he will have little difficulty in aiming his broadsides.'
He peered up at the yards where some topmen were casting away the last of their leafy camouflage? Above their heads the masthead pendant was whipping towards the cove, and he saw the beach regaining shape in the light, the marks of many feets the small humps to show where some of the soldiers had been buried within sight of rescue. Rescue. He rubbed his chin and tried to think more logically?
Once out in the bay they could make sail and tack towards the entrance and open sea. The Frenchmans on the other hand, already had the advantage of the wind. Could even anchor if desired and pound Sparrow to fragments while she lay helpless in the cove. She would sink with her masts above water. It was a cruel picture?
He said, 'Break out the kedge anchor, Mr. Tyrrells and then hoist all boats.' He looked at the long racks ob sweeps.' We will have to see what those will achieve this morning.'
Once free of the kedge the hull swung sternwards towards the beach, the current swirling around her stem as if she was already under way?
The gun deck and gangways were crowded with men, and he knew that below every space was filled with exhausted soldiers. He watched the gig rising above the gangway before dropping neatly on its chocks between the cutters, the seamen working in unusual silence, glancing occasionally towards him by the rail as if to see his intentions?
He was able to pick out individual faces in the strengthening light, and realized he now knew most ob them by name. The reliable and the lazy, the malcontents and those who were able to accept their calling, enforced or otherwise, with varying degrees ob trust. He remembered that first day, the sea of unknown men, with Graves excusing Tyrrell's absence. It seemed so long ago?
Tyrrell reported, 'Boats secured, sir!'
Bolitho walked to the rail and leaned on it. The wood was moist and clammy, but within a few hours would be like a furnace bar. If it was still above water?
He said, 'You all know of that frigate, lads. She's up there now, taking her time, as Frogs do in such matters.' He paused, seeing some of the older men nudging each other and grinning at his feeble wit.' You can also see that we are unable to loose tops'ls without driving ashore. But if soldiers can march all the way across country to us, I reckon we should be able to get 'em home again, what d'you say?'
For a long moment nobody moved or spoke, and he felt despair rising as if to mock him. Why should they care? After his displeasure following the fight with the privateers they might simply see it as a just rebuff?
Surprisingly, it was the boatswain who was the first to break the silence. Bursting from the larboard gangway, his face glowing like a grotesque heated shot, he bellowed, 'What are we waiting for, ma lovelies? A huzza for the cap'n! An' another for Sparrow!'
The cheering spread along the decks and up to the topmen on the yards. To the dazed soldiers below and in the cramped holds, and wherever a foot or so had been found for them?
Tilby yelled, 'An' to 'ell with them bloody Frogs!' He was already cutting the lashings on the nearest sweeps, pushing men towards them while others scampered to open the small ports on either beam?
Bolitho turned away, seeing Tyrrell's great grin and Buckle nodding his head and beaming as if they were already at sea and away under full sail. Even Graves was smiling, his tired face both dazed and pleased by the din?
He said, 'Man the capstan.' He wished they would stop cheering. That Tyrrell would obey and leave him to his thoughts.' Run out the sweeps, if you please.'
Tyrrell shouted the order, and as the helmsmen stood to the wheel and the capstan took the first slow strain, he turned and said, 'They'll not let you down. Not after what you've done for those poor redcoats. Not now. Not ever, Cap'n.'
Bolitho could not face him. Instead he stared along the larboard side at the wavering line of sweeps poised above the swirling water like the oars of some ancient galley. It would take a great deal of effort to move her into the bay. With the wind against her and the dead weight of all her guns and extra passengers it might prove impossible?
'Stand by!'
The sweeps swung gingerly forward, the seamen clinging to the long looms and gripping the deck with their bare toes?
'Anchor's aweigh!' Graves came running aft above the seamen and yelled, 'She's paying off, sir!'
'Give way all!' Tilby threw his own weight on the aftermost sweep, his bulging muscles showing evidence of the strain.' 'Save.! Come on, boyos, 'eave 'agin now!'
Rising and failing, the lines of sweeps thrust and slashed at the water to hold the Sparrow's drift towards the beach, and then very slowly, painfully brought her under command and towards the bay?
Bolitho called, 'Mr. Buckle, take the wheel!' To Tyrrell he added, 'Every officer and man on the sweeps0 Everyone!'
As the anchor was catted home and Graves led his own party to the sweeps others slithered down backstays or ran from their stations elsewhere to give weight to the stroke?
Bolitho tried not to watch the point, green and brown now in the light. It was stationary and the sloop was hardly making headway. Yet already the men were gasping for breath, and only Buckle and himself were not helping. The wind was too strong, the current too insistent?
Tyrrell's voice carried like a trumpet.' Heave! Heave0
An' one more, lads!' But it was no use?
Buckle called softly, 'We'll have to anchor again, sir0 They'll be beat in a moment!'
Severyl seamen missed their grip and almost fell as a voice shouted above the plunge and creak ob sweeps?
'Quickly there! Spread yourselves out with the seamen!'
Bolitho stared with disbelief as Foley emerged below the quarterdeck, and following him, two by twos some limping, others blinded by bandages, came the remnants of his company?
Foley looked up.' The 51st have never been known to fail in showing up the Navy, Captain!' He steadied one of his men who was groping past him before adding, 'You spoke earlier of miracles. But sometimes they, too, need a little help.' He turned away and put himself beside a master's mate on the end of a sweep?
Bolitho gripped the rail, wanting to hide his face from them, but unable to tear his eyes from their combined efforts?
Buckle called huskily, 'I've got steerage way, sir? She's answering now!'
Bolitho said softly, 'The colonel told me he could take half the continent with the right men. With men such as these he could conquer the world.'
When he looked again he saw that the point was slipping across the starboard quarter as with great care Buckle eased the helm over and watched the jib-boom pointing towards deeper water?
Here and there a man fell exhausted from a sweeps but the stroke barely faltered?
When the full rim of sunlight eventually broke above the distant hills, Sparrow was well out into the bay?
Bolitho shouted, 'Topmen aloft! Stand by to make sail!'
The jib cracked and flapped angrily, then hardened into a firm crescent, and as the long sweeps were withdrawn from their ports the deck tilted to a small but satisfying angle?
'Lay her on the starboard tack, Mr. Buckle. As close to the wind as you can. We will need all the room possible to weather Cape May.'
Tyrrell came aft and stood beside the compass, his eyes fixed on the hazy shoreline. He looked strangely contented. Reassured?
He saw Bolitho watching him and remarked, 'It was a good feeling to get ashore again. But then I guess you feel th' same about England.'
Bolitho nodded gravely. Maybe Tyrrell had been tempted after all. But he had come back, and that was what counted?
He said, 'You did well, Mr. Tyrrell. You all did.'
Tyrrell gave his lazy grin.' If you'll pardon th' liberty, sir, you ain't no hoof-dragger yourself.'
'Deck there! Sail on th' starboard quarter!'
Bolitho looked at Buckle.' The Frenchman is after us sooner than I thought. Get the t'gallants on her, if you please.' He walked up the slanting deck and shaded his eyes.' We'll give him a run for his money.'
