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, I致e 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?
I知 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. I値l 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.
15-inches-long neck.
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, I値l 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. I知 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.
I知 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 I知 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.
- I took the liberty, Doctor. - Thank you, Killick.
- There's three lumps in there. - How kind.
- Good luck, Will. - Good luck, Peter.
- See you afterwards. - And you.
Steady now, lads. Keep calm.
English whaler Syren, this is Acheron.
- Barret. - Sir.
You have no possibility, no chance. But you have had warning.
Stop now, or we will destroy your ship.
English whaler, this is your last warning.
Stop now, or we will destroy you.
- Let fly! - Let fly!
- Haul your yards there! - C'est un navire de guerre!
Run out, boys!
Fire!
For the mainmast, lads!
- Let me through. - Fire!
Huzzah!
Hard a-larboard!
Right the headsails! Set the topsails!
Heave!
Man the starboard battery!
Fire as she bears!
Get to it! Get to it!
It's the fallen mast! We can't lay alongside.
Cross the wreckage as best you can. I値l draw their fire.
- My division to join Mr Pullings! - Clew up topsails!
- Huzzah for Lucky Jack! - Huzzah!
Grappling hooks away!
Run out the boarding planks!
- My division, follow me! - For England, for home, and for the prize!
Here we go, lads!
Pipe down. Silence.
Looks like the job is done, sir.
Acheron!
Fire!
Mr Blakeney, the nine-pounder!
That's it!
Fire!
Keep moving, men! Keep moving!
Joe!
Grenades, ready!
They're aiming for our hull!
They could sink us! Depress the muzzle!
Padeen, train it aft!
Together now!
Stand clear!
Fire!
Arm yourselves! We must board them!
Follow me!
Now!
Whalers, follow me! Mr Hogg, down below! Quickly now!
Albatrosses! Albatrosses, do you hear me?
To the guns! To the guns!
Boyle, douse that gun's priming!
Lively there! Come on! Move!
Now do your worst!
Non! Non! Non!
- Mr Howard. - Sir.
- Have they struck their colours? - I believe so.
- Has their captain been sighted? - Not yet, sir.
- Carry on. - Aye, sir.
- Le capitaine? - L'infirmerie.
Docteur? Docteur?
Oui.
Docteur de Vigny, monsieur.
I did what I could for him.
Before the capitaine died... he said I was to give you this.
No. I値l do it.
Can you help me?
Our Father,
who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
forever and ever.
Amen.
Robert Gardner, able seaman.
James Lloyd, boatswain's mate.
Robert Kemp, able seaman.
John Antonio, quartermaster's mate.
Michael Doudle, able seaman.
Joseph Nagle, carpenter's mate.
John Allen, sailing master.
Peter Miles Calamy...
lieutenant.
We therefore commit their bodies to the deep,
to be turned into corruption,
looking for the resurrection of the body when the sea shall give up her dead,
and the life of the world to come,
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.
It's our old friend.
Pass down a barrel of paint, please.
Sir, the whalers are all aboard and that's the last detachment of marines.
Good, good.
I think I shall return to the Gal疳agos.
Take on food and water and give the doctor a few days to find his bird.
Very good, sir.
You, however, shall take the Acheron south to Valparaiso.
Parole the prisoners there, refit as necessary, and we shall rendezvous in Portsmouth.
I believe Mr Hogg would be a good choice for sailing master.
However, that will be your decision, Captain Pullings.
Your orders.
- Thank you, sir. - Godspeed, Tom.
And to you, sir.
- Mr Mowett? - With pleasure, sir.
- Good luck. - See you in Portsmouth.
Now, lads, huzzah for Captain Pullings!
- Hip, hip... - Huzzah!
- Good luck, sir. - Good luck, Captain.
Oh, here we go again.
Killick! Killick there!
Which it will be ready when it's ready!
I値l rest easier when I know they've reached shore.
So many wounded, and only that poor unfortunate Higgins to tend to them.
Still, he's better than no doctor at all.
- I met their doctor. I spoke to him. - No, he died of fever months ago.
- De Vigny? - Mm.
Ah.
- Pass the word for Mr Mowett. - Mr Mowett to the great cabin.
Their "doctor" gave me this sword.
Sir.
Mr Mowett, change of course. Southeast by east.
We'll intercept the Acheron and escort them into Valparaiso.
Aye, sir. Sou'east by east.
- And William... - Sir?
- Beat to quarters. - Very good, sir.
Subject to the requirements of the service.
Ah.
Well, Stephen... the bird's flightless?
Yes.
It's not going anywhere.
ｩ 2004