Ramage and the Freebooters by Dudley Pope Page A

word “guests” loosely. And one or two bottles can’t mean many “guests”.’
    ‘Why the breadroom, though?’
    ‘Where else could you lock up men where their shouts wouldn’t be heard by the ship’s company? Both the bosun’s store and for’rard sailrooms are just below where the men sleeping forward sling their hammocks. Same goes for the dry room and coals stowage. The big sailroom’s amidships and everyone would hear. Shot locker’s too small, you can’t lock it up, and it’s right under the Marines. Spirit room – hardly appropriate. Magazine – not a very safe place from your point of view, most of it’s under your cabin! But the breadroom – well, that’s right under here.’ He pointed downwards. ‘No one who’s been planning mischief and was locked in there would want to shout too much and wake the captain, would he? And the advantage is that you can only get to it through the wardroom, where the scuttle is. And both scuttle and the breadroom door can be secured. And with that blasted surgeon serenading his bottles, none of the ship’s company would hear…’
    ‘Hmm. Yes, that’s a point. Why the rum, though. Reward?’
    ‘I don’t understand that. Jackson hardly drinks. Nor does Stafford. A couple of bottles – well, it’s worth it.’
    The Master stood up ready to go back on deck.
    ‘By the way, Mr Southwick, no evening muster. Supper’ – he looked at his watch – ‘at the usual time, in half an hour. Pipe “Down hammocks” at seven, an hour early, and “Ship’s company’s fire and lights out” at seven-thirty.’
    ‘But – no evening muster, sir! Is that wise? I mean, the–’
    ‘For the moment, I don’t want to give the men an opportunity to make a mass refusal to carry out an order. Lights out earlier than usual may upset any plans they have. Anyway, it’ll leave them puzzled about what we might be up to. Particularly since we’re up to nothing.’
    ‘Aye, there’s that to it,’ Southwick admitted. ‘Any special night orders?’
    ‘No, just the usual – sharp lookout; all changes of wind, alterations in course and so on to be reported to me. But I’ll be on deck with you until the “guests” have arrived. Don’t wear a brace of pistols too obviously… And I’d enjoy your company at breakfast. Ask Appleby too. The invitation doesn’t apply to our heirs, though, should anything go wrong…’

 
CHAPTER FIVE
    Rossi and Maxton listened carefully in the darkness as Jackson explained the plan. The three men were sitting on the coaming of the forehatch with Stafford below at the foot of the ladder beside the dim lantern, stitching a tear in his shirt and, to an onlooker, standing there to catch the light.
    ‘A pleasure,’ Rossi said when Jackson finished. ‘Much pleasure. But this much I know; it’s better to make the finish. Dead men make no troubles; live men make much unhappiness.’
    ‘Yes, Rosey, I know,’ Jackson said patiently. ‘But we’ve got to treat ’em like drunks – you know, as soon as they sober up they’re sorry.’
    ‘Drunks? Who say they is drunk? They’s as sober as I is – was – I am.’
    ‘No, I mean once we get clear of the Channel they’ll forget the mutiny. We’ve got a long way to sail with these men; better not to antagonize them.’
    ‘Antagonize? I don’t understand this word – but–’
    ‘Look, Rosey,’ Jackson said quietly, using the one argument he knew would convince the Italian, ‘this way is better for Mr Ramage. You understand?’
    ‘All right, all right,’ Rossi said reluctantly. ‘Now Maxie, you are understanding?’
    The West Indian grinned as he nodded.
    Jackson said, ‘All right then, that’s settled. You take care of Harris and the second one – what’s his name? Yes, Brookland – as soon after the change of watch as you can. Remember, Harris is the lookout at the starboard chains and Brookland’s the same to larboard. We’ll just have to wait for the cook’s mate, Dyson, to