The Privateer's Revenge

'Very well,' Job said, after the jug was set in train. 'Let me go directly to the head of the matter. I heard about your recent voyage from a common acquaintance and, besides, something of your history while here, and I'm sanguine you'll hear me out if I make you a proposition.'

'Go on.' He was in no hurry—he might as well listen to what the man had to say.

'I'm a man of business, not a mariner, but I confess I was somewhat surprised when I learned that having taken on the calling of privateer you were unable to make a success of it.'

Kydd gave an ill-natured grunt but let him continue.

'Therefore, knowing of your undoubted qualities I made query as to the details. And it seems my surmise was correct. For reasons best known to the investors you were constrained to confine your attentions to the small fry, coastal traders and the like.

'I will speak frankly. To me this is not the best exploitation of your talents—speaking as a businessman, of course. Now, I was too late to take shares in your last venture but I have a mind to consider doing so in the future, should the arrangements be more to my way of thinking.'

'Mr Job, that's all very well but I have t' say I've been told there's t' be no second voyage for me.'

Job paused to refill Kydd's glass. 'This is then my proposition to you. Should you feel a blue-water cruise in the Western Ocean to meet the trade from the West Indies and south would better answer, I will invest in you.'

Despite himself Kydd's hopes rose: there was no reason to believe Job would waste his time in impossibilities. 'This sounds interestin', Mr Job. But I c'n see a mort o' problems.' There was so much to overcome: a deep-sea venture was an altogether larger-scale enterprise, much more costly—and many times the risk.

'I'm no stranger to privateering, you may believe,' Job said smoothly. 'I find the chief objective is to secure a captain of daring and acumen, the second to ensure he has the ship and men he needs to perform his task. This is essential and must always stand above considerations of expense. Spoiling the ship for a ha'p'orth of tar is false economy, so by not sparing the quality of ship and man, the enterprise does maximise its chances.'

'An' increases th' capital risk,' Kydd said.

'It does, but those considerations you should leave to the prudent investor who, you can be sure, does take full measure of his exposure.' He went on, 'For myself, I will increase my own determination in the venture by one simple means. I intend to take the majority shareholding.'

'Sir, I c'n see how this might be of advantage t' me . . .'

'Might I correct you in the particulars, sir? I do this not for you but in the cause of profit and gain to accrue to myself. I would not do it unless I saw due opportunity, and having witnessed at the first hand your daring and clear thinking when you apprehended the pirate villain Bloody Jacques, then it's my estimation that the investment is as sound as any now open to me.'

'Go on.'

'Besides which,' Job continued, 'I will naturally take reasonable measures to safeguard my position, the first of which is to state that I will in no wise set to hazard my capital without I have a formal proposal from yourself.

'This shall include details of your intended cruising grounds, particulars of the vessel you desire to employ, the crew consequential on its size, the length of voyage—all the usual considerations in matters of this kind, which I'm sure you understand—and each most carefully costed.'

Kydd held his elation in check. 'Then you shall be the armateur?'

'By no means, sir. There are many such available in Guernsey. I shall be content to remain chief investor, should your proposal prove acceptable.'

Playfully, Kydd added, 'An' if I find such will be sufficiently advantageous as will allow me t' delay my return to England.'

Blinking, Job leaned forward. 'Return to . . . ? Sir, that would be to discard a particularly fine business opportunity. Surely you wouldn't—'

Kydd saw his moment. 'I've had m' taste of privateerin' an' if I was t' consider another cruise there's t' be changes.'

'Oh?'

'Y' mentioned there'll be no spoilin th' ship f'r a ha'p'orth o' tar. Is this t' mean I can select a ship of size as can go up against a big Indiaman man t' man?' 'Ah, yes. This is the very point that encourages me in the whole business. As you will allow, a five-hundred- or thousand-ton vessel is an extremely expensive proposition to set a- swim. With you as captain, however, a more modest-sized craft might well be manoeuvred with daring and resource to achieve what in lesser hands would certainly require a larger.'

'You'll grant me, Mr Job, that a grand Martinico-man will never strike t' a squiddy cutter an' must always resist. I should need m' choice o' armaments.'

'Of course.'

'An' men enough t' swarm aboard when th' time comes.'

'Undoubtedly.'

'Articles I'll draw up m'self of a character as will grant me full powers o' discipline.'

'I'm sure that will be possible.'

'I say where we cruise.'

'As long as it is a blue-water venture I'm certain that will be acceptable. The usual clause runs something like, 'shall cruise in waters to the west to take such ships as you shall fall in with' or similar.'

'Well . . . that could be agreeable,' Kydd mused, rubbing his chin.

'If you should decide to take this up,' Job said earnestly, 'then news of my firm and sizeable commitment will of