He looked back as the convicts poured down the stairs and into the next batch of boats. 'Stay here and help these men, Seton. When they are clear you can come to the admiral's headquarters. I will be there.'
The midshipman asked, 'Is it over, sir?
`Nearly so.' The words sounded final. 'At dawn tomorrow we will take off the last of the soldiers.' He shrugged. 'It will be a day for you to remember.'
Seton nodded, suddenly grave. 'I saw my sister before she left, sir. She told me e-everything.' He shifted his feet. 'Everything th-that has happened, sir!'
Bolitho saw Ashby waiting by the horses and replied quietly, 'Now then, Mr. Seton, you are starting to stutter again!' As he walked away he saw that the boy was still staring after him.
The square beside Pomfret's headquarters was deserted but for a few marines and a scavenging dog. He noticed that the enemy's bombardment had stopped and there was a great silence over the battered town, as if it was holding its breath for the coming of daylight and the final act of misery.
He entered the house and found the panelled study empty and strangely forlorn, the map lying on the floor beside Pomfret's desk. As he slumped into a chair he saw Allday watching him from the door.
He said, 'The admiral's sleeping, Captain. I've got him cleaned up, and Mr. Fanshawe is up there watching over him.'. He added firmly, 'I think you should get a bit of sleep too, Captain. You look worn out, if I may say so.'
'You may not, Allday!' But he could not find the strength to resist as Allday bent to pull off his shoes and unbluckle his swordbelt.
The coxswain added, 'I've got some soup, Captain. That should put a sparkle back inside you.'
He padded away whistling to himself, and Bolitho let his head loll against the chairback, his whole frame suddenly empty of feeling. There was such a lot still to do. He had not yet found Cobban, or arranged for the final destruction of the port's meagre installations.
Bolitho thought of the girl's face and the brightness in her eyes when they had parted. At first light the ships would sail, leaving only men-of-war to watch over the final phase of retreat.
Retreat. The word hung over him like an insult. It was never easy to accept, no matter how valid the reason.
His head drooped, the weariness closing over him like a cloak. But dimly he heard Allday re-enter the room and felt him wrap a blanket around his aching body.
As if from far away he heard Allday mutter, 'That's right, Captain, you sleep. There's many who'll sleep in safety because of you. I hope to God Almighty they know who saved 'em!'
Bolitho wanted to speak, but nothing came. Seconds later he surrendered to the waiting darkness.
Lieutenant Herrick thrust himself away from the quarterdeck rail and rubbed his eyes vigorously. Another second and he knew he would have fallen asleep on his feet. Around him the darkened ship seemed to be sleeping, and apart from the occasional shuffle from one of the watchkeepers or sentries and the gentle moan of wind through the shrouds, a great silence hung over the sheltered inlet.
The sky had clouded during the night, and as he walked slowly towards the poop ladder he felt a brief touch of rain across his cheek. The dawn was not far away, and already there was an uncertain lightening to mark the distant horizon like dull pewter.
He heard Tomlin, the boatswain, speaking angrily in the darkness, and guessed that he had stumbled upon some unfortunate seaman asleep at his station. It was hardly surprising. The men had worked like demons until the fading light had shown the last of the squadron's boats pulling wearily from the town to disperse amongst the anchored ships. What had seemed an impossible and hopeless task had been achieved, but no one really knew how it had been accomplished in such a short time. Men, women and children. Wounded soldiers and hastily recalled troops from beyond the bridge. Somehow they had been crammed aboard the transports, but Herrick doubted if any had been able to sleep. Each gust of offshore wind brought the smell of fire and death to. remind them of that which they would soon leave behind.
And somewhere out there beyond the dark edge of land Bolitho was still busy, he thought grimly. Taking upon his own, shoulders what others should have done.
There was a step beside him and he saw Gossett's massive shape outlined against the pale deck shrouded in a tarpaulin Coat.
The master said quietly, 'Not long now, Mr. 'Errick.'
'So you could not sleep either?' Herrick banged his hands together to restore the circulation. 'God, this has been a long night!'
Gossett grunted. 'I'll not rest easy until our own people are inboard once more.' He held up his hand as a pipe shrilled across the water like a disturbed bird. 'They're callin' the hands aboard the transports. They'll be weighin' very shortly.'
'Good.' Herrick squinted against the cool wind to watch a small lantern moving along one of the transport's decks. When daylight once more laid bare the ruin of St. Clar the little convoy would be clear out ' to sea. The Spanish Princesa was to act as the main escort, with the frigate Bat and one of the sloops for additional support as far as Gibraltar.
Gossett seemed to read his thoughts. 'At least we can depend on the Princesa this time. She'll be headin' for her own
waters and'll need no encouragement to get a move on!' He sounded bitter.
They both started as a voice challenged from the starboard gangway, 'Boat ahoy?'
Back from the gloom came the instant response, 'Aye, aye!'
Gossett murmured, 'That's odd. It looks like the barge, but the cap'n's not aboard 'er.'
Herrick nodded and strode quickly to the ladder. 'He'll not come until everyone else is away, Mr. Gossett.'
The master sighed. `You do not have to tell me that!'
The barge booked on to the main chains, and within seconds Allday was pulling himself through the entry port. He saw the lieutenant and knuckled his forehead.
'Captain's compliments, sir.' He peered back into the barge and hissed, 'Hold your noise, damn you!' Then to Herrick he continued, 'Would you give a hand to take the admiral aft, sir?'
Herrick stared at him. 'The admiral?' He saw Rowlstone climbing through the port and the smaller shape of Midshipman Piper close behind him.
Allday said calmly, 'The captain's orders are that Sir Edmund is to be put in his sleeping cabin, sir.' He saw Herrick peering round for the master's mate of the watch and added sharply, 'He said there was to be no fuss! Nobody's to see the admiral until he's on his feet again!'
Herrick nodded, the realisation sweeping over him.- He knew Allday of old. He had never known him to panic or get his orders confused. If Bolitho wanted Pomfret's transfer kept quiet, there was a very good reason.
He beckoned to Gossett. 'Here, give a hand!'
Like conspirators they manhandled Pomfret's blanketed figure through the entry port and aft to the quarterdeck. The admiral's aide was assisting with the rough stretcher, and from his dragging footsteps Herrick imagined that he too had been awake all night.
Allday watched the small group groping its way beneath the poop before adding, 'The captain is coming off with the rearguard, sir.' He rubbed his hand across his chin with a loud rasping sound. 'It will have to be quick.'
Herrick nodded. 'We will be ready.' He reached out as Allday turned to rejoin his barge crew. 'Tell Captain Bolitho. He broke off, not knowing how to express his true feelings.
Aliday grinned in the darkness. 'I don't have to tell him anything, sir. He'll be knowing what you think, I shouldn't wonder.'
Herrick watched the barge as it backed away from the side. The stroke slow and weary, like the men.
Aloud he muttered, 'I expect he will…'
A seamen called, 'Transports is shortenin' their cables, sir! I kin see the old Erebus breakin' out 'er foretops'l already!'
.'Very well.' Herrick watched the pale patches of sail giving shape and identity to the other ships as one after the other they prepared to weigh anchor. He said, `Tell Mr. Tomlin to call our people in fifteen minutes, and see that the cooks have got their fires alight.' He shivered slightly. `It'll be a while before we get another cooked meal, if I'm any judge!'
Gossett rejoined him at the rail. 'What does it all mean, Mr. 'Errick? Why is Sir Edmund aboard us instead o' the flagship?'
