Bolitho was about to answer when he heard Vibart calling his name. In three strides he reached the man's side and knelt on the stained planking where Ellice and Belsey were holding Vibart's shoulders clear of the deck. There was a thin ribbon of blood running from the corner of Vibart's mouth, and as he lay staring up at Bolitho's grave features he looked suddenly old and. frail.
Bolitho said quietly, `Rest easy, Mr. Vibart. We'll soon have you comfortable.'
Vibart coughed, and the blood dribbled down his chin in a growing flood. `Not this time. They've done for me this time!' He made as if to move his hand, but the effort was too much. From behind his shoulders the surgeon gave a quick shake of his head.
Bolitho said, `It was a brave thing you did.'
There was a clash of steel across the deck, and Bolitho turned to see Allday and Onslow circling each other with bared cutlasses. The other men stood watching in silence. This was no court martial. This was the justice of the lower deck.
Bolitho looked again at Vibart. `Is there anything I can do for you?'
The dying man grimaced as a fresh agony ran through his body. `Nothing. Not from you. Not from anybody!' He coughed again, but this time the torrent did not stop.
As the returning boats ground alongside and the gangways became alive with breathless men, Vibart died.
Bolitho stood up slowly and stared at the dead man. It was somehow typical and right that Vibart had remained unflinching and unshaken to the end.
He saw Captain Rennie and Midshipman Farquhar stepping over some wounded seamen, their faces drawn and ashen by what they saw. He clasped his hands behind him to hide his emotion from them.
`Put these men under guard, Mr. Farquhar. Then carry on at once with loading the fresh water. We sail as soon as it is Completed.' He walked slowly across to the opposite side, and as the men parted to let him through he saw Onslow staring up at him, his eyes already glazed in death.
All at once Bolitho felt sick and unclean, as if the mutiny had left him with another, deeper scar.
He said harshly, 'I hope we can match the French as well as we can fight each other!' Then he turned and strode aft.
16. A SPECIAL SORT OF MAN
Midshipman Maynard tapped on the door of Bolitho's cabin and reported breathlessly, `Mr. Herrick's respects, sir, and we have just sighted two sail on the starboard bow.' He darted a quick glance at the other officers who were standing beside Bolitho's desk. `It's the flagship, and the frigate Volcano.'
Bolitho nodded, his face thoughtful. `Thank you. My compliments to Mr. Herrick. Tell him to tack the ship to intercept.' He paused. `And have the prisoners ready to be sent across to Cassius.'
He listened to Maynard's feet scurrying up the cabin ladder and then turned back to the other officers. `Well, gentlemen, at last we have found the flagship.'
It had been two days since the Phalarope had crept away from the small islets. Two long days in which to think back on mutiny and murder. Bolitho had broken his normal practice of appearing regularly on the quarterdeck, and had spent long, brooding hours in his cabin, reliving each moment, torturing himself with regrets and recriminations.
He looked down at the chart and said slowly, `From what Allday described, I would say that the French are out in force. The two frigates were probably feelers from de Grasse's main fleet. If so, they have changed their plans.' He tapped the chart with one finger. `De Grasse would never waste frigates at a time like this. It looks to me as if he intends to avoid all the main channels and will use the Dominica Passage. That way he might well bypass our patrols.' He stopped thinking aloud, and with sudden briskness rolled up the chart and laid it to one side.
He said, `I shall go over to the Cassius and speak to the admiral.' He glanced at the neat pile of reports on the desk. `There is much that Sir Robert will wish to know.' How trite it sounded, he thought bitterly. Like items in the ship's log, bald of feeling or humanity. How could he describe the atmosphere on the maindeck when he had spoken a prayer before the shrouded corpses had slid over the side?
Lieutenant Vibart's body, alongside those of the dead mutineers. The rest of the crew had gathered round in silence.
Not just a silence of respect or sadness, but something much deeper. It was like an air of shanle, a combined feeling of guilt.
He stared at the watching officers beside him. Okes and Rennie. Farquhar and Proby.
Bolitho continued in the same curt tone, `You all showed great resource and courage. I have made a full report and I trust it will receive proper attention.' He did not add that without such a report from the ship's captain the story of the brief, savage mutiny would overshadow all else with the admiral and his superiors. As it was it might still be insufficient to save the ship's name from further harm.
He looked hard at Okes. `You will take over as first lieutenant of course, and Mr. Herrick will assume your duties forthwith.' He switched his gaze to Farquhar. `I do not have to add to what I have put in my report about you. You are appointed acting lieutenant immediately. I have no doubt whatever that it will be confirmed with equal speed.'
Farquhar said, `Thank you, sir.' He looked round as if expecting to see an immediate change in his surroundings. `I am very grateful.'
Okes said nervously, `I still can't believe that Mr. Vibart is dead.'
Bolitho eyed him impassively. `Death is the only thing which is inevitable, Mr. Okes. Yet it is the one thing we can never take for granted!'
There was a tap at the door and Stockdale peered in. `Flagship is signalling, Captain. For you to report on board as soon as possible.'
`Very well, Stockdale. Call away my boat's crew.' He added to the others, `Remember this, gentlemen. The Phalarope was nearly lost by mutiny.' He allowed his tongue to linger on the word. `What we have to decide now is. whether we have gained anything by a reprieve.' He saw their quick exchange of glances and continued, `The ship is either cleansed of evil or smeared by shame. The choice is ours. Yours and mine!' He looked around their grave faces. `That is all. You may go.'
Stockdale reappeared as the officers filed out, and busied himself getting Bolitho's hat and sword. He said, `Allday is waiting to see you, Captain.' He sounded disapproving.
`Yes, I sent for him.' He listened to the squeal of blocks as the gig was hoisted out, and remembered Stockdale's stricken face as he had returned with the rest of the shore party. He had stared round the stained deck at the corpses and then at his captain. He had said brokenly, `I should never have left you, Captain! Not for an instant!' It was as if he believed he had failed Bolitho. He seemed to think that if he had stayed aboard the mutiny could never have happened.
Bolitho said quietly, 'Send him in. He is a good seaman, Stockdale. I wronged him, not the other way about!'
Stockdale shook his head, but shambled away to fetch the man who had broken the mutiny.
And what a risk he had taken, Bolitho thought. He had walked back towards the searching marines, knowing full well that they were unaware of his innocence, and that any man might shoot him down without waiting for an explanation. Allday had found Okess and Farquhar, and together it seemed they had decided it best for Allday to try to reach the ship unsupported by anyone but Ferguson. It was a right decision, and a brave one. If Onslow had seen a boatload of men approaching the ship the balance would have tipped in his favour.
There was a tap at the door and Allday stepped into the cabin. Dressed in white trousers and checked shirt, his long hair tied back with a length of codline, he looked every inch the landsman's idea of a sailor. On his cheek and neck there were two diagnonal scars where Brock had struck with his cane.
Bolitho faced him for several seconds. Then he said, 'I called you here to thank you properly for what you did, Allday. I wish I could say something which would help clean away the wrong which was done you.' He shrugged. 'But I know of no such reward.'
Allday relaxed slightly. 'I understand, sir. As it was, it all turned out for the best.' He grinned self-consciously. 'I
