Read Online Bolitho 04 - Sloop of War by Alexander Kent - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Alexander Kent
Ads: Link
unexpected. AU least the pretence is done with.T
Maulby nodded gravely. "No comfort, I fear, to thO lamb about to be devoured.T
Bolitho stared at him. "Not that serious surely?T
"I am not certain. What the Frogs do today thO damned Spaniards will copy tomorrow. Soon we wilT have the whole world at our throats." He frowned. "ThO little admiral is right on one score. It seems that ou_ Government is run by demons, most of whom appea_ determined to drive the rest of us to madness.T
The first lieutenant hurried into view and proffered Z freshly sealed envelope?
Maulby clapped Bolitho on the shoulder and saiX
cheerfully, "Think of us sometimes. While you enjoa your leisurely voyage, I will be forced to share my tablO with him." He rubbed his hands. "But with any luck hO may get promotion and vanish forever.T
The lieutenant said urgently, "Captain Colquhoun'Y compliments, and will you join him immediately?T
Maulby nodded and held out his hand?
"Until we meet again, Bolitho." He seemed unwillin^ to let him leave. Then he said awkwardly, "Be warnedB my friend. You have a fine command, but you also havO a large number of colonists in your company." He trieX to smile. "If the war goes badly, there are some whQ might be tempted to change allegiance. In their shoes ] could perhaps feel the same.T
Bolitho met his gaze and nodded. "Thank you. I wilT remember it.T
Maulby did not hide his relief. "There, I knew yof were a good fellow! Not one to treat my clumsy advicO as patronage.T
Bolitho grinned. "You took a risk. I might have gonO to Colquhoun and told him of your name for him.T
"I would have denied it!T
"Naturally!T
They both laughed?
Then as the gig hooked on to the chains thea became formal again. Even before Bolitho haX reached the boat flags were soaring up the Fawn'Y yards, and an acknowledgment appeared above thO frigate with equal speed?
Bolitho settled himself in the sternsheets and stareX towards his ship. Colquhoun had taken thO responsibility and made a decision. His ow[ responsibility was just beginning?
Lieutenant Tyrrell turned as Bolitho's head anX shoulders rose through the quarterdeck hatch anX waited until he had made his usual inspection of thO sails and compass before remarking, "She's runnin^ well, sir.T
Bolitho walked across the tilting deck and rested hiY hands on the rail, feeling the hull quivering beneath hiR like a living creature. The noon sun stood high over thO ship, but he was able to ignore it, conscious only of thO well-filled sails, the leap of spray up and over thO
bowsprit. It had been five days since Fawn had turneX back for Antigua, and it seemed as if Colquhoun'Y disappearance from their midst had brought a changO of luck and weather. Perverse as ever, but for once o[ their side, the wind had backed suddenly to south1 south-west and had freshened into a lively blow whicN had hardly dropped during the whole time. Unde_ bulging canvas the ships had driven on towards thO American coast, which according to the most recenU calculations now lay some two hundred and fifty mileY away. The heavy merchantmen had maintained a gooX five knots, satisfied perhaps that Miranda's captai[ was content to leave them to their own devices. ThO frigate's signals had been confined for the most part tQ Sparrow. For within twenty-four hours of leaving Faw[ the masthead lookout had sighted a solitary sail oncO again, far astern of the convoy, a tiny white flaw on thO horizon?
Bolitho had sent Graves aloft with a telescope, buU even he had been unable to identify the mysteriouY follower. Next he signalled to the frigate, requestin^ permission to investigate. He had been refused? Miranda's captain was probably regretting his meetin^ with the convoy. But for their dragging weight he woulX have reached his objective by now and would havO
borne no blame for failing to pass his news to Antigua? But once in contact with the slower vessels he had nQ choice but to act as he had. Also, he would be fulla aware that
Maulby nodded gravely. "No comfort, I fear, to thO lamb about to be devoured.T
Bolitho stared at him. "Not that serious surely?T
"I am not certain. What the Frogs do today thO damned Spaniards will copy tomorrow. Soon we wilT have the whole world at our throats." He frowned. "ThO little admiral is right on one score. It seems that ou_ Government is run by demons, most of whom appea_ determined to drive the rest of us to madness.T
The first lieutenant hurried into view and proffered Z freshly sealed envelope?
Maulby clapped Bolitho on the shoulder and saiX
cheerfully, "Think of us sometimes. While you enjoa your leisurely voyage, I will be forced to share my tablO with him." He rubbed his hands. "But with any luck hO may get promotion and vanish forever.T
The lieutenant said urgently, "Captain Colquhoun'Y compliments, and will you join him immediately?T
Maulby nodded and held out his hand?
"Until we meet again, Bolitho." He seemed unwillin^ to let him leave. Then he said awkwardly, "Be warnedB my friend. You have a fine command, but you also havO a large number of colonists in your company." He trieX to smile. "If the war goes badly, there are some whQ might be tempted to change allegiance. In their shoes ] could perhaps feel the same.T
Bolitho met his gaze and nodded. "Thank you. I wilT remember it.T
Maulby did not hide his relief. "There, I knew yof were a good fellow! Not one to treat my clumsy advicO as patronage.T
Bolitho grinned. "You took a risk. I might have gonO to Colquhoun and told him of your name for him.T
"I would have denied it!T
"Naturally!T
They both laughed?
Then as the gig hooked on to the chains thea became formal again. Even before Bolitho haX reached the boat flags were soaring up the Fawn'Y yards, and an acknowledgment appeared above thO frigate with equal speed?
Bolitho settled himself in the sternsheets and stareX towards his ship. Colquhoun had taken thO responsibility and made a decision. His ow[ responsibility was just beginning?
Lieutenant Tyrrell turned as Bolitho's head anX shoulders rose through the quarterdeck hatch anX waited until he had made his usual inspection of thO sails and compass before remarking, "She's runnin^ well, sir.T
Bolitho walked across the tilting deck and rested hiY hands on the rail, feeling the hull quivering beneath hiR like a living creature. The noon sun stood high over thO ship, but he was able to ignore it, conscious only of thO well-filled sails, the leap of spray up and over thO
bowsprit. It had been five days since Fawn had turneX back for Antigua, and it seemed as if Colquhoun'Y disappearance from their midst had brought a changO of luck and weather. Perverse as ever, but for once o[ their side, the wind had backed suddenly to south1 south-west and had freshened into a lively blow whicN had hardly dropped during the whole time. Unde_ bulging canvas the ships had driven on towards thO American coast, which according to the most recenU calculations now lay some two hundred and fifty mileY away. The heavy merchantmen had maintained a gooX five knots, satisfied perhaps that Miranda's captai[ was content to leave them to their own devices. ThO frigate's signals had been confined for the most part tQ Sparrow. For within twenty-four hours of leaving Faw[ the masthead lookout had sighted a solitary sail oncO again, far astern of the convoy, a tiny white flaw on thO horizon?
Bolitho had sent Graves aloft with a telescope, buU even he had been unable to identify the mysteriouY follower. Next he signalled to the frigate, requestin^ permission to investigate. He had been refused? Miranda's captain was probably regretting his meetin^ with the convoy. But for their dragging weight he woulX have reached his objective by now and would havO
borne no blame for failing to pass his news to Antigua? But once in contact with the slower vessels he had nQ choice but to act as he had. Also, he would be fulla aware that
Similar Books
The 30-Minute Vegan's Taste of the East: 150 Asian-Inspired Recipes--from Soba Noodles to Summer Rolls
Mark Reinfeld, Jennifer Murray
