Powder Monkey by Paul Dowswell Read Free Book Online

keeping my own counsel. ‘There’s nothing to it then, I suppose. I’ll just have to confess . . .’ I said.
    Ben spoke. ‘No, mate. Just keep quiet for now and see what happens. Right now there’s too many other things for you to worry about. When we’re done here I’ve to take you to see the Captain. He’s going to tell you what you’re going to be doing.’
    So after breakfast he led me up to the Captain’s cabin. It took up the entire rear end of the gun deck, with a set of windows that ran over the width of the stern. Light streamed in, catching on silver candlesticks and polished mahogany. Lieutenant Middlewych was there, sat behind a table. Next to him was a slightly older man.Judging by the lavish amount of gold braid around his hat and coat, and the immaculate look of his clothing, there was no doubt this was the Captain. He looked at me with something between a sneer and a smirk, his pointy nose wrinkling with distaste. Middlewych’s manner was now quite different, too. He was sitting stiffly upright and greeted me with cold eyes, and no nod of recognition. I stood before them waiting for someone to speak, wishing I could sit down, not least to steady my trembling legs. Ben was curtly dismissed.
    They waited for him to leave before either spoke. ‘Good morning, Master Witchall,’ said the Captain, in a brusque, well-spoken voice. ‘I am Captain Mandeville. I understand you were pressed yesterday evening. You are now under Navy regulations, and subject to the full Articles of War. That, to be perfectly clear, means you can be flogged for neglect of duty, insubordination, drunkenness and anything else I think fit. If you desert, or strike an officer, you will be hung from the yardarm. Lovett will instruct you further in the Articles of War. I advise you most strongly to pay heed. Your friend Mr Warandel can tell you what it’s like to be flogged, so try not to cross me.’ He gave a beady, humourless smile, then continued. ‘Lieutenant Middlewych here tells me you’re nimble in the rigging. We may yet call upon your services in that area, but for the moment we’ve no need for topmen on the
Miranda
. What we need is a powder boy for the guncrews. The last boy we had failed to put the top on his powder canister when we attacked a French brig. A stray spark floated down and blew him to a pink mist. AND it made a dreadful mess of my ship. You look fast on your feet, so I’m sure you’ll fit the bill.’ Then he turned to the Lieutenant and nodded for him to continue.
    Middlewych gave a nervous cough. ‘You’ve been placed in the larboard watch,’ he said, ‘in the afterguard. Your duties will include pulling and hauling the sails and whatever else is demanded of you, but your chief concern will be gunnery. When called “To Quarters” you’ll supply powder for the gun just aft of the larboard main hatch. Pay attention, learn your trade, and try not to get yourself blown up. You will join Lovett’s crew, and he will train you in all these duties. He’s a good, kind man –’
    â€˜A kind man?’ interrupted the Captain. ‘I’ve little use for kind men on this ship.’
    Middlewych looked uncomfortable, and I almost felt sorry for him. He waited a moment, to see if the Captain had anything more to say. ‘. . . And I’m sure you won’t disappoint him and us. That is all.’
    This I took to be my signal to leave, and I nodded in what I hoped was a respectful manner. As I turned to go, the Captain called out, ‘Witchall. Next time I see you, you’d better have learned how to salute.’
    I spent the morning scrubbing out the hold with fourother newly pressed men. They were all much older than me and none seemed keen to talk. Whistles blew just after noon, and I turned to a ratty-looking man with ginger bristles on his chin and asked what this