He raised his glass and studied the new shapes and patterns which parted sea from sky. Mudge had assured him that Pendang Bay lay some five miles distant, but it was difficult to accept that they had all but arrived at their destination. Over fifteen thousand miles. Another world. A different life.
'Hands wear ship! Man the braces there!'
Shoes scraped on the planking, and Bolitho turned to study Conway's reaction as he came on deck. It was early morning, and for a few seconds he thought he was imagining what he saw.
Conway was wearing his rear admiral's uniform, complete with laced cocked hat and sword. The latter he held like a pointer, as if unsure of his reception.
Bolitho said, 'Good morning, sir.'
He saw Herrick staring at them, his speaking trumpet in mid-air.
Conway joined him by the rail and raised his head to watch as the great yards creaked round in unison, while the straining seamen hauled and panted at the braces.
'Well?' His tone was wary. 'What do you think?'
'I think you look right for the occasion, sir.'
He saw the quick tightening of Conway's mouth, the lines on either side deepening still further. It was moving, if pathetic, to see Conway's gratitude, for that is what it was.
'It is a bit creased of course. I was merely trying it on to see if it required alteration.' He added sharply, 'If I am to be governor, I'll land as I intend to continue, damn their eyes!'
Midshipman Armitage was watching the brig as she trimmed her yards to take station off Undine's lee.
He remarked nervously, 'Thunderstorm, sir.'
But Bolitho was already snatching a telescope.
'Not this time, Mr. Armitage.' He looked at Herrick. 'Shorten sail, if you please, and then beat to quarters.'
He saw them all gaping at him. Like total strangers.
'That thunderstorm is of a kind I have come to respect!'
10. Another Flag
'Ship cleared for action, sir.' Herrick watched Bolitho's face anxiously.
Bolitho moved the telescope slowly from bow to bow, trying to avoid the overlapping mesh of shrouds and stays as he stared fixedly at the shore. Because of the glare which filtered through then morning haze it was impossible to fix any proper mark or to take an accurate'bearing.
He replied, 'Too long, Mr. Herrick. I want the time cut to twelve minutes.' He was speaking merely to give himself another moment to gather his thoughts.
The distant gunfire had stopped, but there had been at least a dozen shots. Sharp and loud, despite the range. Probably small pieces.
He swung the glass further to starboard, seeing the lowlying wedge of land reaching out to lie parallel with their slow approach. The eastern headland of Pendang Bay. There was no room for further doubt.
Something dark intruded into the lens, and he saw the brig tilting to the low breeze, her yards alive with tiny figures as she finished reefing. A huge Spanish flag had been hoisted to her peak, blinding white in the glare, and he found time to wonder how Rosalind's master was reacting to Puigserver's show of national pride.
Almost without intending to speak aloud he said, 'I wish the Don was here with us. I think combined thought and action may be called for.'
He heard Conway grunt. 'Unnecessary. Ours is the ship of war, Bolitho. I want no damned Spaniard under my feet today.'
Herrick asked quietly, 'What d'you make of it, sir?' Bolitho shook his head. 'An attack on the settlement maybe.
But I understand the place is well defended and-' Conway interrupted harshly, 'All this fuss over a few bloody savages!'
Herrick was standing beside Mudge and whispered, 'I expect that is what poor Captain Cook said!'
Bolitho turned sharply. 'If you've all nothing better to do than make stupid remarks…' He swung away and added, 'Two good leadsmen in the chains immediately. Begin sounding.' To Mudge he snapped, 'Let her fall off a point.'
The edge in his tone was having the right effect. Men who seconds earlier had been chatting and gossiping about what might be happening ashore were now silent and alert, standing to their guns, or grouped at halliards and braces for the next command.
The wheel creaked, the sound very loud in the sudden stillness, and the helmsman called, 'Nor'-east by north, sir!'
'Very well.'
Bolitho glanced at Conway's profile, the glassy intentness in his eye.
From forward came the leadsman's cry, 'No bottom, sir!'
Bolitho looked at Mudge, but the master's heavy face was expressionless. He probably thought it was a waste of time to take soundings. The chart, and all available information, told them the water was deep until the last cable or so. Or maybe he thought his captain was so nervous that he was afraid to leave anything to chance.
Another, single crack echoed out from the mist-shrouded coast and died away very gradually.
Bolitho tugged out his new watch and stared at it. At this speed it would take near on an hour to close the land. But it could not be helped.
'No bottom, sir!'
He said, 'Pass the word for Captain Bellairs. I'll want a full landing party. Tell Mr. Davy to prepare the boats for lowering once we have anchored. He will take charge of them.'
Conway said briefly, 'Good beach, I'm told. The settlement and fort are on a slope to the western side of the bay.'
Herrick strode aft and touched his hat. 'Shall I order the guns to load, sir? He sounded guarded.
'Not yet, Mr. Herrick.'
Bolitho trained his glass across the larboard bow. Settlement, fort, they could have been imagination. The blurred green outline of the land looked totally deserted.
He heard the marine sergeant bellowing orders, the stamp of boots as his men were divided and sub-divided in readiness to disembark. Bellairs was watching them from the starboard gangway, his face completely blank, but his eyes missing nothing.
'By the mark twenty!' The leadsman sounded triumphant.
Mudge nodded gloomily. 'About right. Twenty fathoms hereabouts.'
Some small birds darted across the sea's face and circled above the braced yards. Bolitho watched them, recalling the swifts flying about the grey stone house in Falmouth. It would be fine there today. Sunshine, bright colours. The hills dotted with sheep and cattle. The town itself busy with farmers and sailors, each depending on the other, as it had always been.
He saw Herrick nearby and said quietly, 'Forgive my anger ust now.'
Herrick smiled. 'No matter, sir. You were right. We have been caught unawares already on this venture. Trouble will not fade away merely because we turn our backs on it.'
'Rosalind's settin' 'er fores'l again, sir!'
They turned to watch as the brig dipped to the wind and gathered way.
Conway snarled, 'By God, the Don intends to lead us inshore, blast him!V
'It is his right, sir.' Bolitho trained his glass on the other vessel, seeing the busy figures above and below, the great slash of her ensign with its crowned shield bright in the sunlight. 'It is still the territory of the Spanish Royal Company until he says otherwise.'
Conway scowled. 'That is mere formality.' He stared hard at him. 'Fire a warning shot, Captain!'
Bolitho looked at Herrick. 'Pass the word forrard. One ball.
But mind it drops well clear of the brig.'
The leadsman called again, 'Deep eighteen!'
Bolitho shut his ears to the squeak of gun trucks as the fore, most twelve-pounder was run out. The gun captain was peering along the muzzle, and as the light touched him Bolitho saw that
one hand was a metal hook. Turpin.
Herrick shouted, 'Ready, sir!'
'As you will then.'
The gun crashed out, and seconds later a thin waterspout rose like a feather far beyond the brig's bowsprit.
Bolitho said, 'Well, atleasttheywill knowwe are coming, sir,' Conway snapped, 'Savages. I'll soon get to the bottom of this little matter.'