Free Stand Into Danger by Alexander Kent

door, “Midshipman of the watch, sir! ”
    Bolitho could picture the anxiety on the quarterdeck. Should they disturb the meeting below their feet and risk Dumaresq’s displeasure? Or should they just note the strange sail in the log and hope for the best?
    Dumaresq said, “Enter.” He did not seem to raise his voice and yet it carried to the outer cabin without effort.
    It was Midshipman Cowdroy, a sixteen-year-old youth who Dumaresq had already punished for using unnecessary severity on members of his watch.
    He said, “Mr Slade’s respects, sir, and that sail has been reported to the north’rd again.” He swallowed hard and seemed to shrink under the captain’s stare.
    Dumaresq said eventually, “I see. We shall take no action.” As the door closed he added, “Although I fear that stranger is not astern of us by coincidence.”
    A bell chimed from the forecastle and Dumaresq said, “Recent information has been found and sworn to that most of the treasure is intact. A million and a half in bullion.”
    They stared at him as if he had uttered some terrible obscenity.
    Then Rhodes exclaimed, “And we are to discover it, sir?”
    Dumaresq smiled at him. “You make it sound very simple, Mr Rhodes, perhaps we shall find it so. But such a vast amount of treasure will, and has already, aroused interest. The Dons will want it back as their rightful property. A prize court will argue that as the ship had already been seized by Garrick’s privateer before she managed to escape and hide, the bullion is the property of His Brittanic Majesty.” He lowered his voice, “And there are some who would seize it to further a cause which would do us nothing but harm. So, gentlemen, now you know. Our outward purpose is to complete the King’s business. But if the news of this treasure is allowed to run riot elsewhere, I will want to know who is responsible.”
    Palliser rose to his feet, his head bowed uncomfortably between the deckhead beams. The rest followed suit.
    Dumaresq turned his back and stared at the glittering water which stretched to the horizon astern.
    â€œFirst we go to Rio de Janeiro. Then I shall know more.”
    Bolitho caught his breath. The South Americas, and Rio was all of 5000 miles from his home at Falmouth. It would be the furthest he had yet sailed.
    As they made to leave Dumaresq said, “Mr Palliser and Mr Gulliver, remain, if you please.”
    Palliser called, “Mr Bolitho, take over my watch until I relieve you.”
    They left the cabin, each immersed in his own thoughts. The far-off destination would mean little to the ordinary sailor. The sea was always there, wherever he was, and the ship went with him. Sails had to be trimmed and reset at all hours, no matter what, and a seaman’s life was hard whether the final landfall was in England or the Arctic. But let the rumour of treasure run through the ship and things might be very different.
    As he climbed to the quarterdeck Bolitho saw the men assembling for the first-watch looking at him curiously, then turning away as he met their eyes, as if they already knew.
    Mr Slade touched his hat. “The watch is aft, sir.”
    He was a hard master’s mate and unpopular with many of the people, especially those who did not rise to his impressive standards of seamanship.
    Bolitho waited for the helmsmen to be relieved, the usual handing over from one watch to the next. A glance aloft at the set of the yards and sails, examine the compass and the chalked notes on the slate made by the midshipman on duty.
    Gulliver came on deck, banging his palms together as he did when he was worried.
    Slade asked, “Trouble, sir?”
    Gulliver eyed him warily. He had been in Slade’s position too recently to take any comment as casual. Seeking favours perhaps? Or a way of suggesting that he was out of his depth with the ward-room officers aft?
    He snapped, “At the