Bolitho 04 - Sloop of War (29 page)

Bolitho watched the topmen slithering down stayY and shrouds and then said, "Yes. I suppose I did wanU it. I cannot explain my fears." He shrugged and addedB

"So I will not try.T

He pushed his uncertainties away. "Now, Jethro, ] want our people to have breakfast and a tot ob blackstrap. No sense in waiting for daylight, and ] imagine they are too well drenched to sleep just now.T He ticked off the points on his fingers. "Then have thO fires doused, and muster the hands at quarters. We wilT not clear for action, but I intend that every availablO man is on deck when we cross the bar.T

Tyrrell was watching him intently. "What abouU Heyward? Are you going to log him?T

Bolitho shook his head. "He's learned his lesson, sQ there's no harm done. When I was a junior lieutenant ] once fell asleep on watch." His teeth showed white i[ the darkness. "I'm not proud of the fact, but by God ] never did it again!T

He moved to the hatch cover and paused. "I will gQ below and get into some clothes. It'll never do for ou_ people to see their captain like this in daylight." HO laughed, the sound carrying up to a solitary ma[ working on the mainyard. "I may live like a savage, but ] see no cause to look like one!T

Tyrrell turned back to the rail, easing his leg as thO pain lanced through it. He had just seen yet anothe_ Bolitho. Naked to the waist, his black hair plastereX over his forehead, he had looked as young, if noU younger than Heyward. In such a moment Tyrrell haX been touched by his concern for the hands as he haX been impressed by his cheerful recklessness over thO approaching sandbars?

Heyward came from the gun deck and waited tQ resume his duty?

Tyrrell said, "Dismiss th' watch below. Then have thd petty officers lay aft for instructions.T

Heyward asked glumly, "Will this go badly for me?T

Tyrrell clapped him on the arm. "God, boy, no!" HO laughed at his astonishment. "You did th' cap'n Z favour! If you had called him earlier he'd have bee[ forced to change tack. Your mistake allowed him tQ take another course of action." He strolled awaa whistling to himself, his bare feet slapping on thO spray-drenched planking?

Heyward walked up the tilting deck and joineX Buckle by the wheel?

"I don't think I understand.T

Buckle studied him dubiously. "Well, don't you tryB that's my advice." He shuffled towards the hatch anX added, "An' next time you feels like playing God witN my ship, I'd be obliged if you'd pass the word first.T

Heyward glanced at the compass and crossed tQ the weather side. There was more to being lieutenanU of the watch than holding a commission, he decideX wearily. He looked at the taut mainsail and grimaced. IU had been a near thing, and at one time he had felU stricken by the swift change of events, so that he haX imagined the ship was running wild, carrying him anX all aboard like some uncontrollable juggernaut. Now, i[ these last moments, he had learned something. If it alT happened again he would know what to do. Of that hO was quite certain?

Stockdale was waiting in the cabin with Bolitho'Y shirt, and after handing him a towel asked, "Did yof really fall asleep on watch, sir?T

Bolitho rubbed his chest and arms, feeling the salU drying on his lips like another skin?

"Almost." Was nothing secret from Stockdale? "BuU

we have to embroider things a little sometimes.T

He stepped out of his sodden breeches and thre/ them across the cabin. As he continued to towel hiY naked body he listened to Heyward's measured treaX across the deck above?

Then he added quietly, "I once knew of a lieutenanU who beat a man for giving a false report from thO masthead. After that the seaman was too frightened tQ say anything, and when there was danger he held hiY tongue for fear he would get another beating. As Z result, the ship was driven ashore and the lieutenanU drowned.T

Stockdale watched him warily. "Serve 'im right.T

Bolitho sighed. Moralising was wasted o[ Stockdale?

The big coxswain shook out a clean pair ob breeches and handed them across. For anothe_ minute or so he did not speak, but his forehead waY wrinkled in thought?

Then he asked, "An' wot 'appened to the seamanB sir?T

Bolitho stared at him. "I am afraid he was flogged fo_ neglect of duty.T

Stockdale's battered face lit up in a broad grin?

"Proves me point then, don't it, sir? There ain't nQ justice in th' world for any of us!T

Bolitho sat down, one leg still tangled in thO breeches. As was often the case, Stockdale had haX the last word?

12 A TWIST OF FATY

LIEUTENANT Tyrrell gripped the quarterdeck rail anX peered fixedly along the starboard gangway?

"God damn this mist!" He leaned across the railB straining his eyes forward in an effort to see beyonX the forecastle. "And God damn our luck!T

Bolitho said nothing but moved to the opposite sidO of the deck. Since before dawn, when with leads goin^ and every ear and eye pitched to the shouted depthsB the sounds of distant surf and the occasional feather ob warning spray in the darkness, he had been aware ob

the thickening sea mist. It was not unusual in thesO waters at the time of year, but he had expected it tQ pass quickly, to clear with the first hint of mornin^ sunlight?

Now, as he stared abeam, he knew it was thicke_ than ever. Moving steadily with the wind, it wreatheX between the shrouds and seemed to cling to thO rigging like pale weed. Above the topsail yards hO could see nothing, and apart from a clear patch ob water below the quarterdeck, the sea was equalla hidden. Keeping pace with the ship's cautiouY progress, the mist cut away all impression ob movement, so that it felt as if Sparrow was suspendeX in cloud like some phantom vessel?

A voice below the quarterdeck called, "By th' mar7 five!T

The seaman's call was hushed as the sounding waY passed from mouth to mouth from the leadsmen in thO forechains. Once over the bar, Bolitho had ordered thO ship to be cleared for action, and with the enfoldin^ mist shutting out both sight and sound, it waY necessary to take every precaution?

He glanced at the maintopsail again. It was drawin^

quite well, taking the sloop steadily across thO shallows, the flapping canvas shining with moisture i[ the grey light to show that somewhere above the misU there was a sun and maybe a sight of land, too?

"Deep four!T

Bolitho walked aft to the wheel where Buckle stooX with his men, the mist moving through his splayed legY and making him appear like a spectre?

He stiffened as Bolitho approached and reportedB "She's holding well, sir. Sou' by east as afore.T

From the gun deck came a scrape of wood, anX when he turned Bolitho saw one of the long sweepY swaying above the water before coming into line witN the rest. He had ordered the sweeps to be run out a[ hour earlier, for if the wind dropped or they came upo[ some unexpected shoal, they would be the only meanY of working clear?

"Deck there!" The masthead's voice seemed tQ come from the mist itself. "Ship on th' starboarX quarter!T

Bolitho stared upwards, aware for the first time thaU the mist was tinged yellow like a North Sea fog?

Sunlight at last. Far above the deck, isolated by a laye_ of mist, the lookout had sighted another vessel?

He saw Tyrrell and the others watching him, caughU in their various attitudes by the lookout's sharp call?

Bolitho said, "I shall go aloft, Mr. Tyrrell." HO unbuckled his sword and handed it to Stockdale? "Keep good watch and ensure that the anchor can bO dropped instantly if need be.T

He hurried to the gangway, his mind torn betwee[ the unexpected sighting of a strange ship and hiY rising nausea at the prospect of a climb to the lookout?

Then he swung himself out on to the main shroudY and gripped the gently quivering ratlines with as mucN force as if the ship had been in a full gale. Through thO ratlines he saw Graves below on the gun deckB shoulders hunched, his eyes looking neither right no_ left?

Bethune was close by him, one hand resting on Z twelvepounder, the other shading his eyes as hO peered up at the mist. All along the ship men stood likO crude statuary, bare backs shining with moisture, whicN dripped ceaselessly from the sails and rigging, so thaU

they appeared to be sweating, as if they had just bee[ in battle?

Here and there a checked shirt, or the darker bluO and white of a gunner's mate, stood out from the restB as if the artist had found more time to complete thei_ postures before passing on to some other part of thO picture?

"By th' mark five." The chant came aft from thO forecastle like a dirge?

In his mind Bolitho pictured the chart. The tide waY on the turn now. Soon even the so-called safe channelY between the shoals and sandbars would be draw[ closer together, like great jaws closing around Z capture?

He gritted his teeth and started to climb. When hO paused to draw breath the ship had lost her outline i[ the mist. Only the guns and oblong hatchways stooX out with any clarity, and aft by the taffrail Buckle and thO others seemed to be cut in halves by the followin^ tendrils of haze?

Up and up. At the maintop he swarmed quickla through the lubber's hole rather than tackle thO

additional agony of hanging by fingers and toes froR the futtock shrouds. A seaman gaped at him as hO passed and was still staring as Bolitho increased hiY rate of climb until he, too, was lost from view?

A few moments later Bolitho stared up at the mai[ topgallant yard with something like awe. For thereB above it, clean and empty of cloud, the sky was brighU blue, and as he started up the last ratlines he saw thO taut stays and shrouds shining like copper in the earla sunlight?

The lookout, legs swinging carelessly from thO crosstrees, moved over to allow his captain to climb uS beside him?

Bolitho gripped a stay with one hand and tried tQ control his rapid breathing?

"Ah, Taylor, you have a good perch up here.T

The maintopman gave a slow grin. "Aye, sir." He haX a soft North Country burr, and his homely voice diX more than he would have dreamed possible to steada Bolitho's sickness?

He raised a bronzed arm. "There she be, sir!T

Bolitho twisted round, trying not to look at thO vibrating mast as it vanished below into the mist. For Z moment longer he could see nothing. Then, as thO sluggish wind stirred the mist into movement he sa/ the raked topmasts and flapping pendant of a frigatO some three miles away on the starboard quarter?

He forgot his precarious position, the nausea of thO dizzy climb, everything in fact but the other ship?

The lookout said, "There be breakers yonder, tooB sir. I reckon that frigate's on t'other side o' the bar.T

Bolitho looked at him gravely. "You know her, don'U you?T

The man nodded. "Aye, sir. She's Bacchante, Cap'[ Colquhoun's command flag is at the fore." He watcheX Bolitho's impassive face. "Anyway, I was in 'er onceB two years back.T

Bolitho nodded. He had known it was BacchanteB too. Perhaps he had been hoping he was mistakenB that the mist and light were playing tricks?

But there was no doubting Taylor's conviction. It waY typical of such seamen as he. Once they had serveX with or aboard a ship they seemed to know her unde_

any condition. Taylor had only seen the frigate's uppe_ yards, but he had recognised her instantly?

Bolitho touched his arm. "Keep a good watch on herB Taylor." He slung his leg over the edge. "You've donO well.T

Then he was climbing and slipping downwards, hiY mind grappling with this new encounter. Once, when hO peered over his shoulder he thought he saw hazeX sunlight on the water, further away from the hull. So thO mist was thinning after all. But it was too late now, ib things went wrong?

Tyrrell was waiting for him by the quarterdeck rail, hiY eyes anxious as Bolitho jumped down from thO shrouds and hurried towards him?

"It's Bacchante!T

Bolitho stared past him at the upturned faces on thO gun deck, the faint leap of spray as the leadsma[ made yet another cast?

"Quarter less five!T

He turned to Tyrrell. "Colquhoun must have stooX well clear of land during the night. When the winX

backed it caught him out, as it did us. He must havO been driven miles along the Channel." He turned awayB his voice suddenly bitter. "The damn fool should havO stayed closer inshore! Now he's useless out therO beyond the shoals! It'd take him near half a day to beaU back into an attacking position!T

Tyrrell's hand rasped over his chin. "What'll we doU With the tide on th' turn we'll have to look sharp if we'rO to close with th' Frogs." He glanced at Buckle. "Ma guess is we should stand away and try again later.T

Buckle nodded slowly. "Mine, too. If Cap'[ Colquhoun's plan has gone off at half-cock then wO can't be expected to do better.T

Bolitho ignored him. "Pass the word, Mr. Tyrrell? Withdraw sweeps and have the guns loaded and ru[ out. Gun by gun, if you please, with as little noise aY possible." He studied Buckle's dubious expressio[ and added quietly, "I know the risk. So brail up thO courses and have the bosun prepare a stream ancho_ in case we have to take the way off her directly." HO thrust his hands behind his back. "You can think mO mad, Mr. Buckle." He heard the sweeps thumpin^ inboard on to their racks and the slow rumble of truckY as the first cannon were hauled towards the ope[