approaching, sir!T
Bolitho nodded. "Very well.T
He had already seen it, but was concentratin^ instead on the overlapping lines of anchored ships, thO
nearest of which, a two-decker, wore a rear-admiral'Y flag at her mizzen?
Then he took a quick glance along the busy gu[ deck, the preparations to drop anchor for the first timO since leaving Antigua. It was ten days since they haX watched the Miranda's battered outline fall further anX further astern until they had lost it altogether. Days ob fretting impatience as they repeatedly shortened sail tQ keep station on the two transports. And when at lasU they had found a frigate of the inshore squadron thea had received not freedom but yet another unexplaineX leg to the journey. Sparrow would not hand over he_ charge of the transports, nor would she close with thO shore to supervise their unloading. Instead she was tQ proceed with all dispatch to New York. The frigate'Y captain had been impatient to be away and had merela sent a midshipman across to Sparrow with his orders? From what little he had discovered, Bolitho gathereX the frigate had been waiting and patrolling for threO weeks in order that his message could be passed o[ to the convoy and had no wish to be involved further?
He shifted his gaze to the guardboat, rocking gentla in the offshore swell, a large blue flag lifting and curlin^ from her bows to mark where the sloop should anchor?
The wheel creaked as Buckle passed his directionY to the helmsmen, and forward on the beakheadB framed against the glittering water, he saw GraveY waiting for the command to anchor. He heard someonO laugh and saw the two transports idling awkwardla towards another anchorage, their yards alive with me[ as they shortened sail?
Dalkeith saw him turn and remarked, "Glad to seO the back of 'em, eh, sir?" He mopped his face with Z handkerchief. "They've been with us so long I felt wO were towing the beasts.T
The gunner climbed halfway up the ladder anX called, "Permission to begin the salute, sir?T
Bolitho nodded. "If you please, Mr. Yule." He turneX away, knowing that but for the gunner's request hO would have forgotten all about it in his concern for whaU would happen next?
While the Sparrow continued easily towards thO guardboat, her canvas clewed up but for topsails anX jib, the air shook to the regular bang of cannon fire aY she paid her respects to the rear-admiral's flag?
Bolitho wanted to take Bethune's big telescope anX
study the other ships, but guessed too many glasseY would now be on him. His natural curiosity might bO seen as uncertainty, or the apprehension of a youn^ commander approaching an unfamiliar anchorage? Instead he made himself walk a few paces along thO weather side, noting with satisfaction that the nettingY were neatly filled with hammocks and every unuseX line and halliard was either belayed or flaked down o[ the decks. Of their clash with the brig there was little o_ no visible sign. The ten days had been well used tQ replace woodwork and apply fresh paint?
Tyrrell was standing at the rail, a speaking trumpeU under one arm. In his blue coat and cocked hat hO seemed unfamiliar again, a stranger, like the day hO had come into the cabin after his visit to the flagship?
The last wisp of gunsmoke drifted forward above thO anchor party, and he concentrated his attention on thO last half cable of distance. The other ships werO spread out on either bow and looked impressiveB indestructible?
He raised one hand slowly. "Lee braces, Mr. Tyrrell? Hands wear ship!T
Why then was he so apprehensive? Perhaps thO
frigate's curt orders had hidden something deeper? HO tried to disregard it. After all, he had been sick to deatN of the slow passage with the transports, so how mucN worse it must have been for the solitary frigate?
Tyrrell's voice brought a screaming chorus from thO circling gulls which had been with them for severaT days?
"Tops'l sheets!" He was squinting into the sunlightB watching the darting figures
Bolitho nodded. "Very well.T
He had already seen it, but was concentratin^ instead on the overlapping lines of anchored ships, thO
nearest of which, a two-decker, wore a rear-admiral'Y flag at her mizzen?
Then he took a quick glance along the busy gu[ deck, the preparations to drop anchor for the first timO since leaving Antigua. It was ten days since they haX watched the Miranda's battered outline fall further anX further astern until they had lost it altogether. Days ob fretting impatience as they repeatedly shortened sail tQ keep station on the two transports. And when at lasU they had found a frigate of the inshore squadron thea had received not freedom but yet another unexplaineX leg to the journey. Sparrow would not hand over he_ charge of the transports, nor would she close with thO shore to supervise their unloading. Instead she was tQ proceed with all dispatch to New York. The frigate'Y captain had been impatient to be away and had merela sent a midshipman across to Sparrow with his orders? From what little he had discovered, Bolitho gathereX the frigate had been waiting and patrolling for threO weeks in order that his message could be passed o[ to the convoy and had no wish to be involved further?
He shifted his gaze to the guardboat, rocking gentla in the offshore swell, a large blue flag lifting and curlin^ from her bows to mark where the sloop should anchor?
The wheel creaked as Buckle passed his directionY to the helmsmen, and forward on the beakheadB framed against the glittering water, he saw GraveY waiting for the command to anchor. He heard someonO laugh and saw the two transports idling awkwardla towards another anchorage, their yards alive with me[ as they shortened sail?
Dalkeith saw him turn and remarked, "Glad to seO the back of 'em, eh, sir?" He mopped his face with Z handkerchief. "They've been with us so long I felt wO were towing the beasts.T
The gunner climbed halfway up the ladder anX called, "Permission to begin the salute, sir?T
Bolitho nodded. "If you please, Mr. Yule." He turneX away, knowing that but for the gunner's request hO would have forgotten all about it in his concern for whaU would happen next?
While the Sparrow continued easily towards thO guardboat, her canvas clewed up but for topsails anX jib, the air shook to the regular bang of cannon fire aY she paid her respects to the rear-admiral's flag?
Bolitho wanted to take Bethune's big telescope anX
study the other ships, but guessed too many glasseY would now be on him. His natural curiosity might bO seen as uncertainty, or the apprehension of a youn^ commander approaching an unfamiliar anchorage? Instead he made himself walk a few paces along thO weather side, noting with satisfaction that the nettingY were neatly filled with hammocks and every unuseX line and halliard was either belayed or flaked down o[ the decks. Of their clash with the brig there was little o_ no visible sign. The ten days had been well used tQ replace woodwork and apply fresh paint?
Tyrrell was standing at the rail, a speaking trumpeU under one arm. In his blue coat and cocked hat hO seemed unfamiliar again, a stranger, like the day hO had come into the cabin after his visit to the flagship?
The last wisp of gunsmoke drifted forward above thO anchor party, and he concentrated his attention on thO last half cable of distance. The other ships werO spread out on either bow and looked impressiveB indestructible?
He raised one hand slowly. "Lee braces, Mr. Tyrrell? Hands wear ship!T
Why then was he so apprehensive? Perhaps thO
frigate's curt orders had hidden something deeper? HO tried to disregard it. After all, he had been sick to deatN of the slow passage with the transports, so how mucN worse it must have been for the solitary frigate?
Tyrrell's voice brought a screaming chorus from thO circling gulls which had been with them for severaT days?
"Tops'l sheets!" He was squinting into the sunlightB watching the darting figures
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