OPORTO, 22nd May - Naval Landing Parties

The Midshipman hadn't been surprised that they were not true to their word. The water was to their left and yet they disappeared from view rather than to use it. He glanced at Joe, the sailor that had been there to bring the boy here. Perhaps there was talk to be had with the man. Something he had forgotten to say when the boys were still there.

De Guarde looked at Oxley. He looked past him nervously, and finally stopped to look at the marine again. "..That.." He began but then shook his head. "...No one...just some midshipman...ye.. know how they are." He shifted uneasily.

"C'mon, you need to wash that crap off yourself. Though, he'll know you for sure if you do. Don't s'pose me givin' you me jacket an' shirt to wear is goin' to help things much, not now. You'll just have to stick with us Marines or summat like that."

He shrugged. "He knew you. I mean, he knows the middy you. Who was he? I'd like to dump him in the privy with no way out, that's for sure." He took his hat off and ran his hand through his hair. "Look, I ain't goin' to pry, but he seemed like trouble, an', well, I never seen anyone look so scairt of an officer as you did just then. We gots to keep you away from him, somehow."

De Guarde managed a smile at the mention of the privy. "Thanks, Tom."

And made a face when he was said to have been scared. "..I wasn't.." He began in protest then hearing a sound he'd stiffened and looked frightfully in the direction, just to see one of the Terpsy sailors pass, supporting a fellow wounded by the arm. Once further away Mathew turned to face Oxley.

"He's senior midshipman of t' Confidence.." He murmured. "n'...as he said..., that's t' ship I came from." He bit his lip:"..Well, need t' change me clothes anyhow.. them stinkin' this way...could...." They were boys, not officers nor adults. But he also didn't want to face that man alone. Nor the sailors. "could find a differen't pair t' borrow?" His head was still hurting anyway, though surprisingly he felt better when scared stiff - perhaps because his mind was elsewhere.

"Could lend you me jacket... an' make sure that whenever he sees either of us, that's who's wearin' it. I never said you was... was a Tar, see. Make him think you'm a Marine like me. Think that might work? 'Specially if he never saw you too close again. Or, stick with the Marines like glue." He sighed, and put his hat back on. "It's all I can think of, mate. Sorry."

"You'll get in trouble if yer gimme ye Jacket. Wot' with you havin' t' be with Cartwright. He'll notice n' ..." But he was all up for the idea. Thinking as much as he tried - and that only made him feel terrible and his head hurting worse - he couldn't come up with anything better. Unless he took a French uniform, but he didn't fancy getting shot because of it. "Can't be French.."

"If.. if'um you think lieutenant Cartwright won't mind or..notice.. I...I would rather stay with you marines, like you said."

"I don't think he'll mind. Might have to 'splain things a bit, make sure he don't send you off elsewheres, but he's all right. I... You 'member that fight we had? I tole him about it, though I never said your name, an' he was all right. Didn't get me in any more trouble. Reckon we should tell him, like. Then he can do summat 'bout it. 'Cause... bein' bullied like that ain't no fun, ever." He grinned at de Guarde. "I ain't seen a Frog that's your size that you could have the shirt an' trousers off. An' I think that bastard's watchin' the well. Damn him."

He needn't look to know that the midshipman seemed to take his post by the well. It looked innocent enough now, having it, that he was washing his hands in it.

"Explain? About this? No." The youth said sharply. "It.. it wouldn't be right n' he wouldn't believe me. Might you.. or maybe not even you. He'sum a lieutenant, n' we's ..well Tar n' drummer. N' I dun' have a t' bes' reputation... if he'd ask.. anybody, t' corporal , ye know wot' he'd tell'im."

He relaxed a little and reached out to tap the marine over the head. "..If we caught ourselves Boney.. then I might've gotten t' 'petite' sort. "

He frowned. "...He's.. smart. Y' know..not enough t' pass t' examination." Well maybe he said that a tad bit too happy, feeling the man deserving of his kept post: ".. but..but othertime.. he's real smart. You should.. watch out. If he suspects yer lied t' him...no good fer you." The last not as happy.

Another small group of prisoners had been brought over. More of his Marines had appeared too, which was good. More hands to watch over the growing number of prisoners.

Ware came hurrying up. "Needed at the pump, sir. A middie - midshipman, sir. Givin' our lads some trouble by the look'a it."

"Corporal Johnson," Cartwright called, after looking toward the well and seeing that Ware was mostly correct. "Take over. Wounded over there, officers there."

He waited only long enough for Johnson to salute.

He wondered what took them so long. With each passing moment he was more certain the marine boy had lied. There were other things he was just as certain about. He shifted his weight impatiently by the pump. "Get those prisoners to the marines there." He snapped as several of his men approached with four more Frenchmen.

"Yes , sir."

"Be quick 'bout it."

"Yes, sir."

The two boys were still not there, and the midshipman was smirking. One was only afraid to appear, when they had something to hide.

(Power was out.. due to lightning, so if I disappear, that's the reason!)

OOC - Lightning storm, how fun!

IC -

"You sir," Cartwright said as he approached. "Two of my men came this way to use the pump. Have you seen them, by chance?"

OOC - as long as it doesn't leave you without electricity XP

IC -

"Two of your men, sir?" Mr. Hollow turned to face Cartwright, giving him a polite salute. "Not two men, sir. I've seen two boys though, yes. One a marine drummer, the other though resembled a Tar." As much as it could resemble it, with what layers of filth he was covered in. But getting a glimpse of this man he was beginning to wonder about the Terpsy's.

"I'm afraid that I have not seen the ones you are looking for." He smiled. "But should I..."

OOC - True. But that's the beauty of laptops. At least until their batteries give out.

IC -

"Those would be the two I'm looking for," he said, cutting the midshipman off. "So you have, in fact, seen them. Where did they go?"

OOC - true, thanks for reminding me! *plugs it back in XD.

IC -

"Yes, sir. They've just gone around the corner there." Helpful as ever. He did not point out of course, that there were no pumps there, even if this would implicate that the two had gone elsewhere than they have - if they have - so said to go.

OOC -

IC -

"Oxley!" Cartwright raised his voice, just enough that the drummer could hear him. He could deal better with this midshipman once both boys joined them.

He sighed, and steeled himself. "C'mon, Buckles, we'd really best get ourselves cleaned up afore he starts thinkin' any worse of us. If he can think any worse of us, that is. Pump's over there, after all, and we ain't over there. And..."

And then his name was called. "Bugger. Couldn't he have called a bit earlier?" He sighed again and adjusted his hat. "You comin'?" he asked, before turning to go and face Mister Cartwright.

Well, too bad he hadn't called the other boy's name as well, though it shouldn't take long before he would. The Midshipman hadn't lost his civility and looked rather as if he was glad that the lieutenant - seen now coming - would find the men he was looking for.

De Guarde looked at Oxley and frowned. "Coming." Better so, if Cartwright was to be of some help at least.

Ah. It was the same Tar that been sent up the privy hole.

"Come on, lads. Draw a bucket and get back to your posts with the others."

"Aye, aye, sir," Oxley said, throwing the Lieutenant a salute and a grateful look. Bucket... they could manage a bucket. And that meant de Guarde could wash his face off without getting stared at by the horrible middy, whoever he was.

Mathew opened his mouth to say yes, but quickly turned quiet and confirmed the order with a short nod, he turned to fetch the buckets.

"Sir... but this lad is injured!" Mr. Hollow exclaimed with such surprise that it could almost have been genuine. "Should he not be accompanied to the boats. I'll be glad to help, certainly. " Of course he would. He looked at the young marine. He better keep his mouth shut.

What? That couldn't be de Guarde's blood, not the way he'd been moving, it couldn't. He looked at Mister Cartwright, trying to get the Marine officer to understand, without saying so, that this Lieutenant wasn't to be trusted and certainly shouldn't be left alone anywhere near de Guarde, especially as de Guarde was no longer a midshipman.

Cartwright turned back, apparently mistaken in his belief that there would be nothing more to say.

"He does not appear to be greatly impaired by his injury," he replied, his tone mild, but only just. "I would not think to give you such a menial task as escorting a wounded man back to the boats, as you are so plainly needed here at the well."

Ware had re-appeared, carrying a basin. The gleam of amusement in his eyes suggested his arrival was no mere coincidence. "There's a sawbones gone up to see 'bout them French wounded, sir," the Marine said. "Wants some water for 'em. That's if there's no waitin' for the pump, sir."

Clever lad, Ware. He and Cartwright looked at the midshipman, leaving this decision up to him.

"No.. certainly no waiting." Mr. Hollow was all sugar and sweets.

"Go ahead. " He added ,stood to the side, but did not rise to the bait of the tasks and his own 'duty' by the well. He looked at Cartwright , obtaining the air of politeness and manners even if it were a marine who stank of filth and bile and he had sensed that meant to taunt him in a way.

De Guarde felt relieved, though not calmed. There could still be so much that could go wrong.

He glanced at Mister Cartwright, hoping that things were all right and he could just get a bucket filled so de Guarde could wash himself off without having half the Navy staring at him while he did it.

Ware grinned and moved forward at once to fill up his basin. It wouldn't have mattered at all to him if the midshipman had agreed or not. Cartwright studied the midshipman intently, not trusting the boy's apparently perfect manners. It didn't feel quite natural to him.

"Fill your bucket, Oxley," he said once Ware was finished. "We'll have to see about finding a spare coat for Shepherd here once we're done."

Shepherd? The midshipman looked past the boy then at the marine drummer whom he knew as Oxley, but saw only De Guarde as the lad who had no coat. Ware did.

He couldn't be sure. There was just too much filth on the boy and he'd only spoken out once. Could have mistaken him. He cursed inwardly, but kept a polite and calm face on the outside.

De Guarde looked at Cartwright. The man didn't just make a mistake intentionally? He remained silent, only moving closer to the drummer, feeling as if he was much safer with the Terpsies - which was probably true.