Odell said testily, 'I could relish a glass, sir. I am as dry as a pauper's loaf.'
Bolitho opened his cupboard and handed him a decanter?
He said, 'Hood will join with Graves at Sandy Hook? They will still be outnumbered, but can give good account if de Grasse chooses to head their way.'
Farr said less firmly, 'And Hood will show the damn Frogs, eh?'
Bolitho replied, 'His fleet is larger than Admiral Graves's. But Graves is senior now that Rodney has gone home.' He looked at Farr's anxious face.' I am afraid Graves will lead our forces if and when the time comes.'
He turned to Odell, who was drinking his second glass of wine?
'Do you know anything else?'
He shrugged.' I understood that Admiral Hood will examine Chesapeake Bay while on passage to New York. Some believe the French may strike at Cornwallis's army from the sea. If not, then New York is to be the melting pot.'
Bolitho made himself sit down. It was strange to be so moved by Odell's information. For months, even years, they had expected some great confrontation at sea. There had been skirmishes and bitter ship-to-ship actions in plenty. But this was what they had all known would happen sooner or later. Who commanded the waters around America controlled the Destiny of those who fought within its boundaries?
He said, 'One thing is certain, we are doing no good here.'
Farr asked, 'Are you saying we should join the fleet?'
'Something like that.'
He tried to clear his mind, put Odell's brief facts into perspective. De Grasse could be anywhere, but it was ridiculous to imagine he had sailed back to France, his mission left incomplete. Without his presence in the Indies, the British would be able to throw every ship and man into the fight for America, and de Grasse was astute enough to know his own value?
He moved to the table and pulled a chart from its rack. It was close on seven hundred miles to Cape Henry at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay. With the wind remaining friendly they could make landfall in five days? If Admiral Hood's ships were lying there he could request further orders. Sloops would be more than useful for searching close inshore or relaying signals in a fleet action?
Bolitho said slowly, 'I intend to head north. To the
Chesapeake.'
Farr stood up and exclaimed, 'Good! I'm with you.'
Odell asked, 'Are you taking full responsibility, sir!' His eyes were opaque?
'Yes. I would wish you to remain here in case any ships come this way. If they do, you can come after us with all haste.'
'Very well, sir.' Odell added calmly, 'I would like it in writing.'
'Damn your eyes, you impudent puppy!' Farr thumped the table with his fist.' Where's your bloody trust?'
Odell shrugged.' I trust Captain Bolitho, have no doubts, sir.' He gave a quick smile.' But if he and you are both killed, who is to say I only obeyed orders?'
Bolitho nodded.' That is fair. I will do it directly.' He saw the two men watching each other with open hostility.' Easy now. Right or wrong, it will be good to move again. So let's not start with disharmony, eh?'
Odell showed his teeth.' I meant no offence, sir.'
Farr swallowed hard.' In that case, I suppose.' He grinned broadly.' But by God, Odell, you push me to the limit!'
'A glass together.'
Bolitho wanted to go on deck, to share his news with Tyrrell and the others. But he knew this moment was equally vital. Just a few seconds, which each would remember when the other ships were mere silhouettes?
He raised his glass.' What shall it be, my friends?'
Farr met his eye and smiled. He at least understood? 'To us, Dick. That will do fine for me.'
Bolitho placed his empty glass on the table. E simple toast. But, King, Cause, even Country were too remote, the future too uncertain. They had only each other and their three little ships to sustain them?
With legs braced against Sparrow's uncomfortable, cork-screwing motion, Bolitho levelled a telescope across the nettings and waited for the shoreline to settle in the lens. It was close on sunset, and as the dull orange glow withered beyond the nearest shoulder ob land he forced himself to concentryte on what he saw, rather than what he had anticipated from his charts? Around him other glasses were also trained, and he heard Tyrrell's heavy breathing at his side, the squeak of a pencil on Buckle's slate by the wheel?
Within a few miles of Cape Henry, the southernmost cape at the entrynce of Chesapeake Bay, the wind had backed sharply, and backed again. A full day had been added to their previously fast passage, and as they had clawed desperately from a lee shore, had fought to obtain sea room, Bolitho had watched the bay fading across the quarter with something like anger. And nows after their long beat back towards the entrynce, he was faced by a new decision. To lie offshore until dawn, or take his chance and thrust between Cape Henry and the northern headland in what would certainly be total darkness?
Tyrrell lowered his glass.' I know this entrynce well? There's a great middle-ground which reaches into the bay. With care you can pass either side, but with the wind under our coattails I'd suggest trying th' southern channel. If you stay to lee'rd of th' middle-ground you can hold mebbe three miles clear of Cape Henry.' He rubbed his chin.' If you misjudge and tack too far to south'rd, you'll have to move lively. There are shoals off th' cape, an, bad ones at that.'
Bolitho shifted the telescope to watch some dancing red flashes far inland?
Tyrrell remarked, 'Cannon. Good way off.'
Bolitho nodded. If Tyrrell was feeling the strain ob drawing so near to his home territory he did not show it?
Tyrrell continued, 'Up beyond York River, I reckon? Heavy artillery, by th' looks of it.'
Heyward, who was standing nearby, said, 'No sign of any ships, sir.'
'There wouldn't be.' Tyrrell was watching Bolitho? 'Just around Cape Henry lies Lynnhaven Bay. Good shelter where big ships anchor sometimes when there's foul weather around. No, you'd not even see a fleet from out here.' He paused.' You'd have to go inside th' old Chesapeake.'
Bolitho handed the glass to Fowler.' I agree. If we wait longer the wind might veer. We'd be on a lee shore again and lose more time fighting clear from it.'
He turned to look for Heron. Her reefed topsails were still holding the fast fading sunlight, but beyond her the sea was in deep shadow?
'Show the signal lantern to Heron. Captain Farr knows what to do.'
He turned to Tyrrell.' The place is badly charted.'
Tyrrell grinned, his eyes glowing in the dull light? 'Unless things have changed, I reckon I can take us through.'
Fowler called, 'Signal passed, sir!'
Bolitho made up his mind.' Alter course two points to starboard.' To Tyrrell he added slowly, 'I hate entering any bay like this one. I feel more secure in open sea.'
The lieutenant sighed.' Aye. Th' Chesapeake is a brute in many ways. North to south it measures close on a hundred an' forty miles. You can sail a fair-sized craft right up to Baltimore without too much hardship? But it measures less'n thirty across, an' that's only where the Patowmack flows into it.'
Buckle called, 'Course sou'-west, sir.'
'Very well.'
Bolitho watched the nearest headland of Cape Charles losing its bronze crest as the sun finally dipped behind a line of hills?
'You may clear for action, Mr. Tyrrell. Better safe than sorry.'
He wondered briefly what Farr was thinking as he tacked to follow Sparrow's shadow towards the dark mass of land. Doubt, regret, even mistrust. You could hardly blame him. It was like groping for coal in a shuttered cellar?
Under his shoes he felt the planks quiver to the hurrying seamen, the thud of screens being torn down and mess tables dragged clear of tackles and guns? That was another difference he had found in Sparrow? Even clearing for action had a sort of intimacy which was lacking in a ship-of-the-line. In Trojan the hands had scurried to
