Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World Page #6

Are you all right?

I got it.

A tad more pressure.

- Is that all of it?

- Aye, sir.

She'll patch up nicely.

Thank God I got it.

Oh, that's good.

Sir! Sir!

- Padeen and I have been collecting for you.

- Have you really?

The beetles each come with a specimen

of the plant they were found on.

Padeen, that one's got away.

Sir, Ive made a few notes,

if you want to see them.

Mr Blakeney, it would appear that

you have the makings of a naturalist.

Well, sir, perhaps I could combine them to be

a sort of... fighting naturalist, like you, sir.

They don't combine too well, I find.

Right.

Should you really be getting up, sir?

- Mr Blakeney, are you also a doctor?

- No, sir.

No, you're not. Padeen, if you please.

How long does the captain

intend that we stay? Do you know?

- Oh, a week perhaps.

- A week?

- There's no great hurry.

- Mustn't we make haste for the Marquesas?

Im not even sure

it was the Acheron we sighted.

And if it was, she'll be well away by now.

Like looking for an honest man in parliament.

No, we shall head home. Before peace

breaks out with France, God forbid.

I fear you may have burdened me

with a debt I can never repay.

Tosh. Name a shrub after me.

Something prickly and hard to eradicate.

A shrub? Nonsense.

Ill name a great tortoise after you.

Testudo aubreii.

Come on, pack up your things.

We should be going.

- Back to camp, sir?

- No, to the other side of the island.

- But, sir, that must be at least ten miles.

- Then there's not a moment to lose.

That's where I saw my flightless cormorant.

Come on.

Seven inches in length.

Four inches wide.

Width at the widest point... six inches.

Padeen, put the net down

and use your hands. They won't bite.

Here's a good one.

Pick them up carefully.

Sir, I think we should be getting back.

Naval discipline doesn't operate out here,

Mr Blakeney. I must find that cormorant.

And should it indeed prove flightless,

you can join me at the Royal Society dinner

as co-discoverer.

Mr Blakeney.

Sir, we must hurry.

Padeen, you must carry him. Put those down.

Leave them. Just put everything down.

Open the cages.

- All hands, unmoor ship!

- Mr Allen, Ill have her on a starboard tack.

Let's have hands to stow these tortoises.

Barret Bonden,

put your helm hard to starboard.

He has a head start of two hours on us

and he's bearing south.

That can only mean King Charles Island.

He's looking for water.

If we caught up with her, I mean, to take her...

we'd have to be bloody invisible.

Brace the yards to starboard!

So, Stephen, did you get to see your bird?

No. Well, yes, but I couldn't catch one.

No, my greatest discovery

was your phantom.

Indeed it was. Im sorry you had to leave

the majority of your collection behind.

In actual fact, Mr Blakeney and I

did make one... very interesting find.

Is that right?

Let me guess. A stick?

Tell him about it, Mr Blakeney.

- It's a rare phasmid, sir.

- A phasmid?

It's an insect that disguises itself as a stick

in order to confuse its predators.

A nautical phasmid, Doctor.

At least, to a hungry eye,

if one has an appetite for whalers.

I intend to take a greater interest

in the bounty of nature from now on.

I had no idea that a study of nature

could advance the art of naval warfare.

Oh, I see.

Now to pull this predator in close

and spring our trap.

- Jack?

- Yes.

You're the predator.

There. Hull-down,

broad off the larboard bow.

That's a frigate, all right.

Damn, you've got good eyes, Barret.

- Mr Allen! More smoke.

- Aye, sir!

That'll bring 'em about.

That's it, lads. Clean 'em up

so they fly straight and true.

Let's have fresh flints in all the locks.

Larboard battery,

unship your rear wheels.

Drop the gun.

- Come on, Killick, you too. Get dressed.

- Oh, God!

- Tom?

- Our preparations are completed, sir.

Good. Right, from now on

no "sirs", no salutes, no whistles, no bells.

Aye, sir.

Yes, I think we're all

finding that quite difficult.

There'll be 30 or more whalers

locked in the Acheron's hold.

After we board, Mr Calamy

should take a party and free them.

- You think him ready, sir?

- Were you ready, Tom?

- He may well turn the tide.

- Indeed, sir.

She's taken the bait. Let's come about.

Make a show of fleeing, panicky

and disorganised, like a whaler might.

Present company excepted, Mr Hogg.

Hurry up, or they'll see you.

Eckhart, leave that. Just come up quick

and get some whaler's slops on.

- Congratulations. Acting third lieutenant.

- Thank you.

- I hear we're to free the whalers.

- You're to be stationed on the quarterdeck.

Im sorry, Will.

Make a bad show of keeping your course.

Let her run up and luff every now and then.

- Excuse me, sir.

- Remove your hat. We're whalers.

Mr Calamy says Im not

on the boarding party. I wanted to say...

I know what you want to say.

And my answer is no.

You'll lead your gun crew, then when

we board, you'll take command of the ship.

- Do I make myself clear?

- Take command of the ship... Thank you, sir.

- Back to your station.

- Yes, sir.

On your right upper arm,

to tell friend from foe!

Davies, this arm. Starboard arm.

- Is that the arm you got or don't got?

- Less of that cheek, Davies.

Take your neck cloths

and put them round your right upper arm.

Make way for the captain.

Congratulations, Lieutenant.

Right, lads.

I know there's not a faint heart among you,

and I know you're as anxious as I am

to get into close action.

But we must bring him right up beside us

before we spring this trap.

That will test our nerve.

And discipline will count

just as much as courage.

The Acheron is a tough nut to crack.

More than twice our guns and numbers.

And they will sell their lives dearly.

Topmen, your handling of the sheets

to be lubberly and un-navylike,

until the signal

to spill the wind from our sails.

This will bring us almost to a complete stop.

Gun crews, you must run out and tie down

in double-quick time.

With the rear wheels removed you've gained

elevation, but without recoil you can't reload.

So, gun captains, that gives you one shot

from the larboard battery. One shot only.

You'll fire for her mainmast.

Much will depend on your accuracy.

However, even crippled she will still

be dangerous, like a wounded beast.

Captain Howard and the marines

will sweep their weather deck with swivel gun

and musket fire from the tops.

They'll try and even the odds for us

before we board.

They mean to take us as a prize.

And we are worth more to them undamaged.

Their greed... will be their downfall.

England is under threat of invasion.

And though we be on the far side

of the world, this ship is our home.

This ship is England.

So it's every hand to his rope or gun.

Quick's the word and sharp's the action.

After all, surprise is on our side.

Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!

- Toss them high so they can see them.

- Hello, Doctor.

Jack.

- Care for a cigar?

- Thank you, no.

If you please, Doctor.

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