“Wonder who they think is goin’ to set this hooker to rights for ’em?” Bowyer mused. “Won’t be Duke William — we done our bit. Strange.”
Kydd finished a carrick bend with his eyes obediently closed. In the dark of night there would be no convenient lights nearby. “That right, Joe?” he asked.
“She’s right, Tom. It’ll do fer now, mate.”
Stretching, Kydd turned to Bowyer. “Joe, we’ve got the Captain under key in his cabin, but even a poxy thief gets a chance to say his piece. What say we hear him out?”
Bowyer looked down. “Yes, mate, it sits a bit awkward with me as well. Why don’t you nip below ’n’ see what the bugger ’as to say for ’imself?”
Down the single companionway Kydd turned aft to enter the stern cabin.
“Yes, mate?”
It was Yates the deckhand, getting to his feet outside the door to the cabin. It was obvious he had been placed there.
Kydd was reluctant to tell Yates his reasons. “Mr. Scully here?” he asked.
“Er, yer might say yes. ’E’s sleepin’ in ’is cabin right now.” Kydd hesitated. “But ’e won’t thank ye for interruptin’-he’s put away two bottles this forenoon.”
“Thanks, mate, it can wait.” Kydd clattered back up the ladder and hurried back to Bowyer.
“Seems to me they did the right thing to guard ’im, ’e bein’ a murderer an’ all,” Bowyer said.
Kydd stood his ground. “I want t’ hear Kelsey without there’s anyone else about,” he said.
Bowyer smiled. “An’ how are you goin’ to do that? Gettin’ past Yates, I mean.”
“You sway me down on a line over the transom an’ I get in through th’ stern windows,” Kydd said promptly.
The smile disappeared. “That’s a risky business, cuffin. Is ’e worth it?”
“Let’s go,” Kydd said impatiently. They strolled to the poop as if on a pleasant walk. Only the man at the helm was on deck and he was facing forward.
Bowyer found a topping lift fall and used the end with a bowline as a stirrup to lower Kydd over the low sternwork. It was easy. One window was already open, and as he swung over he hooked his feet inside and Bowyer lowered him in.
The master was sitting lashed in his chair, gagged and with his chin on his chest. He looked up in astonishment as Kydd approached and loosened the rag. “Rogues!” he shouted. “Damned scurvy rascals!”
Kydd clamped a hand over Kelsey’s mouth but it was too late. A rattling of keys in the lock showed Yates was investigating.
“Er — into the side locker!” Kelsey said urgently, nodding toward the long built-in seat at the side of the cabin.
Kydd opened it and tumbled in, remembering to lower the lid quietly. It was stuffy and damp in the locker, odorous with the musty stink of age-old tarpaulins.
“Yes, I’m talking about you, Yates!” Kydd could hear Kelsey plainly. “Take my ship away from me like this — I know your lay, Yates, you and Scully both.”
A meaty smack sounded. “Clap a stopper on it, old man. You don’t give no orders any more.”
“You’ll regret this!”
“Save yer breath, cully, yer’ll need it later. ’Ere, this’ll stop yer yattering!”
There was no sound for a short while and then the door slammed. Kydd waited for a little while, then climbed out. Once more he loosened the cloth gag. Bending close, he said quietly, “Is it right the ship’s goin’ to be done away with for th’ insurance?”
Kelsey started, and stared at Kydd. “Not by me!” he said bitterly. “Open that drawer — you’ll see a letter from my wife in Lisbon expecting to meet me there.”
Kydd found the letter, which confirmed Kelsey’s story. “Is it true that you’re the only one touchin’ the ship’s papers?” Kydd asked him.
“Yes, that’s right enough. But you should know that in the merchant service it’s the mate that’s responsible for stowing the hold. He can stow what he likes there and nobody would be the wiser. And about Mr. Warren — I’m sorry to hear of it, and all I can say is it wasn’t me did for him, but you’ll admit I’d be damn foolish to risk you men on my neck if I’d already made up my mind to scuttle.”
Kydd nodded. At the window he signaled to Bowyer to lower the line, and stepped in the bowline stirrup. It was only a short distance up the transom and he quickly clambered back on to the poop.
At that moment Scully emerged from the companionway. “What in hell?” he shouted. Striding over, he confronted them.