Mungo filled his lungs now, and paused to look up at the ramparts of the castle. The British flag spread jauntily above the Katzenellenbogen redoubt, and beyond it the seagulls planed and volleyed on the fresh south-easterly wind.
Force five and standing fair for a ship to clear the bay and make the open Atlantic, Mungo noted instinctively. This way please. ' The young Subaltern who commanded the prison escort urged him on, but Mungo hesitated a moment longer. He could hear the murmurous song of the surf-break upon the beaches just beyond the castle walls, and from the ramparts he would have a clear view across Table Bay to Bloubergstrand on the far curve.
Huron would be lying at anchor close inshore, still under her prize crew, and he longed for just a single glimpse of her, longed to know if the stern quarters were still smoke-blackened and gutted, or if O'Brien had been allowed to make the repairs to her hull and her steering gear. If only Tippoo, he began the thought, and then stopped himself, shivered briefly in the sunlight not only from the prison chill in his bones. He squared his shoulders and nodded to the Subaltern. Please lead the way, he agreed, and the hobnailed boots of the escort gnashed the cobbles as they crossed the courtyard and then climbed the broad flight of steps to the Governor's suite of offices. Prisoner and escort, halt.'
Upon the portico a naval Lieutenant waited to receive them in his navy-blue and gold jacket, white breeches and cocked hat. Mr. St. John? ' asked the Lieutenant. He was old for his rank, grey and worn-looking, with a weary disinterested eye, and Mungo nodded disdainfully.
The Lieutenant turned to the officer of the escort. Thank you, sir, I will take over from here, ' and then to Mungo. 'Kindly follow me, Mr. St. John.'
He went in through the magnificent teak doors, carved by the master craftsman Anreith, into the Governor's antechamber with its polished floors of butter-coloured Cape deal, the high hewn rafters of the same timber, and with the thick walls hung with the treasures of the Orient gathered so assiduously by that great plunderer, the Dutch East India Company, which had in turn succumbed to an even more powerful predator.
The Lieutenant turned right, avoiding the brass and mahogany double doors of the Governor's private office to which Mungo had expected to be led; instead they went to a less pretentious single door set in a corner of the antechamber. At the Lieutenant's knock, a voice bade them enter, and they went in to a small office, clearly belonging to the Governor's Aide-decamp whom Mungo had met before.
The Aide-decamp sat at the plain oak desk facing the door, and he did not rise nor did he smile as Mungo entered. There were two other men in the room, both seated in armchairs.
You know Admiral Kemp, said the Aide-decamp. Good morning, Admiral.
' Slogger Kemp inclined his head, but made no other gesture of recognition. And this is Sir Alfred Murray, Chief justice of the Supreme Court of the Cape Colony. 'Your servant, sir. ' Mungo neither bowed nor smiled, and the judge leaned forward slightly in his armchair, both hands on the gold and amber handle of his walkingstick, and stared at Mungo, from under beetling white brows.
Mungo was pleased that an hour previously his gaoler had provided him with hot water and razor and that he had been allowed to contract with the ex-slave Malay washerwoman who laundered for the castle's officers.
His breeches were clean, his boots polished and his shirt crisply ironed and snowy white.
The Aide-decamp picked up an official document from the desk before him. You are the Captain and owner of the clipper Huron? ' , I am. 1The ship has been seized as prize by the Royal Navy under Articles Five to Eleven of the Treaty of Brussels, and presently lies under prize crew in British territorial waters.'
That did not need reply, and Mungo stood silently. The case has been considered by the Courts of Mixed Commission for the colony, under the presidency of the Chief justice, and after hearing evidence from the Officer Commanding the Cape Squadron and others, the Court has determined that as the Huron was taken on the high seas, the Cape Colony has no jurisdiction in this matter.
The Chief justice has recommended to His Excellency, the Governor of Cape Colony, that the, ahem-' the Aide- decamp paused significantly, 'the cargo of the clipper ship Huron be impounded by Her Majesty's Government, but that the clipper be released under the command and connaissance of its owner and that the owner be ordered to proceed with all despatch to place himself and his vessel under the jurisdiction of a properly constituted American Court and there to answer such charges as the President of the United States deems fit to bring against him.'
Mungo let out a long slow breath of relief. By God's breath, the Limeys were going to duck the issue! They were not about to chance the wrath of the new American President-elect. They had taken his slaves, eight hundred thousand dollars worth, but they were giving him back his ship and they were letting him go.
The Aide-decamp went on reading without looking up. The Governor of Cape Colony has accepted the Court's recommendation and has so decreed. You are required to make your ship ready and safe for the voyage with all speed. In this respect, the officer commanding the Cape Squadron has agreed to place at your disposal the repair facilities of the Naval Station. 'Thank you, Admiral.'
Mungo turned to him, and Slogger Kemp's brows came together, his face mottled with passion, but his voice was very quiet and clear. Sixteen of my men dead, and as many maimed by your actions, sir, each day the smell of your filthy ship blows in to the windows of my office. ' Admiral Kemp lifted himself with an effort from his armchair, and glared at Mungo St. John. 'I say rot you, and your thanks, Mr. St. John, and if I had my way we wouldn't be playing coy and cute with Mr. Lincoln, and I would have you swinging at the mainyard of a British man-of-war rather than sailing out of Table Bay in your stinking slaver.'
Slogger Kemp turned away and went to stare out of the single window, into the courtyard of the castle where his carriage waited.
The Aide-decamp seemed not to have noticed the outburst. He went on smoothly, A representative of the Royal Navy will accompany you aboard your ship and remain there until he determines that your vessel is seaworthy.'
The Aide-decamp reached back and tugged the bellpull behind his shoulder, and almost immediately the door opened and the naval Lieutenant reappeared. Just one other thing, Mr. St. John, the Governor has declared you to be an undesirable alien and you will immediately be arrested if you are ever again so rash as to set foot in Cape Colony.'
The tall figure came striding up the yellow gravel pathway, under the avenue of tall date palms, and Aletta Cartwright called gaily across the rose garden, Here comes your beau, Robyn. He is early today.'
Robyn straightened, the basket full of rose blossoms hanging on her arm, the wide straw hat shading her face from the flat glare of the Cape noonday. She watched Clinton coming towards her with the warmth of affection. He looked so gangling and boyish and impetuous, much too young ever to have led that rush of fighting seamen over
