Free Sackett's Land (1974) by Louis - Sackett's 0 L'amour Page B

out ship's biscuit, salt meat and a side of beef the captain had in keeping for himself.
    "Stand by," I told them, "and keep a wary eye. I shall speak to the captain."
    "What?" Rufisco stared at me. "He sleeps with a loaded pistol by him."
    "Then he had better be quick with it," I said, "for I've a matter to discuss with him."
    I went along aft, down the ladder's three steps to the after cabin, and there he lay, sprawled on his bunk with an empty bottle by him and the smell of rum strong upon the air. My sword lay across the room and I walked over and took it up.
    He had a pistol by him, all right, but I took it rudely from under his hand. Then I nudged him a toe.
    "Come alive," I said. "You've to settle accounts now."
    He stirred, opened his eyes, then seeming to sense the stillness of the ship he suddenly woke up, threw back the covers and put a foot to the deck. Then he saw me, standing wide-legged to the roll of the vessel, slight though it was, with a sword in my hand and a pistol in my belt.
    "You." He started to rise and I tilted the point of the blade at him. "Is it mutiny then?" he asked.
    "Not mutiny, Captain, for I'm no sworn member of your crew, nor legally taken on. The coast lies yonder, and I am taking my freedom."
    "The savages will roast you," he warned.
    "Me, at least, not you," I said. "Now, Captain, there's a matter between us, a matter of money taken from me, and a matter of payment for my work as a crew member. As well as damages."
    "Damages! I'll damage you!" He lunged up, and I put my blade against his chest and pressed, just enough.
    He cried out and fell back, a spot of blood on his shirt front. "The money taken from me, Captain. I'll take the rest in goods."
    From his shirt he took my sack of money and threw it to me. Deftly I picked it from the air, hefting the weight. It felt right.
    "My time is worth money, more than your ship, but I'll not take that. However," I said, "four hundred weight of trade goods as well as some powder and shot should do for damages."
    "Four hundred weight!" He almost screamed it. "You're daft, man!"
    "All right. Have it your own way, five hundred weight."
    Bardle stared at me hard-eyed. "Ishould have dropped you over the side the first day out," he said. "I was a fool to waste time."
    "No doubt," I replied cheerfully. "But you might have found trouble doing it, and you'd still have Tempany to settle with." I smiled at him. "You know, Bardle, you can never go back to England now."
    "What's that? What d'you mean?"
    "By now, inquiries will have traced me to your ship. You will be waited for when you return."
    He did not like that. He tried to stare me down, to not believe what I had said, but he believed.
    "Bah!" he sneered. "They'll not notice you! You're nothin' but a farmer from the fens!"
    The cabin held little else that I wanted. A compass, which I took, another brace of pistols, which I also placed to one side. He watched me, his eyes bulging. "You're a bloody thief!" he shouted.
    "Next time you think to knock some lad in the head, Bardle, remember this. And when I leave you, remember that Tempany is coming along behind you, and he knows your craft and you. He will be looking for you.
    "The night after that on which you took me, I was to meet an Earl, Genester's cousin. He had plans in which I was concerned. Captain Tempany was also involved, as were others. Oh, you've done it this time, Bardle! You've fixed yourself nicely!"
    Gathering what I needed in one hand and under that arm, I backed to the door. "Don't try coming out, Bardle, and don't try to follow me."
    "You think Tempany will find you?" Bardle sneered. "No man knows this coast, not even Gosnold or Newport! Once you leave this vessel you'll not be seen again."
    "Hadn't you guessed? I don't intend to be seen, not for a long time, Bardle. Not until after you've been drawn and quartered and hung in chains. You've been the death of many a poor lad. Now you can die for me."
    At the steps I paused again. "I plan to