Tyrrell nodded slowly.' It sounds likely. If the Frenchman knew a hunt was mounted, he would take th' most hazardous passage amongst th' islands to throw us off. It don't signify he's still there of course.'
Bolitho nodded.' A week back. Allow another few days before that for the fishing boat to reach the place where Lucifer sighted her.' He snatched up his dividers and bent over the chart.' Thirty leagues from our present position. We could be off the island by noon tomorrow if the wind holds.'
Odell said wearily, 'But I understand that Captain Colquhoun wishes you to flush her out and nothing more, sir?' He smiled.' Or did I not comprehend the good captain's desires?'
Bolitho sat down and opened the despatches again? 'Bacchante is to approach by the North West Providence Channel, while we remain to north'rd and hurry the Frenchman if he tries to run for it.'
Odell nodded, satisfied.' Bacchante can be barely twenty miles from her attacking position by now, sir.] am to find her again and report that I have met you and that you understand the instructions.'
Bolitho glanced at him quickly.' Thank you. I do understand.'
The lieutenant stood up and reached for his hat? 'Then I will return to my ship. I have no wish to be caught in these waters after dark.'
Together they watched the lieutenant being rowed back to his schooner?
Then Tyrrell said heavily, 'Seems clear enough to me. Cap'n Colquhoun is set on taking th' Frog as a prize, all to himself, while we just act as beaters.'
'There is something which bothers me far more.' Bolitho rubbed his chin.' The fishing boat was a small one, according to the despatches. Too frail to be out in deep water where she might expect to find Bacchante or some other frigate. It was a mere fluke that she met with Lucifer, for as we know, Jethro, schooners in the King's service are rare out here.'
Tyrrell's eyes glistened in the dying sunlight.' You mean that th' fishermen were looking for another ship?'
Bolitho met his gaze.' Aye.'
'But there's only us an' the Fawn between here and th' inshore squadron, an' their nearest patrol must be four hundred miles away?
'Exactly.' Bolitho stared astern at the other sloops her topsails already painted in deepening shadows? 'And who would know that better than some island fisherman, eh?'
Tyrrell breathed out slowly.' Hell, you're saying we was meant to get the information, but once Colquhoun got his hands on 'em they acted for their own safety.'
'I don't know.' Bolitho walked to the nettings and back to the compass, seeing neither.' But Fawn's captain said something to me a while ago. That our exploits were getting well known, which is another way of saying they have been hurting the enemy.'
Tyrrell nodded.' A trap. Is it likely?' He waved one band towards the sea.' Surely we're not that important!'
'It depends what the enemy intends.'
Bolitho turned away, feeling a chill on his spine. It was a new sensation, uncanny. To think that someone might be discussing him, planning and scheming like runners after a wanted criminal?
But it was certainly how it appeared, how he must anticipate it if he was to prepare himself. Fleets and valuable convoys stayed to the east or west of the Bahama Islands, so it was much more likely that the enemy was out after one particular prize?
He said, 'We will show a stern lantern for Fawn's benefit tonight. At dawn I will tell Commander Maulba what I think.' He grinned, suddenly amused by his unusual caution.' Or maybe by that time I will have driven my ghosts away.'
Tyrrell watched him doubtfully.' To our enemy, the Frogs in particular, you're like a thorn.' He frowned? 'There's only one way to deal with thorns, you tear 'em out and stamp on 'em!'
Bolitho nodded.' I agree. We will continue with our new course, but be prepared to treat every event as a trick and a ruse until proved otherwise.'
He looked abeam for the Lucifer, but she was little more than a blur in the damp evening haze. He cursed Colquhoun for not supplying more information about the fishing boat, where it came from, or the reliability ob its crew. Yet he could almost feel sorry for him. He was obviously beset with anxiety about his own future, and now there was the chance of catching a rich prize, and probably military information as well, he could think ob little else?
He went below to his cabin and stared at the chart beneath a gently spiralling lantern. Between his hands the islands, the countless tentacles of reefs and shallows were like the neck of some gigantic bags around which Colquhoun's flotilla, accidentally or otherwise, were converging to close with the finality ob a noose?
Bolitho sighed and turned to lean from one of the windows. In the shaded stern lantern's beam the small frothing wake glowed like blue wool, and beyond it the horizon had faded to mingle with the first pale stars?
Then he touched the scar beneath the lock of hairs noting that it was hurting, throbbing in time with his heart. He knew he was uneasy, more so because he could not find a proper reason for it?
Overhead he heard Graves murmuring as he took over the watch, and Tyrrell's limping step as he walked towards the companion ladder. Normal, regular sounds which usually gave him a sense of pleasure. Now, perhaps because they represented people he had come to know, and not merely extensions of the ship's efficiency, he was suddenly afraid. Not of an enemy or the ever-present shadow of death, but of his responsibility which their trust had given him?
11. Strategy And Spies
BOLITHe was hastily tying his neckcloth when Tyrrell thrust his head through the cabin skylight and called, «Bacchante's just signalled, sir! Capn's to repair aboard!'
'I will come up directly.'
He threw on his coat and took a quick glance round the cabin. He did not see Colquhoun very often, but he had learned it best to forget nothing?
On deck he found the gig being swayed over the gangway, and when he glanced abeam he saw Fawn's boat already in the water and Maulby hurrying down into it with his usual agility?
It was early afternoon and the deck burning hot through his shoes. All night, with Fawn keeping as close as safety allowed, they had driven south, with the sprawling barrier of sandbars and shallows some ten miles off the larboard beam. But it had taken longer than he had hoped to find Colquhoun's Bacchante, and almost as soon as the masthead had sighted her topsails the wind had fallen away to a mere breaths allowing the sun to tighten its grip over them like a furnace?
As he waited for the gig's crew to man their boat he turned to stare across the opposite beam, towards the distorted hump of blue and purple which he knew to be the western tip of Grand Bahama. Colquhoun was taking no chances. He was standing well clear of the land, either to give himself sea-room, or to prevent the enemy from seeing his intentions?
'Ready, sir.'
He ran down to the entry port and said to Tyrrell, «Keep a sharp lookout for inquisitive craft of any kind? Send a cutter after 'em if they draw near. Don't wait for my orders.'
Then he was in the gig and settling himself on a hot thwart as Stockdale swung the tiller and sent the boat dipping and swaying towards the frigate. Bacchante was hove-to, her sails flapping loosely, showing her copper as she rolled unsteadily in the swell. She was a fine ship, he thought. Clean-cut and designed by a craftsman. Thirty-six guns and the ability to live off her own resources for many months, she was, or should be, every young captain's ambition. It did not seem to fit Colquhoun at all?
Stockdale was muttering under his breath, and
Bolitho knew he was cursing his opposite number in Fawn, who always seemed to manage to get his boat anywhere just that bit faster. The gig turned swiftly, oars backing in close unison, the bowman hooking on to the frigate's main chains as Bacchante's shadow gave them brief respite from the glare?
Bolitho clambered up the side, doffing his hat and regaining his composure while the calls shrilled in salute and a squad of redcoated marines slapped their muskets to the present?
