Coming Aboard

Oxley sighed. "Was only wantin' to know what all the fuss was about," he said. "Weren't doin' no harm."

American, huh. He filed that bit of knowledge away to share later.

"All right, young feller, I'll tell you a secret," Perry said, leaning in for a confidential whisper.

"What's that, then?" Oxley asked, curiosity getting the better of him.

"I'm Napoleon Bonaparte, and I'm here to smoke a pipe in your powder room." He grinned. "But don't tell a soul."

Oxley looked disgusted with himself for falling for it. "Ha ha. An' I'm the King of England."

Perry stared in amazement. "Then as soon as I'm outta these clinkers, I challenge you to a duel. But until then, bugger off."

"You're off your head, mate. Should be locked in Bedlam."

"If he can hand, reef an' steer, it don't matter if he's mad as Old King Cole, kiddo," Thompson said, and received a glare.

"Should be anywhere but here, lad. Should be on shore yonder with me wife. And as soon as your captain hears that I'm American born and bred, that's where I'll be again."

"Well, bully for you, if he lets you go. Which I don't reckon he will do. Lost a good few fellers when we took the Frenchy ship a few weeks back." He shrugged.

Perry looked sober for a moment. "Sorry to hear that," he said with sincerity.

There was some interesting bickering going on down below. The horse being lowered over the side and the other two following closely after, his work was mostly done.

To be honest, he'd wanted to see that new sailor everybody was talking about as well. There were very few nice words said about him, especially as his temper and his behavour was concerned. So slowly he'd come around the corner hearing the familiar and less familiar voices.

Oxley turned as he heard someone coming. "Oh, hello, Buckles," he said. "We've got someone here thinks he's old Boney himself."

"Oh, is he now?" The boy advanced into view and looked at the sailor with a critical eye. He looked unimpressed and only turned to greet Oxley with a small grin.

"So, with all t' choices they'um have on land the cat drags this in?" He shook his head. "Pitiful that is!"

"Aye, it is," Perry agreed. "They shoulda picked another big strong seaman like yourself."

"I'll tell you to hold your tongue if you've got nothin' smart to say! Witty ain't gettin' you into a proper safe place." he snapped at the Tar. "Unless yer like ter be black n' blue." He wasn't amused by the new sailor's tone, neither his appearance , origin or at the very least, his words.

"Oh ho! Yes, your majesty!" Perry laughed. "Didn't recognize you under them royal robes and all!"

Oxley grinned. "Smart? Him? He wouldn't know what smart looked like if someone gave him a lick o' paint!"

Thompson scowled and took a step forwards. "Out. Now. Or I'll box your ears so hard you'll hear the angels singin'."

Oxley glanced at de Guarde. "I reckon he means it, Buckles."

Perry grinned.

"He can only do it, if he catches us. Won't be catchin' neither though. Not with having ter be with him there." De Guarde grinned at Oxley, assured that they were safe, and glaring rather at the Tar." Fer your information'.. I'um of noble birth, well enough. .. not some good fer nothin' like yeself!"

He did take a small step back from where the two boys had come, just in case they needed to run.

"Oh I know, your majesty. I can tell, I can tell!"

"Oxley... out. 'Fore you find yourself in more trouble than you c'n shake a stick at. You shoudn't run off at the mouth so much when you meet folks, it don't gen'rally make 'em want to like you."

Oxley shrugged and Thompson raised an eyebrow. "If you ain't outta sharpish, you're head's goin' to ring like a church-bell on a weddin' day, time I'm done with you."

Perry snickered in triumph.

Thompson swung around and pointed a finger at the man sitting on the floor. "You'm goin' to have to live with us. Don't go windin' anyone up, all right? Folks can make it pretty tough for you if you ain't careful."

"All right, all right!" he answered, still chuckling. "I ain't so worried about a couple of boys. Friends of yours, are they?"

"Yeah," Thompson said. "Oxley's one of our drummers, as he've said. An' the other's de Guarde, an able seaman of ours. They'm all right, just a bit inclined to poke their noses in at times."