Alexander Kent - Sloop Of War

Brigantines were untidy looking ships. Square-rigged on the foremast, and with a schooner's fore-and-aft sail on the main, they appeared ill-designeds but were known capable of outdistancing even a frigate under good conditions?

Bolitho said, "Signal her to heave to. I will speak with her master."

Tyrrell said, "Anyway, she's English. No doubt about that."

Flags soared up the newcomer's yards and broke to the wind?

Bethune shouted, "She's the Five Sisters, sir!" He fumbled with his book while Fowler stood a little aparts his mouth set in an expression of disdain." Shown here as under warrant to the Governor at New York."

"Thought as much." Tyrrell frowned." Law unto themselves, and crewed by some real rascals, I can tell you." He sighed." Still, a warrant keeps 'em safe from th' press and risking their precious necks."

The brigantine had crossed Sparrow's bows and was moving steadily on the starboard tack. Bolitho could see the red and gold flag at her fore, the trim semblance of order usually found in a government sponsored vessel. She was drawing closer, and would eventually pass less than half a cable clear?

Bolitho saw Majendie and Dalkeith by the nettings?

The former scribbling frantically, the surgeon peering over his shoulder with obvious interest?

"She's heaving to, sir."

The brigantine was coming up into the wind, her canvas aback and the big mainsail diminishing steadily as the seamen took charge of it?

Bolitho nodded approvingly. It had been well executed?

"Luff, Mr. Tyrrell. I will hail her while she rides under our lee."

The crash and boom of flapping canvas made any sort of conversation difficult, for as Sparrow turned closer into the wind and her way was reduced to a crawl, every sail and shroud seemed intent on drowning Bolitho's voice?

He held the speaking trumpet in both hands and shouted, "Where are you bound?"

Across the short wavecrests he heard the reply?

"Montego Bay! Jamaica!"

Tyrrell remarked, "Bit off course, I'd say."

The voice came again." We were chased by a Spanish frigate yesterday. Gave him the slip during the night, but you might report him for me."

The brigantine was falling downwind and her yards were moving restlessly to show her master was eager to be on his way?

Bolitho lowered the trumpet. There was no point in detaining her longer. And he would get precious little thanks for so doing by the New York authorities. It was odd to realise that she probably came under the control of men like Blundell, who knew nothing and cared less for the sea?

He heard Dalkeith murmur, "By God, that captain's face! I've never seen such cruel burns and know a man to live!"

Bolitho snapped, "Give me that glass!" He snatched it from the astonished surgeon and levelled it on the other ship's poop?

Through the black rigging and loosely flapping sails he saw him. His coat collar was turned up to his ears despite the heat, and his hat was drawn firmly almos?

to eye-level. Bolitho realised that the brigantine's captain had not only lost half his face, but an eye as well, and he was holding his head at a stiff, unnatural angle as he trained the remaining one on the sloop?

So the brigantine had something to do with Blundell? He could picture them murmuring together in the studys the scarred face half hidden in shadow?

Buckle called worriedly, "Permission to get the ship under way, sir? We're riding a bit close."

"Very well."

Bolitho waved to the men on the brigantine's deck and turned to watch Majendie again. He was hanging on the nettings, scribbling and shading, smoothing out and adding detail even as the Five Sisters reset her foresail and began to gather way downwind?

Dalkeith grinned." Not bad, Rupert! I daresay some of our naval companions will assist you with detail ob rigging, eh?"

Tyrrell limped over to him and peered across his narrow shoulder. He seized the pad and exclaimed, «Holy God! If I didn't know for sure…"

Bolitho strode to his side. The picture was of the brigantine's poop, with officers and seamen caught in realistic attitudes, even if, as Dalkeith had hinted, the details of rigging were imperfect?

He felt himself go cold as he saw Majendie's drawing of the ship's captain. Distance and scale had wiped away the terrible scars, so that he stood out like a figure from the past. He looked at Tyrrell, who was still watching his face?

Tyrrell said quietly, "You remember, sir? You were too busy fighting and guarding me from attack." He turned to stare at the other ship." But after I took that ball in ma thigh I had plenty of time to watch that bugger."

Bolitho tried to clear the dryness from his throat? With stark clarity he saw the fury and hatred of battle as if it had been yesterday. The Sparrow's seamen being cut down and driven from Bonaventure's decks. And the privateer's captain, standing like some detached onlooker, calling on him to strike and surrender?

He snapped, "Put the ship about! Hands aloft and set t'gallants!"

To Majendie he added softly, "Thanks to you, I thin7

we may solve a mystery today."

The instant Sparrow showed her intentions, and even as the fore topgallant sail bellied from its yard, the brigantine also increased her canvas and headed away?

"Clear for action, sir?"

"No."

He watched the jib-boom edging round until it fastened on the brigantine's starboard quarter like a bridge. In fact she was two cables clear and showed no sign of losing her lead?

"It must be quickly done. We will go alongside and grapple. Tell Mr. Graves to loose off a ball from the larboard bowchaser. Lively now!"

Buckle said grimly, "We're overhauling him, sir."

Bolitho nodded. Tyrrell understood what was happening, but so far nobody else had even hinted surprise at his actions. To all intents he was chasing a government vessel with which, minutes earlier, he had been exchanging pleasantries?

Bang. The bowchaser's black muzzle lurched inboard on its tackles, and Bolitho saw the waterspout shoot upwards within a boat's length of the brigantine's side?

"She's shortening sail now!" Buckle sounded satisfied?

"Pass the word for Mr. Graves to muster a boarding party!" Bolitho watched narrowly as the other ship began to yaw heavily in a procession of troughs." Mr? Heyward, take charge of the gun deck! Mr. Bethunes accompany the second lieutenant!"

Men scampered to the larboard gangway, cutlasses bared, and some carrying muskets above their heads to avoid misfiring into their companions?

"Steady, Mr. Buckle!" Bolitho held out his hand and looked up at the yards. Sails were vanishing brisklys and as the forecourse rose booming and writhing to its yard he saw the brigantine slipping under the larboard bow, as if both ships were being drawn together by hawsers." Steady!"

Along the gangway picked seamen swung their grapnels, while others scurried forward to fend off the

first contact?

Across the shortening range Bolitho heard, "Stand away there! I command you to keep clear! I will have the law on your head!"

Bolitho felt his tension easing. If he had harboured doubts they were gone now. There was no mistaking that voice. Too many of Sparrow's seamen had died that day aboard Bonaventure for him ever to forget?

He raised the trumpet." Take in your sails and bring to instantly!"

He heard the grumble of chocks and guessed the brigantine's crew were well able to see the big thirty-two-pounder as it was run out again?

Warily, and with great skill, both vessels slowly edged round, their progress through the choppy water falling almost to nothing, their seamen taking in canvas and trimming yards in harmony with the change ob rudder. It was perfectly done, and with little more than a shudder Sparrow nudged against the brigantine's hull and ground forward before coming to rest with her bowspirit level with the other's foremast. Grapnels flew from the gangway, and Bolitho saw Graves waving his men forward, and Bethune swinging out on the fore shrouds, his dirk seeming too small for so heavy a midshipman?