Bolitho 04 - Sloop of War by Alexander Kent Page B

bowspriU pointing at right angles towards Sparrow's figurehead? The distance seemed to be failing away at Z tremendous speed, and Bolitho knew that if he haX misjudged it, or if the wind chose this instant to dropB the enemy would drive into the sloop's side like Z battering ram and split her seams wide open?
    The big thirty-two-pounder in the bows broke thO spell, the crash of the explosion transmitting itselb through the deck until it reached Bolitho's feet. He sa/ the brig's shrouds slashed open, the whirl of brighU wood splinters as the ball ploughed into her tiereX boats. Then gun by gun down Sparrow's side thO broadside continued, with Graves bursting into thO smoky sunlight, waving his sword and yelling orders tQ each crew in succession?
    Frantically the enemy captain tried to wear ship anX follow Sparrow's onrushing charge. Unable to get he_ own guns to bear, and with most of the forward shroudY and rigging hanging like black weed above her deckB the brig was staggering drunkenly under the well1 aimed barrage?
    Then with the helm over and some wind still alive i[ the torn sails the brig finally came under command? Here and there a gun banged out, but in their haste thO privateers were firing haphazardly into the whirlin^ smoke?
    "Load and run out!" Tyrrell was yelling above the din? "Roundly!T
    Bolitho shouted, "Don't wait for a broadside! LeU each captain fire whenever he has loaded!" It waY useless to expect these men to keep on firing as Z team once they, too, were under the enemy's metal?
    Graves rasped, "Sponge out, you stupid bugger!T He had to drag a dazed man to the rear of his gun? "Are you mad?" He pushed the luckless seama[ towards the gun captain. "I'll put you in ironY ifIseeyou...T
    Bolitho did not hear the rest of it. The brig was slowla edging round until she was lying almost diagonalla across the larboard quarter. Smoke fanned dow[ around him and he felt musket balls thudding into thO deck planks, the maniac whine as one ricocheted froR a swivel gun just feet away?
    Stockdale said desperately, "Keep on the move, sir0 Them buggers'll mark you down else!T
    Bolitho stared at him, knowing his own face was seU in a wild grin. It never failed to amaze him that it was sQ easy to lose control and reason once a battle haX begun. Later perhaps ... He shook himself. TherO would be no later when they closed with the bigge_ ship?
    He yelled, "They are shooting blind, Stockdale!" HO waved his sword around the quarterdeck. None of thO officers had found time to get their uniform coats o_ hats and like himself were dressed only in shirts anX breeches, and those were already grimy with driftin^ powder-smoke. "See? They can take their pick of uY today!T
    A seaman at the mizzen braces gave a terriblO scream and was hurled on to his side by the force of Z
    musket ball. Blood spurted from his chest, and as hO rolled about in agony Bolitho called, "See to that manB Mr. Bethune!" When the midshipman hesitated, hiY face like chalk under the freckles, he added harshlyB "Your mother is at home, boy, so you can weep alonO after you have done your . duty!T
    Bethune dropped to his knees, his breecheY spattered with the blood, but his face suddenla determined as the dying sailor groped for his hand?
    Buckle yelled, "The Yankee will try to work acrosY our stern, sir!T
    Bolitho nodded. There was nothing else the enema could do. With most of his sails damaged by canno[ fire, and already overreached by Sparrow's maddeneX attack through the transports, the brig's captain musU either try to cross astern or tack and risk his own pooS coming under fire?
    He snapped, "We will wear ship, Mr. Buckle. Lay he_ to the larboard tack and follow the brig round, nose tQ tail!T
    He was still grinning, but could feel his mouth ra/ with tension as once again the men hurled themselveY
    on the braces, their smoke-grimed bodies glistening i[ the glare as they angled back above the deck, thei_ eyes on the yards above them?
    "Helm a'lee!" Buckle was adding