Alexander Kent - The Flag Captain

Several times during working hours Bolitho had heard shrill laughter and discreet giggles from between decks, and guessed that some of the Coquette ’s seamen were making their presence felt.

And on the morning of the second day, while he stood by the Navarra ’s weather rail, he felt something like pride as he watched the sun shining on the familiar topsails of the squadron, the speedier shape of the sloop Restless as she dashed away from her consorts to investigate the new arrivals.

Meheux said quietly, “They look fine, sir.” He too seemed touched by the occasion. “I’ll not be sorry to quit this floating ruin.”

Then, while the Coquette made more sail and hurried ahead of her battered companion, her yards already alive with signal flags, Bolitho watched his own ship, shining brightly in the glare, her tan sails quivering in haze as she moved slowly on the starboard tack. Like the other three ships-of-the-line, she appeared motionless above her reflection, with only the smallest crust of white around her stem to indicate her steady approach.

Bolitho said, “She will be sending a boat directly. You will

retain command here, Mr Meheux, until the Navarra ’s future is decided. I doubt you will have long to wait.”

Meheux smiled. “I am relieved to hear it, sir.” He gestured towards an open hatch whence came the unending groan and clank of pumps. “What about our men down there? Shall I send ’em over under guard, sir?”

Bolitho shook his head. “They have worked well enough, and I suspect they’ll think twice in future before they take on a free cargo of brandy.”

Ashton called, “The flagship has signalled the squadron to heave to, sir.” He looked stronger again, although his eyes were squinting as if he was suffering from a headache.

Bolitho heard Allday growl, “My God, here comes your barge, Captain! I’ll kill that cox’n for the way he steers her!”

He said, “Fetch Witrand up here. We will take him to Euryalus with us.”

The next moments were unreal and not a little moving for Bolitho. As the barge came alongside, the tossed oars shining like twin rows of polished bones, and Meheux followed him to the gangway, he realised that most of the Navarra ’s passengers were crowding the side to see him depart. Some were waving to him, and several of the women were laughing and weeping at the same time.

He thought he saw Pareja’s widow watching from the poop, but could not be sure, and wondered what he should do to help her.

Witrand stood beside him and shook his head. “They are sorry to lose you, Capitaine. Our common suffering of the past days has united us, eh?” Then he glanced at the Euryalus and added soberly, “’Owever, that was yesterday. Tomorrow all is different again.”

Bolitho followed Ashton and the Frenchman down into the barge where Allday was hissing threats at a rigid-faced seaman by the tiller. For a moment longer he glanced up at the rows of

faces, the shot holes and the many scars where the dark-skinned attackers had hurled their grapnels to swarm aboard in a yelling horde. As Witrand had said, that was yesterday.

The return to his own command was no less overwhelming. The seamen who clung to the shrouds or swayed precariously on the yards were openly grinning and cheering, and as he clambered through the entry port, his ears almost deafened by the shrill of fifes and drums from the small marine band, he found time to notice that the normally wooden-faced marines in the guard were far from still.

Keverne stepped forward, trying not to let his gaze wander across Bolitho’s tattered clothing. “Welcome back, sir.” Then he smiled. “I have won my wager with the master.”

Bolitho tried to keep his mouth under control. He saw Partridge craning forward to see him between the swaying lines of marines and called, “You thought I would never return, eh?”

Keverne said hastily, “No, sir. He thought you would be here yesterday.”

Bolitho looked around at the massed faces. They had all come a long way together. Once, during the wretched Auriga affair, he had imagined he had seen hostility. A sense of disappointment in what he had done or tried to do. The fact that they had known him better than he had perhaps realised stirred him deeply.

He said, “I must report to the admiral.” He studied Keverne’s dark features, but even he appeared genuinely pleased to see him return to the ship. He could not have blamed him for showing opposite feelings, especially after his earlier setbacks.

Keverne said, “Sir Lucius instructed me to tell you he will be reading the despatches brought by Coquette. ” He gave a wry smile. “He intimated, sir, that you might wish to take an half hour to, er, refresh yourself.” He let his eyes move to Bolitho’s torn coat. “He was watching your return from his quarter gallery.”

At that moment Witrand was assisted through the port, and

Bolitho said, “This is M’sieu Paul Witrand. He is a prisoner, but will be treated with all humanity.”

Keverne looked at the Frenchman doubtfully and then said, “I will attend to it, sir.”

Witrand gave a stiff bow. “Thank you, Capitaine.” He glanced aloft at the great yards and loosely flapping sails. “A prisoner per’aps, but to me this ship must still be like a part of France.”

Lieutenant Cox of the marines, a sleek young man whose immaculate uniform fitted so tightly that Bolitho imagined it impossible to stoop in it, marched forward and touched Witrand’s arm. Together they walked towards the head of the companion.

Bolitho said, “Come aft, Mr Keverne. Tell me all the news while I change.”

Keverne followed him past the watching seamen and marines. “I would think that you have it all, sir. Sir Hugo Draffen rejoined the squadron, but I have heard little beyond that he met his agent and obtained some information about Djafou’s defences.”

Inside the cabin it was cool after the quarterdeck and the day’s mounting heat. He stared with surprise at several pieces of furniture which had not been present before.

Keverne said, “Captain Furneaux was aboard during your absence, sir. He was acting flag captain, but returned to Valorous when we received Coquette ’s signals.”

Bolitho glanced at him, but Keverne’s face was devoid of amusement. Furneaux had obviously expected his new and coveted role to be permanent.

He said, “Have them sent back to him when convenient.”

Keverne leaned against the quarter windows and watched as Bolitho stripped and sluiced his weary body with cold water. Trute, his servant, took the filthy shirt, and after the smallest hesitation dropped it from an open window. Bolitho’s appearance as he had entered his cabin had made a deep and obvious impression on Trute, and he could hardly drag his eyes from him.

Bolitho pulled on a clean shirt and then sat in a chair while Trute deftly fashioned his hair into a short queue at the nape of his neck.

“Then there has been no change since my leaving the ship?”

Keverne shrugged. “We sighted a few sail, sir, but Restless was unable to close with them. So it is unlikely they saw us either.” He added, “I spoke with the sloop’s commander, but he saw nothing of Sir Hugo’s agent. He was in an Arab fishing boat, and Sir Hugo went across to her alone. He insisted.”

Bolitho waited impatiently for Trute to finish tying his neckcloth and then stood up. The wash and change of clothing had wiped away the dragging tiredness, and the familiar faces and voices around had done much to restore him.

Nevertheless, Keverne’s news, or lack of it, was very worrying. Unless something was achieved quickly they would be in serious trouble. Word of their presence would soon reach Spain or France, and even now there might be a powerful force on its way to seek them out.