Alexander Kent - Sloop Of War

It was superbly timed, catching the frigate even as she was beginning to pass across the wind. The enemy was using langrage or chain-shot, for as the slow broadside smashed home Bolitho saw the Miranda's fore and mainmasts stagger and then begin to topple sideways into the smoke, the sails jerking to the bombardment. From a lithe and beautiful ship to a crippled wreck, the Miranda was still trying to turn, her bowchaser firing blindly, the ensign showing scarlet from her mizzen?

Tyrrell shouted wildly, "Cleared for action!"

Bolitho looked at him."Load and run out, if you please."

The lieutenant stayed facing him, his eyes very bright in the sunlight." You ain't going to fight both of 'ems surely?"

"If necessary."

Bolitho turned as more shots echoed and murmured across the shortening distance. He saw the brig clawing away from the two larger ships, her main topgallant leaning at a dangerous angle where Miranda's first balls had found their mark?

The planks vibrated under his shoes, and as the port lids opened the Sparrow's eighteen guns squeaked and rumbled towards the sunlight, the bare-backed seamen slipping on sanded decks as they tried to keep in time to the shouted commands from their captains?

Bolitho stared along the length of his ship with something like despair. In moments now, all would be finished. His ship, his precious Sparrow, would be sharing the frigate's fate?

And it had all been so easy. It had happened so often in the past that the sight of a helpless merchantman being harried by a well-armed privateer had not even aroused the faintest suspicion. No wonder the privateer's sails had been unmarked in their carefully staged battle. How the two American captains must have laughed when Miranda had swept in to defend her own murderer?

He felt Stockdale breathing noisily beside him, the sudden grip of the swordbelt around his waist?

He said huskily, "By God, sir, them's bad odds!"

"Deck there!" The masthead lookout had been forgotten in the sight of disaster." Miranda's goin' to grapple!" The unseen lookout gave a cracked cheer? "She's goin' to close with the bugger!"

Bolitho ran to the rail. The frigate was almost hidden by the heavier shape of the enemy ship, but he could tell from the set of her mizzen that she was indeed lurching towards her attacker. Another crash of gunfire made the smoke spout upwards between them, and the frigate's remaining mast vanished in a welter ob rigging and ripped canvas. But Bolitho could see the sudden activity on the enemy's gangways, the surge ob figures by her foremast, and pictured the battered frigate heading her bows straight for the forecastle? Muskets cracked feebly across the water, and he sa/

the telltale flash of steel as the two vessels ground momentarily together and the fight became hand to hand?

He grasped Tyrrell's arm and shouted, "Miranda's given us time!" He saw no understanding in his eyes, only disbelief." If she can hold on, we will close with the brig!"

He shaded his face against the glare and watched the brig as she swept down towards the two transports?

"She'll cross Golden Fleece's bows, and rake her as she passes." He was shouting his thoughts aloud." We will wear ship directly, pass between the transports, and return the compliment!"

Tyrrell bit his lip." But we might collide with the privateer, sir!"

Bolitho swung him round, pointing him at the embattled ships?

"Do you want those lads to die for nothing, man?" He pushed him to the rail." Now get ready to wear when I give the order!"

The brig was already dead ahead of Sparrow's raked jib-boom, no more than a mile away. Aboard the leading transport Bolitho could see smoke from a solitary gun, although he saw no sign of a ball?

"Signal the transports to keep station, Mr. Bethune!" He repeated the order to break the midshipman from his unmoving stance." Lively!"

If either of the transports' captains lost his head now all would fail. The enemy would destroy or capture at leisure. Even now there was little room for hope of any kind?

And all of it, from the first hint of surprise to this moment, had been merely minutes?

He made himself walk aft towards the taffrail, his eyes passing over the crouching swivel gunners, the two helmsmen at their unprotected wheel, Buckle grim-faced and staring at the sails above. All of them?

He saw Raven, the new master's mate, watching him wretchedly, and paused to say, "You weren't to know? She was an Indiaman after all, but not, I fear, as she was intended."

Raven shook his head, so concerned with his failure to recognise the enemy that he seemed oblivious to the sporadic crash of cannon fire?

"I should've seen 'er, sir. But I saw what I expected to see, an' I'm powerful sorry on it after you givin' me a chance to better meself."

Bolitho smiled, feeling his lips cracking with the effort?

"And I will expect you to do even better this day, Mr? Raven!"

He strode aft, hands behind his back, the new sword flapping against his thigh?

Buckle pursed his lips in a silent whistle." He's a calm one. Death coming up the hawse an' he just walks about like he was enjoying himself."

Behind the fixed smile Bolitho continued to pace the deck, his ears pitched above the gunfire to catch the news that the brig had reached the first transport. If her captain saw through his frail plan it would be pointless to continue with it. He would either have to run away from the fight and carry Miranda's important news to the admiral, or stay and await the final meeting with the converted Indiaman. A few of the Miranda's guns were still firing here and there, their muzzles almost overlapping those of the other ship. Between decks it must be a slaughterhouse, he thought despairingly?

Tyrrell shouted, "Brig's crossing her bows!"

Sharper explosions echoed over the water, and Bolitho knew the brig was firing her starboard battery as she ran easily across the transport's bowsprit? Before she had vanished beyond Golden Fleece's great bulk he saw the American flag whipping jauntily from her gaff, the sudden stab of musket fire from her low deck as sharpshooters practised their aim?

Now." Bolitho sliced the air." Wear ship!"

As the helm went over and along the Sparrow's crowded decks the men threw themselves on the braces, the hull seemed to stagger violently under the shock. Blocks screamed, and above the decks the great yards creaked round with such speed that Bolitho could feel the whole fabric shaking in protest? But nothing carried away, and as she heeled steeply to take the wind under her stern the sails lifted then filled to its thrust?

Bolitho cupped his hands." Mr. Graves! Engage the larboard guns first! You will point the thirty-two-pounder yourself" He saw Graves nod before vanishing beneath the forecastle in the direction of the bowchaser?

How fast she was moving, despite both her courses being brailed up to the yards for fear of fire when the guns started to engage. The main topgallant seemed to bend forward, the masthead pendant flicking straight out towards the bows as if to point the way?

Already the jib-boom must be crossing the leading transport's quarter, and to starboard Bolitho saw the second one, Bear, altering course slightly as if fearful of a collision with the sloop which was dashing across her path?

More shots came from beyond the first transports and he saw smoke funnelling down her hull to mark the brig's progress?

From forward came the cry, "Thar she be! On the larboard bow!"

The Sparrow's unexpected appearance between the two transports seemed to have caught the brig's captain totally by surprise. The privateer was passing down the transport's side, about a cable clear, her yards braced round to hold her on a starboard tack?

Bolitho yelled, "We'll cross the enemy's hawse and rake him as we go!" He saw some of his men staring at him from their guns, faces strained and confused? He drew his sword and held it over his head." As you bear, lads! Make each ball strike home!"