Signal-Close Action!

17. Storm Clouds

It was nearer to two weeks before Bolitho could hoist his signal to up anchor and leave their sheltering islet. Even then, the ships were plagued by fierce gusts of gale force, and. it soon became apparent that Buzzard's damage was worse than Javal had realised. His men worked through every watch on the pumps without a break, and with the limited resources he had aboard, he used all spare timber and canvas for the most severe hull damage.

After the savagery of battle, the elation at seeing Lysander thrusting her bows through smoke and falling spray, this renewed effort by the weather to delay their every move was all the more disheartening.

As the ships became scattered, and worked back and forth on varying tacks to gain headway into equally determined south-westerly winds, Bolitho was thankful they had not sighted an enemy squadron across their path. His. crews were worn out by constant work, and with each ship left underhanded because of dead and wounded, he knew that any sort of a victory would fall to the opposing side.

Perle, the captured French corvette, had made off with his despatches, and he knew that Herrick was still worrying about Lieutenant Fitz-Clarence" s ability to make the right landfall and pass his information to the admiral at Gibraltar.

Perhaps he should have directed Perle to sail directly to Gibraltar. But if his news was to reach all available sources of communication, he knew that Fitz-Clarence must first call at Syracuse.

He was pacing his cabin, his chin on his chest, his body angled to the ship's tilt, when he heard the cry, "Deck there! Sail to the nor"-west!"

For once he was unable to restrain himself, and without waiting for a message from the quarterdeck, he hurried from the cabin to join Herrick and the other officers at the rail.

Herrick touched his hat. "You heard then, sir?"

"Aye, Thomas."

Bolitho ran his eyes quickly along the upper gun deck. Due to the weather and the necessary delays while repairs were carried out, it was a month since they had watched the French supply vessels sinking and burning under their bombardment. Since Farquhar had died with so many of his men. And Nicator had gone aground.

The men who were by the bulwarks and gangways, or standing in the shrouds in the hopes of sighting the new- comer, looked tougher, he thought. Herrick had done well. It was not easy for common seamen to understand what was happening beyond their own ship. Some captains did not bother to tell them, but Herrick, as always, had tried to explain whenever he could the reasons and the rewards.

Had Farquhar remained in Lysander, he would have benefited from Herrick's example. These men, Bolitho knew, would have given that bit extra as the ship had drifted towards the sandbars, her master dead, and the helm shot away.

He looked up sharply as a lookout yelled, " "Tis the Harebell, sir!"

Herrick grinned, his face shedding some of the strain as he said, "Good old Inch! I was beginning to wonder what had happened to him!"

They watched the sloop's sails growing out of the horizon, the steep angle of her masts as she crammed on more canvas to run down on the squadron.

Bolitho saw the changing shadows on the sloop's topsails, and found himself pleading that the wind would not choose this moment to desert them. The thought of being becalmed, with Inch and his news too far away to contact, was almost unbearable. And the wind had acted in that fashion several times since they had sailed from the Greek islands. Strong to gale force, and then breathing away to nothing, the sodden decks and sails steaming in fierce sunlight, the ships motion- less, like men beaten senseless in a brawl.

Herrick asked softly, "What d"you think, sir? Good or bad news?"

Bolitho bit his lip. Inch had been away a long while. As his little squadron had sifted information and news of the enemy's whereabouts and strength, almost anything might have happened.

He replied, "My guess is that a blockade will not be built up around the French ports. Once de Brueys knows his supply fleet and siege artillery are destroyed at Corfu", he may think differently about invasion. Our people have worked hard, Thomas. I hope their efforts will have given the fleet time."

The air was heavy with greasy smoke from the galley before Harebell had tacked close enough to lower a boat. Bolitho noticed that most of the off-watch seamen remained on deck, instead of going for their midday meal. To see Inch come aboard, to try and learn something of what was happening.

In the great cabin, Bolitho made Inch take a glass of wine, to give him a moment to regain his breath.

It was strange, he thought, that after all the battles and the pain, it often fell to men like Inch to carry really important news. You would hardly notice him in a street. Gangling, with his long horseface and excited manner, he did not seem the stuff of heroes as their public liked to imagine. But Bolitho knew differently, and would not have traded him for a dozen others.

Inch explained, "I delivered the despatches, and," he shot Herrick a quick glance, "and my passenger, sir. Then I was caught up in tremendous activity." He frowned to gather his thoughts. "Rear-Admiral Sir Horatio Nelson in his flagship Vanguard passed through GibraltarStrait at the beginning of May and headed for Toulon. "

Herrick breathed out deeply. "Thank, the Lord for that. "

Inch stared at him. "No, sir, I beg to differ. There was a great storm, and Nelson's ships were scattered, his own completely dismasted and almost run ashore. He had to make for shelter to effect repairs. To St. Peter's at Sardinia."

Herrick groaned. "That's bad!"

Inch shook his head. "Well, in some ways, sir." Bolitho said, "Come, man, spit it out!"

Inch grinned apologetically. "Nelson's repairs delayed his plans, but allowed his other reinforcements to join him. He. now commands fourteen sail of the line, but-" He saw Herrick's face and added hurriedly, "The truth is, sir, the same gale which dismasted Vanguard allowed the French to slip past." He looked from one to the other. "The French are out, sir."

Herrick said bitterly, "And they escaped much as our Frenchmen did. God damn the weather!"

"Is that all, Commander Inch?" Bolitho kept his tone level, but could feel the disappointment rising inside him.

Inch shrugged. "The French have taken Malta without a fight, sir. Nelson's ships have been searching for de Brueys's fleet without success. He has followed their passage through the LigurianSea, and even looked into some ports where other French ships might have been sheltering until they were ready to move out. "

"You have done well, Inch." Bolitho gestured to Ozzard for some more wine. "And you have brought despatches?" Inch nodded. "I was ordered to Naples by the admiral, sir.

There I met with the fleet at last." He grinned awkwardly. "And with Nelson."

"The devil you have!" Herrick stared at him. "That I should like to have seen!"

Bolitho said quietly, 'so you did not meet with Perle." He looked away as Herrick started to explain about the battle and the new prizes. But Bolitho's mind was elsewhere. By the time Fitz-Clarence had reached Gibraltar it would be too late for him to return and find Nelson. He blamed himself for not thinking that a fleet would be sent so quickly to act upon his own sketchy information and the captured siege guns.

Inch was asking excitedly, 'so where are the French?

Nelson has been off Elba and Civita Vecchia and into Naples without sighting a one. And you have come west"rd without meeting them. I do not understand it. "

Bolitho faced them again. "Did Nelson receive you well?" "Indeed yes, sir." Inch frowned. "He was not quite as I expected, but I found him most compelling, in spite of his anxieties."

Bolitho tried to imagine what might lie behind those simple words. Was Nelson blaming him for losing the French, too? For leading a British fleet which was sorely needed elsewhere to an empty trap?

Inch added, "If and when I was able to find you, sir, I was to tell you to join the fleet with all speed off Alexandria." He saw Bolitho's surprise and said, "Oh yes, sir, Nelson has every faith in your conclusions. He still believes that the French are heading for, if not already in Egypt." He seemed to expect a show of excitement.

Bolitho said, "Captain Herrick took it upon himself to visit Alexandria. But for a few decrepit Turkish men o" war and "the usual coastal craft, it was empty. As "It will be when Nelson gets there." He looked at Herrick. "Are you agreed, Thomas?"

Herrick nodded. "I fear so. From what we discovered and heard at Corfu, it seemed as if those supply ships were expecting to leave for another destination before they joined their main fleet." He looked at the chart on Bolitho's table, his face grim. 'so when Nelson sails east he will miss de Brueys by a hundred miles or more. The French will rendezvous up here." He tapped the chart with one finger. "Most likely off Crete." He looked at Bolitho. "While we sheltered amongst those islands, the greatest force since the Spanish Armada probably steered just a few miles to the south"rd of us, and we knew nothing of it!"

Inch asked dubiously, "What will de Brueys do, sir?" Bolitho stared at the chart. "In his shoes I’d gather up all the surviving transports, then wait for any others which may have been scattered amongst smaller islands and bays. Then I’d sail south-east. For Egypt. "

Inch stared at him. "No, sir, I beg to differ. There was a great storm, and Nelson's ships were scattered, his own completely dismasted and almost run ashore. He had to make for shelter to effect repairs. To St. Peter's at Sardinia."

Herrick groaned. "That's bad!"

Inch shook his head. "Well, in some ways, sir." Bolitho said, "Come, man, spit it out!"

Inch grinned apologetically. "Nelson's repairs delayed his plans, but allowed his other reinforcements to join him. He now commands fourteen sail of the line, but-" He saw Herrick's face and added hurriedly, "The truth is, sir, the same gale which dismasted Vanguard allowed the French to slip past." He looked from one to the other. "The French are out, sir."

Herrick said bitterly, "And they escaped much as our Frenchmen did. God damn the weather!"

"Is that all, Commander Inch?" Bolitho kept his tone level, but could feel the disappointment rising inside him.

Inch shrugged. "The French have taken Malta without a fight, sir. Nelson's ships have been searching for de Brueys's fleet without success. He has followed their passage through the LigurianSea, and even looked into some ports where other French ships might have been sheltering until they were ready to move out. "

"You have done well, Inch." Bolitho gestured to Ozzard for some more wine. "And you have brought despatches?" Inch nodded. "I was ordered to Naples by the admiral, sir.

There I met with the fleet at last." He grinned awkwardly. "And with Nelson."

"The devil you have!" Herrick stared at him. "That I should like to have seen!"

Bolitho said quietly, 'so you did not meet with Perle."

He looked away as Herrick started to explain about the battle and the new prizes. But Bolitho's mind was elsewhere. By the time Fitz-Clarence had reached Gibraltar it would be too late for him to return and find Nelson. He blamed himself for not thinking that a fleet would be sent so quickly to act upon his own sketchy information and the captured siege guns.

Inch was asking excitedly, 'so where are the French?

Nelson has been off Elba and Civita Vecchia and into Naples without sighting a one. And you have come west"rd without meeting them. I do not understand it."

Bolitho faced them again. "Did Nelson receive you well?" "Indeed yes, sir." Inch frowned. "He was not quite as I expected, but I found him most compelling, in spite of his anxieties."

Bolitho tried to imagine what might lie behind those simple words. Was Nelson blaming him for losing the French, too? For leading a British fleet which was sorely needed elsewhere to an empty trap?

Inch added, "If and when I was able to find you, sir, I was to tell you to join the fleet with all speed off Alexandria." He saw Bolitho's surprise and said, "Oh yes, sir, Nelson has every faith in your conclusions. He still believes that the French are heading for, if not already in Egypt." He seemed to expect a show of excitement.

Bolitho said, "Captain Herrick took it upon himself to visit Alexandria. But for a few decrepit Turkish men 0" war and the usual coastal craft, it was empty. As "[t will be when Nelson gets there." He looked at Herrick. "Are you agreed, Thomas?"

Herrick nodded. "I fear so. From what we discovered and heard at Corfu, it seemed as if those supply ships were expecting to leave for another destination before they joined their main fleet. " He looked at the chart on Bolitho's table, his face grim. 'so when Nelson sails east he will miss de Brueys by a hundred miles or more. The French will rendezvous up here." He tapped the chart with one finger. "Most like1y off Crete." He looked at Bolitho. "While we sheltered amongst those islands, the greatest force since the Spanish Armada probably steered just a few miles to the south" rd of us, and we knew nothing of it!"

Inch asked dubiously, "What will de Brueys do, sir?" Bolitho stared at the chart. "In his shoes I’d gather up all the surviving transports, then wait for any others which may have been scattered amongst smaller islands and bays. Then I’d sail south-east. For Egypt. "

"Alexandria, sir." Herrick watched him searchingly. "Yes. But I think his fleet will remain outside the harbour.

Somewhere where they can present their resistance to best advantage. "

Herrick nodded, understanding. "The Bay of Aboukir.

There could be none better." He grimaced. "For them." Bolitho walked to the stern windows, his legs braced as the ship swayed dizzily across some deep troughs.

"And Nelson will return to the west." He was speaking almost to himself. "He will imagine that de Brueys has tricked him, and has attacked some other place after all. "

He had often heard of Nelson's sudden depressions, his self -criticism when his bold ideas failed to show immediate results.

Something flashed across the windows, and he saw it was a gull, darting down to seize an unsuspecting fish below the counter.

A few hundred miles, and yet it meant the difference between success and nothing at all. He knew where the French would gather their combined strength, which with or without siege guns could soon occupy the walls and batteries of Alexandria. He knew it, but could not tell the rear- admiral in time. If only he were like that gull and his news could be carried as swiftly as a bird's flight. The gull would be sleeping on some Greek or Italian shore tonight, and his ships would have made little progress in any direction.

He said slowly, "I want all commanding officers aboard at once, Thomas. If we are to be of any use we must use our independence."

Inch bobbed. "Not join Nelson, sir?" Bolitho smiled at his anxiety. "Eventually."

Herrick jerked his head to Inch. "Come with me while I have the signal made." He glanced at Bolitho's grave face. He- knew from experience when he needed to be alone with his thoughts. -

Two hours. later they had all assembled in the cabin. Javal, hollow-eyed from sleepless nights, fighting the sea and wind with weakening resources. Probyn, his heavy face wary, and avoiding Bolitho's glance as he found a chair in a patch of shadow. Lieutenant Gilchrist, awkward amongst his superiors, but more sure of himself than Bolitho had ever seen before. Being in charge of a seventy-four could affect a man in several ways. It appeared to have been good for him.

Herrick and Inch completed the gathering, while Moffitt, the clerk, sat at a small table with his pad and pen, and Ozzard stood curiously beside the polished wine cabinet.

Bolitho faced them. "Gentlemen, I have to tell you that we must go and search for the French again. De Brueys is out, and so far has avoided the fleet which was sent to contain him." He saw Javal's tiredness slip away, the exchange of glances between them. "We, in this small force of ours, must do all we can to delay the enemy's plans. You’ve done far more than any orders dictated," he smiled, "or left unsaid!"

Herrick grinned ruefully and Inch nodded in silent agreement.

He continued, "I will be honest with you. If we are called to fight unaided, the odds will be great. Perhaps too great. " He looked straight at Javal. "And from you, Captain, I must have complete honesty, too."

Javal's narrow features were guarded. 'sir?"

"Your ship. Without a proper refit, and within a short space of time, what chance does she have?"

The others looked at the deck or the chart on the table. Anywhere but at Javal's face.

Javal half rose and then sat down heavily. "I can fight another storm if it's no worse than those gone before, sir." He looked into Bolitho's eyes. "But that is not what you were really asking, is it?" He shook his head. "I can"t fight her, sir. She took a great hammering. A few more balls into her and I fear she"d founder. " He stared at some point above Bolitho's epaulette. 'she's a fine ship, sir, and I’d not ask-" His voice trailed away.

Bolitho watched his distress, the agony his words had cost him.

He said quietly, "I was a frigate captain myself. I know what you are feeling. But I am grateful for your honesty, more so because I know what Buzzard means to you."

He continued in the same quiet tone, "Buzzard's main armament must be jettisoned at once. IT that does not suffice she will have to be abandoned." He kept his eyes on Javal's lowered head. "I am giving you the French prize, Immortalite. The bulk of your people can be spread amongst the squadron at your discretion. We will need every man jack before long. I understand that your first lieutenant was wounded in the fight, Captain?"

He saw him nod, and then turned to Gilchrist.

You will take charge of Buzzard and sail her to Gibraltar with a skeleton company. Avoid trouble, and you should make a safe passage. I will give you your orders, and also the recommendation that you be promoted to commander at the first opportunity. "

Gilchrist, who had been listening to his decisions with obvious dismay, jerked to his feet and exclaimed, "Thank you, sir! I’m only sorry that-" He sat down again without finishing what he had started.

Bolitho said, "We have three ships of the line. They must be commanded by men of experience." He glanced briefly at Probyn, but the man stared through him. "And courage." Herrick asked, 'shall I order the squadron's badly wounded to be transferred to Buzzard, sir?"

"If Captain Javal is satisfied she is seaworthy after the guns have been jettisoned, I think it should be done." He raised his head to listen. "The wind has eased, I think. So let us be about it directly." He gave Inch a pat on the arm. "And you, Commander Inch, will be able to carry the news of our discovery to your new friend, Sir Horatio Nelson!"

As they prepared to leave the cabin, Herrick said, "Farquhar would have wished to be with us."

"Aye, Thomas." He saw Gilchrist waiting to say something. 'see the others into the boats and then tell Pascoe to signal the squadron on the matter of wounded."

He turned to Gilchrist. "What is wrong? I thought you were happy with your appointment, temporary though it will be. " "I am, sir." Gilchrist looked wretchedly at the deck. "J am not a rich man, but I have had great hopes in the King's service. Now you have given me the first real chance-". He sounded near breaking point. "And I cannot accept it. "

Bolitho watched him impassively. "Why? Because of Captain. Probyn? The influence he has used on you to unsettle the flagship's affairs?" He saw the astonishment on his face and continued, "I knew that something was wrong. No man who wished to better his position in the Navy, and wanted to marry his captain's sister, would have acted so foolishly, unless he was affeared of something."

"Yes, sir. It was from a long while back. My father was sent to prison for debt. He was a sick man, and I knew he could not endure it. He was. weak in many ways and had no one to sustain him." He spoke fiercely, reliving his despair. "I borrowed money from the wardroom funds which we had built up to pay for extra wine and fresh food whenever possible. I intended to return it when I could. The first lieutenant found out about it. Made me write a confession which he threatened to use if I ever failed in my duty again. "

"He did wrong, Mr. Gilchrist. As did you."

Gilchrist did not seem to hear. "When I came to Lysander, and eventually became senior lieutenant," I thought I was going to be safe. I admired Captain Herrick, and I found his sister, crippled though she is, a most gracious person. Then we joined the squadron under your flag, sir. And with it came the Nicator and Captain Probyn."

"Your old first lieutenant from the past. "

"Aye, sir."

So that was it. All the years since his capture by the enemy, Probyn had nursed his hatred for Bolitho, the one face in his memory which he could reach and hurt. And when he had found Gilchrist again, he had been prepared to use threats to make him force a breach between himself and Herrick.

The effect on Herrick had been for the good. But it had cost others dearly, and had indirectly put Farquhar to an early death.

Gilchrist said desperately, "After your kindness, sir, I’d not allow myself to profit further at your expense." He gave a short, bitter laugh. "And my father died anyway. For nothing. "

Bolitho watched the other ships through the salt-caked windows. Buzzard would be safe now, he thought. Lighter without her guns, strong in the knowledge that she could avoid any sort of fight or manoeuvre beyond survival. She would survive.

He said quietly, "I am giving you Osiris's surgeon. They say he is a sound doctor. Take good care of our wounded. They have suffered enough. Do not allow them to be left stranded at Gibraltar." He turned, seeing the surprise and gratitude on Gilchrist's face. "I am counting on your vigilance, on their behalf."

Gilchrist nodded dazedly. "You have my word, sir." "Then get about your business." Bolitho could not bear to watch his emotion. Like a man released from a great weight of worry. From the shadow of the gallows itself. "You’ve a lot to do."

Gilchrist walked towards the screen door, his long legs ungainly, his steps without their usual bounce. He turned aft, his face in shadow.

"I’ll tell them when I get home, sir. About what we did… "

"Just tell them we tried, Mr. Gilchrist."

He heard him walking very slowly towards the quarter- deck.

Allday came out of the sleeping cabin, his face grave. "Let me pour you a glass of wine." He glanced meaningly at the closed door. "You were too easy on that one, sir, if you"l1 pardon the liberty."

"He learned a hard lesson, Allday. I think others will profit from it one day."

Allday watched him sipping the wine. "What about Cap"n Probyn, sir?"

Bolitho smiled sadly. "A good question. But he’ll fight when he has to. " He looked at Allday. "Three captains. It is all "we have. Personal differences must wait their turn." Allday grinned. "We do have a commodore, sir. And with all respect, he's not a bad one at that."

Bolitho smiled at him. "Go to hell, Allday."

"Aye, sir. I don’tdoubt I will." He made for the door. "If there's any deck space with so many flag officers in residence!"

Bolitho walked to the windows and leaned against the warm timbers. All the weeks and delays, the hopes raised and dashed, and now he saw a point in it all.

He thought of Gilchrist. Tell them we tried. It sounded like an epitaph.

He stirred himself and put down the glass.

It would be dusk in five or six hours. He needed to be under way by then. The wind aiding instead of hampering, and this" time the objective would be far too big to miss.

In the following days while the three ships sailed east and south, each watch passed much like the one before. Bolitho deployed his small force in line abreast, with Lysander to the north and the Immortalite to the south.

The wind became sluggish and uncertain but maintained its south-westerly direction, so that after losing station during each night, Bolitho worked through the longer hours of daylight to regain his extended line. In the centre, Probyn's Nicator was a constant reminder of what Gilchrist had admit- ted. The weak link, but still the only man with experience enough to handle his two-decker in battle. Nearly three miles separated each ship, and with carefully chosen lookouts, he hoped the area covered would betray some sign, or an out- flung patrol of the enemy's strength.

He had sent Inch away ahead of the squadron, to use his agility and speed to reach Alexandria well ahead of his heavier consorts. Only after he had received Inch's report could he release him to carry his final information to the fleet.

Day by day, with the sun getting hotter, and the first sweeping wave of excitement giving way to a more realistic attitude of resignation. Gun drill was carried out whenever possible, as much to keep the hands occupied as to incorporate the newly-joined men into their team. Herrick had told him that the purser was opening some of the lower tiers of salt beef and pork. And there was no fruit, and barely enough water to drink, let alone use for personal comfort.

In Lysander, Herrick did his best to keep his men busy on watch, and involved in their own entertainment once the sun had departed at the end of each long day. Hornpipes, and" wrestling, a prize of a double rum ration for the most original piece of ropework. In many ways it was harder to think of new ideas than to keep the hands at work and drills.

Bolitho hoped that Javal and Probyn were acting with equal vigour to sustain their own companies. For if they failed to find the enemy this time, there would still be no relief. Just a long, relentless haul back to Syracuse, or to some other mark on the chart which their commodore thought profitable.

Several times Bolitho received signals from Javal that he had sighted the northernmost coast of Africa, but otherwise it seemed as if they had the sea to themselves.

Arguments began to break out, and a knife fight ended in a man being badly gashed, and the other flogged senseless as a grim reminder of discipline.

Then, when Bolitho was starting to worry for Harebell" s safety, the masthead sighted the sloop beating up from the south-east. It took another full day for Inch to draw near, and when he eventually arrived on board, his news was like a slap in the face.

He had sighted the Pharos and had sailed as near as he could to Alexandria. As before, it was empty but for the elderly Turkish men-of-war. Perplexed as to what to do, Inch had gone about, and almost by accident had fallen on a small Genoese trading vessel. Her master had confirmed what Bolitho had believed from the start. After leaving Naples, Nelson had sailed direct to Alexandria, but finding it empty, had led his fleet back to the west again. How far, and to what purpose, Bolitho could only guess, but he could imagine the little admiral searching out information from Syracuse or Naples, and trying to determine what action to take.

The Genoese trader also told Inch's boarding party that he had heard of heavy French ships of war off the Cretan coast.

That had been,many days ago. Despite all the questions, comparing of charts, even threats, the trader could not be more definite.

It was almost dark by the time Inch had, completed his report, and Herrick and Grubb had noted his sparse facts on the chart for future reference.

Tomorrow, Bolitho would send Harebell to search for the fleet again. In his shoes, Bolitho would have been glad to go. To get away from the ponderous manoeuverings of the two-deckers. But Inch protested, "One more day cannot hurt, sir. The French are to the north of us somewhere. It would be better to remain with you and gather something definite for Nelson. Rather than finding the fleet once more with little but rumour to offer."

Bolitho agreed with him in part. But for the weather, and long delays left in the wake of battle, they might have had better luck.

When he had confided his anxiety with Herrick, the latter had protested as strongly as Inch.

"There is nothing more you could do, sir. Even Rear Admiral Nelson was dismasted in a storm and allowed the Frogs to escape from Toulon. It's like seeking a hare in a burrow. With only one ferret, the odds of success are hard against you. "

Bolitho looked at them and smiled. "If I ordered you to sail up the cliffs of Dover, I believe you would obey. "

Inch grinned. "I’d need it in writing, sir."

They went on deck together, and while Inch waited for his boat to pull alongside, Bolitho watched the molten ball of sunset spreading like stained glass in a church.

"Tomorrow then."

He walked aft and peered at the compass, and nodded to Plowman, the master's mate of the watch.

"How is the wind?"

'steady "nough, sir." He squinted at the broad pendant, curling lazily in the sunset. "Tomorrow’ll be another day like this one."

Bolitho waited as Herrick carne from the entry port and said, 'signal the ships to remain in close contact tonight, Thomas." He shivered, and clasped his "arms around his stomach.

Herrick peered at him, startled. "Are you ill, sir? Is that damned fever returning?"

Bolitho looked at him and smiled. "Rest easy. It's just a feeling." He turned towards the poop. "I have a letter to write. It can go with Inch and his despatches. "

Later, in the great, creaking cabin, with the shadows swaying and looming around his table, Bolitho rested his head on his hand and stared at the letter he was writing to his sister in Falmouth.

He could picture Nancy without difficulty. Dark-eyed, and unusually cheerful, she remained closer than his other sister, Felicity, whom he had not seen for six or seven years. She was in India, with her soldier husband, while Nancy remained in Falmouth, the wife of Lewis Roxby, landowner, magistrate, and as far as Bolitho was concerned, a pompous bore.

Once they had all lived together below PendennisCastle walls. With Hugh, and then, years later, Nancy's two children, Helen and James. Now, Hugh was dead, and Felicity across the world, knowing nothing of the French army moving in a blue flood towards Egypt, and towards her.

Nancy's children were grown up, and nearly as old as Adam. It was another world. In Falmouth the air would be heavy with blossom and the sounds of cattle, horses and sheep. The taverns would be full of laughter; of relief that the farms and fishing grounds had once more been good to them.

He wrote-" and young Adam is keeping well and does his duty with a dash which would have pleased Father.

It is not yet certain, dear Nancy, but I think Thomas may have met his lady at long last. Indeed I hope so, for there could be no better husband."

He looked up as voices and feet crossed above the sky light. But they moved away, and he tried to think of something more to tell his sister. He could not write of the other side of things. The faces of Lysander's company whenever you caught them in an unguarded moment. Thinking of their own families, as with each hour they fell further and further astern. Nor could he explain what they were doing, or the great odds against any sort of success.

Anyway, she would guess some of it. She was a captain's daughter, an admiral's grand-daughter. She would know.

He continued-" you will remember Francis Inch? He has trebled in size and confidence since meeting with Sir Horatio Nelson. He was much impressed, although I suspect he thought" "Our Net" would be a giant, instead of a slight man with one arm and a temper to match that of any collier's master!

"I send my love to you and the children, as does Adam, who still thinks of you as a kind of angel. He does hot know you as well as I." He smiled, seeing her pleasure as she read that part and remembered. When he had been at sea, and Adam had walked unknown and unhelped out of nowhere, it had been to Nancy that he had gone. Until that moment in time, nobody in the family, not even Hugh, had realised Adam had existed. Born illegitimate, he had lived to his fourteenth year with his mother at Penzance, and when she had died he had set out on foot for the family to which he really belonged,

Yes, she would recall those days as she read his letter. He finished-" Think of us sometimes. Your loving brother, Dick."

Allday entered the cabin and looked at him curiously. "Moffitt's finished copying your orders for Harebell, sir." He watched as Bolitho sealed the letter and addressed it. "Falmouth, sir?"

"Yes." He leaned back in the chair and looked at the spiralling lantern overhead. "I’ve told my sister that you are as difficult as ever."

Allday turned as Ozzard came through the door. "Well?" Ozzard flinched. "Will the commodore be requiring anything more to eat or drink, please?"

Bolitho stood up and walked uncertainly to the bulkhead and touched the sword.

"Layout my best uniform coat and hat tomorrow, Ozzard. " Allday turned towards him very slowly. "Then you think… "

"Yes." Bolitho looked past him. "I feel it. It will be tomorrow or not at all."

"I’ll need a tot to make me sleep on that news, sir." But he grinned. 'several, most like."

Bolitho roamed about the cabin for a full hour after mid- night, thinking of faces, and things he had shared with them.

Then he turned into his cot, leaving orders with the watch on deck that he was to be called at dawn.

Surprisingly, he felt calmer than he had since the return of his fever, and within minutes of closing his eyes he was fast asleep.

He was awakened by a hand on his shoulder, and saw Herrick studying him in the light of a dimmed lantern. Beyond him, the cabin skylight showed a pink glow.

"What is it, Thomas?"

Then he heard it. Very faint, drifting across the sea like echoes on a beach. Cheering.

"Harebell hoisted a signal at first light, sir." Herrick watched him grimly. "Enemy in sight."