4 June; A romp on deck

"Oh he's comin'," Andrew replied airily. "Powderin' his nose first."

Then he and Timlin fell into discussion about what should be played and in what order.

Chase was eying the two boys sitting on the deck. "Now what," he asked, "is got you two sittin' down like all that?"

'"E was a-waitin' for me an' I was a-waitin' for alla yous lot," Terry said, scrambling up. "C'mon, Fingers. Ain't gonna sit down there the whole time, are you, mate?"

He needed no urging to get to his feet, even though this was managed somewhat awkwardly, for he had taken back his tankard.

"No use innat," Fingers stated cheerfully. "Soon's them two's done they music-talkin'."

"Sorry," Terry said cheerfully, and belatedly offered Fingers a hand up. Too late; his mate was already on his feet by the time Terry had realised there was a problem.

"Hope they hurry up, then. Watchin' 'em talk about it all ain't no fun."

"Shepherd!" Fingers called. "You sorted yet? We wants a dancin'."

Or Shepherds, as it turned out, for the second twin had finally appeared. "Stow yer grumblin'," the one with the fife replied cheerfully. "Proper music takes work!"

"Hurry up, do," Terry said, hopping from foot to foot. Lucky beggars, those two - three, being able to play an instrument like that.

Fingers swallowed another mouthful of grog and held the tankard out to Button. "Aye. Stoppit wastin' time!"

The twins smirked. The one with the fife - Thomas? - saluted with the thin reed instrument. "Keep yer trousers on, lads. We's ready now."

He glanced at the other two, nodded, and then there was music.

Terry took the offered tankard. "Cheers, mate," he said, and took another mouthful, just as the music started. He hastily swallowed it, wiped his mouth on the back of his hand again and put the tankard down on the nearest carronade slide before breaking into an impromptu - and probably very bad - hornpipe, in imitation of the ones he'd seen the adult sailors performing.

"Much better, that," he said, grinning at Fingers.

Of course it was, Fingers thought. He fairly beamed and stirred his own feet, cheered to no end by the fact they were finally having a dance.

"G'an then," Chase cried, before he was drawn away toward where the other grown sailors were gathered.

"Hoi! Wait for me!" Oxley called, running for'rard, having finally been relieved by one of the other Marines, who hadn't seemed all that pleased at giving up his Sunday dogwatch to stand around and cover for the lads.

His own shod feet were probably going to make him clumsier than the younger lads, but he could always take his shoes off if they got in the way.

"Hey - Fingers! What happened to your arm?" he said, noticing the white sling that the younger boy was wearing.

The question gave Fingers pause. "Tripped a bit, din't it? Sawbones said it's gotta be inna sling ferra bit. Ain't bad."

He smirked. "Gonna stand gawpin', mate?"

"Stand around? You mad?" Oxley asked, grinning, before trying his own version of a hornpipe, which probably looked ridiculous in shoes, but he didn't care.

Between the three of them, Fingers was probably the least graceful, but he could hardly be expected to make a good showing with one arm effectively bound across his chest. Not that he cared in the slightest. This was skylarking and skylarking was fun.

"No more madder'n you!"

"We's all mad as each uvver, but 'o cares?" Terry put in, grinning from ear to ear. They hadn't had a proper dance and skylark for too long... and he hadn't had to sneak off so that he could join in, either, which was even better.

"Wonder what Corp'ral Thompson wanted 'im for," he added, indicating the two who were sitting across the deck from where the dancing was taking place.

Who indeed. Fingers grinned. He looked to where the grown sailors were having their own dance and giggled.

"Lookit!" He pointed at Chase and Dyer, who were, with absurdly solemn faces, attempting to dance as a pair.

Terry followed his friend's pointing finger, and giggled at the sight of the two grown seamen dancing together.

"Didja ever see that afore?" he said. His face was starting to hurt a bit, he was grinning so hard.

"Never," Fingers answered, beaming. If anybody was mad, it was those two!

"They's crazy. They gotta be," Terry said in wonderment. Remembering Cob Chase and Corporal Thompson larking about together under the spray of the washdeck pump, he nodded firmly. "Well, Cob Chase gotta be, any'ow."

"Course he is. He's a topman an' all, ain't he?"

It was plain enough to Fingers, anyway. He'd be a topman himself some day. Though hopefully he wouldn't be as crazy as those two.

"Hafta be crazy - though mebbe it's workin' up so high that make you like that?" Terry said, thinking aloud. He hoped to be a topman one day, too, but wasn't sure he wanted to end up like the two men. Well.

He sort of wouldn't mind being like Cob Chase when he grew up - he was really brave and strong, after all. But if it meant he'd go crazy, he thought he'd rather stay as he was.

"Mebbe." Fingers glanced around until he saw where Button had stashed his tankard. "Be like meself some day, I is!"

"You's like yourself now, you silly!" Terry pointed out, grinning. Maybe he'd misheard the other boy; it would be easy enough, after all, what with the music and the sound of the wind in the rigging and all.

He frowned a little as Oxley detached himself from the group to cross the deck to where Corporal Thompson was sitting with Buckles. His face brightened a little as he realised the drummer's intention - he didn't mind if Buckles joined in, but he'd never be able to ask himself, not when he was talking with Corporal Thompson. Even if the older Marine was still the good sort he'd always been, he was wearing corporal's stripes now.

Fingers grinned and swallowed the mouthful of grog. He was not the only silly one here!

"C'mon then," he said, sticking his good hand out after setting the tankard back down. "They havin' pairs dancin' ain't they?"

Terry giggled. Well, if the grown men could do it, why couldn't they?

"Min' your 'and, though," he said, taking Fingers' whole hand. It was going to be a little awkward till they figured out how to do it - heck, it was going to be a bit awkward anyway. He'd never danced with anyone before, not like this - and certainly not with another boy!

"That's the way, lads," Chase called cheerfully.

Fingers grinned. "Don't be grabbin' ferrit an' it'll be fine." He wasn't quite sure how to manage with only one hand though, but it didn't much matter. " S' almost like an officers' dance, innit?"