Caribbee(89)

It was a turning moment. Bowden sensed the resentment turn to a visceral hatred, the sullen obedience now a feral wariness.

Hannibal was headed into the unknown.

It was an hour after dawn when the last line was belayed and the sail trimmed to the wind. The men went below without a word but the glances flashed aft could not be mistaken in their meaning.

As the day went on there was a rising feeling of menace, as if a fuse had been lit. Bowden had the last dogwatch and watched apprehensively as the bright day changed by degrees into a creeping darkness. At three bells a figure detached from the cabin spaces and shuffled towards him. It was Joyce.

‘Sir, I’d be obliged for a piece of your time,’ he said, in a low voice.

‘Of course,’ Bowden said, and moved up the deck out of hearing of the group at the conn.

Joyce seemed to have difficulty bringing out the words, then blurted, ‘I was asked by the men where I stood an’ all.’

Bowden went cold. There was no doubting the meaning. The ship was a powder keg.

‘In the event of …’

‘Aye, sir.’

There was only one answer. ‘On your honour, you must stand true to the ship.’

‘I knew you’d say that, sir.’ He hesitated, then added, ‘An’ I thank you for it, Mr Bowden.’ He moved painfully away.

Bowden paced forward. His duty now was clear and there was no putting it aside. He must formally tell the captain what he had heard.

Or should he stand back and let the man take what was coming to him for his inhuman treatment of his men?

The moral case for allowing things to take their course was strong, especially as by disclosing what Joyce had told him he was condemning the boy to a court-martial at the least for breach of the Articles of War in not having immediately informed the captain himself.

On the other hand if he didn’t and it turned into a bloody mutiny there would be lives lost and a vengeful Admiralty would be pitiless. By forewarning it could be prevented – and his oath to the Crown would remain untarnished.

By the end of the watch he had decided.

‘Come!’ Tyrell sounded irritable.

Bowden entered the great cabin, its spare and bleak appearance so different from that in any other ship-of-the-line he had seen.

Tyrell was standing by the stern windows, his hands clasped behind his back. ‘Yes?’ he said, without looking round.

‘Sir, I wish to report—’

‘Ah, Bowden,’ Tyrell said, swinging round to face him. ‘Always pleased to see a loyal and upright officer. What is it I can do for you?’

Taken aback by his welcome, Bowden hesitated.

‘You want to report …?’

‘Ah, sir. A grave matter.’ Whatever it took, he would not involve Joyce by name.

‘Oh?’ The amiable expression remained unaffected.

‘Sir, I was approached by a member of the ship’s company who saw fit to inform me that certain unnamed individuals were disaffected and no longer reliable. Sir, in my opinion the people are in a state of incipient mutiny.’

It was said.

‘Why, you came down to tell me this? God bless you, Mr Bowden, for your concern on my behalf. Is there anything else?’

‘Er, this is to say, I’ve no reason to doubt that the men could rise at any time, sir, and—’

‘Calm yourself, Mr Bowden, it’s not as you fear. When you’ve been in the Service as long as I, you’ll realise that the scum are always in a state of mutiny, the dogs. Only hard discipline keeps ’em tranquil.’

‘Sir, I—’

‘For you, for the sake of your fears, I’ll take steps. You’ll learn that swift and decisive measures are an infallible remedy for these vile creatures.’

‘Er, thank you, sir.’

‘Captain of Marines this instant!’ he called loudly, to the sentry outside his door, who hurried to obey.

The officer arrived, breathless and confused.

‘Ah, Captain. I’ll have every marine sentry throughout the ship on duty with their bayonets ready fixed. Fixed, you understand?’

‘Um, yes, I’ll do it now.’ His eyes darted from Bowden to Tyrell with incomprehension but he left quickly.

‘There. The sight of naked steel will always steady the wayward, don’t you think?’ Tyrell said pleasantly.

Bowden could think of nothing to say. For any marine between decks the bayonet would be an intolerable impediment and impossible to wield, and what the seamen would think of this passed belief.

‘If you suffer any further disquiet, please feel you can approach me at any time. This is the duty any captain must owe his officers.’

‘Er, thank you, sir, I will.’

The wardroom at supper was tense. There was little conversation and each officer avoided any other’s eye.