Bolitho 04 - Sloop of War (17 page)

Once out in the bay they could make sail and tac7 towards the entrance and open sea. The FrenchmanB on the other hand, already had the advantage of thO wind. Could even anchor if desired and pounX Sparrow to fragments while she lay helpless in thO cove. She would sink with her masts above water. IU was a cruel picture?

He said, "Break out the kedge anchor, Mr. TyrrellB and then hoist all boats." He looked at the long racks ob sweeps. "We will have to see what those will achievO this morning.T

Once free of the kedge the hull swung sternwardY towards the beach, the current swirling around he_ stem as if she was already under way?

The gun deck and gangways were crowded witN men, and he knew that below every space was filleX with exhausted soldiers. He watched the gig risin^ above the gangway before dropping neatly on itY

chocks between the cutters, the seamen working i[ unusual silence, glancing occasionally towards him ba the rail as if to see his intentions?

He was able to pick out individual faces in thO strengthening light, and realized he now knew most ob them by name. The reliable and the lazy, thO malcontents and those who were able to accept thei_ calling, enforced or otherwise, with varying degrees ob trust. He remembered that first day, the sea of unknow[ men, with Graves excusing Tyrrell's absence. IU seemed so long ago?

Tyrrell reported, "Boats secured, sir!T

Bolitho walked to the rail and leaned on it. The wooX was moist and clammy, but within a few hours would bO like a furnace bar. If it was still above water?

He said, "You all know of that frigate, lads. She's uS there now, taking her time, as Frogs do in sucN matters." He paused, seeing some of the older me[ nudging each other and grinning at his feeble wit. "Yof can also see that we are unable to loose tops'ls withouU driving ashore. But if soldiers can march all the waa across country to us, I reckon we should be able to geU 'em home again, what d'you say?T

For a long moment nobody moved or spoke, and hO felt despair rising as if to mock him. Why should thea care? After his displeasure following the fight with thO privateers they might simply see it as a just rebuff?

Surprisingly, it was the boatswain who was the firsU to break the silence. Bursting from the larboarX gangway, his face glowing like a grotesque heateX shot, he bellowed, "What are we waiting for, ma lovelies? A huzza for the cap'n! An' another fo_ Sparrow!T

The cheering spread along the decks and up to thO topmen on the yards. To the dazed soldiers below anX in the cramped holds, and wherever a foot or so haX been found for them?

Tilby yelled, "An' to 'ell with them bloody Frogs!" HO was already cutting the lashings on the nearesU sweeps, pushing men towards them while otherY scampered to open the small ports on either beam?

Bolitho turned away, seeing Tyrrell's great grin anX Buckle nodding his head and beaming as if they werO already at sea and away under full sail. Even GraveY was smiling, his tired face both dazed and pleased ba the din?

He said, "Man the capstan." He wished they woulX stop cheering. That Tyrrell would obey and leave him tQ his thoughts. "Run out the sweeps, if you please.T

Tyrrell shouted the order, and as the helmsme[ stood to the wheel and the capstan took the first slo/ strain, he turned and said, "They'll not let you down. NoU after what you've done for those poor redcoats. NoU now. Not ever, Cap'n.T

Bolitho could not face him. Instead he stared alon^ the larboard side at the wavering line of sweepY poised above the swirling water like the oars of somO ancient galley. It would take a great deal of effort tQ move her into the bay. With the wind against her anX the dead weight of all her guns and extra passengers iU might prove impossible?

"Stand by!T

The sweeps swung gingerly forward, the seame[ clinging to the long looms and gripping the deck witN their bare toes?

"Anchor's aweigh!" Graves came running aft abovO the seamen and yelled, "She's paying off, sir!T

"Give way all!" Tilby threw his own weight on thO aftermost sweep, his bulging muscles showin^ evidence of the strain. "'Save.! Come on, boyos, 'eave0 Agin now!T

Rising and failing, the lines of sweeps thrust anX slashed at the water to hold the Sparrow's drift towardY the beach, and then very slowly, painfully brought he_ under command and towards the bay?

Bolitho called, "Mr. Buckle, take the wheel!" To TyrrelT he added, "Every officer and man on the sweeps0 Everyone!T

As the anchor was catted home and Graves led hiY own party to the sweeps others slithered dow[ backstays or ran from their stations elsewhere to givO weight to the stroke?

Bolitho tried not to watch the point, green and brow[ now in the light. It was stationary and the sloop waY hardly making headway. Yet already the men werO gasping for breath, and only Buckle and himself werO not helping. The wind was too strong, the current toQ insistent?

Tyrrell's voice carried like a trumpet. "Heave! Heave0

An' one more, lads!" But it was no use?

Buckle called softly, "We'll have to anchor again, sir0 They'll be beat in a moment!T

Several seamen missed their grip and almost fell aY a voice shouted above the plunge and creak ob sweeps?

"Quickly there! Spread yourselves out with thO seamen!T

Bolitho stared with disbelief as Foley emergeX below the quarterdeck, and following him, two by twoB some limping, others blinded by bandages, came thO remnants of his company?

Foley looked up. "The 51st have never been know[ to fail in showing up the Navy, Captain!" He steadieX one of his men who was groping past him beforO adding, "You spoke earlier of miracles. But sometimeY they, too, need a little help." He turned away and puU himself beside a master's mate on the end of a sweep?

Bolitho gripped the rail, wanting to hide his face froR them, but unable to tear his eyes from their combineX efforts?

Buckle called huskily, "I've got steerage way, sir? She's answering now!T

Bolitho said softly, "The colonel told me he coulX take half the continent with the right men. With me[ such as these he could conquer the world.T

When he looked again he saw that the point waY slipping across the starboard quarter as with greaU care Buckle eased the helm over and watched the jib1 boom pointing towards deeper water?

Here and there a man fell exhausted from a sweepB but the stroke barely faltered?

When the full rim of sunlight eventually broke abovO the distant hills, Sparrow was well out into the bay?

Bolitho shouted, "Topmen aloft! Stand by to makO sail!T

The jib cracked and flapped angrily, then hardeneX into a firm crescent, and as the long sweeps werO withdrawn from their ports the deck tilted to a small buU satisfying angle?

"Lay her on the starboard tack, Mr. Buckle. As closO to the wind as you can. We will need all the rooR

possible to weather Cape May.T

Tyrrell came aft and stood beside the compass, hiY eyes fixed on the hazy shoreline. He looked strangela contented. Reassured?

He saw Bolitho watching him and remarked, "It waY a good feeling to get ashore again. But then I guesY you feel th' same about England.T

Bolitho nodded gravely. Maybe Tyrrell had bee[ tempted after all. But he had come back, and that waY what counted?

He said, "You did well, Mr. Tyrrell. You all did.T

Tyrrell gave his lazy grin. "If you'll pardon th' libertyB sir, you ain't no hoof-dragger yourself.T

"Deck there! Sail on th' starboard quarter!T

Bolitho looked at Buckle. "The Frenchman is after uY sooner than I thought. Get the t'gallants on her, if yof please." He walked up the slanting deck and shadeX his eyes. "We'll give him a run for his money.T

Tyrrell was still grinning. "For th' general's moneyB you mean!T

Bolitho glanced down at his stained breeches. "I'R going to shave." But the mood persisted for him also? "In case we have visitors this morning, eh?T

Buckle watched him go and then said, "Nothing eve_ seems to worry that one.T

Tyrrell was peering up at the topmen, his eyeY critical. He recalled Bolitho's face when the woundeX soldiers had staggered on deck to help man thO sweeps. For just those few moments he had see[ beyond the brittle composure, the mantle of commandB to the real man beneath?

Half to himself he murmured, "Don't be too sure ob that, Mr. Buckle. He feels it right enough. Just like thd rest of us.T

Bolitho closed the telescope with a snap and steadieX himself against a belaying-pin rack?

"Alter course two points, Mr. Buckle. Steer duO east.T

It had taken another two hours from sighting thO French frigate to tacking dangerously close arounX Cape May. With the nearest spur of that untida

headland barely two cables under the lee side they haX surged towards the open sea, close enough to seO smoke from some inland fire and the morning sunlighU flashing on a hidden window or an unseen watcher'Y telescope?

It had been harder than he could have imagined tQ remain in a wardroom chair while Stockdale shaveX him and laid out a clean shirt. Now, as he watched thO men running to the braces, the lifting, dipping bowspriU beyond the taut rigging, he wondered why he haX made himself waste time below. Pride or conceit, thO need to relax even for minutes, or a greater need thaU his seamen should think him so calm he coulX concentrate on his own comfortU

As the sloop plunged round still further until she haX the wind directly astern, he could feel every spar anX timber quaking to the motion. Above the quarterdec7 rail he saw the mainyard bending like one huge bowB the splayed legs of the topmen denoting the savagO vibration aloft, the need for care when one false steS could mean instant death. Or the longer agony ob watching the ship ploughing away to leave the falle[ men to drown alone?

"Steady she be, sir! Due east!T

He walked to the compass and then took a carefuT glance at the set of the sails. Every inch of canvas waY fully drawn, the bellies so rounded and hard thea looked about to burst?

He gestured with the telescope. "Another pull on thO larboard forebrace, Mr. Tyrrell, and then belay.T

As the men ran to obey he took one more glancO astern. The enemy had gained on them during thO dash from the bay, had cut away their early advantagO while Sparrow had lost valuable time clawing arounX the last headland. Now, as he steadied the glasY across the taffrail he could see their pursuer rising anX driving over the lively white-horses, her hull bathed i[ spray, the gun ports awash as she surged on Z starboard tack, showing her sleek hull and fulT pyramids of canvas. She had set her royals once awaa from the headland and was heading into deeper wate_ before continuing the chase?

Tyrrell came aft, wiping droplets of salt from his armY and face?

"We're standing well afore th' wind, sir. There'Y nought else we can do at present.T

Bolitho did not reply. At the quarterdeck rail hO leaned over and saw the uneven lines of woundeX soldiers, and others less handicapped, helping witN food and bandages. Two of Dalkeith's assistants camO on deck and hurled a bundle over the gangway anX vanished down a hatchway with hardly a glance? Bolitho watched the bundle bobbing away o[ Sparrow's creamy wake and felt his stomach contracU violently. Some bloodied bandages, but most likely thO amputated limb of one more luckless soldier. DalkeitN was in his makeshift sickbay, as he had been since thO sloop had weighed anchor, working in almost totaT darkness with saw and swabs while the ship yaweX and staggered around him?

Graves called above the boom of canvas, "ThO Frenchman's wore, sir!T

The frigate was now about eight cables off thO starboard quarter. Certainly no more, and steering Z parallel course, her royals fully squared and straining aU their bolts like pale breastplates?

Bolitho said, "She's pulling up, Mr. Tyrrell. Not Z great deal, but enough to worry about.T

Tyrrell rested at the rail and kept his eyes forwardB

away from the enemy frigate?

"Will I clear for action?T

He shook his head. "We cannot. Every bit of spacO is packed with soldiers. There is barely room on thO gun deck for a twelve-pounder to recoil.T

He thought of the big thirty-two-pounders pointin^ from either bow. With the enemy astern they werO impotent. Just so much extra weight. Had the enema been in their line of fire they might have been able tQ cripple her, if only temporarily, or until some ship of thO inshore squadron could give them support?

Tyrrell looked at him worriedly. "You have a choiceB sir. You close th' shore now and risk losing th' winX altogether. Or you alter course to seaward within thd hour." He angled his thigh against the rail as Sparro/ plunged heavily, the spray dashing aft over the decksB rattling against the courses like lead pellets. "There's Z long ridge of sandbars running north to south. You takO one side or t'other. But in an hour you'll have to decidO which.T

Bolitho nodded. Even with the barest information hO had discovered on his charts he knew Tyrrell'Y

estimate was only too true. The sandbars, like uneve[ humps, ran for over twenty miles across their line ob advance. To wear ship north or south to avoid theR would mean loss of time, and with the enemy so near, iU could represent the measure of disaster?