rate amongst slaves making the short passage from the mainland to the island.
Robyn dropped that pamphlet and before picking up the next, she reflected a moment on the sheer multitudes involved in the whole grisly business. Five million since the turn of the century, she whispered, 'five million souls. No wonder that they call it the greatest crime against humanity in the history of the world.'
She opened the next pamphlet and skimmed quickly over an examination of the profits that accrued to a successful trader.
In the interior of Africa, up near the lake country where few white men had ever reached, Fuller Ballantyne had discovered - her father's name in print gave her a prickle of pride and of melancholy, Fuller had discovered that a prime slave changed hands for a cupful of porcelain beads, two slaves for an obsolete Tower musket that cost thirteen shillings in London, or a Brown Bess musket that cost two dollars in New York.
At the coast the same slave cost ten dollars, while on the slave market in Brazil he would sell for five hundred dollars. But once he was taken north of the equator, the risks to the trader increased and the price rose dramatically, a thousand dollars in Cuba, fifteen hundred in Louisiana.
Robyn lowered the text, and thought swiftly. The English Captain had challenged that Huron could carry 2,000 slaves at a time. Landed in America, they would be worth an unbelievable three million dollars, an amount which would buy fifteen ships like Huron. A single voyage would make a man rich beyond mundane dreams of greed, all risks were acceptable to the traders to win such vast wealth.
But had Captain Codrington been justified in his accusations ? Robyn knew the counter-accusations that were made against the officers of the Royal Navy, that their zeal arose from the promise of prize money rather than a hatred of the trade and a love of humanity. That every sail they raised was considered a slaver, and that they were swift to apply the Equipment Clause in the widest possible interpretation.
Robyn was searching for the pamphlet that dealt in detail with this Equipment Clause and she found it next on the pile before her.
To enable a ship to be seized as a slaver under the clause, she need only satisfy one of the stipulated conditions. She could be taken if her hatches were equipped with open gratings to ventilate her holds; if there were dividing bulkheads in her holds to facilitate the installation of slave decks; if there were spare planks aboard for laying as slave decks; if she carried shackles and bolts, or leg irons and cuffs; if she carried too many water casks for the number of her crew and passengers; if she had disproportionally large numbers of mess tubs, or her rice boilers were too big, or if she carried unreasonable quantities of rice or farina.
Even if she carried native matting that might be used as bedding for slaves, she could be seized and run in under a prize crew. These were wide powers given to men who could profit financially by seizure.
Was Captain Codrington one of these, were those pale fanatical eyes merely a mask for avarice and a desire for personal gain?
Robyn found herself hoping they were, or at least that in the case of Huron he had been mistaken. But then why had Captain St. John put down his helm, and run for it the moment he sighted the British cruiser?
Robyn was confused and miserable, haunted with guilt. She needed comfort and she slipped a lace Stuart cap over her head and shoulders before venturing out on to the deck again, for the wind had risen to an icy gale and Huron was always a tender ship, she heeled heavily as she beat southwards, flinging spray high into the falling night.
Zouga was in his cabin, dressed in shirt-sleeves and smoking a cigar as he worked over the lists of the expedition's equipment that would still have to be obtained once they reached Good Hope.
He called to her to enter when she knocked, and rose to greet her with a smile. Sissy, are you well? It was a most unpleasant business, even though unavoidable. I hope it has not unsettled you. 'The man will recover, she said, and Zouga changed the subject as he settled her on his bunk, the only other seating in the cabin. I sometimes think we would have been better off with less money to spend on this expedition. There is always such a temptation to accumulate too much equipment.
Papa made the Transversa with only five porter loads, while we will need a hundred porters at the least, each carrying eighty pounds. 'Zouga, I must speak to you. this is the first opportunity I have had.'
An expression of distaste flickered across the strong, harsh features as though he sensed what she was about to say. But before he could deny her she blurted out, 'Is this ship a slaver, Zouga? ' Zouga removed the cigar from his mouth and inspected the tip minutely before he replied. Sissy, a slaver stinks so you can smell it for fifty leagues downwind, and even after the slaves are removed there is no amount of lye that will get rid of the smell.
Huron does not have the stench of a slaver. 'This ship is on her first voyage under this ownership, Robyn reminded him quietly. 'Codrington accused Captain St. John of using his profits from previous voyages to purchase her. She is still clean. 'Mungo St. John is a gentleman.
' Zouga's tone had an edge of impatience to it now. 'I am convinced of that. 'The plantation owners of Cuba and Louisiana are amongst the most elegant gentlemen that you could find outside the court of St. James, she reminded him. I am prepared to accept his word as a gentleman, Zouga snapped. Are you not a little eager, Zouga? ' she asked with a deceptive sweetness but his tone had kindled sparks in her eyes like the sheen lights in an emerald. 'Would it not seriously impede your plans to find ourselves shipped on board a slaver? 'Damn me, woman, I have his word. ' Zouga was getting truly angry now. St. John is engaged in legitimate trade. He hopes for a cargo of ivory and palm oilHave you asked to inspect the ship's hold? 'He has given his word. 'Will you ask him to open the holds?
Zouga hesitated, his gaze wavered a moment, and then he made his decision. No, I will not, he said flatly. 'That would be an insult to him and quite rightly, he would resent itAnd if we found what you are afraid to find, it would discredit the purpose of our expedition, she agreed. As the leader of this mission. I have made the decision-, Papa would never let anything stand in his way either, not even Mama or the family-'Sissy, if you still feel that way when we reach the Cape, I will arrange for passage on another vessel to Quelimane. Will that satisfy you? ' She did not reply but continued to stare at him with a flat accusing gaze. If we did find evidence, he waved his hands with agitation, 'what could we do about it? 'We could make a sworn deposition to the Admiralty at Cape Town. 'Sissy, ' he sighed wearily at her intransigence, 'don't you understand? if I were to challenge St. John, we could gain nothing. If the accusation is unwarranted we would place ourselves in a damned awkward position, and if in the very unlikely event that this ship is equipped for the trade, we would then be in considerable danger. Do not underestimate that danger. Robyn. St. John is a F determined man. ' He stopped and shook his head decisively, the fashionable curls dangling over his ears. 'I am not going to endanger you, myself or the whole expedition. That is my decision, and I will insist that you abide by it.'
After a long pause, Robyn slowly dropped her gaze to her hands, and inter-meshed her fingers.
Very well, Zouga.'
