Later that evening, and one by one, all seven of Jason’s warships left Monte Vista harbour. Before leaving, his sailors carried out their orders to spread the word that the fleet’s departure was in response to the recent sighting of two known pirate ships near Tunisia.
‘Why the need for the rumour that we will all be away?’ Philippe asked.
‘My plan calls for the French to believe that my fleet will be away for a fortnight or so,’ Jason replied.
‘You suspect that the French ships will only attack if they think your ships are away?’
‘No,’ Jason replied. ‘They probably intend to destroy our ships in the harbour as they sail in. Anchored ships usually present an easy target.’
‘Surely the French won’t consider mere merchant vessels as any threat to their navy,’ Philippe suggested. ‘They surely just presume that your ships would not dare to confront a real navy.’
‘You may be correct .But that would also depend on whether the French know about that my vessels have been refitted.’
‘You think that they know?’
‘I doubt it. But it never pays to underestimate your opponent’s ability to gather intelligence.’
Jason now commanded four large ships of the line, each of which had three large masts and each of which carried sixty-four new American built cannons. He trusted that the superior range of these cannons would justify the cost of their acquisition. The remaining three vessels were slightly smaller frigates each bearing thirty-two guns. Care had been taken to disguise the additional gun ports on all his vessels by the use of sliding wooden panels. Only inspection from close quarters would reveal that the panels were distinct from the hull of the ship.
Preparations to deal with the French invasion force was not limited only to Jason’s ships. Elevated cannon emplacements had also been secretly set up at night in a few disused buildings overlooking Monte Vista harbour. The massive long range cannons were capable of engaging any ships entering the harbour in addition to those at anchor. The emplacements had been disguised to look innocuous to prying eyes. Additional artillery fortifications had also been built in the forest adjacent to the lagoon in eastern Montuga with a view to preventing any beach landings using long boats.
A signalling station had been established near the summit of the north face of Circle Hill. It used deflected sunlight by day and reflected firelight by night to send coded messages out to sea. An assortment of magnifying glasses and mirrors were engaged to increase the brightness and hence the range of the projected light. That, together with the station’s height ensured a range which almost stretched to the horizon. An alternate, smaller signalling station which was located one hundred feet above sea level was set up in case of bad weather and low cloud cover.