Kydd by Julian Stockwin

Author:Julian Stockwin [Stockwin, Julian]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, azw3
Tags: Fiction, General, Historical, Action & Adventure, Sea stories
ISBN: 9780743216678
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Published: 2001-05-14T14:30:00+00:00

It was Doud on the wheel when dawn broke; a clear, bracing dawn that saw the white-capped seas hurrying toward them under the strong breeze — exhilarating sailing weather.

“Well, I own I’m at a stand as to why Warren didn’t come up ter see us-not like him at all.” Doud’s frown deepened.

Bowyer opened an eye and considered. “Maybe he’s been gettin’ his swede down — he did put in double tides yesterday. I’ll go below ’n’ give him a shake, it bein’ dawn an’ all.”

Kydd stretched his aching limbs. He was not yet able to snatch sleep wherever he was like the other seamen and his muzzy mind needed prodding into life.

Bowyer returned looking grave. “He’s not in his cabin.”

Doud looked at him. “Got to be — ’ave you seen in the master’s cabin?”

“Yeah. Nobody seen ’im since last night. I’m gettin’ Mr. Scully.”

The mate came on deck promptly. “What’s the trouble?”

“Can’t seem to find Mr. Warren,” Bowyer said.

Scully frowned. “Seemed fine last night — told him o’ yer worries and he said he’d wait till first light an’ investigate. Didn’t seem fazed at all, he didn’t, just went back ter sleep.”

“Hadn’t we better go look fer him?” said Doud.

There was no very great number of places that would need searching in the small merchant ship, and it was not long before Scully came back with his men.

“Can’t find him,” he said, watching for reaction.

“Yer can’t find ’im?” Bowyer was incredulous. “A barky this big ’n’ yer can’t find ’im? ’E ’as to be somewhere!”

“No. We looked all over — ’e ain’t aboard.” He took on a set, dogged expression. The deckhands stood behind him, expressionless.

Bowyer glanced at the others. He spoke deliberately. “I think as how this c’n only be yer skipper. He knows Mr. Warren’s been tipped off and is goin’ to investigate this mornin’, ’n’ he thinks to get in first.”

“Them’s serious words,” the mate answered. “You’re saying as ’ow our cap’n is a murtherer!”

“Can’t help it,” Bowyer said gravely. “What do you think? ’E’s the only one keeps the ship’s papers, that right?”

“That’s right,” Scully said reluctantly.

“An’ ’e’s the one who sets the course ’n’ that — knows just where we’re bound.”

“Yes.”

“And last you saw of ’im last night was when he was a-restin’, not to be disturbed, I hear?”

“Well, yes.”

“We’ve been on deck all night, so it’s got ter be ’im.”

Scully considered this. “What you’re sayin’ is that I should take some sorta action.”

This time it was Bowyer who waited silently.

“Right, then — I will. There’s no sleep fer anyone until I do. I’m goin’ to take him in charge, suspicion o’ murther!”

“Don’t like this, mates!” Doud said, after Scully had left the deck. “Don’t like it a-tall. Not right, takin’ a ship from the Cap’n like that.”

“What else can he do?” Bowyer replied. “He’s right — none of us is goin’ to get much sleep until he’s in bilboes or somethin’.”

Kydd felt uneasy. “What I don’t get is how Kelsey sent Mr. Warren over th’ side without our hearin’ it.

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