Bolitho 04 - Sloop of War (39 page)

Even as he finished speaking, and as the firsU seaman jumped out and down on to the brigantine'Y bulwark, the deck cargo revealed itself. Hands tore thO canvas away to uncover a sturdy twelve-pounder whicN was rigged in the centre of the deck, its bulk controlleX by tackles and ringbolts?

The crash of its explosion was matched only by thO shriek of grapeshot as it burst with terrifying impacU along Sparrow's gangway. Men and pieces of flesN flew in bloody profusion, and through the rolling bank ob brown smoke Bolitho saw some of them smashed tQ the opposite side of the deck?

Then came the shouting, and from the brigantine'Y poop and main hatch he saw some fifty men chargin^ to the attack?

He groped for his hanger, but realised he haX forgotten to bring it from the cabin. Everywhere me[ were shouting and screaming and above it all came a[ increasing rasp of steel, the bang and whine of muskeU fire?

A seaman fell bodily from the nettings and knockeX Tyrrell against the rail. His leg doubled under him anX his face contorted with pain?

Bolitho yelled, "Take charge, Mr. Buckle!T

He snatched a cutlass from the dead seaman's belU and ran to the gangway. His eyes smarted in smokeB and he felt several balls fan past him, one severing Z netting like an invisible knife?

The brigantine stood no chance against Sparrow'Y cannon. But, grappled together like this, the fight coulX easily turn against them. He had done this very thin^ himself and knew the odds?

He vaulted wildly on to the main shrouds and the[ saw with astonishment that Graves was still below hiR on the gun deck. He was yelling at his men, buU seemed unable to follow them. Of Bethune there waY no sign, and he realised that Heyward had gonO

forward to meet a rush of boarders who were trying tQ climb across the beakhead?

He slipped and almost dropped between the hullsB and then with a gasp he was on the brigantine's deck? A pistol exploded beside his face, nearly blinding himB but he slashed out with the heavy cutlass, felt a brieb impact and heard someone scream?

"The poop!" He thrust his way between some of hiY men and saw Bethune using a musket like a club, hiY hair blowing wildly as he tried to rally what remained ob his boarding party. "Take the poop, lads!T

Somebody raised a cracked cheer, and with fresN heart the seamen lunged aft. Feet and legs kicked anX swayed above groaning wounded and corpses alike? There was no time to reload muskets, and it was bladO to blade at close quarters?

Through the struggling, interlocked figures BolithQ saw the ship's wheel, a master's mate standing alonO beside it, while others lay in various attitudes of deatN around him to show that aboard Sparrow someonO had mustered a few sharpshooters in the maintop?

Then, all at once, they were face to face. BolithoB

with his shirt torn almost to his waist, his hair plastereX across his forehead and the cutlass outstretcheX towards his enemy?

The other captain stood quite motionless, his sworX held easily and angled across his front. Close to, hiY face was even more terrible, but there was no doubtin^ his agility as he suddenly darted forward?

The blades came together with a sharp clang? Sparks flew as they ground inwards until both hiltY locked and each man tested the weight of hiY adversary's arm?

Bolitho looked into the unwinking eye, felt the heat ob his breath, the quivering tension in his shoulder as witN a curse he thrust Bolitho back against the wheelB withdrawing his sword and striking forward in two swifU movements. Again and again, strike, parry, guard. ThO cutlass felt like a lead weight, and each movemenU became an agony. Bolitho saw the other man's moutN set in a grim smile. He knew he was winning?

Beyond the rail the fighting continued as before, buU above it he heard Tyrrell yell from the quarterdeckB "Help th' cap'n! For Christ's sake, help him!T

As they circled each other like jungle cats, BolithQ saw Stockdale slashing and hacking to try to reacN him. But he was fighting at least three men, and hiY bellows were those of an anguished bull?

Bolitho lifted his cutlass and levelled it at the othe_ man's waist. He could raise it no further. His muscleY seemed to be cracking. If only he could change hands? But he would die if he attempted it?

The sword flicked out, its point cutting through hiY sleeve and touching his skin like a white-hot iron. HO could feel blood running down his arm, saw the man'Y single eye gleaming through a mist of pain like somO glowing stone?

The brigantine's captain shouted, "Now, Cap'n! ThiY is the moment! For you!T

He moved so quickly that Bolitho hardly saw thO blade coming. It caught the cutlass within inches of thO hilt, turned it from his fingers like something pluckeX from a child, and sent it flying over the rail?

There was a loud crack, and Bolitho felt the ball pasY his shoulder, the heat so fierce it must have misseX him by an inch. It struck the other man in the throatB

hurling him aside even as the sword made its finaT lunge. For a moment longer he kicked and convulseX in his blood and then lay still?

Bolitho saw Dalkeith throw one leg over the bulwar7 and climb up beside him, a pistol smoking in his hand?

Throughout the two ships there was stricken silenceB and the brigantine's crew stood or lay to await quarte_ from their attackers?

Bolitho said, "Thank you. That was close.T

Dalkeith did not seem to hear him. He said brokenlyB "They killed Majendie. Shot him down like a dog as hO tried to save a wounded man.T

Bolitho felt the surgeon's fingers on his arm as hO ripped his shirt into a deft bandage?

Majendie gone, and so many others, too. He lookeX down at the dead man by the bulwark. If he had kepU his head he might have got away with the deception? But for Majendie he certainly would have done? Perhaps, like himself, he had never forgotten that daa aboard the privateer, and once more fate had decideX to end the memory in its own way?

He turned to survey the two vessels. There waY much to be done, a lot to be discovered before thea reached Sandy Hook?

Some of his men gave a hoarse cheer as he walkeX to the bulwark, but most were too spent even to move?

Anger, disgust, as well as a sense of loss, floodeX through him as he walked amongst his gaspin^ seamen. To think men had died because of treachera and to gain riches for others who remained aloof froR blame?

"But not this time!" He spoke aloud without realisin^ it. "Somebody will pay dearly for today's grieflT

Then he thought of the girl in New York anX wondered how he could protect her when the trutN became known?

16 ONE MAN'S LOSS ..8

REAR-ADMIRAL Sir Evelyn Christie rose from behinX a table crammed with documents and leaned forwarX to offer his hand?

"Welcome." He gestured to a chair. "Good to meeU you again.T

Bolitho sat down and watched the admiral as hO moved towards the stern gallery. It was stiflingly hotB and even though there was a regular breeze acrosY Sandy Hook, the air in the flagship's great cabin waY lifeless?

Christie added abruptly, "I am sorry to have kept yof so long. But the politics of high command are no areZ for a young captain." He smiled. "Your courage iY beyond doubt, but here in New York they would eat yof alive.T

Bolitho tried to relax. For three days after droppin^ anchor he had been to all intents confined to his ship? Once his report had been spirited to the flagship anX his wounded landed for care ashore, he had been lefU in little doubt as to his own position. No actuaT command had been issued, but the Officer-of-the1 Guard had told him that his presence aboard would bO in everyone's best interests until word from the admiral?

He began, "If I have done wrong, sir, then ...T

Christie looked at him sternly. "Wrong? Quite thO

reverse. But you have certainly set a fox amongst thO geese this time." He shrugged. "But you did not comO aboard to hear what you already know. Your action i[ capturing the brigantine Five Sisters, the seizure ob certain documents before her master could dispose ob them, far outweigh individual discomfort elsewhere.T

"Thank you, sir." He was still uncertain wherO Christie's comments were leading?

"It now seems evident that the brigantine's masterB one Matthew Crozier, intended to pass informatio[ either to an enemy vessel or to some spy along thO coast. That would explain his being so far off courseB his excuse of avoiding a Spanish frigate. But there ca[ be no doubt as to his main mission. Whilst on passagO for Jamaica he was to deliver a message for thO Compte de Grasse at Martinique. My people havO examined the despatch most thoroughly." He eyeX Bolitho steadily. "In it they found full details of ou_ defences and all available ships-of-war. DeploymentsB both sea and military, even to the extent of our strengtN under Cornwallis." He picked up a document anX studied it for several seconds. "One way or t'other, thiY will be a year to remember.T

Bolitho shifted in his chair. "How could Z

privateersman like Crozier obtain a warrant to work fo_ the British?T

Christie smiled wryly. "He owned the brigantine. IU was no doubt purchased by his own side. The cre/ were hand-picked. The sweepings of a dozen portY and almost as many countries. With small vessels i[ such demand his deception was not so very difficult? Even on his official voyages he was apparentla smuggling." He turned away, his shoulders suddenla rigid. "Mostly for those in power in New York!T

"May I ask if they are to be punished?T

Christie turned and shrugged. "If you mean GeneraT Blundell, then you may be assured he will be leavin^ America very soon. After that I am equally certain hO will be saved by influence and powerful friends aU home. Distance and time are great healers where thO guilty are concerned. But others will certainly go to thO wall, and I have been told that the Military CommanX intends to use your discovery to rid itself, in part aU least, of the parasites who have lived too long off itY back.T

He smiled at Bolitho's grave features. "Pour somO madeira. It will do us both good." He continued in thO

same unruffled tone, "Admiral Graves is well pleaseX with you. He has sent the schooner Lucifer to AntiguZ to inform Admiral Rodney of the situation here. PatrolY have been ordered to Newport to watch de Barras'Y squadron, although, as you well know, it is hard to seO what is happening there. In fact, everything is bein^ done with the forces available to watch over locaT waters to see which way the tiger will pounce.T

He took a glass from Bolitho's hand and askedB "Sparrow, is she in good repair?T

Bolitho nodded. It was still difficult to keep pace witN the small admiral. "My carpenter has almost completeX repairs to the gangway and ...T

Christie nodded briskly. "In any case, that can bO finished at sea. I want you to take on full supplies, fo_ three months at least. My flag captain has it in hand? He might even find you some seamen to replace thosO lost in battle. I have sent Heron to the south'rd againB but my other inshore patrols are too well spread fo_ comfort. I need every available ship, especially yours.T He smiled. "And you?

"Thank you, sir." He put down the glass. "NewporU again?T

The admiral shook his head. "You will join Farr anX his Heron.T

Bolitho stared at him. "But, sir, I thought you needeX ships to watch de Barras?T

Christie picked up the decanter and examined iU thoughtfully. "I may do so later. But for the present I wanU you out of Sandy Hook. Away from those who will try tQ bring you down. You have made enemies by you_ actions. As I said just now, you are no match for thO devious ways of politics.T

"I am prepared to take that risk, sir.T

"I am not!" Christie's voice was hard. Like it haX been at the court martial in this very cabin. "To youB your ship and her affairs are paramount. But I musU think on a wider scope, and my superiors wider still. If iU is thought best for you to lead my whole squadro[ against de Barras, then that is how it will be. And if you_ ship must be sacrificed like a tethered animal in Z snare, then that, too, will be ordered!" He relented? "Forgive me. That was unpardonable." He waved onO hand above his charts. "The enemy is powerful, but noU so that he can attack everywhere at once. He ca[ strike against New York, for deprived of it we have nQ

pretence at government in America. Or he can turn hiY iron on General Cornwallis's army in the field, fo_ without that we are just as pointless. Either way therO will be a battle, and I believe that a sea fight will decidO our course and that of history for years to come.T

Feet pounded overhead and Bolitho heard the bar7 of commands, the scrape of tackles and blocks. Eve[ the old Parthian was preparing to sail, to show he_ readiness for whatever the enemy intended?

Bolitho stood up. "When can I expect my orders, sirU T

"Before sunset. I would advise you to contain yourB er, other interests, until some later date." He proffereX his hand. "The heart is a fine thing, but I would prefe_ you to rest your judgements on the brain.T

Bolitho walked out to the sunlight, his mind buzzin^ with all Christie had said and the greater part which hO had left unspoken. It was all so unfair. A sailor stood tQ his gun in battle until told otherwise. Or he struggleX aloft in a shrieking gale, frozen with icy spray, anX scared half to death. But he obeyed. It was the way ob things, or had been in Bolitho's experience. Until now?