Against All Flags Page #3

the last four lashes.

So let's have that shirt off

and see if it's there.

Now, wait,

gentlemen, please.

In the presence of a lady?

He ain't lying, gents.

Leastways not about having

them from Flogger Flower.

Look you now,

Captain Kidd,

a man with the guts

to spy upon us

would have the guts to take 20

on his bare back,

would he not, whatever?

Indeed to goodness.

Undoubtedly, Captain

Roberts. Undoubtedly.

I say we take

no chances.

To the tide stakes

with him.

We may be

making a mistake.

Nothing has been

proved against him.

If there's any mistake

to be made,

I aim to make it in

our favor, not in his.

Nobody asked him

to come here.

There might be a way

of testing the fellow.

sailing master, from below.

Aye, aye, sir.

Mr. Hawke, it's apparent

you're a gentleman.

I've had considerable

experience of your kind.

Now, this fellow Swaine's been

convicted of concealing booty.

You must know

what that means here.

Kill the scoundrel

in any way you please

if you'd have us believe

you've a stomach for pirating.

Belike I've

a stomach for pirating,

but I'm no hangman

to kill a man unarmed.

You've the choice of it.

Or a slow death

along with your mates.

So say we all.

Well, belike I've no

stomach for that, either.

But if it narrows down to

a choice of evils, why then,

I'll fight any man here

with any weapon he wants.

Then fight

the sailing master.

Aye, we might kill two

birds with one stone.

An excellent suggestion,

Captain Roberts, excellent.

What have you to

say to it, Mr. Hawke?

As I said, sir,

any man, any weapon.

Kill him and I'll

give you your life.

I'll fight him.

With what?

Any man, any weapon is what you

said, if I remember correctly.

Well, Swaine,

what weapon do you want?

Boarding pikes.

Take them to the main deck, get pikes.

Three to one on

Swaine for 100 moidores.

I lay you threes.

Hawke for 50 reals.

100 guineas on

the Englishman.

Done.

Stay in close, sir. He's

got too much reach for you.

A fool he is to fight

you with a lower-deck arm.

Are you ready?

Aye, aye, sir.

Aye, ready.

Then would you be good enough to

give them the signal, Captain Death?

Stay in closer!

Stay focused!

I'll wager you 20 moidores

and take your pick.

Mercy, sir, mercy.

I distinctly heard him choose

boarding pikes, not rum bottles.

Mercy it is,

since it was Mistress Stevens

gave me this advantage.

Take Swaine below.

are you satisfied?

I still put

no trust in him.

Well, I do, and enough to give him

my ship as soon as she's re-rigged.

No man is taking

your ship out of here

unless he has a rope around

his neck like any known pirate.

All right,

if he wants to sail,

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