us.'
Bolitho took another glance at Allday. He looked at rest.
He said, 'Thank you. You will never know… ' He left the sleeping-cabin to face the others.
Tuson looked at the rum on the desk and grimaced. Allday should be dead. All his experience pointed to just that. He began to snip at the bloodied bandages.
Then even Tuson's severe features broke into a smile. Could do with a wet indeed.
In the great cabin they sat or stood in total silence as Ozzard brought some wine.
Then Keen raised his glass. 'This happy few, sir.'
Bolitho looked away. There was no better sentiment.
15. Last Farewell
The weeks and then months which followed the attack on the harbour seemed to Bolitho like a slow record of Allday's fight against death. Any progress was often marked by an immediate set-back, and Bolitho guessed that he was fretting about his inability to move, his 'uselessness', as he put it.
A few vessels visited the island, and slowly but surely things returned to normal. There were no more attacks, and traders reported that they had not sighted any Spanish men-of-war or suffered further interference.
In October that year two hurricanes struck San Felipe with a ferocity which made a military attack puny by comparison. Great tidal waves had threatened Achates and destroyed smaller vessels, and torn the roofs off many of the houses. Plantations were laid to waste, and several people had been killed or badly injured, their livelihoods destroyed.
But it was the turning point between the islanders and the Achates' company. Without the disciplined efforts of the seamen and marines it seemed unlikely that anything of value would have been saved. The ship, once a symbol of law and oppression, had taken on a new guise, that of protector, so that for the officers and men alike the daily routine was less demanding.
Three months to the day after being cut down by a Spanish sword Allday walked across the Achates' quarterdeck for the first time. Ozzard went with him, but Allday, true to his fashion, would not lean on him for support.
Bolitho made a point of being on the poop and watched while Allday moved into the sunlight, his feet unsure and dragging, as if he had never walked a ship's deck before. Bolitho noticed too that several of Allday's friends were much in evidence, as they had been throughout his struggle to survive. But they understood and were careful to keep their distance, outwardly engrossed in their various trades.
Bolitho heard Adam's light step beside him and said, 'I never thought I would see this day, Adam.' He shook his head. 'Never.'
Adam smiled. 'He's doing well.'
Bolitho saw Allday reach the quarterdeck rail and grasp it with both hands as he took several breaths and looked down at the gun-deck.
Scott, the third lieutenant, who was in charge of the watch, took elaborate care not to see him, even walked to the compass and peered at it as though the ship was at sea and not alongside.
Bolitho turned and looked at his nephew. All these weeks and they had barely discussed Boston and what had happened there, although Tyrrell had told him the bones of the matter.
He said quietly, 'What we have done here is important, Adam. I put my views to the Admiralty, my beliefs as to what should happen hereafter we have gone.' He shrugged. 'I have to believe they will act upon them. Too many have suffered and died to throw it all away. I used to hear my father say we in England are so often like that. We do not take proper care of what we have won with blood and sweat.' He gestured towards the anchorage. 'Just a pair of frigates here and the Dons would never have attempted to seize the place. Likewise the French would have looked elsewhere to make a bargain.'
'Suppose their lordships still insist on handing over the island, Uncle?'
'The Spanish attack should have shown them the importance of San Felipe. If not, then I have failed here.' He touched his arm impetuously. 'But it was wrong to use you the way I did. I knew that Chase would trust you, would tell you what I needed to know. But as a result you lost a chance to win his niece. I cannot forgive myself for that.'
Adam moved his shoulder and felt the burn beneath his shirt. He gave a rueful smile. 'We were nearly too late anyway, Uncle.'
They both looked at the charred fragments in the shallows. Sea-birds were perched in rows on the blackened ribs of the fire-ship, and weeds grew where Tyrrell had driven his brigantine to her destruction to save them all.
Adam hesitated. 'At least I saw my father's house.'
Bolitho glanced at him and was glad that the jealousy had gone.
Adam sounded far away. 'I told her I would return some day.'
'Perhaps we shall go together. When that happens you can take me to see Hugh's old house.'
They looked at each other, sensing the bond between them. It was as if Hugh was very much here with them. Like this island, Bolitho thought, without threat or hostility.
He tensed as Allday swayed after releasing his grip on the rail.
Then Allday looked up to the poop and grinned. He had known they were there all the while, Bolitho thought.
He said,'Without Allday… ' He did not need to go on.
The midshipman of the watch clattered up the poop ladder and touched his hat.
Bolitho looked at him. 'Well, Mr Ferrier, are you going to tell me about the sail?'
The midshipman flushed, his carefully worded speech scattered.
'I, er, the captain sends his respects, sir, and a courier-brig has been sighted to the east'rd.'
Bolitho nodded. 'Thank you. It is a while since I 'enjoyed' the midshipman's berth, Mr Ferrier, but I have not yet forgotten how to read a signal.'
Adam exclaimed. 'You knew? And yet you carried on talking to me as if the brig and her news are of no importance!'
Bolicho watched the midshipman pausing to speak with two of his friends. The story would be enlarged somewhat by tonight, he thought.
Ferrier was the senior midshipman, and the brig's arrival would affect him too. Homeward bound and a lieutenant's examination, the young could always find room for optimism.
He said simply, 'It was important that we should talk. As to the rest, I shall have to fall back on Thomas Herrick's Lady Luck.'
Bolitho moved to the rail and looked along the upper decks. Men were on the gangways or working high overhead on the yards. But their eyes were towards the harbour entrance, and Bolitho could guess what many of them were thinking. They had been glad to leave England and the humiliation of being thrown on the beach like so much unwanted top-hamper. Now, after what they had seen and done together, they would be eager to return to their homes.
Bolitho thought of Falmouth, what they would say when they met again, whenever that might be? Of his very own daughter. What name had she chosen for her?
He said, 'I'm going below. My compliments to the officer of the watch and please tell him to keep the people working. I don't want any long faces if the news is bad.'
Adam stood back and touched his hat. It was difficult to know which tack his uncle would take next.
Bolitho hurried into his cabin and saw to his astonishment that Allday was hard at work putting a shine on the old sword.
'You should be resting, man! Will you never do as you are told, dammit?'
But for once his mock anger failed to have the right effect.
Allday ran the cloth once more along the blade and then looked at him squarely.
'The surgeon says I'll not be the same again, sir.'
