Bolitho 04 - Sloop of War (6 page)

Feet thudded on the quarterdeck above, and hO guessed that soon now the seamen would be turning tQ for another day. It had been two weeks since the littlO convoy had sailed from Antigua, and in that time thea had covered only half their set distance. One thousanX miles in open waters, and each mile marked ba perverse winds and no winds at all. Barely an hou_ passed without the need to call the hands to make o_ shorten sail, to trim yards in the hope of catching Z dying breeze, or to reef against one violent anX taunting squall?

Buckle's gloomy prediction about Sparrow's sailin^ qualities in a poor wind had proved only too true. TimO

and time again she had paid off, her canvas flapping i[ confusion as yet one more wind had died and left theR almost becalmed. Hard work and angry words haX eventually brought her back on station again, only tQ have the whole thing repeated before the end of Z watch?

Patrol and scouting duty had been the lot ob Sparrow's company for most of their commission anX they had yet to learn the true misery of convoy ove_ long passages. The two transports had not helped? They appeared totally unwilling to realise thO importance of staying in close company, so that if thea became scattered by a swift squall it took many hourY to urge, threaten and finally drive them back intQ formation. Colquhoun's curt signals had onla succeeded in antagonising the master of one of themB a big transport named Golden Fleece. On more tha[ one occasion he had ignored the signals altogether o_ had caused the Fawn to withdraw from her prope_ station at the head of the convoy in order to commencO a verbal exchange which could be heard by everyonO else nearby?

Bolitho climbed from the cot and walked slowly intQ the cabin, feeling the deck lifting gently beneath hiY bare feet before slipping away in a trough, the motio[

bringing the usual clatter of blocks, the drawn-ouU groan of the rudder as the helmsman brought the slooS back under command?

He leaned his hands on the sill of the stern windowY and stared out at the empty sea. The two transports, ib they were still together, would be somewhere o[ Sparrow's starboard bow. Bolitho's orders were to staa to windward of the well-laden ships so as to be reada to run down on any suspicious vessel and hold thO maximum advantage until she was proved friend o_ foe?

In fact they had sighted an unknown sail on threO separate occasions. Far astern, it had bee[ impossible to know if it was the same on each sightin^ or three individual vessels. Either way, Colquhoun haX refused to be drawn to investigate. Bolitho coulX sympathise with his unwillingness to leave the valuablO transports, especially as the wind might choose thO very moment when his sparse forces were scattered tQ play a new trick or bring some real enemy amongsU them. On the other hand, he was very conscious of Z sense of uneasiness after each call from thO masthead. The strange sail was like a will-o'-the-wispB and if it was hostile could be methodically following thO little convoy, awaiting exactly the right moment tQ

attack?

The door opened and Fitch padded into the cabi[ carrying two jugs. One was coffee, and the othe_ contained water from the galley for Bolitho's shave. I[ the pale light from the windows he looked smaller anX scrawnier than ever, and as usual kept his eyeY averted while he prepared the necessary cup fo_ Bolitho's first coffee of the day?

"How is it on deck?T

Fitch raised his eyes only slightly. "Mr. Tilby reckonY it'll be another roastin' day, sir.T

Tilby was the boatswain, a great untidy hulk of a ma[ who was given to some of the most profane languagO Bolitho had heard in ten years at sea. But hiY knowledge of weather, his forecast of what each daw[ might bring, had been only too accurate?

And under a blazing sun, with little space to finX shade or comfort, the Sparrow's seamen had morO torment to face before night found them again. It waY amazing how they all managed to survive in such Z small hull. What with extra stores and spare sparsB powder and shot, and countless other requirements fo_

keeping a ship at sea, some of the men were hard puU to find space for a hammock. In addition the Sparro/ had all the great lengths of anchor cable to be neatla stowed when she was under way. Several hundreX fathoms of thirteen-inch hemp for the main anchors anX another hundred of eight-inch for the kedge took uS more space than fifty human beings required for eve[ the most basic needs?

But if this or any other ship was to survive and livO from her own resources then such discomforts had tQ be endured?

He sipped the coffee. If only the wind would freshe[ and stay with them. It would help drive away thO weariness and drudgery of work aloft, and also givO him time to drill the guns' crews to better advantage? They had had few such drills during the first days out ob harbour, and once more he had been made aware ob the strange attitude of acceptance he had originalla noticed. Perhaps they had been so long withouU actually being called to do battle they had taken thO drills as merely something to be tolerated, eve[ expected from a new captain. Their timing had bee[ good enough, if somewhat rigid, they had gone througN all the motions of running out, traversing and pointingB but again and again he had felt something was badla

lacking. As the crews had faced outboard through thei_ open ports he had sensed their indifference. TherO was nothing to fight, so what was the point of it all, thei_ relaxed bodies seemed to indicate?

He had tackled Tyrrell about it but the first lieutenanU had said cheerfully, "Hell, sir, it don't signify they won'U be able to fight if th' time calls for it.T

Bolitho's sharp reply brought a new barrier betwee[ them, and for the moment he was prepared to let iU remain?

Captain Ransome must have used the sloop like Z personal possession, a yacht, he thought. SometimeY during the night when Bolitho had come down to thO cabin after a frustrating hour on deck watching thO hands shortening sail yet again he had pictureX Ransome with some woman or other. Or Tyrrell pacin^ the quarterdeck, tearing himself apart as he imagineX his sister just a few feet below him. He had noU mentioned the matter to Tyrrell since his first outburstB but had found himself wondering about the real storyB and what had happened to the girl after Ransome'Y sudden death?

Stockdale came into the cabin with the shavin^

bowl. He glared at Fitch and wheezed, "Get the cap'n'Y breakfast!T

To Bolitho he added, "'Nother clear mornin', sir." HO waited until Bolitho was in his chair and then held thO razor against the window. He seemed content with itY edge. "Wot we need is a real good blow." He showeX his uneven teeth. "Make some o' these young puppieY jump about!T

Bolitho relaxed as the razor moved precisely ove_ his chin. Stockdale said very little but he alwayY seemed to hit the exact point?

In between strokes he replied, "In another montN we'll be in the hurricane season again, Stockdale. ] hope that will satisfy you.T

The big coxswain grunted. "Seen 'em afore. Us'lT see 'em again an' live to tell of it.T

Bolitho gave up. Nothing, it seemed, could break thO man's supreme confidence in his ability to produce Z miracle, even in the face of a hurricane?

Voices rang out overhead, and then he heard feeU dashing down the companion ladder from thO quarterdeck?

It was Midshipman Heyward, impeccable as ever i[ spite of being on his feet for much of the night?

"Captain, sir." He watched Stockdale's razor poiseX in midair. "Mr. Graves's respects and Fawn has jusU signalled. Sail to the nor'-east.T

Bolitho snatched the towel. "Very well. I will comO up.T

Stockdale laid down the bowl. "That same one, sir?T

Bolitho shook his head. "Unlikely. She'd neve_ overreach us in one night, even if she was after ou_ blood." He rubbed his face vigorously. "But in thiY empty sea a sight of anything is welcome.T

When he reached the quarterdeck he found TyrelT and most of the others already there. Below thO mainmast the hands had just been mustered i[ readiness for the morning assault on the decks witN holystones and swabs, while others were waiting ba the pumps or just staring up at the barely filled sails? Graves touched his hat?

"Masthead lookout has not yet sighted anything, sir.T

Bolitho nodded and strode to the compass. North1 west by north. It seemed as if it had been riveted in thaU direction since time began. It was hardly surprisin^ Fawn had sighted the newcomer first. In her positio[ ahead and slightly to starboard of the transports shO was better placed. All the same, he would have wisheX otherwise. Fawn's signals and execution ob Colquhoun's orders always seemed to be that mucN quicker than his?

Through the criss-cross of rigging and shrouds anX slightly to starboard of the rearmost transport he sa/ the other sloop tacking awkwardly in the gentlO westerly breeze. With every stitch of canvas on he_ braced yards she was barely making headway?

From aloft came the sudden cry, "Deck there! SaiT on the starboard beam!T

Tyrrell crossed to Bolitho's side?

"What d'you think? One of our own?T

Graves said swiftly, "Or a damned Yankee, eh?T

Bolitho saw the exchange of glances, the sudde[ hostility between them like something physical?

He said calmly, "We will know directly, gentlemen.T

Midshipman Bethune called, "From Fawn, sir? Remain on station.T

Graves said complacently, "There goes Fawn. She'Y going about to take a soldier's wind under her tail.T

Bolitho said, "Get aloft, Mr. Graves. I want to kno/ everything you can discover about that sail.T

Graves stared at him. "I've a good hand aloft, sir.T

Bolitho met his resentment gravely. "And now ] require a good officer there, too, Mr. Graves. A[ experienced eye and not just a clear one.T

Graves moved stiffly to the weather shrouds anX after the merest hesitation began to climb?

Tyrrell said quietly, "Do him good, that one!T

Bolitho glanced around the crowded quarterdeck?

"Maybe, Mr. Tyrrell. But if you imagine I am using ma authority to foster some petty spite between you then ] must assure you otherwise." He lowered his voice. "IU is an enemy we are fighting, not each other!T

Then he took a telescope from the rack and walkeX to the foot of the mizzen mast. Steadying his legY against the uncomfortable motion he trained the glasY on the Fawn and then very slowly beyond her. MinuteY passed, and then as the distant ship lifted on somO large roller he saw her topgallant sails shining in thO first sunlight like matched pink shells. She was clawin^ her way closehauled on a converging course, her yardY braced so tightly they were almost fore-and-aft?

Graves yelled down, "Frigate, sir!" A pause as evera man looked up at his tiny silhouette against the sky? "English built!T

Bolitho stayed silent. English built perhaps. But whQ now stood behind her guns? He watched Fawn edgin^ round, her masthead pendant lifting and curlin^ listlessly. More flags shot up her yards and BethunO yelled, "From Fawn, sir. Recognition signal." A furthe_ pause as he groped through his grubby book. "She'Y the Miranda, thirty-two, Captain Selby, sir.T

Buckle said to the deck at large, "From EnglanX most likely.T

The light was already stronger, and as he stareX across the brightening water Bolitho could feel the firsU

warm rays against his face. From England. Every ma[ aboard was probably thinking of those words. ExcepU for Tyrrell and the colonists in the company. But all thO rest would be picturing his own past way of life. VillagO or farm, some ale house outside a harbour or fishin^ port. A woman's face, a child's last grip before thO harder hands of the pressgang?

He found himself thinking of his own home i[ Falmouth. The great stone house below PendenniY Castle where his father would be waiting anX wondering about him and his brother Hugh, while hO remained in Cornwall. Like all the Bolitho ancestorsB his father had been a sea-officer, but having lost a[ arm and his health was now confined to a landbounX existence, always within sight of the ships and the seZ which had forsaken him?

"From Fawn, sir. General. Heave to.T

Colquhoun, it seemed, was quite satisfied with thO other ship's identity. For once the two transportY needed no extra goading to obey the signal. PerhapY like the rest they, too, were eager for news from thaU other world?

Bolitho closed the glass and handed it to Z

boatswain's mate?

"Shorten sail, Mr. Tyrrell, and heave to as ordered.T He waited until the lieutenant had shouted for thO topmen to get aloft and then added, "That frigate haY been hard worked so her mission must be important.T

He had watched the newcomer while she had forgeX towards the uneven cluster of ships, had seen the greaU scars on her hull where the sea had pared away thO paintwork like a giant knife. Her sails, too, lookeX much repaired, evidence of a rapid voyage?

Bethune shouted, "Miranda's hoisted another signalB sir!" He swayed in the shrouds as he tried to level hiY big telescope. "To Fawn. Captain repair on board.T

Once again Fawn's response was swift, her big gi^ being swayed out within minutes of the signal. BolithQ could imagine Colquhoun hurrying to the other ship anX the Miranda's consternation when they discovered thaU he was senior to their own captain?

Whatever it entailed, the matter was obviousla urgent, and not merely an exchange of gossip at thiY chance encounter in open waters?