“I know.” Bolitho shaded his eyes against the glare and looked thoughtfully at the stumpy mast. “Get that sail broken out, lads. We’ll get clear of Mola Island and make for the nearest friendly one.” His crisp tone hid the doubt and the anger.

Stockdale wiped the wounded seaman’s forehead with a wet rag and muttered, “A miracle would come in ’andy, sir!”

Bolitho stripped off his tattered coat and regarded him calmly. “I’m afraid that is not my province, Stockdale, but I will bear it in mind.”

He settled against the tiller bar and steered towards the rising sun.

* * *

Lieutenant Thomas Herrick listened to the bell as it announced the end of the first dog-watch and then resumed his pacing back and forth across the quarterdeck.

With a warm but fresh breeze from her quarter the Phalarope had made good time back to her patrol area, yet Herrick could find nothing but apprehension and a sense of loss at the speedy passage. He still could not accept what had happened, and felt the same inner anguish he had experienced when the weary raiding party had clambered up the frigate’s side.

Even then he had been unwilling to accept that Bolitho was missing. Then he had seen Rennie’s grim features and had felt the nervous uncertainty of the other returning sailors and marines. Only Okes had appeared unmoved by the disaster. No, Herrick frowned as he tried to relive exactly the moment Okes had stepped aboard, unmoved was not the proper description. There had been a sort of guarded jauntiness about him which was totally out of character. Herrick had gone to question him, but Vibart had summoned Okes to the quarterdeck where he had been brooding in silence since the landing party had left for the shore.

Rennie had been unusually reticent. But when Herrick had persisted, the marine had said shortly, “It was a dangerous mission, Thomas. We must always expect such things to happen!” He had been watching Okes speaking jerkily to the first lieutenant and he had added bitterly, “I was sent to this ship with my detachment to reinforce the discipline. To protect the officers from any new threat of mutiny.” His eyes had blazed with sudden anger. “It now appears that the Phalarope’s officers must be protected from each other!” Rennie had ended, “I must attend to my wounded. They at least have nothing of which to be ashamed!”

Herrick had then cornered McIntosh the gunner’s mate. The latter had looked nervously at the quarterdeck before replying, “How can I tell, sir? I just did my duty. Mr Farquhar was the only one who must have seen what happened.” He had gestured wearily astern. “And he’s back there, dead with the rest!”

“But you think something went wrong, don’t you?” Herrick’s voice had been harsh.

“You know I can’t afford to answer that, Mr Herrick.” The man had looked back at the wounded and exhausted seamen from the lugger. “It took a lot of pain and sweat to get where I am now. You know what would happen to me if I made accusations.”