'He's wasting time,' snorted Houghton, impatient.
'Sir, recollect: the French have been friends to the Americans since their support for them in the late war.' Renzi had come up from the gun-deck in curiosity.
Bryant sneered: 'Pah! Nonsense! They've seen how the French conduct revolutions and want no part of such roguery.'
'Then what is the meaning of his motions now?' Renzi answered quietly. The privateer had run up a huge tricolour, which streamed out to leeward and barely two miles ahead, and boldly put up his helm to pass through the mile-wide entrance to an inner expanse of water.
'One league, sir.'
'Yes, yes, I had not forgotten.' Houghton bit his lip as he eyed the scene. 'Take a cast of the lead. I believe we will anchor. One league off shore precisely.'
After one last look at the French privateer, just six miles away and, with calm impunity, preparing to berth in a tiny port, Kydd joined the others in the captain's cabin. Houghton was irascible. 'Ideas?'
'Cut 'em out!' Bryant's growl was instant. 'And be damned to any consequences. There's nought hereabouts but fisherfolk an' farmers—and the Americans have no navy at all that I've heard about.'
'True,' said Houghton, thoughtfully, 'but I'll remind you that in law this must be construed as a combatant seeking refuge in a neutral port, and it would go ill with any who can be shown to violate it.'
'And who's to know? Cloth over our name on the stern, boat's crews at night and you can't make 'em out —'
'I honour the ardency of your spirit, Mr Bryant, but I fear this would provoke extremely.'
'Swimmers! Under cover o' dark, they go in with borers, sink the bugger where he lies—'
'Mr Bryant! I will not suffer such language! And, besides, they'll never pierce a copper-sheathed hull without fuss and noise.'
The cabin fell quiet until Renzi spoke. 'Under the assumption that the sympathies of the Americans must lie with the French, I rather feel they would not be over-nice in the laws applicable in cases of neutrality. We may find ourselves lying at anchor, waiting, for some considerable time. Therefore it would seem logical to sail away—with deep regrets, of course.'
Bryant snorted but could find no riposte.
'And while we dally, the admiral is deprived of a major unit of his fleet, which is nominally under his orders . . .'
Houghton grunted. 'Possibly, but consider—this privateer is big. Should we leave her to her foul plundering, she can take her pick of the largest prizes. We would certainly be held to account if we did not a thing.'
'But if you are unable to effect a solution, by reasons of
There was a lengthy pause. Then the captain said, 'We have stores only for days. An extended voyage was not contemplated. I have no choice.'
Bryant let out his breath like a punctured balloon. 'To sail.'
'Yes.' The captain's voice was final. But then he added, 'There is, however, one small chance.'
'Sir?'
'I will send an officer ashore to parley with the Americans.
They can't object to that. Try to get 'em to see where their interests best lie, bit of law, that sort of thing. It's possible then that they'll throw the Frenchy out to where we'll be waiting for him.'
'A long shot, if I may say so, sir.' Pringle's languid voice came from the rear of the group of disconsolate officers. 'Did you have anyone in mind?'
'That is a matter that exercises me. If I send my first lieutenant there will undoubtedly be a confrontation, which is devoutly to be avoided.' Bryant's splutter was ignored. 'Any officer of eminence will confer too much consequence on the affair with the local authorities, whoever they may be in these backwoods.
'I rather feel that the name of Lieutenant Kydd suggests itself.'
CHAPTER 9
'MR PRESIDENT, THE MINISTER PLENIPOTENTIARY of Great Britain. Sir, the President of the United States.' The aide ushered Liston into the broad room, then departed.
'Robert, so kind in you,' said John Adams. He was standing by the tall marble mantelpiece and advanced with outstretched hand. 'Sit down, man.'
'Thank you, Mr President.' Liston took an armchair before the fire with a gracious inclination of his head. 'May I know if Abigail is happy in Trenton? It's a wise precaution to depart Philadelphia before the sick season.'
'She is indeed, God bless her,' said Adams. In the absence of any others at this meeting, he poured the sherry himself. 'Your health, Robert.'
Liston waited, watching the President over the rim of his glass. Adams, a short, chubby man who looked like a country squire, was not to be underestimated. The two of them had seen much together of this new country's spirited political struggles and personally he wished it well, but this was not a social call. He had come in response to a diplomatic summons.
Adams set down his glass and steepled his fingers. 'This cannot be allowed to continue, this stopping and searching on the high seas. Congress and the people will not tolerate it. Your Navy provokes by its high-handed actions, whatever its rights in the matter. Impressing men from the very decks of United States merchant vessels—
