"With the soldiers, we have enough men so that we can tow out if necessary," Ramage said grimly. "We can tow out taking our time."

"We'll have to watch out for the fort. The fact that none of the men saw sentries up there doesn't mean that the guns are out of action."

"No, it doesn't," Ramage agreed. "But what are the chances of them being usable? When was Sidi Rezegh last attacked? Not once in the last hundred years, I expect. So the gun carriages will probably be rotten or worm-eaten, and so all the rope work will be, too. The powder may not be damp because it is a dry climate, but I wouldn't like to be the man that fired those guns. The recoil will probably send them flying over the ramparts."

"It had better, because that fort's built so the guns can rake all of us as we lie at the quay."

"Yes, but the Saracens would have to pass us to get to the fort -don't forget that."

"We can hope," Southwick said, giving one of his famous sniffs, one which Ramage interpreted as expressing doubt.

"Well, what have we got?" Ramage said, picking up the diagram which Southwick was going to redraw as a chart. It showed Sidi Rezegh as a rectangular-shaped port lying north and south along an east coast which was backed by sand dunes and palm trees. It had a northern and an eastern breakwater to form the harbour, with the town on the west side opposite the harbour entrance which was at the bottom right-hand corner - at the north-east end, in other words. The northern stone breakwater - a relic of its Roman origins, Ramage thought - had a small, round fort, with the four guns on the top at the seaward end.

The quay, lying east and west, ran from the fort to the town. A third of the way along the harbour side of the town stood the barracks, in which the slaves were locked when they were not in the galleys. Fifty yards further along stood a white stone building which was the brothel. The mosque stood further inland from the barracks. And that was it, apart from a shoal lying north and south right in the middle of the harbour. The galleys were usually anchored between the shoal and the eastern breakwater.

There was enough room for the Calypso, Amalie and the two sloops to lie one beyond the other along the northern breakwater, the nearest sloops being only fifty yards from the barracks. And if there was north in the wind all four ships would be able to get away by drifting off the quay under foretopsails and then, with a bit of smart sail handling, wearing round to avoid drifting on to the shoal and then luffing up to get through the entrance. With a south wind they would need to approach the quay at a sharper angle, dropping an anchor so they would be able to pull themselves off.

"It could be worse," Ramage said, putting down the chart "And, more to the point, at least we know what it looks like."

"I'll draw it up then," Southwick said. "Six copies each of the chart and the map."

"Combine the two," Ramage said. "The less paperwork the better. The major should be able to follow a chart as well as a map!"

"Very well," said Southwick, relieved at not having to draw maps. "I think we'll end up with some very adequate charts."

That evening the three captains, the major, Aitken and Southwick were crowded into Ramage's cabin. Roper of the Amalie sat in the armchair, the major shared the settee with King of the Betty sloop and Payne of the Rose sloop.

Southwick and Aitken sat on chairs brought from the coach and all except Aitken held copies of the chart of Sidi Rezegh. Ramage tapped the chart on the desk in front of him, looked round at the men and said: "I trust you have all studied this."

They all murmured that they had. Ramage then decided they should all hear what the major suggested. "Well, Major, what has the Army to say? How do you see the attack?"

The major, Henry Golightly of the 65th Foot, was a tall, sandy-haired man who was regarded as taciturn by his regiment but who enjoyed the company of naval officers because they encouraged him to talk. He coughed, as if it was expected of him, and then said: "I know nothing about what your ships can do, but as far as I'm concerned we need surprise. If the figures I have heard prove correct, we're going to be heavily outnumbered. So we have to use surprise.

"That's the first thing. Then I'd like my troops put ashore on the quay and then with as many of your sailors and Marines as you can spare, I propose we rush the barracks, free the men, and then go on to the brothel to free the women. I would keep the force together to concentrate them: all the men to attack the barracks before going on to free the women.

"If there's any chance of trouble from that fort, then we need to detach thirty men to silence it. If it isn't manned, then our men should be able to stop the Saracens getting along the quay to it -they would have to pass our ships first."

Ramage nodded, pleased with what the major said. "Thank you, Major: your ideas seem to coincide with mine. Captain Roper, what do you think?"

"I agree surprise is about the only ally we have. It seems to me we have to wait for a wind with some north or south in it - waiting out of sight if necessary. And then I think that quay is long enough for all four ships to get alongside. After that - well, Major Golightly has said all that need be said."

Ramage gestured towards King, who cleared his throat vigorously. "The only trouble I see so far is that we haven't used our guns to clear the streets. If all four ships go alongside the quay, none of them can bring any guns to bear - except bowchasers - on the barracks area. I'm wondering if there isn't enough water for me and the Rose to get alongside the wall next to the barracks, at right angles to the quay. From there we should be able to cover the whole area and keep up a brisk fire until Major Golightly's force arrives.

"Then, once the barracks are cleared and if the Saracens are in any numbers, we can warp along the wall and keep up a hot fire on this brothel, so that the women can be rescued. It might be better if they were brought to the sloops, rather than led all the way round to the frigates. It's just an idea which occurred to me."

"And a very good idea it is," Ramage said. "Southwick, do you think there's enough water along that wall for the sloops to get in there?"

The master consulted his original diagram. "I have only two soundings along there - well, not soundings, of course, but guesses by the former prisoners. One is fifteen feet and the other twenty. That's enough for the sloops. Providing there aren't any rocks along there," he added cautiously. "I'm fairly sure there aren't any shoals."

"Very well," said Ramage. "Now, how about you, Mr Payne?"

"I agree with King, sir. I think we should risk it. We should be able to lay down an effective covering fire for the troops, Marines and sailors coming round from the frigates. And, as King says, we can warp along to cover the building with the women in it."

Ramage looked at Golightly. "Well, Major, how does that idea strike you?"

"I like it," Golightly said emphatically. "I didn't think the sloops could get alongside there, but if they can give us covering fire it means the Saracens can't reinforce the guards at the barracks. And putting the women on board the sloops is a good idea: I didn't like the idea of them having to run all that way back to the frigates some of them might be in a very distressed state. So, yes, I think it a splendid idea, absolutely splendid!"

Ramage smiled at King. "Well, Commander, thank you very much: everyone seems in agreement with your idea. I must confess myself slightly jealous of your shallow draught: I dare not risk trying to get the frigates alongside over there, but it seems you are going to see all the action."

King grinned in reply and said: "From what I've heard and read about you, sir, in the West Indies as well as the Mediterranean, it won't hurt you to have something of a back seat for once!"