nausea at the prospect of a climb to the lookout?
Then he swung himself out on to the main shrouds and gripped the gently quivering ratlines with as much force as if the ship had been in a full gale. Through the ratlines he saw Graves below on the gun decks shoulders hunched, his eyes looking neither right nor left?
Bethune was close by him, one hand resting on a twelve-pounder, the other shading his eyes as he peered up at the mist. All along the ship men stood like crude statuary, bare backs shining with moisture, which dripped ceaselessly from the sails and rigging, so that they appeared to be sweating, as if they had just been in battle?
Here and there a checked shirt, or the darker blue and white of a gunner's mate, stood out from the rests as if the artist had found more time to complete their postures before passing on to some other part of the picture?
'By th' mark five.' The chant came aft from the forecastle like a dirge?
In his mind Bolitho pictured the chart. The tide was on the turn now. Soon even the so-called safe channels between the shoals and sandbars would be drawn closer together, like great jaws closing around a capture?
He gritted his teeth and started to climb. When he paused to draw breath the ship had lost her outline in the mist. Only the guns and oblong hatchways stood out with any clarity, and aft by the taffrail Buckle and the others seemed to be cut in halves by the following tendrils of haze?
Up and up. At the maintop he swarmed quickly through the lubber's hole rather than tackle the additional agony of hanging by fingers and toes from the futtock shrouds. A seaman gaped at him as he passed and was still staring as Bolitho increased his rate of climb until he, too, was lost from view?
A few moments later Bolitho stared up at the main topgallant yard with something like awe. For there, above it, clean and empty of cloud, the sky was bright blue, and as he started up the last ratlines he saw the taut stays and shrouds shining like copper in the early sunlight?
The lookout, legs swinging carelessly from the crosstrees, moved over to allow his captain to climb up beside him?
Bolitho gripped a stay with one hand and tried to control his rapid breathing?
'Ah, Taylor, you have a good perch up here.'
The maintopman gave a slow grin.' Aye, sir.' He had a soft North Country burr, and his homely voice did more than he would have dreamed possible to steady Bolitho's sickness?
He raised a bronzed arm.' There she be, sir!'
Bolitho twisted round, trying not to look at the vibrating mast as it vanished below into the mist. For a moment longer he could see nothing. Then, as the sluggish wind stirred the mist into movement he saw the raked topmasts and flapping pendant of a frigate some three miles away on the starboard quarter?
He forgot his precarious position, the nausea of the dizzy climb, everything in fact but the other ship?
The lookout said, 'There be breakers yonder, too, sir. I reckon that frigate's on t'other side o' the bar.'
Bolitho looked at him gravely.' You know her, don't you?'
The man nodded.' Aye, sir. She's Bacchante, Cap'n Colquhoun's command flag is at the fore.' He watched Bolitho's impassive face.' Anyway, I was in 'er onces two years back.'
Bolitho nodded. He had known it was Bacchantes too. Perhaps he had been hoping he was mistaken, that the mist and light were playing tricks?
But there was no doubting Taylor 's conviction. It was typical of such seamen as he. Once they had served with or aboard a ship they seemed to know her under any condition. Taylor had only seen the frigate's upper yards, but he had recognised her instantly?
Bolitho touched his arm.' Keep a good watch on hers Taylor.' He slung his leg over the edge.' You've done well.'
Then he was climbing and slipping downwards, his mind grappling with this new encounter. Once, when he peered over his shoulder he thought he saw hazed sunlight on the water, further away from the hull. So the mist was thinning after all. But it was too late now, if things went wrong?
Tyrrell was waiting for him by the quarterdeck rail, his eyes anxious as Bolitho jumped down from the shrouds and hurried towards him?
'It's Bacchante!'
Bolitho stared past him at the upturned faces on the gun deck, the faint leap of spray as the leadsman made yet another cast?
'Quarter less five!'
He turned to Tyrrell.' Colquhoun must have stood well clear of land during the night. When the wind backed it caught him out, as it did us. He must have been driven miles along the Channel.' He turned away, his voice suddenly bitter.' The damn fool should have stayed closer inshore! Now he's useless out there beyond the shoals! It'd take him near half a day to beat back into an attacking position!'
Tyrrell's hand rasped over his chin.' What'll we dot With the tide on th' turn we'll have to look sharp if we're to close with th' Frogs.' He glanced at Buckle.' Ma guess is we should stand away and try again later.'
Buckle nodded slowly.' Mine, too. If Cap'n Colquhoun's plan has gone off at half-cock then we can't be expected to do better.'
Bolitho ignored him.' Pass the word, Mr. Tyrrell? Withdraw sweeps and have the guns loaded and run out. Gun by gun, if you please, with as little noise as possible.' He studied Buckle's dubious expression and added quietly, 'I know the risk. So brail up the courses and have the bosun prepare a stream anchor in case we have to take the way off her directly.' He thrust his hands behind his back.' You can think me mad, Mr. Buckle.' He heard the sweeps thumping inboard on to their racks and the slow rumble of trucks as the first cannon were hauled towards the ope [
ports.' And maybe I am. But somewhere out there is a British sloop like ourselves. Thanks to others she is quite alone now, and God knows, if I am not mad then Fawn is going to need every bit of help she can get!'
The big main course rose billowing and protesting to its yard as men worked busily to bring it under control and lay bare the decks from bow to quarterdeck?
A gunner's mate called huskily, 'Loaded an' run outs sir!'
Tyrrell strode aft, his speaking trumpet jammed beneath his arm?
Bolitho met his gaze and smiled briefly.' You were faster this time.'
Then together, with their backs to the helmsmen and an apprehensive Buckle, they leaned on the rail and stared directly ahead. The mist was still all around them, but thinner, and as he watched Bolitho knew it was at last outpacing the ship, moving stealthily through the shrouds and away across the lee bow? There was sunlight, too. Not much, but he saw it reflecting faintly from the ship's bell and playing on a black twelve-pounder ball which one gun captain had removed from a shot garland and was changing from hand to hand, testing its perfection or otherwise?
Bolitho asked softly, 'How far now, in your opinion?'
Tyrrell raised his injured leg and winced.' Th' wind stays regular from th' nor'-east. Our course is sou' by east.' He was thinking aloud.' Th' soundings have found no lie in th' chart.' He made up his mind.'] reckon we're about six mile from th' place where Fawn crossed through th' shoals.' He turned and added firmly, 'You'll have to put about soon, sir. You'll be hard aground if you keep on this tack much longer.'
The chant seemed to float aft to mock him.' By the mark three!'
Lieutenant Heyward, who was standing very still by the quarterdeck ladder, murmured, 'Holy God!'
Bolitho said, 'If the Frenchman is still there, then there must be ample room for him to work clear.'
Tyrrell eyed him sadly.' Aye. But by th' time we reach that far we'll be in no position to go about. Th' Frog can thumb his nose at us.'
Bolitho pictured the disembodied masts and yards of Colquhoun's frigate and gripped his hands together to steady his nerves and restrain his rising anger. That fool Colquhoun. So eager to keep the spoils to himself he had failed to anticipate a change of wind. So keen to keep Sparrow out of the victory that he had now left the gate open for the enemy to run free if he so desired. Fawn could not bring her to battle even if she could catch her?
'An' a quarter less three!'
He grasped the nettings and tried not to imagine the sea's bottom rising slowly and steadily towards the keel?
It was no use. He swung away from the nettings, his sudden movement making Midshipman Fowler start back in alarm. He was risking the ship and the life ob everyone aboard. Fawn was probably anchored, or had already
