The lieutenant sighed.' I have made a small sketch which may be of some help for you, sir. The tide race is bad there, and the surf no better. But if the French could enter, then you should have less hardship.'
The two gigs were hooked on to the chains, and Bolitho said with sudden urgency, 'I will be making sail directly if I am to take station by dawn.' He held out his hand.' I wish I was coming with you.'
Maulby returned the clasp.' I, too.' He grinned.' But at least you will be spared the sight of Fawn as she makes Colquhoun both rich and famous in one blow.'
Stockdale stood up in the gig as Bolitho descended the frigate's side, his eyes puzzled?
As the boat shoved off and the oars picked up the stroke, he hissed, 'Then we're not fightin', sir?'
Bolitho sighed. Secret orders, plans of battle, meant nothing to the lower deck. Stockdale had not left the gig, but he and probably every Jack in the flotilla knew what was happening?
'Not this time, Stockdale.'
He had already forgotten Colquhoun's snub, the calculated attempt to drive a rift between him and Maulby. He was thinking of Fawn's task, the chances ob success without prolonging the attack so that Colquhoun could blame Maulby for the delay?
'It ain't right, sir.' Stockdale was muttering from the tiller?
Bolitho glared at him.' Just attend to your work!] have had a bellyful of strategy for one day!'
Stockdale studied the captain's squared shoulders, the way he was gripping his hanger so that the fingers showed white through his tan. It ain't no use you blowin' off at me, my lad, it still ain t right, an' wot's more, you knows it.
With his secret rebuff held firmly in his mind Stockdale eased the tiller bar and headed straight for the Sparrow?
As the bowman hooked on to the chains Bolitho turned abruptly and said, 'But thank you for your concern.'
Stockdale stood and removed his hat while Bolitho reached for the sloop's side?
He grinned broadly at his back.' Thankee, sir!'
Tyrrell was no less ready to speak out.' But that's a strange choice! Commander Maulby's a fine officers but…'
Bolitho swung round.' Prepare to get the ship under way. Rig the royal yards as soon as we are under command, for I want to make all speed with what wind there is!' He relented again.' Just do as I ask, Mr? Tyrrell, and let us have no more of it.'
Buckle ambled across the deck as Bolitho hurried below to rid himself of his heavy dress coat?
'What d'you make of it, Mr. Tyrrell?'
Tyrrell frowned.' That damn Colquhoun! I never took to th' man. Like bloody Ransome, his eyes are slits for the Devil to peer through!'
Buckle shook his head.' Cap'n's worried, there's no doubt on that.'
'Not for himself.' Tyrrell watched the men hauling at the boat tackles as the gig bobbed above the gangway.' That is equally certain.'
Bolitho's voice rose sharply through the skylight? 'When you have finished, gentlemen, I would be obliged if you would attend to my orders!'
Buckle looked at Tyrrell and grinned sheepishly?
'That's more like it! Our Dick's not the one to brood too long!'
Within the hour Sparrow was ghosting slowly to the northwest, her yards alive with canvas, as with all sail set she left her consorts further and still further astern?
The wind rose very slightly, and by the time the first stars appeared above the raked masts they had logged nearly fifty miles back along the same course they had used to join Colquhoun with such haste the previous night?
But there was nothing anyone could do about it, and there were some who were inwardly pleased to be spared Fawn's uncomfortable passage through the shoals?
On the quarterdeck Lieutenant Graves leaned against the rail, half watching the loosely flapping sails, partly listening to the creak of the wheel, an occasional voice from his seamen on watch. He was thinking about his home in Chatham and the news he had received in a rare letter from England. His was not a seafaring family, and his father had owned a small but flourishing grocer's shop where Graves and his sister had been born and had grown up together. His mothers a sickly woman, had died a year before Sparrow had sailed from the Thames, and in the past years his father had apparently taken to drink. The business had fallen into debt, and his sister, probably out ob desperation, had married an impoverished lieutenant in the army garrison?
She had written asking for money, for herself and to try to keep their father from a debtors' prison. Graves had sent all he had, which had been little enough. His share of Sparrow's prize money would help considerably, but until he received more news from home he was unwilling to sign it over when it had been so hard to come by. If only he had been better moulded to dealing with the ways of the Navy. Like the captains whose seafaring background and famous ancestors put him apart from men like himself. Or even Tyrrell, who seemed indifferent to all authority, although God knew he could ill afford to be so. He remembered exactly when Tyrrell's sister had come aboard. They had been in Kingston, Jamaica, where she had been living with friends, waiting until the troubles, as she called them, in America were over. A vivacious, lively girl, with none of Tyrrell's casual attitudes. To Graves she had appeared like some sort of angel, an answer to everything he had ever dreamed. She came from a settled, prosperous family, and as a wife would have given him the chance to better himself, find his rightful place in the world instead of remaining unsure and cautious. Tyrrell had seen his intentions clearly enough, but had neither encouraged nor come out directly against him. Then, the fool had had an argument with Captain Ransome over a man being punished. Graves could no longer remember if the punishment was just or not, nor did he care. All that remained clear was that Ransome had acted swiftly and had used all his charms which was considerable, and his obvious skill on the
girl's defences to break his own chances as well as alienating her brother completely. But Graves still blamed Tyrrell, hated him whenever he thought of her and the way she had looked when Ransome had finally put her ashore in Antigua?
He gripped the rail until the pain steadied him? Where was she now? Someone said she had sailed for America again, others mentioned a passing Indiaman which had gone south to Trinidad. Would she ever think of him? He turned away, angry with himself for daring to hope after so long. Why could he never be confident when it was most needed? Perhaps he had been too long in that damned grocer's shop, hearing his father grovelling to the quality, bowing and scraping to customers who ran up bills far greater than his own debts?
The worry about his sister, the uncertainty about himself, had taken their toll in other ways, too. He had sensed it after the fight with the Bonaventure, even though he had been aboard Sparrow with the rescued passengers. Suppose the captain had failed to grapple her long enough to carry out his wild plant Would he have had the strength to turn Sparrow against orders and attempt to rescue Bolitho and his men? But for Buckle and some of the others he doubted if he would have done so even when both grappled ships had burst into flames. They had seen the great pall of smoke from the horizon itself?
And later, when they had closed with the other prizes and had exchanged shots with privateers, he had felt the fear spreading inside him like some loathsome disease. Nobody had noticed. Yet. He shook himself and crossed to the weather side, trying to clear his mind in the cool breeze?
The two midshipmen were standing by the lee nettings, and Bethune said quietly, 'Mr. Graves seems worried.'
The new midshipman, Fowler, ignored the comment? 'Now look here.' He had a lisp, which became more evident whenever he was trying to appear innocent before his superiors. Now it was barely noticeable.'] have to supervise swabbing the cable tier tomorrow?
Bethune was watching the lieutenant.' I know. It's your turn.'
Fowler showed his small teeth.' You do it for me? When we rejoin the fleet I will speak with the admiral.'
Bethune gaped at him.' For me?'
'Perhaps.'
Bethune's gratitude was pathetic.' Oh, if only…' He nodded firmly.' Yes, I will take charge of the cable party? Anything else I can do…'
The youth regarded him coolly.' I will let you know.'
