"In Port Royal we daren't do nothing about protesting in case he charged us with 'mutinous assembly' - if he saw more'n a couple of men talking together he'd flog 'em because he reckoned they was plotting. We couldn't think of no way of escaping from him without taking the ship, sir."

 "But you killed all the officers! " Edwards interrupted harshly.

 "As God's my witness, sir, we didn't intend to. We was going to release the twenty-three seamen in irons and lock the Captain in his cabin, but someone raised the alarm and the officers came out with swords and pistols an' started fighting, even though we told them we'd spare 'em."

 "The Captain, " Edwards said coldly. "You murdered him."

 "Yes, sir. An' it happened like this. I led the party what was going to secure him - we had a pair of irons all ready - but by the time we got to the door of his cabin there was so much shoutin' and yellin' all over the ship that he was roused out and waitin' for us, a sword in 'is hand. A long thin sword, like you use for duelling."

 "So you murdered him."

 "He wouldn't listen to us, " Summers said stubbornly. "The minute I opened the door I told him to submit and his life would be safe, but 'e just rushed at me with 'is sword. I was holding a lantern - lit me up but not 'im o' course - and he nearly spitted me. I struck at him in self-defence, sir."

 Ramage leaned forward and turned to the president. "Could we recall Weaver and ask him about the mutineers' intentions, sir?"

 "Good idea. Weaver, step forward. You are still on oath, remember. Carry on, Ramage."

 "Weaver, you have just heard Summers say they did not intend to kill the Captain and officers. What do you have to say about that?"

 "I can only speak of what I heard and saw, sir. The talk I heard was just to take the ship and lock up the Captain. When they went and killed everyone I thought they'd changed their minds."

 "Do you know that they did change their minds?"

 "No, sir. Now I come to think of it, maybe that was why they was angry with Harris for killing the wounded officers after it was all over."

 "But when they broke into the Captain's cabin, didn't you hear what was said?"

 "I was unconcherous at the time, sir."

 "You think Summers's story that they intended to take the ship without killing anyone might be true?"

 "I do, sir. Summers is right that Captain Wallis thought everyone's 'and was plotting against him. The First Lieutenant was so frightened he never dared answer the Captain but with an 'aye aye, sir'. None of the officers ever had enough sleep from having to stand extra watches."

 "Why didn't you mention all this when you first gave evidence?"

 "I never thought you gentlemen would believe me, sir, " he said simply. "I never 'eard tell of any captain like the Jocasta's. He was a tyrant, sir, an' that's a fact, and I thank you for hearing us out."

 Us. Weaver was not a mutineer, that was clear enough, and he obviously hated Summers and his cronies, but at that moment, as he described life on board the Jocasta under Wallis, ii was "us". The officers, warrant and petty officers, seamen and Marines; they had all been in the trap, all fighting to stay alive. Eight hours on and four off for the lieutenants; sixteen hours on watch out of the twenty-four, and even the total of eight off interrupted by the need to be on deck to witness the floggings. Us - yes, Ramage thought, Weaver's evidence is true; he's an honest man.

 Weaver stepped back into the line and Edwards pointed at Perry.

 "Do you deny taking part in murdering Captain Wallis?"

 "No, sir." Perry was not defiant nor, as far as Ramage could see, was he frightened. If anything he now seemed relieved that the whole story was out; as if Summers's evidence had been a confession for the three of them.

 "Evidence has been given that you argued with Summers as to which of you gave Captain Wallis his death wound."

 "That's what Weaver said, sir, and he's part right. Only he was recovering from the bang on the head, and he didn't understand the meaning behind what I said. What we was arguing about, rather. Not that it matters now, " he added with a shrug.

 "What were you arguing about?"

 "Well, sir, I'd just told Summers I'd saved his life, and he wouldn't admit it. You see, sir, I was carrying the irons we was going to use to secure the Captain: irons in one hand and cutlass in the other. Summers had the lantern and went in first and shouted to the Captain, but he came straight at us with a sword. He'd have done for Summers but I knocked the sword away and that gave Summers a chance to 'ave a chop at 'im. Caught his left shoulder, and 'e staggered, but 'e came back at us, an' that's 'ow 'e got killed."

 Perry had ended up in a rush of words, the aitches dropping in the excitement, and again the cabin was silent but for the squeaking of Gowers's pen, hurrying to catch up.

 Then Captain Edwards said: "Summers, does that agree with your recollection?"

 "Yes, sir, except that I gave the Captain his death wound. Perry was trying to save me."

 The man was obviously hoping to take all the blame; there was no question of taking credit now.

 "Perry, do you question any of Weaver's evidence?"

 "No, sir, not now. Not after Summers put you right about not planning to kill the Captain an' officers in cold blood. We was just trying to save our backs - aye, an' our lives, too."

 In a sudden movement he pulled up his shirt and turned his back to the seated officers. "Look! " he said loudly. "More'n two hundred lashes - an' not one of 'em for a real offence." He turned again before the sentries had time to move. "I never committed a real offence in all me days at sea. Four ships I served in a'fore the Jocasta, an' never a lash. More'n two hundred lashes Cap'n Wallis give me."

 Edwards nodded and pointed to Harris.

 "Evidence has been given that you ran below after the ship was taken and murdered the wounded officers. Do you deny that?"

 "No, sir. I was beastly drunk at the time. I was mortal ashamed of meself afterwards."

 "Of being drunk or murdering wounded men?" Edwards exclaimed angrily.

 "Of the murdering, sir. But by the time I was sober again, t'was too late . . ."

 "Do you disagree with any of the evidence against you?"

 "Only that bit about me fetchin' an' carryin' for Summers, sir. I never did none of that. I was 'is aidy-dee-camp."

 For the next fifteen minutes Edwards questioned the three of them about their activities after the ship had been handed over to the Spanish, and their stories agreed. The Spaniards had given them rewards. Summers, Perry and the six members of the committee received the most, enough money to live on for eighteen months. The rest of the mutineers received enough to last for six months, providing they were careful. Summers estimated that seventy-five or more of the mutineers were trying to make a living at various ports along the Main: most were fishing or serving in coasting vessels. Others had learned some Spanish and managed to find jobs. The rest had signed on neutral ships. Perry had reckoned that he and Summers were the only two ringleaders to leave the Main.

 "Why did you try to leave?" Edwards had asked.

 "We couldn't stand the Dons no longer, " Perry had said contemptuously. "A lot o' 'eathens they are, what with all this burning incense and saints’ days an' 'Caramba this', and 'Caramba that'. Got so's we couldn't abide it no longer, an' all the streets like dungheaps. An' the priests always on at us, tryin' to make us into Catholics."

 Finally Edwards had called on each man in turn to make his defence against the charges. None of them had anything more to say. Summers, the first to be asked, had said he was guilty as charged, and that he now realized that no matter how tyrannical Captain Wallis had been, it was no excuse for mutiny and murder, but it was done . . .