Bolitho 04 - Sloop of War

by Alexander Kent

  Bolitho handed the envelope to a seaman. "PasY this to the boat." To Tyrrell he added slowly, "Go anX take some rest. I shall think awhile.T

  Later as Tyrrell lay in an abandoned cabin, the dec7 of which was littered with open chests and discardeX clothing, he heard Bolitho's shoes on the plankin^ overhead. Back and forth, up and down. Thinking? Eventually the sound of his pacing made his eyelidY

  droop, and he fell into a dreamless sleep?

  Bolitho stood straddle-legged on the RoyalAnne'Y poop, seeing his own shadow for the first time acrosY the traffrail. How long the night had been, but at the hinU of dawn everything seemed to begin at once, like thO start of some ill-rehearsed drama. Away on thO larboard quarter he saw the hardening pyramid of sailY where the big privateer moved purposefully before thO wind. Strangely, her hull was still lost in shadow, witN only a bone of white around her stem to reveal he_ growing speed. About three miles distant. He turneX his glass to the opposite quarter to the little sloop? Sparrow was much closer, yet in spite of this seemeX even smaller?

  Tyrrell joined him and said, "Th' wind seems steada enough, sir. Nor'-west by north, by my reckoning." HO was speaking in a hushed voice, as if afraid to distur> the ships and their deliberate preparations to fight?

  Bolitho nodded. "We will steer sou'-east. It is whaU the enemy will expect.T

  He tore his eyes from the privateer and turned tQ look along the Indiaman's deck. The new foresail waY drawing well, as were spanker and jib. The rest werO

  little better than shreds, and to try to tack more than Z point or so would be a waste of time?

  Tyrrell sighed. "I've checked th' guns myself. LoadeX as ordered." He scratched his stomach. "Some of 'eR look so old they'd split if we double-shotted 'em.T

  Bolitho faced aft again to watch the other ships? Raising his glass he moved it slowly over Sparrow'Y deck, seeing the figures on the gangways, a solitara seaman at her mainmast crosstrees. Then aft, as Z freak gust lifted the foot of the maincourse like Z miller's apron, he saw Graves. He was standin^ beside the wheel, arms folded, looking every inch Z captain. Bolitho breathed out very slowly. So mucN depended on Graves. If he lost his head, o_ misinterpreted his carefully worded instructions, thO enemy would still catch two for the price of one. BuU Graves had got the first part right. He was wearin^ Bolitho's new uniform, the gold lace showing clearly i[ spite of the feeble light. The enemy captain would bO wary, watchful. Nothing must go wrong at thO beginning. Heaven alone knew how all the extrZ passengers had been crammed below and out ob sight. It would be like a sealed tomb, a nightmare fo_ the women and children once the gunfire began?

  Midshipman Heyward came to the poop and saidB "All our boarding party are ready, sir." Like Bolitho anX Tyrrell he had discarded his uniform and looked eve[ younger in his open shirt and breeches?

  "Thank you." Bolitho noticed that instead of Z midshipman's dirk Heyward had thought fit to wear onO of his precious swords?

  There was a bang, and he saw a ball ricochetin^ across the lively wave crests before throwing up a quilT of spray between him and the Sparrow's bows. E sighting shot, a declaration of intent, probably both, hO thought grimly?

  Over the water, and audible above the rustle of tor[ canvas, he heard the staccato beat of drums, anX pictured the scene aboard Sparrow as her men ran tQ quarters. Phase two. He saw the patch of scarlet aY the ensign broke jauntily from her gaff, felt a catch i[ his throat as the ports opened to reveal her line ob guns. With less than half a company available, GraveY must have pressed some of the Indiaman's crew intQ service to get the guns out so smartly. But it had to loo7 exactly right. As if the sloop was preparing to sho/ defiance and trying to defend her heavy consort?

  Another bang, and the ball ploughed into the seZ about a cable clear of Sparrow's stem?

  Bolitho clenched his jaw. Graves was cutting it fine. Ib the wind chose this moment to veer he would bO unable to go about, would be in irons if he tried to falT back and try again?

  Tyrrell said hoarsely, "There she goes!T

  The sloop's yards were swinging and as her leO gangway dipped heavily into the swell she began tQ tack closehauled to larboard, crossing Royal Anne'Y stern like a small protective terrier. Flags broke froR her yards, and Bolitho imagined Bethune yelling at hiY party to make haste and hoist the meaningless signal? The enemy would think Sparrow was preparing to fighU to the death and was ordering the Indiaman to make Z run for it?

  Cannon fire ripped along the Bonaventure'Y foremost battery and more splashes leapt closer to thO heeling sloop. Graves was shortening sail, clearin^ away the hampering canvas from his guns, eve[ though it was unlikely he had more than a quarter ob them manned?

  Tyrrell spoke between his teeth. "That's closO enough, Hector! For God's sake don't make a meal ob it!T

  One heavy bang rolled across the shark-blue waterB and even though the flash was hidden by Sparrow'Y hull, Bolitho knew it was one of her bow-chasers. HO saw the ball slap hard into the spray by the other ship'Y forecastle, the immediate spurt of orange tongues aY she fired back in earnest?

  The Sparrow's foretopgallant mast quivered anX then seemed to curtsy downwards into the swirlin^ brown smoke, the furled sail marking its progress as iU caught and swung in the criss-cross of rigging beforO plunging into the sea alongside. Holes appeared i[ several of her sails, and Bolitho caught his breath aY the hammock nettings below the quarterdeck buckeX and burst apart from a direct hit?

  The enemy was much nearer now, her foretopsaiT bulging as she stood before the wind, charging dow[ on the sloop which was now less than two cables froR her starboard bow?

  Tyrrell exclaimed, "He's done it! Blast th' man, he'Y going about!T

  The Sparrow was wearing, her masts swingin^ upright as she came round violently, the growing lighU making her sails shine as they flapped and puckereX to the strain?

  The gunfire had stopped, for with her stern towardY the enemy Sparrow presented no target at all. He_ forecourse was already being unleashed, and as shO gathered way through the water Bolitho saw thO topmen running out along the yards like black insectY until more and still more canvas bellied to the wind. HO could see Buckle by the quarterdeck rail, too intent o[ his work even to watch the labouring Indiaman as shO surged past. Sparrow was abeam, and then in minuteY was well beyond the Indiaman's bows, headin^ towards the first rays of sunlight from the placiX horizon?

  Bolitho felt suddenly dry, his limbs very loose, as ib belonging to someone else. He watched thO Bonaventure's forecourse being brailed up to reveaT her great span of poop, the men on her gangways whQ were waving and gesturing after the retreating sloop? Jeering no doubt. All the madness of intended battlO now lost in the confused actions of an unfought victory?

  Bolitho walked to the rail and said quietlyB

  "Remember, Mr. Tyrrell, and remember it well. We havO to cripple her if we can. Then if a patrolling frigate findY her she can finish what we started." He gripped hiY wrist. "But make sure our people play their parts. Ib Bonaventure hauls off now, she can pound us to pieceY without losing a breath!T

  The privateer had edged closer, running dow[ towards the quarter so that she would eventualla overhaul RoyalAnne along her larboard side. He_ captain was a superb seaman. With all but his topsailY clewed up he was handling the heavy vessel with botN confidence and skill, and would certainly hold the wind1 gage no matter what Bolitho tried to do?

  A gun flashed out its long tongue, and Bolitho felt thO ball smack into the lower hull, jerking the planks at hiY feet with savage violence?

  He saw bunched figures on the other ship's poopB the wink of sunlight on raised telescopes, and guesseX they were examining their victim. It looked much as iU had when he had come aboard. Damaged bulwarkY and broken rigging. One hatch had been purposefulla left open, and several of his men were running about i[ apparent confusion while Heyward directed thei_ performance from beneath the forecastle?

  "Now!" Bolitho waved his hand, and from the mai[ deck one then another of the six-pounders hurled i
tY challenge across the narrowing strip of water?

  From aft a swivel banged sharply, the caniste_ probably falling harmlessly long before it reached thO enemy's side?

  The response was immediate. Gun by gun, thO Bonaventure's broadside sent ball after ball crashin^ into the hull. Bolitho was thankful he had sent most ob his men below, otherwise they would have been cuU down by the fierceness of the onslaught. Timber anX planks flew in all directions, and he saw a seama[ hurled like a bloody rag to the opposite side, his limbY kicking as he died?

  Stockdale looked at Bolitho and saw him nod. WitN a grunt he dashed along the deck waving a cutlassB while Bolitho drew his pistol and yelled after him. Whe[ Stockdale ran on towards the halliards he firedB praying that his hand was steady as the shot whineX clear above the coxswain's head. Stockdale reacheX his goal, and with one slash severed the halliardsB bringing the big Company flag tumbling down likO some bright shroud across the weather rail?

  In a lull of noise and gunfire Bolitho heard a voicO across the water, magnified and unreal in a speakin^ trumpet?

  "Heave to or I'll sink you!T

  From forward he heard Heyward urging his men tQ obey the call, the sudden groan of timber as the shiS lurched drunkenly into the wind, her remaining sailY flapping and banging in disorder?

  Tyrrell said, "He's going to grapple!T

  There were men on the Bonaventure's yards, and aY the big hull surged carefully and then more insistentla against the side Bolitho saw grapnels flying from Z dozen points at once. The men on the yards werO busily making fast their lines to Royal Anne's shroudY and spars, so that as both ships lifted and swayeX together Bolitho knew the moment to act had arrived?

  "Now! Boarders away!T

  With a wild chorus of yells the hidden seame[ surged up from both hatches and on to the bulwarksB their cutlasses and boarding pikes marking dow[ several enemy hands before they realised what waY happening. Moments, seconds earlier, they had see[

  Royal Anne as one more helpless prize, a ship whicN had struck to them, her flag hacked down by one of he_ own crew. Then, as if from nowhere, the bulk ob Bolitho's seamen came surging up and over the sideB their steel bright in the sun, their voices hoarse anX wild with the madness of combat?

  Bolitho ran to the rail and jerked the lanyard ob another swivel, seeing the packed canister scythin^ through a bunch of men on Bonaventure's gangwaa and blasting them aside in its murderous hail?

  Then he was running with the second party anX pulling himself on to the shrouds, slashing with hiY sword at a man's arm on the chains below. ScreamY and curses, the bang of pistols and rasp of steel, hO was dazed by the noise. A man plummeted past him tQ be held like a tortured animal between the two grindin^ hulls, his blood running pink in the leaping feathers ob foam?

  He was on the enemy's deck, his arm jarring as hO struck down a man's guard and drove the hilt againsU his jaw, throwing him back into the struggling figureY beyond. Another charged forward with a levelleX bayonet, slipped on a smear of blood and too7 Stockdale's blade across his neck. It sounded like a[

  axe biting into a log?

  He yelled wildly, "Cut the rigging, lads! Cripple thO bastard!T

  He felt a ball fan hotly past his face, and ducked aY another smacked into a seaman's chest right besidO him, his cry lost in the other din of battle?

  Now he was on a ladder, shoes sliding in blood, hiY fingers feeling up a rail, conscious of the torn wooX where one of the swivels had made its mark. TwQ officers were parrying aside pikes and swords as thea tried to rally their men from the opposite side. BolithQ saw one of them drive his sword into a boatswain'Y mate, saw the eyes roll with agony as he pitched to thO deck below, then he was up and facing the privateer'Y officer, their swords clashing as they struck anX explored their strength and weakness?

  "Damn you!" The man ducked and thrust up aU Bolitho's throat. "Strike while you are still alive, yof mad bugger!T

  Bolitho caught the blade across his basket hilt anX levered the man clear, feeling the warmth of his bodyB the fierceness of his breathing?

  He yelled back, "Strike be damned!T

  A pistol exploded and the officer dropped his armB staring blankly at the blood which pumped through hiY shirt in a bright red stain?

  Tyrrell strode past and fired a second pistol into thO man's chest. When he turned Bolitho saw that Tyrrell'Y face was like stone?

  He shouted, "I knew that bastard, Cap'n! A blooda slaver afore th' war!T

  Then with a gasp he dropped on one knee, blooX running from his thigh. Bolitho dragged him asideB cutting down a screaming seaman and thrusting thO blade through his chest in two swift movements?

  "Easy!T

  He stared desperately above the nearest men. MucN of the enemy's rigging had been slashed, but thO attack had made little impression after all. And his me[ were failing back around him, the lust to fight and wi[ dwindling to match their numbers?

  On every hand, or so it appeared, muskets anX pistols were firing down into the retreating EnglisN

  seamen, and he saw Heyward standing astride Z wounded man and screaming like a madman as hO fought off two attackers at once?

  As if from a great distance he saw the America[ captain watching from his poop, a tall, handsome ma[ who was standing quite motionless, either so confidenU in his men's efforts or so appalled by his attackersd sacrifice that he was unable to tear his eyes away?

  Bolitho hacked a cutlass aside and sobbed aloud aY his blade broke within inches of the hilt. He hurled thO remains at the man's head and saw him fall kickingB impaled on a pike. In a half daze he recalled the gli> trader at English Harbour who had sold him the sword? He would not get his money now, damn his eyes?

  To Stockdale he croaked, "You know what to do!" HO had to push him away, and even as he ran from thO fighting he was still peering back, his eyes filled witN anxiety?

  Then there was the distorted voice again, and whe[ he looked up he saw the American captain using hiY trumpet?

  "Strike now! You have done more than enough0

  Strike or die!T

  Bolitho swung round, his heart bursting, his minX sick as he saw a young seaman fall to the deck, hiY face opened by a cutlass from ear to chin?

  Tyrrell was struggling on his injured knee anX pointing wildly, "Look! Stockdale's done it!T

  From the main batch on the Indiaman's deck came Z growing plume of dark smoke, spreading anX thickening until it seemed to spurt up through thO seams like steam under pressure?

  Bolitho yelled, "Fall back, lads! Back!T

  Then they were limping and staggering across thO bulwarks, dragging their wounded, carrying others toQ crippled to move. There were not many of themB wounded or otherwise?

  Bolitho wiped his streaming eyes, hearing TyrrelT gasp with agony as he half carried, half dragged him tQ the opposite bulwark. Behind him he could hea_ frenzied shouts, the sudden click of steel as thO Bonaventure's men tried to cut away the lashings whicN they themselves had so skillfully used to hold botN ships together. But it was too late. It had been from thO

  instant Stockdale had begun the last and mosU dangerous act. A short fuse, and then the fire had bursU amongst the cargo of rum and the massive barrels ob spirits, spreading through the hull at a terrible rate?

  Flames licked out of open ports and ran along thO Bonaventure's tarred rigging like angry tongues, sailY vanished into ashes, and then with a bellow one greaU sheet of flame leapt between the two hulls, joining theR finally in a single pyre?

  Bolitho peered down at the one remaining boaU tethered to the ship's quarter, riding where it had bee[ since taking his orders across to Graves?

  "Abandon ship, lads!T

  Some clambered down, while others fell headlongB splashing and yelling until they were helped inboard ba their companions. Blazing canvas, ashes and gusts ob sparks rained across their heads, but as a seama[ severed the bow rope and they groped half blinded fo_ the oars Bolitho heard another great explosion, as ib from the sea itself?

 
The Indiaman began to settle down immediately, he_ masts and spars interlocking with her attacker's tQ

  throw flames and sparks hundreds of feet into the air?

  He watched his small handful of fit men pulling at thO oars, feeling the heat searing his back as he steereX the boat away from the blazing ships. Explodin^ powder and toppling masts, a ship's hold splitting widO open in an inferno of noise and shooting flames, anX later the engulfing sounds of inrushing water. He hearX it all, even pictured the general's gold bullion, whicN someone might discover one day on the sea bottom?

  But it was all beyond him now. They had done thO impossible. Miranda was avenged?

  He looked sadly at his men, at their faces which no/ meant so much to him. At young Heyward, filthy anX exhausted, a wounded seaman propped across hiY lap. Tyrrell, a bloody bandage around his thigh, eyeY closed with pain, but holding back his head as if tQ seek the first yellow bars of warmth from the sun. AnX Stockdale, who was everywhere. Bandaging anX baling, lending weight to an oar, or helping to heave Z dead man over the gunwale. He was tireless? Indestructible?

  He held out his hand and studied it. It was quitO steady, even though every nerve and muscle seemeX

  to be quivering. He glanced at his empty scabbard anX gave a rueful smile. No matter. Nothing mattered now?

  How long they pulled at the oars, the time it took fo_ the two blazing hulks finally to sink, Bolitho did noU remember. The sun beat down on their achingB exhausted limbs, the stroke became slower and morO hesitant. Once, when Bolitho peered astern he saw thO sea's face covered by a great spread of driftin^ remains from the ships and the men who had foughU across them. But the privateer had managed to launcN at least one boat, and before it was blotted out in hazO he saw it was crammed with survivors. Perhaps theyB too, would know the same despair as Miranda's men?

  Then a shadow flitted across his face and he stareX round, caught off guard as Sparrow's topsails flasheX gaily across the sun's path?