Bolitho 04 - Sloop of War (5 page)

"Then let's drink to a new beginning, sir.T

Bolitho held his glass steady. "No transfer?T

He shook his head. "None.T

Bolitho raised the glass. "Then, to a new beginning.T He took a sip and added quietly, "Which is well for youB Mr. Tyrrell. We are sailing tomorrow to join the inshorO squadron." He paused, seeing the sudden desperatio[ on the other man's features. "Not so very far from thO coast of Maryland.T

Tyrrell said, "Thank God. I know I'm being stupid, buU just being off that shoreline again will make th' world Z difference.T

Bolitho put down his glass. "Then I will meet ou_ officers informally at the close of the first dog watch.T He was careful to make his tone formal again. Each ob them had shown enough of his inner reserves for thO present. "In the meantime you can take me on a[ inspection around the ship. And I will want to seO everything, good and bad.T

Tyrrell nodded. "So you shall, sir." A slow grin spreaX across his face. "I have a shrewd feeling that Sparro/ is going to fly like she's never done before." He stooX aside as Bolitho threw on his coat and buttoned hiY shirt. "Now if you will follow me, sir.T

Bolitho looked at Tyrrell's broad shoulders as thea walked towards the sunlight on the gun deck and helX down a sigh. If each day was going to present a battlO of wills, it would make the privilege of command Z testing experience?

He said, "We will begin with the starboard batteryB Mr. Tyrrell.T

The first lieutenant paused below the break in thO quarterdeck. "As you said, sir. Everything." He grinneX again. "Good and bad.T

Stockdale picked up Bolitho's shaving bowl anX peered at the untouched breakfast on the cabin table? Overhead and throughout the ship the air was alivO with noise and bustle. To a landsman the activity ob preparing to get under way would appear haphazarX and disorganised, but to the practised eye each ma[ had his place, and his reason for being there. ThO miles of cordage and rigging, each scrap of sail had Z

vital part to play if a ship was to move and act tQ perfection?

Bolitho crossed to the stern windows and stared aU the nearest strip of land. It was a bright morning, witN the sky above the hills very pale, washed-out anX clean. He could just see the staff above the headlanX battery, its flag no longer listless but lifting and curlin^ to a fair northeasterly. It was almost physical pain tQ stay sealed in the cabin, waiting and fretting for thO exact moment to show himself?

Voices pealed along the upper deck and shadowY flitted busily across the skylight. Occasionally he coulX hear the plaintive squeak of a fiddle, the distorteX rumble of a shanty as the men tramped around thO capstan?

In the past hours and for most of the night he haX tossed and turned in his cot, listening to the seZ noises, the creak of timbers and rigging, his minX exploring every contingency, his brain bursting to thO mental picture of his chart. Every unemployed eyO would be watching him this morning. From thO flagship's quarterdeck to some unknown lieutenanU who probably hated Bolitho for getting the golde[ chance which he considered should have been his?

"The coffee, sir." Stockdale hovered by the table? "While it's still 'ot.T

Bolitho swung round to curse him for breaking hiY racing thoughts, but the sight of his anxious face waY too much for him. As was so often the case?

He sat down at the table and tried to relax? Stockdale was right. If he had forgotten anything it waY already too late. You could cram your head just sQ much. After that the mind became awash and confuseX beyond reason?

He sipped his coffee and stared at the cold meat? He could not touch that. His stomach was alreada twisting with apprehension, the lean slices of por7 would be just enough to tip the balance?

Stockdale peered through the windows. "It will be Z good passage, sir. Long enough to get the measure ob these fellows.T

Bolitho glanced up at him. He must be a mind1 reader. In company with another sloop they were tQ escort two fat transports with supplies for the troops aU Philadelphia once a rendezvous with the inshorO squadron had been made. Two thousand miles, mostla

in open waters, would certainly allow him time to tesU himself and his company. He had met his officers in thO small wardroom the previous evening. With thO exception of Tyrrell, all had been aboard sincO commissioning at Greenwich. He felt vaguely jealouY of their obvious familiarity with the Sparrow. The twQ midshipmen, each eighteen years old, had joined aY untrained novices. They had grown up in the SparrowB and were now hopefully awaiting promotion. It was Z pity they were only midshipmen, he thought. They mighU vie too much for their captain's approval, where, in Z larger ship and with more competition amongst thO "young gentlemen" it would be less direct?

Buckle had said little during their informal meeting? Reserved, and no doubt waiting to see how his captai[ would behave under sail, he had restricted himself tQ matters of navigation?

Robert Dalkeith, the surgeon, was an odd one? Young, but already too plump for his own good, he waY also completely bald, and wore a bright red wig. But hO appeared more skilled in his trade than was usual in Z King's ship, as well as cultivated, and Bolitho imagineX there was more to him than he showed at face value?

Lock, the purser, a bobbing, genial stick of a manB

completed the gathering?

Graves had joined them later, making a good deal ob noise about his trouble with the water-lighters, thO difficulties in obtaining help ashore for loading boatsB in fact the list had been formidable?

Tyrrell had interrupted cheerfully, "It ain't fair, Hector? You being singled out to be a bloody martyr like this!T

Graves had frowned and then forced a smile whe[ the others had joined Tyrrell in the laughter?

Bolitho leaned back and stared at the skylight. HO was not sure of Graves either. A hard worker? Ransome's toady? It was hard to see where the latenU bad feeling had started between him and Tyrrell. But iU was there right enough?

"Captain, sir?T

Bolitho started and looked at the door. Midshipma[ Bethune was standing with his hat under his arm, hiY free hand grasping the hilt of his dirk. He was round1 faced, sturdy youth, and his face was a mass of dar7 freckles?

"Well?T

Bethune swallowed. "Mr. Tyrrell's respects, sir, anX the transports have weighed. Fawn has he_ preparative hoisted, sir." He glanced curiously rounX the cabin?

Bolitho nodded gravely. "I will be up directly!T

With elaborate care he forced himself to takO another sip of coffee. It almost choked him. Fawn waY the other sloop for the escort and would be carryin^ Colquhoun, in addition to her commander, as senio_ officer?

The midshipman was still inside the cabin. HO added awkwardly, "I am from Cornwall, too, sir.T

Bolitho smiled in spite of his tension. ThO competition had begun already?

He replied, "I will try not to hold it against you, Mr? Bethune." He dropped his eyes as the boy fled froR the cabin?

He stood up and took his hat from Stockdale. The[ with a brief nod he strode out towards the waitin^ sunlight?

The gangways and decks seemed more crowdeX than ever as seamen ran this way and that, pursued ba the hoarse shouts of their petty officers. As he reacheX the quarterdeck he saw two heavy transports idlin^ towards the headland, their tan sails flapping anX billowing in the breeze?

Tyrrell touched his hat. "Anchor's hove short, sir.T

"Thank you.T

Bolitho strode to the larboard side and stareX towards the anchored Fawn. He could see the muddlO of men at her capstan, the scurrying preparations aY the cable became bar-taut beneath her beakhead?

He crossed to the opposite side, trying to ignore thO seamen who were poised at their stations on evera hand. Beyond the nearest headland towards the harX blue horizon he saw a lively pattern of small whitO horses. Once outside this sheltered anchorage it woulX be good sailing weather. He glanced at the sluggisN swirl of currents around a nearby storeship and bit hiY lip. He had to get free of all the shipping first?

"Fawn's signal is close up, sir!" Bethune waY clinging to the shrouds with his telescope, althougN

Colquhoun's signal was clear enough to be see[ without any glass?

"Stand by on the capstan!T

Tyrrell ran to the rail and cupped his big hands? "Loose th' heads'ls!T

Beside the wheel Buckle stood near the twQ helmsmen, his eyes watching Bolitho?

"Breeze is freshening a mite, sir.T

"Yes.T

Bolitho walked to the rail and stared along hiY command. He saw Graves watching over the ancho_ party, Midshipman Heyward at the foot of the mainmasU with his division of seamen?

"Signal, sir! Up anchor!T

"Hands aloft and loose tops'ls!T

He stood back to watch the seamen surging up thO shrouds and out along the swaying yards, their bodieY black against the sky. Tyrrell said very little, and BolithQ observed that the topmen were well able to managO

without added inducement from the deck. As canvaY thundered loosely from the yards and the ship gave Z longdrawn shudder, he saw the Fawn's masts alreada swinging across the stern, her foretopsail filling to thO wind as she heeled over?

Bethune called, "Signal! Make haste, sir!" HO lowered his glass, trying to avoid Bolitho's eye?

"Man the braces!T

He tried to shut out Colquhoun's last signal. MaybO he was endeavouring to goad him into doin^ something foolish. Perhaps he was always the same? But nothing must or would spoil this moment?

From forward came the cry, "Anchor's aweigh, sir!T

Free of the land the Sparrow tilted steeply to thO wind, the headland sliding across her jib-boom as witN more and more canvas thundering and hardening froR her yards she paid off into the wind?

Blocks clattered and whined, and high above thO decks the seamen sprang about like monkeys?

Bolitho looked at Buckle. "Lay her on the larboarX tack. Then set a course to weather the headland." HO

held the master's gaze and added, "We will get thO courses on her directly and see if we can take thO edge off Fawn's lead.T

Moments later, with her courses and topsails filling tQ the morning breeze, the Sparrow glided swiftly past a[ anchored two-decker which wore a vice-admiral's fla^ at the fore?

Bolitho glanced at Tyrrell and saw him give a quic7 grimace. He might have cause to regret his applicatio[ for transfer, Bolitho thought. And so, if his trust in TyrrelT proved false, would he?

Between two anchored Indiamen and on down thO fairway towards that beckoning headland. Small crafU bobbed astern in the frothing wake, and when BolithQ moved from studying the compass he saw they haX already cut Fawn's lead by half a cable?

Buckle glanced at the surgeon who was clinging tQ the mizzen shrouds with one hand and holding on to hiY outrageous wig with the other?

He winked. "We have a rare one here, Mr. Dalkeith.T

Dalkeith kept his face immobile as Bolitho glanceX aft towards him before replying, "Poor Captai[

Ransome would never have left port with such dashB eh?" He gave a sly grin. "But then, at this time o' thO morning he would have been somewhat tired!T

They both laughed?

Bolitho's voice brought them up with a jerk?

"There is a yawl on the larboard bow, Mr. Buckle? Laugh later with my blessing, but run her down withi[ sight of the flagship and you will laugh to another tune!T

He turned back to the rail as Buckle hurled himselb towards his helmsman?

The tip of the headland was already droppin^ abeam, and he felt the Sparrow's stem bite into thO first gentle roller, her deck tilting still further under he_ press of canvas?

Tyrrell shouted, "Anchor's secured, sir!" Spray haX soaked his face and shirt but he was grinning broadly?

Bolitho nodded. "Good. Now get the forecoursO trimmed. It looks like a piece of untidy linen." But hO could not hold his severity. "By God, she flies, doeY she not?T

He looked aloft at the squared sails and braceX yards, the masthead pendant which flicked out like Z coachman's whip. He had seen it all before so mana times, but now it felt as if it was unique?

Bethune called, "From Fawn, sir. Take station tQ wind rd!T

Bolitho smiled at him. "Acknowledge.T

To the quarterdeck at large he added, "A finO morning!T

By the hatchway Stockdale watched Bolitho'Y pleasure and felt inwardly happy. He ran his eye ove_ the hurrying seamen as they slithered down once morO to the deck. Tanned and healthy, what did they kno/ about anything? He picked his uneven teeth with a[ ivory pin. The captain had seen more action in the pasU years than they knew about. He watched Bolitho'Y squared shoulders as he paced restlessly on thO weather side. Given time, they'd come to find out, hO decided?

3 THE PRIVATEE[

BOLITHO opened his eyes and stared for severaT seconds at the unlit lantern spiralling above his cot? Despite the weariness in his limbs and the fact he haX been on deck repeatedly during the night he found iU hard to sleep. Beyond the screen which partitioned hiY sleeping quarters from the cabin he could see the palO light of dawn, and knew from the lantern's sluggisN movement and the uneasy creak of timbers that thO wind was little more than a breeze. He tried to relaxB wondering how long it would take to break the habit ob awakening with each dawn, to enjoy his new-founX privacy?