Horne listened without interruption to Jingee’s and Groot’s report. When they had finished, he asked, ‘What did you do with the bodies?’ He stood facing them on the Huma’s quarterdeck.
Groot’s face was smudged with dirt and his cap dotted with burrs. ‘I scooped earth over the first one and covered it with grass and sticks, schipper.’
Jingee’s white turban was dirt-stained and scratches covered his legs, chest, and arms. He showed none of Groot’s nervousness about the killings.
Proudly, he reported, ‘I surprised the second patrolman as his friend surprised us, Captain sahib. I opened his throat before he could guess what was happening. Then I rolled the body into a ravine and covered it so that nobody will ever find it.’
Nearby on the quarterdeck, Babcock stood wearing only his cut-off trousers, the sun drying them after his swim from the Tigre. Gone was his usual brash, boastful manner. He was still humbled from confessing to Horne that his monkey had eaten the Tigre’s charts, destroying the navigational chart of Oporto’s reefs.
Horne ignored Babcock, concentrating on Jingee and Groot. ‘Which way’s the wind?’
Jingee stepped forward. ‘To the south, Captain sahib. I remember which way the smoke blew when the cannon fired.’
Horne clasped both hands behind his back, considering the information in terms of the provisional plans he had made with Babcock. The news that Babcock’s monkey had destroyed the charts had added to his irritability. Unshaven, his forehead furrowed, he fought to control his temper. ‘We’ll move out in three groups. Two sea groups and one overland patrol.’
Resuming his restless pacing, he looked at Jingee and Groot. ‘While you two were away, Babcock suggested using a land attack. From what you tell me about the cliffs on the other side of the island, they’re tall and rocky enough for a patrol to create a useful diversion. Jingee, I want you to lead such an attack.’
‘What kind of diversion, Captain sahib?’
‘I’ll explain in due course,’ he snapped. ‘In the meantime, I want you to think which men you can recruit for your patrol. Choose men with no particular skills aboard ship and make certain none of them are French. We cannot risk anyone betraying your position on shore. Also, choose no more than eight men for the patrol. Manpower remains at a premium.’
‘Yes, Captain sahib.’ Jingee bowed from the waist, hoping to break Horne’s crusty mood with his attentive manners.
Horne looked at Groot. ‘How well do you remember the reefs?’
Groot’s head was held as if he were in a formal naval inspection. Stiffly, he replied, ‘Schipper, I looked at the Tigre’s charts last night when I came off watch duty. But I must study them again before we depart, so that I can refresh my memory.’
‘That’s impossible.’
‘Schipper?’
‘The charts have been destroyed, Groot.’
‘Destroyed?’ Groot looked at Babcock.
Horne paced back and forth. ‘Although my chart does not detail the southern reefs, you can study it, Groot, before you return to the Tigre, if that will help you in any way.’
Still confused, Groot asked, ‘How was the Tigre’s chart destroyed, schipper?’
Babcock stepped forward from his starboard position. ‘With all due respect, Horne, it was my fault, so I think I should explain.’
Horne waved a hand for Babcock to proceed.
Turning to Groot, Babcock said, ‘I locked my monkey in the cabin while Horne and I had a meeting this morning on the Tigre. Like a fool, I left the chart on the desk and that pesky monkey … ate it.’
Jingee gasped.
Lowering his head, Babcock proceeded, ‘That’s what I’m doing here. I swam over to tell Horne the bad news. Also, I came to say that I remember the reefs fairly well, so—’
Horne interrupted. ‘“Fairly well” isn’t well enough, Babcock.’
Babcock hung his head. ‘I realise that—’ adding uncharacteristically, ‘—sir. But I remember how the reefs divided into three fingers, like—’ He held up his right hand, pronging his thumb, index and middle finger.
Horne’s ill-humour was not tempered. ‘Babcock, I’d rather change our plans now if you’re not one hundred per cent certain about the reefs. The Tigre doesn’t have the gun power of the Huma. Nevertheless, you could sail the northern route and let me trust my memory with the reefs.’
Groot stepped forward. ‘Schipper, I remember the reef’s three fingers. Between Babcock and me, we can cross them.’
Horne’s tone was severe, threatening. ‘I’m taking you two men at your word.’
‘Aye, schipper.’ Groot glanced nervously back at Babcock.
‘Very well.’ Horne turned to Jingee. ‘Begin selecting the men from the Huma you want to take in your patrol, before you return to the Tigre.’
To ingratiate himself with Horne, Jingee salaamed as he bowed. ‘Yes, Captain sahib.’
Horne said, ‘Babcock’s named the East Indian, Dangi, as a subordinate in your absence, Jingee. The man knows nothing about ships but he seems trustworthy. I suggest you take him.’
Jingee was not pleased with the suggestion but, not wanting to cross Horne, he salaamed, answering, ‘As you wish, Captain sahib.’
Looking astern at two rowing-boats circling the Huma and Tigre, Horne said, ‘Both ships will maintain the same division of Marines. Groot and Babcock, you sail with Mustafa. I keep Jud and Kiro.’
Babcock nodded; Groot touched his cap, replying, ‘Aye, aye, schipper.’
Horne pointed to the open boats as the men inside them tied tow lines to both vessels, and ordered, ‘Now make those men put muscle into their oars. This is it. So let’s catch that damned wind.’
The hour was approaching noon; the day was 30 November, 1761.