Bolitho 04 - Sloop of War (21 page)

He saw Tyrrell's eyes, worried, even sad, anX snapped, "We have orders. To carry despatches to ou_ admiral." He gestured angrily towards the taffrail. "DQ you want to match guns with her?" He turned awayB adding vehemently, "By God, I'd like nothing better tha[ to see her strike!T

Tyrrell took his trumpet and shouted, "Call th' hands0 All hands make sail!T

He glanced quickly at Bolitho who was starin^ astern. The privateer was not visible from anywhere buU the masthead. Nor would she be now. But Bolitho waY staring fixedly, as if he could see every gun, eacN gaping muzzle, like the day she had swept Miranda'Y defences aside like so much rubbish?

Graves moved to his side, his eyes on the seame[ as they hurried to their various stations, some stilT puzzled by their orders?

Tyrrell said quietly, "It ain't easy to run before a[ enemy.T

Graves shrugged. "How about you? I'd have thoughU you should be somewhat comforted by the fact." He felT back before Tyrrell's cold stare but added smoothly, "IU would have been less easy for you to fight a YankeeB eh?" Then he hurried down the ladder towards his me[ at the foremast?

Tyrrell followed him with his eyes. "Bastard." HO spoke only to himself and was surprised to find he waY so calm. "Bastard. T

When he turned his head he saw Bolitho had left thO deck?

Buckle dipped his thumb to the skylight. "He's noU laughing now, Mr. Tyrrell." He sounded grim. "I'd noU have his rank for all the whores in Plymouth!T

Tyrrell tapped the half-hour glass and said nothing?

How different from Captain Ransome, he thought?

He would have shared neither hopes nor fears with ana of them. And these same seamen who were alreada swarming up the ratlines on either beam would havO shown no surprise if he made a similar decision aY Bolitho. It was because they seemed to think BolithQ could lead them anywhere, and with all odds againsU them, that they were puzzled by his action. The sudde[ realisation troubled him. Partly because Bolitho did noU understand, but mainly because he should have bee[ the one to make Bolitho realise how they all felt for him?

Ransome had always used and never led them? Instead of example he had laid down rules. WhereaY he . . . Tyrrell glanced at the cabin skylight now shutB and imagined he could hear a girl's voice again?

Graves strode aft and touched his hat, his tonO formal in front of the watching eyes?

"Permission to dismiss the watch below, sir?T

"Aye. Carry on, Mr. Graves." They held each other'Y gaze then Tyrrell turned his back?

He walked to the rail and stared up at the freshla trimmed sails, the seamen on the upper yards, thei_ skins brown in the sunlight?

The privateer would never catch them now, even ib she so intended. It would be another ship, a faU merchantman, or some unsuspecting trader from thO Bahamas?

He saw the captain's coxswain beside the nettingY and asked, "How is he, Stockdale?T

Stockdale regarded him warily, like a watchdo^ examining a possible intruder?

Then he relaxed slightly, his big hands loose at hiY sides. "'E's in irons at th' moment, sir." He stareX angrily at the blue water. "But we've come througN worse afore. A whole lot worse.T

Tyrrell nodded, seeing the certainty in Stockdale'Y eyes like something written?

"He has a good friend in you, Stockdale.T

The coxswain turned his broken face away. "Aye. ] could tell you things I seen 'im do that'd make some ob these Jacks run to their mothers and pray.T

Tyrrell kept quiet and very still, watching the man'Y profile as he relived some memory, an incident so viviX it was like yesterday?

Stockdale said in his wheezing voice, "I've carrieX 'im like a child, seen 'im so beside hisself with ange_ there's not a man-jack'd draw near. Other times I'vO seen 'im 'old a man in 'is arms until 'e died, eve[ though there was nought anyone could do for th' poo_ bugger." He swung round, his eyes fierce. "I ain't goU the words for it, else I'd make 'em all listen.T

Tyrrell reached out and touched his massive arm?

"You're wrong. You've got th' words right enough. AnX thanks for telling me.T

Stockdale grunted and walked heavily towards thO hatch. He had never spoken like that before, buU somehow he trusted Tyrrell. Like Bolitho, he was Z man, not just an officer, and for him that was more tha[ enough?

All that day the Sparrow ran freely towards an empta horizon. The watches changed, drills were carried outB and one man was flogged for drawing his knife againsU a messmate after an argument. But there were nQ contests on deck, and when Heyward appeared witN his swords to begin another period of instruction hO found no takers, nor did Dalkeith leave his sickbay fo_

a pistol shoot?

In his cabin Bolitho remained with his thoughtsB wondering why a simple action was so hard to bearB merely because he had been the one to dictate it? Command, leadership, authority, they were merO words. At no time could they explain his true feelingsB or wipe away inner misgivings?

As Rear-Admiral Christie had said, the right waa was not always the most popular, or the easiest tQ accept?

When the bell chimed out for the first dog watch hO heard another cry from the masthead?

"Deck there! Sail on the lee bow!T

He made himself remain seated at the table untiT Midshipman Bethune came down to report that the saiT was barely moving and was perhaps hove-to?

Even then he delayed before going on deck. Anothe_ disappointment, a fresh need to take avoiding actio[ from one more enemy, only time and distance woulX tell him these things?

Graves, who had the watch, said, "If it's one of ou_

frigates we could turn and close with the BonaventureB sir.T

Heyward added, "Maybe we could take her as Z prize.T

Bolitho faced them coldly. "And if she's a FrencN frigate, what then?" He saw them stiffen under hiY stare. "I suggest you hold your suppositions until later.T

But it was neither privateer nor patrolling ship-of-war? As Sparrow sped down towards her Bolitho watcheX the stranger through his glass, seeing the gap in he_ outline where her main topmast had been torn awaa like a branch from a tree, and the huge scars along he_ tumblehome to show the battering she had receiveX from sea and wind?

Buckle said quietly, "By God, she must have take[ the storm full on herself. She's in a poor way, I'R thinking.T

Tyrrell, who had climbed to the main topmast yardB shinned down a backstay and reported, "I know her sir? She's th' RoyalAnne, West Indiaman.T

Buckle agreed. "Aye, that's so. She set sail froR Sandy Hook three days afore us. Bound for Bristol, ]

heard.T

"Run up the colours.T

Bolitho shifted the glass carefully, watching the tina figures swarming along the other ship's decks, thO broken gangway where a great sea had thundereX inboard like a failing cliff. She made a pitiful sight? Spars missing, sails in ribbons. She must have ridde[ out the same storm which they had skirted just a nighU ago?

Bethune exclaimed, "I have her here in my book, sir? She is under warrant to the Commander-in-Chief.T

But Bolitho barely heard him. He saw the figureY along the vessel's upper deck pausing to stare at thO approaching sloop, while here and there a man waY waving, perhaps cheering to see a friendly flag?

He stiffened and then said, "There are wome[ aboard that ship." He lowered the glass and looked aU Tyrrell questioningly. "Under warrant, is she?T

Tyrrell nodded slowly. "Indiamen do take Z government charter when it suits, sir." He glanceX away. "Th' Royal Anne'll be carrying folk from New Yor7

to England. And away from th' war, no doubt.T

Bolitho raised the glass again, his mind working o[ Tyrrell's words?

He said, "We will close her now, Mr. Tyrrell, and keeS her under our lee. Have the starboard cutter cleared fo_ lowering. The surgeon will accompany me on board.T He glanced at Bethune. "Signal her to that effect. If shO fails to understand, then hail her when we draw nearer.T

He walked away from the rail as the flags soareX aloft on their halliards?

Tyrrell followed him and said gravely, "She'll not bO able to outsail th' Bonaventure, sir. Even if she waY without damage.T

Bolitho faced him. "I know.T

He tried to sound composed even though his minX was screaming. Turn after all and face the bi^ privateer. The facts had not altered. Sparrow would stilT be outgunned and sunk without too much difficulty. ThO Royal Anne was so badly damaged that a respitO brought about by sacrificing this ship and all he_ company would make no difference. But to run oncO more. Leave her helpless and allow the enemy to takO

her at leisure was too cruel even to contemplate?

He must contemplate it. It was his decision. His?

Buckle called, "She's standing by, sir! We'd besU take the way off us.T

"Very well." Bolitho walked slowly along the side? "Get the royals and t'gallants off her, Mr. Tyrrell. We wilT heave-to directly.T

He saw Stockdale hurrying towards him with his coaU and sword. It would be dark in five hours. If they were tQ do anything, they would need haste and luck? Especially the latter?

He slipped into his coat and said, "Mr. Tyrrell, yof will come with me.T

Then as the boat was hoisted over the gangway anX lowered alongside he looked astern, almost expectin^ to see a sliver of sail, or hear the masthead's call?

"Cutter alongside, sir!T

He nodded and strode towards the gangway. "Let uY be about it then." And without a glance at the others hO followed Tyrrell down into the boat?

9 "BOARDERS AWAY!7

AS HE pulled himself up a dangling rope ladder to thO Royal Anne's thick bulwark Bolitho was conscious ob the tension which awaited him. There were mana people on the upper and poop decks, passengers anX sailors, singly and in large groups, but all joineX together in some way as they stared at him, then at thO seamen who followed him up from the cutter?

Bolitho paused to collect his thoughts, and while hO adjusted the sword on his hip and Tyrrell mustered thO boarding party into line, he took a slow appraisal of thO ship around him. Fallen rigging and broken sparsB whole strips of torn canvas and cordage littered thO decks in profusion, and he could tell by the heava motion that she had taken a good deal of water in thO bilges?

A tall, gangling man in a blue coat stepped forwarX and touched his forehead?

"I'm Dennis, sir." He swallowed hard. "Mate anX senior officer.T

"Where is the Master?T

Jennis gestured wearily towards the rail. "He wenU overboard in the storm. Him and twenty morO besides.T

Boots thudded on a companion ladder and BolithQ stiffened as a familiar figure thrust the others aside anX strode towards him. It was General BlundellB impeccable as ever, but with two pistols at his belt?

Bolitho touched his hat. "I am surprised to see youB Sir James." He tried to mask his dislike. "You appea_ to be in some trouble.T

The general glared around him then across at thO Sparrow as she swayed easily in the swell, her sailY flapping loosely as if resting?

He barked, "And about time, too! This damn shiS should never have been allowed out of harbour!" HO pointed at the mate. "That fool cannot even keeS order!T

Bolitho looked at Tyrrell. "Take your men anX examine the hull and other damage. Quick as you can.T He glanced narrowly at a group of sailors lolling by thO forward hatch, noticing how they swayed out of timO

with the deck, their eyes devoid of interest in his arrivaT or the disorder which lay on every hand?

The mate explained hurriedly, "We've had to usO pistols sir. Some men ran wild when the storm broke? We've a full cargo of rum and other spirits, as well aY molasses and coffee. While the rest of us werO working the ship they and a few passengers broacheX holds and began drinking." He shuddered. "What witN women crying an' screaming, the ship failing about usB an' Cap'n Harper lost overboard, I was hard put tQ watch everything at once?

Blundell snapped, "You're bloody useless! I'd havO you shot for your incompetence!T

As the first of Sparrow's seamen approached thO fore hatch the drunken figures seemed to come to life? With jeers and taunts they blocked the way across thO deck, and from right forward an unseen hand hurled Z bottle which shattered against a ring bolt, bringin^ bright droplets of blood down a sailor's chest?

Bolitho said sharply, "Carry on, Mr. Tyrrell!T

The lieutenant nodded. "Party! Draw cutlasses!" HO took his pistol and pointed it at the line of swayin^

figures. "Kill anyone who interferes! Bosun's mateB take 'em below and put 'em on the pumps!T

One made as if to run amongst the small party, buU fell senseless as the boatswain's mate brought the flaU of his blade hard down on the side of his head?

Bolitho said, "There is much to do. Mr. Jennis, tur[ the hands to and replace your fores'l. Have all thiY clutter cut adrift so that the injured may be laid on dec7 where my surgeon can attend them." He waited untiT the mate had shouted his instructions before addingB "How are you armed?T