An Eye of the Fleet

Read An Eye of the Fleet for Free Online Page B

Book: Read An Eye of the Fleet for Free Online
Authors: Richard Woodman
Tags: Historical
deck. Thirteen minutes later the new sail rose on the undamaged spars.
    Cyclops
was once more under control. The cross-jack was furled and the headsail sheets slackened. Again her bowsprit turned towards the shoal as Hope anxiously wore ship to bring her onto the starboard tack, heading where the Spanish frigate still wallowed helplessly.
    The British frigate paid off before the wind. Then her bowsprit swung away from the shoal. The wind came over the starboard quarter . . . then the beam. The yards were hauled round, the headsail sheets hardened in. The wind howled over the starboard bow, stronger now they were heading into it.
Cyclops
plunged into a sea and a shower of stinging spray swept aft. Half naked gunners scurried away below to tend their cannon.
    Hope gave orders to re-engage as
Cyclops
bore down on her adversary, slowly drawing the crippled Spaniard under her lee.
    Cyclops
’s guns rolled again and the Spaniard fired back.
    Devaux was shouting at Blackmore above the crash of the guns. ‘Why don’t he anchor Master?’
    â€˜And have us reach up and down ahead of him raking him?’ scoffed the older man.
    â€˜What else can he do? Besides there’s a limit to how long we can hang on here. What we want is offing . . .’
    Hope heard him. Released from the tension of immediate danger now his command was again under control, the conversation irritated him.
    â€˜I’ll trouble you to fight the ship, Mr Devaux, and leave the tactical decisions to me.’
    Devaux was silent. He looked sullenly at the Spanish ship and was astonished at Hope’s next order: ‘Get a hawser through an after port, quickly man, quickly!’ At first Devaux was uncomprehending then the moon broke forth again and the lieutenant followed Hope’s pointing arm, ‘Look man, look!’
    The red and gold of Castile was absent from the stern. The Spanish frigate had struck.
    â€˜Cease fire! Cease fire!’
    Cyclops
’s guns fell silent as she plunged past the enemy, the exhausted gunners collapsing with their exertions. But Devaux,all thoughts of arguing dispelled by the turn of events, was once more amongst them, rousing them to further efforts. Devaux shouted orders, bosun’s mates swung their starters and the realisation of the Spanish surrender swept the ship in a flash. Fatigue vanished in a trice for she was a war prize if they could save her from going ashore on the San Lucar shoal.
    Even the aristocratic Devaux did not despise his captain’s avarice. The chance of augmenting his paltry patrimony would be eagerly seized upon. He found himself hoping
Cyclops
had not done too much damage . . .
    On the quarterdeck Captain Hope was enduring the master’s objections. The only person on board who could legitimately contest the captain’s decisions, from the navigational point of view, Blackmore vigorously protested the inadvisability of taking
Cyclops
to leeward again to tow off a frigate no more than half a league from a dangerous shoal.
    But the exertions of the night affected men differently. As Blackmore turned away in defeat Hope saw his last opportunity. Shedding years at the prospect of such a prize his caution fell a prey to temptation. After a life spent in a Service which had consistently robbed him of a reputation for dash or glamour, fate was holding out a fiscal prize of enormous magnitude. All he had to do was apply some of the expertise that his years of seagoing had given him.
    â€˜Wear ship, Mr Blackmore.’
    The captain turned and bumped into a slim figure hurrying aft.
    â€˜B . . . Beg pardon sir.’
    Drinkwater had descended from the foretop. He touched his hat to the captain.
    â€˜Well?’
    â€˜Shoal’s a mile to leeward, sir.’ For a minute Hope studied the young face: he showed promise.
    â€˜Thank you, Mr, er . . .’
    â€˜Drinkwater, sir.’
    â€˜Quite so. Remain with

Similar Books

Ordained

Devon Ashley

The Black Stallion

Walter Farley

Empire Falls

Richard Russo

Headhunters

Charlie Cole

Death of a Nightingale

Lene Kaaberbøl

Broken Juliet

Leisa Rayven

Bad Apple (Part 1)

Kristina Weaver

Big Superhero Action

Raymond Embrack

Scratch Fever

Max Allan Collins