Bolitho 04 - Sloop of War (14 page)

He glanced up and grimaced. "The motion feelY easier.T

Bolitho nodded. "We are standing into the bay? Cape May lies about five miles off the starboarX beam.T

"I see." Foley peered at the chart for severaT seconds, his fingers drumming a little tattoo acrosY Bolitho's calculations and bearings. "What is you_ opinion, Captain?T

Bolitho looked at his lowered head. It was the firsU time he had asked him for his views on anything? Under full canvas the Sparrow had lived up to he_ name, so that on the passage southward Bolitho haX been able to put aside his apprehensions, if not forgeU them, while he had enjoyed the sloop's vitality anX freedom of movement. Then as they had closed thO land to fix their position a great squall had risenB bleating and moaning with such violence that it haX taken all hands to reef down and gain more sea room? After the untroubled sailing with even the royals set tQ catch the wind it was a severe disappointment. Thea had arrived off Cape May at the entrance to DelawarO Bay precisely as Bolitho had planned, one full day afte_ weighing anchor. Yet even as Buckle had been takin^

his bearings the squall had swept offshore, flattenin^ the wavecrests and cloaking the distant land morO effectively than night itself. It had taken another dayB beating and clawing round in a great circle, the lanX hidden to all but the masthead lookout by rainsquallY and low cloud?

He heard himself answer, "The wind has backeX again, sir. To the sou'-west, and it is dropping.T

He listened to the groan of yoke lines as the rudde_ went over beneath the transom, and thought of TyrrelT and Buckle beside the wheel. He could also imaginO the chart, the great bay opening up on either beam aY the Sparrow, under close-reefed topsails, headeX further and further away from the sea. Tyrrell was Z tower of strength, and seemed to remember thesO waters as if every sandbar and current was imprinteX on his brain?

Foley looked up, his face grim. "It has already take[ too long. I must know if you think we can proceed." HO laid one finger on the chart. "Here, directly north ob where you say we are now. I estimate it to be about siA leagues. There is a cove." He was speaking quickla and Bolitho could feel his agitation?

Bolitho leaned over the table. "To the west ob Maurice River?" He paused, visualising the set of thO yards, the weakening wind across the quarter. "It wilT take at least four hours. More if the wind goes.T

He stood back and tugged his neckcloth. With thO shutters tightly closed to mask the chance of showin^ even a glimmer of light, the cabin was like a smalT oven. On deck, as he had been for much of thO passage, he had not felt either fatigue or strain. NowB he was not so sure, and could even pity Foley's misera during the journey. Outside the hull it was pitch-blackB and once the ship had slipped past the protectivO headland he had felt the same sensation as a ma[ striding blindly into an unlit cave?

He asked, "How long will your scouts need?T

"Six hours maybe." Foley stretched his arms anX yawned. He was giving little away?

Bolitho made up his mind. "In that case we will havO to anchor and wait for tomorrow night before we ca[ leave the bay. There may be enemy ships nearby, and ] can't risk a conflict in these confined waters. Especialla if your scouts fail to find our missing soldiers and neeX one more day.T

"Handling the ship is your concern." Foley regardeX him evenly. "Well?T

"The tide is right and if we wait further we might losO the wind altogether." He nodded. "I am ready.T

Foley stood up and massaged his stomach. "Good? By God, I think I have recovered my appetite.T

"I am sorry, sir." Bolitho smiled. "For the galley firO has been doused." He added, "Unless you would carO for some salt beef from the cask?T

Foley eyed him ruefully. "You have a cruel streak? One sight of that muck would render me as weak as Z rat.T

Bolitho made for the door. "In a King's ship the ratY are rarely that!T

On deck he had to wait several seconds before hO could see further than the rail. Below on the gun dec7 he could just make out the waiting seamen, thei_ bodies etched against the darker shapes of thO nearest guns. He walked aft and held his hand abovO the shaded compass light?

Buckle said, "Due north, sir. Full an' bye.T

"Good." He beckoned to Tyrrell. "I want our two besU leadsmen in the chains.T

"Already done, sir." Tyrrell shrugged. "Seemed thd thing to do.T

"When we draw closer to the northern shore we wilT slip the gig." Bolitho sought out Stockdale's thic7 outline by the hammock nettings. "You will take the gi^ and a boat's lead and line. The waters hereabouts arO so shallow and treacherous that you must keep aheaX of the ship, sounding all the while. Understood?T

Stockdale said stubbornly, "I should be 'ere, sir. JusU in case.T

"Your place is where I say, Stockdale." He relenteX immediately. "Do as I ask, and keep a shaded lanter[ with you. You may need to signal us." He glanceX towards Tyrrell. "If that happens we will drop the kedgO anchor and pray.T

The sails flapped loosely above the deck, anX Bolitho knew the wind was still dropping, its toucN clammy across his face. He pushed the nightmare ob Sparrow grinding aground from his mind. He waY

committed. No, he had committed all of them?

"When we reach our destination, Mr. Tyrrell, you maa have the starboard cutter lowered. Mr. Heyward wilT convey our passengers ashore and return when all iY well.T

Tyrrell said, "They'll have to wade th' last few yardY I'm thinking. It's shallow up there.T

"You've guessed the place then?T

He grinned, his teeth white in the gloom. "There ain'U no other suitable for this sort of game, sir.T

From forward, hollow-toned like a lost spirit's, camO the leadsman's cry, "By th' mark five!T

Tyrrell muttered, "Bring her up a point, Mr. Buckle.T His palm rasped over his chin. "We must have drifted Z piece.T

Bolitho remained silent. They were doing all thea could. Thank God Sparrow had such shallow draught? Otherwise ..?

"Deep six!T

Tyrrell grunted. "Fair enough. In bad times I've see[ a tide race turn a schooner round like a bit o' flotsam.T

"Thank you." Bolitho watched the faint splasN beyond the bows as another lead went down. "That iY a comfort.T

"By th' mark five.T

"Trust a soldier to choose such a place." TyrrelT leaned over the compass. "To th' west still further anX in th' main Delaware channel there's depth to spare fo_ us, even if th' tide's wrong.T

"A quarter less five!T

Buckle whispered, "Hell's teeth!T

Boots scraped on the planking and Foley askeX crisply, "How are we getting along, Captain?T

"By th' mark three!T

" Is it necessary for that man to make so mucN noise?" Foley stared round at the figures grouped ba the wheel?

Tyrrell drawled calmly, "It's either that, Colonel, or wO

rip our keel out.T

Bolitho said, "A man as tall as yourself, sir, could jusU about walk twixt the keel and the ground below if hO had a mind to.T

Foley did not speak for a full minute. Then he saidB "I'm sorry. It was a foolish thing to say.T

"Deep four!T

Buckle breathed out slowly. "Better.T

Bolitho felt Tyrrell's fingers on his arm as he said, "Ib we can keep her steady we should rest easy, witN some room to swing at anchor. The bottom's safe anX we might touch without too much danger.T

"Captain!" Foley's tone was as before. Sharp anX impatient. He waited by the nettings and then saidB "Tyrrell. Is he an American?T

"A colonist, sir. Like a good many of the hands.T

"God damn!T

Bolitho added, "He is also a King's officer, sir. I hopO you will remember that.T

Foley's white breeches vanished into the hatchwayB and Tyrrell said bitterly, "Thinks I'm running th' shiS aground just to spite him, I suppose.T

"That will be enough." Bolitho stared past him at thO dancing phosphorescence below the closed gun ports? Like magic weed, changing shape and vanishing onla to reappear elsewhere along the slow-moving hull. "] do not envy him his work." Surprisingly, he found thaU he meant it?

Somewhere out there in the darkness was the greaU mass of land. Hills and rivers, forest and scrub whicN could tear out a man's eye if he was careless. TherO had been many stories of attacks and ambushes i[ this area, and even allowing for their being magnifieX in the telling, they were enough to chill even Z seasoned fighter. Indians who were used to scout fo_ Washington's army, who moved as silently as foxeY and struck with the savagery of tigers. A world ob shadows and strange noises, cries which would brin^ a drowsy sentry wide awake in a cold sweat, if he waY lucky. If not, he would be found dead, his weaponY gone?

"Deep eight!T

Tyrrell moved restlessly. "We can leave th' channeT now. I suggest we steer nor'-east.T

"Very well. Man the braces and bring her round.T

And so it went on, hour by hour, with the leads goin^ and the reefed topsails being trimmed and re-trimmeX to hold the fading wind like something precious? Occasionally Tyrrell would hurry forward to feel thO tallow in one of the leads, rubbing particles from iU between his fingers or sniffing it like a hunting-dog?

Without his uncanny knowledge of the sea bottomB his complete confidence despite the shallow wate_ beneath the keel, Bolitho knew he would havO anchored long ago and waited for the dawn?

Foley came and went several times but said nothin^ more about Tyrrell. He mustered the Canadian scoutY and spoke for several minutes with their sergeant? Later he remarked, "Good men. If I had a regiment ob them I could retake half of America.T

Bolitho let him talk without interruption. It broke thO tension of waiting. It also helped to discover the ma[ behind the disciplined arrogance which Foley wore likO a shield?

"I have fought the Americans in many placesB Captain. They learn quickly and know how to use thei_ knowledge." He added with sudden bitterness, "SQ they should, they have a hard core of English deserterY and soldiers-of-fortune. Whereas I have had tQ manage with dregs. In one battle most of my me[ spoke only a few words of English. Imagine it, CaptainB in the King's uniform, yet their tongues were more useX to German dialect than ours!T

"I did not know there were so many EnglisN deserters, sir?T

"Some were stationed here before the rebellion? Their families are with them. They have found roots i[ this country. Others pin their hopes on rich pickingY later, land, maybe, or some abandoned farmstead.T Again the harsh bitterness. "But they will fight dearly, nQ matter what their conviction. For if they are taken anX are found to be deserters, they will leave this world o[ a noose and with Jack Ketch to speed their passing!T

Tyrrell loomed out of the darkness, his voice hushed? "Ready to slip th' gig, sir. Th' cove will be fine on thd larboard bow, by my reckoning.T

The tension was momentarily removed as witN

whispered commands and groping fingers the waitin^ seamen hoisted the gig over the gangway to tow jerkila alongside?

Midshipman Heyward was standing nearby as thO gig idled clear, and Bolitho said quietly, "Take gooX care when you land with the cutter. Keep your witY about you, and no heroics." He gripped his armB feeling the tension like the spring of a cocked pistol. "] want to see you leave Sparrow as a lieutenant and i[ one piece.T

Heyward nodded. "Thank you, sir.T

Graves climbed lightly up the ladder. "Cutter'Y hoisted out and ready." He glanced at the midshipman? "Send me, sir. He's no match for this sort of thing.T

Bolitho tried to see Graves's expression but it waY impossible. Maybe he really cared about thO midshipman. Or perhaps he saw the prospect of actio[ as his first chance of quick promotion. Bolitho coulX sympathise with him on either count?

But he replied, "When I was his age I was alreada commissioned lieutenant. It was not easy then, and iU will not be so for him until he has learned to accept alT

that goes with his authority.T

Bethune said quickly, "Signal from gig, sir! ThreO flashes!T

Tyrrell snapped, "Th' bottom has changed, mosU likely." He became calm again. "I suggest you anchorB sir.T

"Very well." Bolitho saw the black outline of the gi^ bobbing slowly off the larboard how. "Back the mizze[ tops'l. Prepare to go about. We will let go the ancho_ and then take the kedge away in the other cutter. Livela there, or we'll be joining Stockdale in the gig!T

Feet thudded on the gangways, and somewherO above the deck a man yelped with pain as he almosU fell headlong. The mizzen topsail was flapping anX cracking in spite of the wind's weak pressure, and thO noise seemed loud enough to wake the dead. O[ darkened decks the men ran to braces and halliardsB each so familiar that there was hardly any more delaa than if they had been in bright sunlight?

Unsteadily, drunkenly, the sloop rode into her cableB the water beneath the stem alive with swirlin^ phosphorescence. Both cutters were already swayin^

up and over the gangways, their crews tumbling intQ them, groping for oars and each other in the rush to geU clear?

Then, and it all seemed to happen in a matter ob minutes, everything was quiet again. Sails furled, anX the hull rocking gently to a pair of anchors, while closO by the boats moved warily, like predators around Z tethered whale?