"Then you will fire on them, sir! "
"With you on board, sir?" He was shocked.
Adam watched him seriously and then patted one of the epaulettes on his shoulder. "Then who knows? You may become a real captain earlier than expected! "
"No acknowledgement, sir! "
"Let her fall off a point, Mr. Partridge." Adam watched the other vessel as she appeared to edge into the crisscross of rigging when the helm went over. It would give the bow-chaser a clearer shot. Even so, it would be a difficult one. He saw sunlight flashing on the brig's stern windows, and from trained telescopes above the creaming water. A fast little ship. He smiled. Not fast enough.
"As you bear! " Ayres, the grey-haired master gunner, could not hear him from the forecastle, but he had seen his young captain's hand slice down.
The bang of the long eighteen-pounder made the frames quiver like a body-blow.
Ayres got up with some difficulty from the smoking cannon and shaded his eyes as the ball slapped through the brig's driver, leaving a round charred hole. He was too old for this sort of work, but not even his officers would dare to tell him.
There was a muffled cheer and Adam watched as a flag broke out stiffly from the other vessel's gaff.
One of the lieutenants gave a groan. "Damned Yankee! Of all the luck! "
"She's shortening sail an' coming about, sir! "
Adam said coolly, "Wouldn't you?"
He gestured with his fist. "Heave-to, if you please, and call away the cutter." He looked at Martin meaningly. "You know what to do. Just watch everything with a glass." He beckoned to the signals midshipman. "You come with me." He did not see the youth's surprise and pleasure as he touched his hat to the 'captain", and the frigate began to labour round into the wind, her yards alive with men as they shortened sail, as fast and as cleanly as any company could. Adam recalled the Unity's captain's comments about the slowness he had watched in Anemone's half-trained company. He would not say it again if they should meet.
As the boat was cast off from the chains, he saw several of his men peering down from the shrouds or gangway while the oarsmen fought to bring the boat under command. Most of them were still unaware of what was happening, least of all why their captain wore a subordinate's coat.
With the wind assisting them and the seamen pulling hard back on their oars they were soon close enough to see the brig more clearly, her name, Eaglet, across her stern.
"They've lowered a ladder, sir! " Dunwoody was leaning forward, his dirk clutched between his knees. He sounded hoarse but not frightened. He was thinking much like Martin. That once aboard they could seize him as a hostage.
Adam stood in the swaying boat and cupped his hands. "I demand to come aboard! In the King's name! "
He heard some muffled shouts, jeers perhaps, and thought he saw the gleam of sunlight on weapons.
A man without hat or coat stood at the bulwark and stared down at the pitching cutter with anger and contempt.
"Stand away there! This is an American vessel! How dare you fire on us?"
Starr, the coxswain, muttered, "What d'you think, sir?"
Adam remained standing. "Bluff." He hoped it sounded convincing. He cupped his hands again and noticed how cold they were in spite of the sun.
He could almost feel Martin and the others watching him across the tossing strip of water. Very deliberately he raised his hand.
All eyes above him on the brig's deck stared as Anemone's gun ports opened as one, and all the weapons which would bear were hauled squeaking and rumbling into the sunlight.
"You mad bastards! " The brig's master waved to his men and an entry port was hauled open above the dangling ladder.
Between his teeth Adam said, "When we hook on, follow me, one at a time up the ladder." He looked at the midshipman's upturned face. "If things go wrong get them back to the ship. You're doing well."
He looked up and waited for the cutter to lift heavily against the brig's weatherworn hull.
Why had he said that to the midshipman? They might both be killed within minutes if the Eaglet's master was foolish enough to condemn himself to death under Anemone's broadside. Pride? Arrogance? How would she see him if she were here?
He gripped the entry port and dragged himself inboard.
The deck seemed to be packed with men, most of whom were armed. The vessel's master blocked his way, sea boots astride and arms folded, every fibre blazing with fury. "I'm Joshua Tobias. Who the hell are you?"
Adam touched his hat. "His Britannic Majesty's frigate Anemone." He gave a curt nod and thought he heard the infamous Sergeant Deacon clambering from the ladder. Deacon had been broken from sergeant more than once, mostly for brawling ashore: he had even suffered the lash for his behaviour, but as a sergeant there was none to touch him. He had rarely been known to discipline one of his marines. A quick punch from one of his ham-like fists was usually more than sufficient.
"Why have you dared to stop my vessel? Your government will hear of this when I reach port, Lieutenant. I wouldn't be in your bloody shoes! "
There were growls from the watching seamen. It just needed one hot-head. Like a spark in a powder keg.
Adam said quietly, "It is my duty to warn you, sir, that any resistance to a King's ship will be treated as piracy. By the powers vested in me I am required to search your vessel. I would like to see your papers also."
Someone yelled from the back of the crowd, "Pitch the bugger overboard! We drubbed his kind afore! Let's be done with 'em! "
The master held up one hand. "I'll deal with this! "
To Adam he said harshly, "Do you expect me to believe that your captain would fire on his own men?"
Adam kept his face stiff. "You do not know my captain."
Midshipman Dunwoody called, "Boarding party in position, sir! "
Adam felt sweat on his spine. It was all taking too long.
He snapped, "Where bound?"
The master replied indifferently, "The island of Rodriguez, general cargo. You can see my bills of lading if it amuses you! This is a neutral vessel. I'll see you broken for this, an' your damned captain too! "
Adam said, "Quite." He looked at the Royal Marines sergeant. Take charge on deck, Deacon. Any trouble and you have your orders." He turned to his coxswain. "Take four men." Starr had hand-picked them himself, all from Anemone's first ship's company.
Suppose the master spoke the truth? They would have to release the brig.
Trevenen would make a big case against him. Even his uncle would be helpless.
The thought made him angry. "Show me the chart."
They clattered down a short pitching ladder to the tiny chart-room. He studied the calculations, sparse and even casual when compared with the navy's standards. Old Partridge would fall dead if he saw it.
The Eaglet was no slaver. There were not even any manacles, which under the slavery act could condemn any ship's master who carried them.
Starr stood by the ladder and shook his head.
On deck again Adam considered it. Provisions, flour, oil, even gunpowder; but the latter was no crime.
The master was grinning at him and there were catcalls from some of his crew. He shouted, "Bosun! Tell that damn boat to come alongside for their friends! "
Dunwoody stared around. He felt hurt, enraged that his captain should be humiliated, and suffer some punishment later that he could only guess.
The boatswain was a great hulk of a man with thick black hair in an old-fashioned pigtail that all but reached his belt.
Adam looked at his men. This was the moment to retreat, when danger was very real.
He swung round as Dunwoody exclaimed, "The bosun, sir! He wears a new cutlass! "
Adam stared from him to the burly pig tailed sailor.
Dunwoody was almost squeaking. "Before we left England, sir, I helped to load and re-arm the schooner…" He fell silent as understanding flooded Adam's face.
He said, "How long have you owned that cutlass?"
The master barked, "Stop wasting my time, Lieutenant! Talk won't save you now! "