“Agreed?” Broughton glared at him. “Is that all that happened?”

Herrick looked past him, his eyes suddenly sad. “They hanged the ringleaders, sir, but not before some of the officers were removed from the ships as unsuitable to hold authority!”

Broughton stood up violently. “How did you hear all this?”

“My ship was in the mutiny at the Nore, sir.”

The admiral stared at him as if he had misheard. “Your ship? Do you mean you just stood by and let them seize her from you?”

Herrick replied evenly, “There was no choice, sir.” Bolitho saw a gleam of the same old stubbornness in his eyes as he continued, “Anyway, I agreed with most of their demands. I was allowed to remain aboard because they knew I understood, like many other captains!”

Bolitho interrupted swiftly, “That is interesting, Captain Herrick.” He hoped Herrick would feel the warning in his voice. “Sir Lucius too had much the same experience at Spithead.” He smiled at Broughton. “Is that not so, sir?”

Broughton opened his mouth and then said, “Ah. Up to a point.”

Herrick stepped forward. “But, sir, I have not yet told you my own news.” He glanced at Bolitho. “I met with St Vincent at Cadiz and was ordered to find your squadron. He requires the bomb vessels for an attack on Teneriffe, I believe. Rear-Admiral Nelson is to lead it.”

Broughton commented harshly, “Rear-Admiral now, is he?”

Herrick hid a smile. “But two days back we sighted a strange sail off Malaga. I laid my ship between it and the shore and gave chase. It was a frigate, sir, and although my sixty-four is fast, she’s no match for that. But I kept up the pursuit, and only lost her this very morning. I imagined it was her when I sighted your rear-most ship.”

Broughton said dryly, “Very exciting. Well, you lost her, so where’s the cause for glee?”

Herrick watched him calmly. “I heard of what happened, sir. I’d know that ship anywhere. She was Auriga.”

Bolitho said, “Are you certain, Thomas?”

He nodded firmly. “No doubt about it. Served with her for some months. Auriga, quite certain.”

Calvert laid the opened despatches on the desk but Broughton swept them aside as he groped for his chart.

“Here! Show me, Herrick. Mark it on the chart!”

Herrick glanced enquiringly at Bolitho and then stooped over the desk.

“She was heading almost due east, sir.”

“And you nearly overhauled her? In a two-decker?” Broughton sounded desperate.

“Aye, sir. Impulsive may be old, and her hull is so ripe that I fear it would fall apart but for the copper, but she’s the fastest ship in the fleet.” There was real pride in his voice. “Auriga might have gone into Cartagena, sir. In which case . . .”

Broughton shook his head. “Never. My patrols would have seen and engaged her.” He rubbed his chin vigorously. “Due east, you say? By heaven, we might still run her to earth!” He looked at Herrick. “And by God I’d not have hung a few miserable mutineers! I would have hanged the lot of them!”