Coming Aboard

They had delivered their passengers, finally, and were returning to Terpsy. Their new crew-member appeared sullen. Since he'd vented his spleen Thompson, he'd said not a word, and they had left him to his sulks. He'd get over it quick enough; all the other pressed men did.

They drew up to Terpsy's larboard side, answering the sentry's hail with the correct 'Aye, aye!' to show there was an officer in the boat. Mister Kinsella was out of the boat first, going to report to the officer of the watch.

From the sound of things, preparations were well under way to deliver the horses ashore as Spencer headed up the side, followed by Butcher to show how it was done.

"Your turn, mate," Thompson said to Perry, indicating upwards, after casting off the painter that had been used to lash him to the seat, in the absence of anything else suitable.

Perry looked reluctant and apprehensive.

Thompson shrugged. "There ain't nowhere else you can go, an' I ain't spendin' all night in this here boat lookin' after you. C'mon, up you go. It ain't so difficult as all that, after all."

Difficult! The man gave the marine a disdainful look, eyeing him up and down before swarming up the ladder as nimble as a monkey.

Well would you look at that. Chase scoffed and shook his head as Perry went swiftly up the ladder. He moved like a sailor, that was for sure.

"Looks like we caught a good one," Chase muttered to Williams as they waited for Preddie and Young to clear out of the boat.

Well, if nothing else, he'd proved that he wasn't a lubber. Thompson grinned, slung his musket across his back and followed the man.

Perry stood on the deck blinking for a moment before someone took him by the arm. "Get your hands offa me! I wanna see the captain!"

"There'll be no troublin' the cap'n 'less he sends fer ya," Colburn growled. "Let's go, gotta getcha signed onta the ship's books."

The Tars working on deck smirked and nudged each other knowingly.

"You won't sign me onta no books!" he yelled, jerking his arm away from the man. "I wanna see the captain! Where's the captain o' this tub?"

Thompson did bristle at that. "Don't you go callin' Terpsy no tub," he said. "Won't win you any favours, that won't. 'Sides, you'll be in her for the duration, or me name ain't George Thompson."

"Not when I tell the captain what you done - took an American from his wife an' home! You'll be at the gratings, the whole pack o' ya will!"

The rest of the boat crew had come back aboard by now. Chase tried not to laugh at the spectacle. This idiot Perry had no idea what he was setting himself up for.

Colburn pulled out his starter. "That's 'nuff from ya. Down below. Now."

"It's injustice! I demand to speak to the captain or his lieutenant! I'm an American! You can't press me!"

Colburn had had enough. "Master-at-arms!" He bellowed, giving Perry a sound whack with his starter.

Perry yelped at the sudden lashing and damned the man. Then, twisting free of the men who were holding him he swung a fist at the blackguard who had struck him like a coward.

Thompson blinked as Perry moved. He was only just quick enough to grab his arm before he connected. "That ain't a good idea at all, mate," he said, looking wide-eyed at Colburn and shaking his head.

"Let go of me! Take me back to shore right now! I'm an American and you have no right--!"

No, it wasn't. Colburn brought his starter up to block the swing, but when Thompson grabbed Perry's arm, the boatswain's mate took the opportunity. He grabbed Perry's collar and pulled him roughly out of the Marine's grip.

"Yer not so smart are ya? C'mon then. You'n'me gonna have a talk."

Perry stumbled along behind him, forced to walk or topple over. "You gonna take me to the captain...?" he asked without much conviction.

Thompson let go as Colburn pulled the newly-pressed Perry away from him. "He's only jus' come aboard, Mister Colburn," he said, as if the bosun couldn't see that for himself. "He don't know nothin' yet."

"Nope," Colburn told the newly-pressed man. He spared Thompson only a passing glance. "He better learn quick," was all he said.

By then, the Master-at-Arms had arrived. "Sent for?"

Colburn gave Perry a shake. "Takin' this one below. Cheeky devil, this one."

"No! No, it's a mistake, it's just a mistake! They thought I was British, but I'm not!"

"Are you supposed to be on duty?" the Master-at-Arms asked, turning to Thompson, who blinked and shook his head.

"N...no, I ain't," he said.

"Well, you can come and guard him, then."

Thompson shrugged and unslung his musket. "All right then, if you'd let Sar'nt Quinn know where I am, please."

"Guard me?" Perry yelped. "You can't treat me like a prisoner! I never did nothin'! I demand--!"

"Shut up," the Master-at-Arms snapped, taking hold of Perry's collar too.

Chase and the others had no chance to share grins or chuckles at this, for Rutland, the other boatswain's mate, appeared topside. They dispersed at once.