"Dismiss the hands, Mister Farley," Lewrie ordered, once he had control of his vocal chords again.

"Aye aye, sir! Ship's company… dismiss! Good luck and Godspeed to one and all!"

Taking leave of his officers, warrants, and midshipmen was much more genteel; handshakes and doffings of hats, a brief jape or two to the "younkers," and wishes for good fortune, promotion, another active sea commission soon, and hopes to serve together again someday.

"My Jack-in-the Breadroom's made arrangements for your cartage, sir," Mr. Pridemore told Lewrie, "and there will be a good-sized barge alongside within the hour for all your dunnage."

"Might have to make it two barges, Mister Pridemore," he had to confess. "The dockyard won't accept the stoves, and thinks I must send them on to Captain Speaks at mine own expense."

"Oh, really, sir?" Pridemore said, brightening. "If that is so, sir, might I suggest that you leave all that to me, for I have Captain Speaks's address, already, and made arrangements for most of his goods to be sent on to his home in Yorkshire months ago."

Just knew it'd be a long, long way off! Lewrie told himself.

"In point of fact, sir," Pridemore went on, "two of them would be more than welcome whilst we're laid up in-ordinary this winter. If I… lease them from Captain Speaks for my comfort, and the comfort of my fellow ship-keepers, it goes without saying," the Purser quickly added, "and, so long as we purchase our own coal, the dockyard people can have no objection, d'ye see, sir?"

"That leaves me two t'haul off," Lewrie glumly replied.

"Well, not really, sir," Mr. Pridemore schemed on, "not if Captain Speaks authorises me to sell them for him. So many warships laid up in-ordinary… so many shivering ship-keepers right here in Sheerness, or a quick sail up to the Chatham Ordinary? I'm certain their usefulness, and their rarity, shall allow me to turn a good profit, to the benefit of Captain Speaks, and myself, of course. All that is needful is for you to sign a chit consigning Captain Speaks's property to me, and all's aboveboard, so to speak."