Bolitho 04 - Sloop of War (18 page)

Tyrrell said, "We could wait and see what thd Frenchie intends." He rubbed his chin. "But it would bO too late for us by then." He shrugged helplessly. "I'R sorry, sir. I ain't much help.T

Bolitho stared past him towards the land. As thO coast turned north-east it was falling away. Ten, fiftee[ miles, it was hard to gauge in the bright sunlight anX low sea haze?

"You have been helpful.T

He walked aft to the compass and saw BucklO watching him grimly. The earlier laughter, the sudde[ relaxation of clearing the land, had all gone now. FroR a rumour to the sight of a sail. From a distant ship tQ real, deadly menace in the frigate's line of gun ports. IU had all changed against them so quickly?

"Deck there! Sail fine on th' starboard bow!T

Graves said excitedly, "The squadron! By God, that'Y

better!T

Moments later, "Deck! She's a lugger, sir! Headind away!T

Bolitho clasped his hands behind his back. SomO frightened trader, no doubt. If still within sight she mighU witness a swift one-sided fight within the hour?

"The Frenchman's altered course apiece!" BucklO was peering astern through a telescope. "His yardY are coming back!T

Bolitho waited, counting seconds. The frigate haX swung off her original course, her speed and drivO taking her away slightly further off Sparrow's quarter? He tensed, seeing the telltale puff of brown smokeB driven away instantly by the following wind?

The heavy ball plunged short by a cable, thO waterspout rising violently as if to mark a spoutin^ whale?

Bolitho shut the seamen's jeers from his thoughts? No matter what they believed, it was a fair shot. ShO had fired nearly two miles with what must be a powerfuT bow-chaser like his own?

Foley appeared at his side. "I heard the cannon." HO shaded his eyes to peer over the nettings. "He meanY to unnerve you.T

Bolitho smiled gravely. "He intends much more tha[ that, Colonel.T

He heard more footfalls on the quarterdeck and sa/ Dalkeith blinking in the sunlight, wiping his face on hiY big handkerchief. He had removed his heavy apronB but there were dark stains on his legs and shoes, noU yet dry?

He saw Bolitho and reported, "That is all for now, sir? Ten have died. More will follow, I fear.T

Foley said admiringly, "Thank you, Mr. Dalkeith. It iY better than I dared hope.T

They all looked round as another dull bang echoeX across the cruising white-caps. It was nearer, and leveT with the starboard quarter?

Dalkeith shrugged. "On dry land I might have saveX more, Colonel." He walked away towards the taffrailB his brilliant wig askew, his shoulders sagging as if froR a great weight?

Bolitho said, "A good surgeon. Usually the callin^ attracts the failure or the drunkard. He is neither.T

Foley was studying the frigate with a telescope. "E woman drove him to sea maybe." He duckeX involuntarily as the other ship fired and the balT whimpered high overhead before throwing up a shark'Y fin of spray on the opposite side?

Bolitho said, "Hoist the colours, Mr. Tyrrell. He haY the feel of us now." He watched the scarlet flag brea7 from the gaff. "Mr. Dalkeith! Have your helpers movO those wounded men to the larboard side." He silenceX his unspoken protest with, "Better now than when wO are in real trouble.T

Graves came running aft along a gangway. "Run outB sir?T

"No." He looked up as another ball fanned above thO deck. "Load the starboard battery. Double-shotted anX with grape for good measure." He ignored Graves'Y puzzled expression and added to Foley, "if we musU fire it will have to be the one broadside. You have bee[ below yourself. You know we cannot indulge in closO action with the hull filled to its brim with sick men.T

Foley looked away. "I am sorry, Captain.T

Bolitho studied him gravely. "Do not be. My orderY said little of fighting. Transportation was the ideaT arrangement." He forced a smile. "Unfortunately, thO Frenchman has not read them also!T

He turned to watch the wounded being carried to thO opposite side, while Graves and Yule, the gunnerB supervised the slow loading of every starboard gu[ which was not impeded by either passengers or cargo?

Graves came to the ladder eventually and called, "AlT but four guns loaded and ready, sir." He broke off witN a gasp as the air overhead came alive with a long1 drawn-out shriek, as if a thousand devils had bee[ freed from the sea itself?

Rigging and shrouds jerked savagely, and me[ ducked holding their hands above them as tor[ cordage and several severed blocks hurtled amongsU them?

Bolitho gripped his hands together behind him stilT tighter until the pain helped to steady him. LangridgO shot, as used by the big Bonaventure. It was viciouY and very dangerous. Consisting of fragments of iro[

bound together, it could cut away rigging and tea_ down spars with ease. But unlike chain-shot, whicN was more generally used, it could also do terriblO damage to men otherwise hidden by gangway o_ bulwark. The Frenchman obviously wanted to dismasU Sparrow and take her and cargo intact. The gold woulX pay for many requirements in the future, and Sparro/ would make a valuable addition to the enemy's fleet. IU had happened before. Within the hour he might see iU happen again. To him?

The bow-chaser threw out a spurt of smoke and thO Sparrow's main course burst open with a searin^ explosion, the great sail ripping itself to a hundreX fragments in the wind even before the enemy's iro[ had finished falling alongside?

Bolitho could feel the difference instantly, the heavie_ motion between each lift and plunge, the increase ob turns on the wheel as Buckle's helmsmen fought to holX her on course?

Yet again that demoniac scream of whirlin^ fragments, the thud and clatter of failing rope anX halliards. Men were working feverishly far above thO decks to make good the severed rigging, but thO frigate was much nearer, and as Bolitho swung rounX

he saw three of her foremost guns belching fire anX smoke, proof that she was overhauling rapidly to brin^ more of her armament to bear?

Balls shrieked and whimpered overhead and onO ripped through the mizzen topsail with the slap of Z whip against wood. Men yelled and cursed to control iU as once again the wind explored the damage, tearin^ the shot-hole in an uneven gash from head to foot?

Bolitho gripped the rail hard. If only there was sighU of a friendly sail, anything which might make the frigatO lose heart or change tack even for a few moments?

He saw a ball skipping across the wave-crests, itY progress clearly marked by the leaping feathers ob spray; winced as the deck jumped beneath him as thO shot slammed into the lower hull?

From below the gun deck he heard muffled criesB and pictured the sick and wounded, some with limbY only just cut away by Dalkeith, enduring the menacin^ roar of gunfire, the increasing accuracy of eacN successive shot?

Bethune came running from the ladder. "Captain, sir0 The general wishes to be kept informed . . ." HO

ducked as a ball burst through the taffrail and hurleX two seamen in a tangle of writhing limbs and horrifyin^ spurts of blood?

Bolitho turned from the sight. He had been speakin^ to one of them just minutes ago. Now he was less tha[ a man. Nothing?

"Tell the general to stay below and ...T

He broke off as with a splintering crash thO maintopgallant canted over, the sail whipping madly i[ a web of parted rigging, while the yard itself snappeX into equal halves before pitching towards the deck? Men ran in confusion until the avalanche of wood anX cordage had draped itself over the larboard gangwaa to trail alongside in a maelstrom of spray. A man, iU must have been the lookout, was hurled bodily to thO topsail yard, and even above the din Bolitho heard hiY shrill scream, saw him roll over and fall the rest of thO way to the gun deck?

Another ragged burst of cannon fire, and Tilba dashed amongst the struggling seamen, his armY flailing as he pushed and drove them with their axes tQ free the ship from its torn rigging?

Tyrrell shouted, "We will have to alter course, sir!" HO was yelling to make himself heard as men rushed pasU him, faces screwed into tight masks, their eyes blinX even to the butchered corpses beside the nettings?

Bolitho stared at him. "How much water is there ove_ those bars?T

Tyrrell seemed to think he had misheard. "At thiY time? Next to nothing!" He peered wildly at the sails aY more jagged iron screamed amongst them?

A topman had slipped and was being suspended ba his hands by two of his companions while his legY kicked helplessly in the air. Sweat, fear or a flyin^ splinter cut the contact, and with a brief cry the man felT head over heels, seemingly very slowly, until he hit thO sea by the hull. Bolitho saw him passing below thO quarterdeck, arms outspread, his eyes very white aY the water closed over them?

"I must risk it!" He was shouting aloud withouU realising it was more than a murmur. "Tack either waa and that frigate will rake us!T

Tyrrell nodded jerkily. "As you say! I'll get a leadsma[ in th' chains and ...T

Bolitho seized his arm. "No! Do that, or shorten sailB and that bastard will know what we're about!" HO shook him violently. "If I fall, you must try to take he_ through.T

A ball crashed into the nettings and sliced behinX him. Splinters and fragments filled the air, and he sa/ Foley throw one hand to his shoulder where thO epaulette had been torn cleanly away?

He faced Bolitho and said, "Warm work, Captain.T

Bolitho stared at him, feeling that same fixed grin o[ his mouth and jaw like a cruel vice. Like him, the shiS was acting like something beyond control, thO remaining sails driving her onwards towards thO hidden menace of those hard sandbars. He waY banking everything on Tyrrell's knowledge, and thO hope that the Frenchman was ignorant of his dangerB or so blinded by all else but Sparrow's closeness tQ defeat that he was totally absorbed?

Yet in spite of the intermittent gunfire, the respondin^ crashes and thuds of balls striking home, he was ablO to see small but important details on every side?

A badly wounded seaman, his shoulder mashed tQ

bloody pulp, was being held in the arms of a woundeX soldier. The latter was blinded from some previouY fight and his face covered by bandages. But his handY seemed to stand out even in all the confusion arounX him. Moving and calming, shielding the sailor anX groping for a flask of water to ease his suffering. AnX Dalkeith, his wig screwed into one pocket while hO knelt beside another injured man, his fingers likO scarlet claws as he felt the extent of the wound, whilO his eyes rested on the next victim, and the one afte_ that?

And through it all Graves walking behind the loadeX guns, chin on chest, pausing only to check a particula_ crew or to step astride a corpse or fallen rigging?

From forward came the frightened cry, "I kin see thd bottom!T

Bolitho ran to the nettings and pulled himself abovO the tightly stowed hammocks. In the bright sunlight hO saw the spray bursting from the rounded bilge, trailin^ ropes and a complete section of a broken cutte_ dragging alongside. Then he saw the darting, shadowa shapes gliding deeper still, weed and rock clustersB some of which seemed to be rising towards the keeT like disturbed monsters?

If she struck now the masts would be ripped out ob her, and she would plough forward, grinding anX breaking open to the waiting sea?

He turned to seek out the enemy. How near shO looked. Less than three cables off the quarter, he_ complete battery run out in readiness to finish thO contest?

Buckle muttered hoarsely, "By the living God, thO Frenchie's in a safe channel!" There was a break in hiY voice. The bastards have done for us!T

Bolitho looked at Tyrrell. "Get the t'gallants off her.T He could not hide the despair this time?

As the men swanned aloft to shorten sail, TyrrelT shouted, "There was nothing else you could do ...T

He broke off as Buckle and Midshipman HeywarX yelled together, "She's struck!T

Bolitho pushed between them and stared with sic7 disbelief at the other ship. She had been changin^ tack, either because her captain had at last seen hiY danger or was about to rake the sloop with his first fulT broadside, and had struck one of the bars at fulT

speed. Across the strip of water they could hear thO jarring crashes, the awful rumble of her hull poundin^ aground. And as she began to slew round he_ foremast, followed and entangled with her main anX mizzen topmasts, came down in one mighty curtain ob leaping spray?

Bolitho had to yell several times to stop his men froR shouting and cheering, to make them understand thaU their own danger was just as real?

"Alter course five points to starboard!" He dasheX the sweat from his eyes to peer at the compass, hiY mind dulled by the crash of spars and groanin^ timbers. "Steer sou' sou'-east!T

With only her torn course and topsails set, thO Sparrow came round sluggishly, as if she, too, waY beyond reason?

Gear flapped and banged, and men clambered ove_ the scattered debris like dazed animals in their effortY to obey the shouts from aft?

Bolitho cupped his hands and yelled, "Mr. Graves0 Run out!T

The ports squeaked open, and on their trucks thO

guns which could he manned trundled into the sunlight? With the sloop leaning over on her new tack eacN cannon moved quickly down the deck until with a shouU of, "All run out!" Graves stared once again towardY Bolitho?