Captain in Calico Read Online Free

soft. ‘And when you tell me they’ll refuse and sail away I’ll remind you that there is one who will not sail with them, and that one is yourself. You thought my need for privateers so urgent, I suppose, that I should be forced to grant you pardons on your own terms. You learn your error. Not that you’ll profit by it. For I intend to do what I proposed at first: I’ll have the position of your ship and aught else I need to know wrung from you before the hour is out.’
    Master Dickey had never seen him in such a venomous rage, and looked to see the pirate shrink appalled. But although Rackham must have known the danger in which he stood his voice was steady.
    â€˜Myself I don’t care what becomes of the silver. That’s my crew’s demand, not mine. I …’
    â€˜So you say now,’ sneered Rogers. ‘In effect it does not matter. I have the means at hand to possess myself of your ship, your men, and your silver. For that last the governmentcan afford to forgo your hundred prime seamen. They’ll hang very neatly in a row, yourself among them.’
    The very confidence in the Governor’s voice, its jeering note, stung Rackham as his threats had not been able to do.
    â€˜You’ll pay a rare price for it, then,’ he retorted. ‘Aye, you may do as you please with me, but if you think to catch those lads of mine napping you must have forgotten all you learned in the South Sea. Did I come here unprepared, d’ye think? Why, there are men of mine in the town at this moment, and unless I’m back with them within the hour that brig of mine will be hull down and away before you can even force me to tell you where she lies, much less get your bum-boats out of harbour and after her.’ His lip curled in a grin of vindictive triumph. ‘And if by chance ye closed with her, how many of those precious men of yours would live to bring her to port? You’ll find the price of silver marvellously high, supposing you get it.’ He laughed contemptuously. ‘And ye know ye won’t. For they’ll fight till she sinks under them, and the dollars will be as far as ever from the King’s pocket.’
    Now this was the stark truth and Rogers knew it. But for the anger which had possessed him he must have known that the threats he had spoken were empty ones. He should have realised it, but his mind had been further distracted by that name – Kate Sampson – a moment before. That and the sudden revelation of the fortunes which these rascals possessed had upset the normal balance of his reasoning. For a moment he stood, grimly silent, then he paced back to his chair and sat down.
    â€˜You would give much for this pardon, would you not?’
    â€˜Ye know I’d not be here else.’
    â€˜And a moment since you told us that the silver meant nothing to you. As I see it, you would have no need of it,since the lady you intend to marry’ – his tone hardened imperceptibly – ‘is well provided for.’
    â€˜That’s not why I seek her, but it’s so – yes.’
    â€˜Then I see no reason why we should not reach an arrangement that will suit us both,’ said Rogers evenly. ‘In return for the surrender of your brig and its cargo I shall grant you a pardon.’ He paused and Rackham looked at him in bewilderment.
    â€˜But the crew …’
    Rogers’ lips moved in what was almost a smile. ‘They need not concern us. At least they do not concern me, and I cannot suppose that they concern you.’
    â€˜D’ye mean you expect me to betray them?’
    Rogers displayed impatience. ‘Come, man, you are not a schoolboy. I’ve seen as much and more of thieves than you, and I never yet found honour enough among them to cover a flea-bite. Are you different from the rest? If so, you can carry your principles higher yet – to the gibbet. For it’s there I’ll send you