Pochin on the opposite side of the breech sneered, “Just as I said! It takes more than pretty clothing to make men of the likes o’ you!” He jerked savagely at the tackle. “If you’d seen what I’d seen you’d die of fear, man.” He looked around at the others. “I’ve seen whole fleets at each other’s throats.” He let his words sink in. “The sea covered in masts, like a forest!”

Pryce snapped, “Hold your noise!”

He cocked his head as Herrick called, “Gun Captains! As soon as we engage on the larboard side send your best men to back up the other battery under Mr Okes!”

The captains held up their hands and then turned back to watch the empty sea.

Allday looked across at Okes and saw the officer’s face gleaming with sweat. He looked white. Like a corpse already, he thought.

Vibart’s voice rang hollowly through his speaking trumpet. “Braces there! Stand by to wear ship!”

Allday ran his fingers along the cold breech and whispered fervently, “Come on! Get it over with!”

The Phalarope was outclassed and outgunned, even he could see that. With half her men already too terrified to think it was just a matter of how soon her colours would fall.

He glanced down at his legs and felt a chill of terror. It never left him, and the years on the quiet Cornish hillside amongst the sheep had done nothing to dispel it. The fear of mutilation, and the horror of what followed.

Old Strachan called softly from the next gun, “ ’Ere, you lads!” He waited until his words had penetrated the minds of the new men. “Wrap a neckscarf around yer ears afore we start to blow! You’ll ’ave no eardrums else!”

Allday nodded. He had forgotten that lesson. If only they had been prepared and ready. Instead they had stumbled out from their hammocks and almost at once the nightmare had begun. First the excitement of a friendly ship, fading instantly in the drummer’s roll as the men ran gasping and wide-eyed to quarters. He could just see the same little drummer boy beside one rank of marines. He was staring across at the captain as if to read his own fate.

Pryce muttered, “Never bin a fight like this afore.” He looked up at the billowing sails. “Too much wind. It’ll be hit hard an’ run, you mark my words!”

There was a rasp of steel as Herrick drew his sword. He lifted it above his head, the blade holding the sun like firelight.

“Stand by in the larboard battery!”

Ferguson moaned softly, “Oh, Grace! Where are you, Grace?”

From aft Vibart bellowed, “Put the helm down! Hard down there!”

They all felt the deck begin to cant further as the seamen forward let go the headsail sheets and allowed the plunging frigate to swing wildly across the wind.

Allday swallowed hard as the gunports suddenly darkened and the other ship’s raked bow pushed across his vision. She filled the port, her guns and spray-soaked hull leaning at an angle as if to reach out and smash the Phalarope as she swung impudently towards her.