A Falcon Flies Part 6

The old man looked more peaceful that way.

Zouga hooked one leg over the corner of the cluttered table, and smoked the cheroot slowly, in almost companionable silence with Thomas Harkness. Then he dropped the stub in the big copper spittoon beside the chair and went through to the bedroom.

He took one of the blankets off the bed and brought it back.

He brushed the flies away into an angry buzzing circle, and threw the blanket over the seated figure. As he drew it up over the head, he murmured softly, "Get in close, old man, and go for the heart, the advice that Harkness had given him as a farewell. Then he turned away briskly to the laden table, and began shuffling through the jumbled pieces of canvas and paper, and slowly his impatience turned to alarm, and then to panic as he hunted through pile after pile without finding the map.

He was panting when at last he straightened up and glared at the blanket-covered figure. You knew I was coming for it, didn't you!

He left the table and went to the chest, lifted the lid against groaning hinges and the leather bag with its golden contents was gone also. He ransacked the chest down to its floorboards, but it was not there. Then he started to search in earnest, going carefully through any possible hiding-place in the crowded room. An hour later he went back and perched on the edge of the table once more.

13-arrin you, for a cunning old b.a.s.t.a.r.d, he said quietly.

He took one more slow look about the room, making certain that he overlooked nothing. The painting of the lion hunt was no longer on the easel, he noticed.

Suddenly the humour of the situation struck him, and his scowl lightened, he began to chuckle ruefully to himself.

You had the last joke on the Ballantynes, didn't you?

By G.o.d, but you always did things your way, Tom Harkness, I'll grant you that."

He stood up slowly, and placed his hand on the blanket-covered shoulder. "You win, old man. Take your secrets with you then. " He could feel the twisted old bones through the cloth and he shook him gently and then he went out quickly to his horse for there was much to do.

It took him the rest of the day to cross the neck again and reach the magistrate's court, then to get back with the coroner and his a.s.sistants.

They buried Thomas Harkness that evening, wrapped in the blanket, under the milkwood grove, for the heat was oppressive in the valley and they could not wait for a coffin to be carted out from the city.

Zouga left the coroner to take charge of the estate, to list the equipment and livestock in the yard and put his seals on the doors of the old house until the contents could be taken in.

Zouga rode home in the golden Cape dusk, his boots dusty and his shirt sticky with sweat. He was exhausted from the day's exertions, and low in spirits, still oppressed by grief for the old man, and angry with him for the last trick he had played.

The groom took his horse in front of the bungalow. Did you deliver the letter to Captain Codrington? " Zouga demanded, and hardly waited for the reply as he went up into the house. He needed a drink now, and while he poured whisky into a cut crystal gla.s.s, his sister came into the room, and reached up casually to kiss his cheek, wrinkling her nose at the tickle of his whiskers and the smell of his sweat. You had best change. We are dining with the Cartwrights tonight, Robyn told him. "I could not avoid it."

And then as an afterthought, "Oh, Zouga, a coloured servant delivered something for you this morning. just after you had left. I had it put in the study. "Who is it from? " Robyn shrugged. "The servant spoke only kitchen Dutch and he seemed terrified. He fled before I could find someone to question him."

With the whisky gla.s.s in his hand Zouga crossed to the door of the study, and stopped there abruptly. His expression changed, and he strode through the doorway.

Minutes later Robyn heard his shout of triumphant laughter, and curiously she crossed to the open door.

Zouga stood beside the heavy carved stinkwood desk.

On the desk-top lay a draw-string bag of tanned and stained leather from which spilled a heavy necklace of gleaming gold; beside the bag was spread a magnificently ill.u.s.trated map on a backing of linen parchment, and Zouga stood with his back to her. He held at arm's length a flamboyant picture in oils in a large frame, a figure on horseback with a band of ferocious wild animals in the foreground, and as she watched, Zouga reversed the picture. There was a message freshly carved into the wood of the frame.

For Zouga Ballantyne. May you find the road to all your Monomatapas, would only that I could have gone with you.

Tom Harkness.

Zouga was laughing still, but there was a strange quality to the laughter and when he turned towards her she realized with a shock that her brother's eyes were bright with tears.

Zouga brushed the crumbs from his lips with the damask table napkin and chuckled as he picked up the sheet of newsprint and shook it open again at the second page. d.a.m.n me, Sissy, I should have known better than to leave you alone. " He read further and laughed outright. Did you really say that to him? Did you really? "I cannot remember my exact words, " Robyn told him primly, "you must remember it was in the heat of battle."

They sat on the terrace of the bungalow under the pergola of vines, through which the early sun flicked golden coins of light upon the breakfast table.

The previous day the editor of the Cape Times, with a speculator's eye to making a profit on Dr. Robyn Ballantyne's notoriety, had invited her on a tour of the military hospital at Observatory, and in innocence, Robyn had believed that the visit was at the invitation of the Colony's administration and she had welcomed the opportunity to widen her professional experience.

The visit had succeeded beyond the editor's most extravagant expectations, for the surgeon-general of the Colony had scheduled a tour for the same day and he had walked into the hospital's main operating room, followed by his staff, at the moment that Robyn was expressing herself on the subject of sponges to the hospital matron.

The surgeon's sponges were kept in pails of water, clean water from the galvanized rainwater tanks at the rear of the building. The pails were under the operating table, where the surgeon could reach them readily, and after swabbing away blood and pus and other matter the sponge was dropped into a collection tray, later to be washed out and returned to the original pail of fresh water. I a.s.sure you, doctor, that my nurses wash the swabs out most thoroughly The matron was a formidable figure with the flattened features of a bulldog b.i.t.c.h and the same aggressive thrust to her jaw. She stooped, plunged her hand into the pail, and selected one of the sponges and proffered it to Robyn. You can see for yourself how soft and white they are. Just like the soft white germs that swarm in them.

" Robyn was angry, with red spots of colour in her cheeks. Have none of you here ever heard of joseph T-isteiV The surgeon-general answered her question from the doorway. The answer to that question, Doctor Ballantyne, is NO we have never heard of that person, whoever he may be. We do not have time to concern ourselves with the opinions of every crank or, for that matter, with male impersonators."

The surgeon-general had a very good idea of the ident.i.ty of the young woman before him. He had followed the gossip which was the Colony's main recreation, and he did not approve of Robyn.

On the other hand, Robyn had no idea as to the ident.i.ty of the elderly gentleman with the bushy grey whiskers and beetling brows, though by the dried blood stains on the front of his frock coat she guessed that he was a surgeon of the old school, one who operated in his street clothes and let the stains advertise his profession. Here was a much more worthy adversary than the hospital matron, and she rounded on him with the battle light bright in her eyes. Then, sir, I am amazed that you admit so readily your ignorance and your bigotry."

The surgeon-general spluttered for breath and a ready answer. By G.o.d, madam, you do not truly expect me to look for dangerous poisons in each speck of dust, in each drop of water, on my own hands even. " He held them up for her inspection, shaking them in Robyn's face. There were dark rinds of dried blood under the nails, for he had operated that morning. He pushed his face close to hers, and she drew back a little as his spittle flew angrily. Yes, sir, " she told him loudly. "Look for them there, and on each breath you exhale, on those filthy clothes."

The editor scribbled delightedly in his shorthand notebook, as the exchanges became more violent, more loaded with personal insult. He had not bargained for anything so spectacular, but the climax came when Robyn had goaded her adversary until he used an oath as potent as his rage. Your choice of words is as foul as these lowly little white sponges of yours, she told him, and let him have the sponge full in the face, hurling it with all her strength so that water flew and dripped from his whiskers on to the front of his frock coat as Robyn marched from the operating room. You hit him? " Zouga lowered the newspaper, and stared across the table at his sister. "Really, Sissy, sometimes you are no lady. "True, " Robyn agreed unrepentantly. "But that is not the first time you have made that observation. Besides I had no idea that he was the surgeon-general."

Zouga shook his head in mock disapproval and read to her. "His considered opinion of you, as expressed to the editor, is that you are a fledgling doctor of dubious qualification very recently obtained from an obscure school of medicine, by even more dubious means. "Oh, rich! " Robyn clapped her hands. "He's a better orator than a surgeon. "He goes on to say that he is considering going to law to obtain redress. "For a.s.sault with a sponge. " Robyn laughed lightly as she stood up from the breakfast table. "A fig for him, but we must hurry if we are to keep our appointment with Captain Codrington."

Her mood was still gay as she stood beside Zouga in the stern of the Water lighter when they came alongside the steel side of the gunboat. The south-east wind had raked the surface of Table Bay into a cottonfield of white caps, and had spread a thick white table-cloth of cloud upon the flat-topped mountain. The people of the Colony called this windThe Cape Doctor', for without it the summers would have been oppressive and enervating. However, it provided a constant hazard to shipping and the bottom of the bay was littered with wrecks. Black Joke had two men on her anchor watch as she lunged and fretted against her cable.

As the lighter came alongside, the thick canvas hoses were pa.s.sed down and a dozen men on the pumps began to transfer the cargo into the gunboat's boiler room tanks, before any attempt was made to take visitors aboard.

As Robyn came up through the entry port to the maindeck she looked immediately to the quarterdeck.

Codrington was in shirt sleeves, he was a head taller than the group of warrant officers around him, and his sun-bleached blond hair shone in the sunlight like a beacon.

The group was giving its attention to the coal lighter which was secured against the port side of the ship. Have the hands secure a tarpaulin over the buckets Codrington shouted down to his boatswain in the lighter. "Else you'll have us looking like a party of chimneysweeps.

" The deck was alive with the purposeful pandemonium of revictualling, hunkering and watering, and with Zouga beside her, Robyn picked her way through the litter.

Codrington turned away from the rail and saw them.

He seemed younger than Robyn remembered, for his expression was relaxed and his manner easy. He had an almost boyish air when contrasted to the grizzled and weatherbeaten sailors about him, but the illusion was dispelled the moment he recognized his visitors. Suddenly his features were stern and the line of his mouth altered, the eyes chilled to the hardness of pale sapphires.

IisCaptain Codrington, Zouga greeted him with his most studied charm. "I am Major Ballantyne. We have met before, sir, Codrington acknowledged, making no effort to return the smile.

Zouga went on unruffled, "May I present my sister, Doctor Ballantyne? " Codrington glanced back at Robyn. "Your servant, ma'am. " It was more a nod than a bow. "I have read something of your further exploits since our last meeting in this morning's news-sheet. " For a moment the stern expression cracked, and there was a mischievous spark in the blue eyes. "You have strong views, ma'am, and an even stronger right hand."

Then he turned back to Zouga. "I have orders from Admiral Kemp to convey you and your party to Quelimane. No doubt you will find our company dull, after your previous travelling companions. " Deliberately Codrington turned and looked across a half mile of wind creamed green water to where Huron still lay at her anchor, and for the first time Zouga fidgeted uncomfortably as he followed the direction of the Captain's eyes. Codrington went on. "Be that as it may, I would be grateful if you could present yourselves aboard this ship before noon on the day after tomorrow when I expect a fair tide to leave the bay. Now you must excuse me. I must attend to the management of my ship. " With a nod, not offering to shake hands or make any other civility, Codrington turned away to his waiting warrant officers, and Zouga's charm deserted him. his face darkened and seemed to swell with anger at the abrupt dismissal. The fellow has a d.a.m.nable cheek, he growled fiercely to Robyn. For a moment he hesitated and then with a curt, "Come, let us leave, " he turned, crossed the deck, and clambered down into the water lighter, but Robyn made no move.

She waited quietly until Codrington had finished the discussion with his boatswain and looked up again, feigning surprise to see her still there.

Captain Codrington, we left Huron on my insistence.

That is why we are now seeking other pa.s.sage. " She spoke in a low husky voice, but her manner was so intense that his expression wavered. You were correct. That ship is a slaver and St. John is a slave-master. I proved it."

How? " he demanded, his manner altering instantly. I cannot speak now. My brother-" She glanced back at the entry port, expecting her brother to reappear at any moment. He had given her strict instructions as to how he expected her to act towards Codrington.

I will be at the landing-place at Ragger Bay this afternoon, she went on quickly. What time? "Three o'clock, she said, and turned away, lifted her skirts above her ankles and hurried to the ship's side.

Admiral Kemp sat impatiently in the immense carved abbot's chair which his junior officers referred to as the throne'. The size of it emphasized the thinness of the old man's body. It seemed his shoulders were too narrow to support the ma.s.s of gold lace which decorated his blue uniform. He clasped the arms of the chair to keep from fidgeting, for this young officer always made him uneasy.

Clinton Codrington leaned forward towards him and spoke quickly, persuasively, using the finely shaped hands to emphasize each point. The Admiral found this much energy and enthusiasm wearying. He preferred men with less mercurial temperament, who could be relied on to carry out orders to the letter without introducing startling improvisations.

Officers with a reputation for brilliance he viewed with deep suspicion. He had never had that reputation as a young man, in fact his nickname had been "SloggerKemp, and he believed that the word brilliance was a pseudonym for instability.

The nature of duty on this station made it necessary for young men like Codrington to be detached for months at a time on independent service, instead of being kept with the battle fleet under the strict eye of a senior officer, ready with a signal of rebuke to check any hotheadedness.

Kemp had an uneasy conviction that he was going to be seriously embarra.s.sed by this particular officer before his appointment of Commander to the Cape Squadron terminated, and allowed him to collect his knighthood and retire to the peace and beloved seclusion of his Surrey home. That his future plans had not already been prejudiced by young Codrington was only a matter of the utmost good fortune, and Kemp had difficulty keeping his expression neutral when he remembered the Calabash affair.

Codrington had run down on the slave barrac.o.o.ns at Calabash on a clear June morning so that the five Argentinian slave ships had spotted his topsails while he was thirty miles out, and had immediately begun frantically re-landing their cargoes of slaves on the beach.

By the time Black joke reached them, the five captains were grinning smugly, their holds empty, and nearly two thousand miserable slaves in clear view squatting in long lines on the sh.o.r.e. To add to the slavers" complacency they were a good twenty nautical miles south of the equator, and therefore at that time beyond the jurisdiction of the Royal Navy. The barrac.o.o.ns had been sited at Calabash to take full advantage of this provision in the international agreements.

The slavers" complacency turned to indignation when the Black joke ran out her guns, and under their menace sent boats with- armed seamen on board them. .

The Spanish masters, under their Argentinian flags of convenience, protested vigorously and volubly the presence of armed boarding parties. We are not a boarding party, Codrington explained reasonably to the senior captain. "We are armed advisors, and our advice is that you begin taking aboard your cargo again, and swiftly."

The Spaniard continued his protests until the crack of a gun from the Black fake drew his attention to the five nooses already dangling from the gunboat's yardarm. The Spaniard was certain that the nooses could not be put to the use for which they were very obviously intended then he looked once more into the chilled sapphire eyes of the very young silver-haired English officer and decided not to make any bets on it.

Once the slaves were re-embarked the Englishman, their self-appointed armed advisor, gave them his next piece of unsolicited advice. That was that the slave fleet up-anchor and set a course which five hours later intercepted the equatorial line.

Here Captain Codrington made a very precise observation of the sun's alt.i.tude, consulted his almanac and invited the Spanish captain to check his workings and confirm his finding that they were now in o'aS" North lat.i.tude. Then the Englishman immediately arrested him and seized the five vessels; the armed advisors changing their status, without visible pain or discomfort, to that of prize crews.

When Codrington sailed his five prizes into Table Bay, Admiral Kemp listened aghast to the Spaniard's account of his capture, and then immediately retired to his bed with bowel spasms and migraine headache. From his darkened bedroom he dictated first the order confining Codrington to his ship and the ship to its anchorage, and then his horrified report to the First Lord of the Admiralty.

This episode, which might so easily have ended with Codrington court-martialled and beached for life and with the abrupt termination of Admiral Kemp's dogged advance towards his knighthood and retirement, had in fact brought both men riches and advancement.

The sloop carrying Kemp's despatch to the First Lord pa.s.sed another southbound in mid-ocean, which in its turn bore despatches for the Admiral Commanding the Cape Squadron from not only the First Lord but the Foreign Secretary as well.

Kemp was requested and required in the future to apply the "equipment clause" to the ships of all Christian nations, with the glaring exception of the United States of America, in all lat.i.tudes, both north and south of the equatorial line.

The despatches were dated four days previous to Codrington's raid upon the Calabash barrac.o.o.ns, making his actions not only legal but highly meritorious.

From the very brink of professional disaster, Admiral Kemp had been s.n.a.t.c.hed back, with his knighthood a.s.sured and a large sum of prize money paid into his account at Messrs Coutts of the Strand. The five Spaniards were condemned at the next session of the Court of Mixed Commission at Cape Town. Kemp's own share of the prize money had amounted to several thousand pounds, that of his junior captain to nearly twice that amount, and both officers had received personal letters of commendation from the First Lord.

None of this had done anything to increase Kemp's trust or liking for his junior, and now he listened with mounting horror to the suggestion that he sanction the boarding and search of the American trading clipper, which was at present enjoying the hospitality of the port.

For some sickening moments Kemp contemplated his place in history as the officer who had precipitated the second war with the former American colonies. There was nothing equivocal about the view of the American Government as to the sanct.i.ty of their shipping, and there were specific sections of Kemp's Admiralty orders covering the subject. Admiral Kemp, Codrington was clearly burning with enthusiasm for the enterprise, "it is absolutely beyond question that the Huron is a slaver, and is equipped for the trade in terms of the act. She is no longer upon the high seas, but lying at anchor within British territorial waters. I can be aboard her within two hours, with impartial witnesses, a Supreme Court judge even."

Kemp cleared his throat noisily. He had in fact tried to speak, but so appalled was he that the words had not reached his lips. Codrington seemed to take the sound as encouragement. This man, St. John, is one of the most infamous slavers of modern times. His name is a legend on the coast.

They say he carried over 3,000 slaves one year across the middle pa.s.sage. It's a golden opportunity for us Kemp found his voice at last. "I dined at Government House on Wednesday. Mr. St. John was in the company as his Excellency's personal guest. I considered Mr. St. John to be a gentleman, and I know he is a man of considerable substance and influence in his own country, he said flatly, no trace of emotion in his voice. His selfcontrol surprised even himself. He is a slaver. " Robyn Ballantyne spoke for the first time since she had seated herself at the window of the Admiral's study. The two men had forgotten her existence, but now they both turned to her. I have been inside the Huron's main hold and she is fully equipped for the trade, she said, her voice low but clear, and Kemp felt a sour feeling rising within him.

He wondered that he had thought this young woman enchanting at their first meeting. Kemp liked young females and he had personally instructed his Secretary to send the invitations to the Ballantynes, brother and sister, but now he regretted it. He could see, of course, that what he had mistaken for spirit was in fact the mischievousness of the born troublemaker, and that far from being pretty she was in fact downright plain, with a large nose and heavy jaw. He had found her a refreshing change from the simpering and giggling young ladies of the Colony, and realized now that the preference had been unwise. He wondered if he could have his Secretary withdraw the invitation. I would think, Admiral Kemp, that it was your duty to send a search party aboard the Huron, Robyn told him, and Kemp leaned back in the big chair and breathed heavily through his mouth. As an Admiral of the Blue it had been some years since anybody had dared point out his duty for him. His grip on his self-control slackened.

He stared at the young person. Did he detect a peculiar venom in her voice? He wondered. She had been a pa.s.senger on Huron.

She had left the ship the instant it reached Table Bay. There was no doubt the woman was "fast" and that Captain St. John was a handsome man.

There was a fine story here, Kemp concluded, as he asked drily, "is it true, Miss Ballantyne, that you a.s.saulted the surgeon-general in a fit of ungovernable rage? " Robyn gaped at him for a moment, the change of direction taking her completely off-balance, and before she could reply he went on, You are clearly a highly emotional young lady.

I would have to consider very carefully committing a hostile act against an important citizen of a friendly nation on your unsupported testimony He pulled the gold watch from his fob pocket, and consulted it with his full attention. Thank you for calling on me, Miss Ballantyne. " Once again he did not use her professional t.i.tle. "We look forward to seeing you tomorrow evening. Perhaps you would allow me a private word with Captain Codrington."

Robyn felt her cheeks burning as she rose from the window seat. Thank you, Admiral, you have been very kind and patient, she said tightly, and swept from the room."

Kemp was not so mild with Codrington. While the young Captain stood to attention before him, he leaned forward in the throne and the veins stood out like twisted blue ropes in the back of his hands as he gripped the arms of the chair. You were misguided in bringing that young person here to discuss navy business, he snapped. Sir, I needed to convince you. "That's enough, Codrington. I have heard all you have to say. Now you listen to me. "Aye, aye, sir. "You are naive not to take into account the changed circ.u.mstances in the American administration. Are you not aware that Mr. Lincoln is likely to be elected to the presidency? "I am, sir. "Then even you may be dimly aware that very delicate considerations are in the balance. The Foreign Office is confident that the new administration will have a markedly changed att.i.tude to the trade."

Sir! " Codrington agreed stiffly. Can you imagine what it will mean to us to have full right of search of American shipping on the high seas? "Sir. "We will have that, once Mr. Lincoln takes the oath, and if no junior officers of this service take independent action to prejudice the att.i.tude of the Americans. "Sir. " Codrington stood rigid, staring over the Admiral's head at a painting of a lightly veiled Venus on the panelled wall behind him. Codrington, Kemp spoke now with cold menace, "you have had one very close shave at Calabash. I swear to you, if you let your wild nature get the better of you once more, I will have you hounded from the service. "Sir. "You are now under the strictest injunction not to approach closer than a cable's length to the trade clipper Huron, and if you should encounter her again at sea, you will pay her pa.s.sing honours and give her a wide berth.

Do I make myself sufficiently clear? Sir. " Only Codrington's lips moved, and the Admiral took two long controlled breaths before going on. When will you sail for the Mozambique channel? " he asked, his voice more reasonable. I have your orders to take the flood on Sat.u.r.day, sirCan you advance that sailing? "Yes, sir, but it would mean leaving without fully charged magazines, we expect the powder barge alongside at dawn on Sat.u.r.day Kemp shook his head, and sighed. "I would feel better with you at sea, he muttered. "But, very well then, I will look to see you flying the Blue Peter at first light on Sat.u.r.day morning."

Robyn Ballantyne was waiting for him in the borrowed Cartwright carriage, under the portico of Admiralty House.

Codrington came down the steps, with his c.o.c.ked hat under his arm and climbed stiffly into the b.u.t.toned leather seat beside her.

The Hottentot coachman flicked his whip at the shiny rumps, and they swayed in unison as the carriage jerked away down the tree-lined driveway.

Neither of them spoke until they had left the Admiralty grounds, and were whirling down the hill towards the Liesbeeck bridge with the coachman holding them on a light brake.

What do we do now? " Robyn asked.

Nothing, said Clinton Codrington.

Twenty minutes later as they came around the shoulder of the mountain and looked down at the bay where Huron rode at anchor, Robyn spoke again. Can't you think of anything to stop this monster? "Can you? " he asked sharply, and neither of them spoke again until they reached the landing-place.

The fishing-boats were in and beached already, their catch laid out on the sand, a glittering silver and rubyred pile around which the housewives and their servants bartered and bargained with the brown barelegged fishermen, while the fish horns blared to summon more customers down from the town. The two in the parked carriage watched the commotion with unnatural attention, avoiding each other's eyes. You will be at the Admiralty ball tomorrow night?

I heard Slogger Kemp say so. "No, Robyn shook her head fiercely. "I cannot abide the frivolous chatter and silly behaviour of these occasions, and I particularly do not want to be again the guest of that man!

Codrington turned to her for the first time since they had reached the landing. She was a fine-looking woman, he thought, with that clear l.u.s.tre to her skin and the thoughtful dark-green eyes under their dark curved brows. He liked a tall strong woman, and he had learned enough of her spirit to accord her respect, a respect that could easily become fascination, he realizedCould I prevail upon you to change your mind? " he asked quietly, and she glanced at him, startled. "I would undertake to provide sober conversation and a dignified dancing partner. "I do not dance, Captain. "That is a great relief, he admitted. "For neither do I, when I have a choice. " He smiled. She could not remember seeing him smile before. It changed him completely.

The coldness went from the pale blue eyes and they darkened with merriment while two deep laughter lines formed at the corner of his mouth and arched up to touch the thin straight nose. Slogger Kemp keeps a wonderful chef."

He was wheedling now. "Fine food and serious conversation."

His teeth were porcelain white and very regular against the deep-water tan. She felt the corners of her own mouth tugging upwards, and he saw the change in her and pressed his advantage. I may have further news, some further plan for Huron to discuss with you. "That makes it irresistible. " She laughed outright at last, with surprisingly unforced gaiety that made some of the nearest bystanders glance around at her and smile in sympathy. I will call for you. Where? When? " He had not realized how attractive she truly was until she laughed. No. " She laid her hand on his forearm. "My brother will accompany me, but if you are there I look forward to our momentous conversation. " She felt the devil in her again, and squeezed his arm, finding pleasure in his immediate response, the way the muscles in his forearm corded under her finger-tips. Wait, she told the coachman and watched the slim tall figure go down the beach to where Black Joke's whaler waited for him.

He was wearing his dress uniform for the visit to his commanding Admiral. The gold lace epaulettes emphasized the breadth of his shoulders and his sword belt upped his waist. Abruptly, she wondered whether his body hair was as blond as the queue that was twisted up at the nape of his neck, and then instantly was shocked and agitated at herself. She would never have harboured a thought like that before. Before what? she asked. herself, and the answer was clear; before that night on Huron. Mungo St. John had much to answer for. Comfortably placing blame where it belonged, she pulled her eyes away from the lithe figure of Clinton Codrington and leaned forward to tell the coachman, Home, please."

She would not attend the Admiral's ball, she decided, and then she began to recite silently to herself the Christian articles of faith.

However, Zouga prevailed over her good intentions. The two of them shared the open carriage with the eldest, unmarried Cartwright daughter, for it was one of the balmy nights of a Cape autumn.

Cartwight and his wife followed in the closed carriage, in serious discussion for the entire journey.