Alexander Kent - Signal-Close Action!

Major Leroux, his arm in a sling. Old Ben Grubb, as fierce as ever as he mumbled, "Good luck to ye, sir." Mewse, the purser, Lieutenant Steere, the midshipmen, no longer so nervous, but tanned and somehow aged in the months at sea.

He paused by the entry port and glanced down. Allday was already in the barge, very upright in his blue coat and nankeen breeches, as he watched over the oarsmen. They, too, looked different. In neat checked shirts and tarred hats, they were making a special effort for him.

Also in the boat was Ozzard, a small bundle of belongings in his thin arms, his eyes upturned to the ship. When Bolitho had asked him if he would like to be his permanent servant, he had been unable to answer. He had merely nodded unable to accept that his life of hiding in one ship after another was over,

He turned and looked at Pascoe. "Goodbye, Adam. I hope to see you again soon." He gave the youth a quick handshake and to Herrick added, "Take care of each other, eh?"

Then he raised his hat to the side party and climbed down into the barge. As it pulled strongly beneath Lysander's great shadow he turned to look at her again.

Allday watched him, saw his expression as he listened to the cheering which burst from Lysander’s deck and shrouds.

Bolitho said, "There were a lot of faces missing back there. "

Allday replied, Never you fret on it, sir. We showed "em, and that's no error!"

As the barge wended its way around another anchored man of war, Herrick, who had watched it until it was hidden from view, walked slowly aft to the poop deck, his shoes catching on the many splitter holes" yet to be repaired. He turned as Pascoe came after him, the stained and tom broad pendant draped over his shoulder.

Pascoe smiled, but the sadness remained in his dark eyes.

"I thought you would want it, sir?"

Herrick looked around his ship. Remembering.

"I’ve got all this, Adam." He took the pendant. "I’ll send it to Captain Farquhar's mother. She has nothing left now." Pascoe left him by the broken nettings and crossed to the other side. But there was no sign of the barge and the Rock was already in deep shadow.