Part 4 (1/2)

'There she is! Fine on the lee bow!' Fine on the lee bow!'

Everyone was talking at once, and Bolitho saw Keen's teeth, very white in a grin, as he nodded to the sailing-master.

They had done even better than expected. Had taken, and could now hold the wind-gage if it came to a chase.

Bolitho stared at the distant shadow as the other vessel took on shape and substance against the dark water.

Keen closed his telescope with a snap. ”Bigger than a fifth-rate, Mr Pas-, er Bolitho.'

Several of those nearby chuckled, and Bolitho was glad Adam was here with him.

He heard his nephew say, 'I agree, sir. A cut down two-decker seems more likely.'

Keen crossed to Bolitho's side. 'What orders, sir?'

'Wait a while longer. He has not sighted us yet. But when he does, tell him to identify himself.'

It seemed incredible that Achates Achates had got so near and yet remained unseen. The other s.h.i.+p lay less than a cable now across the larboard bow, and they could see the white tail of her wash beneath the counter. Even the din had got so near and yet remained unseen. The other s.h.i.+p lay less than a cable now across the larboard bow, and they could see the white tail of her wash beneath the counter. Even the din of Achates' of Achates' canvas and drumming stays and shrouds seemed loud enough to wake the dead, but Bolitho knew from experience it was an illusion. canvas and drumming stays and shrouds seemed loud enough to wake the dead, but Bolitho knew from experience it was an illusion.

Suddenly above the noise of sea and wind Bolitho heard a shrill whistle. He could picture it exactly. A sleepy lookout, who had most likely been ordered to seek out Achates Achates as soon as it was daylight, the watch on deck thinking of little but being relieved and getting something warm to eat and drink. It was all normal enough. as soon as it was daylight, the watch on deck thinking of little but being relieved and getting something warm to eat and drink. It was all normal enough.

Quantock said sharply, 'She's setting her t'gan's'ls!”

Keen said, 'They're making a run for it, sir. So they are are up to something.' up to something.'

Bolitho felt a chill run through his body as if it was the first time. Elation, excitement or madness, who could say?

'As soon as it is light enough, make your signal. Until then hold him on the larboard bow.'

Keen nodded. The excitement was infectious. With him it had always been the same even as a mids.h.i.+pman a million years ago in another ocean.

'Hands aloft, Mr Quantock, if you please. We must make more sail.'

Calls trilled and the seamen swarmed up the ratlines on either side, their bodies and limbs glowing suddenly as they climbed higher and the pale sunlight discovered them.

'Bring her up a point. Hands to the braces there!'

Spray burst over the beak-head and bowsprit and spattered across the forecastle like tropical rain.

The other s.h.i.+p had also set more canvas and appeared to be drawing away.

Bolitho felt the deck quiver as Achates Achates lifted and smashed down into a shallow trough. He could sense the rising power of the extra sails, and watched the huge main-course spread and thunder out to the wind as the seamen freed it from its yard. lifted and smashed down into a shallow trough. He could sense the rising power of the extra sails, and watched the huge main-course spread and thunder out to the wind as the seamen freed it from its yard.

Bolitho climbed on to a gun-truck and steadied his gla.s.s on the leading s.h.i.+p. The light was strengthening rapidly and already he could see the gilded gingerbread around the other vessel's p.o.o.p and quarter gallery, the pale sunlight reflecting in her stern windows as if she had taken fire.

Keen said, 'Not a Frenchie.”

Someone else suggested, 'Dutch maybe.'

They were all wrong. Bolitho had seen s.h.i.+ps very similar to this one and could be pretty certain which yard had laid down her keel.

He said, 'Spanish. I've crossed swords with her like before.”

n.o.body spoke and Bolitho hid a smile. Right or wrong, you never argued with an admiral, no matter how junior. Keen nodded. 'I agree with the flag-lieutenant, sir. She's too large for a frigate. She's well armed by the look of her, fifty guns at least, by my reckoning.' 'Signal her to shorten sail.'

Bolitho sensed the sudden indifference of the men near him. The game was over before it had begun.

Flags soared up the yards and broke to the wind. Above the other s.h.i.+p's deck nothing appeared, not even an acknowledgement.

'She's falling off a mite, sir.'

Bolitho trained his gla.s.s again. He thought he saw the sun glint on a telescope near one of her p.o.o.p lanterns. Achates' Achates' change of station during the night must have surprised them if nothing else. change of station during the night must have surprised them if nothing else.

Keen called, 'Follow her round. Alter course to west by south.' He glanced at Bolitho's impa.s.sive features.

Bolitho said, 'Keep the signal hoisted.'

Both vessels were in line now, as if the other one was towing Achates Achates on an invisible cable. on an invisible cable.

Keen strode this way and that as he tried to estimate the stranger's next move. If he fell off to leeward Achates Achates would hold the advantage. If she tried to claw upwind with so close a chase she would lose ground and precious time and would hold the advantage. If she tried to claw upwind with so close a chase she would lose ground and precious time and Achates Achates could drive alongside if so ordered. could drive alongside if so ordered.

The lieutenant of the after-guard lowered his gla.s.s.

'She does not acknowledge, sir. Even the Dons should know our signals by now!'

Quantock shouted, 'Take those men's names, Master-at-Arms!' He gestured angrily with his speaking-trumpet towards an eighteen-pounder's crew who had left their positions to peer at the other s.h.i.+p. 'G.o.d d.a.m.n it, what are they thinking of!'

Keen was saying, 'If the wind holds I'll get the stuns'ls on her ... '

Bolitho wiped his eye and raised the gla.s.s yet again. Achates Achates was keeping pace with the other s.h.i.+p, even though the stranger had set her royals in an effort to draw away. But the wind might drop or go altogether. If they could not catch up before nightfall they might never know what she was doing. was keeping pace with the other s.h.i.+p, even though the stranger had set her royals in an effort to draw away. But the wind might drop or go altogether. If they could not catch up before nightfall they might never know what she was doing.

It was very strange. He concentrated on the small, silent world within the telescope's lens. She was well painted, as if freshly out of a dockyard like Achates. Achates. But the broad red band across her counter had no name upon it. She had either put to sea with great haste or wished her ident.i.ty to remain a secret. But the broad red band across her counter had no name upon it. She had either put to sea with great haste or wished her ident.i.ty to remain a secret.

He heard Achates' Achates' wheel begin to creak as the other s.h.i.+p's rudder moved further to leeward. wheel begin to creak as the other s.h.i.+p's rudder moved further to leeward.

He blinked and peered through the gla.s.s again. For an instant he thought the light or his eye was playing tricks. On either side of the s.h.i.+p's rudder a gun-port had opened, and even as he watched he saw the daylight play across a pair of long stern-chasers.

Quantock exploded, 'h.e.l.l's teeth, he'd never dare fire on a King's s.h.i.+p!'

The air cringed from a double crash of cannon fire, and as the smoke rolled downwind in a thick cloud Bolitho felt iron smash hard into Achates' Achates' bows like a giant's fist. bows like a giant's fist.

Voices yelled to restore the sudden pandemonium, and faces peered aft to the quarterdeck as if each man was too astonished to move.

Bolitho snapped, 'Load and run out, Captain Keen.'

It was sheer stupidity for the other captain to try and mark down a sixty-four. In a moment Keen would stand away and loose off a full broadside. Men would be killed, and for what purpose?