On Sentry Duty

Well, no surprise there... the middy wanted men to be afraid of him. He wanted to be one of those who watched men fall over themselves not to draw his attention to them. If he said 'Jump!' he wanted men to bloody well jump. He felt sorry for those who found themselves in De Guarde's division, and was glad that the middies had little enough to do with the Marines.

He hurried up to the messdeck, looking out for Cob Chase and the others.

The surgeon turned around and stared at the midshipman for a moment, looking directly into the young man's eyes. "I do not believe that is any concern of yours. Seaman Chase is in Lieutenant Leat's division. If you are worried for the good man's wellbeing, you may speak to Mister Leat. Now if you will excuse me, I have work to do."

His eye twitched at the reply. If he were not an officer and well aware of that, he would have thrown a damn good childish tantrum. Instead he nodded curtly, his eyes and hands the only, that betrayed his obvious irritation.

"..Very well. Do carry on."He spoke, his voice stiff, yet no more different than that. He turned on his heel, and left. Composed, at a walking speed, and by the time he was back outside, also with a calm look on his face.

Bolitho had only been in the cabin for a moment before the knocks came and Leat entered. He had a feeling he knew what the lieutenant wanted to discuss, yet he inquired as to his purpose all the same.

"Yes, Mr. Leat. What is it?" he said.

Leat closed the door behind him before he turned back to the captain, removing his hat and tucked it under his arms.

"I wish to express my concerns over one of the young gentlemen, sir," he said woodenly.

Just as Bolitho had anticipated. Leat wished to discuss De Guarde. Well, at least he was not the only one who could see that the boy was a bad apple.

"I assume you are referring to Mr. De Guarde."

"I do, sir."

Well, he suspected Bolitho would know as much. It didn't take a genius to guess.

"I hope you do not think it improper of me, sir, but after what happened just now I feel compelled to."

"No, I do not think it improper. The boy's attitude is worrisome to me as well," Bolitho said, frowning as he recalled how pleased De Guarde had looked during Chase's flogging, "It seems he has been taught that officers should instill fear in their crew, and it seems he is rather set in his ways."

"I suppose that is one way of putting it, sir."

Bolitho sighed softly.

"I do not want him to make enemies of the entire crew, nor do I want to come down too hard on him. But I fear if he is allowed to run roughshod over the men, they will all despise the boy before this voyage is over."

He paused for a moment, then added, "Have you spoken to Mr. De Guarde yet?"

"That is what concerns me, sir; I spoke to him before Defaulters."

He fidgited with his hat, readjusting it under his arm before he continued.

"I was on deck when the incident of Chase's 'insubordination' supposedly occured, and it was plain to see the boy was a bully. I advised him, in the strongest possible terms, not to persue with the charge, warned him that such a course of action may have consequences for all parties concerned. For a while I believed I had convinced him; but later it was plain to see I had not."

Leat paused thoughtfully.

"I do not know whether he knew who I was at the time."

"Here, boyo," Taylor called out, lifting a mug into the air to summon the off-watch Marine forward. The seamen drew apart to let the man through, some with cheery grins for him. Word spread quickly through the ship about anything and most of them knew already about the incident in the sick berth.

"Oi then, Thompson. Boiled beef an' some gravy here, if ya wants it. Or jus' the rum!" Chase said with a broad grin. The seamen gathered around chuckled.

"Whether he knew who you were or not is irrelevant. The boy could clearly see that you were a superior officer, and thus he should have heeded your advice," Bolitho said, "It seems I should speak to him myself, but I fear that may be a wasted effort. Unless I order him directly, I doubt he will heed even the advice of his captain."

Thompson returned the sailor's grin. It was not often that a Marine ventured for'rard on the messdeck, into the area belonging to the sailors, and he was a little abashed at the attention, especially considering he was Chase's guard not so long ago.

"Aye, rum's good enough medicine, but I'll have the beef to wash it down with, if'n ye don't mind," he said, coming over to where Chase was sitting. The seaman looked remarkably cheery, all things considered.

"How's the back, mate?" he asked, finding a seat at the table.

"I fear so, sir," Leat said gloomily. He knew from experience that Bolitho accosting the youth directly might do more harm than good. the only other way was to see if De Guarde could not be persuaded over time to change his ways.

"Who was his last captain?"

He patted the white bandages wrapped firmly around his otherwise-bare torso. "Bit sore," he admitted. "But it ain't so bad. Not gonna let the middie know it's hurtin' anyway." Chase shrugged that thought away and helped himself to some beef.

Williams, beside him on the bench, said "The cap'n'll set 'im t'rights, 'e will."

"Oh aye." Chase nodded and finished off his beef. "Where's yer fifer an' drummer at, Thompson? Ain't no sense in skulkin' 'bout like old wimmen, is there?"'

"Oxley's sortin' his drum out. Dunno where Appleby's got to, but he'll be round here somewheres." He looked round, to see another Marine in his off-duty clothes heading for'rard from the Marines' part of the messdeck, holding a fife and looking slightly nervous.

"Speak of the devil. Here's Appleby now," he said, grinning. He waved the lad over.

Billy saw him too, and raised a tankard to greet him. "C'mon along mate, the more the merrier! Play us a tune, eh?"

"Topside, lads. Not lookin' to knock meself silly on the deck beams," Chase said, stuffing a hunk of gravy-soaked hardtack into his cheek. He grinned around the mouthful at the Marine fifer. "Play us summat lively up top, mate!"

"Captain Burnett, of the Confidence. I've never met the man myself, but I've heard he has a reputation for harsh discipline aboard his ship. Not the best role model for an impressionable young man like De Guarde," Bolitho said, brushing that errant lock of hair away from his eye as he spoke, "As much as I would like to have a word with the boy, I think it best if I do not do so just yet. Let us see how things transpire for now, and perhaps he may learn his place over time."

Appleby grinned at the sailors and passed Thompson's tankard to him.

The older Marine grinned. "Topside it is, then, lads." He stood up. More Marines would join them once they heard what was afoot, he was sure. Nobody liked missing out on a chance to have a bit of fun, after all.

The seamen drifted to the ladders, chattering animatedly amongst themselves. Chase eased himself out of the confines of the hanging mess table and scratched at the confining bandages. "I'm more feared of the bos'un or even ol' Cross-eyes turnin' up than Mister De Guarde, if ya can believe it!"

Chuckling to himself, he followed the crowd of seamen topside. Timlin was already on the weather deck and tuning up his fiddle. The slightly-scratchy notes would draw up more men from below before too long.

Thompson grinned. It would be just like the Marine Corporal to show up and cast a dampener on things.

But it looked like it was going to be an enjoyable evening, if he didn't. "Come on, mate," he said to Appleby and they followed the others topside.

[skylarking can continue here. So's not to interrupt more soberminded officerly conversations still going on here.]

Even since the punishment, Peter had been sitting on the deck, between the rail and one of the boats. Hiding, he supposed. Or at least staying out of de Guarde's way. Let him try to bully one of the older midshipmen. Peter was fairly certain that he would try, sooner or later, and someone - Chandos possibly - would deal with him, in the rather brutal way of the midshipmen's berth. As the youngest and most junior member of that berth, Peter thought that he could only make matters worse.

If it had not been for that, and the memory of the flogging, Peter felt that he would have been quite happy now. A pleasant evening, the water hissing beneath him. He was not the only one enjoying the air. He could see the Army Colonel at the rail just before the quarterdeck, and some of the seamen were coming up from their messdeck.