'Andyou allege that Lieutenant Rowley's act — to go away from the hazard — was thewrong one?' Gardiner snapped.

'Aye,sir!' Kydd's certainty seemed to unsettle Gardiner, who muttered somethingindistinct, but waited.

'Wesighted breakers next to loo'ard, an' because L'tenant Rowley had come off thewind, they were fast coming in under our lee an' no time to stay about.'

Therewas a breathy silence. Gardiner's face hardened.

'Youare alleging that the loss of Artemis was directly attributable to this officer'sactions?'

Therewas now no avoiding the issue. He must stand by his words, which he must repeatat length in court, or abjectly deny them. 'Yes, sir!' he said firmly.

Gardinerleaned back slowly, fixing Kydd with his hard eyes. Unexpectedly, he sighed.'Very well, we will take your deposition.'

Therewas a meaningful cough from the clerk. Gardiner turned slightly and somethingpassed between them that Kydd was unable to catch. Resuming his gaze Gardineradded, 'And in your own words, if you please.'

Concentratingwith all his might Kydd told the simple story of the destruction of the crackfrigate, from the first chilling sight of breakers in mid-Atlantic to herinevitable wrecking on an outer ledge of rock on one of the islands of theAzores.

Buthe said nothing of the personal heartbreak he felt at the death of the firstship he had really loved, the ship that had borne him round the world to somany adventures, that had turned him from tentative sailor to first-classseaman and petty officer. He also omitted the story of the nightmare of thebreak-up of the wreck during the night and his desperate swim for his lifeamong the relentless breakers, the joy at finally finding himself alive. Thosedetails would not interest these legal gentlemen.