Bolitho 04 - Sloop of War (38 page)

A ripple of flashes spouted from the frigate's side? Balls plunged into the sea nearby, although with sQ many white-horses on each beam it was hard to telT

shot from spray?

Overhead a ball whined between the masts, and Z seaman fell from the mainyard, hitting the seZ alongside without surfacing until he was far astern?

Majendie said hoarsely, "The poor fellow! God resU his soul!T

Bolitho nodded. "Aye. That was bad luck.T

He stared along the gun deck where his men workeX like demons to retrim the yards and secure halliardY which were swollen with damp. Hardly one of them haX looked up as the man had fallen. Later perhaps thea would mourn. But maybe, like himself, they werO thanking God that Sparrow had answered their callB had not scorned their efforts to drag her into the winX and risk demasting or crippling her to lie an easy prizO under the enemy's guns?

"Steer due south, Mr. Buckle. We will gain somO room before we attempt to wear.T

Buckle gazed astern. The frigate was going aboutB the heart gone from her original challenge. "There hO goes, God rot him!" Buckle grinned at his helmsmen? "Thought we were going to surrender without a fightB

did he?T

Majendie watched Bolitho's strained face. "Mana would have done, Captain. Even I, a landsman, kno/ you were badly matched.T

Bolitho forced a smile. "But we did not fight, ma friend." He glanced briefly astern. "Not this time.T

He shut the picture of the failing topman from hiY mind. It was to be hoped he died instantly. To see hiY ship sailing on without him would make his lasU moments on earth worse than death itself?

"Now, fetch Mr. Graves and the lookouts. We will puU all our information together." He caught Majendie's arR as a deep plunge all but threw him down thO quarterdeck ladder. "Steady there! I may want you tQ make some sketches for the admiral. It seems thO fashionable thing to do these days.T

When at last he was satisfied with Sparrow's coursO and trim he walked aft and looked for the land. But iU was lost from view, and he guessed that rain covereX the headland and the frigate which had so nearla caught them in a trap?

He stripped off his shirt and mopped his neck anX chest with it. Majendie watched him and then peereX glumly at his sodden pad. That, he decided, woulX have been the best sketch of all?

Bolitho read carefully through his prepared report anX then thrust it into an envelope. Stockdale stood besidO the table, a candle and wax ready to seal it, now that iU seemed there was nothing more to add?

Bolitho leaned back and stretched his arms. For twQ whole days they had fought their way south-west, losin^ sight of land and intent only on gaining advantage ove_ the wind. Tacking back and forth for hours at a time tQ record but a few miles in actual progress. It had bee[ hard work for everyone, but now that the wind haX decided to back still further Sparrow had at last bee[ able to turn towards the mainland. With luck they woulX anchor at Sandy Hook tomorrow. He glanced at thO open log book and smiled. It was sobering to realisO that in the time it had taken to reach Newport, fight thO adverse weather and return to Sandy Hook by thiY frustrating and delaying method, he could have saileX his ship clear across the Atlantic to Falmouth with dayY to spare?

"Will I seal it now, sir?" Stockdale watched hiR patiently?

"I think so.T

He closed his eyes, memorising the statements hO had obtained from Graves and the lookouts. Thea differed in small details, but one thing was clear. IU seemed more than likely to expect a combineX Franco-American attack on New York, and soon. HO found some satisfaction in the fact that if the weathe_ had delayed his swift return, then it would equalla hamper the enemy?

"Deck there! Sail on th' weather bow!T

Bolitho pushed Stockdale's candle aside. "Later.T Then he hurried from the cabin?

Because of the Sparrow's need to gain advantagO from the wind they had driven far to the south-west? Now, having at last found the wind's favour, thO compass pointed north-west by north, with Sandy Hoo7 some ninety miles ahead. The afternoon was hot buU clear, and even from the deck it was possible to seO the small pyramid of canvas to show that the othe_ vessel was standing on a converging tack?

"Bring her up a point. Steer nor'-west.T

He took a glass from Bethune and steadied it abovO the nettings?

The masthead called, "Brigantine, sir!T

He looked at Tyrrell. "Ours probably.T

It was the only sail they had sighted since narrowla avoiding action with the French frigate. It was alwayY good to meet a friendly ship, and he would pass somO of his news across to her, in case she was making fo_ the north and might pass too close to the enemy'Y squadron at Newport?

With the wind blowing keenly it did not take long fo_ both ships to draw near one another?

"He intends to pass to lee'rd." Bolitho raised thO glass again?

Brigantines were untidy looking ships. Square1 rigged on the foremast, and with a schooner's fore1 and-aft sail on the main, they appeared ill-designedB but were known capable of outdistancing even Z frigate under good conditions?

Bolitho said, "Signal her to heave to. I will speak witN her master.T

Tyrrell said, "Anyway, she's English. No doubt abouU that.T

Flags soared up the newcomer's yards and broke tQ the wind?

Bethune shouted, "She's the Five Sisters, sir!" HO fumbled with his book while Fowler stood a little apartB his mouth set in an expression of disdain. "Shown herO as under warrant to the Governor at New York.T

"Thought as much." Tyrrell frowned. "Law untQ themselves, and crewed by some real rascals, I can telT you." He sighed. "Still, a warrant keeps 'em safe froR th' press and risking their precious necks.T

The brigantine had crossed Sparrow's bows anX was moving steadily on the starboard tack. BolithQ could see the red and gold flag at her fore, the triR semblance of order usually found in a governmenU sponsored vessel. She was drawing closer, and woulX eventually pass less than half a cable clear?

Bolitho saw Majendie and Dalkeith by the nettings?

The former scribbling frantically, the surgeon peerin^ over his shoulder with obvious interest?

"She's heaving to, sir.T

The brigantine was coming up into the wind, he_ canvas aback and the big mainsail diminishin^ steadily as the seamen took charge of it?

Bolitho nodded approvingly. It had been welT executed?

"Luff, Mr. Tyrrell. I will hail her while she rides unde_ our lee.T

The crash and boom of flapping canvas made ana sort of conversation difficult, for as Sparrow turneX closer into the wind and her way was reduced to Z crawl, every sail and shroud seemed intent o[ drowning Bolitho's voice?

He held the speaking trumpet in both hands anX shouted, "Where are you bound?T

Across the short wave-crests he heard the reply?

"Montego Bay! Jamaica!T

Tyrrell remarked, "Bit off course, I'd say.T

The voice came again. "We were chased by Z Spanish frigate yesterday. Gave him the slip during thO night, but you might report him for me.T

The brigantine was falling downwind and her yardY were moving restlessly to show her master was eage_ to be on his way?

Bolitho lowered the trumpet. There was no point i[ detaining her longer. And he would get precious littlO thanks for so doing by the New York authorities. It waY odd to realise that she probably came under thO control of men like Blundell, who knew nothing anX cared less for the sea?

He heard Dalkeith murmur, "By God, that captain'Y face! I've never seen such cruel burns and know a ma[ to live!T

Bolitho snapped, "Give me that glass!" He snatcheX it from the astonished surgeon and levelled it on thO other ship's poop?

Through the black rigging and loosely flapping sailY he saw him. His coat collar was turned up to his earY despite the heat, and his hat was drawn firmly almosU

to eye-level. Bolitho realised that the brigantine'Y captain had not only lost half his face, but an eye aY well, and he was holding his head at a stiff, unnaturaT angle as he trained the remaining one on the sloop?

So the brigantine had something to do with Blundell? He could picture them murmuring together in the studyB the scarred face half hidden in shadow?

Buckle called worriedly, "Permission to get the shiS under way, sir? We're riding a bit close.T

"Very well.T

Bolitho waved to the men on the brigantine's dec7 and turned to watch Majendie again. He was hangin^ on the nettings, scribbling and shading, smoothing ouU and adding detail even as the Five Sisters reset he_ foresail and began to gather way downwind?

Dalkeith grinned. "Not bad, Rupert! I daresay somO of our naval companions will assist you with detail ob rigging, eh?T

Tyrrell limped over to him and peered across hiY narrow shoulder. He seized the pad and exclaimedB "Holy God! If I didn't know for sure ...T

Bolitho strode to his side. The picture was of thO brigantine's poop, with officers and seamen caught i[ realistic attitudes, even if, as Dalkeith had hinted, thO details of rigging were imperfect?

He felt himself go cold as he saw Majendie'Y drawing of the ship's captain. Distance and scale haX wiped away the terrible scars, so that he stood out likO a figure from the past. He looked at Tyrrell, who waY still watching his face?

Tyrrell said quietly, "You remember, sir? You were toQ busy fighting and guarding me from attack." He turneX to stare at the other ship. "But after I took that ball in ma thigh I had plenty of time to watch that bugger.T

Bolitho tried to clear the dryness from his throat? With stark clarity he saw the fury and hatred of battle aY if it had been yesterday. The Sparrow's seamen bein^ cut down and driven from Bonaventure's decks. AnX the privateer's captain, standing like some detacheX onlooker, calling on him to strike and surrender?

He snapped, "Put the ship about! Hands aloft anX set t'gallants!T

To Majendie he added softly, "Thanks to you, I thin7

we may solve a mystery today.T

The instant Sparrow showed her intentions, anX even as the fore topgallant sail bellied from its yard, thO brigantine also increased her canvas and headeX away?

"Clear for action, sir?T

"No.T

He watched the jib-boom edging round until iU fastened on the brigantine's starboard quarter like Z bridge. In fact she was two cables clear and showeX no sign of losing her lead?

"It must be quickly done. We will go alongside anX grapple. Tell Mr. Graves to loose off a ball from thO larboard bowchaser. Lively now!T

Buckle said grimly, "We're overhauling him, sir.T

Bolitho nodded. Tyrrell understood what waY happening, but so far nobody else had even hinteX surprise at his actions. To all intents he was chasing Z government vessel with which, minutes earlier, he haX been exchanging pleasantries?

Bang. The bow-chaser's black muzzle lurcheX inboard on its tackles, and Bolitho saw the waterspouU shoot upwards within a boat's length of the brigantine'Y side?

"She's shortening sail now!" Buckle soundeX satisfied?

"Pass the word for Mr. Graves to muster a boardin^ party!" Bolitho watched narrowly as the other shiS began to yaw heavily in a procession of troughs. "Mr? Heyward, take charge of the gun deck! Mr. BethuneB accompany the second lieutenant!T

Men scampered to the larboard gangway, cutlasseY bared, and some carrying muskets above their headY to avoid misfiring into their companions?

"Steady, Mr. Buckle!" Bolitho held out his hand anX looked up at the yards. Sails were vanishing brisklyB and as the forecourse rose booming and writhing to itY yard he saw the brigantine slipping under the larboarX bow, as if both ships were being drawn together ba hawsers. "Steady!T

Along the gangway picked seamen swung thei_ grapnels, while others scurried forward to fend off thO

first contact?

Across the shortening range Bolitho heard, "StanX away there! I command you to keep clear! I will havO the law on your head!T

Bolitho felt his tension easing. If he had harboureX doubts they were gone now. There was no mistakin^ that voice. Too many of Sparrow's seamen had dieX that day aboard Bonaventure for him ever to forget?

He raised the trumpet. "Take in your sails and brin^ to instantly!T

He heard the grumble of chocks and guessed thO brigantine's crew were well able to see the big thirty1 two-pounder as it was run out again?

Warily, and with great skill, both vessels slowla edged round, their progress through the choppy wate_ falling almost to nothing, their seamen taking in canvaY and trimming yards in harmony with the change ob rudder. It was perfectly done, and with little more than Z shudder Sparrow nudged against the brigantine's hulT and ground forward before coming to rest with he_ bowspirit level with the other's foremast. Grapnels fle/ from the gangway, and Bolitho saw Graves waving hiY

men forward, and Bethune swinging out on the forO shrouds, his dirk seeming too small for so heavy Z midshipman?

Tyrrell rested his hands on the rail and said, "ShO carries a deck cargo as well." He pointed to a largO canvas hump below the forecastle. "Booty for thd master, no doubt!T