10th June; Drummer's Dilemma

Oxley couldn't even shrug, standing to attention as he was. "Still owed him 'em, Corp'ral," he said, sending a quick sympathetic glance over towards his friend, caught firmly in Cross-Eyes' iron grip.

At that, Johnson grunted. "Course you did. Right. C'mon then, you scamp. I needs a word with you."

He nodded toward the companion way and gave Thomas' jacket collar a quick jerk. This could not be good, Thomas thought gloomily, and obediently moved toward the ladder.

"Here, Oxley," Chase said in a low voice, casually ambling over, his hands shoved into the pockets of his grubby working trousers. "What's the Shepherds up to now?"

Oxley sent a cautious glance in the direction Corporal Johnson had gone before replying. "Um. Dunno, though he said he'd lost a bet with that bastard Seward. D'you know anythin' about it?"

Seward. Something in Chase's expression hardened, very briefly, then he shrugged. "Nope," the seaman replied simply. He hadn't a clue but he had a notion to find out.

"Here. Don't go gettin' 'em in worser trouble, willya?" Oxley said, worried by the look that crossed Chase's face, however briefly.

"They're more'n good at that, their own selves," was Chase's response. No, he'd leave the Shepherd, whichever one it was, to his own devices. If those lads could not get themselves out of a tight spot, it was their own fault. Seward, on the other hand...

The topman shrugged again. "Why'd they be stupid 'nuff to go bettin' with Seward, I dunno." Nor did he think he really wanted to. Foolish boys! "Don't you go gettin' into no trouble with that'n, neither," he added, then continued on his way forrard, having spotted Mister Rutland watching him a trifle too closely for comfort.

"Well, that's what he said," Oxley told the sailor, though he didn't for one minute think it was the actual truth. Even the Shepherds weren't as stupid as all that!

"I ain't goin' near the bugger an' that's flat!" he said, squaring his shoulders a little and trying not to notice Mister Rutland and his starter.