Chapter Three
The sea port wasn't very far from the orphanage. It was well into summer when Mr. Younge was asked by Mr. Grockle to take the boys out to see the ships and learn about the different lands they traveled to. "A bit of a field day would do them good," He mentioned. Very reluctantly Mr. Younge obliged his Master and took the boys out.
"They'd be much better learning inside than galavanting all over the place." Was Mr. Younge's idea. He had no love for any of the orphans and thought them all hooligans that probably wouldn't amount to much when they grew into adulthood, especially with the way Mr. Grockle and all the others coddled them. He was even forbidden to whip the boys unless he asked permission.
The walk was nice and there was a slight breeze. Miss Mary volunteered to go as well to help watch the boys. She carried with her a basket full of goodies to eat before they returned to the orphanage. They walked in two rows with Mr. Younge in front and Miss Mary in back. After about twenty minutes Davy noticed the salty tang in the air and soon afterwards could hear the lapping of the water.
"I see the ocean!" A boy in front exclaimed, and sure enough, around the next corner was the sparkling sea.
The sky was blue with a few wispy clouds overhead and the water reflected the sun, casting thousands of dazzling diamonds to shimmer of the waves. Mr. Younge stopped ahead, just before the dock, and began to explain the process of loading and unloading the ships. Davy's eyes glimmered as took it all in.
Ships of all sizes were docked along the port and there were sailors carrying cargo to and from the ships. Davy saw some baskets filled with chickens be hoisted up into the air and off the ship onto the dock. It was a very exciting place, with lots of movement and purpose. Something began to itch within himself, a sort of anticipation of what might happen.
"That's the biggest ship I ever seen." Smith said beside him.
"When have you ever seen any other ship?" Henry asked offensively.
"Once." Smith replied timidly.
"I don't think you ever saw any such ships. I think you're a liar."
The boys gasped and turned to look from Henry to Smith. Surely he didn't just challenge someone smaller and weaker than he was. A few boys turned to look at Billy to see what he would have to say about that, but he apparently hadn't heard, he was too busy looking at some girls walking by.
"Boys, pay attention." Miss Mary said, grasping at the hat on her head which was threatening to fly away in the breeze.
"Ships carrying cotton, lace and other exports of England sail to India, Africa, and the Americas. They then bring back the spices and fabrics from those land and the cycle goes on and on." Mr. Younge was explaining. "Shall we take a closer look?"
Mr. Younge led the boys closer to the docks and they all walked passed the ships. They were large and creaking in the water. Mr. Younge read the names of the ships to the boys and explained where they came from. Davy couldn't get enough of the sights and smells. He wanted to get onto one of the ships and look down from the deck.
"I think we should stop now and eat something." Miss Mary suggested and they found some benches not too far away where they sat and partook of the food within the basket.
"Henry called me a liar." Smith said as he stared at the jam tart in his hand.
"Don't worry about it." Davy said. "He was just trying to get you in trouble."
Davy had observed the workings of Billy and Henry and thought he had them pretty well deciphered. Billy was the leader because he was smarter than Henry. He knew how to get away with things. That and the fact he was a bit more stronger. Henry was dumb and had a horrible temper. Davy shuddered to think of what Henry would do if Billy ever left.
"I have to fight him," Smith continued, "It's the only way."
Before Davy could speak, Smith dropped the jam tart into the dirt, stood up and walked away. Torn between eating the jam tart and going after his friend, Davy didn't know what to do. Perhaps he could tell Miss Mary, she would understand. Picking up the jam tart and dusting it off a bit, Davy swallowed it in one bight.
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By the time they got back to the orphanage it was late and almost time for bed. Davy had forgotten all about the incident involving Smith and Henry. He was too busy picturing the ships in his mind and imagining what it would be like to sail away from Liverpool on one of them. It wasn't until the boys were told to go to bed that Davy realized Smith was no where in sight.
Waiting for the lights to go out, Davy crept out of bed and put his ear to the door. Not hearing anything, he slowly opened it.
"Hey, what are you doing?" The boy nearest to the door asked, propping himself up in bed.
"Never mind, go to sleep." Davy said.
The hall was empty. Davy tiptoed to the other side to where the other bed room was. He slowly opened that door and snuck in. He went to the nearest bed and cautiously awakened the boy.
"Which bed is Henry's?" Davy asked.
"Wha-?" The boy wiped the sleep out of his eye. "The last one, by the window." He promptly fell back onto his pillow and fell asleep.
Making sure not to make any noise, Davy headed down to the last bed and when he reached it his fears were confirmed: the bed was empty. Heart racing, not caring who he awoke, Davy ran down to the door and thrust it opened. He got to the front doors before a voice within him told him to go to Miss Mary, but he feared if he made a detour it would be too late. He ran out into the yard and sure enough, two dark figures could be seen down the lane.
Davy ran with all his might to get to the two of them, the slapping of his bare feet on the stones echoing off the buildings. He heard the unmistakable sound of a fight and got there just in time to see Henry throw a blow at Smith's head that sent him falling to the ground.
"Stop it!" Davy yelled, startling Henry. But it was too late.
Smith laid on the ground, unmoving, a huge welt on his forehead visible by the moonlight. It seemed like forever Davy was there, staring down at the only friend he had really made, with Henry breathing deeply beside him. He didn't know exactly how it happened, but he found himself in Mr. Grockle's office.
"What happened?" Mr. Grockle asked sternly.
Davy wouldn't speak. Speaking never did anyone any good. Ever.
"What happened?" Mr. Grockle yelled, causing Davy to jump in his seat, but he still refused to speak.
"Mr. James informs me that little Smith called him a liar and then lured him out of bed to attack him. Is that so?"
Desperately trying to hold back the hot tears behind his eyes, Davy wanted to yell out that he had it all wrong. But contradicting an adult was stupid and retaliation from the other orphans would be swift and hard. Silently, Davy sat before Mr. Grockle.
"Leave here." Mr. Grockle whispered.
Davy leapt off the chair and walked out of the office down to the bed rooms. He refused to speak with any one when they asked what happened. Not too many days after that Mr. Grockle was dismissed from his position and replaced with Mr. Pitt, a formidable looking man with graying whiskers and jet black hair. He had a large, hooked nose, giving him the look of a bird of prey, and the day he arrived he made a grand speech in front of the boys and staff.
"Under the supervision of Mr. Grockle you have been made allowed to run wild. It stops NOW." He yelled the last word, and eyed them all in turn. "You are not babies. I will not suffer such calamity. You," He pointed toward Billy, who wore a smug expression on his face. "Come up here."
With great pomp, Billy arose from his seat and swaggered to the front of the room. He smiled at boys, some of them daring to return the gesture. Mr. Pitt walked to a table which had a long, thin switch on it. He took it in hand and walked back to Billy.
"Bend over." Eyes wide, Billy looked at Mr. Harris and Miss Mary, hoping they would intercede, but they did not. He slowly bent over, and before he could prepare himself Mr. Pitt took three hard, swift lashings to his rear. He then ordered Billy back to his seat. "Such punishment awaits any who breaks the rules of this establishment. That is all."
The new regime was started. Mr. Pitt would frequent the classrooms to make sure there was order and demanded the teachers to use corporal punishment if anyone stepped out of line. Mr. Younge used such punishment with relish, but Mr. Harris refused. On one such occasion he had asked a question, and forgetting that Davy had taken a vow of silence, called on him for the answer.
Wide eyed, Davy looked from Mr. Harris, to Mr. Pitt.
"Answer your Master, boy." Mr. Pitt grunted.
Davy gulped, trying to wet his mouth, but it was dry and no sound would come.
"Such disobedience will not be tolerated. Mr. Harris, you must discipline your pupils."
"But sir, I do not believe that-" Mr. Harris started, but was interrupted.
"I did not ask what you believe." Pitt bellowed. "Do as I say."
Looking down at his hands, Mr. Harris couldn't imagine them causing harm to any of his students. Infuriated, Pitt stormed up to the front of the room. "Come up here, boy!" He called to Davy. Slowly, Davy walked up to him.
Pitt took the switch from the desk and roughly placed it in Mr. Harris's hand. "Three switches ought to do it."
For a brief moment Davy looked into Mr. Harris' eyes and saw the sorrow within. He wanted to tell Mr. Harris that it was okay, that he knew he didn't mean it. To show his compliance, Davy placed his hands on the teachers desk and bent down. There was a short pause before he felt the first blow stinging his rear end. The next two blows came quickly, stinging and then numbing and all the while Davy thought of Henry, who caused all these new problems, and vowed to avenge Smith.