Ramage And The Rebels

There was the Calypso ahead, all her masts, yards and rigging looking like yellowish - red lacework in the light of the flames, but the hull was solid black and menacing. And beyond her the dancing reflection of the flames just caught the masts of the rest of the privateers and beyond, in the distance. La Creole. And the buildings. The flames lit up every building in Otrabanda. And Punda - there was Government House, the white walls this side showing stark, but the northern side was in harsh shadow with the harbour entrance a gaping black mouth with a fort on each side.

Suddenly there was a blinding double flash, followed immediately by a great rolling and reverberating boom that seemed solid noise. The night was black again as the shock of the explosion caught them, and then men, stunned by what they had seen but realizing that now they were safe, stopped rowing. The boom continued echoing down the channel towards the Schottegat, seeming to leave a terrified silence in its wake.

Then it began to rain: a pattering on the water grew heavier and suddenly Ramage realized what it was: the wreckage of two blown - up ships was beginning to land.

'Duck!' he shouted. 'Crouch down - under the thwarts 1' But his voice came out as a croak and Stafford repeated it, adding his own oaths. Great splashes told of heavy pieces of timber crashing into the water, and amid the noise Ramage heard Stafford say conversationally: That flash left it all bloody dark, didn't it? You're orf course for the Calypso, Jacko."

'All right, all right, it isn't every night we see a frigate blow up.'

'Nar, but I'm soakin' wet and cold, and the capting is shivering like a sick dog.'

'Give way, men!' Jackson called, and the men began rowing again.

'The Dutch survivors,' Ramage croaked. 'Our boats . . ' search for them . . .'

'Mama mia, all is blown to Heaven, sir,' Rossi said, 'or is sitting on the clouds wondering how to make the down.'

'Well send boats as soon as we get to the Calypso, sir,' Jackson called, 'but they'll probably send 'em anyway. We want to get you and Mr Rennick and the rest back on board quickly."

'What's happened to Mr Rennick?'

'Don't rightly know, sir. It's his shoulder, and he's lost a lot of blood.' 'Where's Mr Baker?' 'He - well, sir, a musket ball caught him.' 'Badly wounded?'

'Dead, sir. Him and several men. You and Mr Rennick and a few wounded men were all we could get over the side in time.'

But the effort of concentrating was too much; Ramage tried to fight off the faintness draining him but be had no strength, and the next time he opened his eyes he was lying on the Calypso's deck, Southwick shining a lantern on him as Bowen, the surgeon, ripped the seams of his shirt and trousers and said quietly to the master: 'Nasty cut on the skull but the cranium not damaged: musket or pistol ball still lodged in his left forearm. Get him to his cabin and clean him up: for the moment I've more urgent cases to attend - '

'But it's the captain!' Southwick protested.

"Yes," Bowen said crisply, 'and that's what he'd want'

Ramage seemed to be floating in a dream. Someone was scrubbing him with a harsh towel and he felt wanner, it was dark again and then someone was trying to persuade him to drink some brandy and then gradually - it seemed to take hours, but he found out afterwards it was only thirty minutes - he was wide awake, warm, sitting up in his cot and calling for clothes.

Silkin disappeared and came back with Southwick, who announced in the pompous tones that most people adopt when talking to a sick person: The surgeon says you must stay in bed, sir.

'Get me some clothes, Silkin!' Ramage snapped. 'I've got to get on shore!'

'Sir!' Southwick protested.

'Don't argue! What time is it?'

'Half past four, sir. It'll soon be dawn.'

Ramage swung out of the cot and had to grab at the armchair to steady himself against the dizziness. 'Silkin, get a damp cloth and clean up this mess on my head.'

'It is clean, sir,' Silkin said, 'and that's a dry bandage. Your arm, too, sir: Mr Bowen says it will soon get very painful.'

'Soon!' Ramage exclaimed. 'It hurts like the devil already. Now, help me to get dressed and tell Mr Aitken to have a boat ready and I want him to accompany me on shore. The sergeant and a dozen Marines, too.'

And that reminded him. 'Rennick,' he said to Southwick, 'how is Rennick?'

'Bowen thinks hell be all right. Musket ball in the right shoulder. He lost a lot of blood. So did you, sir.'

Silkin was putting out clothes, and Southwick hustled off to warn Aitken.

'A hot drink before you go, sir?' Silkin said coaxingly.

'It would make me sick. All that salt water I swallowed.'

'A bite to eat, then, sir?'

'Nothing - now, don't jerk my breeches like that, blast you; my head feels as though it's going to fall off.'

It took ten minutes for Ramage to dress, but at the end of it his stock was tied neatly, his sword hung properly, and apart from the broad bandage round his head which forced him to carry his bat under his right arm, and his left arm in a sling and throbbing as though it was going to burst, he felt better than he guessed he looked.

Aitken met him at the gangway. The Marines are in the boat, sir. And Bowen - '

At that moment the surgeon came bustling up. 'Sir, I must forbid this madness. You should be in bed and - '

'How are your other patients, Bowen?'

'As well as can be expected, sir.'

Then you'd better be with them.'

'Yes, sir,' Bowen said contritely. 'I understand.'

Did he? Did Southwick? Aitken certainly did; he was a shrewd fellow. But he was probably the only other man in the ship who realized that blowing up the Delft was not the end of it: there was still van Someren and the potential of the guns of his forts to deal with. Now, with it still dark and the sight of the exploding ship fresh in the Dutchman's mind, was the time to deal with Gottlieb van Someren.

The walk up to the residence with Aitken seemed ten times as long as before, but the marching Marines gave the impression of a whole battalion striding along the cobbled street Aitken directed the sergeant to the big gateway and with a bellow and stamping the Marines halted.

'Wait here,' Ramage told the sergeant The sentry box outside the gate was empty but mere were lights in several of the windows of the residence. When the main door opened to Aitken's banging a startled major domo immediately retreated up the stairs when he saw Ramage.

'Come on,' Ramage said, following him, 'he's going to report to van Someren.'

The former Governor was in his study, sitting at his desk and facing several men who were probably town councillors. Two Army officers sat slightly apart As Ramage walked into the room, followed by Aitken, the major domo was bent over van Someren, obviously trying to whisper to him that the English captain had arrived. The moment he saw Ramage the former Governor leapt up so violently his chair fell over backwards.

'You murderer)' he exclaimed.

'Every one of those men would still be alive had you kept your word,' Ramage said bitterly. 'You wave white flags and surrender when the rebels frighten you, and then you tear up the surrender document the moment you think you are safe. And with the captain of the Delft you planned to imprison the very people who took great risks to save you. You surrendered; then you committed treachery.'

'You - you . . .' van Someren fought to control his temper.

This is a matter of honour: you must choose, swords or pistols. My - '

'You are such a scoundrel,' Ramage said contemptuously, 'that no gentleman would meet you on a field of honour. Anyway, you are under arrest. Your escort is waiting at the gate.'

'But - where are you taking me?'