For the Honor of the Flag: A John Phillips Novel (War at Sea Book 2) by Richard Testrake Page B

ordered?”
    “We will be in worse trouble if we lose this 74 gun liner we have captured. The third rate has not a stick standing. The frigate has a hole in her hull you could drive a carriage through. Unless someone comes to help us, we have the only ship available to get the prizes ashore.”
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

CHAPTER ELEVEN
     
     

DOMESTIC BLISS
 
     
    It was mid-June when Courageous and her captives reached port. It was not a moment too soon for Captain Phillips. His arm, which had seemed to be healing so well early on, had become inflamed and the pain was beginning to wear on him. His surgeon, previously pleased at his work, now doubted the efficacy of his original treatment. Next time, he would lop off the offending limb as soon as the patient was on the table.
    When he suggested that option now, Phillips ordered him from his cabin, and the Marine sentry was ordered to deny him entrance in the future. He realized he was in a foul temper much of the time, and deliberately confined himself in his quarters when he found himself becoming too unbearable to others. When he reported in to the port captain, he was praised for his recent successes, and the suggestion was made that it would not be impossible for him to be appointed captain in the Achille, the French 74 he had brought in.
    An incautious movement brought a twinge of pain, which brought notice to his arm in the sling. Asked about the injury, Phillips explained about his wound, and the trouble he was having with his surgeon.
    Captain Anderson contemplated the matter for a minute, then replied. “Phillips, you deserve a rest. You have been carrying on the war almost by yourself, and you must now give another his innings. I want you to go up to London and see a man on Harley Street I know. He is one of the best physicians in the kingdom, and if he can’t get at the root of your problem, nobody can. He has more knowledge in his little finger than all of these fleet surgeons put together. I expect it will be a year before Achille can go to sea. I am going to recommend you be given her when she is ready. By then, you should be recovered and ready to go back to war.”
    “Now then Captain Phillips, who shall we give Courageous to?”
     
    Without much hope, he offered up the name of Lieutenant Mullins, his first officer.
    “Captain Phillips that would be coming it a little high. Mullins, I happen to know, was a midshipman a year ago. I realize his father is in Lords, which would explain it, but it just won’t do, Captain. Not even as commander into a sloop of war. I’ll tell you though. A private yard up the river a bit, has about finished a little gun brig. She will be armed with fourteen carronades. I am willing to consider him as her Lieutenant-Commander. Tell him to notify his father and then co
    me to see me, and we will see what we can do.”
    Phillips had posted Sarah on his arrival, and told her he was going to be in England for a while. He had considered taking a coach up to London to see the Harley Street doctor, but decided that was most likely useless. He was just going to have to get used to the pain.
    He took rooms in a respectable house near the dockside, and engaged a manservant. That did not last long, though, as his temper had become so foul that the man could not abide it. One day he rang for him and did not receive an answer.
    The lady of the house reported she had seen the man walking away from the house carrying his bag. That afternoon, Sarah arrived. She had coached down with her ever present companion. She quickly discovered the problem. After some investigatory work on her part, she asked a local surgeon to visit Captain Phillips. While the man had read some medicine, he was by no means a physician, and was referred to as Mister, instead of Doctor. At any rate, he had solved many problems for residents of the area, and came well recommended.
    When Mister Holmes arrived, Phillips was feverish; his upper arm