 Call all hands. Beat the quarters. Broadside into it, if you please, Captain Bush. Pointes on target. Link stops ready. I'd see as far as there's indomitable man of the sea, a ratio of hornblower. Carefree young fellow. Not always carefree. Especially when I found that Captain Sawyer, master of the ship on which I served, was no less than a madman. Hornblow, what am I to do? Do? About what, Wellard? I keep getting punished, Mr. Hornblow. I've been beaten three times already. There's no need to whisper. Sir, aboard this ship, everybody whispers. There's no need to now. But on the Lord rail, the wind carries every word out over the water. Yes. The water. What do you mean? I keep looking at it, sir. The water looks so peaceful. So quiet. And it would feel so good, sir. My skin burns from the marks of the cane, but I keep thinking if I was in the water, how cool and good it would feel. Wellard, what possesses you, man, to talk like this? I'm sorry, sir. Well, ever since last Sunday, I keep dreaming. Dreaming? About death, sir. I dream about the Captain reading the articles of war. Wellard. Every time he comes to the word death, I see myself dead. Sir, I'll soon be dead. I don't be a fool, Wellard. If only there was something to be done. Well, perhaps there is. Listen, our group of us are going to talk to Mr. Clive. For searching. You don't breathe a word about this. But if he will certify the Captain insane, we can remove him from his command. If he won't dare certify him, we shall see. But the doctor and anybody else, they won't dare. Meantime, I dream. Sir, I didn't come. Why? The Captain's just come on deck. Yes, Mr. Wellard. See that that tackle is seen to it once. Tackle? Oh, yes, sir. Get off to the ship's carpenter, and if the line's jammed again next time we have a heavy blow, we may lose a good deal of canvas. Good morning, sir. Do you needn't try to disassemble before me, Mr. Hornblur? I have eyes. I know when I'm being conspired against. Well, answer me. I know of no conspiracies, sir. Where's my acting gunner? Mr. Horn! Mr. Horn! Aye, sir. Yes, Captain Soyer, sir? No, that's good and prompt, Mr. Hobbs. One hail and you're at hand. I'm glad to see that there are at least a few upon whose loyalty I can count. Mr. Hobbs, you have your retin' cane. My cane? Right here it is, sir. Right. Well, hold it out so Mr. Hornblur can see it. Do you see it, Mr. Hornblur? Hobbs, make it whistle. Aye, sir. I see it, sir. Yes. And I warn you, you may feel it. Just as Mr. Wellard has, you may feel it. I'll have loyalty aboard this ship, you understand? Loyalty? Nothing less. So the days dragged on. The captain ever more suspicious and dangerous, the crew, sullen and slack because at every opportunity Captain Soyer would play them against his officers. And that's with the officers themselves. Dr. Clive, it's been difficult enough all of us contriving to talk to you this way. You're the only one who can lend a hand. Well, now Lieutenant Bush, it's true enough I'm the surgeon, but still... He's unfit to command, Mr. Clive. Unfit. I can't really say, Mr. Buckland. You know he is. Lieutenant aboard the renown, Mr. Buckland. Next in command to Captain Soyer. If I certify him unfit to command, it'll put you in charge. I know that. Are you willing for me to take that responsibility? Well, I... I'll... I'd have to make out a report in writing, wouldn't I? Yes, you would. Well, of course you would, Clive. So would you and all the rest of us. Now, Hornblower. Now, Bush, now, why not talk about it frankly? We all face the same problem. All of us would have to face a court of inquiry before the devil of it, Hornblower. Gentlemen, may I suggest we discontinue this discussion at once? Abort this ship. There's no telling who may be spying on us. And the wind stayed fair for the West Indies. We held no more discussions. In a way, it seemed that each one of us was so afraid for himself that he couldn't risk being seen with someone else who might be suspect. A man came one particular afternoon. Answer me about the ammunition locker. Sir? Its lock was broken. You did it some damage, didn't you? And going off watch, you stopped to make certain it had not yet been noticed. I did not stop. You lie. You were seen. You were seen by Mr. Hobbs. This good loyal man, Hobbs. He says I... You cannot speak, eh? Sir, I swear to you, I did no damage to any lock. I swear, I went directly below. I never went near the powder supply. So, expect me to believe you over... Sir, may I say one word? You, Mr. Hornblower? Mr. Wellard never went down to the gun deck, sir. Be very careful, Mr. Hornblower. It's true, sir. He went down this way by way of the Starn Companion Way. Lieutenant Bush and I were coming up for our watch. Went we, Bush? Lieutenant Holdblower's right, sir. So, you two define me as well, eh? There's no define. Sorry, sir. Mr. Bush! Wellard claims innocence in a straight way. You supporting? Be careful. Be very careful. Sir, there are two of us as witnesses, and Hobbs must have been mistaken. Mistaken? Oh. Were you mistaken, Hobbs? Sir, why should I lie? Ah, exactly. You've no reason at all. You're loyal. It's these others. Wellard and... you and these officers. Officers. Always whispering, always talking. Lieutenant Bush, confess it. You, Lieutenant Hornblower, you did not see Wellard, did you? You cover up for him. Confess it. Sir, I did see it, and I also said... Silence! All tarred with the same brush. I'm not a fool. Mr. Hornblower is already on watch and watch. By both of you shall now report to Mr. Buckland at two bells, four bells, and six bells. Yes, you too, Mr. Bush. Two bells, four bells and... That means every hour, every hour, day and night. Now, as for you, young Mr. Wellard, perhaps a few more strokes of the cane will teach you manhood. You shall kiss the gunner's daughter, Mr. Wellard, and I shall watch it. To kiss the gunner's daughter is to be tied face downward over the muzzle of a gun, and to be whipped. Wellard made no sound, but to the rest of us in the wardroom, the whistle of the whip came cold and clear. Lieutenant Buckland, we've got to do something. And to punish Father Captain, awakened every hour to stand watch on watch. Oh, well, a little bit better off dead. Awakened every hour around the clock? He's a madman, Lieutenant Buckland. We've got to do something. Clive's got to declare him unfair. Clive won't. He won't lend something, something. A meeting, Mr. Buckland, in the middle of the night. A man can die of exhaustion before we make landfall or of the whip like that poor... Mr. Wellard? You're not? Mr. Wellard? I'm tired. Please, I'm tired. He's alive at any rate. Well, Lieutenant? Yes. Perhaps we'd best hold on. I am meeting... a secret meeting. And the Lord protect us all. Aren't it many honours for my time of service, for His Majesty? Often I think how my career came within a hair's breath of being cut off while I was put to lieutenant aboard the runan, waking up at night in the dark. I often think of myself as I was then in the middle of the night, in pitch darkness. At a secret meeting, far below deck. Lieutenant Buckland? Who's that speaking? Well, sir, whatever we do, we'll have to do it quickly and sharp. You mean put him in irons? Whatever we did, he'd call on the hands and they might follow him. Hasn't he been toting up to them? Double rum every chance he got? I tell you, we're in irons all right. We'll have our hands full turning them into a disciplined crew again. That's enough. What's to come is our problem. Sir, I say put him in irons quick. Quiet, now quiet. In irons and what then? It's not rats. Mr. Bucks, Mr. Hornblower. Wellard, where did you come from? The captain's wig, he's on his way down here. Wellard, which way? Which way, Mr. Hornblower? The captain, which way is he coming? I think by the steered hatchway. You came down ahead of him? What's to be done, Hornblower? Get far at all of you. Hornblower's right. Far at the cable chair. Bush, you stay here. What is it, Hornblower? Do you have something in mind? I don't know, but someone should keep an eye on the captain. If you and I and Wellard move quietly enough, we can go up the steered hatchway before the captain reaches it. Then we can stick to the shadows. Let him make his way down here, and once he's down here, we're safe enough. We'll be in a good position to help the others. If necessary, we can create some diversion. Good. We'd best move quickly, though. Wellard, we... Wellard? He'd slept away on the darkness. There was no sign of him. And suddenly, I remembered Wellard's white face after he'd been whipped. I remembered his face and how he spoke about the captain. Bush, hurry! At least there's a bit of light. He was becoming through the hatchway. He came from directly ahead of us below the hatchway. It's a body. The next several hours were busy ones. Dr. Clive was called, and he was dead. The body was brought up and prepared for burial in the morning. Lieutenant Buckland, a senior officer commanding, became acting captain. And on the quarter deck, by the light of the southern moon, I took part in a small disciplinary action. It involved Wellard and the captain's toady, Hobbs. It's not my place to remind you, sir, but didn't the captain give you orders? Orders? Aye. To arouse Mr. Buckland every watch at two bells, at four bells, at six bells? Hobbs, you're insolent. Aye, sir. The captain is dead. His orders have been countermounted by Lieutenant Buckland. And in particular that order. And get followed, Hobbs. No more nonsense from you. I will, sir. I was only stopping to ask Mr. Wellard a question. What question? About how the captain died, sir. What do you mean? Well, sir, you see, it was me, Ralph's captain, Sawyer, in the first place. I'd heard something down in the hold. Then go on. Well, I told him so. He got dressed and gave me orders to call out the Marines, and I never got the chance. Go on. That's all, sir. Only, I was wondering, it's most curious the captain should trip and fall to his death now, ain't it? Just trip all by himself and fall? What I was about to ask Mr. Wellard was where he might have been when it happened. I was... Wellard, there's no need to answer that. Isn't there? No, Hobbs. Statements will be taken in the morning, not now. Go for it, Hobbs. That's an order. Aye, aye, sir. Hobbs? Oh, come on. Give me that answer again and this time properly. Aye, aye, sir. Now you may get for it. Mr. Hornblough, I... Yes, what is it, Wellard? My watch will be over in an hour. Sir, may I come down and speak with you in a minute? Very important, sir. Wellard, you look tired to death. Why don't you get some sleep there? Very hid of you and the others. I climbed the ladder. I was on the deck above in the shadows. Yes, but it was dark. Then I saw the captain. He came right past me and leaned over. Looking down, sort of. I... Listen, Wellard, you better not tell me. Get your hammock, Wellard. You're tired, you know. You need some sleep. We'll talk about it in the morning. Mr. Hornblough, I don't think I shall ever sleep. I came on deck almost refreshed. The sea was sparkling blue and green and a fair breeze filled the sails. I joined Lieutenant Bush at the weather rail with a greeting that came near to sounding cheerful. Morning, Mr. Bush. Morning, Lord Blough. Well's fresh, eh? Ah, that it does. Fresh and free. I can't help feeling sorry for Captain Sawyer. Sorry? Well, yes, I suppose so. Yes, the funeral service at six bells. I suppose I shall pray as hard for his soul as any man so shall I. Mr. Bush. Yes, sir. Lieutenant Buckland, I mean Captain, what is it, sir? Gentlemen, we have lost young Wellard. The Master at Arms reported to be at eight bells. There's been no sign of young Wellard. His quarters went stepped in last night. According to the lookout during the dog watch, he recalls a certain heavy splash during his turn and laugh. He thought it was a porpoise. You mean it was Wellard? It must have been. The sea was running heavy. He must have been at the rail and lost his footing. I shall report that he fell overboard. Um, what is it, Hornblough? You're about to speak. No, sir. I haven't rest his soul. Amen to that. The funeral service for Captain Sawyer at six bells, gentlemen. We shall say our prayer also for young Mr. Wellard. And in my heart, I repeated over and over a prayer that Wellard had found not only peace and quiet. It was composed and conducted by Sidney Torch.