The Scent of Betrayal by David Donachie

ship the Captain does very little of the actual sailing. He considers himself too much the gentleman. Such things as navigation and sail plans are left to the master and his mates, who double up as common seamen to save on the wage bill.’
    James turned to leave, followed slowly by Harry. ‘What did Dreaver find in the hold that was so interesting?’
    ‘Come and have a look.’
    James examined the brown granules, which had some of the feel of coarse, rough gunpowder. Like Harry he thought the taste and smell reminiscent of sugar. ‘But what it’s called, heaven knows. I thought all the plant discoveries had been made decades ago in this part of the world.’
    ‘A mystery substance to go with a mystery ship.’
    ‘Are you in a position to speculate?’ asked James as they made their way back up to the main deck.
    ‘Only very slightly. They’ve abandoned ship for no discernible reason, so I have to assume another vessel. Having said that, the ship that approached them was known to the Captain at least, since he clearly anticipated no danger. If he laid down his fork to go on deck and greet them I’d be surprised. Those who took him wanted neither the vessel or the cargo it seems, since they have tried to sink her.’
    ‘Without success.’
    Harry, now back on the upper deck, stated that the list had not increased while he been aboard. ‘It’s almost certain that some of the cargo has shifted and blocked any gaps they made in the planking.’
    ‘How permanent is that?’
    ‘Without knowing what’s in the lower holds I couldn’t even begin to form an opinion. We just have to hope that it’s stable. But the water could penetrate at any moment. We’ll get some warning if it does, so I don’t consider it dangerous.’
    ‘You were speculating, I recall.’ James took the sheet from under his brother’s arm and let it fall open.
    Harry smiled at his brother’s singlemindedness.
    ‘Whoever approached the Gauchos wanted something and it’s my guess that they had a very clear idea of what it was. It certainly wasn’t that sugarlike substance we’ve just tasted, because that was all over the deck. Yet each cask was open and disturbed. Did they succeed in finding what they wanted? I can’t say with absolute assurance, but the chest that contained the sheet you’reholding was open but undisturbed, just like the other cabins, including the Captain’s foot-lookers. That indicates the answer is yes. But I do know one thing. Whoever came, in whatever vessel, though not starving, was in need of stores. I would also advance the theory that the ship that came alongside was rather small.’
    ‘How can you tell?’
    ‘One thing at a time,’ Harry replied, holding up a hand to count off the points on his fingers. ‘There are the remains of a fully cooked meal on the Captain’s table, practically untouched, with more in the steward’s gallery. Not something a hungry man would turn away from. But every storeroom on the ship has been cleaned out and both the manger and the hen-coop are bare. That blood by the bulwarks forward is where they slaughtered the animals.’
    ‘Just the animals?’
    Harry shrugged. ‘You know the odour of pork as well as I do. It smells like animal blood, but of course I can’t be sure.’
    ‘And what does that indicate?’
    ‘That whatever else they sought they decided to take the food. But their ship lacked the space to accommodate live creatures.’
    ‘Piracy?’
    ‘Possibly. Certainly theft.’ Harry fingered the edge of the sheet and held it up. ‘And, very likely, with women aboard, an abduction.’
    ‘Or murder,’ said James. ‘After all, you’re not absolutely sure about the blood.’
    ‘No. But with no evidence of even a minor struggle …’
    James pointed questioningly to the spots of blood on the deck that formed a square on the deck.
    ‘You haven’t been in a lot of fights, brother. But you’ve done enough in the cockpit to know that a fighting, or even a