"Come on, then, men." "Now heave!" " Soon be there now, Billy Boy." " Get your arms round Molly, eh?" " If the wind pipes up." " Aye." " What about that Spanish biddy?" "What about the siren?" " Enough there for three of us!" " I think I'm confused." "Right, Anne, imagine yourself captain." "with your first cargo down there in the hold." "850 casks of Señor Braganza's wine." "Well, Mrs Onedin, you just stepped on deck, read the weather and ship." "Right, James." "Wind light, easterly," " all sails set and drawing fully." " Uh-huh." " And where are we headed?" " Homeward bound." "Lisbon to Liverpool." " If we're pointing in the right direction." " Of course, the compass." "Course, Mr Baines?" "Nor'west by north half north, sir." "Right, now we know our wind direction and course all we need is our position." "You're a seaman's daughter - try your hand at choosing the sun." " Right, set it to zero." " Right." "Point her at the sun." "Now move that arm till the sun kisses the horizon." " Don't forget to clamp the screw." " Won't keep still." "Hold steady, brace yourself against the roll of the ship." "One degree error can put us 60 miles out, my reckoning." "Got it, I think." " Right, no sign, Mr Baines." " Aye aye, sir." "Keep her steady." "Time." "Strike the bells, Mr Baines." "Strike the bells!" "That's all there is to it." "Come on, let's work it out." "That's all we need." "There's never no luck with women." " Eh?" " On board ship, I mean." "That's that." "There we are, then." "Noon position." "Right, now first to remember, latitude is measured north or south of the equator longitude east or west of the Greenwich Meridian." "Line of latitude, meridian of longitude." "Plumb line for the one, timepiece for the other." "Where the two calculations intercept - position." "Right, let's see you measure the day's run." " Yesterday's noon position." " Mm-hm." " Today's position." " Mm-hm." "Ah-ah." " 138 miles?" " Average speed?" " Six knots?" " Hmm." "We'll make a navigator of you yet." "We left Lisbon five days ago with Mr Braganza's wine - why do we sail so far out into the Atlantic?" " We head out to pick up the westerlies." " Oh, I see." "I still don't fully understand how by carrying Mr Braganza's wine free of charge we can nevertheless show a profit." "Señor Braganza understands well enough, which is why he decided not to renew Callon's contract, but let me carry the wine instead." "Understandable if you're carrying it free of charge." "Ah, but remember, I also agreed to return his empty casks at full freightage." "But we have a shipload of wine for the carriage of which we'll not receive one penny piece." "How will we live in the meantime?" "There'll be debts to meet and crew to be paid." "You're forgetting two important factors, Anne." "First, as Braganza's agent, I shall receive 10% commission on all wine carried, and two, my brother Robert." " Robert?" " Remember the partnership agreement." "Robert thought he could gain something for nothing by signing a piece of paper." " Robert's about to learn a lesson." " Oh?" "Aye." "Robert's responsible for all debts incurred during the voyage." "Here, I'd give a guinea to see his face when the debtors start clamouring for their dues." ""Home in three weeks", he said." ""With fat profits for us both."" "Damn." "Three weeks and three days and still no sign of his damn ship." "Young Fogarty's ship has been sighted." "Daniel's ship?" "But I'm a dreadful sight." "Oh, he mustn't see me thus." "Elizabeth, what about your...your..." "Coo..." "I imagine you'll be welcoming a new brother in-law shortly, Mr Onedin?" "Me sister does not lack for suitors, Mr Simpson." " Just my pleasantry, Mr Onedin." " Uh-huh." "No offence meant and none taken, I hope." " There's just one other little matter." " Oh?" "An outstanding account." "Two casks of pickled beef for your brother James's ship." "Ah, well, the ship's stores is ship's business, Mr Simpson, not mine." "When I offered discount, a very generous discount, it was to you, Mr Onedin, not a ship." " Where'd you get this pigswill, James?" " Brother Robert." "I know who had the better of that bargain." "A man must take his profit where he can." "Not at our expense." "No housewife worth her salt would tolerate this offal." "Ship's not an hotel, you know, Anne." "Just as well, I'd have precious few customers." " Has Daniel arrived?" " He's taking a glass of wine with Robert." "Now, hold your breath." "I think it time that you and Daniel, er..." "put up the banns." "Daniel has his mind set upon being master of a fine ship first." "Hmm." "We shall have to drag that young man to the altar, I can see." "Otherwise you're in danger of being left on the shelf, my girl." "Daniel needs little persuasion, I do assure you." "Why, Elizabeth, I do believe you're blushing." " A natural agitation." " Perhaps your lacing's a little too tight." "Daniel says it's very becoming." "What's up with you, Jacko?" "It's me stomach, it's burning." " What's the matter?" " Been like that all night." "Best fetch the mate." "# Or leave a kiss within the cup" "# And I'll not ask for wine" "# The thirst that from the soul doth rise... #" "Perhaps Mr Fogarty would like a glass of wine." " # Doth ask a drink divine... #" " Oh, right, of course." " Another glass of Madeira, Daniel?" " # But might I of Jove's nectar sip" "# I would not change for thine #" "Very good, very good." "Did you know Mr Callon had already broached the matter of Daniel's promotion?" "Oh?" "Yes, he has promised me the first available berth." "As master." "Well, he dangled that carrot before James for nigh on six years." "I've always found Mr Callon to be a man of his word, sir." "How would promotion affect your future plans, Mr Fogarty?" "Well, I hope, Mrs Onedin, that I shall then be in a position to ask for..." " Elizabeth's hand." " Ah." "Well, I shouldn't wait too long, if I were you." "Young Frazer hovers like a bee round a honey pot." " Frazer?" "Really, Robert!" "Don't take any notice of my husband, Mr Fogarty." "He's a great tease." "I mean what I say, Sarah." "It's time that Elizabeth was married." "And Daniel here would make a damn site better husband than young Frazer." " Who is this Frazer?" " Mr Albert Frazer, the son of the ship builder." "He keeps trying to persuade his father to build steam ships." " I see, a floating kettle man." "Well, if he's pestering you with his unwarranted attentions, Elizabeth, I..." "I trust you will give me the satisfaction of dealing with him, on your behalf." "On the contrary, Mr Frazer is quite the little gentleman." ""Your servant, Miss Elizabeth." "If I may be of service, Miss Elizabeth." ""May I have the privilege of taking your arm, Miss Elizabeth?"" " The devil he does." "If I find him aboard ship, I'll put a reef in his tail smart enough." "You mustn't take it amiss, Daniel." "You've no cause of jealousy of Mr Frazer, I do assure you." "You're twice the man." "Jealousy is quite a common disorder of those with an affectionate nature." "Why, before we were married, Robert was quite the green-eyed monster." "I still am!" "Here, Daniel, a toast to the Charlotte Rhodes." "May she return laden to the gunwales, and with big fat profits all round." " Amen to that." " We shouldn't be awaiting James' return with such anxiety if he'd left money enough to pay his debts before he sailed." "It seemed a considerable sum at the time, Sarah." "150 pounds was no to be sneezed at." "It took more than that in stock and cordage to re-rig the ship" " but you're too st..." " I'm what, what?" "You're too generous-hearted a man to notice." "You're too easily put upon, Robert." "There are good profits to be made in shipping." "Aye, and losses." "Why, every day the newspaper's full of reports of ships foundered, wrecked, overdue." "Shipping is a risky business, Sarah, it's not like a shop." "There's security in a shop." "I've seen to it that the fo'c's'le is scrubbed out with carbolic, Mr Baines, but that seaman is seriously ill." "It's the fever, ma'am, and there'll be a lot more down with it before this voyage is over." " The time is approaching noon, ma'am." " I'll tell Captain Onedin." "Aye." "It's noon, James." " Mr Baines!" " James, what is it?" " Help me to my feet." "Mr Baines!" " Yes, ma'am?" " Can you lend a hand, Mr Baines?" "All right, get him over there." "On the top." "It's the ship's fever right enough - see the rash." "Nonsense, it's the result of eating tainted meat." "It's the ship's fever and it'll spread like wildfire, I've seen it before." "You may leave us, Mr Baines." "Take the noonday observation." " Who, me?" " You're the ship's mate," " next in order of command." " But I cannot." "Why?" " I don't have the lettering', ma'am." "I never had no schooling, you see." "Is there no one who can read and write?" " No one but yourself, ma'am." " But I know nothing of navigation." "Well, Captain Onedin showed you the manner of laying of a course on a chart." " Well, yes, but this is..." " All I need to know is the lie of the land," "I see no difficulty." "If I had the lettering', I shouldn't trouble you, ma'am, but I haven't." "So the matter rests in your hands there's no one else for it." "James?" " James?" "How's he doing?" "That rash is spreading all over him." " He's coughing a lot." "Blood." " Which course are we steering?" " West by north half north." "Is the old man still on his back?" "He's out like a light." "His missus is doing the navigating, according to Baines." "Taking orders from a woman?" "We'll get lost." "The wind's hitting us, ma'am." "You see, I gotta bear away, I must have a new course." " Yes, but I can't give..." "The wind's hitting us again!" "What's our heading?" "Nor'west for west, Mr Baines." " Let us know if she veers again." " Aye." " Wind's gone round to the nor'east, ma'am." " What do you suggest, Mr Baines?" "Well, we've got to head to west." "That would take us further out into the Atlantic." "Aye, give us plenty of sea room till Captain Onedin's on his feet again." "No, Mr Baines." "My husband undertook to deliver this cargo directly, and every extra day at sea costs money." "I should like to take the shortest possible route home." " The hands are sickening with fever." " All the more reason for short voyage." "They won't thank you for it." "Ship's fever is well known to be a contagion of the air, best dealt with by the purifying action of clean ocean winds." "Mr Baines, the men are ill of eating unwholesome meat." "There is only one cure." "Come with me this instant, Mr Baines." "This one?" "Aye, I suppose so." "What a waste." "There you go." "Got it?" "All right, over she goes." "Look at that." "Mr Baines?" "I shall require to examine the contents of each new cask as it's opened." "In future, all meat will be thoroughly cooked and served as broths or stews." " I'll not eat boiled meat." " Then you shall starve." "The crew will obtain their drinking water from the galley, after it has been thoroughly boiled." "Boiled water, boiled meat..." "That's enough lip from you two, get for'ard!" "You try my patience, ma'am, you really do." "Mr Baines?" "We need to be two points further west." "Mr Baines?" "Two points closer to the wind." "You two on the headsail sheets, you bring yard sharp up!" "Armitage!" "Bring her up as close as you can." "Thank you, Mr Baines." "Let me have the best course you can make." " Mr Baines!" "Mr Baines!" "Me hand!" "Hurry, hurry, hurry!" "Me hand!" " Mr Baines!" "Mr Baines!" "Bring her into the wind!" "Wind took it and jammed his hand in the block!" "Onto the ledge with him." " Hold still!" "Hold him still!" "Let's have a look at the damage." "Ma'am." "How is the injured man, Mr Baines?" "He's lost three fingers, but he'll live." "Poor man." "Aye, have to beg for his bread from now on." "Is he married?" "Three children." "I've known worse." "You're a captain's daughter yourself, I understand, ma'am." "In the navy." "If I'd have had the lettering, I'd have made a captain myself by now." "It's those with book learning has all the advantages." " You know I tried very hard..." " Yes!" "You must forgive me, Mr Baines, I'm a somewhat slow calculator." " Captain Onedin read it off the sexton, ma'am." " But I can't." "However, we sailed 138 miles yesterday." "And our new course?" "Nor' quarter west but on the starboard tack." " We'll make a fair amount of leeway, I reckon." " Leeway?" "Well, you see, a ship don't sail in a straight line, the wind sort of blows it sideways and we call that making leeways." "Oh, yes, of course." "With Captain Onedin ill and another man maimed, we need a doctor, Mr Baines." "I should like to strike for home as quickly as possible." "As you wish." "Steer as near to east northeast as you can and I'll try to calculate our latitude." "East nor'east?" "I'll keep her as close as I can, ma'am, but there's very little wind." "Latitude." "Latitude." "Ann..." "James." " Latitudinal..." " Yes, James." "How do I calculate latitude?" "All's plain sailing, from pole to pole." "Steering by the stars." "Brings good fortune, you see." "Robert may have the better of the bargain yet." "With a hand to the plough and the pointer..." "Sea..." "Oh, Jane..." "Sail plain." "Plain, Jane, sail plain." "Rest easy, James." " Rest easy." " Erm, erm..." " You've done your best." "Plain Jane, is that what I am to him?" "From pole to pole, he said, and steer by..." "By the stars!" "Nor'easter, ma'am, what there is of it." "The sun moves across the heavens and its path varies from season to season," " but the stars, the stars are fixed." " Yes, ma'am." "The plough, a hand to the plough and the pointer, of course." " Beg pardon, ma'am?" " I've got it, Mr Baines." " Got what, ma'am?" " How to get our latitude." "The polar star, you see?" "Latitude is determined by simply measuring the angle of a star fixed above the pole." "The angle is our latitude." "Never no luck since that woman set foot on board." "Telling the cook to throw good vittles over the side." "How you feeling, Jacko boy?" "Jacko?" "Jacko?" "Amen." "All right, heave her to." "Now bring the staysail to wind'ard." "Call Mrs Onedin!" "Ready, ma'am." "We therefore commit his body 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..." "Land ho!" "Amen!" " I haven't finished." " Well, I have." "Where away?" " A lighthouse, a point to starboard." " A lighthouse?" "Hold this." "There's a lighthouse dead ahead." "Now we shall know our position." "I know our position, madam." "That is Ouessant Island off the French coast." "Stand by to wear ship!" "Let draw forestay!" "Come on, out of my way, get out of here." "Now slack away mainsail and mainsheets!" "So much for your navigation." "You'll have us aground." "I don't understand." "I'm taking command, missus, so go below and tend to your husband." "This very instant, if you please!" " Yes?" " I wish to speak to Mr Onedin." "I'll call him." " Robert?" "Shop." " Right." "He'll be here directly." " Mr Onedin?" " Er, yes." "White stocking day." " Oh, you've got your allowment note." " Yes, I have." " If there's anything that you want to buy..." " Aye, when I get the cash." "Cash?" "My son, signed aboard the Charlotte Rhodes one month ago." "That's his mark, that's his written name, Jacko Waters." "I'm his mother, his wife is entitled to one half of one month's pay, not a penny more nor less." "Yes, I do understand that, Mrs Waters..." "Good, cos there'll be others with the same claim." "Y-Yes, but it is my brother's ship..." "Don't try putting me off with fine words, young man." "You're his note cracker, it says so here, and black and white doesn't lie." " Yes, but I didn't enter into any..." " But Jacko did." "There's his mark to prove it." "30 shillings, if you please, Mr Onedin." "I'm afraid, Mrs Waters, you'll have to wait on the return of my brother and his ship." "My God..." "Very well." "You shall have your money." "That's only 26 shillings." "30's me due and 30 I'll have." " You forget my discount, Mrs Waters." " Discount?" " What discount?" " For cash!" "Why, any other note cracker would charge you, what, five shillings in the pound, and well you know it, Mrs Waters." "I've treated you fair." "Very fair." "Needs must, I suppose." "Good day to you." "All right, Bill?" "Poor old Jacko." "He was a good shipmate." "There's that bitch of a woman!" "It's not her fault." "One man in a sail-maker's coffin, you maimed for life." "Be my turn next." "I've got a mouth like the inside of the devil's boots." "All we've got to drink is boiled water." "With a full cargo of wine aboard." "All hands, let's have you!" "She's worse than a packet ship." "One man do the work of ten men." "I could do with a drink." "Don't worry, boy, we'll break open a cask tonight." "You'd better watch out for Baines." "I'll watch him." "Easy, boy." " Mite better than boiled water, eh, Billy?" " Get it down you, boy." " Oh, that's better." " I tell you, me thirst has gone now." " Sweet, boy, sweet." "Oh, that's beauty, Taffy." "It's Baines." "That's ship's cargo." "We found this busted cask." "Busted cask, eh?" "Mr Baines, what's happening here?" "Well, we're just checking to see nothing's shifted in the hold, ma'am." "Ship's cargo!" "You'll rot in jail for this." "And as for you, Mr Baines, you've commanded your last ship!" "Ma'am." " Beg your pardon, ma'am." " Speak when you're spoken to." " What you saw, ma'am..." " That wine is ship's cargo!" "You've no right to talk to Mr Baines like that!" "You get back to work." " I should like a word with you, ma'am." " Yes, Mr Baines." "I must ask you, ma'am, to cease interfering with the running of the ship." "The running of the ship?" "Do you have the impertinence to call that shambles an exercise in command?" "Cargo-pilfered, the crew drunk and mutinous - you take much upon yourself." "We're sailing onto storm canvas, ma'am." "Two days of flat calm and now storm canvas." " We've been at work while you were in bed." " It's the work they're engaged to do." "We were never overcrewed at best, now we have one man dead and another hauling on the same tack, and two more barely able to hold to the deck, let alone crawl off." "You broached cargo, Mr Baines!" " I broached cargo?" " Cargo in your charge, you were drinking it." "Drinking?" "The stuff had hardly touched my lips." "As for the others, they can hang for mutiny." "Mutiny?" "They have cause enough for complaint and showed it in the only way they know how." "By broaching cargo!" "Ship's fever is well known to be a contagion of the air." "For which the specific is the bottle?" ""Use a little wine for thy stomach's sake, and for thine infirmity." Scriptures, ma'am." ""Thou shall not steal." That is also scripture, Mr Baines!" "Look, I know ships and seas, and the winds that blow, and I can handle men drunk or sober!" "But a more obstinate, parsimonious woman as yourself I never comprehend, and in spite of your lettering, we have less notion of our position and what course to set than we had three days ago." "That's why the hands are dispirited, ma'am." "That's why they can only see one end of the voyage - disaster, ma'am." "And now if you'll excuse me, I'm required on deck." " Mr Baines?" " Aye?" " I'll strike a bargain with you." " What sort of bargain?" "I navigate, you sail." "We gave that a fair trial, you near drove us ashore." "If you will agree, I'll promise in return to teach you to read and write." " Writing characters?" " Yes." " And figuring?" " Yes." "And no more interfering with my running of the ship?" " No." " And no more talk of mutiny?" "It was foolish talk, ma'am." "Very well." "Well, the wind's in the sou'west, that could be a fair wind." " Then we're in agreement?" " Aye." " What course shall I set?" " North until noon, if you please, Mr Baines." "You haven't eaten your egg." "Well, this damn partnership business has ruined my appetite." "Mr Simpson clamouring for payment for his damn pickled beef." "I shall speak to Mrs Simpson, she's an understanding woman." "Yes, but the seamen's wives aren't so understanding." "And who can blame them?" "They're asking only for what they're entitled to." "And James didn't leave me enough money to pay them, and they blame me!" "Oh, the ship's bound to be spoke soon." "Then you shall have your share of the profits, the seamen's wives will be paid and you can laugh at Mr Simpson." "Well, I'll buy no more vittles from him, that I promise you!" " Morning." " Ah." "Oh, I could eat a horse, hooves and all." "It's from Mr Frazer." "He asks if he may have the pleasure of my company to a performance of..." "Mr Verdi's La Traviata." "Really, it's the most formal letter." "Then you must write an equally formal letter of refusal." "Ah." "Why should I?" "I've never been to an opera." "You owe a certain duty to Mr Fogarty, Elizabeth." "I'm sure that Mr Fogarty would not allow you to attend any function escorted only by Mr Frazer." "Daniel does not yet rule my life." "And he's been of far too possessive a nature lately." "I shall accept Mr Frazer's invitation if only to put Daniel out of countenance." " You've nothing to wear." " I shall find something." "Not if it costs money, you won't!" "Money, money, money!" "That's all I ever hear in this household!" "Eat your egg." "I've no appetite." "Time, ma'am!" "Thank you, Mr Baines." "Thank you for taking me to the theatre, Daniel." "I do so prefer it to the opera." "Opera?" "Did I mention the opera?" "You can't beat a good melodrama." "Kept in a room to save another woman from rising to ring a bell, or to hand her the scissors, or to play the piano when ordered." "I cried wet tears, I couldn't help myself." "And the Russian prince..." "At your hands I assure you, slavery would be the most desirable thing on earth." "But freedom's better." "You'll never be free of me, Elizabeth." "Never, Dan." "Come on, boy." " No, I can't, Taff." " I know." "It's as soggy as Lot's wife's arse." "The mate says we've got to eat it, and he's not the sort of man to, er... listen to an argument, so get it down you." "It's me hand, it's hurting again." "That doesn't stop you eating, boy." "You're a sight better off than poor Jacko." "Yeah." " Tastes like bilge water." " Come on, I'll give you a hand." "Oh." "Look, I..." "I could still get a job on a ship, eh?" "I mean, I..." "Well..." "I could be the cook, eh?" "Look, I've known a lot of good ship's cooks with only one wing." "You'll be all right." "Well, it's Molly and the kids." "Bills, bills, bills." "Is there no end to them?" "I've spoken to Mrs Simpson." " Harbour dues, look." " Her husband is threatening to take us to law." "To law?" "And I thought him a friend." "Can't we offer him a little on account?" "I've nothing left to offer them." "The till is empty." "Your brother James has much to answer for on his return." "When he returns." "We'll make our fortunes, he tells me." "And here I am without ha'penny left in the house." "Where is that brother of mine, eh?" "Where's he got to, eh?" "And his damn ship, eh?" "Where is he?" "!" "James!" " Where are we?" " 12 days out and off the Welsh coast." "James, it'd be madness to go on deck in this storm." "Mr Baines can handle the ship." "Baines?" "Baines can't count beyond ten." "Mr Baines and I have learnt to trust each other's judgment." "I'd rather trust to Providence." " Well, where precisely are we?" " I can show you on the chart." "Our noon position, and since then we've been sailing northeast through the most boisterous wind." " Who navigated?" " I did." " You learn fast." " I had to." "James, you mustn't go on deck, you're not fit." "Mr Baines is more than competent once we're in sight of land." "In sight of land?" "Look sharp there!" "I want to bear away!" " How is she, Mr Baines?" " Lost a flying jib and we're reefing right down!" "Where are we?" "I can't see clear, but I think that's the Bishops." " Right, shake out the reefs." " She won't take it." "Do as I order!" "Hoist all but the topsail." "We've lost the flying jib already, and we'll lose the ship!" "It's my cargo, my money and my ship." "I'm master, set the staysail." "Aye aye, sir." "All hands!" "Take out the reef and the foresail!" " And the staysail!" " Aye aye, sir." "Take out reef!" "Up staysail!" "Mainsail!" "We're undercrewed!" " Tie down the wheel." " All right, I'll lash it." "Harry!" "John!" "Claire!" "Have you seen Jacko Waters?" " Where's Papa?" " I don't know, darling." " Good luck, Peter." " That's the last of them." "And it was tainted meat after all, ma'am." "Thank you, ma'am." "Cap'n." " Take care." " Thank you, ma'am." "Let me, James." "Is the cargo safe?" " She's not damaged, is she?" " No, plain sailing all the way." "Should've been with us." "Oh, this is Jack's mother." " I'm afraid I have some..." " What is it, Mrs Onedin?" "The children, it might be better if we talk privately." "Jack, where is he?" " Mrs Waters..." " Where is he?" "Come on, Pet, your dad's not going to come home today." " Where's my Jacko?" "Where is he?" "He died, Mrs Waters." "Oh, no." "Not my Jacko." "Oh, no." "Oh, no." "James?" "James!" "James, thank God you're back." "Well?" "How much profit did we make?" "Well, come on, how much?"