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compass, I think an attack has a good chance.’ He waited, seeing the doubts and arguments in Pears’ eyes. ‘It would give us an extra vessel, and maybe more. Information, news of what the privateers are doing.’
    Pears sat back and stared at him grimly. ‘You are a man of ideas, I’ll give you that.’
    Cairns said, ‘The fourth lieutenant put the thought in my mind, sir.’
    â€˜Might have guessed it.’ Pears stood up and walked towards the windows, his thickset frame angled to the deck. ‘Damned Cornishmen. Pirates and wreckers for the most part. Did you know that?’
    Cairns kept his face stiff. ‘I understood that Falmouth, Mr Bolitho’s home, was the last place to hold out for King Charles against Cromwell and Parliament, sir?’
    Pears gave a tight grin. ‘Well said. But this idea is a dangerous thing. We might never find the boats again, and they may not discover the enemy, let alone seize her.’
    Cairns insisted, ‘The fog will reach the other vessel long before us, sir. I would suggest that as soon as that happens we change tack and close with her with every stitch which will draw.’
    â€˜But if the wind goes
against
us.’ Pears held up his hand. ‘
Easy
, Mr Cairns, I can see your disappointment, but it is my responsibility. I must think of everything.’
    Overhead, and beyond the cabin doors, life was going on as usual. The clank of a pump, the padding of feet across the poop as the watch hurried to trim a yard or splice a fraying halliard.
    Pears said slowly, ‘But it does have the stuff of surprise aboutit.’ He made up his mind. ‘My compliments to the master and ask him to join us in the chart room.’ He chuckled. ‘Although, knowing him as I do, I suspect he is already there.’
    Out on the windswept quarterdeck, his eyes smarting to salt spray, Bolitho watched the men working overhead, the shivering power of each great sail. Time to reef soon, for the captain to be informed. He had seen the activity beneath the poop, Pears with Cairns entering the small chart room which adjoined Bunce’s cabin.
    A little later Cairns walked out into the drizzle, and Bolitho noticed that he was without his hat. That was very unusual, for Cairns was always smartly turned out, no matter how bad the circumstances.
    â€˜Have you had further reports from the masthead?’
    â€˜Aye, sir.’
    Bolitho ducked as a sheet of spray burst over the nettings and soaked them both. Cairns barely flinched.
    Bolitho said quickly, ‘As before, the stranger is holding to wind’rd of us, on the same bearing.’
    â€˜I will inform the captain.’ Cairns added, ‘No matter, he is here.’
    Bolitho made to cross to the lee side as was customary when the captain came on deck, but the harsh voice caught him.
    â€˜Stay, Mr Bolitho.’ Pears strode heavily to the quarterdeck rail, his hat tugged down to his eyes. ‘I believe you have been hatching some wild plan with the first lieutenant?’
    â€˜Well, sir, I –’
    â€˜Madness.’ Pears watched the straining main-course as it billowed out from its yard. ‘But with a grain, a very
small
grain of value.’
    Bolitho stared at him. ‘Thank you very much, sir.’
    Pears ignored him and said to Cairns, ‘The two cutters will have to suffice. I want you to hand-pick each man yourself. You know what we need for this bloody work.’ He watched Cairns’ face and then said almost gently, ‘But you will not be going.’ As Cairns made to protest he added, ‘I cannot spare you. I could die tomorrow, and with you gone too, what would become of
Trojan
, eh?’
    Bolitho watched both of them. It was like being an intruderto see the disappointment showing for the first time on Cairns’ face.
    Then Cairns replied, ‘Aye, sir. I’ll attend to it.’
    As he strode away, Pears said bluntly, ‘But