Thursday, January 30

While Ashore


While in Bermuda, my surgeon's mate Baptiste and I chanced to espy a group of Acastas at work moving the heavy guns used aboard ship from one place to another. They were under the eye of our Bo'sun, Mr. Cullen, who seemed dissatisfied with their apparent lack of enthusiasm.

Cullen cursed their eyes and being quite broad of chest, hefted a two pounder up upon his shoulder to illustrate how he wished it to be done.

Says Baptiste, "Not many fellows can fire a Two pounder on his shoulder, no?"

"And with no recoil." says I, in a rare moment of humourous inspiration.

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