Buccaneer Read Online Free PDF Page B

circular wall made from red bricks the Griffin had brought out as ballast, and as soon as Saxby had counted heads and reported all the employees present, Ned scrambled on to the wall and told them all to gather round.
    Then, speaking slowly and choosing his words with care, he explained that a Parliamentary fleet seeking troops was due to arrive at any moment, and that because it also had orders to arrest him, he intended to leave the island in the Griffin to seek somewhere else to live that was free of politics, pressgangs, and the words of Cavalier or Roundhead.
    At the mention of the words one of the youngsters called out: “ Two sucking pigs, sir!” and Yorke laughed with the crowd.
    “To be eaten in the company of the people who heard the words,” Yorke pointed out. “Which leads me to the next point. Forty-six of you are indentured to me, and your indentures do not say where you have to serve your time. I could take you to El Dorado or the empire of the Great Khan.”
    He waited for the laughter to die down. “However, you did not sign indentures to serve as sailors. The Griffin might be going on a voyage to one of the other islands; it might be longer. So I am giving you a choice, and I think a fair one. Either you can sail in the Griffin and take your chance with me – and obviously I can promise nothing – or you can stay here on the island, take your chance with the pressgangs, and I will pay each of you a part of the lump sum in proportion to the time you have served.
    “You nine time-expired men who are on wages; you’ll still be paid if you sail with me but if you stay in Barbados – well, you’ve received your lump sums and it will be up to you to find other jobs.”
    “What about us women, sir?” Mrs Judd called out. “Me an’ six of the best!”
    The men whistled and jeered good-naturedly. “Serve you right if we leaves you behind to poison the Roundheads with your cooking,” Saxby growled.
    “Dunno what a glutton like you would do without us!” Mrs Judd answered, and the other women giggled and blushed, well aware of the double meaning.
    Yorke said: “The same offer is open to you women: be paid off a proportion or sail with me.”
    “What, all of us women?” demanded Mrs Judd.
    “All seven of you – but you’ll be responsible for their good behaviour!”
    “Verree wise, sorr,” Saxby commented loudly. “Let Martha keep them smart on parade.”
    The sun was blazing down on them by now and the wind had dropped. Yorke felt his jerkin slowly sticking to him, and his feet throbbed from the heat of the brick wall striking up through the soles of his shoes. The divi-divi trees pointed like signposts – to the westward, he noted, thinking of the significance, bent by the constant Trade wind blowing from the east. Westward – an omen, perhaps?
    Yorke pulled down the brim of his hat and looked round. Fifty-six pairs of eyes were watching him.
    “The decision is up to each of you, man or woman, and whatever you decide there will be no hard feelings. Mr Saxby will have your money ready by this evening for those deciding to stay. Now, those of us going in the Griffin have a lot to do. So, there’s a divi-divi tree over there–” he pointed to the big shrub to the northwards, “–and another there, to the south. Will all of you who want to stay on the island go to that bush, the one to the north; those coming with me in the Griffin should go to the southerly one. And do it now.”
    With a loud “Humph!” Mrs Judd marched for the southern bush, head down, arms akimbo, striding with as long a step as her dress and petticoats would allow. The other six women giggled, hands to their mouths, chattering among themselves, and followed her.
    For a few moments the seven women were the only ones to move and Yorke had a nightmarish picture of the Griffin sailing with himself, Saxby and a crew of women.
    The men were far less sure. For a moment none moved to the northern tree but instead they