changes, does it?”
One by one the captains departed, each eager to return to his own command and prepare his people for battle.
Bolitho waited until Browne arrived at the entry port, ready to be taken across to the waiting brig.
Browne said, “I am worried about your not having a suitable aide, sir. Perhaps Commodore Herrick could select a replacement?”
Bolitho shook his head. “The midshipman who was injured, I’ll take him. He is good with signals, you said, and his French is passable, you said that too.” It was impossible to keep it casual and matter of fact.
“ Stirling.” Browne smiled. “Young but eager. Hardly suitable for your aide, sir.”
Bolitho looked at the Benbow’s barge being swayed outboard in readiness to carry him to Inch’s ship.
“He will be only temporary, I trust, Oliver?” Their eyes met and then Bolitho grasped his hand. “I am not happy about this. Take good care. I’ve got used to your ways now.”
Browne returned the handclasp but did not smile. “Don’t worry, sir, you’ll get the time you need.” He stood back and touched his hat, the contact broken.
Herrick watched the brig’s jolly-boat pulling away and said, “Brave fellow.” Then he turned on his heel and strode away to attend to his ship.
Allday came aft and waited for Bolitho to see him.
“Ozzard’s sent your gear across to Odin, sir. He’s gone with it. Wouldn’t stay in Benbow a second time, he said. Beggin’ your pardon, sir, nor would I.”
Bolitho smiled. “It seems we are always making this journey, Allday.”
He glanced at the midshipmen at the flag halliards preparing to strike his flag and hoist Herrick’s broad-pendant as he departed. At least it would protect Herrick from any criticism if the worst happened.
He turned and shaded his eyes to watch for Rapid ’s boat but it had already merged alongside and was lost from view.
Lieutenant the Honourable Oliver Browne had not even hesitated. It would make those in safe occupations ashore think again if they could have seen his sacrifice.
Herrick joined him and said, “Your acting flag-lieutenant is here, sir.”
They all looked down at Midshipman Stirling, who with bag in one hand and signals book under his arm was staring at Bolitho.
Bolitho saw that the midshipman had one hand resting in a sling, and said, “Take his things, Allday.”
Allday almost winked, but not quite. “Aye, aye, sir. This way, young sir, I’ll see you get no lip from them Odins.”
“Well, Thomas.”
Herrick rubbed his chin. “Aye, sir, it’s time.”
“Remember, Thomas, a victory now will put heart into the ordinary people at home. They’ve had much to bear over the years. It’s not only sailors who suffer in a war, you know.”
Herrick forced a grin. “Don’t fret, sir, I’ll be there with the squadron. No matter what.” He was making a great effort. “Besides, I’ve got to be at the wedding, haven’t I?”
They shook hands.
“I’d not forgive you otherwise, Thomas.”
Herrick straightened his back. “Carry on, Major Clinton.”
Clinton ’s sword glittered in the pale sunlight. “Marines! Present arms!”
The drums rolled and the fifers broke into Heart of Oak, and with a last glance at his friend Bolitho climbed down to the waiting barge.
“Bear off forrard! Out oars!” Allday’s shadow rose over the rearadmiral and diminutive midshipman like a cloak. “Give way, all!”
The green-painted barge turned swiftly away from Benbow’s side, and as it pushed out of her protective lee, Bolitho was startled by a sudden burst of wild cheering. He turned and looked back as Benbow’s seamen lined the gangway and swarmed into the shrouds to cheer him on his way.
Allday murmured softly, “Good ship, sir.”
Bolitho nodded, unable to find words for the unexpected demonstration.
Benbow, which had been his flagship in some of the worst fighting he had known, was wishing him well.
He was glad of the cold spray which danced over the gunwale and touched his face as if to steady and reassure him. He saw Midshipman Stirling staring enthralled at the Odin where the ceremony would begin all over again.
Allday stared at the small two-decker with the fierce Norseman’s figurehead and winged helmet waiting to receive them.
“Proper pot o’ paint she looks!” he muttered disdainfully.
“What do you think of all this, er, Mr Stirling?”
The boy looked gravely at his rear-admiral and took a few seconds to answer. He had just been writing a letter in his mind to his mother, describing this very moment.
“It is the happiest day of my life, sir.”
He said it so seriously that Bolitho momentarily forgot his anxieties.
“Then we must try and keep it so, eh?”
The barge hooked on to Odin’s main-chains, and Bolitho saw Inch peering down at him, not wishing to miss a minute of it as his ship hoisted the flag.
In his excitement Stirling made for the side of the barge, but was forestalled by Allday’s great fist on his shoulder.
“Belay that, sir! This is the admiral’s barge, not some midshipmite’s bumboat!”
Bolitho nodded to them and then climbed swiftly up Odin’s tumblehome.
“Welcome aboard, sir!” Inch had to shout above the din of fifes and barked commands.
Bolitho glanced aloft as his flag broke from the mizzen truck. There it was, and there it would remain until it was finished. One way or the other.
“You may get the ship under way, Captain Inch.”
Inch was staring uncertainly at Midshipman Stirling.
Bolitho added calmly, “Oh, Mr Stirling, signal, if you please. From Flag to Rapid. Make, We Happy Few.”
Stirling scribbled furiously on his book and then ran to muster the signalling party.
Bolitho shaded his eyes to watch the little brig turn stern on to the rest of the squadron. Stirling would not understand the signal, neither probably would Rapid ’s signals midshipman.
But Browne would know. Bolitho turned towards the poop. And that mattered.
“Rapid ’s acknowledged, sir.”
Bolitho entered his new quarters and saw Allday carefully placing the bright presentation sword on a rack.
Allday said defensively, “Makes it more like home, sir.”
Bolitho sat down and watched Ozzard bustling around the cabin as if he had served in Odin for years.
Stirling entered and stood awkwardly, shifting from one foot to the other.
“Well, Mr Stirling, what do you suggest I do now?”
The boy regarded him warily and then said, “I think you should invite some of the ship’s officers to dinner, sir.”
Allday’s face split into a grin. “A proper flag-lieutenant already, sir, an’ that’s no error!”
Bolitho smiled. Perhaps by being with Browne, Stirling had also learned something.
“That is an excellent idea. Would you ask the first lieutenant to see me?”
The door closed and Allday said, “I’ll find you a good sword for later on.”
By later on, Allday meant the forthcoming battle with the French.
But now the rear-admiral would show his other face to Odin’s officers, the one which displayed confidence and a certainty of victory. For on the day after tomorrow they would be looking to him again and, right or wrong, they had to trust him.
Inch entered the cabin and peered round as if to assure himself that the quarters were suitable for his unexpected arrival.
He remarked, “Phalarope’s taken station to wind’rd as ordered, sir.” He tossed his hat to his own servant. “If
