Chapter 31
Mr Howell Returns
Ned hardly dared to admit it, but being on board the Pride tending the sheets, braces and leeboards, made him feel that the events of the weeks since Colchester were finally behind him. Perched on the windlass forward of the main mast, he idly scratched Harry’s ear, the dog happily submitting to this attention as the barge forged ahead into Woolwich Reach.
The darkness didn’t bother him, nor did it bother Dickie Byrd at the tiller.
On either bank, lights glimmered in windows, and the Arsenal on the south side was a veritable blaze of light. Afloat, other barges showed their presence with their navigation lights as they made the most of the outgoing tide. Moored ships also showed lights, but these were riding lights, marking them as being anchored or secured
