Bolitho said, "It is something I think on myself, Sir Ralph." He stood up abruptly, thinking now of Catherine, how they had first met, the deadly chebecks closing in under sail and oars, ready to fire into any larger vessel's vulnerable stern. When Catherine's Spanish husband had died. And we lost one another… He said, "I shall send the only frigate I have in harbour. Frobisher will remain here, as she must, until more men-of-war arrive." He could already hear Tyacke's disagreement, and his doubt.
Valancy nodded slowly, surprised, perhaps, at this sudden decision, but careful not to show it.
The frigate's captain." He hesitated, as he might before leading a charge. "Will he know the instability of these people? They have countless sailors and fishermen, thrown into their rotten jails, and for no other reason than that they are Christians! Barbarians!" He became very earnest. "And the Dey of Algiers has some six hundred guns, according to our latest intelligence……"
"May I ask you something? If this matter were to be entrusted to the army, who would you send?"
Surprisingly, Valancy laughed. "A mission like this, which might fan the flames of another war? I'd go myself! Right or wrong, it would be my responsibility."
Bolitho smiled, and tapped his glass with a paper-knife. "Another glass, Sir Ralph?"
When Ozzard appeared to pour the wine, Bolitho said to him. "Ask Allday to find Captain Tyacke, and have him lay aft." He noticed that Ozzard did not lift his eyes, nor did he show any surprise.
As he left the cabin, Bolitho said quietly to Valancy, "I thought you would say as much." He sipped the wine, and added, "I shall go in Halcyon." He recalled her captain's face when he had described his fear and helplessness aboard Majestic at the Nile, when Tyacke had given him back his courage and his pride.
Frobisher, or a larger group of ships would invite disaster… Allday entered by the other door and paused, as if uncertain. That, in itself, was unusual.
Bolitho said, "Well?"
"Cap'n Tyacke is with the purser, Sir Richard." He refused to look at the major-general. "I left a message, but I thought.
Bolitho sat again. "It is why we are here. Why I was sent." He smiled. "My compliments to the captain, and ask him to come aft."
Allday departed, and Valancy said, "Remarkable fellow. Although I don't see that it is possible for anyone to know what you intend."
Bolitho touched his eye. "Remarkable, yes. Your general said as much at Good Hope. He also said that he could use a few thousand more like him."
The soldier got to his feet. "I shall detain you no longer, Sir Richard."
Bolitho shook his hand. Tonight Valancy would probably regale his staff with tales of the strange ways of the navy, and how an admiral had taken the time to reassure a common seaman.
And yet, somehow, he knew he would not.
Tyacke entered the cabin as soon as the major-general had been seen safely into his boat.
Bolitho said, "Have Halcyon's, captain repair on board, James. There is something I wish to discuss with you." He saw the immediate signs of argument. "It is a matter of some urgency."
"You're leaving Frobisherl Your flagship?"
"Presently. While I am away, I would be pleased if the guns were replaced in my quarters."
Tyacke left the cabin without asking another question; there was no need.
The sunshine and the brightly painted boats meant nothing to him. His was still a ship of war.
Lieutenant George Avery put down his pen and passed the finished letter across his small table. There. I hope it does justice to your thoughts." He watched as Allday, who had been squatting on a chest in the hutch-like cabin, made his mark carefully and deliberately at the bottom of the page. Avery had asked him once what the distinctive symbol meant, and Allday had told him that it was like the stone Cornish cross that stood outside the church in Fallowfield where he and Unis had been married.
Allday cocked his head to listen to a bosun's call, very clear and shrill in the evening stillness. "Won't be long now," he said.
A very glanced around the cabin. A hutch indeed, but private when he needed to withdraw from the ship's general life and routine.
"How do you feel about it?"
Allday looked at him thoughtfully. Once he would have shown instant caution, if not mistrust.
"I've been with Sir Richard long enough to take things as they comes, but this time, I ain't so sure. Them devils ain't to be trusted an' never were. We should wait until the rest of the squadron is joined here."
Avery thought of Halcyon's young captain. A good officer, as Tyacke had confirmed, but one twenty-eight-gun frigate against well-sited batteries and, no doubt, ships ready to repel any unwanted visitors, was hardly a bargaining point.
He said, "At least your letter will be on its way."
Allday stood up; he had heard somebody outside the door. Avery had not written or received any letters himself, but to mention it might be pushing things too far. It was a pity, he thought. Avery was better than most of his kind. He smiled. But he was still an officer.
"I'll be ready when they calls us, sir."
Avery got to his feet as Kellett, the first lieutenant, stepped to one side while Allday departed.
"Come in!"
They both laughed as Kellett eased his way around the screen door; the cabin was a twin of his own.
"I won't detain you." He sat on the same chest and glanced un curiously at the pen and paper. Avery thought he probably knew about the letters he wrote for the admiral's coxswain, but he would never remark upon it.
He knew Kellett no better than when he had joined the ship at Plymouth. Tall, about twenty-five, and obviously respected by the more seasoned hands and warrant officers; Tyacke had implied that he had carried the ship for most of the time during Frobisher's lengthy overhaul. He was loyal, too; he had never complained to Tyacke about how he had been left with most of the duties, as some would, if only to ingratiate themselves with the new lord and master.
Kellett said, "I would that I were coming with you. Or that Frobisher were carrying the flag into Algerine waters."
Avery waited. Kellett was not here to waste his time before they transferred to Halcyon. He wanted to talk.
Avery said, "You've been in this ship for three years."
Kellett looked at him, his mild eyes very steady. "I was appointed as second lieutenant, but my immediate superior was transferred." He shrugged. "I thought, ah, my future is brighter already!" But there was no humour in his voice.
Avery prompted, The previous first lieutenant was promoted?"
"Transferred. To some miserable, rat-infested bomb-vessel. I did not like him much, but he deserved better for all that."
Avery considered it. The first lieutenant was the Honourable Granville Kellett, and the son of an admiral. His future, war or no war, should be assured. Unless… "What was the captain like? I understand that he was removed because of illness, although the surgeon claims he had no part in it."
Kellett's smile was genuine. "I'm surprised you got anything out of that one. He wouldn't tell you he was taking off your leg, until afterwards!" He nodded his thanks as Avery poured two glasses of cognac. "Captain Oliphant was rarely aboard during our time in the dockyard. He was ill, but he was receiving treatment ashore." He paused. "But not in Haslar Hospital, as you might expect." He swallowed some of the cognac. "I discovered that for myself."
"Was it sudden?"
"I thought so at first. Now, looking back, I can see that he suffered some kind of discomfort… pain. It affected his moods, his temper. We received the news about Frobisher's appointment as Sir Richard's flagship, and I thought he was delighted about it. He would have been the flag captain, and, as Lord Rhodes' cousin, his prospects seemed excellent." He dropped his voice. "But I can tell you now, I thank God that Captain Tyacke is in command. I have never seen such a change in a ship, the life he's put into her!"