Chapter 8
Running the GauntletThe week since the departure from Stockholm had allowed the ship to settle once more into a normal routine. Petroc looked up from reading Miss Silke’s most recent letter as a tap on the door to his cabin signaled a visitor.
“Enter!”
Midshipman Trewellyn put his head ‘round the door. “Convoy in sight, sir. Signal from Hermione: ‘Take station to windward.’”
“Very well, I’ll come up.” Petroc pulled on his old watchkeeping coat. So the rest of the convoy had made it to the rendezvous. Now his twenty oddly assorted charges could be joined with the other ships and the responsibility for their safety passed to Captain Greenway in the Hermione.
On deck, the wind was freshening, but it was bringing with it occasional flurries of sleety rain. John Hunt walked up to
