Mutineer Read Online Free PDF Page A

to her mouth, grimacing at the soft, mushy texture, and chewed. She’d lost weight, she knew, her already slight form becoming even more so in the time she’d been aboard Hermione, but she could only stomach so much of the ship’s provisions.
    “I’ve none to contribute, Mister Bushby,” she said. “As you’re aware.”
    “A shame,” Bushby said. “I’d have thought you’d bring more aboard last we were in port.”
    And if you’d told me aboard Merlin that I’d one day wish for Stanford Roland’s company at dinner …
    “I didn’t see the point, Mister Bushby, as it would simply be pilfered again, as all my other stores have been.”
    “Pilfered, Carew?” he straightened in his chair. “That’s a most dire accusation. Point the culprit out to us, if you please, and we’ll see him done for you!”
    Alexis sighed. This was quite the same conversation he’d been attempting to engage her in for weeks, ever since she’d first noticed that her personal stores were disappearing at an alarming rate. At first, she’d thought it was the gunroom steward, Boxer, but the amount of goods missing had quickly grown past anything a member of the crew would dare.
    “I’ve no one to point to,” she said. And no one who’d listen if I did.
    She had, in fact, spoken to the second lieutenant about the matter, as the midshipmen were his responsibility. Williard had sighed and shaken his head.
    “A bit of food and wine, Mister Carew?” he’d asked. “Is this not something you lot should settle amongst yourselves?”
    “It’s more than a bit, sir,” she’d told him. “Nigh a full pound’s value, all I brought aboard last port. And the port before that, as well. I’ve no objection to sharing, sir, but …”
    Williard had closed his eyes and hung his head. He’d seemed tired and resigned.
    “Do you know who’s done it?” He’d held up a hand to stop her speaking. “Know, mind you, not suspect. And can prove it, as well.”
    “No, sir.”
    “If I pursue the matter, Mister Carew, it will become known to Captain Neals.”
    And that had been the end of the matter for Alexis, for she’d learned already that there was nothing she desired aboard this ship so strongly as to be unnoticed by Hermione’s captain.
    “Then you should refrain from making idle accusations, I think,” Bushby said with a wide grin. “Theft is quite a serious matter aboard ship, you know.”
    Alexis couldn’t help it, she burst out laughing as the day’s fatigue and the absurdity of Bushby’s words washed over her. Oh, yes, a serious matter . Among the crew it was quite serious, she knew, and might result in the offender mysteriously disappearing one watch Outside. If the matter were brought before the captain on any ship, it would likely result in the offender facing a gauntlet of his mates, forced to walk slowly between two rows of them, as they kicked and pummeled him for his offense.
    Among the officers, it was unheard of. Even the most destitute of midshipmen would have more honor than to steal from his messmates, and the consequences for one who did would be dire. In the unlikely event that he weren’t disrated or dismissed from the service, no fellow officer would ever trust him again.
    Unless you’re so confident the captain himself wouldn’t believe it, nor care if it could be proven to him.
    “You laugh, Carew?”
    “I do, Mister Bushby, I do, indeed.” She looked up and met his eyes, knowing it was a mistake to engage him, but not caring. After a day and night atop the mast, she wanted the satisfaction of lashing out at someone herself.
    “You should not make light about so serious a charge, Carew,” Canion said.
    “Oh, I do not make light of it, Mister Canion. Not light at all. It would be a serious charge indeed to make and I would not do so frivolously. To make such a charge would be to say that the man had no honor at all.” She met each of their eyes in turn. “That he was a weak, useless excuse for an