1805 by Richard Woodman

see?’
    â€˜Why . . . I . . .’
    â€˜No, Hill, we’d never have fallen for that,’ said James Quilhampton, getting his revenge. ‘A married man would not have been so imprudent as to have carried so much sail upon his
bowsprit
!’
    Upon this phallic reference the company burst into unrestrained laughter at the first lieutenant’s discomfiture. Rogers coloured and Drinkwater came to his rescue.
    â€˜Take it in good part, Sam. I heard she was devilish pretty and these fellows are only jealous. Besides I’ve news for you. You need no longer stand a watch. I received notice this morning that Keith wants us to find a place for an élève of his, a Lieutenant Fraser . . .’
    â€˜Oh God, a Scotchman,’ complained Rogers, irritated by Quilhampton and knowing his partiality in that direction. Mullender drew the cloth and placed the decanter in front of Drinkwater. He filled his glass and sent it round the table.
    â€˜And now, gentlemen . . . The King!’
    Drinkwater looked round the table and reflected that they were not such a bad set of fellows and it was a very pleasant day to be dining, with the reflections of sunlight on the water bouncing off the painted deckhead and the polished glasses.
    Two days later the weather wore a different aspect. Since dawn
Antigone
had worked closer inshore under easy sail, having been informed by signal that some unusual activity was taking place in the harbour and anchorage of Boulogne Road. By noon the wind, whichhad been steadily freshening from the north during the forenoon, began to blow hard, sending a sharp sea running round Cap Gris Nez and among the considerable numbers of invasion craft anchored under the guns of Boulogne’s defences.
    The promise of activity, either action with the enemy or the need to reef down, had aroused the curiosity of the officers and the watch on deck. A dozen glasses were trained to the eastward.
    â€˜Mr Frey, make to
Constitution
to come within hail.’
    â€˜Aye, aye, sir.’ The bunting rose jerkily to the lee mizen topsail yard and broke out. Drinkwater watched the hired cutter that two days earlier had brought their new lieutenant. She tacked and lay her gunwhale over until she luffed under the frigate’s stern. Drinkwater could see her commander, Lieutenant Dennis, standing expectantly on a gun-carriage. He raised a speaking-trumpet.
    â€˜Alert Captain Owen of the movement in the Road!’ He saw Dennis wave and the jib of
Constitution
was held aback as she spun on her heel and lay over again on a board reach to the west where Owen in the
Immortalité
was at anchor with the frigate
Leda
. Owen was locally the senior officer of Keith’s ‘Boulogne division’ and it was incumbent upon Drinkwater to let him know of any unusual movements of the French that might be taken advantage of.
    â€˜Well, gentlemen, let’s slip the hounds off the leash. Mr Frey, make to
Harpy, Bloodhound
and
Archer
Number Sixteen: “Engage the enemy more closely”.’ The 18-gun sloop and the two little gun-brigs were a mile or so to the eastward and eager for such a signal. Within minutes they were freeing off and running towards the dark cluster of French
bateaux
above which the shapes of sails were being hoisted.
    â€˜Mr Hill, a man in the chains with a lead. Beat to quarters and clear for action, Mr Rogers.’ He stood beside the helmsmen. ‘Up helm. Lee forebrace there . . .’
    Antigone
eased round to starboard under her topsails and began to bear down on the French coast. The sun was already westering in a bloody riot of purple cloud and great orange streaks of mare’s tails presaging more wind on the morrow.
Antigone
stood on, coming within clear visual range of the activity in the anchorage.
    â€˜Forty-four, forty-five brigs and – what’ve you got on that slate, Frey? – forty-three luggers,