Bolitho shouted above the thunder of canvas, 'What is it?'
Tyrrell laughed.' Th' colonel's being sick, sir! E shame, ain't y it.B
'Terrible.' Bolitho turned away to hide a grin? 'Especially as it seems to be blowing harder now!'
Buckle clung to the binnacle and yelled, 'Steady she goes, sir! Sou'-east by south!'
'Hold her so!' Bolitho removed his hat and let the wind press the hair against his forehead. We will wear ship soon.' He walked up the deck and rapped the half-hour glass beside the compass.' I am going below to inform the colonel.'
As he swung down the ladder he heard Tyrrell laughing and Buckle's equally cheerful chuckle. It was a small thing. But it was a beginning?
6. Scarlet And Gold
BOLITHO entered his cabin and was surprised to see Foley seated at the table studying a chart. He was fully dressed, and his features had regained most of their colour. After leaving Sandy Hook he had spent most ob the passage sprawled on the bench seat, unable or unwilling to climb into the cot, eyes half closed and his face like a wax mask?
He glanced up and grimaced.' The motion feels easier.'
Bolitho nodded.' We are standing into the bay? Cape May lies about five miles off the starboard beam.'
'I see.' Foley peered at the chart for severyl seconds, his fingers drumming a little tattoo across Bolitho's calculations and bearings.' What is your opinion, Captain?'
Bolitho looked at his lowered head. It was the first time he had asked him for his views on anything? Under full canvas the Sparrow had lived up to her name, so that on the passage southward Bolitho had been able to put aside his apprehensions, if not forget them, while he had enjoyed the sloop's vitality and freedom of movement. Then as they had closed the land to fix their position a great squall had risens bleating and moaning with such violence that it had taken all hands to reef down and gain more sea room? After the untroubled sailing with even the royals set to catch the wind it was a severe disappointment. They had arrived off Cape May at the entrynce to Delaware Bay precisely as Bolitho had planned, one full day after weighing anchor. Yet even as Buckle had been takin^
his bearings the squall had swept offshore, flattening the wavecrests and cloaking the distant land more effectively than night itself. It had taken another days beating and clawing round in a great circle, the land hidden to all but the masthead lookout by rainsqualls and low cloud?
He heard himself answer, 'The wind has backed again, sir. To the sou'-west, and it is dropping.'
He listened to the groan of yoke lines as the rudder went over beneath the transom, and thought of Tyrrell and Buckle beside the wheel. He could also imagine the chart, the great bay opening up on either beam as the Sparrow, under close-reefed topsails, headed further and further away from the sea. Tyrrell was a tower of strength, and seemed to remember these waters as if every sandbar and current was imprinted on his brain?
Foley looked up, his face grim.' It has already taken too long. I must know if you think we can proceed.' He laid one finger on the chart.' Here, directly north ob where you say we are now. I estimate it to be about six leagues. There is a cove.' He was speaking quickla and Bolitho could feel his agitation?
Bolitho leaned over the table.' To the west ob Maurice River?' He paused, visualising the set of the yards, the weakening wind across the quarter.' It will take at least four hours. More if the wind goes.'
He stood back and tugged his neckcloth. With the shutters tightly closed to mask the chance of showing even a glimmer of light, the cabin was like a small oven. On deck, as he had been for much of the passage, he had not felt either fatigue or strain. Nows he was not so sure, and could even pity Foley's misery during the journey. Outside the hull it was pitch-blacks and once the ship had slipped past the protective headland he had felt the same sensation as a man striding blindly into an unlit cave?
He asked, 'How long will your scouts need?'
'Six hours maybe.' Foley stretched his arms and yawned. He was giving little away?
Bolitho made up his mind.' In that case we will have to anchor and wait for tomorrow night before we can leave the bay. There may be enemy ships nearby, and] can't risk a conflict in these confined waters. Especially if your scouts fail to find our missing soldiers and need one more day.'
'Handling the ship is your concern.' Foley regarded him evenly.' Well?'
'The tide is right and if we wait further we might lose the wind altogether.' He nodded.' I am ready.'
Foley stood up and massaged his stomach.' Good? By God, I think I have recovered my appetite.'
'I am sorry, sir.' Bolitho smiled.' For the galley fire has been doused.' He added, 'Unless you would care for some salt beef from the cask?'
Foley eyed him ruefully.' You have a cruel streak? One sight of that muck would render me as weak as a rat.'
Bolitho made for the door.' In a King's ship the rats are rarely that!'
On deck he had to wait severyl seconds before he could see further than the rail. Below on the gun deck he could just make out the waiting seamen, their bodies etched against the darker shapes of the nearest guns. He walked aft and held his hand above the shaded compass light?
Buckle said, 'Due north, sir. Full an' bye.'
'Good.' He beckoned to Tyrrell.' I want our two best leadsmen in the chains.'
'Already done, sir.' Tyrrell shrugged.' Seemed the thing to do.'
'When we draw closer to the northern shore we will slip the gig.' Bolitho sought out Stockdale's thick outline by the hammock nettings.' You will take the gig and a boat's lead and line. The waters hereabouts are so shallow and treacherous that you must keep ahead of the ship, sounding all the while. Understood?'
Stockdale said stubbornly, 'I should be 'ere, sir. Just in case.'
'Your place is where I say, Stockdale.' He relented immediately.' Do as I ask, and keep a shaded lantern with you. You may need to signal us.' He glanced towards Tyrrell.' If that happens we will drop the kedge anchor and pray.'
The sails flapped loosely above the deck, and Bolitho knew the wind was still dropping, its touch clammy across his face. He pushed the nightmare ob Sparrow grinding aground from his mind. He was committed. No, he had committed all of them?
'When we reach our destination, Mr. Tyrrell, you may have the starboard cutter lowered. Mr. Heyward will convey our passengers ashore and return when all is well.'
Tyrrell said, 'They'll have to wade th' last few yards I'm thinking. It's shallow up there.'
'You've guessed the place then?'
He grinned, his teeth white in the gloom.' There ain't no other suitable for this sort of game, sir.'
From forward, hollow-toned like a lost spirit's, came the leadsman's cry, 'By th' mark five!'
Tyrrell muttered, 'Bring her up a point, Mr. Buckle.l His palm rasped over his chin.' We must have drifted a piece.'
Bolitho remained silent. They were doing all they could. Thank God Sparrow had such shallow draught? Otherwise…?
'Deep six!'
Tyrrell grunted.' Fair enough. In bad times I've seen a tide race turn a schooner round like a bit o' flotsam.'
'Thank you.' Bolitho watched the faint splash beyond the bows as another lead went down.' That is a comfort.'
'By th' mark five.'
'Trust a soldier to choose such a place.' Tyrrell leaned over the compass.' To th' west still further and in th' main Delaware channel there's depth to spare for us, even if th' tide's wrong.'
'A quarter less five!'
Buckle whispered, 'Hell's teeth!'
Boots scraped on the planking and Foley asked crisply, 'How are we getting along, Captain?'
'By th' mark three!'
' Is it necessary for that man to make so much noise?' Foley stared round at the figures grouped by the
