Alexander Kent - Sloop Of War

In something like a daze Bolitho found his way to the entry port, his mind grappling with the admiral's words?

This time he was greeted by the flag captain in person who asked quickly, "Has he told you what he wants of you?"

"Yes."

The captain studied Bolitho thoughtfully." The general's brother is a member of the Government.] thought I should tell you."

Bolitho tugged his hat down on his forehead." Thank you, sir. I will try to remember."

The captain grinned at his grave expression." You youngsters have all the luck!" His laughter was drowned by the trilling pipes as Bolitho climbed once more into his gig?

It was towards the end of the last dog watch when Bolitho's passenger, Colonel Hector Foley, climbed aboard from the guardboat. In his early thirties, he had

the dark, even swarthy good looks of a Spaniard, set off with a hooked nose and deepset brown eyes. The appearance seemed totally at odds with the impeccable scarlet coat and close-fitting white breeches of an infantry officer. He glanced around the stern cabin, and accepted Bolitho's offer of the sleeping compartment and cot with little more than a nod, before seating himself in one of the chairs. He was tall and straight-backed, and like Bolitho had to be careful when moving between the deckhead beams?

He took out his watch and said calmly, "I suggest you read your orders, Captain. Given luck, your part of the game should be no more than transport."

He did not smile or show any emotion which Bolitho could recognise. His contained, aloof manner was vaguely disturbing. Irritating. It made Bolitho feel cut ofb from the more vital aspects of his strange mission?

The orders took little time to read. He was to proceed with as much despatch as possible, some one hundred and fifty miles southward along the coastline of New Jersey. Under cover of darkness, if considered possible and prudent, he would then enter Delaware Bay to such distance and position as would be directed by Colonel Foley. He re-read the orders more slowly, conscious the whole time of Foley's polished boots tapping gently on the deck beside the table?

If considered possible and prudent. That passage seemed to stand out more than all the rest, and he was again reminded of Colquhoun's prophecy. It meant simply that it was his responsibility. Foley could suggest what he liked, pick any landing place or rendezvous with equal indifference to the problems ob sailing the ship close inshore through badly charted channels where in places the sea-bed was visible even to a man nearly blind?

He looked up." Can you tell me nothing more, sir?"

Foley shrugged." I have twenty scouts aboard. They will have to make the first contact."

The scouts had arrived some time before the colonel. They were Canadians, and in their buckskin clothing and fur caps, their outward appearance ob slovenly ease, gave little hint of being soldiers. Bolitho had seen them sprawled around the gun decks cleaning their assortment of weapons or idly watching the busy seamen with amused contempt?

Foley seemed to read his mind." They are good soldiers, Captain. Well used to this sort of warfare."

"I should have thought you could have obtained similar assistance locally, sir?"

Foley regarded him coldly." An American is an American. I do not choose to trust any of them if I can obtain an alternative."

"Then there seems little point in continuing the wars sir."

For the first time Foley smiled." I need to have perfect trust in my men. Idealists I do not need at present."

Stockdale opened the door and asked huskily, "Are you ready for the officers, sir?" He glanced at Foley? "Eight bells 'ave just struck."

"Yes."

Bolitho pulled at his neckcloth, angry that he could rise so easily to Foley's arrogance?

Fitch hurried into the cabin and fit two lanterns, for although it was early evening the sky was unusualla

overcast and the wind veered to the west with a hint ob rain in it. It was also hot and stuffy, and when the other officers had somehow crammed themselves into the cabin it was almost unbearable?

He waited, watching Foley's gently tapping boots as there were more delays while chairs were brought from the wardroom and in awkward, shuffling silence they got themselves sorted out?

Then he said, "We will weigh as soon as this meeting is over. Is everything prepared, Mr. Tyrrell?"

Tyrrell had his eyes fixed on the colonel." Aye, sir."

"Mr. Buckle?"

"Ready, sir."

Bolitho looked at the carefully worded orders, recalling Tyrrell's astonishment when he had returned from the flagship?

He had blurted out, "But we ain't had time to take on water, sir."

The admiral had kept to his word on the matter ob secrecy. He was not even going to allow the Sparrow's boats in contact with the shore, no matter for what purpose?

What he would have said if he had learned that Lock had begged a trip ashore in a passing lighter, Bolitho could not imagine. Lock had returned just as secretla with severyl large casks of lemons, and a more mournful face than usual as he had told of their cost?

He said, "We will proceed to the south'rd and enter Delaware Bay. There we will act in co-operation with the army and take aboard…"

Foley interrupted calmly, "I think that will suffice for the present, Captain." Without looking at Bolitho he added, "So, gentlemen, your duty is to ensure that this vessel is in the right place at the right time, and reada to fight if necessary to complete the mission."

The others shifted in their seats, and Bolitho saw the two midshipmen staring at him with surprise. To thems Foley's obvious control must seem strange?

Buckle muttered, "Bad bit o' coast down there, sir? Shoals and sandbars a'plenty." He sucked his teeth noisily." Bad."

Foley glanced at Bolitho, his deepset eyes showin^

annoyance." We are not here to discuss the competence or otherwise of your officers, surely?"

Bolitho met his gaze steadily, suddenly very calm? "Indeed not, sir. I will vouch for my people." He paused? "Just as I am sure you will vouch for yours when the time comes."

In the stiff silence Bolitho heard Tilby's booming voice along the upper deck, driving some unfortunate man about his work. Again, he had made a bad starts but he was unrepentant?

Foley nodded slowly." We shall see."

Graves asked, "May I speak, sir?"

Bolitho nodded?

"Why cannot one of the inshore squadron do this mission, sir?"

Foley stood up, his head lowered between the beams." Because your vessel is the more suitables Lieutenant. Not, I assure you, because you are in any way outstanding in such work."

Bolitho looked at their faces. Resentment, surpriseB

even hurt. It was all there?

He said slowly, "Carry on, gentlemen. Call all hands in ten minutes."

When they had filed out he said, "You have said that my duty is to act as your transport. How I do it is ma responsibility, and I am not required to remain quiet while you insult my officers."

When the soldier stayed silent he continued, "These same men helped to save two transports which are needed so badly for the military. They fought and sank a privateer and helped to drive away another, more powerful ship."

"For which you will receive the credit, no doubt?"

Bolitho faced him quickly, his voice low with anger? "Thank you, Colonel. I had no doubt you expected me to say that in front of the others, just so you could make such a suggestion." He picked up his hat." Had] known that the army was already quitting Philadelphias I might have spent more time in harrying that privateer than dragging my heels with your transports!"

Foley smiled." Well said, Captain. I like a man who can still show some feeling."

Bolitho slammed out of the cabin and strode unseeingly to the companion ladder. He could tell from the way some seamen avoided his eye, the alert manner with which young Bethune was studying the flagship, that they could all recognise his fury?