'Lay her on the starboard tack! ' Bolitho clung to the shrouds and stared abeam where a fire was still burning fiercely to show where the marines had created a diversion. Tiny lanterns moved this way and that, and he realized they were on the other vessel, which had already changed her bearing considerably. After the long pull around the headland, the apprehension and fear, the actual cutting-out had taken less than twenty minutes. It seemed incredible, and as he paused to think of the nearness of death he felt the sweat like ice-rime on his spine. He slid down a backstay and found Tregorren bellowing orders down the after companion. Dancer ran across the deck and said, 'God, I was worried for you! I thought we were never going to engage! ' He turned as a man yelled, 'Sir! There's a whole lot of British seamen battened down 'ere! ' Tregorren snapped, 'See to them! No doubt they are some of the brig's own company.' He caught the man's arm. 'But prisoners, sick or bloody well dying, I want 'em up here on deck! ' He lowered his face to the compass box. 'Hold her steady, quartermaster. As close to the wind as you can. I want no mauling from that battery! ' 'Aye, aye, sir.' The men at the wheel eased the spokes deftly. 'Full an' bye, sir! West by south! ' Bolitho watched the figures emerging from the main hatch. Even in the darkness he could sense their disbelief as they were helped and pushed on to the open deck. One man lurched aft and touched his forehead. 'Starkie, sir. Master's mate of the Sandpiper' He swayed, and would have fallen but for Bolitho. Tregorren was watching the released seamen, his chin sunk on his neckcloth. 'You the senior?' 'Aye, sir. Cap'n Wade and the other officers were killed.' He dropped his eyes. 'We have been in hell, sir.' 'Possibly.' Tregorren strode to the foot of the mainmast and squinted up at the flapping topsail. 'Get some of those hands to work and set the spanker and then the fores'l. I want to get some sea-room.' He turned and added shortly, 'Well, Mr Starkie, you can take charge aft as you are the best qualified.' He looked him slowly up and down, as if his eyes could pierce the darkness. 'Although it would seem you are less so for defending one of His Majesty's ships, eh?' He hurried away, shouting for Dancer and thrusting through the dazed seamen like a plough. The master's mate consulted the compass and the set of the topsail and said harshly. 'He had no cause to speak like that. We had no chance.' He looked at Bolitho and added, 'You fought well back there. Some of these devils were laughing at what they would do if your ship tried to force home an attack.' 'But who are they?' Starkie let out a great sigh. 'Pirates, corsairs, call 'em what you will, but I swear I have seen none worse, and I have been at sea all my years.' Bolitho saw two men carrying Lieutenant Hope to the companion and prayed he would be strong enough to survive. Several seamen had died, and it was a miracle there were not more to be buried. Starkie said, 'They kept us aboard to crew the poor Sandpiper. Like galley slaves we were. Beaten and treated like scum. They had only enough hands for the guns. But enough to keep us cowed, I can tell you.' Eden had joined them. 'Any midshipmen, w-were there?' Starkie looked at him for several seconds. 'Two. Only two. Mr Murray died in the attack. Mr Flowers, he was about your age, well, they killed him later.' He turned away. 'Now leave me be, I don't want to think about it.' Tregorren came aft again. He sounded almost jovial as he called, 'She answers well, Mr Starkie. A fine little vessel. Fourteen guns too, I see.' Eden said, 'Mr S-Starkie says that the pirates are the worst he's s-seen, sir! ' Tregorren was still studying the brig, his head cocked as the sails shuddered and banged before the rudder brought the ship back on course again. 'Indeed, indeed. Well, the other pirate vessel has weighed.' He faced Starkie. 'And where would she be going, d'you reckon?' Starkie shrugged. 'They have another rendezvous to the north of here. Cap'n Wade was searching for it when we were attacked.' 'I see.' Tregorren walked aft to the taffrail. 'Be first light in an hour or so. We will be able to signal Gorgon. Put a good man aloft as lookout. We may be able to catch that one and give him a nice dance at the end of a halter.' He swung angrily on Eden. 'Well, what arejyow gaping at? I hear you were useless during the attack! Weeping for your mother, were you? Nobody to protect you?' Bolitho said, 'Easy, sir, some of the people are listening.' 'And damn you for your impertinence! ' Tregorren's mood had changed like a savage squall. Til have no more of it! ' Bolitho stood his ground. 'Mr Eden was knocked down during the boarding, sir.' He could feel his caution dropping away, his future already in ruins. But he was sick of Tregorren's sarcasm and brutality towards those unable to fight back. 'We were, you recall, outnumbered, sir. We had been expecting some support.' Tregorren stared at him as if suffering a seizure. 'Are you suggesting -' He tugged at his neckcloth. 'Are you daring to suggest that I was late in boarding?'