Aha! Lewrie exultantly thought; they've finally got round to sendin' me a First Officer, at last! One had turned up, weeks before, but that'un had pleaded off sick after the first week, and had departed looking like Death's Head On A Mop-Stick, hacking, wheezing, coughing, and hoicking up phlegm by the bucket. He's mine, damn his eyes!

"What? Captain Alan Lewrie's ship?" Lewrie pretended to scoff.

"Aye, sir."

"Under that scoundrel, that rogue?" Lewrie mock-sneered. "That rakehell Corinthian? Hah! God have mercy on your soul, then, sir!"

Lt. Edward (or Ed'ard) Urquhart blushed and gulped, timorously replying, "I was given to understand, though, sir, that Captain Lewrie is a most distinguished and capable captain. A renowned …"

"Any fool can be brave and dashin', don't ye know, sir," Lewrie pooh-poohed. "Well, then, Mister Urquhart. I will, this once, mind, take mercy 'pon ye, and allow you to board that shiny wee barge, before attending to mine own urgent return to my ship. Bargee! Two passengers… and all this… jetsam."

The boatman and his assistant helped place the heavy sea-chest amidships of their scruffy little launch, while Lt. Urquhart saw to his own sea-bag and carpet bags, an act that secretly pleased Lewrie, for most young men of the squirearchy, who made up the bulk of the Navy's officers, would have stood aloof on their dignity and depended on the lesser sorts to hew and haul.

Lt. Urquhart stepped down into the rustling boat, following the time-honoured tradition that senior officers would be "Last In, First Out" when transferring from a ship or shore.

"W'ich ship, Cap'm?" the bargee at the tiller asked, once they were settled upon their respective thwarts.

"We'll go to Savage first," Lewrie stated. "A short sail for you. The 'gant-lined' frigate, yonder."

"Four pence apiece, sirs," the bargee said, horny and grubby hand out to receive their coin, no matter how short a trip it would be. Once paid, he nodded to his assistant, who cast them off and shoved on the landing stage, then whirled to hoist the single lug-sail.