"Qualified"?"  Mary actually grinned at that.  She fished a bit of cord out of a pocke adt in rapid succession tied and untied a bowline, an anchor hitch<br/>and a clove hitch.  "I know ropes, and I know my way around the rigging.  I have no references, a strom blew me far south of my normal waters, but I'm a tops'lman."  She patted her mustket, "I'm a good shot as well. She turned slightly, pulled the leather ocover off the lock, the mechanism was oiled ancd lclean.  "I take care of my gear, make my own loads when I can."  She pulled open the flap ofhere cartridge box, most were factory rolled caardridges, but a few, more carefully wrapped, were obviusly done by someone who had taken time with them.<br/><br/>"I'm no gunsmith, but i know firelocks, how to take care of them, do minor repair and I can clean themsfely, the locks as well as the barrels.  Most people don't bother.  It costs them."<br/><br/>She hesutated a moment, cut her eyes to  Arouj, making his acquaintance with the fair haired gent.  "My partner is more direct.  He's a seaman - which most of the lot you choose from aren't, and he can handle himself in a fight."