when a ship was miles from home and other authority, it was a captain's deterrent to insubordination and final confusion. Some captains used it without thought. Brutal and inhuman floggings were commonplace in many ships, and as a young midshipman Bolitho had nearly fainted after one such spectacle. Other captains, weak and inefficient, left authority to subordinates and shut their ears to its misuse?
But for the most part the English seaman knew the
measure of his service, and if he took chances was prepared to accept the consequences. And if one man thieved or cheated another of his messmates he had no mercy at all. The justice of the lower deck was equally feared to that of a captain?
But this case was different, or could be from what he knew of it. A seaman had defied Lieutenant Graves during a night watch when the hands had been called to reef topsails in an unexpected squall. He had shouted at the officer and called him a 'heartless bugger' within earshot of some twenty other people?
In confidence Tyrrell had asked Bolitho to accept the seaman's explanation. He was a good hand, and Graves had provoked him in a fit of anger when he had failed to reach his station on the mainyard with his companions?
A dirty Yankee bastard. They were the words Graves had used. Too lazy to do his proper duty, and no doubt too gutless to fight when the time came?
All this and Tyrell's heated attack on Graves 's handling of the matter were fresh proof of the latent tension amongst the company under his command?
Graves had been adamant. The man had insulted him in front of his watch and must be punished?
He was right in one respect. His authority had to be upheld or he would never be able to retain control again?
Bolitho blamed himself. If he had had more time to consider this unusual situation, or had taken less comfort from his own new position, he could have prevented it. By example or by forcing his will on his officers he might have made them realise that such behaviour would not be tolerated. But that was all too late now. It had happened?
He had compromised by standing the man overs knowing then as at this moment that he was merela postponing the inevitable?
He glanced up towards the mainyard, braced hard round as the ship heeled closehauled on a larboard tack. He could see the man now, naked but for a scrap of canvas, working with some others on the endless business of re- splicing and repairs high above the deck. Did Tyrrell really think the man was provoked? he wondered. Or was he standing up for him because he imagined Graves was getting at him by punishin^
another colonist?
'Deck there!' The masthead lookout's cry was muffled by the wind and the lively crack of sails? 'Miranda's signallin'!'
Bolitho swung round.' Jump to it, Mr. Bethune! You are half asleep today!'
Tyrrell stood aside as the midshipman ran to the lee shrouds with his telescope?
'Thinking of his next meal!' He was smiling at the boy's confusion?
'It seems that the masthead lookout was the only one in this watch thinking of his duty, Mr. Tyrrell!'
The edge of his voice brought a flush to the lieutenant's face and he turned away without answering?
Bethune called, 'From Miranda, sir! Sail to the nor'-west!'
'Acknowledge.'
Bolitho was angry with Tyrrell's careless attitudeB
angrier still more with his own unfair outburst?
Some two miles ahead of the Golden Fleece, her patched sails hard-bellied and drawing well, the Miranda was already setting her topgallants in readiness to investigate. The unknown ship, whatever she was, lay somewhere across the larboard bow, and as she had not been seen before it seemed likely she was on a converging course?
'Deck there! Sail in sight! Fine on th' weather bow!'
Bolitho looked round at the intent faces. For an instant he toyed with the idea of making his way to the dizzy mainmast crosstrees himself, in spite of his fear of heights which he had never been able to overcome? The long climb up those shivering, vibrating shrouds might drive his anger away and leave his mind clear once again?
He saw Raven, the newly appointed master's mates and said, 'Go aloft. Take a glass and tell me what you see.'
Buckle had told him that the man was an experienced sailor, one who had already served in severyl King's ships and would not be easily fooled ba
first appearances?
Before Raven had even reached the mainyard the lookout called again, 'Two ships! Close in company!'
Every eye was on Raven's body as he swarmed out and around the futtock shrouds and up towards the topmast head?
Bethune, still smarting over his failure to see Miranda's signal, suddenly stiffened and called, «Gunfire, sir!' He had his hands cupped round his ears, giving his round face the appearance of a freckled goblin?
Bolitho looked down at him. Then as his hearing adjusted itself beyond the crack of sails and the plunging sweep of spray around the hull, he, too, heard the deeper, discordant thud of cannon fire. He was almost beside himself with impatience, but he knew if he hurried Raven he might become too confused to make a proper assessment?
'Deck there!' It was Raven at last.' First ship's a merchantman! She's under attack from a brig!'
Buckle exclaimed thickly, 'Privateer, by God!'
Bolitho snatched a telescope and trained it through the dark mass of rigging and beyond some men who were grouped on the forecastle. A trick of the light. He blinked and tried again. No, there it was, a tiny white speck which seemed to mingle with the unending pattern of crisp wavecrests. The lonely merchantman had been unlucky, but now with any sort of good fortune they might turn the tables on her attacker?
The Miranda was already tacking violently, her sails in confusion as she headed away from her original station. Even as her sails refilled and hardened on the new tack Bolitho saw her signal flags breaking to the wind?
Bethune said quickly, 'General signal, sir. Remain on station.'
Buckle swore.' After the bloody prize money himselfs the greedy bugger!'
The gunfire was clearer now, and as he raised the glass again Bolitho saw smoke drifting downwind from the two ships, the lithe shape of the attacking brig as she endeavoured to close the range still further?
He shut the glass with a snap, aware of the mutterin^
behind him, disappointment which matched his own? Miranda's captain was probably making the attack more to break the frustration of a slow passage than to humiliate the Sparrow?
He looked at Tyrell's broad shoulders and said, «Signal the Bear to make more sail. She's dropping astern badly.'
Then he turned back to watch the frigate. She was moving fast in spite of the wind being almost abeam ob her sails, and he could see her port lids opening, the single line of muzzles catching the sunlight as they were run out in readiness to fight?
The brig's captain must have realised what was happening. Even so, he was probably unwilling to lose his prize with victory almost in his grasp?
On the gangways and gun deck his own seamen were chattering and waving their arms about, and he guessed they were discussing how they would have acted had they been given the chance to go for the privateer?
Bolitho recalled Raven to the deck and said, 'You did well.'
The man grinned uncomfortably.' Thank you, sir. The brig's a Yankee right enough. Seen many like her in me time. T'other one's an Indiaman by her looks, 'though her gunnery ain't so good as some on 'em. There's never a mark on the Yankee's canvas.'
Tyrrell shouted, 'Th' brig's broken off the action! He's going to make a run for it!'
Bolitho sighed. The merchantman was already turning steadily towards the little convoy while the Miranda under full sail charged towards her attacker? The brig, if well handled, stood a fair chance against a frigate in matters of speed and manoeuvrability. But this one had waited just that much too long? Converging like prongs of a trap the three vessels would pass beam to beam, the frigate shielding the merchantman and well able to rake the
