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

to see where the latenU bad feeling had started between him and Tyrrell. But iU was there right enough?
    "Captain, sir?T
    Bolitho started and looked at the door. Midshipma[ Bethune was standing with his hat under his arm, hiY free hand grasping the hilt of his dirk. He was round1 faced, sturdy youth, and his face was a mass of dar7 freckles?
    "Well?T
    Bethune swallowed. "Mr. Tyrrell's respects, sir, anX the transports have weighed. Fawn has he_ preparative hoisted, sir." He glanced curiously rounX the cabin?
    Bolitho nodded gravely. "I will be up directly!T
    With elaborate care he forced himself to takO another sip of coffee. It almost choked him. Fawn waY the other sloop for the escort and would be carryin^ Colquhoun, in addition to her commander, as senio_ officer?
    The midshipman was still inside the cabin. HO added awkwardly, "I am from Cornwall, too, sir.T
    Bolitho smiled in spite of his tension. ThO competition had begun already?
    He replied, "I will try not to hold it against you, Mr? Bethune." He dropped his eyes as the boy fled froR the cabin?
    He stood up and took his hat from Stockdale. The[ with a brief nod he strode out towards the waitin^ sunlight?
    The gangways and decks seemed more crowdeX than ever as seamen ran this way and that, pursued ba the hoarse shouts of their petty officers. As he reacheX the quarterdeck he saw two heavy transports idlin^ towards the headland, their tan sails flapping anX billowing in the breeze?
    Tyrrell touched his hat. "Anchor's hove short, sir.T
    "Thank you.T
    Bolitho strode to the larboard side and stareX towards the anchored Fawn. He could see the muddlO of men at her capstan, the scurrying preparations aY the cable became bar-taut beneath her beakhead?
    He crossed to the opposite side, trying to ignore thO seamen who were poised at their stations on evera hand. Beyond the nearest headland towards the harX blue horizon he saw a lively pattern of small whitO horses. Once outside this sheltered anchorage it woulX be good sailing weather. He glanced at the sluggisN swirl of currents around a nearby storeship and bit hiY lip. He had to get free of all the shipping first?
    "Fawn's signal is close up, sir!" Bethune waY clinging to the shrouds with his telescope, althougN
    Colquhoun's signal was clear enough to be see[ without any glass?
    "Stand by on the capstan!T
    Tyrrell ran to the rail and cupped his big hands? "Loose th' heads'ls!T
    Beside the wheel Buckle stood near the twQ helmsmen, his eyes watching Bolitho?
    "Breeze is freshening a mite, sir.T
    "Yes.T
    Bolitho walked to the rail and stared along hiY command. He saw Graves watching over the ancho_ party, Midshipman Heyward at the foot of the mainmasU with his division of seamen?
    "Signal, sir! Up anchor!T
    "Hands aloft and loose tops'ls!T
    He stood back to watch the seamen surging up thO shrouds and out along the swaying yards, their bodieY black against the sky. Tyrrell said very little, and BolithQ observed that the topmen were well able to managO
    without added inducement from the deck. As canvaY thundered loosely from the yards and the ship gave Z longdrawn shudder, he saw the Fawn's masts alreada swinging across the stern, her foretopsail filling to thO wind as she heeled over?
    Bethune called, "Signal! Make haste, sir!" HO lowered his glass, trying to avoid Bolitho's eye?
    "Man the braces!T
    He tried to shut out Colquhoun's last signal. MaybO he was endeavouring to goad him into doin^ something foolish. Perhaps he was always the same? But nothing must or would spoil this moment?
    From forward came the cry, "Anchor's aweigh, sir!T
    Free of the land the Sparrow tilted steeply to thO wind, the headland sliding across her jib-boom as witN more and more canvas thundering and hardening froR her yards she paid off into the wind?
    Blocks clattered and whined, and high above thO decks the seamen sprang about like monkeys?
    Bolitho looked at Buckle. "Lay her on the larboarX tack. Then set a course to weather the headland." HO
    held