Bolitho 04 - Sloop of War (2 page)

Colquhoun was saying in the same dry tone, "BuU while we command the sea-lanes and supply routeY neither the French nor the damned Pope can stop uY regaining overall control of the mainland." He turneX slightly, the sun glinting across the gold lace of his coat? "Don't you agree?T

Bolitho shifted in his chair. "Up to a point, sir. But ...T

Colquhoun snapped, "But is not a word whicN appeals to me. Either you agree or you disagree.T

"I think more should be done to seek out thO privateers and destroy them in their bases, sir." HO paused, anticipating some caustic remark. Then hO continued, "We have too few ships to spare for convoa work. Any attack on merchantmen, pressed home ba two or more vessels at once, can play the devil with Z solitary escort.T

"Really. You surprise me.T

Bolitho bit his lip. He had allowed himself to bO drawn. Perhaps Colquhoun had been hoping that onO of his friends or proteges would be given the ne/ appointment, and saw Bolitho as an intruder. Whateve_ it was, there seemed to be no doubting his hostility?

"I have, of course, heard of your family, Bolitho? Seafaring stock. None of 'em ever afraid to risk hiY neck. And out here at this moment we need the besU fighting officers we can get.T

He turned abruptly to the window. "Come over here.T

Bolitho crossed to his side and followed hiY glance towards the ships at anchor?

"Look impressive, don't they?" Colquhoun gave whaU might have been a sigh. "But once at sea, scattered tQ the winds, they are just a handful. With the Frogs at ou_ backs and threatening England once more we arO stretched beyond any safety limit." He gestured acrosY the harbour. A frigate was being careened, heeled righU over on her beam, her bilges covered with busa figures, their naked backs shining in the glare likO polished mahogany. Colquhoun said, quietlyB "Bacchante, thirty-six." He tightened his jaw. "My ship? First time I've been able to get her underwater repairY done since I assumed command." Bolitho darted Z quick glance at him. He had always dreamed ob commanding a frigate since his first and onla experience in the little twenty-eight-gun Destiny? Freedom to move and hit hard at anything but a ship1 of-the-line, with all the dash and agility that any youn^ captain could ask for. But Colquhoun did not seem tQ fit the role. Slightly built, with the pale, petulant gooX looks of a true aristocrat. His clothes were beautifulla made, and the sword at his hip must be worth twQ hundred guineas. Colquhoun raised his arm. "Loo7 yonder. Beyond my ship you will see the rest of ou_

flotilla. With these and nothing more I am expected tQ patrol and seek out the enemy, run errands for the fleetB dab away the tears of rich merchantmen whenever thea sight an unfamiliar sail. It would need a force five timeY as large, and even then I would hope for more?

He turned to watch Bolitho's expression as he stareX across the shimmering water?

Bolitho said slowly, "Three sloops-of-war." He saw Z tiny armed schooner anchored beyond the others. WaY she to be his? He swallowed hard. "And a schooner.T

"Correct." Colquhoun moved to his table and pickeX up a heavy decanter. As he held it against the sunlighU he said, "You are being given the Sparrow, Bolitho? Eighteen guns and only two years old." He eyed hiR flatly. "Next to my frigate, she is the best under ma command.T

Bolitho could only stare at him?

"I do not know what to say, sir.T

The other man grimaced. "Then say nought." HO poured two glasses of brandy?

"I have no doubt of your ability as a sea-officerB

Bolitho. Your past record is proof of that. To obey anX carry out orders without question is one thing, however? To lead others, to hold their skills and lives in you_ hands without ever losing grip, is something elsO entirely." He offered him a glass. "To your firsU command, Bolitho. I wish you more of the luck whicN has guided your feet to this year of '78, for I promisO you will need it!T

The brandy was like fire, but Bolitho's head was stilT reeling and he hardly noticed it. A new sloop. The besU under Colquhoun's command. In a moment he woulX awake aboard Octavia to find today just beginning?

Colquhoun said calmly, "Your predecessor i[ Sparrow died recently.T

"I am sorry to hear it, sir.T

"Hmm." Colquhoun studied him thoughtfully. "Fever? His first lieutenant is too junior even for temporara command." He shrugged. "Your timely arrival, thO blessing of our devoted admiral, and, of courseB Bolitho, your obvious qualities for the appointmentB made you an immediate choice, eh?" He was noU smiling?

Bolitho looked away. It would be safer to assumO from the beginning that Colquhoun had no sense ob humour?

He said, "I will do my best, sir.T

"Be sure of that." Colquhoun took out his watch anX flicked it open. "Sparrow is at full complement. Fo_ seamen, that is. I will have to send your prize-crew tQ other vessels in greater need. Unless you have ana particular fellow you wish to keep?T

"Yes, sir. Just one. I appreciate that.T

Colquhoun sighed. "You are a curious mixture. E Cornishman, I believe?T

"Aye, sir.T

"Ah well . . ." He did not continue. Instead he said, "] have made arrangements for a boat to collect you in Z half-hour. Your documents will be ready by then.T

Bolitho waited, half expecting some fresh advice?

Colquhoun seemed to read his thoughts and saiX quietly, "From time to time you will receive writte[ instructions. But you will only be told what to do. Ho/

you achieve success and carry them out will be you_ burden alone." He turned back to the window, his eyeY on the careened frigate. "I have held four differenU commands. The first was, of course, the most exciting? But also, as I recall, the loneliest. No more could I as7 for help from my companions in the wardroom. No_ could I seek freedom outside my hours of duty. I[ earlier days I always imagined a captain to be a kinX of god, put on earth to command and to leave all worra of execution to mere subordinates. Now, I kno/ different, as you will.T

Bolitho picked up his hat. "I shall try and remembe_ that, sir.T

Colquhoun did not face him. "You will not. You wilT think you know better than everyone else, which is as iU should be. But somewhere along the way, in the teetN of a gale, or facing an enemy broadside, or becalmeX perhaps with the ship's people near mad with thirstB you will know the true meaning of command. When yof need help and advice most, and there is none. Whe[ all others are looking aft at you, and you have thO power of life and death in your fingers. Then you wilT know, believe me.T

He added shortly, "You may wait in the room by thO

entrance.T

The interview was ended?

Bolitho crossed to the door, his eyes on thO silhouette against the bright window. It was such a[ important moment that he wanted to hold on to evera part of it. Even the furniture and the well-stockeX decanters?

Then he closed the door behind him and returned tQ the waiting room. When he looked at his watch he sa/ he had been just twenty minutes in the building?

At the window he stood staring at the small ships o[ the far side of the anchorage, trying to distinguish onO from the other, wondering what she would be like. WhaU his company would think of him?

Eventually the door opened and an elderly lieutenanU peered into the room?

"Sparrow, sir?T

Bolitho saw the sealed envelope in the man's handY and took a deep breath?

He nodded. "Yes.T

The lieutenant bobbed his head and smiled. "You_ orders, sir. The boat has been sighted approaching thO jetty. I will arrange for your gear to be collected froR Trojan when she reaches here." He shrugged. "I am noU so sure it will ever catch up with you, however?

Bolitho grinned, unable to maintain his outwarX calm?

"Have it sold for me, eh? Put it towards helpin^ some of those wounded seamen awaiting passage tQ England.T

As he strode towards the sunlight the lieutenant too7 out a pair of steel-rimmed glasses and peered afte_ him. Then he shook his head very slowly. A remarkablO young man, he thought. It was to be hoped he woulX remain so?

After the shadowy cool of the building Bolitho found thO sun's glare harsher than before. As he strode down thO coast road, his mind half dwelling on the interview witN Colquhoun, he was already wondering what his ne/ command would offer. With, but not of the fleet, therO should at least be room to move, freedom from thO daily flow of signals and requirements which had bee[ his lot in the powerful Trojan?

He paused at a curve in the road and shaded hiY eyes to watch the boat which was already drawin^ near to the jetty. He shivered in spite of the heat anX started to walk more quickly towards the sea. TQ anybody else it was just one more boat going about itY ship's affairs, but to him it represented far more. A firsU contact. Some of his men. His men?

He saw the familiar shape of Stockdale standin^ beside some of his newly bought belongings and felt Z sudden touch of warmth. Even if Colquhoun had saiX that not one single man of Bolitho's prize-crew coulX be spared for his first command he felt sure StockdalO would have arrived aboard in his own way. ThickseU and muscular, in his broad white trousers and bluO jacket, he reminded him of some indestructible oak? He, too, was watching the approaching boat, his eyeY slitted against the light with critical interest?

Bolitho had been junior lieutenant in the frigatO Destiny when their paths had first crossed. SenU ashore on the thankless task of drumming up recruitY for the ship, and with little hope of much success, hO had arrived at a small inn with his party of seamen tQ set up headquarters, and, more to the point, to finX some peace and a moment to refresh himself for thO

next attempt to obtain volunteers. Tramping froR village to village, inn to inn, the system rarely changed? It usually resulted in a collection of those who werO either too young for the harsh demands of a frigate o_ old sailors who had failed to find fortune or succesY ashore and merely wanted to return and end their dayY in surroundings they had originally sworn to forsakO forever?

Stockdale had been none of these. He had been Z prize-fighter, and stripped to the waist had bee[ standing like a patient ox outside the inn while hiY sharp-faced barker had called upon all and sundry tQ risk a battering and win a guinea?

Tired and thirsty, Bolitho had entered the innB momentarily leaving his small party to their ow[ devices. Exactly what had happened next was noU quite clear, but on hearing a string of curses, mingleX with the loud laughter of the sailors, he had hurrieX outside to find one of his men pocketing the guineZ and the enraged barker beating Stockdale round thO head and shoulders with a length of chain. Whether thO victorious seaman, a powerful gunner's mate well useX to enforcing authority with brute force, had trippeX Stockdale or gained a lucky blow was neve_ discovered. Certainly, Bolitho had never see[

Stockdale beaten in any fight, fair or otherwise, sincO that day. As he had shouted at his men to fall in linO again he had realised that Stockdale had bee[ standing as before, taking the unjust punishment, whe[ with one stroke he could have killed the barker whQ was tormenting him?

Sickened by the spectacle, and angry with himself aU the same time, he had asked Stockdale to voluntee_ for the King's service. The man's dumb gratitude haX been almost as embarrassing as the grins on thO sailors' faces, but he had found some comfort in thO barker's stunned disbelief as without a word StockdalO had picked up his shirt and followed the party awaa from the inn?

If he had imagined that was the end of the matter hO was soon to discover otherwise. Stockdale took to Z life at sea in a manner born. As strong as two men, hO was gentle and patient, and whenever Bolitho was i[ danger he always seemed to be there. When a cutlasY had hacked Bolitho to the ground and his boat's cre/ had retreated in panic, it had been Stockdale who haX rallied them, had fought off the attackers and carrieX his unconscious lieutenant to safety. When Bolitho haX left the frigate for the Trojan Stockdale had someho/ contrived to transfer also. Never far away, he had bee[

his servant as well as a gun captain, and when aboarX the prize ship he had merely to glare at the captureX crew to obtain instant respect. He spoke very little, anX then only with a husky whisper. His vocal cords haX been maimed over the years of fighting for others i[ booths and fair grounds up and down the country?

But when Bolitho's promotion had been delivered hO had said simply, "You'll be needing a good cox'n, sir.T He had given his lazy, lopsided grin. "Whatever sort ob a ship they gives you.T

And so it was settled. Not that there would havO been any doubt in Bolitho's mind either?

He turned as Bolitho strode down the jetty anX touched his hat?

"All ready." He ran his eyes over Bolitho's ne/ uniform and nodded with obvious approval. "No more'[ you deserve, sir.T

Bolitho smiled. "We shall have to see about that.T

With oars tossed, and a seaman already scramblin^ ashore with a line, the cutter eased gently against thO piles. Stockdale stooped and steadied the gunwalO with his fist, his eyes on the motionless oarsmen as hO

said hoarsely, "A fine day for it, sir.T

A slim midshipman leapt from the boat and removeX his hat with a flourish. About eighteen, he was Z pleasant looking youth, and as tanned as a native?