Kathleen E. Woodiwiss(131)

Ruark sat back, surveyed the faces watching him, then gave a soft chuckle.

“You’d be blown from the water before you got close to the sheds.”

Ruark had only guessed they might be pirates, but now the disappointment on their faces proved it. The Englishman, Harripen, leaned back and again picked his teeth with a fingernail.

“Ye seem light’earted, me lad,” he rumbled. “Could it be ye’ve somethin‘ up yer sleeve?”

Ruark folded his bare arms and let the question go unanswered for a long moment as he appeared to ponder a problem.

“Well, mates,” he gave them a lopsided grin, “had I a sleeve, that might well be said, but as you can see I have naught but a sorry pair of breeches hardly worthy of the name. Thus in my poverty, everything I have is most dear and commands a price.” He laughed at the suddenly angry expressions. “Like yourselves, I do nothing for nothing. I have long looked upon the weaknesses of Trahern’s island and know a way to come off with little loss and the probability of much gain.” Ruark leaned forward and spread his elbows wide on the table, motioning them near as if in confidence. “I can tell you of a way in, and I can tell you where the moneys of the store and of Trahern’s own accounts are kept.” The pirates would gain enough coin from these coffers to make it seem like a haul, but Ruark knew that Trahern removed most of the money to the manor and held it in his own strongbox.

“Of course,”—Ruark reclined back in his chair and seemed to dismiss the pirates’ now eager looks—“if you want the raw oakum and the bales of hemp in the warehouses, you can as well go there.” He waited a space, then shrugged, spreading his hands. “I have little else to trade, gentlemen. What say you?”

The French half-breed captain thrust forward a wide-bladed knife and fingered the well-honed edge of it.

“You have your life, bondsman,” he sneered.

“Aye, that I have.” And Ruark reminded him, “I returned the favor by warning you of the guns. I will advance my cause further and tell you that the Hampstead, with twenty-odd fine cannon, is at anchor in the harbor. Should you gain the inner port you would have to face her, and how long would you stay with that one breathing fire and shot down your neck?”

“And you’ll no doubt demand a captain’s share for your plan,” the half-breed snorted with rich sarcasm, “while we risk our necks for it.”

“A captain’s share will do nicely, thank you,” Ruark accepted with a chuckle, ignoring the jeer. “I am not overly greedy. As to the necks, I will lead you and thus risk my own from both sides.”

“Done then! A captain’s share it be if we take a haul,” Captain Harripen chortled, enjoying the turnabout on his French cohort. “Now, laddie, out with it. What be yer scheme?”

Though no movement was detectable, the air of expectancy grew to great proportions. They were all ears to hear the details of his plan.

“Near the east end of the island,” Ruark improvised as he spoke, “the water is deep, and you could lay the ship less than a cable’s length from shore.”

“An‘ to the west?” the mulatto asked suspiciously.

“Shallow!” Ruark replied. “Two or three fathoms at most, with a reef well offshore. Closest you’ll get there would be a mile or two.” He did not want them landing near the manor house, but his words were for the most part truth, although he made no mention of the men who patrolled the shorelines at night.

“Let the lad say his piece!” Harripen railed impatiently, and the mulatto reluctantly subsided.

“There’s a signal gun on the hill,” Ruark started again.

“Yah, we know dat. We hear it when we come in,” the Dutchman said.

“One shot is just a ship sighted, but if you hear two ‘tis a warning,” Ruark continued. “Now, you can put ashore a light force, and I will show them where to get the best of the loot in the quietest way without rousing the whole island.”

The heads drew nearer, and Ruark spun his spurious plan out for them. He knew the gun would sound, and at night one shot was as much a warning as two. Where he would have the pirates land would give the town a good hour to prepare, and none of the small boats he had seen on deck would carry more than a score of raiders. Even if two boats were lowered, no more than thirty could be embarked, and several of those would stay to guard the boats. Trahern should have no difficulty dispatching the landing party and, with the schooner’s crew shorthanded, the Hampstead would have no trouble overhauling the privateer.

It would be no mean feat for him to escape once ashore, and Trahern would surely give him a hearing before any punishment. He felt no further commitment to protect Shanna’s secret and would speak whatever portion of the truth became necessary.