Invasion

'I'm truly sorry to have to report that a midshipman has not returned from leave.'

Calloway, in the Navy since childhood and as loyal as it was possible to be? Or could it be their first-voyage new reefer Tawse, unable to face another bloody action?

'Who is it?'

'Calloway, sir.'

'He's to wait on me the instant he returns on board.' Kydd swore under his breath. There was no possibility of going ashore until this had been resolved, and when Calloway did return an hour later his captain was is no mood for trifling.

The young man stood before him, pale-faced but defiant. 'I'm sorry, Mr. Kydd. It's . . . I overslept, is all.'

'Slewed t' the gills, no doubt.'

'I weren't, Mr. Kydd!'

'Then pray tell, what tavern-keeper fails t' shake his customers in the morning as will have 'em back on board in time? Or was it—'

'I was—that is, there's this girl I was with and . . .'

'And?'

'Sally an' I, well . . .'

Kydd waited.

'Mr. Kydd!' he burst out. 'S' help me, I'm struck on th' girl! She's—she's right dimber an' says I'm the first she's been with, an' she wants t' be spliced to me, and—and . . .'

Biting back a sarcastic retort, Kydd glared at him. 'For an affair o' the heart you'd hazard your chances at the quarterdeck, let your shipmates down? And if there's to be an alarm . . .'

'We're not under Sailin' Orders,' Calloway said doggedly.

'That's not the point, as well you know, younker.'

The young man's eyes dropped, but he went on, in a low voice, 'An' I'm remembering, too, that time in th' Caribbean, you an' Miss Sukey, Mr. Kydd . . .'

'How dare you?' Kydd spluttered. 'An' that was afore I had m' step as an officer,' he added unconvincingly, as though it excused everything.

'Sir, I—'

'Be damned to it! I'll not have m' men out o' the ship at this time. There's a hot war out there, in case y' haven't heard.'

The youngster stared obstinately into space and Kydd nearly weakened, but told him, 'Any seaman in your division as overstays his liberty will be served the same way. It's t' be stoppage o' leave for you, Mr. Calloway.'

The eyes turned on him in misery. 'But, Mr. Kydd, she'll—'

'If you're not on deck assisting the boatswain in ten minutes, I'll double it.'

After the young man had left, Renzi looked up from his papers with a wry smile. 'Miss Sukey? In those piping days of our youth I do not recollect our being introduced . . .'

'I do apologise, old fellow. An unfortunate oversight,' Kydd replied sarcastically. 'And might I ask how your letters are progressing?'

Before Renzi could reply there was the thump of an alarm gun.

Kydd hesitated, but for only a moment. It did not include them, for he had not declared ready for sea, but who could stand idle while others threw themselves into battle? 'We must join 'em,' he said forcefully. The larboard carronades were more or less mounted now and the bulwarks—well, they'd rig canvas dodgers or something.

'Hands t' unmoor ship!' he roared up the companionway, having thrown aside his shore clothing for action dress. By the time he reached the deck the ship was in an uproar.

'Mr. Hallum, a muster o' both watches after they're closed up, if y' please.' Who knew how many were ashore?

The first of the flying squadron slipped to sea, a game little cutter thrashing out into the overcast for the French coast, followed closely by Actaeon. Others loosed sail and joined them, Teazer bringing up the rear, still tying off on the improvised bulwarks. It might have been worse: with a two-thirds complement they could maintain fire on at least every other gun and, with no real need to mount long sea watches, they had a chance.

In hours Teazer and the others were hove to before Boulogne and telescopes were quickly raised on quarterdecks. At first glance there seemed no threatening movement. Then, from inshore, a small sloop set course under a crowd of sail direct for Actaeon. It would be one of the British inshore squadron that was doggedly watching the huge concentration.

'A baneful sight for English eyes,' said Renzi, who generally kept out of sight until the ship was called to quarters.

His station was then on the quarterdeck to record events for the captain.

'Why, t' be sure,' Kydd responded off-handedly. 'And as long as we don't fall asleep, I dare t' say this is where they must remain.'

He grunted and continued to search with his telescope. It was his first encounter with the menacing sights around this premier invasion port. The prospect was awesome. The pale regular shapes of the encampment of the