William Brand

"Keep your 'Mates' ta yerself, Mister Roberts. Ye'll call me 'Sah' or 'Mister Badger' when you call me at all." Jacob said roughly, and he muttered something else as he turned away from the man, but it was lost on Jack. "Aye, Sah. Meant no offense, Mister Badger." Badger made a dismissive sound and continued below. Jacob Badger was sometimes a gruff man, and the words surly, brusque and even mean were sometimes applied to him. None of these words fairly described the Watch Dog's Bosun, but they did serve as surface descriptions for a much deeper man. Still, whatever might lie beneath the murky and sometimes moody exterior, his surface descriptions were all up in arms. Jacob had been about the ship some three times that afternoon, and like William, he was not glad to have so many proven men gone from the 'Dog. The recent transfer of so many of his good men to the Lucy, added to the recruitment of some five and six dozen skeletons aboard the Watch Dog, not to mention the absence of Claude Marchande, put him in one of his moods. After only two months at sea, they were a new crew again, with more unfamiliar faces than not. The other thing which goaded him was the fact that William had named a new Boatswain only two hours after Morgan had gone, and that was hard for Jacob. He had been mulling over a replacement Mate and had thought to have a say in the matter, so he was not pleased to be handed a man he knew nothing about, let alone a recent prisoner, Englishman or not. They reached the forward berths and he growled at Jack as he spoke. "Find yer things and be quick about it."

"She's been through her share of storms in recent days." William admitted, looking up to the main course. "We lost a spar some time ago and picked from the bones of Apollo." William looked back at Jack. "Your pardon, Mister Roberts. The Apollo...it's not important." William looked at Mister Badger's back for a moment before continuing. "At noon tomorrow you will return to your duties along with the Starboard watch, with one exception. You shall be above some of them." Jack blinked. Jacob turned from where he stood. "Mister Badger will see you and your gear stowed in the after cabins." "Sah...?" Jacob asked, but he couldn't seem to form the rest of the question. "I'm promoting Mister Roberts to Boatswain's Mate, Mister Badger, to begin service on the next watch."

William gestured to the quarterdeck and he and Jack went up. Mister Badger was there and William nodded to him as he passed. William stood at the rail facing the Lucy and the docks and made simple conversation at first, inquiring after Jack's health and whether he found the food to his liking. Jack proved to be amiable, and as a recent prisoner, William was not surprised to find him both complementary about the food, but also grateful. After several minutes of this, William paused. He looked out over the docks and asked, "Tell me of your experience with rigging and ropes."

Now that William was alone he took a moment to read Dorian's letter a second time and ponder on the question of Miss Ashcombe. This question lead to others which in turn lead him back to ones more pressing. He hoped the first of these questions would be answered with the return of Robert and Paul. The second dealt with the need to replace those many crew members who were departing the Watch Dog, and to fill the positions left empty in their wake. William went out into the sun and wandered the decks of the ship watching those men on duty and those who were not. Most of the new prison recruits were there, some of them at work with the larboard watches. The rest of the new men were at the rails or below sleeping in hammocks for the first time in weeks or months. William watched how they gathered and with whom. He studied them and they him. One such man was Jack Roberts. "Mister Roberts. A word if you please."

The work was worth the gratitude.

We could all use a little Thai food. Well, I could use some and the rest of you are welcome to join in...

August 3, 1704 - Aboard the Watch Dog William closed the ledger, glad to be through with the day's business, though the idea that the business of the day was over, made him laugh to himself. There was so much yet to do and so many mysteries that might lead to more business undiscovered. He was of half a mind to sleep and let the day play out as it would, but a knock at the ward room door made this impossible. "Enter." Eric Franklin put his head in at the door. "Sah." "Ahh, Mister Franklin. Come in." "Sah. Some men have come over from the Lucy." Eric began. William looked up from the stern bench as he stowed the ledgers and shares yet to be given out. He nodded as if to say 'go on'. "Four Frenchies who wish ta' join." "Please see them in, Mister Franklin. One at a time if you please." "Aye, Sah." William interviewed the men in succession, beginning with Paul-Henri Cutting, who again plead the cause of himself and his fellows. William explained his requirement that all new recruits should speak English, but Monsieur Cutting was ever so insistent that all of them should be taken aboard and so the two men sparred after a fashion. William pressed Paul-Henri with many difficult questions in an effort to learn as much about the Frenchman's command of the language as he did about the man's skill aboard ship. In the end, it was Paul-Henri's honesty about his own inexperience that won William over, and he agreed to take the man and the others aboard under one condition. "You will go again to shore, Monsieur. There you shall find two good sailors for every one of you and bring them back to the Watch Dog. These men must speak English and have an understanding of rigging, bousing, furling, tacking and every other need of a frigate. Do you understand Monsieur?" "But, Capitaine..." Paul-Henri began, but he could see in William's face that a decision has been made that no amount of French or English could change. "As you wish, Capitaine." William simply nodded as the man went out. When the man was gone, he smiled, for he was tired of recruiting, but the need for more sailors had not changed. Eight bells of the Afternoon Watch First Dog Watch Begins ~Larboard Watches on Duty~

I just came across this while looking for something else... http://www.nativeworkshop.com/flintlocks.htm

Two hot buttered rums...

The Latin version of Mary means "Star of the Sea" which is much more nautical.

William is my name and it means guardian or protector. I never use anything else, as it's appropriately period going back about 1,000 years.

Some moments are best left in silence. To many words would scatter them.

No. Now move the clock in the dining room about three feet to the left.

The objects marked with letters look like large, wrapped bales of textiles or soft goods. Very nice pictures.

"Sah!" Nigel returned, snapping off a salute. "These men are seeking place aboard ship an' would speak with you." Dorian gestured for the man at the front to step forward and speak his mind. Paul-Henri Cutting was the man at the head of the group and he proved to have the best grasp of English of any in the company. He explained, with an accent which gave Dorian pause, that he was born in the colonies and had enjoyed some dealings with the English in his youth. He was straight forward in his manner, though he rung his cap in his hands the whole time he spoke, looking at Nigel and his fellows more than Dorian. He explained that he was close friends with one Ancel Charnock who stood hard by, but had worked with the other two men on the docks for nearly two weeks and had agreed to speak for them. He made a point of introducing Pierre-Louis Ganesvoort and Etienne Heaton, the two taller men in the little gathering. Dorian plied them with many questions. He asked them where they had served previously and in what capacities. Ancel, though only sixteen, had been an able seamen for at least five years, rising as far as Coxswain's Mate aboard a merchant ship. Paul-Henri had less experience at sea, but spoke the better English out of the two. He had been a seaman and a cook's mate. Etienne had a simple command of seamanship and English, but looked to be both strong and capable. Pierre-Louis proved the most difficult to measure, having served more years than any of them, both on warships and merchant ships alike, yet he had no command of English whatsoever. Dorian considered them for a long time.

Written by Mercenary Wench & William Brand August 3, 1704 After seeing to it that all was well with the delivery of items to Captain Lasseter, Tudor quickly made her way to catch up with Mr. Badger, who had taken her suggestion and started on the way ahead of her. She did her best to close the distance quickly as the Captain had declared that no one was to travel ashore alone, and she achieved her purpose. She had barely left sight of the Lucy, before she was adjusting her stride to fall in next to the Boatswain. In a silence that bespoke of their concentration on the chaotic comings and goings on the streets, the two made slow progression to La Chateau Anse, keeping ever vigilant. The arrived without incident, and soon found themselves inquiring with the innkeeper about where to find the crewmates they were sent to find. The innkeeper proved to be a servant of the establishment, as Monsieur Ferland was not at the inn when Jacob and Tudor arrived there. He was away with a servant purchasing the daily fare which supplied the kitchens of the spacious inn. He had left instructions for anyone visiting Luigi with his clerk, Monsieur Saltir, who lead Tudor and Jacob to a second story room. They found Luigi there under the care of a Mister Ranst, who was redressing Luigi's hand as they came into the room. Luigi smiled to see his shipmates, and from the look of the smile, he was a little drunk. He wore the grin of a man blessed by the generosity of a cautious innkeeper. Two large bottles of Martinique's cash crop sat on a nearby table, one of them half drained. There was also evidence that a large meal had been served earlier, with many plates and bowls scattered about the place. "May I offer yew a drink, Misshhh Tudor? Your pardon...Missh Shmith." With a warm smile, Tudor declined any drink for herself, and instead kindly asked Monsieur Saltir for a moment of privacy with Ranst and Luigi. She felt that the handing over of shares was something that need not be displayed in front of strangers, even if they had proved to be honest and hospitable in an hour of need. Sitting herself down next to Luigi's side she reached into the pouch on her belt to pull out the shares she carried. Luigi smiled in good spirits and in good spirits long as he received his shares. Teek Ranst looked on and tried not to seem too bothered by the money which passed into Luigi's hands. Now Luigi, never a man to pass up an opportunity to make allies where he could, and with more than a good eye for seeing such opportunities, passed Teek one whole share from his earnings. Teek went wide eyed and tried to refuse, as Luigi was obviously drunk, but having no command of English apart from a handful of words, Teek utterly failed, not that Luigi would accept any refusal from the Dutchman. "Caw it an advance if ya won't accep' it as a gaft." Luigi insisted, and while Teek could not understand, he acquiesced. After this exchange, Luigi fell asleep and Jacob and Teek Ranst carried the drunken, wounded man to his bed and covered him, careful not to knock over the rum glass on the side table which held Luigi's recently separated finger. Luigi had insisted on bringing it back to the room to be buried with him at sea on some far flung date in the distant future. With their business accomplished, Jacob made a decision then that he thought the Captain would find both prudent and fitting, given the recent circumstances. He ordered Tudor to remain with Luigi and Teek, as Luigi was indisposed and Teek spoke almost no English at all. Tudor agreed and Jacob left an additional pistol with the trio. Then, as a further precautionary measure, Jacob asked two crew members of the Lucy to go with him as he journeyed back to the Watch Dog, promising them each the favor of a drink at the docks. At the St. Louis Docks As the day progressed, some four men of French origins, only three of them speaking passable English, reported at the gangplank of the Lucy to inquire if any work might be had as able seamen. Of these four, two men were large, being almost six feet each, while the other two were of an average height. They had the look an fashion of sailors, being bronzed and freckled from many days under the hot sun, but as this appearance was common on the island, owing to it's latitude, it was not proof of their service. Still, they had papers to show that they had served on other ships and begged a boon of the ship's Captain that they might secure employment. ~Larboard Watches on Duty~

Agreed. Always read about each item carefully. Here is a site specifically devoted to the history of drug containers and labels. It has some fascinating items from the period and earlier. http://books.google.com/books?id=N4N9bsxc2...XCcpg17SRfZQGN4 And here is another site. This one is maintained by the Pewter Society and it contains a great glossary of pewter terms. http://home1.gte.net/vzn05wao/pcca/glossary.htm

The hour now is just at the crux between what was today and what will be tomorrow. The patrons are all gone home to beds or hammocks. There is a lingering smell not unlike honey, but for the smoke. A solitary bottle of port still breathes upon the table, though all but consumed, like the embers of the hearth which are but a murmur of the fire that was the fireside talk of hours ago. Those candles not put out are but orange ghosts in pools of hot wax. I like the Tsunami best at these times, quiet but for my own tired scufflings. I can walk among the empty chairs and read ten thousand tales in a plate of bread crumbs or divine the future in an empty cup. Why do I wax poetic in fatigue? Why am I tempted to sit awake an hour in the silence which follows a storm of fellowship?

There are some interesting containers found here... http://www.bunrattycollection.com/search.php?r=16

Patrick Hand, Owen Monahan and Nathan Bly all passed through the Ward room in succession to receive shares. Owen was not so bent as before, Nathan looked dismal and Patrick unchanged. William made little conversation with any man, but for the exchange associated with such bookkeeping. Then he finished a few small entries in different volumes and prepared to go about business unattended elsewhere. He grabbed up his coat, hat and last of all, the cane which Rummy and Jonathan had so carefully crafted for him. The taking of this last item was deeply counter-pointed as he left the ward room, for he ran into Mister Hawks and Rummy in the passageway. "We were told to report aft, Sah." "We're you now." William said, momentarily confused. Then he smiled and nodded. In his haste to pay out the shares as quickly as possible he had forgotten that all should be paid at once. He had indeed ordered all aft in turn, forgetting most of the Larboard Watch entirely. "Please come in." He said to them both as he replaced his hat, coat and cane. ~Larboard Watches on Duty~

Tonight's special is crow...

That picture speaks volumes, Nigel.

"Then take a pistol...unloaded, until such a time as you may be instructed in its use. The presence of the pistol should be enough to give any man pause. You shall be escorts to one another while at Martinique. In this way we might avoid those attacks which have taken place outside the sanctuary of the 'Dog. See that you are not foolish in your leave. I have enough wayward wanderers unaccounted for at present." "Aye, Sah." They both said at once. William gathered the articles from the table. "You present a good hand, Miss O'Flaherty. This places you above some of the men aboard. We may employ your understanding to some other purposes, given time. For now, you will answer to Miss McDonough and see to her needs if any should arise." He fished into his pocket and took out three very round coins. He gave them to Moira. "This will see you clothed, boarded and fed ashore. Miss McDonough will see you to new slops and a shirt or two. Please send in the next man to receive shares."

William shook her hand. Then he made a point of extracting the Articles of the Whole Company, that she might sign her name to them. He laid it out on the table and dipped the quill before passing it to her. "Have you an understanding of pistols, Miss O'Flaherty?"

William felt two things at once. Regret that Moira should not go ashore, and also admiration, and for the very same reason. She was young, but life had already tempered her resolve and self determination. William watched her eyes, how they fell only where she wanted them to. 'A creature of choice.' he thought, and he determined to take his offer a step further. "You'll forgive me for what may seem like a speech, Miss O'Flaherty, but I have almost one hundred souls aboard this ship. Many of them have been a hundred times tested...and long before they signed aboard the 'Dog. Everyone of them, new and old has seen enough and demonstrated courage enough to be counted among the Whole Company without hesitation. They bring with them the book and volume of life at sea in a world unforgiving. Should you stay, the choice being yours, I can offer you but two shares. If you should show that you can learn enough to be numbered among the able, I shall consider a higher dividend, but not before. With that said, you will go ashore with Miss McDonough. You are hereby assigned to the Starboard Watch, but you must serve our Tailor ashore on leave. This levy is a kind of tax I shall impose upon you for taking you aboard under these circumstances. Do we have an accord, Miss O'flaherty?"