“We have to kedge off,” said Buckland.
“Aye aye, sir.”
That meant putting out an anchor and heaving in on the cable with the capstan to haul the ship off the mud by main force. Bush looked round him to confirm what he had gathered regarding the ship’s position from his restricted view below. Her bows were on the mud; she would have to be hauled off stern first. A shot howled close overhead, and Bush had to exert his selfcontrol not to jump.
“You’ll have to get a cable out aft through a stern port.”
“Aye aye, sir.”
“Roberts’ll take the stream anchor off in the launch.”
“Aye aye, sir.”
The fact that Buckland omitted the formal ‘Mister’ was significant of the strain he was undergoing and of the emergency of the occasion.
“I’ll take the men from my guns, sir,” said Bush.
“Very good.”