He rounded a bend in the road and almost fell on top of Captain Rennie, who was sitting comfortably on a small mound of grass, his cocked hat and sword lying neatly beside him. Cradled on his knees was a half-eaten pie, and even as Okes staggered to a halt Rennie glanced up at him and dabbed at his mouth with a handkerchief.

“Delicious.” He looked curiously past Okes. “They sound busy back there.”

Okes stared round wildly. This was almost too much. He wanted to scream, to shake Rennie, to make him realise the enormity of the danger.

Rennie’s eyes narrowed, but he said calmly, “A chicken pie? I had almost forgotten what it was like.” He gestured over his shoulder, but kept his eyes on Okes’s stricken face. “Some Dutch folk from the village brought it for me during the night, y’know. Damn nice people really. It’s a pity we’re at war, isn’t it.” He stood up and wrapped the remainder of the pie carefully in his handkerchief. Then he said quietly. “You’d better tell me what is happening.”

Okes controlled his breathing with a savage effort. “The French are coming! Over there, behind the hill.”

“I know. My men have already spotted them.” Rennie regarded him calmly. “What did you expect them to do?”

The marine’s obvious indifference gave Okes the little extra strength he still needed. “You can start falling back. I’ve given orders to fire the magazine.” He dropped his eyes. “I’m blowing the bridge as soon as McIntosh is ready!”

Rennie stared at him. “But the captain! How in hell’s name can he get back to us without the bridge?” He clapped on his hat and reached for his sword. “I’d better go and have a look back there.”

Okes blocked his way, his eyes blazing. “You know the orders! I’m in charge if anything happens to the captain! Your duty is to cover the withdrawal!”

Sergeant Garwood trotted round the bend, his halfpike glittering in the growing light. “Sir.” He ignored Okes. “The Frogs is comin’! There’s best part of a company movin’ down on our flank. I think the rest will try and work round the village and take us from the rear.”

Rennie nodded, his face suddenly grave. “Very well. I’ll come at once.”

He turned back to Okes and said slowly, “You’ll wait a bit longer surely? It takes time to get a boat back to the headland!”

Okes swung on his heel as a ragged volley of musket fire echoed around the hills. “Get back to your men, Captain Rennie. I hope I know my duty!”

Rennie shrugged and walked quickly up the sloping hillside towards the firing. When he looked back he could see the smoke from the anchorage drifting across the headland in a solid wall, and tried to picture the devastation beyond.

Against the hillside and the glittering water below the cliff Okes’s running figure looked frail and lost. “I hope you do, Mr Okes!” Rennie spoke aloud to the empty hillside. Then he turned and began to run to his prepared positions and his men.