1st July, 1809: Introduction to la Revenant 'The Ghost'

"Aye Aye Sir!" Jac salutes crisply, then, when the 1st Leutenant is out of earshot, leans over to Proulx. He whispers,"I'll keep my eye on you, lazy dog. You'll get musceles, and a good amount of sweat." Jac straitens up, points to a tartan-clad sailor and says,"Mcferran, show the new sailors to their berths." He then stands where he is, making sure the sailors are doing their jobs and doing them right. Jac will preform his orders to the letter. My father did not raise a disobidient son, but seeing as others didn't follow in his footprints, I'll teach them. They say an old dog can't learn new tricks, but I could try.

This was really getting rich. But then, he had yet to meet an officer who had it in him to give a sou for the men he commanded. Any worth the Navy had known had been lost during the Revolution, after all.

"I am only here because of the inscription maritime," Stéphane said with a shrug. "I owe the Navy no honest effort."

All the same, aware that the lieutenant was likely to take particular exception to his defiance and address it accordingly, Stéphane again set aside his work so he could get to his feet. Standing, he was easily six feet tall, an unusual height for a sailor. He did not fear this lieutenant, or the bosseman, but he was in no hurry to find himself subjected to the cale or some similar punishment - though nothing like 'the grating' as the lieutenant threatened. They were not as bad as the English in that regard, at least!

Jean-Claude walked over to have a word with the Master-at-Arms. "Du Toit, see that tall matelot?", "Keep an eye on him, I think we have a troublemaker on our hands."