brig from stem to stern as they passed?
Provided the brig was not too badly damaged she might be useful to the fleet. Either way, Miranda's captain would gain a nice purse of prize money?
He tore his eyes away as sounds of angry voices came up the quarterdeck ladder at his side?
It was Tilby, flushed from some secret hoard of rums his face heavy with rage as he said, 'Beg pardon, sirs but this 'ere man says 'e wants to speak to 'ee.' He glared severely at the seaman in question.' I told 'im that no man under punishment can speak to an officer without permission.'
Bolitho saw that the seaman behind Tilby was the one waiting to be flogged. He was a young, well-made man and was dragging at the boatswain's arm with frantic determination?
'What is it, Yelverton?' Bolitho nodded to Tilby.' Is it so important?'
The seaman reached the quarterdeck and swallowed hard.' That ship, sir! She ain't no Indiaman0 She's a damned Frenchie! I seen her in Boston some years back!'
Bolitho swung round.' God in heaven!'
It was at that moment the oncoming merchantman fired a full broadside into the Miranda's unmanned side as she passed, the sound going on and on until it reached the heart of every man in the convoy?
4. A Total Responsibility
EVEN AT two miles' range Bolitho saw the Miranda give a violent shiver as the broadside swept across her. It must have been aimed high, for as the smoke fanned away he saw the havoc left by the sudden onslaught, maintopmast gone, and most of her sails ripped and punctured like rags in a gale?
He thrust himself from the nettings and noticed that the men near him were still standing like groups ob statues, or people so stricken they were unable to think or respond?
He shouted, 'Mr. Tyrrell! Beat to quarters and clear for action!' He gripped Bethune's arm, seeing his dazed expression as he added, 'Run up the colours!'
A ship's boy seized his drum and began to beat out the staccato tattoo. The men on deck, and poised in the bows where they had waited to watch Miranda's swift victory, came alive and began to run to their stations. But gone was the automatic movement ob men at drill, or the grim silence of old hands facing one more battle. They hurried like those already too confused to act for a set purpose. Some cannoned into one another, others stood momentarily at the wrong gun, or groping with unfamiliar equipment until a petty officer kicked them away?
Bolitho looked at Buckle, trying to keep his tone level amidst the din around him.' Get the courses off her and set the t'gallants. There'll be enough risk of fire without having the canvas burn around our ears.'
Below the quarterdeck he heard the thud and bang of screens being torn down, a patter of feet as the boys dashed from the magazine with powder for each waiting gun?
He made himself face the approaching shipss knowing it was taking far too long to prepare for action? How near they looked. There was more gunfire, and he saw smoke lifting and writhing between the vessels making it impossible to know what was happening?
He held his breath as he saw the Miranda's yards swinging above the smoke, and knew her captain was trying to go about and run parallel with his attacker? Guns roared through the drifting fog, their long orange tongues flashing above the churned water, some of the balls whipping away over open sea, leaving vicious spurts of spray to mark their progress?
Miranda was still edging round, her pockmarked sails flapping weakly as she began to swing past the wind's eye. Her captain was either going to fight the bigger ship gun to gun, or intended to slip past her stern and rake her with a broadside as he did so?
Bolitho heard someone groan as the enemy fired into the smoke. Gun by gun down her hidden side, the balls could almost be felt across the tumbling white-horses?
It was superbly timed, catching the frigate even as she was beginning to pass across the wind. The enemy was using langrage or chain-shot, for as the slow broadside smashed home Bolitho saw the Miranda's fore and mainmasts stagger and then begin to topple sideways into the smoke, the sails jerking to the bombardment. From a lithe and beautiful ship to a crippled wreck, the Miranda was still trying to turn, her bowchaser firing blindly, the ensign showing scarlet from her mizzen?
Tyrrell shouted wildly, 'Cleared for action!'
Bolitho looked at him.'Load and run out, if you please.'
The lieutenant stayed facing him, his eyes very bright in the sunlight.' You ain't going to fight both of 'ems surely?'
'If necessary.'
Bolitho turned as more shots echoed and murmured across the shortening distance. He saw the brig clawing away from the two larger ships, her main topgallant leaning at a dangerous angle where Miranda's first balls had found their mark?
The planks vibrated under his shoes, and as the port lids opened the Sparrow's eighteen guns squeaked and rumbled towards the sunlight, the bare-backed seamen slipping on sanded decks as they tried to keep in time to the shouted commands from their captains?
Bolitho stared along the length of his ship with something like despair. In moments now, all would be finished. His ship, his precious Sparrow, would be sharing the frigate's fate?
And it had all been so easy. It had happened so often in the past that the sight of a helpless merchantman being harried by a well-armed privateer had not even aroused the faintest suspicion. No wonder the privateer's sails had been unmarked in their carefully staged battle. How the two American captains must have laughed when Miranda had swept in to defend her own murderer?
He felt Stockdale breathing noisily beside him, the sudden grip of the swordbelt around his waist?
He said huskily, 'By God, sir, them's bad odds!'
'Deck there!' The masthead lookout had been forgotten in the sight of disaster.' Miranda's goin' to grapple!' The unseen lookout gave a cracked cheer? 'She's goin' to close with the bugger!'
Bolitho ran to the rail. The frigate was almost hidden by the heavier shape of the enemy ship, but he could tell from the set of her mizzen that she was indeed lurching towards her attacker. Another crash of gunfire made the smoke spout upwards between them, and the frigate's remaining mast vanished in a welter ob rigging and ripped canvas. But Bolitho could see the sudden activity on the enemy's gangways, the surge ob figures by her foremast, and pictured the battered frigate heading her bows straight for the forecastle? Muskets cracked feebly across the water, and he sa/
the telltale flash of steel as the two vessels ground momentarily together and the fight became hand to hand?
He grasped Tyrrell's arm and shouted, 'Miranda's given us time!' He saw no understanding in his eyes, only disbelief.' If she can hold on, we will close with the brig!'
He shaded his face against the glare and watched the brig as she swept down towards the two transports?
'She'll cross Golden Fleece's bows, and rake her as she passes.' He was shouting his thoughts aloud.' We will wear ship directly, pass between the transports, and return the compliment!'
Tyrrell bit his lip.' But we might collide with the privateer, sir!'
Bolitho swung him round, pointing him at the embattled ships?
'Do you want those lads to die for nothing, man?' He pushed him to the rail.' Now get ready to wear when I give the order!'
The brig was already dead ahead of Sparrow's raked jib-boom, no more than a mile away. Aboard the leading transport Bolitho could see smoke from a solitary gun, although he saw no sign of a ball?
'Signal the transports to keep station, Mr. Bethune!' He repeated the order to break the midshipman from his unmoving stance.' Lively!'
If either of the transports' captains lost his head now all would fail. The enemy would destroy or capture at leisure. Even now there was little room for hope of any kind?
And all of it, from the first hint of surprise to this moment, had been merely minutes?
