Read Bolitho 04 - Sloop of War for Free Online Page A

rigging, each scrap of sail had Z
    vital part to play if a ship was to move and act tQ perfection?
    Bolitho crossed to the stern windows and stared aU the nearest strip of land. It was a bright morning, witN the sky above the hills very pale, washed-out anX clean. He could just see the staff above the headlanX battery, its flag no longer listless but lifting and curlin^ to a fair northeasterly. It was almost physical pain tQ stay sealed in the cabin, waiting and fretting for thO exact moment to show himself?
    Voices pealed along the upper deck and shadowY flitted busily across the skylight. Occasionally he coulX hear the plaintive squeak of a fiddle, the distorteX rumble of a shanty as the men tramped around thO capstan?
    In the past hours and for most of the night he haX tossed and turned in his cot, listening to the seZ noises, the creak of timbers and rigging, his minX exploring every contingency, his brain bursting to thO mental picture of his chart. Every unemployed eyO would be watching him this morning. From thO flagship's quarterdeck to some unknown lieutenanU who probably hated Bolitho for getting the golde[ chance which he considered should have been his?
    "The coffee, sir." Stockdale hovered by the table? "While it's still 'ot.T
    Bolitho swung round to curse him for breaking hiY racing thoughts, but the sight of his anxious face waY too much for him. As was so often the case?
    He sat down at the table and tried to relax? Stockdale was right. If he had forgotten anything it waY already too late. You could cram your head just sQ much. After that the mind became awash and confuseX beyond reason?
    He sipped his coffee and stared at the cold meat? He could not touch that. His stomach was alreada twisting with apprehension, the lean slices of por7 would be just enough to tip the balance?
    Stockdale peered through the windows. "It will be Z good passage, sir. Long enough to get the measure ob these fellows.T
    Bolitho glanced up at him. He must be a mind1 reader. In company with another sloop they were tQ escort two fat transports with supplies for the troops aU Philadelphia once a rendezvous with the inshorO squadron had been made. Two thousand miles, mostla
    in open waters, would certainly allow him time to tesU himself and his company. He had met his officers in thO small wardroom the previous evening. With thO exception of Tyrrell, all had been aboard sincO commissioning at Greenwich. He felt vaguely jealouY of their obvious familiarity with the Sparrow. The twQ midshipmen, each eighteen years old, had joined aY untrained novices. They had grown up in the SparrowB and were now hopefully awaiting promotion. It was Z pity they were only midshipmen, he thought. They mighU vie too much for their captain's approval, where, in Z larger ship and with more competition amongst thO "young gentlemen" it would be less direct?
    Buckle had said little during their informal meeting? Reserved, and no doubt waiting to see how his captai[ would behave under sail, he had restricted himself tQ matters of navigation?
    Robert Dalkeith, the surgeon, was an odd one? Young, but already too plump for his own good, he waY also completely bald, and wore a bright red wig. But hO appeared more skilled in his trade than was usual in Z King's ship, as well as cultivated, and Bolitho imagineX there was more to him than he showed at face value?
    Lock, the purser, a bobbing, genial stick of a manB
    completed the gathering?
    Graves had joined them later, making a good deal ob noise about his trouble with the water-lighters, thO difficulties in obtaining help ashore for loading boatsB in fact the list had been formidable?
    Tyrrell had interrupted cheerfully, "It ain't fair, Hector? You being singled out to be a bloody martyr like this!T
    Graves had frowned and then forced a smile whe[ the others had joined Tyrrell in the laughter?
    Bolitho leaned back and stared at the skylight. HO was not sure of Graves either. A hard worker? Ransome's toady? It was hard