Chapter 2

Ashley woke to the sound of someone bellowing at him to wake up. Informed that the all hands had been turned up he struggled to pull himself out of sleep and into total consciousness, but in the haste to sit up he banged his head on the beams. He let out a curse. Ashley never did like mornings, especially early mornings. Now he would be in a bad mood all day and the men would have to suffer his bad temper. Sliding out of bed he quickly pulled on his jacket, straightened his necktie, placed his hat on his head and rushed up on deck. When the young lieutenant arrived on deck most of the men were there already and he hastily took up his position wondering why they had been called. He could see the captain was standing on the quarterdeck with Saxon the First Lieutenant by his side. Once everyone had been accounted for Mr Saxon called for silence and it was the captain’s turn to speak.

“I called you all here for a reason. I want every man aboard to know where he stands with me I will not tolerate….”

Ashley switched off at that point and let his thoughts drift. The words of the speech becoming merely background ambience. He lost track of time slightly and when the speech ended it took a friendly nudge from Scarlett to snap the sleepy young lieutenant out of his daydream.

After they were dismissed Ashley went to disappear off to his duties, but Lieutenant Saxon called him over. Apparently the captain wished to speak with him. Instantly Ashley thought he had done something wrong. He racked his brains for any point during the speech when he could have done something to offend the captain. Where he could have show his boredom. Did the captain perhaps see his stifled yawns? Ashley made his way timidly towards the captain. He glanced at Saxon and the captain’s face, searching for any sign of why he had been called over.

“Thank you Mr Saxon that will be all,” said Captain Scavage to his first lieutenant. Then turned to Ashley. “Mr McKay I would like to ask you to come for dinner with me tomorrow, but it’s your choice of course.”

A captain’s request was as good as an order thought Ashley and replied, “Aye, sir. It would be my pleasure, sir.”

 “You look as if I had just said that you were to be the main course at the aforementioned supper,” said the captain with a grin.

“Err? Sorry, Sir. I didn’t mean to offend you, sir,” replied Ashley, nervously.

“Why how could a grandson of an Admiral offend me,” exclaimed the captain as he let out a chuckle, “You are dismissed Mr McKay.”

“Aye, aye, sir,” replied the lieutenant. Then touching his hat in a salute, he quickly made his way to the main deck, his walk almost breaking into a run.

***

It was only on reflection later on that day, as the time for dinner came nearer that Ashley realised what Captain Scavage was really up to. The captain thought that if he was kind to him that he would tell his grandfather and so aid his standing with the admiralty. ‘What a sneaky-’. His train of thought was interrupted when two bells was called. Time to enter the lions den he thought to him self melodramatically.

***

Before he entered the cabin Ashley checked his pocket watch. It was a silver engraved, pocket watch his Grandfather had given it to him on his twelfth birthday, and it had always kept perfect time. Ashley treasured everything his grandfather gave him, for he rarely received such expensive gifts. The young lieutenant knocked on the door. He listened for the captain’s voice.

“Come in,” came the reply, and the sentry let him through.

The cabin wasn’t particularly large or small, but it was well decorated - so Captain Scavage had some money thought Ashley- the silverware was laid out ready. He was invited to sit down everyone went through all the formalities. Mr Saxon, Mr Miller and Mr Catt were also present. Midshipman Catt was looking particularly ill at ease with this company. There was a kind of awkward silence that pervaded the atmosphere. Ashley felt he could hear his heart beating and was sure it was loud enough for everyone else to hear, but no one else seemed to notice. Sitting in silence throwing a nervous glance around him Ashley wished that someone would dare to say something, anything to break the tension. Just as he had nearly worked up enough courage to speak Captain Scavage to everyone’s relief broke the awful silence.

“I hope you will enjoy the meal that my steward has prepared. I had some fine wine and the best side of pork money could buy, ordered especially. My steward is marvellous he loves experimenting. Don’t know weather that a good or bad thing,” he let out a guffaw, “Simply marvellous.”

The captain looked round the table hoping that someone would venture to say something. Ashley, clearing his throat plucked up the courage to speak.

“I’m sure that anything you choose will taste superb…sir,” he commented.

The signs of relief on the others faces clearly showed through now they felt more comfortable in putting in their two pennies worth.

“Ah, thank you Mr McKay for such a kind comment,” replied Captain Scavage, then shot the other officers a look that said ‘Go on say something its alright for you to join in.’

Mr Saxon piped up first “Where did you find such an ingenious Steward?”

And so the conversation continued all parties settling into the swing of things. By the time the meal was finally brought in Ashley’s stomach was growling with hunger. The food smelt heavenly and it tasted even better. He was so engrossed in eating Ashley didn’t really notice how everyone was staring at him until he finished his plate of food and looked up. Then the young lieutenant realised in his rush to fill his stomach he had been eating in the most un-gentlemanly manner. Stuffing one mouthful in after another. He had food all round his mouth. Ashley blushed bright red, quickly wiped his mouth and then proceeded to apologise profusely about his behaviour.

Captain Scavage interrupted his apologies, “Don’t worry I glad you enjoyed the meal. I will give your compliments to the chef.”

Ashley surreptitiously looked at his watch, nearly five bells. He was meant to be on duty in a couple of minutes. Everyone else was looking a bit uneasy too. Fortunately the captain was perceptive and dismissed them all promptly.

“Wakey, wakey, shake a leg. Or does the little baby want to sleep through the whole voyage,” shouted Lieutenant Miller into Ashley’s ear to rouse the dosing lieutenant out of his slumber. Seeing that this had no effect on the recipient, Miller then proceeded to pour a tankard of cold seawater over the sleepy junior lieutenant, causing Ashley to wake with a spluttering start. He was angry that Miller seemed to get some kind of joy out of making other people suffer, particularly him and that the loathsome fellow got away with it.

Ashley let out a mumbled “Yes, sir. I'm awake now, sir.”

“The cap’n’s given orders were getting out of here. Yer’ ‘ad better get to yer’ station,” laughed Miller as he walked away from Ashley’s berth.

Minutes later Ashley was at his station ready for orders. He felt like a complete mess. His uniform had a haphazard appearance as he had dressed in rather a hurry, and his mousy brown hair had a slightly untamed, just woken up look about it as he stood on deck. He still felt damp after the drenching Miller had given him. If someone had the courtesy to wake him earlier he might have had time to get ready, and make himself presentable.

Ashley did his part when orders were given as they made their way out of port to sea. There was a fair breeze blowing in their favour and the sails were drawing nicely.

He had settled into his usual day dreamy state that overtook him when he was on duty, so he didn’t notice Lieutenant Scarlett coming up from behind. So when the smiling red headed Lieutenant spoke it made Ashley jump.

“Are you all right Mr McKay? You looked like you were in a trance?”

“I was thinking, Mr Scarlett. I wouldn’t worry about it too much, sir,” replied McKay knowing that Scarlett would not be offended by the familiarity of his tone, as they were old friends.

“You shouldn’t do that. I heard its dangerous you might actually have a good idea,” Scarlett joked, “The dressed in two minutes look suites you.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“I hear Miller gave you a christening today.”

“You know about that, sir?”

“Yes of course. Just because he's the second lieutenant Miller think it’s amusing to initiate all the new officers. Says it keeps them in their place and it earned him five guineas.”

“Who from?”

“Me, I dared him to do it. He has debts I was helping him out without hurting his pride.”

Scarlett was grinning from ear to ear as he recounted how they had teased Mr Catt on his first day.

“You see we asked him to go to the purser and ask for a long weight and a bucket of steam,” Scarlett let out a large guffaw, “You should have seen his face when-,”

Ashley noticed the captain making his way towards them and interrupted Scarlett’s ramblings.

“Heads up captain’s coming,” warned Ashley.

Scarlett turned, saw the captain approaching and made fairly rapidly back to his station.

“Ah, the winds dying down a touch Mr McKay. We may be able to shake out some of those reefs. What say you,” asked the captain.

“A a-aye, sir,” replied the young lieutenant stumbling over his words in his nervousness.

“What’s with you man? It seems every time we meet you have a nervous breakdown. Get hold of your damn emotions. There is no room for clueless cowards onboard my ship,” barked Captain Scavage.

 “Aye, sir,” said Ashley, confidently taking all his strength concentration not to stumble over his words.

“That’s better,” replied the captain, giving the order for the reefs to be shaken out and then walking away leaving Ashley to his thoughts.

***

After his watch Ashley wandered into the wardroom below decks, on his way he stopped by his cabin and picked up his Spanish guitar. It was a gift that he received from a sailor when he was the prize master of a sloop during his time as a midshipman. He entered the wardroom, took a seat and began to strum a few chords.

Lieutenant Scarlett shouted over the table “Come on McKay play us a tune! I know, you play it and I’ll sing along!”

“I wouldn’t want to make everyone else suffer,” replied Ashley.

“You’re not that bad!” said Scarlett.

“I didn’t mean me. I meant you and you’re wailing that you call singing!”

“Me? Sing badly. You must be mistaken!”

Mr Catt looked uncomfortable sitting over the opposite side of the table his tall gangly body unceremoniously crushed into the small area he occupied. They had taken pity on the midshipman and asked him to join them. Catt ventured to join in with the conversation “Sir why don’t I sing along? I used to be in the local choir?”

“You in a choir, you gotta be joking!” said Scarlett.

“My father was a priest, that’s why I was in the choir. I was head choirboy!” replied Catt proudly.

“You two can do a duet. I will play the tune you two sing!” said McKay

“What’s the tune?” asked Catt.

“I’ll play a tune and you make up the words.”

“Never heard of that one!” quipped Scarlett.

“Ha ha very funny!” Replied McKay  “Shouldn’t we get on with it?”

As McKay strummed a vaguely familiar tune Scarlett and Catt proceeded to sing. Making up words as they went along.

“There was a young maiden from Nantucket…”

McKay stopped strumming and addressed Scarlett “I don’t think we want that kind of song Mr Scarlett?”

“What do you think it’s not for choirboy here?”

“What do you mean?” asked Catt innocently.

“Its just not appropriate for the present company.” Replied McKay diplomatically.

“Its your loss.”

“Lets start again,” said McKay starting the tune again. This time Scarlett, and Catt sung a much more ‘appropriate’ tune.

The ship was sailing smoothly, and the wind blowing in their favour. It was growing dark as McKay stood on watch. There was the usual melody of the rigging, the sound of the sea breaking against the ship's sides and the normal sounds of a ship at sea. In the twilight he noticed Lieutenant Scarlett making his way towards him, avoiding the obstacles that were disguised in the wavering light.

“We are going to help the blockade at Brest,” whispered Scarlett who looked extremely pleased at the thought, although Scarlett by his nature seemed always to be pleased about something.

“And when did you find this piece of information out?” asked McKay keeping his voice down. For it was instinct that as soon as it was dark he tended to whisper, though it was not likely he was going to disturb anyone.

“The captains steward told me. He overheard the cap’n and Saxon discussing it.”  Replied Scarlett in an equally hushed tone.

Just then they heard shouting and jeering coming from below. After a few minutes Midshipman Catt came running up on deck running towards them at full pelt in his usual uncoordinated way. He skidded to a halt just a few feet away nearly falling over in the process. He stood to attention, “Lieutenant McKay, sir. There’s a fight down below, sir two of the men, sir! Should I tell the captain, sir?”

“No Mr Catt. Calm down. I can sort this one out myself there’s no need to wake the captain,” replied McKay as he rushed off with Scarlett following.

McKay and Scarlett quickly rushed bellow decks; they followed the noise to its source of the disturbance. Two of the men were fighting each returning blow for blow, and everyone around them were cheering the combatants on.

When he and Scarlett saw what was going on McKay bellowed at the top of his voice, “Belay that fighting!” he may be scared of superiors, but when it came to subordinates he found the courage inside of him to speak out load and clear. Scarlett grabbed one of the men and McKay grabbed the other pulling them apart.

“What is the meaning of this?” he shouted angrily. One had a cut lip the other a nosebleed where his nose had been broken. Both of the men glared at each other furiously.

“Who started this?” asked McKay he scanned the room looking for any sign that someone was going to answer, but there was nothing it was silent in great contrast to just a few minutes ago.

“I said who started this?” McKay looked around he picked out the only man who at the moment he could remember the name of.

“Mr Lake maybe you would be so kind as to tell me how this- skirmish came about?” McKay raised one eyebrow in a quizzical expression.

Lake looked first at the two combatants then at the floor then he mumbled, “It was Amos, sir.”

“Excuse me I didn’t hear that. Speak up man.”

“It was Amos, sir,” said lake louder this time pointing to the shorter of the two competitors. “He questioned the matter of Tanner’s parentage.” Lake’s eyes then focused on the deck, ashamed.

“Did he indeed?” replied McKay then he turned to the two men, “I will not have fighting on my watch. It is a waste of time and energy that could be better spent fighting the enemy. I am in the mind to have you both flogged. Do you have anything to say for yourselves?”

They both stood there looking first at their comrades then at McKay then at the deck. A voice from the back of the room piped up “Don’t be so ‘ard on ‘em, sir. Them be sailing three sheets to the wind, sir.”

McKay looked around for the source of the voice “Who said that?”

A fairly short man made his way to the front and said “It twas me, sir.”

The sailor was met with hostile glares from the others.

“What is your name? And pray explain your meaning,” asked McKay.

“Seaman Steven Seaman, sir,”

McKay heard someone mumble, “Try saying that when your drunk,” from some where in the crowd.

“Sir what I means is that they have ad’ a bit too much of the grog and so weren’t really meaning no harm,” he said looking apologetically at McKay.

“So should I add a charge of drunkenness to that which I have already mentioned?” said McKay menacingly.

There was a rumble from the crowd of ‘No, sir!’

“Silence!” shouted McKay then paused just the right length of time to give the best effect.

“I will let it go this time but my previous threat still stands. If I catch you two or anyone else fighting again, you will soon regret it,” said McKay with a flourish as he walked out and up onto the maindeck, Scarlett following him up.

“Why did you let them of?” asked Scarlett when they reached the quarterdeck “There going to think you’re a pushover.”

McKay turned to him and said “There is method in my madness, if I let them off this once they will see me as reasonable. I won’t let it go the next time.”