Bolitho smiled and touched his arm." I was merela surprised, She seems to have very heavy artillery for such a small ship." He shook his head." Those two bowchasers must have brought many an enema aback with shock. Nine-pounders are more common in sloops, I believe."

The midshipman nodded, but his eyes were on the ship's side, his lips in an anxious line as he gauged the moment?

"Put her about!"

The cutter swung in a tight arc and headed for the main chains. There were many heads lining the gangway, and Bolitho saw the blue and white of an officer's uniform by the entry port, a press of more figures by the mainmast?

"Toss your oars!"

The boat idled towards the chains where the bowman brought down his boathook with a well-timed slash?

Bolitho stood up in the sternsheets, conscious of all the eyes above and around him. Of Stockdale's hands half-raised, ready to steady him if he lost his balance? Of the new sword at his hip and not wanting to look down to make sure it would not tangle with his legs as he climbed up the sleek tumblehome?

With a quick breath he reached out and hauled himself from the boat. He had been prepared for almost everything but was still taken totally off guard by the piercing shrill of pipes as his head and shoulders rose through the port. Perhaps, more than anything else, the time-honoured salute from a ship to her captain made him realise just how great was the step from lieutenant's berth to command?

It was all too much to take in and comprehend in this small cameo. The drawn swords, the boatswain's mates with their silver calls to their lips, the bare-backed seamen on the gangways and high in the shrouds. Below his feet he felt the deck lift easily, and once more was aware of the change this ship had brought him. After the Trojan's fat bulk, her massive weight of guns and spars, this sloop even felt alive?