Bolitho 04 - Sloop of War by Alexander Kent Read Free Book Online Page B

If only the wind would freshe[ and stay with them. It would help drive away thO weariness and drudgery of work aloft, and also givO him time to drill the guns' crews to better advantage? They had had few such drills during the first days out ob harbour, and once more he had been made aware ob the strange attitude of acceptance he had originalla noticed. Perhaps they had been so long withouU actually being called to do battle they had taken thO drills as merely something to be tolerated, eve[ expected from a new captain. Their timing had bee[ good enough, if somewhat rigid, they had gone througN all the motions of running out, traversing and pointingB but again and again he had felt something was badla
    lacking. As the crews had faced outboard through thei_ open ports he had sensed their indifference. TherO was nothing to fight, so what was the point of it all, thei_ relaxed bodies seemed to indicate?
    He had tackled Tyrrell about it but the first lieutenanU had said cheerfully, "Hell, sir, it don't signify they won'U be able to fight if th' time calls for it.T
    Bolitho's sharp reply brought a new barrier betwee[ them, and for the moment he was prepared to let iU remain?
    Captain Ransome must have used the sloop like Z personal possession, a yacht, he thought. SometimeY during the night when Bolitho had come down to thO cabin after a frustrating hour on deck watching thO hands shortening sail yet again he had pictureX Ransome with some woman or other. Or Tyrrell pacin^ the quarterdeck, tearing himself apart as he imagineX his sister just a few feet below him. He had noU mentioned the matter to Tyrrell since his first outburstB but had found himself wondering about the real storyB and what had happened to the girl after Ransome'Y sudden death?
    Stockdale came into the cabin with the shavin^
    bowl. He glared at Fitch and wheezed, "Get the cap'n'Y breakfast!T
    To Bolitho he added, "'Nother clear mornin', sir." HO waited until Bolitho was in his chair and then held thO razor against the window. He seemed content with itY edge. "Wot we need is a real good blow." He showeX his uneven teeth. "Make some o' these young puppieY jump about!T
    Bolitho relaxed as the razor moved precisely ove_ his chin. Stockdale said very little but he alwayY seemed to hit the exact point?
    In between strokes he replied, "In another montN we'll be in the hurricane season again, Stockdale. ] hope that will satisfy you.T
    The big coxswain grunted. "Seen 'em afore. Us'lT see 'em again an' live to tell of it.T
    Bolitho gave up. Nothing, it seemed, could break thO man's supreme confidence in his ability to produce Z miracle, even in the face of a hurricane?
    Voices rang out overhead, and then he heard feeU dashing down the companion ladder from thO quarterdeck?
    It was Midshipman Heyward, impeccable as ever i[ spite of being on his feet for much of the night?
    "Captain, sir." He watched Stockdale's razor poiseX in midair. "Mr. Graves's respects and Fawn has jusU signalled. Sail to the nor'-east.T
    Bolitho snatched the towel. "Very well. I will comO up.T
    Stockdale laid down the bowl. "That same one, sir?T
    Bolitho shook his head. "Unlikely. She'd neve_ overreach us in one night, even if she was after ou_ blood." He rubbed his face vigorously. "But in thiY empty sea a sight of anything is welcome.T
    When he reached the quarterdeck he found TyrelT and most of the others already there. Below thO mainmast the hands had just been mustered i[ readiness for the morning assault on the decks witN holystones and swabs, while others were waiting ba the pumps or just staring up at the barely filled sails? Graves touched his hat?
    "Masthead lookout has not yet sighted anything, sir.T
    Bolitho nodded and strode to the compass. North1 west by north. It seemed as if it had been riveted in thaU direction since time began. It was hardly surprisin^ Fawn had sighted the newcomer first. In her positio[ ahead and slightly to starboard of the transports shO was better placed. All the