‘Do you not believe me? About the Horn at winter?’
‘Indeed I do.’
Matthews let out his breath slowly.
‘Ah well. Maybe you are right. But I am not convinced, mind. We would have many months; and the whole of the Pacific Ocean to choose from.’
His voice was calmer. After a few seconds he added: ‘In any case, your guess as to the men who would carry the business is a shrewd one. Many there are who would join the act, and with a vengeance. But many more would not. I suppose in terms of all the ship’s people, officers, marines and all, it is only a handful. Perhaps I should thank you, man.’
His voice was old, tired. Broad hauled himself up, until his skull was brought to by the deckhead.
‘Thank me?’ he mused. ‘I do not know, Mr Matthews. I do not know. Certain it is, though,’ he added, ‘that if this company ever does rise, it will be a bloody business. Not least of which will be keeping the beast in check.’
‘Then God help us all,’ said Matthews, dully. ‘God help us all.’
Twenty-Two
They roared on under reduced canvas for nearly three days. But before a new boredom could set in, the boredom of wet, cold, and hard work in heavy weather, the wind began to moderate. Over a ten-hour period the reefs were shaken out, then more sail was set, progressively, until Welfare flogged along under the glory of a full suit. The bows bit deep into the still-heavy seas, white water was everywhere. For hours more she flew, with a great musical roaring from aloft. Until at last she settled down to a more sedate pace, and the sea gradually lost its wildness. The sun appeared, but tempered by the breeze. They were solidly in the south-east Trade.
Hatches were thrown open, portlids were triced up, washed clothes and hammocks flapped gaily from newly rigged lines. Captain Swift, seizing the moment, had it announced that the sports would now commence.
In his cabin, he spoke to William about the milling match that was to come. He looked at his nephew keenly, but made no open criticism.
‘Why did he break the whistle, my boy?’ he asked. ‘It seems a senseless act, and one that could only have brought him to some punishment.’
Bentley laughed.
‘I think, uncle, that he has some sense of grievance. It is a strange youth. Perhaps he still thinks he should not be on board here, and that I am to blame for that.’
‘Still, though,’ said Swift. ‘He is quite a sturdy lad. He is older than you, I think.’
This was distasteful. Was his uncle suggesting he might not be able to handle such a booby?
‘Well sir,’ he said stiffly. ‘That is true, I imagine. Older and certainly bigger. But…well sir, I hope you do not think I cannot give good account of myself? He is a country boy, a boy of the people. I am confident—’
Swift laughed. He lifted his head, the shark’s fin nose cutting the air. When he looked at William again his eyes were twinkling.
‘You are high-spirited, my boy, and I like it. I have every confidence in you, never fear. It is only…’ William kept a respectful silence.
‘It is only…Well, as a form of punishment it is unusual, to say the least. The boy deserves a flogging for such a piece of infernal insolence. I had set my heart on a dancing band. Make a change from that damned lugubrious Irishman and his hateful sockets staring at you, eh?’
William thought of Doyle’s face. It was indeed horrible.
But to his mind, Fox’s was not much better. The weird musicians. He felt hatred for the shepherd boy. He wanted to smash that face.
‘I suppose, sir,’ he said, half seriously, ‘you could flog him as well, if you feel so strongly. But I beg you – let me have my way with him first of all.’
Later on, in the berth, the other midshipmen took up the subject. They were all excited by the prospect, although Finch, who was inexperienced in the ways of the lower orders, was a little fearful of Fox’s size, weight and origins.
‘Well, William,’ he said, a shade breathlessly, ‘I must say it is rather you than me.’
‘Ah,’ shrilled Evans, ‘but that is because you are but a little worm, Jimmy!’
Finch shook his head vigorously.
‘No no, not at all, Jack,’ he said. ‘I mean, yes, indeed I am. But then, even compared with Will here the lout is quite a good size.’
‘Shambling monkey,’ growled Simon Allen.
‘No,’ insisted little James, ‘but he is a country lad, too. Skinny maybe, but bred to handling and working and lifting heavy bales, and all. Some of the countrymen I have known have been alarming strong. You would scarce believe it!’
‘You are insulting,’ said William. He spoke in a jocular manner, but he did feel it to be true. Sometimes Finch was a pest. Children ought not to be allowed to sea. The boy flushed and stammered.
‘I beg pardon, Will, indeed I do. I do not mean to imply… But you see – on my father’s farms… Well, it is only—’
‘You are insulting, Jimmy Finch,’ William went on, ‘because you overlook this: I am fourteen, which may not be a great age, but I have been at sea for long enough. I too work, I too have not been pampered. Are you suggesting that the boys of the lower deck are more manly than we? Can you seriously mean that? Good Lord, child, if you do not feel the equal of any one of them, and not the boys, mark, but the men too; if you do not recognise the superiority conferred on us by nature, then God help you.’
‘Amen to that,’ said Simon. ‘Why hell, James—’
‘Yes, hell,’ said William, not to be interrupted. ‘If anything, James, if you are intent upon insulting me, you might take the view which I am sure the people have hit upon. And that is this. They will say, I am sure, that the fight is unfair because of the very superiority I enjoy.’ James Finch looked ashamed and confused. Jack Evans tried to explain the point for his benefit.
‘They’ll think it not quite manly in Will, you see,’ he said.
‘The country boy is but a country boy; but William is a young gentleman. They will think it a trifle unfair.’
‘And you see,’ said William triumphantly, ‘that’s the point exactly. This youth is bigger than I. He is a great shambling lout, as Simon says. Good God, James, you do not think I would fight a poltroon smaller than myself, or even of my own size? This country lump is bigger and older. And so our superiority may be shown. It is necessary that we are respected and obeyed.’
The smallest mid nodded eagerly. His mouth opened and shut, as if he wanted to ask more. The others laughed at him. William leaned over to ruffle his hair.
‘I see you still do not understand, Jimmy,’ he said. ‘But you will, I promise you. This loutish boy is big and strong. That is why a beating from me is necessary. Is that clearer?’
James nodded vigorously, but they could all see he had not followed a word, and they roared with laughter when he answered: ‘Oh yes, Will, of course. Thank you for explaining.’
They laughed even louder when he followed this up, a few seconds later, with a diffident question.
‘You say then, Will, that I was right? He is a country man, like on father’s farms, and may in fact trounce you?’
‘Aye, aye,’ spluttered William, when they had recovered their breath. ‘You have it exactly now, James. He may indeed trounce me. He may indeed.’