The Dying Trade by David Donachie by The Dying Trade (epub)

Author:The Dying Trade (epub)
Language: eng
Format: epub

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Pender hadn't been able to locate Crosby, so he grabbed a couple of boys from the quay and took them off to fetch James's chest, while Harry bespoke a boat, this time with a couple of oarsmen, to take them out to Broadbridge's ship.

Everything Harry had heard about the Dido was true. It was no vessel to go privateering in, rather the kind of craft that plied the coastal trade, with the exception that it had been altered to carry a few cannon amidships, though even the gun ports cut in the bulwarks looked as though they didn't suit. And the comparison with what should be was made worse by the proximity of the other ships in the syndicate's little fleet.

They had dirty grey salt streaks down their sides, which only served to tell Harry that they moved easily through the water. Dido had salt streaks all over her hull, stem to stern, evidence that she shipped a good deal of the sea through the planking. Judging by her shape, which reminded Harry of the doggers that fished the North Sea shallows, that would pale beside the quantity of water she'd take in over her bows in any kind of sea. He was left wondering how anyone could have been persuaded to buy such a boat for such a purpose.

"Avast there, said a voice from below the bulwark. Sheer off."

"Is Carey Sutton aboard? shouted Pender, indicating to their boatmen that they should ship oars.

"What if he is? Who's asking?"

"Tell him Pious Pender wants a word."

The voice growled threateningly. You stay clear till I see what he says."

As if to emphasize the point, one of the gun ports creaked open, and they found themselves staring down the muzzle of a four-pounder cannon. The two boatmen went white, but Pender just smiled at them. They were not reassured. The four of them sat, rocking gently on the filthy water of the harbour.

"Is that you, Pious? Sutton's head peaked over the side. He treated Harry to a hard look, before asking Pender what they were about. Pender indicated to the boatmen to pull closer, so that he could speak quietly. They shook their heads. Pender, turned, and looked meaningfully at the gun muzzle, giving a sharp gesture to indicate that they would be safer out of its way. Reluctantly the two Genoese pulled on their oars and brought them within talking distance.

"We've come for a word, Carey, about Captain Broadbridge."

"He ain't here. He went out to look at that ship yesterday afternoon and he's yet to return."

"I said I wanted a word about him, not with him."

Sutton's tongue was suddenly between his lips, and his brow furrowed as he tried to read into Pender's words what the man wasn't saying.

Being closer, Pender kept his voice down. It'd be best if we come aboard, Carey."

A long pause, before Sutton spoke. Aye. Happen it would. I'll ask Lubeck."

"Who's Lubeck?"

"Sort of master's mate. Bastard's from the Hanse, and I'm damned if I can make out half of what he says.

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