Sailors with shackles

"..I wos' saying that I know wot' a bath is, couse I was a gennleman." He retorted and then relented saying somewhat more softly. "...I know I am a Tar. Is why I'm seated here, with m' feet in irons. Wouldn't be that, if I were a middie, would I?"

"Don't gotta be a gennelman to know a bath," Ware replied simply. "An' middies gotta get washed too."

"..They aren't made a grand spectacle off. Wot' would you think if lieutenant Leat went ter be washed like we was?.. Or captain Bolitho?" He sighed. "I've got good reason fer.. sayin' no."

Ware's grin returned. "So you think! Everythin's different for officers, boy, you oughta know that. They'll have you number now, though. Can bet on it!"

"My...?" The lad blinked and frowned. "What are they going to do?" He knew, well he could guess and what he was guessing did not look very appealing. That Ware was grinning at him, really did not help matters much.

Didn't the boy understand?

"I dunno what-all went on up top," Ware answered. "But it was somethin' bad, 'cause you're down here all locked-up. There ain't ever but one way outta them irons, sure's I'm stannin' here."

The boy paled considerably. He was telling himself that this would not happen, though he could not find reason why. Being told that again though, dashed the small bit of hope he had. Captain Bolitho would not have mercy. The lieutenants were cruel and would also not feel he was not to be made an example of. "But...... I had a good reason!.."

"Good reason?" Ware had not lied when he said he didn't know what had happened on deck. "Reason for what, upendin' a bucket over the bos'un's head or somethin'?"

"A good reason fer not wantin' ter strip right infront of everyone! Or to let them scrub me or make me scrub there!" He exclaimed indignant. "....I sort o'.. bit... someone.. and stomped on George's foot. " He looked annoyed. "But that was only cos' he didn' want ter let me go."

The Marine gazed incredulously at the boy. "Blimey. That'd catch trouble, no matter what your reasons, no lie."

" I'll be tried as a ship's boy though, won't I?" He tried to speak with some confidence as he said that. "So... t' worst that can happen, if anything will, is a canin'."

"Doubt it. You ain't rated as a boy." Ware suspected he didn't know even half the story, but it was not a favourable picture even at this. "Dunno how it's so hard to stand quiet an' take a washin', neither. You ain't got nothin' the rest of us don't!"

"I would'o washed meself if they let me do it all alones!" He grunted. He was even more pale. He remembered Chase. He remembered the scene, in which he was pressed to say he excused the man and he could return unharmed. He kept his mouth shut though. chose to see Chase pay for a crime which only he saw as a crime. He remembered the marks on his back as that of many a seaman he had seen flogged. Gulping he pulled the jacket tighter around him.

"I do. I do got." He snapped.

"Oh?" Somehow, Ware didn't quite believe that. The Master-at-Arms never got involved with the sailors unless there was hard trouble.

"..I've got me... ...I have got a reason. My.. dignity. I'm ... was... I .." He bit his lip. "I would'a washed m'self, had I had half a chance ter do it in private!"

Shaking his head, Ware sighed. "Ain't the way it goes, fella. Might's well get used to it!"

"....Could do with a second chance right now." He sighed and leaned back on his hands. "..but I doubt the captain will give it. ...n'... it all went so well. Finally."

"If you'd've behaved," Ware reasoned, "you wouldn't be worryin' 'bout it none."

It made sense to him anyway.

"It's more complicated than you think. I could not have.." He sighed again. "It's just, summat personal. I'm not lookin' fer yer pity or understanding. 'couse...you won't understand anyway." He looked up. "It's stupid you're guardin' me... ain't like I can escape, or would want to. "

Of course it was.

"If you say so." Ware decided it wasn't important enough to try understanding anyway.

De Guarde was bored. Frightened, worried, nervous but also bored. There was not much he could do down in irons, and with everybody up above he could not even entertain the thought of seeing the other boys squirming their way out of a bath. No, he was back here. And it was awful.

He was fidgety and though his hand no longer yanked at the other sleeve it was tapping impatiently against the ground now. He wanted news and strangely, he wanted to see the captain and hear what he had to say. What decision he made. "...What do men .. in irons usually do?"

What?

"I dunno. Never asked 'em."

"..What did you see them do ter.... pass time?" He elaborated on his question. "Other than talk with t' sentry, that is. "

Ware had to think about that for a moment. "Some of 'em carve. Others sew. Seen a lad sleep 'fore, too."

"..Got anything I could carve?" He had nothing damaged so sewing would be fruitless and he wasn't that tired to sleep, though that suggestion might soon sound much more appealing.