Peril on the Sea by Michael Cadnum Page A

two of them, and listened to the captain’s comments with a keen look in his eye, although he made no effort to join in the conversation.
    For his part, Sherwin was badly surprised to hear thecaptain’s blithe dismissal of defending his country. And this surprising outlook certainly dashed Sherwin’s enthusiasm at putting his life into the captain’s hands.
    Sherwin recovered his good humor. He allowed himself to chuckle. “I do not believe you, sir, if you will forgive me. If the need arises, you will be as stalwart as any of the Queen’s subjects—and more fervent, I am sure.”
    He knew that some men pretended to be foolish to hide their actual cunning, or to make themselves agreeable. Other men pretended to be kind in order to mask their cruelty. Captain Fletcher was surely hiding an ardent, if perhaps discomfiting, love of his country by pretending to be purely interested in personal gain.
    â€œWhy, then, good Sherwin,” replied the captain, “I hope no war comes. Otherwise, you will find me very disappointing.”
    Sherwin was about to express further good-natured skepticism when the captain interjected. “Oh, damn me—she has vanished.”
    The womanly figure was no longer on the cliff.
    â€œI was going to invite her down so I could tell her lies about who we are and what we are doing.” The captain added, “It has been many a month since I spoke to a lady.”
    Captain Fletcher set a lookout on the cliff, the sharp-eyed Nittany, and he also sent three groups off to forage in different directions. Sherwin and Bartholomew were assigned to a group composed of Sergeant Evenage and a seaman named Giles Tryce.
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    BEFORE SHERWIN’S TEAM of foragers departed, Highbridge beckoned silently to Sherwin.
    The first mate had a wooden box under his arm. He set the container down on the stony beach and pried it open.
    â€œI would be most pleased,” said Highbridge, “if you carried this.”
    Highbridge gave Sherwin a dag—a heavy, large-bore pistol.
    It was a sturdy weapon, made of stag ivory and iron, decorated with pretty silver patterns. The firearm was very much like the one Evenage had been cleaning earlier, except even more beautiful.
    â€œThis belongs to me,” said Highbridge. “I am loaning it to you, during the duration of your stay aboard the
Vixen
. The sight of such arms impresses shipmates and villagers alike.”
    Sherwin stammered his thanks. He added, “I don’t know the art of using such weapons.”
    There was a twinkle in Highbridge’s eye, and it was not the first time that Sherwin believed that his initial, severe impression of this man had been entirely wrong.
    â€œBartholomew,” said Highbridge, “will show you how the weapon works.”
    â€œI will be most grateful.”
    â€œAnd you will,” continued Highbridge, “in exchange for the use of this weapon, encourage the captain to allow you to use it against the Spanish.”
    This assertion was a surprise, and helped to explain the officer’s generosity. He was seeking an ally.
    â€œSir,” said Sherwin, “I shall do my best.”
    â€œGood man,” said Highbridge with a smile.
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    LATER, as Sherwin started along the path leading up the face of the cliff, he fully appreciated the trust Highbridge had shown in him.
    An insistent, quiet inner voice was urging him toward freedom.
    As he set eyes on the fine expanse of land from the top of the cliff, Sherwin was teased by the realization that he could run off across the fields of this farmland and never return. No admiralty court would punish Sherwin for escaping after his signature had been entered into a contract with a pirate. Such coerced agreements were common—merchant captains had signed away their ships, under threat, only to recant once they reached a safe harbor.
    But Highbridge sought an alliance with Sherwin in persuading the captain to