obey him to the best of your skill. Your orders will allow you to return to the flotilla when the transports have been delivered.' He paused and added softly, 'Delivered.'
Bolitho rose to his feet.' Aye, sir.'
'Now get out and leave me to draft these orders.'
Maulby took Bolitho's elbow and guided him towards the gun deck?
'I think the little admiral is worried, my friend.' He sighed.' I was hoping to rid my ship of his presence and pass him on to you.' He turned and gave a quick grin.' There is no justice in this world!'
Bolitho, saw his gig falling and rising in the swells Stockdale shading his eyes as he watched the sloop for a recall?
He said, 'The news is bad, but not unexpected. At least the pretence is done with.'
Maulby nodded gravely.' No comfort, I fear, to the lamb about to be devoured.'
Bolitho stared at him.' Not that serious surely?'
'I am not certain. What the Frogs do today the damned Spaniards will copy tomorrow. Soon we will have the whole world at our throats.' He frowned.' The little admiral is right on one score. It seems that our Government is run by demons, most of whom appear determined to drive the rest of us to madness.'
The first lieutenant hurried into view and proffered a freshly sealed envelope?
Maulby clapped Bolitho on the shoulder and said cheerfully, 'Think of us sometimes. While you enjoa your leisurely voyage, I will be forced to share my table with him.' He rubbed his hands.' But with any luck he may get promotion and vanish forever.'
The lieutenant said urgently, 'Captain Colquhoun's compliments, and will you join him immediately?'
Maulby nodded and held out his hand?
'Until we meet again, Bolitho.' He seemed unwilling to let him leave. Then he said awkwardly, 'Be warneds my friend. You have a fine command, but you also have a large number of colonists in your company.' He tried to smile.' If the war goes badly, there are some who might be tempted to change allegiance. In their shoes] could perhaps feel the same.'
Bolitho met his gaze and nodded.' Thank you. I will remember it.'
Maulby did not hide his relief.' There, I knew you were a good fellow! Not one to treat my clumsy advice as patronage.'
Bolitho grinned.' You took a risk. I might have gone to Colquhoun and told him of your name for him.'
'I would have denied it!'
'Naturally!'
They both laughed?
Then as the gig hooked on to the chains they became formal again. Even before Bolitho had reached the boat flags were soaring up the Fawn's yards, and an acknowledgment appeared above the frigate with equal speed?
Bolitho settled himself in the sternsheets and stared towards his ship. Colquhoun had taken the responsibility and made a decision. His own responsibility was just beginning?
Lieutenant Tyrrell turned as Bolitho's head and shoulders rose through the quarterdeck hatch and waited until he had made his usual inspection of the sails and compass before remarking, 'She's running well, sir.'
Bolitho walked across the tilting deck and rested his hands on the rail, feeling the hull quivering beneath him like a living creature. The noon sun stood high over the ship, but he was able to ignore it, conscious only of the well-filled sails, the leap of spray up and over the
bowsprit. It had been five days since Fawn had turned back for Antigua, and it seemed as if Colquhoun's disappearance from their midst had brought a change of luck and weather. Perverse as ever, but for once on their side, the wind had backed suddenly to south-southwest and had freshened into a lively blow which had hardly dropped during the whole time. Under bulging canvas the ships had driven on towards the American coast, which according to the most recent calculations now lay some two hundred and fifty miles away. The heavy merchantmen had maintained a good five knots, satisfied perhaps that Miranda's captain was content to leave them to their own devices. The frigate's signals had been confined for the most part to Sparrow. For within twenty-four hours of leaving Fawn the masthead lookout had sighted a solitary sail once again, far astern of the convoy, a tiny white flaw on the horizon?
Bolitho had sent Graves aloft with a telescope, but even he had been unable to identify the mysterious follower. Next he signalled to the frigate, requesting permission to investigate. He had been refused? Miranda's captain was probably regretting his meeting with the convoy. But for their dragging weight he would have reached his objective by now and would have borne no blame for failing to pass his news to Antigua? But once in contact with the slower vessels he had no choice but to act as he had. Also, he would be fulla aware that once beyond his control Sparrow might become too involved with a separate situation to return, and thus leave him with total responsibility for the transports?
The unknown sail had not been sighted again, and Bolitho had accepted that Miranda's captain had been right, if over cautious, to restrain his efforts?
He looked at Tyrrell's bronzed features and nodded? 'I am well satisfied.'
He watched some foretopmen sliding down the backstays, racing each other to the deck after their work aloft. Buckle was right. She moved like a bird with any sort of wind. He watched the Bear, the transport closest to his own ship, and wished they were free ob the convoy. Then he could really put Sparrow to the test. Royals, even studding sails could be rigged, if only to find out what she could accomplish under every stitch of canvas?
Most of the unemployed officers were on deck enjoying their usual gossip before the midday mealB
careful to stay on the lee side and as much out of his way as possible?
He saw Dalkeith, the surgeon, laughing with Buckles his head very white in its baldness under the harsh light. The red wig was being vigorously shaken by the wardroom servant, and Bolitho guessed it had been given some sort of a wash. Lock, the purser, was in a more serious conversation with young Heywards opening and ruffling a big ledger in the wind as he explained some point of victualling which might place the midshipman's knowledge above that of his friend Bethune. The latter, being on watch, stood untidily by the quarterdeck rail, his shirt open to his waist and massaging his stomach with one hand. Bolitho smiled? The boy was no doubt hungry. Midshipmen like Bethune usually were?
Down on the gun deck many of the seamen were lounging beneath the sails' great shadows or passing the time like their officers. The boatswain was with his own friend Yule, the gunner, and together they would have made a frightening pair of highwaymen, Bolitho thought. Whereas Tilby was vast and ungainly, his heavy features seamed with too much drink, Yule was swarthy and lithe, like a stoat, with darting, flinty eyes which were forever on the move?
As he glanced from group to group he was again reminded of his new-found isolation. Privacy which could lead to loneliness. Privilege which might become a burden?
He thrust his hands behind him and began to pace slowly along the weather side, letting the warm wind ruffle his hair and play with his open shirt. Somewhere out there beyond the hammock nettings was the coast of America. It would be strange to drop anchor only to find the war had finished, that blood had proved too strong in the face of France 's new challenge. If England were to admit to America 's independence then perhaps both nations would unite against France and settle her ambitions once and for all. He glanced at Tyrrell's profile and wondered if he was thinking the same?
He shut Tyrrell's personal problems from his mind and tried to concentryte on the string of affairs which daily needed his attention. The water supply should be replenished as soon as possible. The casks were poor, and water soon became rancid in this climate? And he would purchase fresh fruit whenever they contacted the land or some supply vessel. It was amazing that the ship's company had stayed so healtha
when Ransome had failed to take such simple precautions. Aboard the old Trojan he had not seen one case of scurvy in the three years he had been in her, evidence of Captain Pears's concern for his men and a valuable lesson to all his subordinates. He had already spoken about it to Lock, and after some hesitation the purser had muttered, 'A costly affair, sir.'
'Costlier if our people go down with disease, Mr? Lock. I have known a whole squadron rendered useless because of such skinflint methods.'
Then there was the matter of a flogging, his first as captain. He had always disliked unnecessary use ob punishment even though he knew it to be necessary on occasions. In the Navy discipline was harsh and instant, and
