In Gallant Company Read Free Page B

there was Bolitho, the fourth. Much like his father, although he sometimes seemed to take his duties too lightly. But his men appeared to like him. That meant a lot in these hard times.
    Pears sighed. Bolitho was still a few months short of twenty-one. You needed experienced officers to work a ship of the line. He rubbed his chin to hide his expression. Maybe it was Bolitho’s youth and his own mounting years which made him reason in this fashion.
    He asked abruptly, ‘Are we in all respects ready for sea?’
    Cairns nodded. ‘Aye, sir. I could well use another dozen hands because of injury and ill-health, but that is a small margin these days.’
    â€˜It is indeed. I have known first lieutenants go grey-haired because they could not woo, press or bribe enough hands even to work their ships out of port.’
    At the prescribed time the doors were opened and
Trojan
’s officers, excluding the midshipmen and junior warrant officers, filed into the great cabin.
    It was a rare event, and took a good deal of time to get them into proper order, and for Foley and Hogg, the captain’s coxswain, to find the right number of chairs.
    It gave Pears time to watch their varying reactions, to see if their presence in strength would make any sort of difference.
    Probyn, relieved from his duties by a master’s mate, was flushed and very bright-eyed. Just too steady to be true.
    Sparke, prim in his severity, and young Dalyell, were seated beside the sixth and junior lieutenant, Quinn, who just five months ago had been a midshipman.
    Then there was Erasmus Bunce, the master. He was called the Sage behind his back, and was certainly impressive. In his special trade, which produced more characters and outstanding seaman than any other, Bunce was one to turn any man’s head. He was well over six feet tall, deep-chested, and had long, straggly grey hair. But his eyes, deep-set and clear, were almost as black as the thick brows above them. A sage indeed.
    Pears watched the master ducking between the overhead beams and was reassured.
    Bunce liked his rum, but he loved the ship like a woman. With him to guide her she had little to fear.
    Molesworth, the purser, a pale man with a nervous blink, which Pears suspected was due to some undiscovered guilt. Thorndike, the surgeon, who always seemed to be smiling. Morelike an actor than a man of blood and bones. Two bright patches of scarlet by the larboard side, the marine officers, D’Esterre and Lieutenant Raye, and of course Cairns, completed the gathering. It did not include all the other warrant officers and specialists. The boatswain, and gunner, the master’s mates, and the carpenters, Pears knew them all by sight, sound and quality.
    Probyn said in a loud whisper, ‘Mr Bolitho doesn’t seem to be here yet?’
    Pears frowned, despising Probyn’s hypocrisy. He was about as subtle as a hammer.
    Cairns suggested, ‘I’ll send someone, sir.’
    The door opened and closed swiftly and Pears saw Bolitho sliding into an empty chair beside the two marines.
    â€˜Stand up, that officer.’ Pears’ harsh voice was almost caressing. ‘Ah, it is you, sir, at last.’
    Bolitho stood quite still, only his shoulders swaying slightly to the ship’s slow roll.
    â€˜I – I am sorry, sir.’ Bolitho saw the grin on Dalyell’s face as drops of water trickled from under his coat and on to the black and white checkered canvas which covered the deck.
    Pears said mildly, ‘Your shirt seems to be rather
wet
, sir.’ He turned slightly. ‘Foley, some canvas for that chair. It is hard to replace such things out here.’
    Bolitho sat down with a thump, not knowing whether to be angry or humiliated.
    He forgot Pears’ abrasive tone, and the shirt which he had snatched off the wardroom line still wringing wet, as Pears said more evenly, ‘We will sail at first light, gentlemen. The Governor of New York has