The Angel's Command

not short of fancy biscuits or Madeira to go with it.'

Pushing his plate away, the bosun spoke sneeringly. 'When was it ever different? The crew gets the slops while the

cap'n dines like a lord. Here, Frenchie, take this garbage an' toss it over the side.'

Pointing a finger in Ludon's face, the master gunner snarled, 'An' keep it clear o' my cannon, or else ...'

Ludon scraped the leftovers into a pot and stalked out of the mess-deck cabin.

When he had gone, the bosun's eyes narrowed, and he nodded toward the door, muttering low. 'I don't trust that 'un. I

been noticin' lately, the Frenchie's ears wiggle like a little pig whenever we're talkin'. Take it from me, mates, guard

your tongues while he's about!'

The mate stared oddly at the bosun. 'D'ye think that Frenchie's carryin' tales back to Redjack?'

Taffy answered for the mate. ' 'Twouldn't surprise me—he's got the looks of a rat. What more could ye expect of a

buccaneer deserter who sold out to that Spanish pirate?'

Stabbing his knife into the tabletop, the bosun looked around at all hands. 'So, What're we goin' to do about it, mates?'

Being a fair-minded fellow, the master gunner replied. 'Nothin' without proof. Ye can't condemn a man just because of

his looks. There's been many a mistake made like that.'

Joby, the dead carpenter's mate, picked up the fiddle that had once belonged to his former friend and twiddled a few

chords on the instrument. It seemed to break the tense atmosphere.

The old master gunner cracked a gap-toothed grin. 'Come on, Joby, sing us a song. I'm fed up o' sittin' here lissenin' to

talk of mutiny an' murder. Cheer us up, mate!'

Joby smiled brightly. 'Shall I play 'The Jolly Cap'n'?' He ducked swiftly as several chunks of ship's biscuit were

hurled at him, then twiddled another chord or two. 'I've put new words to it, listen.'

Off he went, singing an insulting imitation of the original.

'Ho the wind will never blow, me lads,

So we've got to row the boat,

An' as for Cap'n Teal, the pig,

I'd like to slit his throat.

He wears a fine red jacket

An' drinks Madeira wine,

Why should we call him captain

When we could call him swine!

Hurrah hurrah hurrah, me boys,

He feeds us nought but swill,

An' makes us taste the rope's end,

That's why all hands look ill!

His father was a pig, me lads,

An' his mother was a sow,

They sent him off a sailin'

We're lumbered with him now ...'

Joby's voice trailed away, and the fiddle gave a discordant screech as the bow trailed over its

strings.

Captain Teal stood in the open doorway. His buckled shoes clacked against the deck as he

strode up to the table. Teal's voice shook with barely controlled rage as he faced the

unfortunate Joby. 'Greatly amusin', I'm sure. Well, carry on playin', man!'

Placing the instrument on the table, Joby swallowed hard. ' 'Twas only by way of a little joke,

sir.'

Teal picked up the fiddle, weighing it in one hand. The crewmen watched him in dumb

silence as he suddenly flung it at the bulkhead. When it hit the floor, he jumped on it with

both feet, stamping and kicking savagely at the dead carpenter's favourite instrument. It

shattered and smashed, chips of wood, pegs and bow strings scattering over the mess-deck

floor.

Redjack Teal stood amid the wreckage, his eyes narrowed to mean slits. 'A little joke, eh?

Demn your insolence, fellow!'

Teal's accusing gaze fixed both the bosun and the master gunner. Spittle sprayed the air as he

yelled at them. 'Anythin' to say about the victuals, eh eh? Meat's like a dead horse! Crew

eatin' slops! What's the matter, gentlemen, cat got your tongues? Nothin' t'say about how I

dine like a lord? Speak up, demn your eyes!'

Both the bosun and the gunner held their horrified silence.

Redjack suddenly went calm. He smiled slyly at them. 'Next thing ye'll be talkin' mutiny

behind me back.'

Shaking his head, the master gunner called out hoarsely. 'Beg your pardon, Cap'n, but we've

never said a mutinous word agin ye—'

Teal interrupted by drawing his silver-mounted pistol and cocking the hammer. 'Have ye not

indeed? Well, me brave boys, I'm goin' t'make sure ye don't get the chance. Mr. Mate, attend

me here!'

The mate sprang upright and saluted. 'Aye, sir!'

The captain pointed to Joby, the bosun and the master gunner with his pistol barrel. 'Take

these men in charge. They are to be put aboard the Devon Belle, one at each masthead. Half

ration of ship's biscuit'n'water for a week. That'll cure 'em of any mutinous mutterin's against

me!'

The men picked up the pieces of sailcloth that they used as cloaks in rough weather, but Teal

shook his head. 'Go as y'are, barefoot, too. Hard lessons must be learned the hard way. Mr.

Mate, see them to their posts, if y'please!'

Obediently the mate touched his forelock. 'Aye aye, Cap'n.'

'No, wait!' Teal tapped his chin thoughtfully with the pistol sight. 'Bring our froggy prisoner

here, will ye?'

Two crewmen escorted the puzzled-looking Ludon into the cabin. Redjack smiled

benevolently at him. 'Ah, there y'are, monsieur. I've decided you shall go along an' spend a

week aboard the Devon Belle with these three rascals, on half rations of hardtack

biscuit'n'water.'

Ludon took one glance at the grim-faced trio, then fell on his knees, grabbing Teal's red jacket

hem. 'But Cap'n, sir, what wrong have I done ye?'

Teal dragged himself free, sending Ludon sprawling with a kick. 'Tellin' tales an' causin'

disaffection among me crew, sirrah, that's what you're guilty of. Take 'em away!'

The three crewmen were marched out by the mate, followed by two other sailors dragging

Ludon, who was sobbing pitifully. 'No, no, Cap'n, sir, you cannot do this to me!'

Teal uncocked his pistol, chuckling at his cruel scheme. 'Ye mealymouthed toad, I'll show ye

what I can't an' can do aboard me own ship!'

Aboard La Petite Marie, Ben was putting the finishing touches to the repairs he had made to