Stagg pulled a face. “Aye, I could’ve, but that’d be too close to home. The local militia and I ain’t always seen eye to eye in the past. Last thing I want is them stickin’ their noses where they ain’t wanted. I’ve got more’n forty tubs of prime potash takin’ up space in the hold and a buyer lined up. Much better if we hand you over to the regulars. They’ll be less inclined to go rootin’ around down below. We’ll get paid a sight quicker that way, too. The militia ain’t exactly well organized. Most of ’em couldn’t find their own socks to shit in them. Chances are they’d want to steal all the glory, too. Don’t see why we shouldn’t come out as heroes. It’ll stand us in good stead with them that matter. Give us a reputation as upstandin’ citizens. Might even result in the authorities turning a blind eye to some of our more – how shall I put it? – minor infringements. Won’t do us any harm, leastways, you can be certain of that.”

“Sounds as if you’ve thought it all through,” Hawkwood said.

“Caught you with your breeches down,” Stagg quipped.

“Can’t argue with that,” Hawkwood agreed. “Especially as you’re the one holding the gun.”

“I knew you’d see it my way.” Stagg chuckled at his own wit and then straightened. “Right then, time to tally up. Funny, I was about to say ‘Mr Smith’, but maybe I should be callin’ you Hooper? That’s the name they’ve given you on the poster there.” Stagg turned towards Lawrence. “Which’d make you Major Lawrence, yes?”

“No flies on you, Stagg, are there?” Hawkwood said. “But what if we don’t want to give you our money?”

Stagg looked at him and then shook his head. “You ain’t that stupid. You know you ain’t got a choice. Hand bill don’t say anything about you being dead or alive. That means they don’t care. So either we shoot you where you sit, take your money anyway and wrap you up ready for collection, or you hand it over voluntarily and we deliver you to the military in one piece. That way, at least you’ll get to live – until they hang you, that is. An’ it means I don’t have to put up with you bleedin’ out all over my deck. Save a deal of moppin’ up. The lads don’t like moppin’ up. Do you, boys?”

“You call that an option?”

Stagg showed his teeth. “You know what they say: where there’s breath there’s hope.”

“We’ll see you well rewarded if you get us to the border,” Lawrence said.