Bolitho 04 - Sloop of War (28 page)

On the quarterdeck Lieutenant Graves leaneX against the rail, half watching the loosely flapping sailsB partly listening to the creak of the wheel, an occasionaT voice from his seamen on watch. He was thinkin^ about his home in Chatham and the news he haX received in a rare letter from England. His was not Z seafaring family, and his father had owned a small buU flourishing grocer's shop where Graves and his siste_ had been born and had grown up together. His motherB a sickly woman, had died a year before Sparrow haX sailed from the Thames, and in the past years hiY father had apparently taken to drink. The business haX fallen into debt, and his sister, probably out ob desperation, had married an impoverished lieutenanU in the army garrison?

She had written asking for money, for herself and tQ try to keep their father from a debtors' prison. GraveY had sent all he had, which had been little enough. HiY share of Sparrow's prize money would helS

considerably, but until he received more news froR home he was unwilling to sign it over when it had bee[ so hard to come by. If only he had been better mouldeX to dealing with the ways of the Navy. Like the captainB whose seafaring background and famous ancestorY put him apart from men like himself. Or even TyrrellB who seemed indifferent to all authority, although GoX knew he could ill afford to be so. He remembereX exactly when Tyrrell's sister had come aboard. Thea had been in Kingston, Jamaica, where she had bee[ living with friends, waiting until the troubles, as shO called them, in America were over. A vivacious, livela girl, with none of Tyrrell's casual attitudes. To GraveY she had appeared like some sort of angel, an answe_ to everything he had ever dreamed. She came from Z settled, prosperous family, and as a wife would havO given him the chance to better himself, find his rightfuT place in the world instead of remaining unsure anX cautious. Tyrrell had seen his intentions clearly enoughB but had neither encouraged nor come out directla against him. Then, the fool had had an argument witN Captain Ransome over a man being punished. GraveY could no longer remember if the punishment was jusU or not, nor did he care. All that remained clear was thaU Ransome had acted swiftly and had used all his charmB which was considerable, and his obvious skill on thO

girl's defences to break his own chances as well aY alienating her brother completely. But Graves stilT blamed Tyrrell, hated him whenever he thought of he_ and the way she had looked when Ransome had finalla put her ashore in Antigua?

He gripped the rail until the pain steadied him? Where was she now? Someone said she had saileX for America again, others mentioned a passin^ Indiaman which had gone south to Trinidad. Would shO ever think of him? He turned away, angry with himselb for daring to hope after so long. Why could he never bO confident when it was most needed? Perhaps he haX been too long in that damned grocer's shop, hearin^ his father grovelling to the quality, bowing and scrapin^ to customers who ran up bills far greater than his ow[ debts?

The worry about his sister, the uncertainty abouU himself, had taken their toll in other ways, too. He haX sensed it after the fight with the Bonaventure, eve[ though he had been aboard Sparrow with the rescueX passengers. Suppose the captain had failed tQ grapple her long enough to carry out his wild planU Would he have had the strength to turn Sparro/ against orders and attempt to rescue Bolitho and hiY men? But for Buckle and some of the others hO

doubted if he would have done so even when botN grappled ships had burst into flames. They had see[ the great pall of smoke from the horizon itself?

And later, when they had closed with the other prizeY and had exchanged shots with privateers, he had felU the fear spreading inside him like some loathsomO disease. Nobody had noticed. Yet. He shook himselb and crossed to the weather side, trying to clear hiY mind in the cool breeze?

The two midshipmen were standing by the leO nettings, and Bethune said quietly, "Mr. Graves seemY worried.T

The new midshipman, Fowler, ignored the comment? "Now look here." He had a lisp, which became morO evident whenever he was trying to appear innocenU before his superiors. Now it was barely noticeable. "] have to supervise swabbing the cable tier tomorrow?

Bethune was watching the lieutenant. "I know. It'Y your turn.T

Fowler showed his small teeth. "You do it for me? When we rejoin the fleet I will speak with the admiral.T

Bethune gaped at him. "For me?T

"Perhaps.T

Bethune's gratitude was pathetic. "Oh, if only. . ." HO nodded firmly. "Yes, I will take charge of the cable party? Anything else I can do ...T

The youth regarded him coolly. "I will let you know.T

Throughout the ship the company lived out thei_ hopes and dreams in their own way?

In his tiny cabin Tyrrell was sitting on his sea-chesU massaging his wounded thigh, while on the other sidO of the bulkhead Bolitho finished his letter to his father?

In the dimly lit wardroom Dalkeith was drowsing ove_ a glass of rum, hearing Buckle re-telling a yarn abouU some woman or other in Bristol, while young HeywarX listened to him with his eyes closed?

Right forward above the plunging beakhead, his hai_ blown by wind and drifting spray, Yule, the gunnerB squatted with his back against a stanchion, a bottlO between his knees, his blurred mind thinking of TilbyB the good times they had shared together?

Deep in the hold, a lantern above his narrow headB

Lock, the purser, inspected a cask of lemonsB examining each one like some robber with his bootyB while he made notes in a ledger?

And below her pale canvas Sparrow held them all? Oblivious to their various troubles and pleasuresB indifferent even to the sea. For she needed none ob them, and seemed content?

As soon as Bolitho reached the quarterdeck, he kne/ the wind was changing against them, and rapidly. HO had been in a deep sleep when a master's mate haX groped into the cabin to tell him that LieutenanU Heyward was requesting advice?

It was only halfway through the middle watch, and thO stars still very bright above the mastheads, but as hO hurried across the deck, his bare feet soundless on thO damp planking, he heard the topsails shaking violentlyB the responding chorus from stays and shrouds?

Buckle was beside the wheel, and like himself waY wearing only his breeches, evidence, if it was stilT needed, of Heyward's unwillingness to call for help untiT it was almost too late?

"Well?" He peered at the slanting compass bowlB

seeing the helmsmen's eyes glowing faintly in thO binnacle light. "I'm waiting, Mr. Heyward.T

He did not wish to fluster the young lieutenant, and aU another time could appreciate his wishing to control hiY own watch without showing uncertainty. But this waY not the time, and in such dangerous waters they woulX have to act fast?

Heyward explained, "The wind backed a point or soB and I had my watch trim the yards." He gestureX vaguely above his head. "But now it has backed at Z faster rate, I fear maybe from the north-east.T

Buckle muttered, "We'll never be able to changO tack in time to reach the head o' the shoals, sir." HO glared at the compass. "Never!T

Bolitho rubbed his chin, feeling the wind playin^ across his bare shoulders. Heyward had been foolisN to let Sparrow have her head like this. Maybe hO expected the wind to veer again, as it often diX hereabouts, but whatever he thought or hoped, thO ship's bow was now pointing almost north-west ba north, and she was not holding that course very welT either. Every minute was taking them further from thO chain of shoals, and it would waste hours of wearin^

and tacking to fight round again towards their statio[ as Colquhoun had directed?

Heyward said miserably, "I'm sorry about this, sir. I-] thought I could hold her.T

Bolitho was thinking busily. "You cannot help thO wind. But in future you must learn to call me thO moment you are unsure of anything. I'll not think worsO of you." He looked at Buckle. "What is your opinionU We have four hours before dawn.T

Buckle was adamant. "Impossible." He sighed. "I'R afraid we must remain close-hauled and try to wea_ ship in perhaps three hours or so.T

Bolitho pictured the chart in his mind, recalling vividla the nearest sandbars, the set of the tide?

"Call all hands, Mr. Heyward. We will wear shiS directly.T

"But, sir!' Buckle sounded anxious. "We'll never bO able to take up our proper course! With the winX staying steady from the nor'-east it's not possible.T

Bolitho heard the shrill of calls below decks, thO sudden stampede of feet on gangways and ladders. "]

agree, Mr. Buckle." He paused as Tyrrell came out ob the gloom, dragging his leg badly as he tried to bucklO his belt. "I intend to pass through the bars." He lookeX at Tyrrell. "If we stay as we are we will be unable tQ offer assistance if it is needed when daylight comes? Once inside the bank we will at least be able to use thO wind if an opportunity presents itself.T

Graves ran to the quarterdeck, his feet very louX above the hushed voices. He had evidently found timO to put on his shoes?

Bolitho said, "Very well. Leadsmen in the chainsB and then get the royals and t'gallants off her." He waY speaking fast in time with his thoughts. "Tell the bosu[ to unleash the sweeps in case the wind dropY altogether.T

Tyrrell nodded. "Aye, aye, sir. I reckon we stand Z fair chance of getting through. Th' set of th' tide is in ou_ favour." He hesitated. "When it drops a piece we maa find it bothersome.T

Bolitho smiled in spite of his thoughts. "WelT spoken!T

Shouts came along the gun deck where petta

officers completed their count of topmen and hands fo_ the braces. So well did most of them know the ship thaU darkness made little or no difference to them?

Bolitho nodded. "Shorten sail, Mr. Tyrrell." HO lowered his voice. "Quick as you can.T

Within minutes all canvas had vanished from thO upper yards, and with her topsails and courseY thrusting noisily to the wind Sparrow lifted anX staggered in an uncomfortable swell?

Bolitho gripped the weather nettings, watching thO thin slivers of spray darting across the gangway, thO extreme angle of the yards as with sail and helR Buckle tried to hold her as close to the wind as hO dared?

And all the while he was thinking rapidly. Once thO ship had gone about the nearest strip of sandbar anX shoal would lie some ten miles across the bows. E false estimate of speed and distance, a wrong o_ careless description on the chart, and he might drivO her hard aground. But in his heart he knew the risk waY worthwhile. No one could blame him for keeping to hiY original orders and thereby allow the wind to carry hiR away from the area. Colquhoun would probably bO

pleased to have him as far off as possible if only tQ deny Sparrow even the role of spectator for the finaT act. By ignoring the rigid span of his orders he mighU lay himself open to reprimand, but with luck he woulX be better placed to give Fawn assistance if thO Frenchman decided to fight. With the wind backed tQ the north-east, Colquhoun would be hard put to remai[ in his own sector when the time came, and that in itselb would offer some excuse for Bolitho's action?

"Ready, sir!T

He tightened his jaw. "Put the helm down!T

He tensed, feeling the sea dragging against thO weeded keel in a strong undertow?

"Helm's a'lee, sir!T

Through the darkness he saw the headsails shakin^ wildly, heard the tramp of feet as the men hauleX steadily at the braces to get the yards round?

"Off tacks and sheets!" Graves's voice was hoarsO above the din of canvas and blocks?

"Mainsail haul!T

A man fell in the darkness and a voice yelled harshla to restore calm on the gun deck?

Bolitho gripped the nettings, his body tilting with thO hull as Sparrow lifted her jib-boom, hesitated and the[ sliced heavily across the wind?

"Braces there!" Tyrrell was leaning over the rail as ib to seek out individual seamen in the gloom. "HeaveB lads! Harder!T

Sparrow resisted awhile longer, then with sails fillin^ and booming again she heeled over on the oppositO tack, the spray sluicing up over the gangways anX drenching the men beneath?

Bolitho had to shout to make himself heard abovO the noise. "Close as you can, Mr. Buckle!T

"Aye, sir." He sounded breathless. "Full an' bye!T

More uncomfortable minutes while men scampereX above and along the gangways. A pull here and belay? Men hauling busily at halliards, while in the bows thO selected hands took their leads and lines to thO forechains in readiness to begin sounding?

Eventually even Buckle seemed satisfied. "Sou' ba

east, sir!T

"Very good.T

Bolitho peered tip at the hard-braced yards. NoU even a frigate could sail this close to the wind. Nothin^ could?

Tyrrell staggered towards him, his shirt plastered tQ his body. "You wanted this, didn't you, sir?" He waY shouting, but his voice was matched by the surge ob water alongside. "You were worried about Fawn?" HO cursed as his foot slipped and then clapped his handY to his thigh?

Bolitho supported him and waited for the hull to swaa upright again?

"Easy, Jethro! Is it painful?T

Tyrrell showed his teeth. "Dalkeith said there mighU be some small splinters left in th' bone. Them pistoT balls can split open when they cut into a man." HO stood up gingerly and grimaced. "Not too bad.T