Birds of Prey

Richard turned away towards his waiting longboat, but hesitated and came back. He placed one arm around Sir Francis's shoulders and his brow was grave, his voice low, as he said, "Cumbrae had a proposition for me concerning you, but I liked it not at all and told him so to his face. Watch your back, Fran kY and sleep with one eye open when he is around you."

"You are a good friend," Sir Francis said, and watched Richard walk to his longboat and cross to the Goddess- As soon as he went up the ladder to the quarterdeck his crew weighed the anchor. All her sails filled and she moved down the cha

"Now we have only the Buzzard to keep us company.-" Hal looked across at the Gull of MoraY where she lay in the centre of the cha

"Make your preparations to beach the ship, please, Mister Courtney," Sir Francis replied, and Hal straightened his spine. He was unaccustomed to his father addressing him thus. It was strange to be treated as a Knight and a full officer, instead of as a lowly ensign. Even his mode of dress had changed with his new status. His father had provided the shirt of fine white Madras cotton on his back, as well as his new moleskin breeches, which felt soft as silk against his skin after the rags of rough canvas he had worn before today.

He was even more surprised when his father deigned to explain his order. "We must go about our business as if we suspect no treachery. Besides which the Resolution will be safer upon the beach if it comes to a fight."

"I understand, sir." Hal looked up at the sun to judge the time. "The tide will be fair for us to take her aground at two bells in tomorrow's morning watch. We will be prepared."

All the rest of that morning the crew of the Gull behaved like that of any other ship preparing for sea, and though Daniel and his gun crews with ca

A little before noon Lord Cumbrae had himself rowed ashore and came to find Sir Francis where he stood by the fire upon which the cauldron of pitch was bubbling, ready to begin caulking the Resolution's hull when she was careened.

"It's farewell, then." He embraced Sir Francis, throwing a thick red arm around his shoulders. "Richard was right. There's no prize to be won if we sit here upon the beach and scratch our backsides."

"So you're ready to sail?" Sir Francis kept his tone level, not betraying his astonishment.

"With tomorrow morning's tide, I'll be away. But how I hate to leave you, Franky. Will you not take a last dram aboard the Gull with me now? I would fain discuss with you my share of the prize money from the Standvastigheid."

"My lord, your share is nothing. That ends our discussion, and I wish you a fair wind."

Cumbrae let fly a great blast of laughter. "I've always loved your sense of fun, Franky. I know you only wish to spare me the labour of carrying that heavy cargo of spice back to the Firth of Forth." He turned and pointed with his curling beard at the spice store under the forest trees. "So I shall let you do it for me. But, in the meantime, I trust you to keep a fair accounting of my share, and to deliver it to me when next we meet plus the usual interest, of course."

"I trust you as dearly, my lord." Sir Francis lifted his Hat and swept the sand with the plume as he bowed.

Cumbrae returned the bow and, still rumbling with laughter, went down to the longboat and had himself rowed to the Gull.

During the course of the morning the Dutch hostages had been brought ashore and installed in their new lodgings, which Hal and his gang had built for them. These were set well back from the lagoon and separated from the compound in which the Resolution's crew were housed.

Now the ship was empty and ready for beaching. As the tide pushed in through the heads the crew, under the direction of Ned Tyler and Hal, began warping it in towards the beach. They had secured the strongest sheaves and blocks to the largest of the trees. Heavy hawsers were fastened to the Resolution's bows and stern, and with fifty men straining on the lines, the ship came in parallel to the beach.

When her bottom touched the white sand they secured her there, As the tide receded they hove her down with tackle attached to her mizzen and foremasts, which were still stepped. The ship heeled over steeply until her mastheads touched the tree-tops. The whole of the starboard side of her hull, down as far as the keel, was exposed, and Sir Francis and Hal waded out to inspect it. They were delighted to find little sign of shipworm infestation.

A few sections of planking had to be replaced and the work began immediately. When darkness fell the torches were lit, for the work on the hull would continue until the return of the tide put a halt to it. When this happened Sir Francis went off to dine in his new quarters, while Hal gave orders to secure the hull for the night. The torches were doused and Ned led away the men to find their own belated di

Hal was not hungry for food. His appetites were of a different order, but it would be at least another hour before he could satisfy them. Left alone on the beach, he studied the Gull across the narrow strip of water. It seemed that she was settled in quietly enough for the night. Her small boats still lay alongside, but it would not take long to lift them on board and batten down her hatches ready for sea.

He turned away and moved back into the trees. He went down the line of gun emplacements, speaking softly to the men on watch behind the culver ins He checked once more the laying of each, making sure that they were truly aimed at the dark shape of the Gull, as she lay in a spangle of star reflections on the surface of the still, dark lagoon.

For a while he sat next to Big Daniel, dangling his legs into the gun pit

"Don't worry, Mister Henry." Even Daniel used the new and more respectful form of address naturally enough. We're keeping a weather eye on that red-bearded bastard, You can go off and get your supper."