The Flag Captain

by Alexander Kent

  Bolitho touched his hat but said nothing.

  Across the anchorage the air shivered as a solitary gun boomed out, and then came the doleful sound of drumming. He saw the surgeon below the break in the poop whispering to Tebbutt, the boatswain, and his two mates, one of whom carried the familiar red baize bag. The latter dropped his eyes as he realised his captain was looking at him.

  Broughton’s fingers were tapping the hilt of his beautiful sword, seemingly in time with the distant drum. He appeared relaxed, and as fresh as ever.

  Bolitho tensed as one of the young midshipmen wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, a quick nervous gesture which brought back a sudden memory like the feel of an old wound.

  He had been only fourteen himself when he had witnessed his first flogging through the fleet. He had seen most of it in a mist of tears and nausea, and the nightmare had never completely left him. In a service where flogging was commonplace and an accepted punishment, and in many cases more than justified, this final spectacle was still the worst, where onlookers felt degraded almost as much as the victim.

  Broughton remarked, ‘We will be weighing this afternoon, Bolitho. Our destination is Gibraltar, where I will receive further orders and news of developments.’ He looked up at his flag at the fore and added, ‘A fine day for it.’

  Bolitho looked away, trying to shut the persistent drumming from his ears.

  ‘All the ships are fully provisioned, sir.’ He stopped. Broughton knew that as well as he did. It was just something to say. Why should this one event mar everything? He should have realised by now that the days when he had been a young frigate captain were gone for good. Then, faces and people were real individuals. When one suffered it was felt throughout the cramped confines of the ship. Now he had to realise that men were no longer individuals. They were necessities, like the artillery and the rigging, the fresh water supply and the very planking upon which he now stood.

  He felt Broughton watching and deliberately turned away. But it did matter, and he did care, and he knew he could not change. Not for Broughton, or to further his own chances of promotion in the Service he loved and now needed more than ever before.

  He heard Keverne clear his throat and then something like a sigh from the watching seamen on the gangways.

  Around the bows of the Zeus, the nearest seventy-four, came a slow procession of longboats, one from each ship in the squadron, the oars rising and falling with the ‘Rogue’s March’ of the drum. He could see Euryalus’s boat second in the line, dark green like those now lashed in their tier and crowded with silent men. Each one in the procession carried marines, the lethal glitter of their bayonets and gleam of scarlet bringing colour to the grim spectacle as the boats turned slightly and headed for the flagship.

  Broughton said softly, ‘This should not take too long, I think.’

  ‘Way ’nough!’

  The Auriga’s longboat glided alongside and hooked on to the main chains, while the others swayed above their reflections to witness punishment.

  Bolitho took the Articles of War from Keveme and walked quickly to the entry port. Spargo, the surgeon, was already down in the boat accompanied by the boatswain’s mates, and he glanced up as Bolitho’s shadow fell across the rigid oarsmen.

  He said, ‘Fit for punishment, sir.’

  Bolitho made himself look at the figure in the forepart of the frigate’s longboat. Bent almost double, his arms lashed out on a capstan bar as if crucified, it was hard to believe it was Taylor. The man who had come to ask for help. For forgiveness and… He removed his hat, opened the book and began to read the Articles, the sentence and punishment.

  Below in the boat, Taylor stirred slightly, and Bolitho paused to look once again.

  The thwarts and planking of the boat were covered with blood. Not the blood of battle, but black. Like the remnants of torn skin which hung from his mangled back. Black and ripped, so that the exposed bones shone in the sunlight like polished marble.

  The boatswain’s mate glanced up and asked thickly, ‘Two dozen, zur?’

  ‘Do your duty.’

  Bolitho replaced his hat and kept his eyes on the nearest two-decker as the man drew back his arm and then brought the lash down with terrible force.

  A step sounded beside him and Broughton said quietly, ‘He seems to be taking it well enough.’ No concern or real interest. Just a casual comment.

  Just as suddenly it was over, and as the boat cast off again to continue its way to the next ship Bolitho saw Taylor trying to turn his head to look up at him. But he did not have the strength.

  Bolitho turned away, sickened by the sight of the contorted face, the broken lips, the thing which had once been John Taylor.

  He said harshly, ‘Dismiss the hands, Mr. Keverne.’ He glanced involuntarily back again at the re-formed procession. Two more ships to go. He would never live through it. A younger man possibly, but not Taylor.

  He heard Broughton’s voice again, very near. ‘If he had not been one of your old ship’s company–er, the Sparrow was it?’—he sighed–’you would not have felt so involved, so vulnerable.’

  When Bolitho did not reply he added curtly, ‘An example had to be made. They’ll not forget it, I think.’

  Bolitho straightened his back and faced him, his voice steady as he replied, ‘Neither will I, sir.’

  For just a few more seconds their eyes held, and then the shutter seemed to fall as Broughton said. ‘I am going below. Make the signal for all captains as soon as possible.’ Then he was gone.

  Bolitho took a grip of his thoughts, his anger and disgust.

  ‘Mr. Keverne, you will instruct the midshipmen of the watch to bend the signal for all captains to repair on board.’

  Keverne watched him curiously. ‘When shall it be hoisted, sir?’

  A voice called, ‘Signal from Valorous, sir. Prisoner has died under punishment.’

  Bolitho kept his eyes on Keveme. ‘You may hoist it now.’ Then he turned on his heel and strode aft to his cabin.

  5

  A Bad Beginning

  SHARP AT TWO bells of the forenoon watch Vice-Admiral Sir Lucius Broughton strode on to the Euryalus’s quarterdeck. After nodding briskly to Bolitho he took a glass from a midshipman and proceeded to study each ship of his squadron in turn.

  Bolitho ran his eye quickly along the upper deck where gun crews were going through their drill, watched with extra attention, now that the admiral had arrived, by Meheux, his round-faced second lieutenant.

  It had been three days since they had sailed from Falmouth, a long, slow three days during which they had logged a mere four hundred miles. Bolitho gripped the quarterdeck rail, his body angled against the steep tilt, as with her consorts Euryalus plunged ponderously on a slow starboard tack, her great yards braced round, the straining topsails hard-bellied like metal in the wind.

  Not that it had been bad sailing weather, quite the reverse. Skirting the Bay of Biscay, for instance, Partridge, the master, had remarked that he had rarely seen it so favourable. Now, with a freshening north-westerly ruffling the sea into an endless panorama of crisp whitecaps it seemed likely the opportunity was going. It would soon be time to reef, rather than make more sail.

  Once clear of the land Broughton had decided to start putting his ships through their paces, to check the flaws and draw out the varied qualities or otherwise of his new command.

  Bolitho darted another glance towards him, wondering what new complaints or suggestions would come out of his inspection.

  In any flagship a captain was constantly aware of his admiral’s presence, must allow for every mood or whim and somehow work it into his own scheme for running a routine without confusion. And yet he was surprised to find that he still knew Broughton hardly at all. He seemed to run his daily life by the clock with very little deviation. Breakfast at eight, dinner at half past two and supper at nine. Exactly at nine o’clock each forenoon he would come on deck and behave just as he was doing now. If anything, he app
eared too rigid, and not merely in his habits.

  The first day at sea, for instance, he had put his battle tactics into immediate operation. But unlike usual practice, he had retained the Euryalus at third place in the line, with only the one remaining seventy-four, the Valorous, stationed astern.

  While the ships had tacked and floundered in a quarter sea to obey his curt signals Broughton had remarked, ‘One must study the captains just as much as the ships they command.’

  Bolitho grasped immediately what he meant and had appreciated the sense of it.

  It was pointless in some actions to have the most powerful ship, the one flying the admiral’s flag in particular, crashing headlong into the enemy’s line. She could be disabled and rendered useless when she was most needed, when the admiral had the time and information to know of the enemy’s intentions.

  Without using a glass he could see the leading ships quite easily, keeping the same positions that Broughton had ordered from the outset. Leading the line, and almost hidden by the straining topsails and forecourse of the next astern, was the two-decker Zeus. She was an elderly seventy-four, a veteran of the Glorious First of June, St. Vincent and several smaller actions. Her captain, Robert Rattray, had been in command for three years and was known for his aggressive behaviour in battle, a bulldog tenacity which showed clearly on his square, weathered face. Exactly the kind of captain to take the first searing crash of a broadside when testing the enemy’s line. A seasoned, professional seaman, but with little else in his head but a strong sense of duty and a desire to do battle.

  Captain Falcon of the Tanais, the second seventy-four, was quite the opposite. A mournful, untidy-looking man, with hooded, thoughtful eyes, he would be one to follow without question, but would use his imagination as well as his training to explore Rattray’s first approach.

  About a mile astern of the Eurjalus was the last in the line, the Valorous. Commanded by Captain Rodney Furneaux, a tight-lipped and haughty autocrat, she had proved to be a fast and manœuvrable vessel under nearly all circumstances, and provided she could maintain her station would be well placed to protect the flagship or run down to assist any of her consorts if they got into difficulties.

  Bolitho heard the glass close with its customary snap and turned to touch his hat as Broughton walked towards him.

  He said formally, ‘Wind still from the nor’ west, sir, but freshening.’ He saw Broughton’s eyes move slowly along the sweating lines of seamen at the guns. ‘The new course is sou’ west by west.’

  Broughton gave a grunt. ‘Good. Your gun crews appear to be adequate.’

  That was one thing Bolitho had learned. Broughton usually opened the day with some such comment. Like a spur, or a calculated insult.

  He replied calmly, ‘Clear for action in ten minutes or less, sir, and then three broadsides every two minutes.’

  Broughton studied him thoughtfully. ‘That is your standard, is it?’

  ‘Yes, sir.’

  ‘I have heard of some of your standards.’ Broughton placed his hands on his hips and peered up at the maintop where some marines were exercising with a swivel gun. ‘I hope our people will remember when the times comes.’

  Bolitho waited. There would be more.

  The admiral said absently, ‘When I dined with your brother-in-law at Falmouth he was telling me something of your family background.’ He turned and looked hard at Bolitho. ‘I knew of your brother’s, er, misfortune, of course.’ He let it sink in before adding, ‘How he deserted from the Navy.’ He paused, his head slightly on one side.

  Bolitho faced him coldly. ‘He died in America, sir.’ It was strange how easily the lie came now. But the resentment was as strong as ever, and he had a sudden mad desire to say something to shock Broughton from his safe, all-powerful pillar. What would he say, for instance, if he knew that Hugh had been killed in action, right there, where he was now standing? At least Broughton’s probing remarks had allowed him to think of Hugh’s death without so much remorse and despair. As his eye moved briefly across Broughton’s shoulder to the broad, orderly quarterdeck, the great double wheel with its attentive helmsman and master’s mate, it was hard to see it as the bloody shambles on that day Hugh had died. Using his own body as a shield to save his son Adam, who was still completely ignorant of his father’s presence, as men had screamed and died in the din of battle.

  Broughton said, ‘And all over a duel, I believe? Could never understand the stupid attitude of people who made duelling a crime. Do you pride yourself as a swordsman, by any chance?’

  Bolitho forced a smile. ‘My sword has often been a comfort in battle, sir.’ He could not see where this line of talk was leading.

  The admiral showed his teeth. They were very small and even. ‘A duel is for gentlemen.’ He shook his head. ‘But as there seem to be so many in Parliament today who are neither swordsmen nor gentlemen, I suppose we must expect this sort of obstruction.’ He glanced towards the poop. ‘I will take a walk for half an hour.’

  Bolitho watched him go up the poop ladder. The admiral’s daily walk. It never varied either.

  He let his mind return to Broughton’s plan of battle. Perhaps the answer lay with him rather than the plan. Too much rigidity. But surely he would have learned from experience that in many cases ships were called to give battle when scattered and without any set order at all? At St. Vincent where Broughton had actually fought, Commodore Nelson had once again confounded the critics by dashing into the attack without regard for any set stratagem. Bolitho had mentioned it to Broughton and had gained one further clue to his unwavering attitude.

  He had snapped, ‘Nelson, Nelson, that’s all I hear! I saw him in his damned Captain, although I was busy myself at the time. More luck on his side than any sense of timing.’ He had become very cool with equal suddenness. ‘Give your people a plan, something to learn and learn until they can act as one in total darkness or the middle of a typhoon. Keep at them without rest until they can think of nothing else. You can keep your damned heroics for my part. Give me a plan, one that is well tried, and I’ll give you a victory!’

  Bolitho thought back over that one brief insight. Broughton was actually jealous. Senior to Nelson, an officer he did not even know except by reputation, with influence and breeding to support his every move, and yet he was jealous for all that.

  It did not add much to Bolitho’s knowledge of his superior, but it did make him seem more human.

  Broughton had never mentioned Taylor’s death or the savage flogging since weighing anchor. Even at the hasty conference after the punishment he had made little comment, but for one about maintaining discipline at all times.

  In fact, as the wine had been passed around the assembled captains in the same cabin where Taylor had heard his terrible fate, Broughton had been completely at ease, even jocular as he had told the others of the sailing orders for Gibraltar.

  Bolitho could recall seeing the Auriga’s longboat grounding on a sandbar, the marines digging a hasty grave for Taylor’s corpse, working fast in the sunlight to beat a rising tide. Taylor would rot in an unmarked grave. A martyr, or a victim of circumstances, it was hard to know which.

  Once at sea again Bolitho had watched his own ship’s company for any sign of unrest, but the daily routine had kept them too busy perhaps for recriminations or argument. ‘The squadron had sailed without further incident and with no fresh news of the troubles at the Nore.

  He shaded his eyes to peer at the glittering horizon line. Somewhere out there, far to windward and visible only to the masthead lookouts, was the ship in question, the Auriga, once again under the command of her original captain, Brice. Bolitho had made it his business to summon him aboard just prior to sailing and had given him a warning as to his behaviour. He had known it to be useless even as he was speaking to him.

  Brice had stood quite still in his cabin, his hat beneath his arm, his pale eyes avoiding Bolitho’s until he had finished.

  Then he had said softly, ‘Vice
-Admiral Broughton does not accept that there was a mutiny. Neither, sir, did you when you came aboard my ship. The fact that I am being returned to my rightful command surely proves that whatever wrongs were committed were by others.’ He had smiled slightly. ‘One who escaped, and the other who was treated with more leniency than might be expected in these dangerous times.’

  Bolitho had walked around the table, feeling the other man’s hate behind the mask of quiet amusement, knowing his own feelings were little better.

  ‘Now hear my words, Brice, and remember them. We are going on a special mission, maybe an important one for England. You will do well to change your ways if you wish to see your homeland again.’

  Brice had stiffened. ‘There’ll be no more uprisings in my ship, sir!’

  Bolitho had forced a smile. ‘I was not referring to your own people. If you betray your trust once more, I will personally see that you are brought to a court-martial, and that you receive the justice you so obviously enjoy imposing on others!’

  Bolitho walked to the nettings and glanced down at the water leaping against the tall side. The squadron was about one hundred miles north-west of Cape Ortegal, the very corner of Spain. If ships had minds of their own, would Euryalus be remembering it too? he wondered. It was here that she fought under the French flag against Bolitho’s old Hyperion. Where her decks ran scarlet and the battle raged without let-up until its grisly conclusion. But maybe ships did not care after all. Men died, crying for half-remembered wives and children, for mothers, or for their comrades in hell. Others lived on in a maimed existence ashore, forgotten by the sea and avoided by many of those who could have helped them.

  But the ships sailed on, impatient perhaps with the fools who manned them.

  ‘Sir! Zeus is signalling!’ The midshipman of the watch was suddenly galvanised into action. He jumped into the shrouds, his big telescope already to his eye. ‘Zeus to Flag. Strange sail bearing nor’ west.’ He looked down at Bolitho, his face shining with excitement.