Free Wide is the Water by Jane Aiken Hodge Page A

him. ‘You mean,’ he said, ‘Grant would be captain.’
    â€˜It’s his idea,’ said Bill.
    â€˜Then my answer has to be no.’
    â€˜Good-bye, Mr. Purchis,’ said Bill.
    Later that afternoon there was a cry of ‘Man overboard,’and Hart knew at once that it had to be Bill. But had he gone over alive, in despair, or dead, first victim of his angry accomplices? Certainly, though the ship’s boat was lowered, while the
Sparrow
swept in a wide circle back on her own course, there was no bobbing head to reward the search, and by nightfall they were on their way again.
    â€˜I’m sorry.’ Dick Purchas had sent Smithers to summon Hart for a glass of wine. ‘I know he was almost part of your family. You’ll miss him badly.’
    â€˜Yes.’ Hart had been battling it out with himself all day, and this friendly, almost family sympathy decided him. ‘But there’s worse than that,’ he said. ‘I’ve been fighting with myself about telling you, but I must. Bill spoke to me this morning.’ It was hard to get it out. ‘He told me there was a plot among the Americans to take the ship. They wanted my help. When I refused, he said, “Good-bye.” I wish I knew whether he killed himself or they killed him.’
    â€˜I don’t suppose we ever shall.’ Dick Purchas raised his glass in a silent: toast. ‘I’m glad you told me, Cousin. I thought they must have approached you.’
    â€˜You mean, you knew?’
    â€˜Naturally I knew. I run a happy ship. Reckon to. Oh, I expect some of the men Grant and his friends approached really intended to join them – there are always some malcontents on any ship – but he was fair and far from the mark in some he spoke to. Our British sailors like to grumble and curse, but come the crunch, they’re solid gold. I won’t tell you how the word reached me, any more than you were going to tell me Grant’s name, but I can tell you this: If you heard only today, it got to me a long time before it did to you.’
    â€˜Good God!’ Hart stared with backward horror at the danger he had run. ‘But what are you going to do?’
    â€˜Nothing. Oh, I’ve got the ringleaders closely watched. That’s why I’m afraid your man may have killed himself. None of the leaders could have done it. I’ve a man oneach of them. Reporting daily. When we get to England, I’ll see they are sent to different ships. We need sailors, not gaolbirds. They’ll settle down,, I hope. The only one I’m not sure of is the man Grant. I’m glad you spoke to me. Now I can ask your advice about him.’
    â€˜It’s hard to tell.’ Hart spoke slowly. ‘He’s a damned good sailor but has never liked taking orders. I made him mate on the
Georgia
for both those reasons.’
    â€˜And did it work?’
    â€˜That’s what I’m not quite sure of.’ He was looking back to the day the
Georgia
was sunk. ‘Grant was in command when we sighted you that day,’ he said. ‘It was his responsibility to summon me. He left it so late that I had to fight you. I wonder what he really wanted. I do remember one thing, though. Bill stuck to me close as pitch almost to the end of the fighting that day. I wonder if he was afraid for me. Afraid of Grant … Oh, poor Bill … If I had told you sooner, you could have protected him perhaps.’
    â€˜I doubt it,’ said Captain Purchas. ‘Certainly not from himself. As to Grant, I’ll see he’s watched night and day. One false step, and I’ll throw the book at him. But for all our sakes, the last thing I want is word to get out of what he was trying to do.’
    â€˜I’m more than grateful,’ said Hart. ‘I cut a pretty sorry figure whichever way you look at it.’
    â€˜Nonsense,’ said Dick Purchas. ‘You were on the spot, and no mistake.