9. Gift from a Lady
One hour before the morning watch was relieved Bolitho came on deck to enjoy the most peaceful time of the day. With his shirt open to his waist he crossed to the weather side and studied the set of each individual sail before going aft to consult the compass. Madras lay twelve days astern, but the wind, which had begun so promisingly, had lulled to a gentle breeze, so that even with all sails set it was unlikely they could maintain more than four knots.
Fowlar was scribbling on the slate beside the wheel, but straightened his back as Bolitho approached.
He touched his forehead and reported, 'East by south, sir. Full an' bye.'
Bolitho nodded and shaded his eyes to watch the sails again. The wind, such as it was, came from the south- west, and Undine's yards were braced well round, laying her over to the starboard tack. About a mile abeam the brig Rosalind had no difficulty in maintaining station on her heavier consort, and Bolitho found himself tempted to take a telescope and examine her more closely.
Fowlar seemed to think that he was expected to add something to his report and said, 'Might pick up before nightfall, sir. Mr. Mudge seems to think the wind'll freshen when once we enter the Malacca Strait.'
'Er, yes.'
Bolitho tried to compose himself. FromRosalind's deck Undine must make a beautiful sight under full canvas. But for once this gave him little consolation. He wanted to drive his ship faster to become involved with his mission. Ghosting along like this, even if idyllic for poet or artist, gave too much time for other thoughts.
He saw Davy hurrying towards him, frowning as he said, 'I beg pardon for not seeing you come on deck, sir.' He gestured towards the main mast. 'I was dealing with a complaint from a marine.' He added swiftly, 'Nothing important.'
,you are officer of the watch, Mr. Davy. You should know by now I don't interfere in your affairs merely to excite attention.' He smiled. 'A fine day, is it not?'
'Yes, sir.'
Davy followed his gaze over the nettings. The sea was very blue, and apart from the low-hulled brig there was not a speck of land or another ship to break the emptiness, its sense of vastness.
Davy asked casually, 'Is it true this sort of mission often leads to permanent appointments in the realm of colonial government, sir?'
Bolitho nodded. 'Rear Admiral Conway's appointment is such.'
He watched Davy's tanned features gravely. He was worried about something. It was showing now, just like the time when he had selected Soames and not him for the raiding party.
'I was thinking…'Davy faltered. 'I am of course well content with life as a King's officer. It is what I want. I am the first in my family to follow the sea. My father was a city merchant and had no use for service life. He was loath to allow me to enter the Navy.'
Bolitho wished he would get on with it. He said encouragingly, 'Mr. Herrick is like you. The first sailor in his family.'
'Yes.' Davy looked suddenly desperate as Soames emerged from the cabin hatch, yawning and consulting his pocket watch. 'Well, it is not exactly what I meant, sir.'
Bolitho turned and faced him. 'Mr. Davy, I would be obliged if you would come to the point. In an hour it will be an'oven again. I would like to take my walk before breakfast, and not wait until after dinner tonight.'
Davy bit his lip. 'I am sorry, sir.' He nodded firmly. 'Yes, I will try to explain.' He lowered his eyes. 'May I speak of your brother, sir?'
Bolitho tensed. 'My late brother?'
'I did not mean to offend.' Davy looked up and allowed the words to come out in a flood. 'I heard somewhere that he quit the Navy.'
Bolitho waited. Always it seemed to catch up with him. Now even his second lieutenant was risking a rebuke to satisfy his own curiosity. But he was wrong in Davy's case.
Davy said quietly, 'It was because of his gambling, I was told?'
He looked so strained, so pleading, that Bolitho forgot his own bitterness and asked, 'Is that what bothers you? Gambling?'
'Yes, sir. Like a fool I tried to win back my losses in London. With my father dead I am responsible for my mother's welfare, and that of the estate.' He looked away. 'In time of war I might have gained early promotion, and all the prize-money which went with it.'
'You could have just as easily been killed.' Bolitho added gently, 'Am I to be told how much you owe?' 'Twenty, sir.'
Bolitho stared at him. 'In God's name, you could pawn your dress-coat for more, man!'
'I', Davy gritted his teeth. 'Twenty thousand, sir.'
Bolitho ran his fingers through his hair. 'Undine and the brig yonder would cost about that sum. And I thought you had more sense.'
'Perhaps I should have kept my secret, sir.' Davy was shamefaced. Wretched.
'No. It is better shared. At least you are safe from your creditors out here.' He watched Davy grimly. 'But twenty thousand. It is a small fortune.'
Soames clumped past and beckoned to a bosun's mate. 'Have the watch piped aft, Kellock.' He was careful to keep to the lee side of the deck.
Davy hurried on, well aware that Soames was waiting to relieve him. 'You see, sir, I thought that on a voyage such as ours I might gain some new standing.'
'I see. However, this is a mission of protection, not of discovery, or the capture of Spanish gold.' He nodded to Soames and added softly, 'But I will keep it in mind.'
He began to pace the deck while the two lieutenants conversed over the compass.
Undine had gathered all sorts within her slender hull. It was not only the lower deck which sported its fortune- hunters, it seemed. He saw Midshipman Keen walking along the larboard gangway with Armitage, and prayed he would never be left in Davy's predicament, or in one such as his brother Hugh's.
In family background Davy and Keen were similar. Both had wealthy parents who had gained promotion in trade rather than in the King's service. Davy's father had died leaving his son and heir totally unprepared for the temptations which he had managed to overcome. Keen on the other hand had been sent to sea because of his father's riches and influence. Her-tick had said that Keen had confided in him during a night watch in the Indian Ocean. To make a man of me. It had seemed to amuse him, Herrick had said. But Keen's father must be a remarkable man, Bolitho thought. There were not many who would risk a son's life or limb for such a goal.
He saw Noddall scurrying aft along the gun deck with a can of boiling water from the galley. Conway must be up and about, waiting to be shaved. It was surprising how little Conway's presence aboard had interfered with daily life. He had explained it himself. Informal. That did not mean he was disinterested. Quite the reverse. Whenever a ship had been sighted, or the hands had been called to reef or make sail, he had been there, watching. Once, when becalmed for half a day, the seamen had streamed a seine net in the hopes of getting some fresh fish. Just a few flounders, and some flatheaded fish which Mudge had knowingly described as 'foxes' were the entire result of their efforts, but Conway could not have been more pleased if they had caught a whale.
It was as if he was living out every hour, like a prisoner awaiting sentence. It was not pleasant to watch.
Bolitho was not quite twenty-eight years old, but as a postcaptain with two previous commands behind him he had learned to accept, if not agree, with many of the Navy's judgements.
Conway's experience had come out at dinner, one evening in the cabin. It was the second day out of Madras, and Bolitho had told Noddall to fetch some of his special wine to make it an occasion. It was madeira, the most expensive he had ever purchased in his life. Conway hardly seemed to notice. Had he been offered cider, Bolitho doubted if he would have remarked on it. But he had become very drunk. Not slowly, or by accident, or even out of bravado. But with the firm determination of one who has been too often alone, and wishes to blur the realisation without delay.
It had all happened two years back in these same waters, when the French admiral, Suffren, had captured
