Kydd's pulse beat faster. Could it be? Was he to step aboard Teazer as her captain once again? He tried to appear calm.

"Yet at the same time there is something of a moral difficulty."

Kydd's heart felt about to burst.

"I believe you will have already considered the grave consequences of your assuming command of Teazer at this time, and it does you the utmost credit, sir," Saumarez went on.

Fearful of betraying his feelings Kydd dropped his eyes.

"Therefore I shall relieve you of any responsibility. In my opinion the claims of natural justice outweigh those of position and advancement."

Kydd was struggling to make sense of what was being said.

Saumarez pondered then continued, "Conceivably the circumstances should properly be construed as the unfortunate relinquishing of command, which, in the nature of the sea service, must from time to time occur."

So he was not going to be allowed to take back Teazer!

Saumarez saw Kydd's stricken face and hastened to console him. "Pray do not allow your natural human feeling for a brother officer to affect you so, sir. Consider, in leaving command Mr. Standish must in any event revert to lieutenant. He is an acting commander only and therefore the mercy is that, by this happenstance, he is spared being sent ashore as unemployed."

Kydd's mind whirled. He certainly did not want the arrogant prig back as his lieutenant after the contempt he had shown for him when he had become a privateer captain. "I—I do see that, sir," he managed, "but I have concern that the hands might not show proper respect, he being reduced back to lieutenant an' all."