Bolitho 04 - Sloop of War (9 page)

Provided the brig was not too badly damaged shO might be useful to the fleet. Either way, Miranda'Y captain would gain a nice purse of prize money?

He tore his eyes away as sounds of angry voiceY came up the quarterdeck ladder at his side?

It was Tilby, flushed from some secret hoard of rumB his face heavy with rage as he said, "Beg pardon, sirB but this 'ere man says 'e wants to speak to 'ee." HO glared severely at the seaman in question. "I told 'iR that no man under punishment can speak to an office_ without permission.T

Bolitho saw that the seaman behind Tilby was thO one waiting to be flogged. He was a young, well-madO man and was dragging at the boatswain's arm witN frantic determination?

"What is it, Yelverton?" Bolitho nodded to Tilby. "Is iU so important?T

The seaman reached the quarterdeck anX swallowed hard. "That ship, sir! She ain't no Indiaman0 She's a damned Frenchie! I seen her in Boston somO years back!T

Bolitho swung round. "God in heaven!T

It was at that moment the oncoming merchantma[ fired a full broadside into the Miranda's unmanned sidO as she passed, the sound going on and on until iU reached the heart of every man in the convoy?

4 A TOTAL RESPONSIBILITd

EVEN AT two miles' range Bolitho saw the MirandZ give a violent shiver as the broadside swept acrosY her. It must have been aimed high, for as the smokO fanned away he saw the havoc left by the sudde[ onslaught, maintopmast gone, and most of her sailY ripped and punctured like rags in a gale?

He thrust himself from the nettings and noticed thaU the men near him were still standing like groups ob statues, or people so stricken they were unable to thin7 or respond?

He shouted, "Mr. Tyrrell! Beat to quarters and clea_ for action!" He gripped Bethune's arm, seeing hiY dazed expression as he added, "Run up the colours!T

A ship's boy seized his drum and began to beat ouU the staccato tattoo. The men on deck, and poised i[ the bows where they had waited to watch Miranda'Y swift victory, came alive and began to run to thei_ stations. But gone was the automatic movement ob men at drill, or the grim silence of old hands facing onO more battle. They hurried like those already toQ confused to act for a set purpose. Some cannoned intQ

one another, others stood momentarily at the wron^ gun, or groping with unfamiliar equipment until a petta officer kicked them away?

Bolitho looked at Buckle, trying to keep his tone leveT amidst the din around him. "Get the courses off he_ and set the t'gallants. There'll be enough risk of firO without having the canvas burn around our ears.T

Below the quarterdeck he heard the thud and ban^ of screens being torn down, a patter of feet as the boyY dashed from the magazine with powder for eacN waiting gun?

He made himself face the approaching shipsB knowing it was taking far too long to prepare for action? How near they looked. There was more gunfire, and hO saw smoke lifting and writhing between the vesselY making it impossible to know what was happening?

He held his breath as he saw the Miranda's yardY swinging above the smoke, and knew her captain waY trying to go about and run parallel with his attacker? Guns roared through the drifting fog, their long orangO tongues flashing above the churned water, some of thO balls whipping away over open sea, leaving viciouY spurts of spray to mark their progress?

Miranda was still edging round, her pockmarkeX sails flapping weakly as she began to swing past thO wind's eye. Her captain was either going to fight thO bigger ship gun to gun, or intended to slip past he_ stern and rake her with a broadside as he did so?

Bolitho heard someone groan as the enemy fireX into the smoke. Gun by gun down her hidden side, thO balls could almost be felt across the tumbling white1 horses?

It was superbly timed, catching the frigate even aY she was beginning to pass across the wind. ThO enemy was using langridge or chain-shot, for as thO slow broadside smashed home Bolitho saw thO Miranda's fore and mainmasts stagger and then begi[ to topple sideways into the smoke, the sails jerking tQ the bombardment. From a lithe and beautiful ship to Z crippled wreck, the Miranda was still trying to turn, he_ bow-chaser firing blindly, the ensign showing scarleU from her mizzen?

Tyrrell shouted wildly, "Cleared for action!T

Bolitho looked at him. "Load and run out, if yof please.T

The lieutenant stayed facing him, his eyes very brighU in the sunlight. "You ain't going to fight both of 'emB surely?T

"If necessary.T

Bolitho turned as more shots echoed and murmureX across the shortening distance. He saw the bri^ clawing away from the two larger ships, he_ maintopgallant leaning at a dangerous angle wherO Miranda's first balls had found their mark?

The planks vibrated under his shoes, and as the porU lids opened the Sparrow's eighteen guns squeakeX and rumbled towards the sunlight, the bare-backeX seamen slipping on sanded decks as they tried tQ keep in time to the shouted commands from thei_ captains?

Bolitho stared along the length of his ship witN something like despair. In moments now, all would bO finished. His ship, his precious Sparrow, would bO sharing the frigate's fate?

And it had all been so easy. It had happened sQ often in the past that the sight of a helplesY merchantman being harried by a well-armed privatee_

had not even aroused the faintest suspicion. NQ wonder the privateer's sails had been unmarked i[ their carefully staged battle. How the two America[ captains must have laughed when Miranda had swepU in to defend her own murderer?

He felt Stockdale breathing noisily beside him, thO sudden grip of the swordbelt around his waist?

He said huskily, "By God, sir, them's bad odds!T

"Deck there!" The masthead lookout had bee[ forgotten in the sight of disaster. "Miranda's goin' tQ grapple!" The unseen lookout gave a cracked cheer? "She's goin' to close with the bugger!T

Bolitho ran to the rail. The frigate was almost hidde[ by the heavier shape of the enemy ship, but he coulX tell from the set of her mizzen that she was indeeX lurching towards her attacker. Another crash of gunfirO made the smoke spout upwards between them, anX the frigate's remaining mast vanished in a welter ob rigging and ripped canvas. But Bolitho could see thO sudden activity on the enemy's gangways, the surge ob figures by her foremast, and pictured the battereX frigate heading her bows straight for the forecastle? Muskets cracked feebly across the water, and he sa/

the telltale flash of steel as the two vessels grounX momentarily together and the fight became hand tQ hand?

He grasped Tyrrell's arm and shouted, "Miranda'Y given us time!" He saw no understanding in his eyesB only disbelief. "If she can hold on, we will close with thO brig!T

He shaded his face against the glare and watcheX the brig as she swept down towards the two transports?

"She'll cross Golden Fleece's bows, and rake her aY she passes." He was shouting his thoughts aloud. "WO will wear ship directly, pass between the transportsB and return the compliment!T

Tyrrell bit his lip. "But we might collide with thd privateer, sir!T

Bolitho swung him round, pointing him at thO embattled ships?

"Do you want those lads to die for nothing, man?T He pushed him to the rail. "Now get ready to wea_ when I give the order!T

The brig was already dead ahead of Sparrow'Y

raked jib-boom, no more than a mile away. Aboard thO leading transport Bolitho could see smoke from Z solitary gun, although he saw no sign of a ball?

"Signal the transports to keep station, Mr. Bethune!T He repeated the order to break the midshipman froR his unmoving stance. "Lively!T

If either of the transports' captains lost his head no/ all would fail. The enemy would destroy or capture aU leisure. Even now there was little room for hope of ana kind?

And all of it, from the first hint of surprise to thiY moment, had been merely minutes?

He made himself walk aft towards the taffrail, hiY eyes passing over the crouching swivel gunners, thO two helmsmen at their unprotected wheel, Buckle grim1 faced and staring at the sails above. All of them?

He saw Raven, the new master's mate, watching hiR wretchedly, and paused to say, "You weren't to know? She was an Indiaman after all, but not, I fear, as shO was intended.T

Raven shook his head, so concerned with his failurO to recognise the enemy that he seemed oblivious tQ

the sporadic crash of cannon fire?

"I should've seen 'er, sir. But I saw what I expected tQ see, an' I'm powerful sorry on it after you givin' me Z chance to better meself.T

Bolitho smiled, feeling his lips cracking with thO effort?

"And I will expect you to do even better this day, Mr? Raven!T

He strode aft, hands behind his back, the new sworX flapping against his thigh?

Buckle pursed his lips in a silent whistle. "He's Z calm one. Death coming up the hawse an' he jusU walks about like he was enjoying himself.T

Behind the fixed smile Bolitho continued to pace thO deck, his ears pitched above the gunfire to catch thO news that the brig had reached the first transport. If he_ captain saw through his frail plan it would be pointlesY to continue with it. He would either have to run awaa from the fight and carry Miranda's important news tQ the admiral, or stay and await the final meeting with thO converted Indiaman. A few of the Miranda's guns werO

still firing here and there, their muzzles almosU overlapping those of the other ship. Between decks iU must be a slaughterhouse, he thought despairingly?

Tyrrell shouted, "Brig's crossing her bows!T

Sharper explosions echoed over the water, anX Bolitho knew the brig was firing her starboard battera as she ran easily across the transport's bowsprit? Before she had vanished beyond Golden Fleece'Y great bulk he saw the American flag whipping jauntila from her gaff, the sudden stab of musket fire from he_ low deck as sharpshooters practised their aim?

Now." Bolitho sliced the air. "Wear ship!T

As the helm went over and along the Sparrow'Y crowded decks the men threw themselves on thO braces, the hull seemed to stagger violently under thO shock. Blocks screamed, and above the decks thO great yards creaked round with such speed thaU Bolitho could feel the whole fabric shaking in protest? But nothing carried away, and as she heeled steeply tQ take the wind under her stern the sails lifted then filleX to its thrust?

Bolitho cupped his hands. "Mr. Graves! Engage witN

the larboard guns first! You will point the thirty-two1 pounder yourself" He saw Graves nod beforO vanishing beneath the forecastle in the direction of thO bow-chaser?

How fast she was moving, despite both her courseY being brailed up to the yards for fear of fire when thO guns started to engage. The maintopgallant seemed tQ bend forward, the masthead pendant flicking straighU out towards the bows as if to point the way?

Already the jib-boom must be crossing the leadin^ transport's quarter, and to starboard Bolitho saw thO second one, Bear, altering course slightly as if fearfuT of a collision with the sloop which was dashing acrosY her path?

More shots came from beyond the first transportB and he saw smoke funnelling down her hull to mark thO brig's progress?

From forward came the cry, "Thar she be! On thd larboard bow!T

The Sparrow's unexpected appearance between thO two transports seemed to have caught the brig'Y captain totally by surprise. The privateer was passin^

down the transport's side, about a cable clear, he_ yards braced round to hold her on a starboard tack?

Bolitho yelled, "We'll cross the enemy's hawse anX rake him as we go!" He saw some of his men starin^ at him from their guns, faces strained and confused? He drew his sword and held it over his head. "As yof bear, lads! Make each ball strike home!T

The brig was barely half a cable away, her bowspriU pointing at right angles towards Sparrow's figurehead? The distance seemed to be failing away at Z tremendous speed, and Bolitho knew that if he haX misjudged it, or if the wind chose this instant to dropB the enemy would drive into the sloop's side like Z battering ram and split her seams wide open?

The big thirty-two-pounder in the bows broke thO spell, the crash of the explosion transmitting itselb through the deck until it reached Bolitho's feet. He sa/ the brig's shrouds slashed open, the whirl of brighU wood splinters as the ball ploughed into her tiereX boats. Then gun by gun down Sparrow's side thO broadside continued, with Graves bursting into thO smoky sunlight, waving his sword and yelling orders tQ each crew in succession?

Frantically the enemy captain tried to wear ship anX follow Sparrow's onrushing charge. Unable to get he_ own guns to bear, and with most of the forward shroudY and rigging hanging like black weed above her deckB the brig was staggering drunkenly under the well1 aimed barrage?

Then with the helm over and some wind still alive i[ the torn sails the brig finally came under command? Here and there a gun banged out, but in their haste thO privateers were firing haphazardly into the whirlin^ smoke?

"Load and run out!" Tyrrell was yelling above the din? "Roundly!T

Bolitho shouted, "Don't wait for a broadside! LeU each captain fire whenever he has loaded!" It waY useless to expect these men to keep on firing as Z team once they, too, were under the enemy's metal?