as Bolitho remembered him?
Bolitho said, 'I, too.' He looked at Tyrrell.' We are in for some warm work today, I fear. Lucifer's done for, and we must leave quickly if we are to avoid her fate.'
'Aye.' Tyrrell limped towards the wheel.' I'd guessed as much.'
A cry from aloft brought every eye towards the headland. Very slowly, their yards braced round in the sunlight, a frigate and a deep-hulled transport were passing level with the wrecked schooner?
Bolitho said simply, 'Sooner than I thought.' He looked at Heyward.' We will cut the cable.' To Tyrell he added, 'Then you may pass the word to load and run out.'
The cutter and its dead oarsmen drifted away from the side, a discarded reminder of their sacrifice?
Bethune hurried aft, his face glowing with excitement?
Bolitho said, 'Well done. I'll see you a lieutenant yet, despite what you do to the contrary.'
He felt suddenly composed, even relaxed.' Run up the colours! We'll show the army we're not leaving them to no purpose!'
The cable cut, and with her topsails bellying to the wind, Sparrow tilted round in a tight arc, the thunder ob her canvas drowning the gunfire from the trees, her seamen too busy even to think beyond their work and the need to reach the open sea?
By the time Sparrow had gone about and settled on her course towards the capes, there could be no doubt in anyone's mind as to the enemy's intentions. Even as Tyrrell reported all guns loaded and run out, Bolitho raised his glass to examine yet another ship as she rounded the southern headland. One more heavy transport, and beyond her he could see the billowing topsails of a protective frigate?
Tyrrell said, 'God's teeth, a fleet and nothing less!'
Buckle called, 'Steady as she goes, sir! Sou' by west!'
The first transport had already dropped anchor, and through his glass Bolitho saw her boats being lowered with swift precision, the glint of sunlight on weapons and uniforms as soldiers clambered down ladders and nets in a manner which spoke of much practice. He shifted his glass to the second large vessel. She, too, was crammed with soldiers, and there were limbers on her upper deck, and her yards were festooned with heavy tackles, the kind used for lowering horses into boats or lighters?
Colonel Foley drawled, 'We heard Rochambeau was expecting reinforcements. It would appear they have arrived.'
Bolitho glanced at him.' What is your mission now?'
'If you can get me to New York I have despatches for General Clinton. They may not help Cornwallis, but he will be glad to know what is happening here.' He gave a brief smile.' I heard that you dealt severely with our old friend Blundell? Not before time.' He raised one eyebrow.' You met his niece again, I understand?'
Bolitho watched the jib-boom swing very slightly and settle on the outthrust wedge of headland. How could they speak so calmly and detachedly when death lay so close at hand.
He replied, 'Yes. She will be in England now.'
Foley gave a sigh.' I am relieved. I recognise all the signs, Captain. She wanted you to quit the Service and join her train of admirers, eh?' He held up one hand? 'Do not bother to reply! It is plain on your face, as it must have been on mine.'
Bolitho smiled gravely.' Something of the sort.'
'When she tired of me I was sent to serve under Cornwallis. A favour as it turned out. And you?'
Tyrrell stepped back from the rail.' She almost had him killed!'
Foley shook his head.' A formidable woman indeed.'
'Deck there! Ship-o'-the-line roundin' the cape!'
Bolitho felt a chill on his spine as he thought ob Odell's dash from the south. Day by day and at each dawn he would look astern at the pursuing ships. It must have been a nightmare for every man aboard?
The boats from the two transports were pulling towards the land now, and he could see the hulls deep in the water as testimony of the numbers they carried?
'Set the t'gallants, Mr. Tyrrell. We will need all our wind today.'
Foley drew his sabre and turned it over in his hands? 'You are not merely running away, I take it?'
Bolitho shook his head.' Those two frigates are shortening sail, Colonel. They intend to rake us when we attempt to clear the middle-ground.' He pointed towards the anchored transports.' There is our course? Close inshore, where we'll be least expected.'
Foley grimaced.' Or welcome, I suspect.'
Bolitho looked at Buckle.' When we go about you must lay her as close as you can to Cape Henry.'
'Aye, sir.' Buckle was peering through shrouds and stays, his eyes fixed on the ships?
Bolitho raised his glass again. The two frigates were under minimum canvas standing before the wind with some difficulty as they waited for the small sloop to dash past them. Less than a mile now. He watched them narrowly, noting their drift, the sun gleaming on their broadsides and on the raised telescopes of their officers?
He snapped, 'How many boats in the water?'
Bethune called, 'At least thirty!'
'Good.'
Bolitho imagined the packed soldiers who would be watching Sparrow's apparent dash for safety. E spectacle to drive away their own doubts and fears ob what lay ahead on the American mainland?
Bolitho drew his hanger and held it above his head? Along the gun deck he saw the crews crouching at the tackles, each captain peering aft, a slow-match held ready. In the maintop two swivels were training this way and that, a seaman squatting on the barricade with fresh canister cradled to his chest. Curiously, as he ran his eyes quickly over his command, he was reminded of Colquhoun's words so long ago. When all others are looking aft at you?
He heard a sharp bang, and seconds later the high-pitched whine of a ball whipping overhead. One ob the frigates had fired a ranging shot. But he kept his eyes on the nearest transport as she swung to her cable, her high poop towards the beach. Aboard the frigates the gun crews would be betting with each other. How many balls would they get off before the Sparrow was overwhelmed by their crossfire or she struck her colours.
He brought down his hanger with a flourish.' Now!'
The wheel creaked noisily, and as men hauled at the braces to retrim the yards, Sparrow's stem began to turn. Bolitho held his breath, watching the frigates slipping further and further down the larboard bows while the nearest transport and then the great spread of oared boats swam across the jib-boom, and beyond them the land opened up as if to receive their onrushing charge?
'Hold her!'
Bolitho ran to the nettings, his mind hanging on to Tyrrell's words of Lynnhaven Bay, the depths and currents, the dangers and margin of survival?
Buckle's helmsmen cursed and spun the wheel against the opposite thrust of wind and sea, and as spray leapt above the beakhead Bolitho saw the nearest boats careering off course, the realisation and horror of his intentions at last only too clear?
Gunfire thudded across the bay, and balls whimpered and splashed very near to the hull. But the two frigates had been taken by surprise, and as Sparrow lunged towards the shore, Bolitho knew that within minutes she would be screened from their fire by the first transport?
He could feel the madness surging through him like fever, and as he yelled down at the gun deck he knew it was infectious, saw the men poised at their open ports like half-naked demons?
'Stand by!' The hanger was above his head again? 'Full depression!'
He saw the nearest muzzles dipping towards the creaming water, the gun captains dancing from side to side while their men stood ready with charges and fresh shot for the next barrage, and the one after that?
'As you bear!' The hanger hovered, holding the
fresh sunlight like gold.' Fire!'
The air was blasted apart by the ragged broadsides from either beam. As the dense smoke swirled inboard, and the gun crews yelled and cheered above the squeak of trucks, the clatter of handspikes and rammers, Bolitho saw the next spitting tongues from forward, the double shotted charges smashing into boats and soldiers, the whirl of splinters and spray? Above the decks the braced topsails quivered to each explosion, the smoke fanning out on either side in a choking fog while the guns roared out again and again?
