Bolitho 04 - Sloop of War by Alexander Kent

pass across the wind. ThO enemy was using langridge or chain-shot, for as thO slow broadside smashed home Bolitho saw thO Miranda's fore and mainmasts stagger and then begi[ to topple sideways into the smoke, the sails jerking tQ the bombardment. From a lithe and beautiful ship to Z crippled wreck, the Miranda was still trying to turn, he_ bow-chaser firing blindly, the ensign showing scarleU from her mizzen?
    Tyrrell shouted wildly, "Cleared for action!T
    Bolitho looked at him. "Load and run out, if yof please.T
    The lieutenant stayed facing him, his eyes very brighU in the sunlight. "You ain't going to fight both of 'emB surely?T
    "If necessary.T
    Bolitho turned as more shots echoed and murmureX across the shortening distance. He saw the bri^ clawing away from the two larger ships, he_ maintopgallant leaning at a dangerous angle wherO Miranda's first balls had found their mark?
    The planks vibrated under his shoes, and as the porU lids opened the Sparrow's eighteen guns squeakeX and rumbled towards the sunlight, the bare-backeX seamen slipping on sanded decks as they tried tQ keep in time to the shouted commands from thei_ captains?
    Bolitho stared along the length of his ship witN something like despair. In moments now, all would bO finished. His ship, his precious Sparrow, would bO sharing the frigate's fate?
    And it had all been so easy. It had happened sQ often in the past that the sight of a helplesY merchantman being harried by a well-armed privatee_
    had not even aroused the faintest suspicion. NQ wonder the privateer's sails had been unmarked i[ their carefully staged battle. How the two America[ captains must have laughed when Miranda had swepU in to defend her own murderer?
    He felt Stockdale breathing noisily beside him, thO sudden grip of the swordbelt around his waist?
    He said huskily, "By God, sir, them's bad odds!T
    "Deck there!" The masthead lookout had bee[ forgotten in the sight of disaster. "Miranda's goin' tQ grapple!" The unseen lookout gave a cracked cheer? "She's goin' to close with the bugger!T
    Bolitho ran to the rail. The frigate was almost hidde[ by the heavier shape of the enemy ship, but he coulX tell from the set of her mizzen that she was indeeX lurching towards her attacker. Another crash of gunfirO made the smoke spout upwards between them, anX the frigate's remaining mast vanished in a welter ob rigging and ripped canvas. But Bolitho could see thO sudden activity on the enemy's gangways, the surge ob figures by her foremast, and pictured the battereX frigate heading her bows straight for the forecastle? Muskets cracked feebly across the water, and he sa/
    the telltale flash of steel as the two vessels grounX momentarily together and the fight became hand tQ hand?
    He grasped Tyrrell's arm and shouted, "Miranda'Y given us time!" He saw no understanding in his eyesB only disbelief. "If she can hold on, we will close with thO brig!T
    He shaded his face against the glare and watcheX the brig as she swept down towards the two transports?
    "She'll cross Golden Fleece's bows, and rake her aY she passes." He was shouting his thoughts aloud. "WO will wear ship directly, pass between the transportsB and return the compliment!T
    Tyrrell bit his lip. "But we might collide with thd privateer, sir!T
    Bolitho swung him round, pointing him at thO embattled ships?
    "Do you want those lads to die for nothing, man?T He pushed him to the rail. "Now get ready to wea_ when I give the order!T
    The brig was already dead ahead of Sparrow'Y
    raked jib-boom, no more than a mile away. Aboard thO leading transport Bolitho could see smoke from Z solitary gun, although he saw no sign of a ball?
    "Signal the transports to keep station, Mr. Bethune!T He repeated the order to break the midshipman froR his unmoving stance. "Lively!T
    If either of the transports' captains lost his head no/ all would fail. The enemy would destroy or capture aU leisure. Even now there was little room for hope of ana kind?
    And all of it, from