Signal Close Action Read Online Free Page B

the greater the honour. Equally, you had further to fall from grace if things went badly.
    Allday came into the cabin and rubbed his large hands. There were droplets of spray on his blue jacket, and he had a kind of wildness in his eyes. He too, was feeling it. Eager to quit the land again. Like a hunter who goes to pit his strength against the unknown. Needing to do it, but never knowing if each time was the last.
    The coxswain grinned. 'They're doing well, sir. I've just been up to the boat tier to watch over your barge. There's a fair breeze from the nor'-west. The squadron will make a goodly sight when we beat clear of the Rock.'
    Bolitho tensed, his head to one side as something clattered and dragged along the deck above. A voice bellowed harshly, 'Belay that line, you bugger!'
    He bit his lip, imagining all manner of things going wrong.
    Allday watched him thoughtfully. 'Cap'n Herrick will see us clear, sir.'
    'I know.' He nodded as if to seal the conviction. 'I know.'
    'He'll not be wanting to let you down.'
    Allday removed the sword from its rack on the bulkhead and waited for Bolitho to lift his arms while he buckled it round his waist.
    He said softly, 'Same old sword, sir.' He touched the worn hilt. 'We've come a few leagues together.'
    Bolitho looked at him gravely. 'Aye.' He let his fingers run over the sword's guard. 'And I dare say it will outlast the both of us.'
    Allday grinned hugely. 'That's better, sir! You sound just like a flag officer!'
    The door opened silently and Herrick stepped into the cabin, his hat under one arm.
    'The squadron is ready to weigh, sir.' He sounded very calm. 'Anchors hove short.'
    'Very well, Captain Herrick.' He kept his tone formal. ‘I will come up directly.'
    Herrick hurried out and his footsteps could be heard clattering quickly up the ladder to the poop above the stern cabin. He would be taking into account the position of other shipping, which mercifully was sparse. The strength of the wind and the nearness of shoals. He would be aware that there were more eyes than Bolitho's on him this forenoon. The other captains who had appeared so relaxed and jovial
    around the cabin table last night at dinner would be gauging his skill as a sailor, measuring it in Lysander's sail drill, the smartness of getting under way. There would be glasses trained on the ships from the garrison, too, and from the enemy defences at Algeciras.
    Bolitho said quietly, 'I am ready, Allday.'
    Allday hung back below the cabin skylight and gestured above him. 'Up there, sir.'
    Bolitho stood beside him and stared up towards the black mass of rigging, and beyond it to the towering main mast with its whipping broad pendant at the truck.
    'Yes, I see it.'
    Allday studied him gravely. 'That pendant is yours by right, sir. There's many watching it this day who'd have it off you if they had the chance. But while it flies, they will obey. So leave the worrying to others, sir. You've got fatter fish to cook.'
    Bolitho faced him with surprise. 'Admiral Beauchamp said much the same. If not in the same words, then in the same sense.' He slapped Allday's arm. 'And thank you.'
    As he strode beneath the poop and out past the big double wheel he was very conscious of the watching men all around him. Once on the quarterdeck, with the wind throwing beads of spray above the netdngs and gangway, he saw the press of figures at halliards and braces, the scarlet coats of the marines in the afterguard where they waited to add their weight to that of the seamen.
    'Attention on the quarterdeck!'
    That would be Gilchrist, the first lieutenant, and Herrick's right hand man. Tall and lean like a bean pole, with a permanent frown, he looked much like a disapproving schoolmaster.
    Beyond him were some of the lieutenants, the midshipman of the watch and numerous other nameless faces.
    Bolitho touched his hat to the deck at large, comparing, despite his determination to avoid it, all this with what he had known and loved as a captain.