Alexander Kent - Command a King`s Ship

Bolitho stared at him. 'Get the royals on her, Mr. Herrick! Lively now!' He walked quickly to the helm. 'We must make more speed.'

Soames called, 'The Don's come up another point by the look of her, sir!'

Mudge was already squinting at the compass bowl. 'Jesus! 'E's steerin' sou'sou'-east!' He looked at Bolitho imploringly. 'We'll never catch 'im in time!'

Bolitho paced to the quarterdeck rail and back again. Weariness, the scorching heat, all was forgotten but that distant pyramid of white sails, with the smaller, will-o'-the-wisp brigantine dancing ahead. Mad? A confused pirate? It made no difference now.

He snapped, 'Clear away a bow chaser, Mr. Herrick. We will endeavour to distract the Nervion'

Herrick was peering aloft, shading his eyes with his speaking trumpet as the topmen set the additional sails.

'Aye, aye, sir!' He yelled, 'Fetch Mr. Tapril!'

But the gunner was already forward, supervising the crew of a long nine-pounder.

Bolitho said sharply, 'Nervion's pulled over still further, Mr. Mudge.' He could not hide the anguish in his voice.

How could it be happening? The sea so huge, so empty. And yet, the reef was there. He had heard of it before from men who had passed this way. Many good ships had foundered on its hard spine.

'Larboard gun ready, sir!'

'Fire!'

It crashed out, the brown smoke drifting downwind and dispersing long before the telltale waterspout lifted like a feather far astern of the other frigate.

'Another. Keep firing.' He looked at Mudge. 'Bring her up a point.'

Mudge protested, 'I'll not be responsible, sir.'

'No. I will.'

He strode forward to the rail again, his shirt flapping open across his chest, yet feeling no benefit from the wind. When he looked up he saw the sails drawing firmly, as would the

Spaniard's. With such power to drive her, she would disembowel herself on the reef, unless Triarte acted, and at once.

The deck shook as another ball whined and ricocheted across the blue water.

Bolitho yelled, 'Masthead! What are they doing?'

The lookout replied, his rougher voice leaving no doubt in Bolitho's mind, 'Th' Dons is gainin', sir! They're runnin' out their guns right this moment!'

Maybe the Spaniards had heard the bow chaser, even observed a fall of shot, but imagined the stupid British were still exercising gunnery. Or perhaps they believed Undine was so furious at missing the chase that Bolitho was firing at this impossible range merely to take the edge off his temper..

He heard himself ask, 'How long, Mr. Mudge?'

Mudge replied thickly, 'She should 'ave struck, sir. That damned brigantine must 'ave crossed the reef in safety. She'll draw little enough, I'm thinkin'.'

Bolitho stared at him. 'But if she got through, then perhaps…'

The master shook his head. 'No chance, sir.'

A great yell came from the watching seamen in the bows. When Bolitho swung round he stared with horror as the Spanish frigate lifted, drove forward again and then slewed round on the hidden reef. Over and around her all her masts and yards, the flailing sails and rigging splashed and cascaded in a chaos which was terrible to see. So great was the impact that she had presented her larboard side to the reef, and through the open gunports the water must now be surging in a triumphant flood, while men trapped in the tangled rigging and broken spars floundered in terror, or were being crushed by the cannon as they tore from their lashings.

The brigantine had changed tack. She was not even pausing to watch the full extent of her work.

Bolitho said harshly, 'Shorten sail, Mr. Herrick. We will heave-to presently and get every boat in the water. We must do all we can to save them.'

He saw some of the men by the bow chasers pointing and chattering as Nervion yawed still further on her side, spilling more broken timber and shattered planking into the swell above the reef.

'And get those hands to work, Mr. Herrick!' He swung away. 'I'll not have them watch others drown, as if it was a day's amusement!'

He made himself cross the deck once more, and when he looked towards the reef he almost expected to see Nervion's proud silhouette standing before the wind. That this was a bad dream. A nightmare.

But why? Why? The question seemed to mock him. To hammer at his brain. How could it have happened?

'I'd not venture any closer, sir.' Mudge was watching him grimly. 'If we gets a shift of wind we could still run foul of the reef.'

Bolitho nodded heavily. 'I agree.' He looked away. 'And thank you.'

Mudge said quietly, 'It worn't your fault. You done all you could.'

'Heave to, Mr. Herrick.' He could barely keep his voice level. 'Have the boats swayed out.'

Soarnes remarked, 'A long pull, sir. Near on three miles.'

Bolitho did not even hear him. He was seeing the little brigantine. It was no coincidence. No rash act of the moment.

Mudge said, 'There'll not be many, sir.' He fumbled in his pockets. 'There's sharks a'plenty in these waters.'

As Undine came up into the wind, her remaining sails thundering and flapping noisily in protest, the boats were lowered with surprisingly little delay. It was as if something had reached out across the three miles of smiling water to touch each and every one of them. A plea for help, a cry of warning, it was difficult to define. But as the first boat shoved off from the side, and the seamen at the oars picked up the stroke, Bolitho saw that their faces were grim and suddenly determined. As he had not seen them before.

Allday said, 'I'll take the gig, if I may, Captain.'

'Yes.' Their eyes met. 'Do what you can.'

'I will.'

Then he was gone, yelling for his men.

'Warn the surgeon to be prepared, Mr. Herrick.' He saw the quick exchange of glances and added coldly, 'And if he is the worse for drink I will have him flogged.'

All the boats were away now, while far beyond their busy oars he could see the remains of the other ship writhing on the invisible reef, the great foresail with its red and gold crucifix still floating around the wreckage like a beautiful shroud.

Bolitho began to pace up and down below the nettings, his hands behind him, his body swaying to the untidy motion as the ship rolled in each undulating trough.

He heard Raymond say, 'Captain Triarte was wrong. He made a stupid error of judgement.'

He paused and looked at him. 'He has paid for it, Mr. Raymond!'

Raymond saw the contempt in Bolitho's grey eyes and walked away. 'I was only saying…' But nobody looked at him.

Herrick watched Bolitho pacing back and forth and wished he could say something to ease his despair. But better than most, he knew that at such moments Bolitho was the only one who could help himself.

Hours later, as the boats pulled wearily back towards their ship, Bolitho was still on deck, his shirt dark with sweat, his mind aching from his deliberations.

Herrick reported, 'No more than forty survivors, sir. Some are in a bad way, I fear.' He saw the question in Bolitho's eyes and nodded. 'The surgeon's ready, sir. I saw to that.'

Bolitho walked slowly to the nettings and craned over to watch the first boat, the gig, as it hooked on to the chains. One man, cradled against Allday's legs, and held firmly by two seamen, was shrieking like a tortured woman. A shark had taken a piece from his shoulder big enough to thrust a round-shot through. He turned away, sickened.

'In God's name, Thomas, send more hands to help those poor devils.'

Herrick said, 'It is being done, sir.'

Bolitho looked up at the flapping ensign at the gaff. 'By heaven, if this is how we behave in peace, then I would we were at war.'

He watched some of the oarsmen clambering aboard. Hands blistered, backs and faces raw from the sun, they said very little as they went below.