them once they reached the St Lawrence. It would seal off all the frontier districts of Upper Canada, like ferrets in a sack!”
He gripped Lloyd’s hand warmly in farewell. “You did not fight the American, Captain Lloyd, but the news you have carried to me may yet bring us a victory. I shall ensure that you receive proper recognition. Our Nel would have put it better. He always insisted that the Fighting Instructions were not a substitute for a captain’s initiative.”
Tyacke said roughly, “I’ll see you over the side, Captain Lloyd.”
As the door closed, Avery said, “Is it possible, sir?”
Bolitho half-smiled. “Do you really mean, is it likely? I think it is too important to ignore, or to wait for a miracle.” He listened to the trill of calls as the fox-like captain went down to his gig.
Tyacke returned, and waited in silence while Bolitho instructed his secretary to send a brief despatch to Halifax. “We shall alter course before nightfall, James, and steer due north. Make the necessary signals.” He saw the concern in the clear eyes that watched him, from the burned remains of the face. “I know the risks, James. We all do. It was there for all of us to see, but only you recognized it. Your loneliest command was not wasted. Nor will it be.” He wondered if Tyacke had been going over it all again. The letter, the girl he might scarcely remember, or not wish to remember. One day he might share it; at the same time, Bolitho knew that he would not.
“D’ you think your man Aherne is with them?”
“I am not certain, but I think it possible that he may have fallen out of favour with his superiors, like John Paul Jones.” Like my own brother.
Tyacke was about to leave, but turned when Bolitho said with sudden bitterness, “Neither side can win this war, just as neither can afford to lose it. So let us play our part as best we can… And then, in God’s mercy, let us go home!”
They stood crowded together around York ’s chart-table, their shadows joining in a slow dance while the lanterns swung above them.
More like conspirators than King’s men, Bolitho thought. It was pitch black outside the hull, early dark as he had known it would be, the ship unusually noisy as she rolled in a steep swell. There was no land closer than seventy miles, Nova Scotia ’s Cape Sable to the north-east, but after the great depths to which they had become accustomed they sensed its presence. Felt it.
Bolitho glanced at their faces in the swaying light. Tyacke, his profile very calm, the burns hidden in shadow. It was possible to see him as the woman had once done: the unscarred side of his face was strongly boned and handsome. On his other side the master was measuring his bearings with some dividers, his expression one of doubt.
Avery was crammed into the small space too, with Daubeny the first lieutenant bobbing his head beneath the heavy beams as he tried to see over their shoulders.
York said, “In broad daylight it’s bad enough, sir. The entrance to the bay, allowing for shallows and sandbars, is about 25 miles, less, mebbee. We’d not be able to hold our formation, and if they are ready and waiting…” He did not go on.
Tyacke was still grappling with his original idea. “They can’t go in and attack anything in the dark, Isaac. They’d need to take soundings for most of the bay. The boats could be separated, swamped even, if the worst happened.”
York persisted, “The whole of that coastline is used by small vessels, fishermen mostly. A lot of the folk who made their homes in New Brunswick after the American rebellion were loyalists. They’ve no love for the Yankees, but…” He glanced at Bolitho. “Against trained soldiers, what could they do?”
Bolitho said, “And if they have already carried out a landing, those ships might be waiting for us to appear like ducks in a waterfowler’s sights. But it takes time-it always does. Lowering boats, packing men and weapons into them, more than likely in the dark, and with some of the soldiers half sick from the passage… Marines, now, that would be different.” He rubbed his chin, aware of its roughness: one of Allday’s shaves then, if there was time. He said, “Our captains know how to perform. We have exercised working together, although not with Mr York’s unwelcoming bay in mind!” He saw them smile, as he had known they would. It was like being driven, or perhaps led. Hearing somebody else speak, somehow finding the faith and confidence to inspire others. “And we must admit, the plan, if that is what they have in mind, is a brilliant one. Seasoned soldiers could march and fight their way northwards and meet with their other regiments on the St Lawrence. What is that, three hundred miles? I can remember as a boy when the 46th Regiment of Foot marched all the way from Devon to Scotland. And doubtless back again.”
York asked uneasily, “Was there more trouble up north then, sir?”
Bolitho smiled. “No, it was the King’s birthday. It was his wish!”
York grinned. “Oh, well, that’s different, sir!”
Bolitho picked up the dividers from the chart. “The enemy know the risks as well as we do. We shall remain in company as best we can. Each captain will have his best lookouts aloft, but they cannot work miracles. By dawn we shall be in position, here.” The points of the dividers came down like a harpoon. “We may become scattered overnight, but we must take that chance.”
Tyacke studied him in silence. You will take it, his expression said. Bolitho said, “If I were the enemy commander I would send in my landing parties, and perhaps release one of my smaller ships as close inshore as possible to offer covering fire if need be. That would even the odds.” He put down the dividers very carefully. “A little.”
Tyacke said, “If we’re wrong, sir…”
“If I am wrong, then we will return to Halifax. At least they will be prepared there for any sudden attack.” He thought of Keen when he had spoken of St Clair’s daughter: he might become a vice-admiral sooner than his highest hopes, if the enemy had outwitted this makeshift plan.
He saw Avery bending over the table to scribble some notes in his little book, and for a second their eyes met. Did Avery know that his admiral was barely able to see the markings on the chart without covering his damaged eye? He felt the sudden despair lift from his spirit, like a dawn mist rising from the water. Of course they knew, but it had become a bond, a strength, which they willingly shared with him. Again he seemed to hear Herrick’s words. We Happy Few. Dear God, don’t let me fail them now.
Then he said quietly, “Thank you, gentlemen. Please carry on with your duties. Captain Tyacke?”
Tyacke was touching his scars; perhaps he no longer noticed that he was doing it.
“I would like to have the people fed before the morning watch, sir. Then, if you agree, we will clear for action.” He might have been smiling, but his face was in shadow again. “No drums, no din of war.”
Bolitho said lightly, “No Portsmouth Lass, either?” The same thought returned. Like conspirators. Or assassins.
Tyacke twisted round. “Mr Daubeny, do not strain your ears any further! I want all officers and senior warrant officers in the wardroom as soon as is convenient.” He added, almost as an afterthought, “We had better assemble our young gentlemen as well on this occasion. They may learn something from it.”
York left with Daubeny, probably to confer with his master’s mates. It would keep them busy, and a lack of sleep was nothing new to sailors.
Avery had also departed, understanding better than most that Tyacke wished to be alone with Bolitho. Not as the officer, but as a friend. Bolitho had almost guessed what his flag captain was going to say, but it still came as a shock.
“If we meet with the enemy, and now that I have weighed the odds for and against, I think we shall, I would ask a favour.”
“What is it, James?”
“If I should fall.” He shook his head. “Please, hear me. I have written two letters. I would rest easy and with a free mind to fight this ship if I knew…” He was silent for a moment. “One is for your lady, sir, and the other for somebody I once knew… thought I knew… some fifteen years back, when I was a young luff like Mr Know-it-all Blythe.”
Bolitho touched his arm, with great affection. It was the closest to the man he had ever been.
He said, “We shall both take care tomorrow, James. I am depending on you.”
Tyacke studied the well-used chart. “Tomorrow, then.”
Later, as he made his way aft to his quarters, Bolitho heard the buzz of voices from the wardroom, rarely so
