Along the swaying lines of red coats men had dropped like corpses, while others had merely stared speechlessly at the bronzed sailors, their filthy faces running with tears, hands outstretched like men seeing messengers of salvation itself?
It had been pitiful and moving just to watch while they had lurched into the shallows and the boats. The lieutenant carrying his regiment's colours, as he must have done all the way south from Philadelphia, trying to show some last control but his face reversing the lies the despair and the disbelief?
Now, as he stood watching the general it was hard to connect the two scenes together. Blundell was a rotund but powerfully built man, and apart from dirt on his boots, his uniform looked as if it had been only recently pressed. His iron-grey hair was neat, and his heavy, florid features must have been shaved within the day?
So far, he had given Bolitho little more than a cursory glance, and was content to make his needs known through Foley?
He touched the glass of wine with his tongue and grimaced.' I suppose one cannot hope for too much in a craft of this size, what?'
Foley looked again at Bolitho, his expression one ob physical pain?
Overhead and deep in the hull the timbers were alive with thudding boots, the occasional bellow of orders and the squeak of tackles above the boats?
The general said, 'You should have put those men to work, Foley. No sense in letting 'em lie about like squires of the manor.'
Bolitho said, 'My people can manage the loadings sir.'
'Hmm.' The general seemed to consider him for the first time.' Well, make sure that every mule is properly checked. Some careless or greedy fool might be thinking of stealing their loads. There's a king's ransom in those packs. So think on these things when you report you're ready for sea.'
Graves appeared in the door.' All the soldiers are on board, sir. Some of them are in a poor way.'
Bolitho tore his eyes from the general, the droplets of wine on his lips?
'Have the cook light the galley fire, Mr. Graves. That French frigate will not attempt to weigh in the darks even if the wind gets up. I want those men to get something hot to eat. Rum, too, while they are waiting? Tell Mr. Lock to arrange it.'
He thought of the staggering men, the fallen redcoats by the trees. And this was the party of fit men?
Foley asked quietly, 'When will you be raising anchor, Captain?'
Bolitho saw the anguish in his eyes, the way he lingered on his question?
'An hour after dawn the tide will be right, as will the current hereabouts, according to my information.'
The general's glass hovered in mid-air, so that his orderly allowed the wine to pour from the decanter and across the deck?
'What the hell are you talking about?' He struggled up in the chair.' You can sail now. I heard your men saying the time was as good as any for it.'
Bolitho faced him coldly.' That is true only up to point, sir. But if I am to wait for the sick and wounded to reach the cove, I must prepare for the next tide.' He hardened his tone.' I have sent my first lieutenant and forty seamen to aid their passage here. I pray to God we can save them from more suffering.'
The general lurched to his feet, his eyes flashing angrily.' Tell this young upstart, Foley! There is an enemy ship up-channel and no time to be wasted.] have gone through enough in the last few days, and] command you to…'
Bolitho said, 'My orders say that I am in command ob transportation for this mission, sir. They make no distinction between gold bullion or men.' He pauseds the anger churning his stomach like brandy.' Even those too weak and sick to fend for themselves. Is that not so, Colonel?'
Foley was staring at him, his eyes in dark shadow? When he spoke his voice was different, husky.' It is true, Captain. You are in command.' He swung round and faced his astonished superior.' We, Sir Jamess are just so much cargo.'
Bolitho turned and walked from the cabin. On deck the air seemed cleaner, and he made himself stand quite still by the rail above the nearest twelve-pounders for severyl minutes?
Below he could see figures moving in all directions, and from the galley funnel he caught the aroma of meat stew. Even Lock must have been too overcome by the tattered, starving soldiers to restrain the cook?
He heard Foley's boots beside him but did not turn?
'Thank you, Captain. From me and my men. And those who will owe their lives to your humanity. And courage.' He held up his hand as Bolitho turned to reply.' You could risk your very future because of this action, as well you know.'
Bolitho shrugged.' Rather that than live with a foul memory.'
Someone called in the darkness and a nearby cutter began to pull inshore?
'I'd not leave those men behind.' He walked towards the gangway.' If needs be, I'll drop the gold overboard first!'
'Yes. I believe you would, Captain.'
But Foley was speaking to the darkness. And when he reached the side he saw the gig already on its way to the beach, Bolitho sitting beside Stockdale at the tiller. He peered down at the gun deck. Where would
Bolitho put all these men? He heard the creak of oars as the first boat thrust off from the beach. One thing was certain. He would find the space somehow, if it cost him his commission?
7. To Dare Or To Die
BOLITHO opened his eyes and stared at the mug ob steaming coffee which Stockdale was holding above the side of the cot. He struggled upright, his mind and vision readjusting to the unfamiliar surroundings, the awareness that it must already be dawn. He was in Tyrrell's small screened cabin adjoining the wardrooms and as he held the mug to his lips he realised he could not remember how he came to be there?
Stockdale wheezed, 'You've 'ad a good hour's sleep, sir. I was fair loath to wake you.' He shrugged heavily.' But your last orders was to rouse all 'ands afore dawn.'
Bolitho's aching mind suddenly cleared. He could feel the uneven motion around him, the creak of stays and shrouds?
'The wind? How is it?' He threw his legs to side of the cot, feeling crumpled and unclean?
'Risin', sir.' Stockdale sounded unhappy.' From the west'rd.'
Bolitho looked at him.' Damn!'
With the mug still in his hand he hurried from the cabin and almost fell across a line of sleeping soldiers? Despite the need to know what was happening he stood motionless looking at them. Remembering the long night, the stream of sick and wounded men he had watched brought aboard by his sailors. Some would not see another day pass, others were like skeletons, racked with fever or the agony of wounds gone rotten. He still felt that same cold anger and shame which he had endured then. The realisation that most of the men could have been carried on the mules instead of being left to stagger further and still further in the rear of their comrades. And the general?
He stepped over the inert shapes and continued to the quarterdeck?
Tyrrell saw him and said, 'You know about th' wind?'
Bolitho nodded and walked to the nettings, seeing the bay opening up in the pale early light like ruffled steel, the dancing cat's-paws against the hull, pushing it gently but insistently on the taut anchor cables?
Buckle came to his side, his face grey with fatigue?
'We can't set even a scrap o' canvas, sir. We're on a lee shore an' no mistake.'
Bolitho was staring along the larboard gangway and away towards the dark slab of land emerging from the shadows. The point, around which lay the river and the deep channel?
Graves said, 'We will have to stay where we are and hope that Frog has a mind to do likewise.' He sounded doubtful?
Bolitho shook his head, thinking aloud.' No. The Frenchman will have guessed we are about, even if he does not realise our exact strength. Either way he will up anchor soon and make for open water. If he sees us in passing
