Alexander Kent - Sloop Of War

It was useless to think of what had passed. He was alone now, and only the future, like the next horizons had any true meaning for him?

"GUARDBOAT approaching, sir!"

Bolitho nodded." Very well."

He had already seen it, but was concentrating instead on the overlapping lines of anchored ships, the nearest of which, a two-decker, wore a rear-admiral's flag at her mizzen?

Then he took a quick glance along the busy gun deck, the preparations to drop anchor for the first time since leaving Antigua. It was ten days since they had watched the Miranda's battered outline fall further and further astern until they had lost it altogether. Days ob fretting impatience as they repeatedly shortened sail to keep station on the two transports. And when at last they had found a frigate of the inshore squadron they had received not freedom but yet another unexplained leg to the journey. Sparrow would not hand over her charge of the transports, nor would she close with the shore to supervise their unloading. Instead she was to proceed with all dispatch to New York. The frigate's captain had been impatient to be away and had merely sent a midshipman across to Sparrow with his orders? From what little he had discovered, Bolitho gathered the frigate had been waiting and patrolling for three weeks in order that his message could be passed on to the convoy and had no wish to be involved further?

He shifted his gaze to the guardboat, rocking gently in the offshore swell, a large blue flag lifting and curling from her bows to mark where the sloop should anchor?

The wheel creaked as Buckle passed his directions to the helmsmen, and forward on the beakheads framed against the glittering water, he saw Graves waiting for the command to anchor. He heard someone laugh and saw the two transports idling awkwardly towards another anchorage, their yards alive with men as they shortened sail?

Dalkeith saw him turn and remarked, "Glad to see the back of 'em, eh, sir?" He mopped his face with a handkerchief." They've been with us so long I felt we were towing the beasts."

The gunner climbed halfway up the ladder and called, "Permission to begin the salute, sir?"

Bolitho nodded." If you please, Mr. Yule." He turned away, knowing that but for the gunner's request he would have forgotten all about it in his concern for what would happen next?

While the Sparrow continued easily towards the guardboat, her canvas clewed up but for topsails and jib, the air shook to the regular bang of cannon fire as she paid her respects to the rear-admiral's flag?

Bolitho wanted to take Bethune's big telescope and

study the other ships, but guessed too many glasses would now be on him. His natural curiosity might be seen as uncertainty, or the apprehension of a young commander approaching an unfamiliar anchorage? Instead he made himself walk a few paces along the weather side, noting with satisfaction that the nettings were neatly filled with hammocks and every unused line and halliard was either belayed or flaked down on the decks. Of their clash with the brig there was little or no visible sign. The ten days had been well used to replace woodwork and apply fresh paint?

Tyrrell was standing at the rail, a speaking trumpet under one arm. In his blue coat and cocked hat he seemed unfamiliar again, a stranger, like the day he had come into the cabin after his visit to the flagship?

The last wisp of gunsmoke drifted forward above the anchor party, and he concentrated his attention on the last half cable of distance. The other ships were spread out on either bow and looked impressive, indestructible?

He raised one hand slowly." Lee braces, Mr. Tyrrell? Hands wear ship!"

Why then was he so apprehensive? Perhaps the

frigate's curt orders had hidden something deeper? He tried to disregard it. After all, he had been sick to death of the slow passage with the transports, so how much worse it must have been for the solitary frigate?

Tyrrell's voice brought a screaming chorus from the circling gulls which had been with them for severyl days?

"Tops'l sheets!" He was squinting into the sunlights watching the darting figures high above the deck? "Tops'l clew lines! Roundly does it, lads!"

Bethune's voice cut across the shouted orders and the flapping crack of canvas?

"From Flag to Sparrow, sir. Repair on board."

Bolitho nodded." Acknowledge." The admiral did not believe in wasting time?

"Helm a'lee!"

Gently, easily, the Sparrow turned her jib-boom into the wind, her sails vanishing as the topmen vied with each other to fist the unruly canvas under control?

"Let go!"

From forward came a brief splash as the anchor plunged to the bottom, and before Graves had turned to signal the quarterdeck Tilby, the boatswain, was already urging the boatlowerers to sway out the gig?

Tyrrell came aft and touched his hat." I hope you get good news, sir?

"Thank you."

Bolitho wondered what it must be like for Tyrrell. He was back off his own coastline. Sandy Hook. He must have sailed this way many times in his father's schooner. But there was nothing on his features to betray whatever he was thinking. The usual controlled respect which he had shown since the battle?

Tyrrell had not spared himself in his efforts to get the damage repaired. He had a manner which at first glance seemed easy going, even casual, but there was no doubting his ability, or the edge of his tongue if someone was foolish enough to mistake his attitude for weakness?

"I doubt that I will be long in the flagship." Bolitho watched the gig's crew tumbling down the side?

"Th' admiral may ask you to take lunch, sir." Tyrrell's eyes crinkled in a rare smile." I gather th' old Parthian is known for a good table."

Stockdale called, "Gig's ready, sir."

Bolitho looked at Tyrrell." Make arrangements for taking in fresh water and casks. I have told Mr. Lock to see what he can do about fruit."

Tyrrell followed him to the entry port where the side party were assembled?

He hesitated and then asked quietly, "If you could find out anything about…" He shrugged." But then] guess you'll be too busy, sir."

Bolitho ran his eye over the nearby seamen. Had he learned anything about them since he had taken command? Did he even know what they thought ob him?

He replied, "I will do what I can. Perhaps your father has sent some message for you."

Tyrrell was still staring after him as he clambered into the boat, his ears ringing to the squeal of pipes?

When Bolitho climbed up through the Parthian's gilded entry port and doffed his hat to the quarterdeck he was immediately reminded of the Trojan, the life he had so recently left behind. All the old smells and sights came crowding back, and he marvelled that he had forgotten so much in so brief a time?

A lieutenant guided him to the flag captain's cabin and relieved him of the despatches and a bag ob letters which Miranda had brought from England?

He said, "The admiral will read these first, sir." His eyes moved swiftly over Bolitho's new uniform coat? Searching perhaps for the same old answer. Why him and not me?

The admiral did not send for him for a full hours although it felt twice as long. To avoid repeatedly examining his watch he made himself listen to the sounds around and above him. The old, familiar noises of a teeming community encased in one great hull. It took little imagination to hear Captain Pears's harsh voice complaining, "Mr. Bolitho! Are you aware that the weather forebrace is as slack as a sow's tail? 'Pon ma soul, you'll have to do better if you wish to make something of yourself."

He was smiling ruefully when the lieutenant returned and without further ceremony led him aft to the great cabin?

Sir Evelyn Christie, Rear-Admiral of the Red, and commanding the Inshore Squadron, was fanning his face with a napkin, and after a searching examination of Bolitho's general appearance said, "A glass ob claret, Commander." He did not wait for an answer but gestured to his servant, a splendid-looking man in scarlet jacket and brilliant yellow breeches?