Signal Close Action by Alexander Kent

very soon or come about for another approach. I wanted a wind, but this one blows too merrily for my liking.' He pulled a stone bottle from his coat. 'A drink, sir ? A warming swallow of Hollands will do you good.'
    There was no offer of cup or goblet, so Bolitho held the fat bottle to his lips, feeling the gin running down his tongue like fire.
    Javal remarked offhandedly, 'Took quite a few bottles off a blockade-runner last August in the Channel. Better than._ nothing.' He swung round, his voice harsh. 'Watch your helm, damn your eyes! You'll have us in irons before the nest hour!'
    He became calm again. 'I'd suggest we make our play soon now, sir.'
    Bolitho smiled. That sudden spark of anxious rage had shown that Javal was more human than he wished him to believe. It was never easy to close a little known shore in the dark. Harder still with a senior officer breathing down your neck.
    He replied, 'I agree.'
    Javal said, 'I'm putting my first lieutenant in charge. The launch and the cutter should suffice, but in case there is a chance of a hue and cry being carried inshore to some Spanish garrison, I'd suggest a small landing party below the headland.' He hesitated. 'Your lieutenant perhaps ?'
    "Very well.' Bolitho looked across the blurred procession of white-capped waves. 'Mr. Pascoe is young, but has seen action enough.'
    Javal studied him curiously. 'I will attend to it.'
    He hurried away barking out orders to the already assembled seamen. Blocks squeaked noisily and the boats began to move above the tier, the hands guiding them without effort, as if it was all in broad daylight.
    Bolitho tried not to listen to the clatter of weapons, the occasional hesitation as a man failed to answer his name on a check list.
    Allday loomed out of the darkness and said, 'It'll be a hard pull in this wind, sir.' He seemed to sense something. 'Can I help?'
    Javal strode past. 'We will heave-to, if you please!' In a louder tone he called, 'Mr. Mears! Stand by to lower boats! '
    Bolitho said swiftly, 'Go with Mr. Pascoe. He will take the jolly boat.'
    Allday understood but replied awkwardly, 'But my place is with — ' He grinned. 'But you are right, sir.'
    Bolitho saw the gleam of white breeches against the opposite bulwark and heard Pascoe say, 'I'm going now, sir.'
    Bolitho moved to his side. 'See you take care, Adam.' He tried to make light of it. 'Your aunt would never forgive me if anything happened.'
    Pascoe turned his head as some seamen dashed past, their chequered shirts very pale and stark.
    'I must go, sir.'
    Bolitho stood aside. 'Good luck.'
    Moments after the frigate had laboured round into the wind, her remaining sails booming in confusion, the three boats were in the water alongside, and then soon pulling away towards the land.
    Javal rubbed his hands. 'Bring her about and steer sou'-east by east, Mr. Ellis. And put two good hands in the chains just to be sure we do not gut the keel out of her! '
    He crossed to Bolitho's side and waited in silence until his ship was once more under command of wind and rudder. Then he said cheerfully, 'This is always the worst part. The waiting.'
    Bolitho nodded, his ears trying to hold on to the swish and creak of oars. But they had gone, swallowed in the other sea noises.
    He said, 'Aye. I'd prefer to be going with them.'
    Javal laughed. 'God's teeth, sir! I wish to make the Navy my career for many years yet. What chance would there be of that if I allowed my commodore to be taken ?' It seemed to amuse him greatly.
    Bolitho snapped, 'I dare say.'
    Javal cleared his throat and said in a more sober tone, It will be all of four hours before we know anything, sir. My first lieutenant is very experienced. He has been with me for some eighteen months. He has cut out several such vessels without many losses to us.'
    Bolitho nodded. 'I will use your cabin again, if I may. A short sleep will refresh me for tomorrow.'
    He could almost hear the lie being thrown back in his face. Sleep? It would be