“Yes. But do you suppose the recovery of them will act in my favour, enough to prevent charges against me?”
“I’d not be surprised,” Halfhyde answered. “Also, I shall stand by you myself and confirm my own belief that you had no knowledge of Cantlow’s identity or of what was in his baggage.”
“Very good of you.” McRafferty mopped at his face, looking much relieved.
Halfhyde shrugged. “I’ve no wish to see a shipowner suffer unjustly—I’m still hopeful of becoming an owner myself, and I’ve already seen some of the difficulties involved! Further, Bullock and Cantlow were villains both, and I see no justice whatever in allowing their villainy to stick to you.”
McRafferty nodded. “I’m very grateful, Mr Halfhyde. My ship…as you know, it’s my home.” He blew his nose hard; he seemed embarrassed and to cover this he lifted his telescope towards the German flagship still lying off Breakup Island and now beginning to recede astern as the windjammer made all speed for Sydney Heads. “Your friend, Mr Halfhyde.”
“Friend?” Halfhyde asked absently.
“The Admiral—von Merkatz I think you said—”
“Ah, yes. What about him, sir?”
“You wish to make no farewell message, perhaps by semaphore, before we’re too far south of him? A message of thanks? It seems—”
Halfhyde said gravely, “I doubt if he would really appreciate it, sir.”
“But surely—”
“No, sir, I shall refrain from rubbing in the salt on this occasion.”
“Salt? Why, damn it, Mr Halfhyde, I fail to understand you! The German’s been of immense help, and you don’t even thank him—and then you talk of salt!”
Halfhyde tapped McRafferty’s telescope, which he had now lowered. He said, “Look again, sir, and carefully. I think your seamanship sense would have told you earlier, had you not been somewhat distrait. I believe Bullock—fortunately—was also distrait at the moment of sighting her.” He coughed and said again, “Another look, Captain.”
Still puzzled, McRafferty lifted his glass and steadied it against the mizzen shrouds. He stared for some while towards the flagship. “There’s a good deal of activity around her,” he said. He looked a while longer then said in amazement, “Why, the poor fellow’s hard aground, Mr Halfhyde, hard aground on the rocks!”
Halfhyde smiled. “Indeed he is. He impacted sharply in the very moment of coming out from the lee of Breakup Island.” His smile became broader as he reflected upon the wrath that would visit von Merkatz if ever he found out about his unwitting assistance to his old enemy. “The very best place for him, sir,” he added to McRafferty.
“But that cannot be—we must go back to assist—”
“No, sir.” Halfhyde was adamant. “We must not go about. For certain good reasons, it’s a far better thing to let grounded Huns lie.”
