Richard Bolitho Midshipman

by Alexander Kent

  He had been expecting to see a. man the worse for drink.

  Dancer exclaimed, `In God's name, Dick, he looks like death !'

  Tregorren had a terrible pallor, and more so because his normally ruddy complexion was patchy grey, and when his eyes flickered open very slowly he seemed quite dazed, like someone suffering extreme shock.

  He started to speak, but his speech was so thick he had to clear his throat with a series of loud retches.

  . Bolitho asked, `Are you ill, sir?' He saw Dancer try to hide a grin and added hastily, `Mr Starkie was worried for you.'

  `Was he?' Tregorren tried to stand but fell back in the chair with a terrible groan. `Get that bottle!'

  His fingers were like claws as he seized the bottle and took a long, desperate swallow. `I don't know what's happening.' He was speaking in a vague, slurred voice. `Can't control my body.' He retched and tried to rise again. `Must get to the heads.'

  Bolitho and Dancer hauled him to his feet, and for a few moments the three of them swayed and reeled to the motion as if in a weird dance.

  Dancer muttered, `He's done it this time! What our old doctor would call the bloody flux! The man is coming apart!'

  As they lurched through the bulkhead door Bolitho saw Eden watching from another small cabin where Hope had been since being carried below.

  `Give a hand here, Tom ! We have to get him to the heads!'

  Eden said brightly, `He 1-looks t-terrible, to be sure.'

  When they reached the deck the air was like wine after the overpowering stench in the cabin.

  Starkie hurried from the wheel. `Is it fever then?'

  Eden piped, `H-he has the g-gout, Mr Starkie. I have been s-saying s-so all along. He h-has been taking medicine to ease the pain, but I s-suspect has over indulged.'

  They all stared at the diminutive midshipman who had suddenly emerged as their only source ofmedical knowledge.

  `Well, what'll we do?' Starkie sounded lost.

  Eden regarded the sagging, groaning figure and replied, `When he g-gets b-back to the ship the s-surgeon will t-take care of him. There's n-nothing we can d-do.' He grimaced. `S-serve him right.'

  `Be that as it may.' Starkie watched Dancer clinging to the lieutenant's coat to stop him from falling clean across the bulwark. `We're going to need him shortly.'

  Dancer stared at him. `I don't see that. We can signal Gorgon and the captain will know what to do.'

  Starkie regarded him bleakly. `You've not noticed. The wind has shifted to the nor'-east. It'd take your ship all day to beat up to this position, that is even if your cap'n knows what's happening.'

  Dancer persisted, `Then what is to stop us from running down on her?'

  Starkie said, `I'm only a master's mate, and one right glad to be safe and free again, but I know the Navy, and I know captains. Sandpiper is well placed to head off the enemy, or at least follow her to her hiding place.' He shrugged. `But without an officer, I'm not so sure. You get no reward for empty heroics, and that's for certain in any navy.'

  They looked at Eden as he said in a small voice, `We're not going to the Gorgon?'

  Bolitho noticed that he had even lost his stammer in his anxiety.

  He said quietly, `Come over here, Tom.' He took the boy's arm and asked calmly, `What did you do to Mr Tregorren?'

  Eden stared at the deck, his hands moving in agitation.

  `I knew he was t-trying to t-treat himself by p-putting medicine in his w-wine. I s-saw it on a flask in his c-cabin. Vin Antim, like my f-father uses in m-matters of g-gout.' He added wretchedly, `So I p-put a large m-measure in one of his b-bottles. He must have d-drunk all of it, and a full b-bottle of b-brandy as well.'

  Bolitho stared at him. `You might have killed himP

  'B-but I thought we were rejoining the sh-ship,

  you see. I just w-wanted him to s-suffer for all the things he s-said to you, and to m-me.' He shook his head. `And now you s-say we'll not be joining Gorgon r-right away?'

  Bolitho breathed out slowly. `So it seems.'

  Dancer steadied the lieutenant as he staggered away from the bulwark. `Get some men to help this officer to the cabin!'

  Bolitho said, `What now, I wonder?'

  As if in answer he heard the lookout yell, `Deck there ! Sail on the lee bow!'

  They ran to the nettings but the sea to leeward was still in deep shadow.

  Starkie said bitterly, `So the devil's downwind of

  us. He stands between us and safety.'

  `How well d'you know this coast?' Bolitho's

  question seemed to come out all on its own.

  `Good enough.' Starkie peered at the compass as

  if to gather his thoughts. `It's a bad one to try and

  outpace a frigate.'

  Bolitho thought of the Gorgon to the south of their position. Maybe the captain did not even know they had cut out the Sandpiper, and believed she had fled with the frigate.

  Starkie was saying, `We'd been searching for pirates for months, and Cap'n Wade got some information from a Genoese trader that there was one such vessel in these waters. At the time, the cap'n thought there was only a small ship, and probably not much of a craft at that. But this pirate is no fool, believe me. They say he is half French and halfEnglish, but one thing is certain, he's thrown in his

  lot with some Algerine corsairs who have come from the Mediterranean to prey on slavers and honest traders alike.',

  Bolitho looked at Dancer and asked softly, `Are there many of them?'

  `Enough. They were short-handed when they took Sandpiper, but new men are joining their ranks every day. It doesn't matter what race or country they come from. I'm told that if they swear allegiance to Islam they can be anything they like. The frigate was Spanish before they took her off Oran, and she is commanded by this Jean Gauvin. A madman, if ever I saw one, and without fear. The corsair who forced some Senegalese traders to open the fortress for him is Rais Haddam. He put our officers to death. Slowly, and in front of our people. It was terrible to see and hear it.'

  Nobody spoke, and as Bolitho watched Starkie's tanned features he could see him reliving the horror as if it had just happened.

  `We anchored just off the fortress. It was a fine day, and the people were in high spirits. And why not, for we were going home in a month more or so. The frigate lay near us, wearing Spanish colours. The fortress too was flying a trading company flag.' He gave a shudder. `I suppose Cap'n Wade should have known or suspected. But he was only a lieutenant, no more'n twenty-three. We lowered the boats and went ashore to meet the governor of the island. Instead we were surrounded, and the fortress battery put down a few balls around the Sandpiper just to let the watch know they had no chance.'

  `After the killing and the torture was over, this Algerine corsair, Rais Haddam, spoke to the rest of us. Told us that if we worked the ship for him we might be spared.' He looked away. 'Gauvin was there too, and when one of the midshipmen tried to protest it was Gauvin who ordered him to be killed. They burned him alive on the foreshore !'

  Dancer whispered, 'My God!'

  `Aye.' Starkie stared past him into the shadows. 'Haddam has gathered the scum of the earth to his banner.'

  Bolitho nodded. 'RaIs Haddam. I have heard my father and his friends speak of him. He has raided the Algerian coast for years, and is now looking elsewhere for his corsairs.' He glanced at the paling sky. `I never expected to meet up with him!'

  Starkie said bitterly, `There is no time left to prepare a defence.'

  Bolitho looked at their faces, sensing despair and defeat. Dancer was too new to the Navy to know anything different. Starkie was still too stunned by his captivity to offer advice.

  Bolitho said quietly, `Then we must prepare an attack.'

  He thought of Tregorren, filled with pain and drink because of Eden's ruse. Of Hope, barely breathing, a musket ball in his shoulder. Of their seamen, some bewildered at their sudden releases and others quite exhausted from the savage fighting on this same deck
.

  Starkie exclaimed, 'Gauvin's ship mounts twentyfour guns to our fourteen little squeakers!'

  Dancer asked, `When Sandpiper was used to seize the barquentine, what happened to her crew?'

  `Over the side.' Starkie looked grim-faced. `Gutted like pigs.'

  Bolitho said, `So much for the bad side. Now, what can we do against Gauvin?'

  He walked to the weather side, feeling the spray pattering across his face and hands.

  `He'll know that Gorgon is to the south'rd.' Dancer had joined him. `And will expect us to try and rejoin her.'

  Bolitho glanced at Starkie, wondering if his memory could be trusted.

  `If we come about, Mr Starkie, how close could we weather the headland?'

  Starkie's eyes widened with alarm. `Back to that damned island, y'mean?'

  'Towards it. There is a difference.'

  `It's dangerous. You should know that, if you rounded the headland under oars. There are reefs a'plenty, many not even marked on the charts.'

  Bolitho said half to himself, `Off Cornwall there are some islands called the Scillies. A Bristol trader was being chased by a French privateer in the last war. The trader's master had no chance of outpacing the enemy, but he knew his islands well. He sailed right across one reef and the Frenchie followed him. Ripped out his keel. There were none saved.'

  Starkie stared at him with amazement. `You want to steer a course through the reef? Is that what you're asking me to do?'

  A weak ray of sunlight lanced across the upper

  rigging and made the topgallant yard glitter like a crucifix.

  `Do we have a choice?' Bolitho watched him gravely. `Captivity, and possibly death to make another example, or ...' The word hung in the air.

  Starkie nodded firmly. `We'll probably die anyway, but God, it's a chance I'd rather take.' He rubbed his rough hands together. `I suggest we call the hands and shorten sail to come about. If the wind goes against us we'll end up on a lee shore.' He chuckled suddenly, dropping the years from his lined face. `By God, Mr, whatever your name is, I'd hate to serve under you when you're a cap'n. My nerves would give out afore long!'

  Bolitho smiled sadly as more light opened up the deck to display the dull stains where men had fought and died, the jagged splinters left by the swivel gun.

  He looked at Eden. `See how Mr Hope is. Try and get him to take some brandy.' He saw the boy flinch. `Not Mr Tregorren's bottle, if you please.'

  As Eden started for the companion he added, `And try to find a flag. I want this pirate to recognize Sandpiper under her rightful colours today.'

  Dancer watched him in silence. Then he said to Starkie, `I have never seen such a mood in him. He means to fight. It's no deception.'

  The master's mate walked to the lee rail and spat on to the creaming wash.

  `Well, m'lad, when Gauvin sees the flag, that'll do it right enough. It's not a sight he's very fond of.' Eden reappeared carrying a roll of bunting.

  `Found one, Dick. Hidden under the b-brandy b-bottles in the cabin.'

  `How are the lieutenants?' Starkie spoke sharply, perhaps still hoping that someone else would appear to take over responsibility.

  Eden pouted. `M-Mr Hope is breathing a 1-little better. Mr Tregorren is in a filthy s-state.'

  Starkie sighed. `Very well. Pipe the hands to the braces. No point in delaying things any more.'

  Bolitho gripped the poop rail and watched the seamen hurrying to braces and halliards, their movements jerky, as if they were still shocked and uncertain.

  It was like a dream. Of pirates, and brave young men fighting their country's enemies.

  But it was fast becoming a nightmare. Only the first part was right, he thought. A little brig, a demoralized company, and some boys to lead them.

  He thought of his father, and of Captain Conway, grave-faced and confident behind their guns and their seamanship.

  He said, `Run up the colours, Mr Eden.' Even the formality surprised him. `Then stand by to come about.'

  8

  Across the Reef

  'Sou'-sou'-east, sir ! Full an' bye!' -

  Bolitho gripped the hammock nettings and watched the Sandpiper dip her lee bulwark steeply towards the sea. Spray and drifting foam dashed across the deck, and when he glanced up at the main yard lie saw it war bber-d r ke a huge bow as the seamen worked to set =U ~ sail.

  Starkie remarked hoarsely, `The wind's freshening a bit.' He shaded his eyes to peer at the masthead pendant. `But it's holding steady from the nor'-east.' He added grimly, `So far.'

  Bolitho hardly heard him. He was watching the brig's efforts as she lifted and smashed down on to each successive line of whitecaps.

  From the moment they had brought the ship about and turned her gilded figurehead towards the land again he had sensed the change around him. Even the Sandpiper's original hands, many showing festering cuts and cruel injuries from their captivity, were shouting to each other, doing all they could to

  set every stitch of canvas short of tearing the masts out of her. Only when they looked aft did they falter. Perhaps, Bolitho thought, they still expected to see their young captain at the rail, as if by hoping they could hold their memories at bay.

  Dancer shouted above the din of canvas and wind, `She's flying, Dick!'

  He nodded, seeing the bows dip into a steep-sided roller and hurl the spray high over the beakhead in a solid white sheet.

  `Aye.' He looked across the quarter. `Can you see the frigate?' He gripped Dancer's arm. `There she is! And she's making more sail.'

  As the gloom of the night retreated slowly towards the open sea he saw the topsails and topgallants of the other ship, changing shape as she too changed tack and came end-on in pursuit. He pointed to the flag above his head, making a bright patch against the washed-out sky.

  `Mr Starkie was right, it seems. Our enemy is roused!'

  Starkie walked up to the weather side, his body leaning against the deck's steep angle.

  `I'm holding her as close to the wind as I dare. Bring her up another point and she'll not answer.'

  Bolitho took a glass from a rack by the compass box and trained it towards the land. As he steadied it through the maze of shrouds and vibrating halliards he saw the faces of some of the seamen loom towards him, and wondered what they were thinking as the brig headed for the shore, to the place where their pain and humiliation had begun.

  Then he saw the headland, jutting out in a welter of breakers like the prow of a Roman galley.

  How different it had looked from the cutter, all that while ago. He had to shake himself to realize it was only yesterday.

  The sea looked rougher, and driven by the gusty wind was surging amongst a necklace of rocks as if to beckon them all to destruction.

  There was a dull bang, and when he swung aft towards the frigate he saw a smear of smoke moving rapidly with the wind.

  Starkie said, `Just a sighting shot. She's too lively to hit us at this range.'

  Bolitho did not reply. He was watching the frigate's great foresail writhing and puffing in disorder as her captain brought her up into the wind. She was almost in irons when the foresail filled and hardened again, the lee gunports heeling down until they were awash.

  Dancer said, `She's worked across our stern, Dick.'

  `Yes. She intends to take the wind gage from us.' He still kept his eyes on the frigate until they watered painfully. `But it means she will stand the closer inshore when we pass the headland.'

  Dancer stared at him. `Can we really get through?'

  Starkie heard him and called, `You'll be asking if we can walk on water next!' He seized the wheel and added his own strength to the helmsmen's. `Watch your head, damn you!'

  Another bang. This time Bolitho saw the white feathers of spray kicking across each line of waves as the ball skipped past their stern.

  He looked at the Sandpiper's six-pounders. Very suitable for hit-and-run attacks on enemy merchantmen, or for running down pirates and smugglers.

&nb
sp; For taking on a frigate they were useless.

  `Send another good lookout aloft, Martyn.' He staggered as the deck shook violently in a sudden trough. `The Gorgon may be in sight.'

  But there was no sign of the big seventy-four. Just the pursuing frigate, and the first view of the island on the far side of the bay.

  As before, it looked pale and strangely tranquil in the early sunlight, and it was hard to accept all that had happened there.

  Starkie had said earlier that the island was even now packed with wretched slaves, men and young girls who had been gathered by the traders from all parts of Africa.

  And before long many of them would be sailing west to the Americas and the Indies. If they were lucky they might end their days in comfortable captivity, rather like dependent servants. Those less fortunate would eke out their lives like animals. When their usefulness was over, their strength used up, they would be discarded.

  Bolitho had heard it said that slave ships, like the oared galleys of Spain, could be traced at sea by their terrible smell. The stench of bodies crammed together, unable to move, incapable of making even the simplest comfort for themselves.

  Bang. A ball hissed overhead and slapped through the for etopsail like an iron fist.

  `Closer.' Starkie had his thumbs in his belt, his eyes

  fixed on the frigate. `He's overhauling us more quickly now.'

  `Deck there! Breakers on the lee bow!'

  Starkie ran to the rail and snatched a glass. `Aye,

  that's 'em. The first line of reefs.' He glared aft at the

  helmsmen. `Let her fall off a point!'

  The wheel creaked, and brought a protest of

  flapping canvas from the topgallants. 'Sou' by east, sir!V

  'Steady as you go !'

  Bolitho could tell from the worsening motion, the way every spar and sail seemed to be quivering in protest, that they were entering shallower water and crossing a fierce undertow.

  Starkie said, `Better shorten sail.'

  Bolitho looked at him, his voice almost pleading.

  `If we do, he'll take us before he's in any danger.' The master's mate eyed him impassively. `As you say.'