On the Gundeck

"Yes. I'm talkin' bout that. N' fer one, I want ter actually try make reason o' it.. 'stead of flyin' of me handle at t' first face that looks somewhat familiar." He looked down at the cannon. While they waited to close on the ship, define whether it was an enemy's, a transport's or a friend's, they still had time for this hushed conversation.

"So..firs'... is t' question' of... why. ..I mean. Is not as if sailors are as dumb as t' risk bein' hanged.. jus' fer a little dislike, no?"

"Don't think so. Though I reckon some of 'em'd do summat afore thinkin' about it prop'ly, but everyone knows what that sort of thing means. You knows the Captain reads the Articles of War every month. Has to, don't he?"

"Yes. That I know. So t' sailors would know proper well what would follow, if they'um gone and did something as foolish like that. Would've been the same if only they punched an officer, let alone did more as this."

So why did they? Could it have been past experience, were they under the influence of something, which had their darker natures come to life? Was it because of Chase's flogging? He didn't know the men well enough and none had come from the Confidence.

"..so if ye were thinkin'.. what woulda made you do summat like that?. .and mind, I'um certain yer didn't.. I dun' remember much but I'd have remembered summat red fer sure." He wasn't sure on that, but the marines have never been his suspects, and really, there was no reason for it. None that he could see.

"Just, theoretically. ..." which was hard to think of. He'd never have wanted a middie or an officer dumped in the water, sure he loathed his previous captain but... that was after knowing him fer a long time. And even then..

"Me? Do summat like that?" he said, and sighed. It wasn't something he'd ever have dreamed of doing, but he tried to imagine himself in a situation where he would dream of doing that. "I s'pose... if I'd bin on a real bad ship afore," he said slowly, thinking as he spoke. "If it'd been real bad, all the time, an' then I was posted somewheres like this, with a good captain and fair officers. An' then someone come aboard who... who reminded me of that other ship, and I thought he'd make this nice one like that, then, maybe..." He shrugged. "Dunno. Ain't never thought about it, that's for sure."

"..that'd make sense." It actually did. It would be removing the danger. Almost like slicing off a limb before the wound spoiled and the body turned foul and poisoned altogether. It would have still taken a good deal of madness and courage of the man to do it. Well madness in his opinion, since courage was something of a positive trait.

"But, do we have any of t' men like that? N'... even them. They wouldn't right do it. They might have t' hate and t' want.. but not the pluck, right?" He looked at Oxley then at the gun again. "..Hm, t' Tars did have some skylarkin' done at t' time, right?"

"I dunno. Don't gen'rally ask folks about their other ships. I reckon... if I'd bin on a ship like that and come here, I wouldn't want to talk about it. In case of spoiling where I was now." He looked at the other boy with a bit of a frown. "I thought... I thought it was late at night, after the skylarkin' was done," he said. "I know for sure I didn't see nothin' meself, though. Whenever it was."

"Aye... don't think anyone did, or.. .they'd have stepped up n' talked 'bout it, wouldn't they?" Unless they were protecting their friend or just believing it were a just action. In either case he could not go and ask, for accusing an innocent of knowing would be wrong, and a guilty party would be far too smart than to admit to it.

"It was late 't night aye.. I.. I'um remember sleepin' and, well ye remember when ye've been goin' fer me and that was later of what I've been told." He rubbed the side of his head and sighed.

"..wot' I meant is... if there's such a man or a pair of them, that'd be willing to risk their lives for summat like that... they might've needed summat for pluck. There's summat drinkin' during the skylarking too, isn't it?" And that would proove just what? All sailors, or most of them were having their fun, so it certainly hadn't narrowed the list any further, it did shed a bit more light on what could've caused it though.

".No man, as yer said, that would be vicious by nature, aye? That is, to t' extent." And he knew the answer to that too. It was Terpsy, not a ship infested with deranged souls.

Well, that did make sense, yes. The men were supposed to drink their tots when the rum was issued, rather than hoard the stuff to drink later, but he supposed that some of the men who'd been there had been drinking hoarded rum.

"S'pose you're right there," he said. "And no, I don't think anyone'd do that 'nless they was drunk. Well, not proper drunk, but had summat strong inside of 'em. But several folks had drinks with 'em at that there skylarkin'. Would be only nacherel, that."

"Aye.. I know. It don't help any. Even if we 'tleast know that.. .well what we know." For he wasn't sure that anything they had so far really gave them a pointer to follow.

"t' question is... would they or will they attempt it again." If he couldn't know who, he could try to know at least if the danger had passed, and still come back to the earlier question when any new ideas fell to his mind.

"n' ..well 'tleast it isn't personal, eh?..Those kinds would sure n' certain have it repeated sum'time." He tried to remember that night, yet still a portion of it was missing, and some of it blurred.

"I don't reckon they'll try it again, no. You ain't the same boy as the middy who come aboard throwin' his weight around 'cause that was all he knew. You've started thinkin' different, and you talk to folks now. If that was the reason someone tried that, they got no reason to worry now. Have they?"

He gave a half-shrug. "Well, that's what I think. Whether I'm right, I dunno."

"Hope ye are." Though if he were rerated, would they think their battle lost. No, this was a good ship, so said Thompson and now even Oxley. What happened was an error of judgement and though he'd have dearly wished to know who did it, he doubted he would. Perhaps the men would go unpunished till death do them appart.

" If ye come up with summat, will you tell me? n' could we have sometime ponderin' about it some more? Even if we don't find who .. who'd done it." He fidgeted a little where he stood. They must've figured the type of ship by now, what was taking them so long?

"Do you want them to hang, then? Really truly? 'Cause they maybe weren't thinking right when they tried it with you, and, well, you was brought back safe and everythin'. An' if you keep all on doin' this, there'll be a court-martial and everythin'. And they'll be hanged. Prob'ly right here on Terpsy, too." He shivered a little at the thought of it.

"I... They near killed me." He frowned. Did he have to forget it, for the better of the ship, the better of the men who hadn't thought twice - obviously, for if they had, they wouldn't have done it - before trying to have him drowned?

He sighed, mulling over what Oxley had said. A hanging wouldn't have been pleasant, nor good for the morale but.... but..

"I ..I want them.. not to ever dare think of doin' something like that again. Tom." He looked at the boy and craned his neck a little, for Oxley was taller than him.

".. To anyone.. for anything."

"I... well, if they swing, they won't, will they?" He frowned a little, looking down at the other boy. "I dunno. I mean if you do find out who it was, what're you plannin' on doing about them?"

"..I.. I don't know." He should report it then, shouldn't he? "I ..haven't thought that far." He admitted and lowered his gaze. "Well, not lately." Of course it was obvious that when it first happened, he'd have been delighting, no he'd have had his own feast thrown, at the time of the hanging if only he was able.

"But..if others think is alright, wouldn't .. wouldn't it then be mutiny 'round t' next corner?"

"No, don't think so. Reckon they'm so scairt of gettin' found out they won't never try anythin' like it again. Mutiny... there has to be an awful lot wrong afore folks think of mutinying, y'know." He shrugged. "An awful lot wrong, for an awful long time - men won't if there's the slightest bit of hope things'll work out all right otherwise. 'Cause it's an awful thing to do. And... could we talk about summat else? Please?"

He paused, for only now he realised that they've strayed into the unpleasant type of conversation and nodded quickly, to confirm, he too would rather have changed the subject into something lighter. Especially when an engagement may well leave them much to worry about quite soon.

"Wot' ye want ter talk 'bout then?" He asked.

"Anythin', 'cept that." He gave a quick gesture that indicated he really didn't mind what. "Like, well, if there's anythin' you want to ask about me. Or, I dunno what else to suggest."

" Um.. " His face brightened a little, there be a slight bit of mischief seen on it. "..how fast can either of ye drummer boys run?"

"How fast...?" He lookd at Tom Shepherd, wondering if de Guarde had just gone mad. "How fast... Faster'n you, I daresay, mate," he said, looking back at de Guarde.

" N' climb?" He added. He couldn't do anything now , could he? They were standing on duty to be soon supplying their crews with gunpowder. They were under the careful scrunity of their lieutenants. So whatever it was, it w as certainly for later.

"You seen me do that - you know I'm better'n you there!"

Was he... was he suggesting some form of a race? This was beginning to sound interesting....

"Are ye now? I was doin' me best ter go slow fer you. Jus' so you'd not feel all left behin' up there!" He smiled, with an air of mischief, though his face looked as innocent as that of the angels.

Tom Shepherd had stopped listening to the conversation between the other two, having taken an interest in the instructions being given by his gun captain. He tuned back in, however, when he heard mention of drummer boys and running.

"D'ya mean, 'ow fast?" He asked, lifting an eyebrow. "Fastest lad aboard, I am!"

Assuming, of course, he wasn't pitted against his brother, but that didn't count.

Mathew blinked at Tom Shepherd and observed him for a moment as if to decide whether that was pride speaking, or actual prowess.

"Should make it more a challenge then.. shouldn't we. " He grinned at the lad. "..but ye also. How fas' can yer climb?" And there should me something else, for both boys looked quite easy to run as much as they've promised.