here. I am not getting the pains as often. Do you think it is a miscarriage?”

Aunt Nelly stared. “’Tis like what I’ve heard . . . I think. Ye must tak’ to yer bed.”

Impossible. Send a lad to fetch the doctor, and I will come to this room to see him. Now I must put the dress back on and make ready for the second tow. What about the petticoat? Can you have it dry for this afternoon?”

I will see what I can do with yon maids. Ye must come straight back here if the cramps starts again.”

The second half of the spiteful arrived within a half hour of the time the tug’s master had predicted. It took every bit as much coaxing and fussing to line up on the entry lock as the first, and then the slightly smaller agricultural traction engine needed to stand awhile building up more steam before getting its tow fully within the lock so the gates would close. Roberta had just enough time to see the hulk proceeding smoothly down the first section of canal before the message came for her to meet the physician at the inn.

Doctor McCall wanted to know how long she had been married and whether she had had regular menses before this. “How much blood have you passed, My Lady? How long have you been married? When was the last time you and your husband . . . cohabited?”

Roberta answered all his questions and then submitted to his investigations. At length he turned to her. “I am afraid I have bad news for you. I feel sure you were with child, but are in the process of losing the fetus. You should rest for a day or two to ensure the process proceeds normally; if there is no trouble, it should be little different than a regular menses. It should not interfere in any way from your becoming pregnant again.”

Thank you, Doctor.”

Your aunt tells me that you are engaged in some strenuous activity here at the canal. It needs to stop.”

She gave a heavy sigh. “I have a vessel negotiating the waterway, Doctor. I must be on hand to advise if my crews have difficulty.” She stared at his frown. How could she convince him? They could damage the ship or even the canal if something went wrong. She had no choice in this.

Do you have no overseer of the male gender?”

Not at the moment. The two men in charge have never done this before. I am sure they will be completely proficient for the passage of the next hull, but this move is my responsibility.”

You also have the responsibility of ensuring your own health is not impaired. You should rest here tonight and let me see you again in the morning.”

I have to journey to Grangemouth tomorrow to be ready to receive the tows and see them properly aligned in the graving dock there.”

You make such a journey against my advice. Stay here until you are completely recovered, My Lady. Where is your husband? Can I appeal to him to restrain your unwise activity?”

He is still in Devon, I believe. If you can examine me before noon, I will wait for the canal passenger barge. It will be slower but much smoother than a carriage.”

Very well. Please do not leave before I can be sure there are no complications.”

Doctor McCall had a lengthy conversation with Aunt Nelly before he left, giving her instructions what he wanted done if Roberta had more cramps or more flow. Roberta waited in bed until he had left before getting up. She must, at least, catch up to the second crew and tell them she would follow them to Grangemouth in the morning.

Aunt Nelly thought otherwise and brought the full power of the doctor’s instructions to back up her authority. “I will send a lad with the messages . . . if you will write them. They’re grown men fer heaven’s sakes. If they canna do what’s needed they’selves, I’m sure an invalid canna help them.”

Hush, Aunty. I am no invalid. I will attend to my ships if I am needed. There it is, I am decided―” But her argument was sabotaged by the onset of a new sequence of cramps.

Aunt Nelly would not back down. “Ye must nae do anything more today. But perhaps I will allow ye one more message. Ye must send word to Miss Elizabeth to tak’ yure place with this canal business.”

I cannot, she has only just started on boiler tests.”

Then t’ boiler tests must wait fur the canal work. You are not leavin’ here for Grangemouth until Doctor McCall has said you be well enough. Elizabeth can take your place until then.”

Roberta knew when her aunt’s stubbornness had entrenched itself. She penned instructions for the foremen in the canal and then briefly outlined what she needed Elizabeth to do, and why. Then she let Aunt Nelly put her back to bed; there was little more she could do that afternoon.

 

Roberta did not catch up to her vessel until its two components were anchored at the east end of the canal. She and Elizabeth took a small boat out to check them over and found they had suffered no more than a few dents and scrapes.

They went to see the management of the graving dock and found the owner a very capable and energetic man who took it upon himself to supervise the transfer of the tows to his dock and patiently accepted her advice as he aligned the two halves of the spiteful to be fishplated and riveted together. By the time the Grangemouth work was done Roberta had gained complete confidence in him, and not only sent Elizabeth back to Clydebank, but was able to leave the securing of a suitable sea-going tug and dispatch of the vessel to Tynemouth in his hands.

As she returned to Clydebank by passenger barge to deal with the matters awaiting her there, she also had time to reflect upon the recent happenings―and not only of the technical considerations involved in the movement of such large masses of floating iron through a small canal.

The issue of her marriage being annulled and the turning of a child in her womb into a bastard had been a black squall inexorably bearing down on her. But now she had no child. A great responsibility had been lifted from her. There was no child to suffer the calumny of her unwise marriage. She could shed a tear for the poor mite, who she had carried for so little a time it remained a stranger in her thoughts. The only obligation she had toward it was not to think of its passing as a release from her trouble.

If the marriage were to be annulled, so be it. She felt sure she could weather whatever storm the Marquess could rain down upon her―let him do his worst, she was no longer fearful of the outcome.