Lotti gulped. “And he says … He says he won’t make the crossing with Elsie. He says if something goes wrong it could put us all in danger, not just her, because you wouldn’t be able to concentrate on the boat, and he wants two good pairs of hands on board, and I’m not good enough. And he’s right,” Lotti added honestly. “I’m not. Jim says he’ll take care of Elsie. He says you can pick her up on your way back, when you’ve found Sam. And the puppies. But for now …”

“I have to choose,” said Ben. “Elsie or Sam.”

“Yes.”

There was a very long silence, which Lotti did not dare interrupt.

“We’ll leave her then,” Ben said at last. “I choose Sam.”

He managed to keep his voice steady but later, when Lotti was asleep, he crept out of his berth and called Elsie softly to him. Together, they padded into the workshop. They slept the rest of the night in Nathan’s berth, with Ben’s arms wrapped round his dog and his hands clutching her fur.

Chapter Eighteen

Lotti and Ben woke before dawn the following morning to a rap from Frank on the cabin hatch. For a moment, Ben forgot where he was. Then Elsie shifted beside him and he remembered.

He was leaving her.

“To find Sam,” he reminded himself, but it still felt like a betrayal.

They had let the stove go cold overnight, to prevent sparks from flying if they hit rough waters on the Thames, and so it was a cheerless breakfast on the Sparrowhawk on the morning of their great adventure, bread and jam washed down with water and a hefty dose of heartache. All around them on the basin, other crews were waking, voices calling out to each other. On board the Sparrowhawk, dogs and crew sat in silence in the galley.

Another knock, then Frank swung down the steps, a rucksack over his shoulder.

“It’s time,” he said.

Ben, with a heart of lead, clicked his tongue. “Come on then, girl.”

Very softly, Elsie began to whine.

“She’s crying,” said Lotti, close to tears herself.

“Rubbish,” said Frank. “Dogs don’t cry. Come on, Elsie. You’ll have a grand time with Jim.”

Still whining, Elsie backed into Nathan’s workshop. Frank, with a groan of impatience, stepped after her and picked her up. Followed close behind by Ben, he carried her through the cabin and deposited her on the quayside.

“Lawks, she’s heavy,” he grunted. “At least without her we’ll be lighter in the water.”

Nobody smiled at his attempt at a joke. Jim folded Ben into a hug.

“Oh, for Pete’s sake!” sighed Frank. “Don’t tell me you’re going soft too.”

“It’s a big thing, saying goodbye to your dog,” said Jim.