For me, no doubt. Roderick frowned. But would they go to such trouble for the taxes owed on a small merchant ship? Perhaps they would pass by.
Brady called out for all hands on deck. The order was passed quickly, men relaying it along the chain of command.
Roderick strode to a wooden trunk that was built in close to the wheel. Unlocking it, he pulled out his cutlass and sword belt and wrapped it around his hips. When he returned to the wheel, men were pouring out on deck, hiving off in all directions. Several clambered onto the rigging, shifting into positions on the spar above, ready for his instructions.
“Full sail, veer hard to port. They are coming up fast and if we cling to the coastline they might pass us by.” The instruction was passed and the crew set about adjusting the angles of the spars, rolling up sails to change direction at speed through the turn.
Roderick clenched his jaw while he watched through the spyglass. The navy ship was fast. It had the advantage, and wouldn’t take long to come up on their stern.
It was a command ship, and in the distance he saw another ship behind it. Scanning the horizon, he caught sight of a third vessel, approaching from the north. Roderick lowered his eyeglass and looked Brady’s way. “There are three vessels. They have us surrounded. Even if we gain speed, that third ship will block our passage north.”
“A carefully planned entrapment,” Brady commented.
“Indeed.” Roderick frowned. “And yet when we docked at Lowestoft we were not approached by navy officers.”
“It is a puzzle.”
Roderick and Brady studied each other a moment.
“Guns at the ready, Captain?” Clyde asked.
Roderick pressed his lips together. It would be a token gesture for his men, nothing more. There was little they could hope to do against three naval ships that had dominance in these waters. “Aye, but not visible.”
Safeguarding the ship and the crew was his priority. The navy vessel was coming up on them, but before he had a chance to issue any more instructions, a loud boom sounded.
It was a warning shot, for it was not followed by another.
“They wish to board,” Brady said.
The command ship approached with its cannon at the ready. Uniformed naval soldiers lined up on the nearside, guns trained on the Libertas. A brazier flamed on the deck, men standing by with bows and arrows held aloft.
“They are ready to take out our sails, Captain,” Clyde called out.
“Drop anchor,” Roderick instructed. When no one moved, Roderick repeated the instruction, louder.
He looked at Brady, who rolled his eyes. “No other option,” the first mate agreed.
“Not a good time to have a store crammed with illicit French wine,” Roderick commented.
“Nor an angry witch tied up in the hold.”
Up until that point Roderick had not made a connection between their passenger and the trio of ships that had ambushed them. Neither had Brady.
They frowned at one another.
“You don’t think it’s her they are coming for?” Brady asked.
Roderick swayed, his concerns growing rapidly. Witch hunters?
“She was eager to leave London. Perhaps this is why.”
Roderick nodded, but he looked away, focusing on the command ship, and prayed that was not the case. If it was, he wouldn’t let them take her. They would find her, though, even if they only came to search the ship for contraband goods.
Brady, however, brightened at the prospect. “If they truly are after the Jezebel, we will be rid of her sooner than expected.”
Roderick didn’t acknowledge his comment.
Clyde caught his eye and the old man shook his head.