Foley's obvious control must seem strange?
Buckle muttered, 'Bad bit o' coast down there, sir? Shoals and sandbars a'plenty.' He sucked his teeth noisily.' Bad.'
Foley glanced at Bolitho, his deepset eyes showin^
annoyance.' We are not here to discuss the competence or otherwise of your officers, surely?'
Bolitho met his gaze steadily, suddenly very calm? 'Indeed not, sir. I will vouch for my people.' He paused? 'Just as I am sure you will vouch for yours when the time comes.'
In the stiff silence Bolitho heard Tilby's booming voice along the upper deck, driving some unfortunate man about his work. Again, he had made a bad starts but he was unrepentant?
Foley nodded slowly.' We shall see.'
Graves asked, 'May I speak, sir?'
Bolitho nodded?
'Why cannot one of the inshore squadron do this mission, sir?'
Foley stood up, his head lowered between the beams.' Because your vessel is the more suitables Lieutenant. Not, I assure you, because you are in any way outstanding in such work.'
Bolitho looked at their faces. Resentment, surpriseB
even hurt. It was all there?
He said slowly, 'Carry on, gentlemen. Call all hands in ten minutes.'
When they had filed out he said, 'You have said that my duty is to act as your transport. How I do it is ma responsibility, and I am not required to remain quiet while you insult my officers.'
When the soldier stayed silent he continued, 'These same men helped to save two transports which are needed so badly for the military. They fought and sank a privateer and helped to drive away another, more powerful ship.'
'For which you will receive the credit, no doubt?'
Bolitho faced him quickly, his voice low with anger? 'Thank you, Colonel. I had no doubt you expected me to say that in front of the others, just so you could make such a suggestion.' He picked up his hat.' Had] known that the army was already quitting Philadelphias I might have spent more time in harrying that privateer than dragging my heels with your transports!'
Foley smiled.' Well said, Captain. I like a man who can still show some feeling.'
Bolitho slammed out of the cabin and strode unseeingly to the companion ladder. He could tell from the way some seamen avoided his eye, the alert manner with which young Bethune was studying the flagship, that they could all recognise his fury?
Had he changed so much? Before he would have laughed or cursed at Foley's rudeness once his back was turned. Now, at the mention of some criticism, the merest hint of an attack on his subordinates, and therefore his ship, was enough to drive away control and reason?
Tyrrell came aft and said quietly, 'I know those waters well enough, sir. Mr. Buckle is a mite bothereds but I can stand by him.'
'I know. Thank you.'
He had seen Tyrrell's expression when Buckle had voiced his concern at the meeting. He had been about to make the same suggestion. Perhaps that was why he had rushed in to defend the master against Foley's sarcasm. Foley had already made it clear what he thought of Americans. Rebels, colonists, or those unwillingly caught between the crossfire of differen?
factions and divided families, any of them?
Tyrrell turned to watch the gig being swayed up and over the starboard gangway?
'Bit of a bastard, that one, sir.' He shrugged.' I've met 'em before.'
Bolitho bit back the reproof he should have given? But what was the use? Even Bethune must have seen the antagonism between himself and Foley?
'Let us hope he knows what he is doing, Mr. Tyrrell? For all our sakes.'
The boatswain's mates charged along the gun deck and hovered over hatchways as they bawled, 'All hands! All hands! Clear lower deck!'
Bolitho said, 'I did not get time to discover any news of your family.'
'Ah well.' Tyrrell tilted his hat to shade his eyes in a shaft of dying sunlight.' Maybe later.'
The hatch casing slid open and Foley appeared at the top of the companion?
Bolitho said evenly, 'I must ask you to leave the quarterdeck, sir.' He saw him start angrily and added, «Or cover your red coat. It will not help if we are seen to be carrying even one soldier with us.'
Foley witherew and Tyrrell said cheerfully, 'One to you, sir!'
'It was unintended.' Bolitho took a telescope and trained it beyond the anchored shipping.' Our sailing must be seen as normal. Spies will have reported our arrival and no doubt will think only of our despatches.] don't intend to have the news abroad that we are going on some special mission. The world may soon know ob it, but the later the better.'
He walked to the quarterdeck rail, watching the seamen being mustered at their stations by the petta officers, but wondering at the truth of his words. Could a man like Foley really make him so quick to hit back as Tyrrell believed?
'Man the capstan!'Tilby was clinging to the foremast shrouds, his mottled face shining with sweat as he yelled at the scurrying seamen.' Jump to it, you idle buggers, or I'll be amongst you with my starter!' Caught off guard by the unexpected sailing orders, he was showing signs of a recent drinking bout?
Bolitho looked at Buckle.' Once we have worked clear of the land we will get the t'gallants on her. The wind seems steady enough, but we'll have rain before nightfall, I'm thinking.'
Buckle tugged his hat.' Aye, sir.' He hesitated.' I'm sorry I spoke out as I did. I should have known different.'
Bolitho smiled.' Better to speak your doubts before you meet trouble. It is too late when you are hard aground, eh?' He touched his arm lightly.' But before we draw that close to land we will see what Sparrow can do under full canvas.'
He walked away, hoping Buckle felt less worried. It could not be easy for him either. His first ship as master, and about to plunge into dangerous waters he had never seen before?
'Anchor's hove short, sir!' Graves 's voice was loud on the blustery wind?
Bolitho looked at Tyrrell.' Get the ship under way, if you please.'
He swung round as a chorus of derisive laughter burst from deck below. A seaman had caught his foot on one of the army scout's muskets and gone sprawling into the scuppers. It seemed to amuse the soldiers greatly?
Bolitho added coldly, 'With this fresh wind you'll need plenty of weight on the capstan bars.' He let his eyes rest on the Canadians?
Tyrrell grinned.' Right away, sir!' He cupped his hands.' Bosun! Put those men on th' capstan!' He silenced the immediate protests by adding, 'Don't hesitate to start 'em if you find 'em slacking!'
Bolitho thrust his hands beneath his coat tails and walked away from the rail so that he could watch the topmen more easily. He had taken enough insults from Foley. There was no good reason for his own seamen to suffer also?
'Anchor's aweigh, sir!'
He stared up at the thundering pattern of canvas as the ship heeled over, free to the wind?
Once clear of the land's sheltering arm the motion became more violent, the waves shorter and the colou_
of straw in the dull light. Spray lifted and dashed over the busy seamen and pattered across the quarterdeck like heavy rain. Bolitho felt it on his lips and wet against his shirt, sensing the released power as the courses and then the topgallant sails filled and bellied to the wind?
He watched the jib-boom rise towards the scudding clouds, stagger and then plunge forward and down over the next line of crests, the stays and shrouds gleaming like wet ebony. He pictured the angra Sparrow beneath the beakhead clutching its oak leaves and acorns, and wondered if the Bonaventure's captain had seen it when he had broken off the actions and would remember it?
Tyrrell lurched aft, his body angled steeply to the deck. He yelled to the mizzen topmen before pausing to check those working at the weather braces. Fitch scurried past carrying a bucket and Tyrrell called after him?
