factory.»
The officer considered. «Right. Take her aboard under your protection. As soon as you launch, you must hold the boat close so we may put more people aboard.» He cast an appraising glance. «You do look strong enough.»
Before the girl could form a protest, she was hoisted over the rail by the man’s powerful arms and deposited in the boat. Quick as a goat, he followed her and turned to accept the bundles hastily passed to him. A sailor jumped aboard too, encumbered by a double armful of muskets, which he quickly stowed. The girl found her voice.
«Master Kearley!» she wailed. «Master Kearley, you must come too!»
«I will, my dear,» came a muted cry beyond the desperate mass.
«Lower away!»
The boat dropped swiftly to the water and struck with a resounding smack.
«Fend off, you lubbers!» came the cry from above. «Hold her steady, now! I will send them down two at a time on the falls!» The big man looped a rope around his powerful forearm and pulled with all his might while the seaman pushed against the hull with an oar.
«Let ’em come!»
The girl gave voice to such a sudden, piercing, gut-wrenching shriek of terror that for an instant, in spite of their own fear, everyone froze to look. A massive
