The King`s Coat

‘You bastard-’

‘That's educated bastard, to you.’

’For twopence I'd call you out.' Bascombe leaped to his feet with fists clenched. 'You want me to pay you,' Lewrie said calmly, looking up at him with a bland expression. 'Funny way to make a living. I didn't know you were that needy.’

’Goddamn you-’

‘And a parson's son, at that!' Lewrie was enjoying himself hugely. This is the best lunch we've had in days. ' 'Ere, now,' Finnegan said, waving a fork at them. 'There's a midshipman awready wot's been rooned this voyage. Now shut yer traps.'.

Bascombe plumped back down on his chest, his hands still fisted in his lap. He stared at his plate for a long moment. 'Who ruined Rolston?' he asked softly. 'Lewrie was the one that ran on about him, and swearing so innocent he meant nothing by it.' I didn't know he was that sharp, Lewrie thought; have to watch young Harvey in future. 'Rolston ruined himself, and we all know it,' Keith said, as if he was the only one to lay down the law. 'And I think his case is example enough for all of us. We are here to learn to get along with each other. Alan, I think you owe Harvey an apology. And you owe one to Alan as well.’

Mine arse on a band-box, Lewrie thought, but saw that the others were waiting on him to start. 'Well, perhaps Lieutenant Harm made me raw, and being teased about it didn't do my temper any good. Sorry I took it out on you, Bascombe. What with this morning, I lashed out without thinking.’

’For my part, I'm sorry for what I said as well,' Bascombe said after taking a long moment to decide if Lewrie had actually apologized to him. ’Now shake hands and let's finish eating,' Ashburn said. They shook hands perfunctorily, Lewrie glaring daggers, and Bascombe thinking that he would find a way to put Lewrie in the deepest, hottest hell. ’Better.' Ashburn smiled and picked up his knife and fork. 'Did I hear right? Did Mister Harm really intend to put Snow up on a charge and see him flogged?’

‘Mister Harm got hellish angry when two men slipped, and when Snow told him they couldn't help it because of the water on the deck from the slow-match tubs, Harm thought it was back-talk and went barking mad.’

’Mister Harm, mind ye,' Turner said. ’Aye, sir,' Lewrie corrected, waiting for Turner to tell him that commission lieutenants don't go barking mad, either, but evidently they sometimes do, for Turner went back to his meal. 'Snow's a good quartergunner, been in forever, I'm told.’

’Won't stand,' Ashburn said, smearing mustard on his meat and hoping the flavor was improved. 'Captain Bales will take it into account Come to think of it, I cannot remember Snow ever being charged.’

’Ten years in the Fleet and never a lash? My last captain would have had him dancing,' Shirke said. 'Taut hand, was he?' Chapman asked, now that he remembered what came after chewing. 'Best days were Thursday Forenoon,' Shirke told them. 'Looked like the Egyptians building the pyramids… whack, whack, whack. ’

‘I fear the cat is a poor way to keep order,' Brail said 'I should think grog or tobacco stoppage would be more effective. ’

‘Nonsense,' Finnegan said, digging for gristle with a horny claw. 'Wot's better, d'ye think, hangin' fer stealin' half a crown, er takin' a dozen lashes fer drunk on duty?’

‘Well.. ‘. ’I'd take the floggin'. It's done, it's over, yer back hurts like hell, but yer still breathin'. Ashore, they hang fer every thin '. ’

‘Flogging is a brutal way to discipline,' Brail maintained. 'Bein' on a King's Ship ain't brutal enough awready?’

‘Exactly my point,' Brail said. 'The hands would do anything for tobacco or grog. Deprive them of it for a few days and they'll learn their lessons.’

’Aw, Able Seaman Breezy lays Ordinary Seaman Joke open from 'is gullet ta 'is weddin' tackle, an' you'd stop somebody's grog?' Turner gaped at this dangerous notion. 'Somebody says 'no' ta me when I tells 'im ta do somthin', an' you'd take his baccy from 'im?’

‘Nothing like the cat ta make 'em walk small about ya,' Finnegan said firmly. ’I had a captain who had a hand who could not stop pissing on the deck. Learned it in his alley, I've no doubt,' Ashburn told them. 'Grog, tobacco, nothing helped. Had him flogged, a dozen to start. Nothing worked. Finally tied him up in baby swaddles, itchy old canvas. Had to see the bosun whenever he had to pump his bilges and be unlocked. That cured him.’

’Shamed 'im afore 'is mates, too,' Finnegan said. 'Felt more like a man iffen 'e' d got two-dozen an' they learned him the right way.’

’Flogging is not always the best answer,' Ashburn said with a saintly expression. 'Some intelligence must playa part.’

In the middle of their discussion, they heard the call of the bosun's pipes. Then came the drumming of the Marine to call them to Quarters, bringing a groan. 'Damme, not another drill,' Lewrie said. 'I know we were terrible this morning, but do we have to go through it all afternoon?' He raced up to the lower gun deck, where the crew had been having their meal. It was a mass of confusion as hands slung food into their buckets and bread barges, stowing everything away out of sight and slamming their chests shut. Tables had to be hoisted up to the deckheads out of the way so they could fetch down the rammers, crows and handspikes to serve the guns, grumbling at their lost meal.

Ariadne turned slightly north of their westerly course as the gun captains came up from the hanging magazines with their tools of the trade. By then, chests and stools and eating utensils had been stacked on the centerline out of the way of the guns, and the tompions were being removed. Ship's boys arrived with the first powder cartridges borne in flashproof leather or wood cases. ’Another drill, sir?' Lewrie asked Lieutenant Harm. 'No, you fool. We've sighted a strange sail.’

’Oh, I see, sir…' This could be a real fight, a chance to do something grand… maybe even make some prize money. No, what am I saying? This is Ariadne. We'll lose her or she'll turn out to be one of our packets…

Little Beckett came scuttling down from the upper deck and went to Lieutenant Roth. 'The captain's respects, Mister Roth, and would you be so good as to attend to the lowering of a cutter for an armed party to go aboard the chase once we have fetched her,' he singsonged. ’My compliments to the captain, and I shall be on deck directly. Wish me luck, Horace,' he said to Harm. 'If she's a prize, I may be the one to take her into port. What an opportunity!' Roth fled the deck as though devils were chasing him. Horace Harm? Lewrie thought, stifling a grin with difficulty. No wonder he's such a surly Irish beau-nasty. ’Arrah now, fuck you, Jemmy Roth,' Harm muttered under his breath. His associate could parley the strange ship into an independent command, first crack at fresh cabin stores, and a good chance at a promotion into another ship, while Harm languished aboard Ariadne, moving up to fourth officer, but still stuck in her until old age. ’Lewrie,' Harm said, spinning on him and following the old adage that when in doubt, shout at someone. 'Check to see that sand is spread for traction. And look to the firebuckets. Can you stretch your little mind to handle all of that, Lewrie?’

‘Aye aye, sir,' Lewrie replied sweetly, which he knew galled the officer. Horace! By the time Lewrie had finished his inspection, had ordered more sand, told some crews to clear away their raftle and gone back to report, the guns had been loaded with quarter-weight powder cartridges, eight pounds of powder to propel a thirtytwo-pound iron ball. An increase in powder charge would not impel the shot any farther or faster, since all the powder did not take flame at once. It was good enough for random shot at long range, about a mile. As they closed with the chase, they might reduce the charge for short range, especially if they doubleshotted the guns. Then, a normal charge would likely burst the piece. ’Should we not clear for action, Mister Harm?' Lewrie asked, seeing all the mess deck gear stowed on the centerline, and the partitions still standing for the midshipmen's mess. ’Should the captain require it, we shall,' Harm said. 'And if he does not, then we shan't. Now shut your trap and quit interfering with your betters, Lewrie, or I'll see you bent over a gun before this day is out.’

’Aye aye, sir,' Lewrie chirped again, full of sham eagerness to serve, and wondering why he had expected a sensible and polite answer from such a man. It must be one of ours, he decided. There are recognition signals. We'll most likely stand around down here until we're bored silly and then be released. Once more, there was nothing to do for a long time as the day wore on and Ariadne bore down on the chase, plunging along with the wind on her starboard quarter and her shoulder to the sea. But it was still an hour before Beckett came below and told the crews to stand easy. They dragged out their stools and sat down. Lewrie took a seat on a chest. In his heart, he knew it was wrong not to strike all the assorted junk below into the holds, take down those partitions and get rid of the chests and stools, but what could a midshipman do about it? And even if he got Harm to send a message with a respectful suggestion on the matter,