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the sea between the Kingston and the Governor’s little fleet. Between two of the longboats floated a large raft on which burned a great pile of lumber. Obviously they had towed it between them, and as soon as Malloy’s hail had been heard the order had been given to fire the highly combustible mass. Even as Rackham’s feet touched the deck another great tongue of flame shot up into the darkness, this time farther out to sea. A second raft had been set alight.
    â€˜Stand by to go about!’ bawled Rackham. It was a hopeless order but at least it should give the
Kingston
’s crew proof of his intentions. ‘Lively, damn you! D’you want to be taken?’
    It was Ben, acting promptly, who might have saved the situation for the pirates, and brought Woodes Rogers’ plans to nothing. Leaping among the bemused crowd of seamen on the
Kingston
’s deck, he cuffed and kicked them into some semblance of order, driving them aloft to work the ship while Bennett, taking authority upon himself, ran down to take what charge he could of the larboard guns.
    Fortunately for Rackham and Rogers, the pirate at the wheel lost his head, and abandoning his charge, ran to take cover below. Rackham, bellowing an oath, scrambled up the ladder towards the poop, slipped intentionally and fell sprawling. He saw Ben coming across the deck, his face contorted with rage, but even as his lieutenant reached his side the boom of a gun rang out across the water and a shot whistled past the
Kingston
’s bows and whined away into the darkness.
    Ben pulled up short, glaring over his shoulder towards the longboats.
    â€˜Damn the drunk dogs!’ he shouted. ‘Cowardly bloody scum!’ For once his emotions had the better of him, and he raged and stamped, furious at the impotence of the rabble on the
Kingston
’s deck. Some were clustered like sheep about the mainmast, others had run below, while another party were dropping over the side into the boat which Rackham had just left.
    â€˜Save your breath, Ben.’ Rackham pointed and his lieutenant groaned. The King’s ship was gliding across the fire-gleaming water, cutting off the
Kingston
’s escape, while the three longboats were closing in.
    â€˜That’s the
Unicorn
,’ said Rackham. ‘She can blow us out of the water whenever she’s a mind to.’
    â€˜We can fight her, cap’n!’ Ben, having seen one chance slip away, sought desperately to seize another. ‘Them flares won’t last for ever. See, they’re burning down now! If we can hold her off till they go out we can make open sea yet!’
    â€˜With those to man the ship and fight her too?’ Rackham gestured towards the disordered huddle of men in the waist.
    â€˜What odds? It’s Execution Dock if we’re taken. There’s still a chance, for Christ’s sake!’
    â€˜If you can—’ Rackham was beginning, when he was cut short. The voice that had hailed the
Kingston
a few moments before was raised again from the leading longboat, now within pistol shot of the
Kingston
’s side.
    â€˜In the King’s name! Lay down your arms!’
    In the silence that followed Rackham could hear Bennett’s muffled voice forward exhorting the gunners. The fool would be letting fly in a moment.
    â€˜Go forrard,’ he snapped. ‘Take command of the guns. Fire when I give the order, but not before.’
    To his relief, Ben obeyed. With the lieutenant in charge,he could be sure that no shot would be fired from the
Kingston
unless he wished it.
    â€˜Do you surrender? We have you at our mercy.’ The commander of the longboats was hailing again.
    Every face on the
Kingston
’s deck was turned aft. Rackham walked over to the rail and shouted: ‘Keep your distance! You’re under our guns. Come closer and we’ll blow you to Florida!’
    To his surprise his words brought a ragged cheer from the pirates in the