After the refit

He nodded and watched young Mr. Yates go, wondering if they would talk so civilly again and if perhaps at another time he could ask him to lend a book. He had none with him now, and it wasn't too common for sailors to read at all. Most didn't even know the letters or what use a book was.. 'cept perhaps to wipe one's posteriors with it.

Once the small figure of the midshipman was concealed by the taller, broader silhuettes of sailors he took a stand beside the horse. When a few stopped he'd been rather clear that they were best on their way. It was a mention of lieutenant's orders, as Yates suggested, that had them back on their way. He studied the horse then and twice again tried to come closer. Once he was nearly bitten, and the second time the horse just looked suspicious at him.

Slowly he pulled himself a small wooden box up closer, and sat on it, back against the wall. He looked at the horse time and time again. He decided that if the animal would get used to his presence, it wouldn't be skittish. He found himself humming a tune, to have time pass, and as earlier with the conversation of the two middies, it seemed the horse wasn't as irritated by the soft tones as compared to the loud voices of the sailors.

Wasn't half bad a job, he decided and admired the beast, young and curious, and which would travel with them. "'s going ter be allright.. ye know." He murmured to Copenhagen. "..just be good n' behave. 's all ye need ter do. And we'll be happy n' ye'll be happy.. n' then we'll be right soon when you are out and about. But don't bite me... " He smiled. "Won't work well, that way."

There was a downside to standing sentry, though the topic could be one more to be discussed with Thompson the marine. When you were standing or sitting - for Mr. Yates's orders were lax in that aspect, for as long as he prevented the horse from being agitated, spooked or from the crowd to gather - you couldn't right go places and if you found yourself with nothing to do, well tough luck. And it was most times that you were supposed to not get distracted and pay attention what was happening with what you were protecting, while one duty.

So the young former midshipman found himself doing just that. Sitting on the wooden box he dragged over to himself, he was watching his horse and then turning whenever he saw a sound. For a while it worked, till he felt that he was turning more often than if he were attacked by ants. So he turned around, with the horse at the corner of his eye and watched the sailors come and go.

Then two short figures arrived. Stenhouse and Milburn. De Guarde rolled his eyes and stood." Of with you."

Stenhouse didn't move, Milburn was too distraced to notice he were adressed, his eyes full on the horse.

"I said, back to work, Stenhouse!..and you boy!" He didn't care to know, nor did he remember the name of the other lad.

The first boy called, turned and looked to de Guarde. "....." He stared at him debating whether to turn and leave as told or to stay and watch the horse. Maybe come even closer for a touch.

"I'll have you both reported for slackin' if you don't be away with you, this instant!" He carried his former midshipman's tone, eyes narrowed on Johnny.

The boy hesitated. He shrugged and motioned for his friend to follow. As they left, it was a slow walk and then on the other side they broke into a run. A strut before the former middie.

It wasn't the easiest thing in the world to stay out of the way when you had a sprained ankle you couldn't put any weight on, splint or no splint.

Thompson wondered how he could get up to his messdeck, which was the best and easiest place for keeping out of the way. Besides, it was where his stuff was, and if he couldn't make himself useful in storing ship, at least he could work on his kit without having sailors falling over him every five minutes.

Bother it all. And now Mister M'Clure was going to be busy setting Donald's broken leg, and Thompson was going to be even more in the way.

De Guarde watched as the horse he tended to, settled into lazily observing his surroundings. Quite some time passed since he and Yates talked, and the sailors caught word that the lieutenant did not want them gathering a crowd around the horse so fewer halted on the way past the animal.

"Here?" He heard a voice from the left and saw as a lanky man followed one of the sailors, Macklin. The able seaman pointed his arm down to the horse and then turned leaving the groom to see to the stallion.

The man introduced himself as Halley, and would be the groom to Copenhagen. He was relieving the boy and so De Guarde nodded and left the other man behind.