??105: Chapter 65: The Beagle Sets Sail!
105: Chapter 65: The Beagle Sets Sail!
“Arthur?
Is it really you?”
Eld stared at Arthur, suddenly as if he rembered sothing.
He rummaged in his pocket for a while and then casually said, “I almost forgot to give this to you.
Here, the list of rchant ships that have left London for North Arica and France in the past few weeks that you wanted, I went through a lot of trouble to get it together for you.”
Arthur originally just wanted to catch a ship to go to sea, but unexpectedly he also received an unexpected bonus from Eld.
He quickly skimd through the list of rchant ships, turning the handwritten docunt Eld gave him to yesterday’s departure lineup.
Although there were many rchant ships departing from London daily, the only one that t the ti and route requirents was the ‘Black Thorn’, which departed last night at 10:30 PM, with a route from London, Britain to Calais, France—Santo Domingo in the West Indies—Boston, United States.
Arthur quickly glanced at his watch, which showed it was 4:55 AM.
Nearly six and a half hours had passed since Fred had departed.
He quickly asked, “How long does it take for a normal rchant ship to go from London to Calais?”
Eld scratched his head: “From London to Calais, you should take the route along the Thas River through Dartford, Margate, and then Dover before crossing the Dover Strait.
Considering the recent monsoon factors, it probably takes about a day for a normal rchant ship to reach France.”
Arthur pressed on, “And the Beagle?”
Upon hearing Arthur ask about the Beagle, Eld beca animated and started explaining, “Now you’re asking the right person!
Ever since the Beagle was refurbished, under full sail and wind, it can reach a top speed of 12 knots.
If we’re going to Calais, we only need half a day to get there.”
Hearing this, Arthur could no longer care about anything else, and dragging Eld by the collar, he pulled him up the gangplank onto the ship.
Eld was startled by Arthur’s sudden action and shouted, “Arthur, have you gone mad?
What are you doing?”
“There’s no ti to explain, is Colonel Fitzroy here?
I must see him imdiately!”
“What’s the matter?
You don’t want to work at Scotland Yard anymore?
But hasn’t Colonel Fitzroy already rejected you?
We’ve got Charles for the naturalist now, but if it really won’t work, I’ll ask for you, we’re still short of soone to maintain the instrunts on board.”
Before Eld could finish speaking, he saw Colonel Fitzroy erge from the cabin below.
He hitched up his trousers and looked up to see Arthur.
Fitzroy pointed at him and said, “Oh!
I rember you, young man, that lad who once served in the Army.”
Arthur ca up to the Colonel, saluted, and said, “Colonel Sir!
I have an urgent matter to report to you!”
Fitzroy froze and said, “What is it?
I’m a Navy Captain, I don’t deal with Army matters.”
Arthur said, “This matter isn’t about the Navy or the Army.
I’ve just received intelligence that a rchant ship carrying a mber guilty of treason is on its way to France, and our orders from above are to intercept that ship at all costs.
But reassigning ships takes ti, so I rembered that Eld was supposed to go out to sea for training today.
That’s why I ca to the dock to try my luck, and I really ran into you.
Please, order the training exercise to be changed to pursuing the ‘Black Thorn’ rchant ship imdiately.”
Fitzroy’s expression turned solemn upon hearing this: “Young man, did you bring the Navy Departnt’s orders?”
Arthur shook his head: “Due to the sudden occurrence, the orders from the Navy Departnt are still pending.”
Upon hearing this, Fitzroy shook his head and said, “Sorry, without written docuntation from the Navy Departnt, I have no authority to change the training schedule.
Young man, you have served in the Army, you should know that soldiers must obey orders.
Moreover, the Beagle’s situation is very special; we only follow the direct command of the Navy headquarters, even other Fleet Commanders have no right to dispatch us.”
Arthur’s heart sank upon hearing this, just as he was thinking of a way to bypass Fitzroy.
The unreliable Eld seized the opportunity to speak first, “Colonel, have you forgotten?
The First Lord of the Admiralty, Thomas Hardy!”
Reminded by him, Fitzroy suddenly recalled Arthur’s profound and unfathomable background.
After all, this young man could make the First Lord of the Admiralty, Thomas Hardy, issue an order personally amidst his busy schedule not to employ him.
Although he strongly denied any blood relation with Marquis Hastings, Colonel Fitzroy did not believe it.
Besides, how bad could the family background be of soone who is friends with Eld?
Thinking of this, Colonel Fitzroy couldn’t help but take a deep breath.
Such a young man, he wouldn’t be idly trying to amuse
for no reason, right?
Moreover, if what this young man said was true and the Beagle had not obeyed the command,
though technically he wouldn’t be responsible, such a performance of delaying military opportunity would definitely catch the eye of Admiral Thomas Hardy.
If he was looked down upon by Admiral Hardy, who controlled the life and death of Royal Navy officers, then he might never have the chance to be promoted to general in his lifeti.
Besides, he would be offending a whole group of mbers from the Hastings family.
And the bunch of departnts involved in this matter might also hold a grudge against him because of it.
But if he listened to what this young man had said…
Even if this young man nad Arthur was lying, it really wasn’t a big deal; it could be considered a temporary change to the training exercise route.
As long as no one let the cat out of the bag and the Navy Departnt headquarters were unaware, everyone would proceed as usual, and all would be well and happy.
Plus, even if soone did spill the beans, the Navy Departnt would at most charge him with the cri of bringing people on board without authorization and fine him a month’s salary.
But even if he was fined a month’s salary, wouldn’t he still receive an apology from Marquis Hastings?
Given Admiral Hardy’s special order last ti for Arthur not to board the ship, Marquis Hastings must have a close relationship with Admiral Hardy.
If so, if he took the bla for the good-for-nothing young master of the Hastings family, wouldn’t Mr.
Marquis have to say a few good words for him in front of Admiral Hardy?
Colonel Fitzroy didn’t realize it at first, but upon reflection, he felt his thoughts were clear, and his breathing beca much smoother.
After all, it was just a trip to sea accompanying young Mr.
Hastings—what’s the big deal?
Thinking of this, Colonel Fitzroy imdiately felt that he had no reason to refuse; this was simply a gift from heaven, a guaranteed no-loss deal!
The colonel couldn’t help but puff out his chest, his face also beaming with confidence.
What does it an to use the Royal Navy’s ship for one’s connections!
He affectionately patted Arthur on the shoulder and then hastily shouted to the sailors, almost as if he was afraid they would change their mind.
“All hands, listen to my command, stop loading supplies imdiately, weigh anchor and set sail!
By the order of the Navy Departnt, the Beagle will temporarily change its course, full speed ahead towards the ‘Black Thorn’ rchant ship!”
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