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While they were in port a most curious event
happened. Some of the senior officers had returned to the ship from
having some recreation on land. In the boat they arrived in there was
found a small puppy. The mongrel was curled up in the thwarts of the
boat and looked rather a sad, bedraggled specimen. Its grey fur was
matted and covered with mud. The thing whimpered as it was lifted out
of the boat and placed on deck.
Ashley was on deck at the time and being rather
curious decided to take a peek at the animal. The pup looked up at him
with wide begging eyes, let out a little yap and trotted over. It
started licking his shoes much to Ashley’s apprehension, as he did not
want his shoes to be eaten by this creature.
One of the men who had returned turned to Ashley
and said, “Looks like the poor wretch has taken to you.”
“It more likely has taken a liking for the taste of
my shoes, sir,” replied Ashley looking down at the puppy.
“Are you goin’ ta keep ‘im, or shall I throw him
over the side, sir,” asked one of the hands.
At this suggestion Ashley suddenly felt a hint of
sympathy for the bundle of fur that sat at his feet.
“Don’t throw him over the side. I will keep him, at
least for the moment.”
He bent down and picked up the puppy. As Ashley
held it the pup yapped and then tried to lick his face. He held his
hand out and the creature licked his hand instead.
***
Ashley carried the puppy below decks into the
midshipman’s mess. Blue and Durst were already there and he observed
they were playing what appeared to be chess. They had painted a check
pattern onto a square of cloth and were using various pieces of
different shaped wood for the chess pieces.
When Ashley entered with the puppy in his arms, the
ball of fur started yapping. His messmates looked up and Blue
exclaimed, “What on earth is that?”
“It’s a dog or puppy. I'm not quite sure how old it
is.”
“Well whatever it is it looks in a sorry state.
Where did that wretched creature come from?”
“It came back with the liberty men this morning.”
“The poor bloke looks like he’s had a night on the
town.” Said Blue in jest, stroking the dog.
Just then Frost entered looking rather annoyed.
Everyone sunk back into the background not wanting to be on the
receiving end of Frost’s temper. The bundle of fur that Ashley was
holding bared his teeth and began to growl, a low menacing growl
directed at Frost.
Frost turned towards Ashley, “So what’s this McKay?
‘ave you found yourself a friend?”
“He’s my new pet. I found him in-,”
“I don’t care how you got ‘old of that miserable
cur. As long as it doesn’t come near me I wont ‘afe to get rid of it.
Understand?”
“Yes.”
Frost walked back out. Ashley suspected that Frost
was in fact afraid of dogs but he was to scared to confront the
midshipman with his theory.
“What are you going to call it?” asked Blue.
“I don’t know, I thought maybe something that
describes his personality.”
Ashley put the dog down on the deck as he was
getting tired of carrying the creature. The dog then resumed chewing
his shoes. Ashley tried to shake the dog off but the creature held on
fast.
“Looks like he thinks your shoes are a tasty snack
must be that cheesy smell.”
“My feet do not smell! Are you going to help me?”
“Nope,” said Blue laughing at the scene before him,
“but I have just thought of a name for the dog.”
“What?” said Ashley picking up the dog. He looked
down at his shoes they were covered in teeth marks and dog slobber.
Ashley cringed at the state of his shoes and his face contorted in a
look of disgust.
“You can call the mutt, Buckle. In respect to the
fact he has a taste for shoes.”
From then on the ships company knew the dog as
‘Buckle’. From the first time Ashley fed it a small piece of salt pork
the creature wouldn’t leave his side. Even when he tied ‘Buckle’ up
the creature still managed to slip his bonds and join his master on
watch and when he was sent up the mast the mutt would sit and wait
patiently for Ashley’s return. |
