 the quarters. One broadside into it to please Captain Bush. Point is on target. Then stops ready to see as far as there's indomitable man of the sea, a ratio hornblower. You're still a little short, especially when you're lovely wife of a dawn recent bride rather expected to become a country gentleman. Life is made up of chains they say but for an old sea dog new tricks come harder than for other breeds I think. Well there I was, not longer turned from confinement in France as the unwelcome guest of Bonaparte granted a knighthood happily married to my enchanting Lady Barbara. Free of all financial cares at last and yet and yet so yes I knew it for my fault but somehow there in the quiet English countryside I haven't quite come home as yet. It's mostly on the deck of the floor already isn't it. Kind of the size of a key box and find way for a grown man to bathe himself. All right, I've had enough. Give me that towel, Brian. Ridiculous. Give me a wash deck pump and gallons of cold seawater. Remember Brian. Oh, I remember. Belay that's a ratio. Old terms are good enough. Aren't they, you idiot? Yes, sir. It's a lovely morning, sir. Yes, I suppose so. Still and quiet. Very quiet. It's clear when I wake here I still keep listening to the sounds, rattle of blocks, the corded wheezing and... Oh, never mind. I've laid out your new suit, sir. Oh, well, let's get it on. I mustn't keep Lady Barbara waiting downstairs for her breakfast now. Welcome to the new Squire of Smallbridge. Oh, you're laughing at me. You know perfectly well, Barbara, how I felt about that insufferable ceremony yesterday for Squire indeed. Oh, I do now, my dear, and you were sweet. Suffering it all without complaining. Only the faintest glare of defiance now and then during the speechmaking. Coffee, dear? Thank you. Well, what do we have planned today? I thought that you and I might drive across the dams this morning. Of course, you said you had a lot of reading you'd been putting off. Gibbon, was it? Well, yes, I do want to get at that. It's quite soon, in fact. A letter for you, Richard. Oh, thank you, Wiggins. The messenger is waiting, my lord. Here's from the Admiralty in London. The Admiralty? The Admiralty, eh? Darling, it couldn't be... Listen to this. The Lord's Commissioner's request that I present myself at once. A matter of extreme importance which cannot even be discussed except in... Hey, Wiggins, where's Brown? Tell him to get out my vest, uniform, and sword. Tell him to pack my things for the night. And look, tell him that... You're going to London right away? Well, my lover letter says at once. Remember this, too, at war with Bonaparte. Now, off with you, Wiggins. Tell Brown I'll be upstairs immediately. I want him to drive me. We'll take the chariot. I wished I didn't need to look at her just then. After the first surprise, she would try so hard to appear calm and pleased that I was pleased. I hadn't been quite frank with her, perhaps, to be exact. The letter asked whether or not I would accept a new appointment. I didn't know what to say to Barbara, but... Oh, my dear, it's nearly for the night. I'll be back in the morning and whatever this reminds me of. Yes, for a day or so, perhaps. Oh, just look at you, brazen child. Excited as a midshipman. It's breaking over you in waves. You suppose I don't see it? Oh, my dear, well, when the Admiralty, it's over. I must at least find out. I know what you'll find out. Wild horses couldn't hold you now, of course. Do you know how long we've lived here at Small Bridge? Why, I... Two months. Two months tomorrow I... Oh, dearest, I've always known. Retirement simply isn't in your line. It's a great honor to be recalled so soon. You must be pleased. And I am, too. If they appointed me a Commodore, well, they might, you know. Well, if they did, I might have to go back to sea again. Darling, we've been married six whole months. A wonderful half-year. I've had that much of happiness with you. And whatever happens, you'll come back to me. I know you will. Of course I will. Oh, Barbara, Barbara, I swear, you're a woman in ten thousands. In my life, I'd said no truer word than that. I told myself as we drove up to London. Well, we met excellent time. Brown knew his business with horses. I never understood a peculiar beast. Now, Brown was good at everything. Best captains, coxswain, and navy. And now, you're a perfect man, servant. Still, I rather thought he mightn't mind going back to sea again. There was a queer look in his eye, especially when we drew up before the Admiralty in White Hall, and I was ushered into the First Lord. Sit down, sit down, Captain Eurasia. Well, well, I left you a newfound domestic mist behind, eh, when you received our letter. May I ask what it is you have in mind for me, sir? Of course you may. The Baltic Eurasia. The Baltic? Is Russia coming into the war, then? True, no. I wish I did. That very question's of the heart of this whole project. Our letter did say, didn't it, that you'd take rank as Commodore, as would a captain under you. You have six ships. An unsuch, seventy-four, a ship of four. An unsuch? I know her well, sir. Both the Russian Tsar and Prince Bernadotte of Sweden have teetered back and forth for months, you know. Well, from all I've heard, there's no profit to them both. And, and Bernadotte's a Frenchman, after all. Is there really any chance that they might join us, sir? They might, if we handle them sensibly. They have as much fear as we, and our bone is gobbled up most of the continent. The dial be cast any day, we think. If we can show those Baltic powers some British naval strength, the counter, I understand that. But anyway, we've got to keep the Baltic open to supplies. So much that we need here comes by those sea lanes. Well, are you ready? Is it settled? Yes, it's settled. Good. Now tell me, who would you like for captain of an unsuch? I'd like to have Bush, sir, if he's available. I'd hate to go to sea without old Bush. I rather thought you'd ask for him. It wouldn't leg of his, won't be a handicapped, is it? No, I think not, sir. You two have seen something together, haven't you? First met as young lieutenant on the other nine. Well then, Bush it shall be. Now then, let's walk across and see the foreign secretary. I have some secret orders for you. Time had come to say goodbye to Barbara. She drove with me from the small bridge to deal Jettith. An unsuch and the five others of my pretty new squadron lay far offshore, half lost in mourning mist. Brown was looking much too pleased. I had to take him down a little. I'll stop moaning at those mastheads, Brown. Go hire a luggerman to take us out. Step-live, innit? Yes, captain. Commodore, that is. Aye, aye, sir. It is very gnarled a little west by north now, I think. Yes, dear. So you were remarked as we were driving. I beg your pardon, dear. You were telling me about my shirts. I interrupt you. No, I'd finished with the shirts. What I was saying was that all your cold weather things are in the flaxseed chest. The sheepskin coat and heavy socks and mittens and... Oh well, Brown understands. He also hasn't his care a certain little package. A surprise. Surprise, madam? No, after all, I wouldn't try to surprise you. It's just a woolen neck scarf I'd be knitting for you. It's likely to be cold up in the Baltic even now. Yes, I don't like cold. You're very salty. No, I hope... I do hope so much that you'll be back before the winter. So do I. I think of me, Barbara. I need you to ask that. You'll write me everything. Everything, won't you? Yes. Well, goodbye, Barbara. Come back to me. Come back to me. Like any witless wife of any common seamen. If by some power of my own I could control French cannon shot and made my heart ache, too, that she should say such foolish things for all her pride and elegance. A little lugger pitched and rolled, a long trip all alone at my ship. I thought it'd let her come along. It would have done no harm. They'd seen me from the nun such as we kept tossing up the wind and laid into the big two-decker's leaf. My old friend Bush's captain had turned the whole crew out full dress, and I was piped aboard with all the honors of a Commodore. They'd have polished bright brass work, thick side boys in white gloves, the whole Marine Guard and their band, double-lain of Bosen's mates with pipes. A childish display, perhaps some say it is, has its, well, exhilarations amount. There was old Bush on the quarterdeck surrounded by his officers and all saluting stiffly. I had to check myself where I might actually have been. That would have been ruinous to disciplines, and naturally I just stalked up the line and it's saluted. Morning, Captain Bush. Good morning, sir. Welcome aboard. Sometimes, as we've met, Captain Bush, you'll note that your pen is going up. Commodore's flag that doesn't make your ship in the foot of luck. Oh, indeed. Well, Captain Bush, we shall get underway at once. If you don't mind, no time to lose. Be good enough to signal the others at the squadron. All right, sir. Very good. We sail on secret orders. I'll appraise you of their nature. Captain Bush, if you'll kindly dine with me this afternoon. You old sea urchin. I should be there, sir. Thank you. Mr. Adams, pass the word for our five other ships. Underway at once and keep formation. Mr. Adams, underway. Wrong, sir. What, Bush? I see you're scouting off this starboard, sir. May I find your glass? Is it the sloops? No, no, no. It's nothing, Bush. I was just trying to make out the jetty. My wife's there. Miss hasn't quite cleared yet, has she? Captain Bush will be dining with me here. Be sure the things come up hot from the galley, will they? Of course, sir. I'll finish your unpacking. I trust it. Satisfactory, sir. I, um, placed a gift from Lady Barbara there on the, um, Falkett show. Yes, sir. I saw it, Brown. Oh, it's a beautiful neck scarf, sir. Such fine soft wool. I was, um, to remind you to wear it. It's a cold morning. Yes, yes, yes. All right. I'll consider it. Come in. Ah, Captain Bush. I'll go and bring you dinner, sir. Well, alone at last. Look, you know you had me grinning like some absurd schoolboy up there this morning. I was so proud, uh, so flattered that you'd ask for me a ratio. I'm scared, sir. Ah, come on. Sit down. My dinner will be coming any minute, huh? Ah, I'm glad to see you, my old friend. Oh, well, let's go down to things that are more important. Mmm! Ah, look, I've been studying my so-called secret orders in these charts. They're headed for the Skagger Act, my friend. I was inclined to think so, sir. Then through the catagat and up the mirrors. The Danes will resist, I suppose, to unhook themselves. The Polians on their backs. And, uh, what about the Swedes? Just what no one seems to know. It's touch-and-go, apparently, with both the Swedes and Russians. We have to be prepared for anything. Catagat Sound is only three miles wide, part of the way. Mm-hmm. Sweden Deport, Denmark Establish. Real skill of incorruptors, huh? Well, Bush, the powers that be have left decisions up to us, and we are going to have to improvise. Now, once we're off Götterborg, I'm going to try and pick up some fresh news on Swedish doings. Well, let's hope that Bernadotte is leaning our way by then, sir. Yes, Bush. If not, we'll simply have to blast our way in somehow. We're moving off to sea into the Skaggarak. Scarcely a sail sighted off our bowels the whole first week. Disserted waters, even in the Skaggarak off Denmark. Now and then we'd see a tiny fishing boat far off, none within hail. We had no news. We strained our eyes with some revealing sign. Had Bernadotte made up his mind by now, were he and Russia enemies, neutrals, or even friends, if handled sensibly? Before sunrise, I found Bush on the border deck. Well, still no news. Are we to run the gauntlet then? We're nearing the hosting board narrow. I wonder, Bush, how many guns are on that Swedish shore? Multitudes, sir. You may be sure. The charts show a good dozen forts. Shouldn't we send the boat in, sir? Find out how Sweden stands? Last night, I thought so, Bush. It has its logic, I admit. On the other hand, a boat would surely advertise our presence. But, sir, if both sides of the category are hostile... We could dash in the moment that is light enough to see the channel. Surprise them and perhaps get through, even if Sweden does resist. Yes, sir, but then if Sweden has joined Bonaparte, won't we be bottled up inside the Baltic? Well, the Baltic is a sizable sea, Bush. I suspect we could maintain ourselves a while. Still almost an hour till dawn. That gives us time to clear our decks. Yes, I think we'll go in, Bush, this morning. We came into the narrow channel just as the dawn broke in a dull grey mist. To Starboard, our style of Denmark. The port, the riddle, Sweden. Was she our enemy? We'd soon know at all events. Are the guns run out, Captain Bush? Yes, sir. In a fire-pump, manned on every ship. Here's for it, man. What signal for hoisting to our other ships, sir? The signal is proceed till lured in battle order. Lotus shall lead. Lotus shall lead, sir, did you say? I did. We'll bring up the rear, Bush, naturally. Your face. I know, I know. It's disappointing not to lead, but we're the shepherd of this little flock. We're the best built. The lead ships might get full before those shawl gunners wake up. They'll wake already. Which shawl fired that? They've seen us, sir. There's a drifter's smoke to Starboard. Starboard is firing to Starboard, Captain Bush. Yes, Mr. Adams, sir, I get it. By the way, did you know that those low cliffs are Elsinor, where Hamlet walked? I'd break your part too. Never mind, never mind. We've no time now for literary small talk, have we? Signal to Lotus, Mr. Bush. Return the fire to Starboard. We'll keep the exact station at the start of the Harvey, if you please. I say, Lotus and Clam are giving back as good as they're getting, huh? They are, they are. Bush Bush, this channel's full of shawls. I remember that from years ago. I remember too, sir. I put Ledzman in the chains. They'll sing out from their reaching shallow water. Good, good. The sloops and the three others don't draw as much as we do. Let me compliment you, Bush, you've thought of everything. Well, Brown? You're a different sculpture, old nonsense. In the midst of an action, how dare you come up here? It's very cold this early in the morning, taking your pardon, sir. I had my orders. All right, all right. Give me the scarf. Yes, the air is a bit chilly. We were out of range from shore. There'd be about an hour, I reckon, before we reached the further narrows, a longer gauntlet to be run. And at its end, two Danish islands, Salt Home and Amagon, we had to pass between these, close to both. Full daylight now, they'd see us coming. We could no longer profit by surprise. But anyhow, all hands at breakfast, relaxed, and waited as I knew for the real test. An infernal din of guns broke out as we approached the channel. Our starboard guns can speak together, after all, well done. I wasn't too sure about that, it else or more. A little ragged. So far, the Swedish guns had all stayed silent. And as if to make up for that, though, the day was flowing in everything they had at it. Salt Home and wider waters seemed a very long way off. And I must have walking up and down. No, that wouldn't do. Indifference. Bromador. So I stood still, looked about and made casual in. Six films are quite a blunderbush with the tide making. I think so, sir. I wouldn't care to risk less than five, though, just now. Why is there more sex? Put another little port chain quickly, I'll. Look good. Salt Home and Amiga, everyone. See them rearing up ahead there? No. Grisling, I'll be bound. Yes. Smoke bursting from Amiga already. This tells the story, doesn't it? Salt Home is where they keep their powder stored. And the heart! Saving a soul, that's certain. I hope. Probably quite helpful, sir. Yes, yes, I see. Well, damnable luck, boys. We'll be a long-siger in a moment. That's the way it goes. I'm the boy here, then. Send men down for him, Captain Butch. What's that? Where did you I start, then? Stand by to receive our line. It's better we just be burying off the shore. Salt Home, I don't like it. Yes, sir. Short range. Now that we're delayed. Oh, look here. Those powder stores up there. Let's make a try for those. They might fly just beyond the highest port. It seems fairly logical. Why not? But, sir, how do we know where to? Aye, aye, sir. That may. Is there any of them? Has turbo batteries raised site? Sorry for the hit beyond that big red port. Say by, uh... By, uh... 15 yards. By 15 yards. Pass the word, Adams, instantly. How does that make sense? Fire! Fire is 15 yards! I suppose Butch, but we simply can't sit here till the Harvey is in tow. It's too much like duck hunting with a man such as the duck. And I... Fire! No good, sir. And the Harvey's got us trapped under those guns. They'll sink her any minute and I'll swizz her. Let's try another salvo, Butch. 20 yards beyond the port this time. Pass the word, Adams. 20 yards. How does that make 20 yards, Butch? Quite believe my eyes. A lucky guess in place of sound ballistics, eh? That makes no sense. Well, hmm... Yeah, it's a business now. Where's my trumpet? Uh... Mr. First, coming over now. We'll take you out down first. Understand? No, sir. Not a bad afternoon. Harvey's in tow. Lotus took one poor hit. We have a whole or two in our own shrouds. But no ship's lost. I shan't forget what we did to those powder stores and totals. Yes, that was a satisfactory moment. I'm a bit tired. Uh, Adams. Uh, Mr. Adams. Has Mr. Mound been brought up yet? Yes, sir. He's off. I'm conscious now. The sergeant's with him. I want to see him. I've got him in the man's coat of work. He's in the blood of us. Oh, here you are, Mound. Sergeant, taking care of you, all right? Yes. Thank you, sir. I'm quite all right. We're taking you below the sick brain a moment. I'm proud of all my young officers today, Mound. They're not too uncomfortable, are they? All of us get through, sir. All our ships. That's weird, Mound. What pleases me is those Danish guns raked us with all they had, but not one shell from Sweden's coast. They're not against us yet, but anyway, he's shivering out of his cold as often as he's scared. Put this scarf around his neck himself, because I don't need it. Oh, come on, take it. Oh, well, then I'll do it myself. Well, is that better, Mound? Ah, yes, Mound. Wonderful. Thank you. We held a fishing boat a few minutes ago, Mound, found out that these blanched slur passed through the border yesterday. Big French corvette with at least 20 guns. She must be just ahead of us. Well, you'll have to get well quickly, Mound. Those want to miss the fun, will they? Music composed and conducted by Sydney Torch. Produced by Harry Allen Towers.