Chapter 13
Home Waters“She was the Seven Provinces, sir,” John Hunt told Petroc in the cabin. He consulted his note for clarification. “A Dutch vessel; not one of ours. Her Master was swept overboard early in the storm. When she lost a topmast, there was some delay in clearing it, which left her unable to manoeuvre.” He hesitated before continuing. “The survivors give a confused account of how she came to capsize, sir, but it appears that some part of her cargo may have come adrift and shifted.”
Petroc nodded, balancing himself against the motion of the rolling ship as he dragged on some dry clothing. “Very well. What did she carry?”
“A mixture: some of it salted cod in brine, some wine I’ve not heard of, a red called Rotspon, I think, or something like it, from Lübeck; whale oil loaded
