Bolitho 08 - Command a King's Ship by Alexander Kent

Author:Alexander Kent [Kent, Alexander]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction:Historical
Publisher: Arrow
Published: 2011-05-26T17:35:00+00:00

The next day dawned as grey as the one before, but overnight the rain had stopped, and the wind held firm from the southeast.

All forenoon the work went on without relaxation, the petty officers checking and re-checking their lists of names, putting them to faces, making sure seasoned hands were spaced among the untried and untrained.

Bolitho dictated a final report to his clerk, a dried-up man named Pope, and then signed it in readiness for the last boat. He found time to speak with his officers, and seek out Mr. Tapril, the gunner, in his magazine to discuss moving some of the spare gun parts and tackle further aft and help adjust the vessel's trim until she had consumed some of her own stores to compensate for it.

He was changing into his seagoing coat, with its faded lace and dull buttons, when Herrick entered the cabin and reported he had brought fifteen new man from the hulks.

`What was it like?'

Herrick sighed. `It was a sort of hell, sir. I could have got treble the number, a whole company of 'em, if I'd been able to bring their women and wives, too.'

Bolitho paused as he tied his neckcloth. `Women? In the hulks?'

`Aye, sir.' I-Ierrick shuddered. `I hope I never see the like again.'

`Very well. Sign them on, but don't give them anything to do just yet. I doubt they've the strength to lift a marlin spike after being penned up like that.'

A midshipman appeared in the open door.

`Mr. Davy's respect, sir.' His eyes darted around the cabin,

missing nothing. `And the anchor's hove short.'

`Thank you.' Bolitho smiled. `Next time stay awhile, Mr.

Penn, and have a better look.'

The boy vanished, and Bolitho looked steadily at Herrick. `Well, Thomas?'

Herrick nodded firmly. `Aye, sir. I'm ready. It's been a long wait.'

They climbed up to the quarterdeck together, and while Herrick moved to the forward rail with his speaking trumpet, Bolitho stood aft, a little apart from the others who were gathered restlessly at their stations.

Clink, clink, clink, the capstan was turning more slowly now, the men's backs bent almost double as the hull pulled heavilyy on the anchor.

Bolitho looked at the master's untidy shape beside the double wheel. He had four helmsmen. He was taking no chances, it seemed. With the helm, or his new captain's skill.

`Get the ship under way, if you please.' He saw Herrick's trumpet moving. `Once clear of this local shipping we will lay her on the larboard tack and steer sou'-west by west.'

Old Mudge nodded heavily, one eye hidden beyond the headland of a nose.

`Aye, aye, sir.'

Herrick yelled, `Stand by on the capstan!' He shaded his eyes to peer up at the masthead pendant. `Loose heads'ls!'

The answering flap and clatter of released canvas made several new men peer round, confused and startled. A petty officer thrust a line into a man's hand and bellowed, ''Old it, you bugger! Don't stand there like a bloody woman!'

Bolitho saw a bosun's mate right forward astride the bowsprit, one arm circling above his head as the cable grew stiffer and more vertical beneath the gilded water-nymph.

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