Bolitho 04 - Sloop of War (44 page)

He looked towards the land. "We will weigh at firsU light and move closer inshore. Have the sweeps reada in case the wind loses us. I'll not throw Tyrrell and hiY men away without a fight." He remembered thO lieutenant's words in that far off garden. In Sparrow wO look after our own. He added quietly, "We've all comO too far together for that.T

Dalkeith crossed the deck as Bolitho walked to thO

taffrail. To Buckle he whispered, "What's the captai[ going to do?T

Buckle shrugged. "Something crazy, I expect.T

The surgeon wiped his hands on a piece of waste? "But you approve, nonetheless?T

Buckle grinned. "Don't make much difference what ] think, does it? But I s'pect he'll think of something." HO added vehemently, "I bloody well hope so, for all ou_ sakes!T

18 ONLY THE BRAVY

STOCKDALE padded across the quarterdeck anX held out a pewter mug?

"'Ere, sir. Some coffee.T

Bolitho took it and held it to his lips. It was barely hotB but cleared the dryness from his throat?

Stockdale added thickly, "The galley fire waY doused, so I 'ad to warm it on a lantern in the shoU locker.T

Bolitho looked at him. Was it imagination, or werO Stockdale's features growing more distinct in thO gloom? He shivered. More likely he had been too lon^ on deck, waiting and wondering. Yet he could do nQ good by pacing the deck and going over his ideaY again and again?

"It was a kind thought." He handed him the mug. "] feel awake now?

He peered up at the rigging and furled sails. ThO stars were still there, but paler. That was no illusion?

"Where is the wind?T

Stockdale considered the question. "As afore, sir? Nor' nor'east, if I'm not mistook.T

Bolitho bit his lip. He had already decided it was so? Stockdale was usually right, but his confirmation diX little to help?

He said, "Rouse the master. He is by the hatchway.T

Buckle sprang to his feet, wide awake aU Stockdale's first touch?

"What is it? An attack?T

"Easy, Mr. Buckle." Bolitho beckoned him to the rail? "The wind has dropped, but still too far north'rd to helS us.T

The master said nothing and waited to see what thO captain had in mind?

"If we are to be of any use, we must drive higher intQ the bay. It would take hours of tacking back and forthB with little to show for our pains. But if we stay here aU anchor we can help neither the first lieutenant no_ ourselves if an enemy arrives.T

Buckle yawned. "That's true enough.T

"So call all hands and run out the sweeps. We wilT get under way and not wait for the dawn.T

Buckle pulled out his watch and held it against thO compass light?

"Hmm. It'll be a hard pull, sir. But the current will noU be too much against us.T

He walked to the nettings and kicked a shadowa figure who was sleeping soundly on the bare planks?

"Up, boy! Tell Mr. Glass to call the hands. Jump to it!T

Bolitho went quickly to his cabin and concentrateX for several minutes on his chart. Recalling what TyrrelT had told him, and adding the information to what hO knew already, he settled on his plan of action. BeyonX the cabin he could hear the tramp of feet at thO capstan, the regular clink of a pawl as the cable camO inbcard?

He put on his coat and adjusted his swordbelt. Ho/ strange the cabin looked in the solitary lantern's light? Cleared for action like the rest of his ship, the gunY creaking gently behind their sealed ports, powder anX shot, rammers and sponges, all within easy reach. BuU no one stood near them, for like the remainder of thO gun deck, every hand would be needed to raise ancho_ and man the long sweeps. The latter had got them ouU of trouble before. This time they might do the same fo_ Tyrrell and his men?

He left the cabin and ran swiftly up the ladder?

It was lighter. There could be no doubt about it. E sort of greyness above Cape Henry, and he could seO the swirl of currents well clear of the hull?

He saw the long sweeps swaying above the wate_ on either beam, the men hunched around themB chattering quietly while they awaited an order from aft?

Heyward touched his hat. "Anchor's hove short, sir.T He sounded tense and very alert?

Bolitho strode from side to side, watching the ship'Y swing towards the shore, the ripple of water below thO gangways?

"How does it feel? From midshipman to firsU lieutenant with barely a pause?T

He did not hear Heyward's reply, and knew he haX only asked the question to cover his own anxiety. If thO men lost control of the sweeps he would have tQ anchor immediately. Even then he might be driven toQ close inshore for comfort?

From forward he heard Bethune's cry, "Anchor'Y aweigh, sir!" The patter of feet as men ran from thO capstan bars to add their weight on the sweeps?

Then Glass's voice, "Steady! Standby!T

Bolitho gripped his hands together until the fingerY almost cracked. Why the hell was he leaving it so lateU

In a moment the ship would be aground?

"Give way all!T

The sweeps swayed forward, dipped and then camO steadily aft?

Behind him Bolitho heard the wheel easing gentlyB and Buckle's quiet cursing as he endured the tensio[ in his own style. He tried to relax his muscles. GlasY had been right to make sure of that first stroke. But iU was one thing to know it, another to remain aloof in thO face of danger to his ship?

Up and down, forward to aft, the sweeps creakeX busily but without undue haste, until Buckle calledB "Steerage way, sir!T

"Good. Hold her due north, if you please.T

Heyward removed his coat. "I'll go and lend a handB sir.T

"Yes. Make sure we have every available ma[ working. Those redcoats as well, if they have thO strength." He checked him as he ran for the ladder? "There is no need to tell the soldiers we are headin^ towards the enemy, Mr. Heyward!" He saw him grin?

"They'll find out soon enough.T

Buckle and a solitary seaman stood at the wheelB and Bolitho walked right aft to the taffrail withouU speaking. He saw the nearest cape more clearly nowB the pattern of white-caps at its base to mark somO small cove. An empty place. When daylight came, anX Heron was seen to be gone, his men might questio[ his action, and rightly. But if their presence was to be ob any use to the admiral, then they must learn everythin^ possible. The released soldiers had told them much? But a lot could have changed since they had bee[ taken. He smiled grimly. He was deluding himself. BuU for Tyrrell and the others, would he really havO remained here in the bayU

He heard shouts on deck and someone speaking i[ French. Heyward was more than a good companionB he was proving to be an excellent officer. WithouU further consultation, and at the risk of his captain'Y displeasure, he had released the French prisoners anX put them to work. All strong, beefy soldiers who had leX a fairly comfortable life guarding prisoners, they woulX make a small but significant difference to the heava sweeps?

Some gulls rose screaming angrily from the wate_

where they had been sleeping as the Sparrow moveX amongst them at a slow but steady crawl. TimO dragged by, and Bolitho saw that the soldiers' coatY were red again instead of black as they had appeareX in the darkness. Faces regained personality, and hO was able to see those who were standing the strai[ and others who were being relieved at more frequenU intervals to regain their breath?

A blacker shadow loomed and held firm across thO starboard bow. That must be the inner side of CapO Charles, he decided, with Tyrell's middle-ground somO distance below it?

"Bring her up a point, Mr. Buckle." He heard the helR squeak. "We must pass the cape with the mainland tQ larboard. There'll not be too much water in the channelB so hold her steady.T

"Aye, sir. Nor' by east it is!T

The ship was heading almost directly into the windB and he could feel it on his face, smell the land and itY freshness in the dawn air. But it was more shelteredB and he was relieved to see the sweeps were stilT moving in unison, although the actual progress waY probably less than a knot?

He sought out the young ensign and called him aft? He arrived panting on the quarterdeck, and BolithQ said, "Look abeam. How near are your outposts?T

The soldier peered across the larboard nettings anX raised one arm?

"That bit of land, sir. That'll he the turning point. A loU of sand there. We lost some barges a few weeks bac7 when they ran ashore. A mile or so further and you'll bO able to see the mouth of York River just beyond a pai_ of small islands.T

Bolitho smiled. "I expect you're surprised we'rO heading this way.T

The ensign shrugged. "I am past surprise, sir." HO stiffened. "I heard a bugle. That'll be our lads." HO tapped the rail with his fingers, his face engrossed? Then there was a long-drawn-out trumpet call, whicN sent a cloud of gulls flapping and squeaking from thO land. He said, "The Frogs. Always a minute behind ou_ reveille.T

Bolitho tried to break him from his mood. "What ob the Americans?T

The ensign sighed. "They have artillery over the river? They'll start firing at first light. More effective than ana damn bugle!T

Bolitho turned towards Buckle. "We will keep on thiY course as long as our people have strength for it. ThO wind will favour us when we finally go about, but I wanU to get as far above York River as I can.T

He looked aloft and saw the masthead pendant fo_ the first time. It was flapping gently astern, but showeX no warning of a strengthening wind. If it got up now, hiY men would be unable to hold the stroke. Even witN Tyrrell's boat crews it would have been hard. WithouU them, impossible?

When he glanced abeam he saw the overhangin^ spur of Cape Charles, and far beyond it, like a thi[ gold thread, the horizon. Showing its face to the su[ which was easing into view, parting sea from sky, nighU from day?

There was a muffled bang, and seconds later hO saw the telltale white fin of spray to mark where a balT had ploughed into the bay?

The ensign remarked indifferently, "They'll neve_

reach you at this range. You've a good half a mile tQ play with.T

"Where is the battery?T

The soldier studied him curiously. "Everywhere, sir? There are guns right round this sector. Yorktown and itY approaches are hemmed in a ring of iron. Our arma has the sea at its back." He suddenly looked vera young and vulnerable. "Only the fleet can bring reliefT

Bolitho pictured Farr's Heron making all hastO towards New York. Even there he might find HooX gone, perhaps further still to Newport to contain dO Barras?

He thought, too, of Odell's solitary vigil in his Lucifer? If the French did come by way of the little-useX Bahama Channel, he would need no encouragemenU to make sail and run?

He blinked as a shaft of sunlight played across thO distant cape and coloured the yards and stays likO honey. He pulled out his watch. Tyrrell should havO made his contact with Cornwallis's pickets and be o[ his way back to Lynnhaven by now. By weighing anX putting the men to the sweeps, their meeting shoulX

have been brought forward by an hour at least?

Glass ran up the ladder, his chest heaving froR exertion?

"Can't hold 'em much longer, sir!" He peered dow[ at the sweeps, at their sluggish rise and fall. "Shall I puU the rope's end to 'em, sir?T

"You will not." Bolitho looked away. There was nQ malice in Glass, nor was he prone to unnecessara force. It was just that he did not know what else to do? "Tell them. Another half hour. Then we make sail, o_ anchor.T

Glass shifted awkwardly. "It'd be better from you, sir.T

Bolitho walked to the rail and called, "One more tur[ of the glass, lads!" He heard groans, the mingleX curses and gasps from those still hidden in shadow? "It's that or leave our people out there to fend fo_ themselves! Remember, it might have been you!T

He turned away, not knowing if his words haX achieved anything but resentment?

Glass watched critically and then spat on his hands? "That done it, sir! Better already!T

Bolitho sighed. The stroke looked as weary aY before, but if the boatswain was satisfied, then ..? He swung round as a voice called, "Boat, sir! FinO on the larboard bow!T Bolitho gripped the rail. "Just the one?T "Aye, sir.T "Bring her round two points to larboard.T

Bolitho tried not to think about the missing boat. HO felt the hull yaw, the stroke failing as the helm wenU over?

The soldier said quietly, "No closer, I pray you. You'lT be in cannon-shot before long.T Bolitho ignored him. "Pull, lads! Come on, do you_ damndest!T One man fell exhausted from a loom and waY dragged away by Dalkeith? The lookout yelled, "It's the second cutter, sir! Mr? Graves!T

Dalkeith heaved himself up the ladder and stood aU the rail?

"I know what you're thinking, sir." He did not flincN under Bolitho's cold stare. "He'd not leave you. Not fo_ anything.T

Bolitho looked past his shoulder at a patch of land. I[ the strengthening light he saw tall trees and a round hilT beyond. They were motionless. The sweeps were onla keeping Sparrow steady against wind and current. In Z minute she would start to pay-off and drift inshore. Thea had done their best. It was not enough?