How the impasse was resolved Gus never found out, but quite suddenly everything changed. The troops were withdrawn, the repairs were completed, and Shenandoah was towed out of the dry dock and dropped anchor again in the bay. As if by magic, a collier flying the British flag materialised and offloaded tons of much-needed coal; supplies were brought aboard and Gus realised to his dismay that they were preparing to sail. His urgent request to be allowed ashore to say goodbye to his friends was refused and at dawn next morning the Shenandoah weighed her anchor and headed for the open sea.

‘Cheer up, lad!’ said Boney. ‘That’s a sailor’s life for you. It’s full of goodbyes.’

‘But I didn’t get to say goodbye,’ Gus protested. ‘They’ll understand.’

‘I wonder.’

One further incident occurred before they settled down on the next leg of the voyage. As soon as they were in international waters, men Gus had never seen before began appearing from every corner of the ship. Some had been in the lower hold, some in empty water tanks and a few in the hollow bowsprit, and all had apparently eluded Captain Waddell’s professed efforts to search for them. They were mustered on deck and the captain asked what nationality they belonged to. Every man declared that he was a native of the southern states and had stowed away with the express purpose of joining their fellow countrymen in their fight against the oppressors. Captain Waddell then had them all signed on as crew.

The Shenandoah was now fully manned, for the first time in the voyage.

Nine

Freeman’s Wishes All Our Customers Health, Happiness and Prosperity in 1865

The notices were in all the windows of the shop. May hugged the idea to herself, feeling that it applied to her as well. A new life had opened up for her and she intended to grab the opportunities it offered with both hands.

From her first day working for Nan Driscoll she had known that she had found her proper place. Nan was an expert at her trade and seemed to enjoy imparting her skills, and, for May, the chance to spend her days surrounded by beautiful things was more than compensation for long hours and little pay. The shop opened at eight o’clock and she was expected to be there to prepare the equipment and materials for the day’s work.