Chapter Ten

Horatio came up on deck and took a deep breath of fresh air. After he had left Archie at the Black Swan the previous night, he had returned to Indefatigable to retire for the evening. It had been very late when he arrived, and he had seen no one but Lt. Lawson, the officer of the watch. He'd fallen instantly asleep upon lying in his bed, and was astonished at how late it was when he finally arose. Why had no one awakened him?

Probably because they all thought you ashore with Mr. Kennedy, he thought to himself as he looked around. Thinking of Archie, he looked up at the sun. After noon already! Archie should be on watch. Perhaps he would seek him out, just to make certain sure that things were all right between them, that there was no awkwardness left over from Malley's accusations. He headed aft to search out his friend, but stopped at the sound of a commotion behind him. Turning, he witnessed Lieutenant Bracegirdle hurrying across the deck.

"Mr. Hornblower! Thank the heavens."

"Sir?" said Horatio, puzzled, as Bracegirdle reached his side.

"I was worried. I thought that perhaps something had happened."

"Happened? I don't understand, sir. What - "

"MISTER Hornblower!" It was Captain Pellew, bellowing across the deck, and Horatio and Bracegirdle hurried to his side.

"Aye, captain?" inquired Horatio.

"Where is he, sir?"

"Where is who?" Horatio asked, still confused.

"Mr. Kennedy!" roared the captain. "Why is he not on his watch?"

Horatio felt cold. Archie was not aboard Indefatigable? Where was he? He knew that Archie remembered he was due on watch - they'd spoken of it before he left the Black Swan last night.

"I don't know, sir," he said slowly. "I know he intended to be here. Something must have happened."

"Oh, something happened, all right, Mr. Hornblower," Pellew seethed, struggling to lower his voice so that the ratings could not hear him. "I had a visit from a certain Lieutenant Chalke last night. Do you know him, sir?"

"Yes, sir, I do. Lieutenant Chalke and I met many years ago, when I was aboard Justinian, and last night we renewed our acquaintance over a game of cards. I did not realize you knew him, sir."

"The point," Pellew fumed, "is not whether or not I know the man! He was here to deliver a message from Admiral Bennington, whom he had met on his return to his own ship. He spoke of meeting you and Mr. Kennedy at the Black Swan last night." He turned and fixed a stony stare on Horatio's face. "He mentioned that Mr. Kennedy was extremely inebriated."

"Yes, sir, he had a few drinks, but he was sober when I left him."

"You left him? You left alone an acting lieutenant who has no memory of anything outside of his ship? That was grossly negligent of you, sir."

"Begging your pardon, sir, but Mr. Kennedy asked me to leave. I was merely doing as he wished."

Pellew glared at him. "And you think that he was in any condition to make that sort of determination?"

"Sir, I - "

"Never mind, Mr. Hornblower," Pellew said, brushing him off. "I have dispatched a crew to go to the Black Swan to return Mr. Kennedy. He will face his punishment."

"Aye, sir," said Horatio, a sick feeling settling in his stomach. Pellew turned on his heel and left, Bracegirdle, throwing Horatio a sympathetic look, following after him. Horatio watched them go, then walked aft himself.

Where was Archie? He would never have simply not shown up - his naval career meant far too much to him, and he would never risk it, especially not now, when he was having to prove himself all over again. So why wasn't he here? Had he left the room and had more to drink? Had he drunk himself into oblivion, was he now lying passed out or hurt somewhere? Where could he be?

The sounds of skylarking sailors caught his attention. It was two off-duty divisions, including Archie's, having fun on deck. He watched as Malley roughhoused with Whitney, Fuller and Walters watching them with amusement, while Haversham was completely indifferent as he idly watched them play. Archie's men were here, but not Archie himself. Dammit.

"God DAMN it!" It was Pellew. Horatio nearly sprinted across the deck, arriving to find Pellew dismissing some sailors from the quarterdeck. Pellew, fire in his eyes, turned and saw Horatio standing there.

"Mr. Hornblower," he hissed, and Horatio stood before him.

"Aye, sir?"

Pellew fixed him with an angry stare. "Mr. Kennedy was not at the Black Swan. The proprietor said he left shortly after you did, and did not return. Where is he?"

"I swear, sir, I don't know. Permission to go ashore and look for him, sir."

"Denied," Pellew said brusquely. "You will finish his watch. But first, you will tell me why Mr. Kennedy asked you to leave him alone last night."

Panicked, Horatio tried to think of something. He couldn't tell the captain that Archie had been uncomfortable because his men believed him to be Horatio's lover, but he didn't want to lie to his captain, either. Pellew was angry enough. His mind blank, he stared at Pellew, trying to think of something, anything, to say.

"I'm waiting, Mr. Hornblower."

"Shore boat, ahoy!" It was a welcome distraction, thought Horatio as they all turned to see who was in the boat.

It was Archie. He climbed aboard, glancing at Horatio as he did, and then turning to present himself to his captain.

"Come aboard, sir."

Pellew stared hard at him, but Archie didn't flinch, meeting the steely dark gaze with a steady one of his own.

"You are late, Mr. Kennedy."

"Aye, sir. My apologies, sir."

"Have you an excuse?"

"No, sir, I do not."

Horatio groaned to himself. No, Archie, he thought. Make something up - the captain will believe you. He wants to believe you.

"Very well, Mr. Kennedy. You are aware of the punishments for missing a watch, or being drunk while on watch?"

Archie swallowed, but didn't flinch. "Yes, sir, I am."

Pellew nodded. "Very well. Present yourself in my quarters in two hours, and I will have decided what it shall be. Until then, you are confined to your quarters."

"Aye, sir," said Archie, saluting. Pellew and Bracegirdle left, and Horatio moved to Archie's side.

"What happened to you, Archie? Why weren't you here?"

Archie didn't meet his eyes. "Excuse me, Mr. Hornblower. I must go to my cabin. The captain is already angry enough with me." Almost as if to emphasize his point, at that very moment the captain turned around and saw the two of them standing there and conversing. His displeasure was evident all the way across the deck, and Archie quickly left Horatio and went below.

Horatio desperately wanted to go after Archie, or go after the captain to plead his friend's case, but he could not leave his watch. Pacing back and forth for the next hour, he tried to figure out why Archie hadn't come back, and why he wasn't explaining himself to Pellew. It made no sense.

"Mr. Hornblower, sir?" It was Midshipman Masters.

"Yes, Mr. Masters, what is it?" Horatio said sharply, then cursed himself. Masters was not the problem. "Is there something you need?"

"The captain requests your attendance in his cabin, sir. He has told me to hold the watch."

"Aye, Mr. Masters," Horatio said. He immediately headed toward the captain's cabin, wondering what it was now. Was the captain still wondering why he had left Archie alone? If so, he would tell him the truth. It just might help his friend.

He knocked and entered the cabin. Pellew was standing behind his desk, much as he had before, his head lowered. He turned to face Horatio, who was struck by the look of sadness in those dark eyes. Was the captain regretting his decision to punish Archie?

"You sent for me, sir?"

"Yes," Pellew said quietly. "Please, Mr. Hornblower, have a seat." He indicated the chairs across from his desk, and Horatio sat down in one, uncomfortable. This was most unusual.

Pellew sighed as he sat down himself, his hands picking up a compass on the desk and winding it between his fingers.

"I require your advice, sir."

Horatio was startled. "My advice, sir? On what?"

"On what to do about Mr. Kennedy's punishment."

Horatio's jaw almost dropped to the floor. The captain was seeking his counsel on disciplining a member of his own crew? This was completely unheard of.

"Sir?"

Pellew put down the compass and leaned heavily on the desk, resting his arms in front of him. "I realize this is unusual, Mr. Hornblower, but this is a unique case."

"Aye, sir."

"Mr. Kennedy has missed his watch. He must be punished. I am certain you agree with that assessment."

"With all due respect, sir, I am not certain I do."

Pellew snapped his head up to meet Horatio's gaze. "You think I should just let him off? What kind of example would that set? Did I not just punish Midshipman Bairnson for the same transgression two months ago? You suggest I ignore the fact that Mr. Kennedy has done the same thing?"

"No, sir, not exactly. It's just that there must be a reason Mr. Kennedy was so late. If you will allow me to speak to him, sir..."

"No." Pellew's voice was firm. "He must be dealt with accordingly. He was given a chance to state his case, and he did not have one. I asked you here to help me decide between one of two punishments for him."

"And they are?"

Pellew met his gaze firmly. "The first is the logical one, the most common one for this kind of circumstance."

Horatio took a deep breath. "Flogging."

"Yes," Pellew nodded. "I know of Mr. Kennedy's past, the beatings - and worse - he has suffered. My question to you is, do you think him capable of handling this?"

"It would not be easy for him under normal circumstances, sir," Horatio said slowly. "But he does not remember any of the other, earlier beatings. Still, it is possible that it would bring back those unpleasant memories, and cause him to..."

"...to have a fit," Pellew finished quietly.

Horatio leaned back in shock. "Sir?"

"I told you once, Mr. Hornblower, that a captain must know everything that happens aboard his ship. I know of Mr. Kennedy's affliction, but I also know that he has not suffered from one since his return from El Ferrol. You think it likely that this kind of punishment would bring one on?"

"It's possible, sir."

Both men were silent for a moment. Horatio thought, with no little wonder, of Pellew's knowledge, and of how he had still promoted Archie to acting lieutenant, and had even put his name forward for the exam, despite it. He'd had such faith in Archie, more than even Archie and Horatio had been aware of.

"Sir, if I may - what is the other choice for him?"

Pellew met his eyes again. "To be turned before the mast."

Horrified, Horatio pushed himself against the back of his chair. "To be reduced to a common sailor? Sir, you couldn't!"

"Couldn't I?" said Pellew coldly. "It is the captain's prerogative."

"But, sir..." Horatio's voice trailed off. He could not question the captain's decision - it did not work that way in the navy. Pellew could do whatever he wished and not suffer for it.

But Archie would suffer. God, how he would suffer. Malley would see to that, and more than likely not be punished for it. This was so unfair, Horatio thought hotly. Why did Archie not speak when he had the chance? He had to have a reason, he just had to.

"You think me unfair, Mr. Hornblower?"

Horatio started a bit, then hung his head for an instant. Was Pellew also able to read his mind? Forcing himself to meet the stern gaze across from him, he shook his head.

"No, sir, I understand that this must be done. Without discipline, the navy would cease to exist. Mr. Kennedy made a mistake, and he must be punished."

"Very good, Mr. Hornblower," Pellew said, pleased. "I know that it is difficult to accept this consequence when it is a friend who has faltered, but some day you, too, will have to make hard decisions such as this one. It is best to prepare yourself now."

"Aye, sir," said Horatio, all the while vowing that his men would never have the chance to miss a watch. He would guard them like a hawk.

"So which would be your decision?"

No, Horatio thought, please do not ask me this. I cannot do it, I cannot. Not to Archie. Anyone but him.

"Mr. Hornblower? What would you do in this situation?"

Blast, thought Horatio. I have no escape. Very well then. "I would put it to Mr. Kennedy, sir."

Pellew's eyes widened. "You would let a mere midshipman decide his own fate?"

"Acting lieutenant," Horatio said without thinking.

Pellew shook his head. "On the books, he is still a midshipman, which is why I am allowed to consider flogging. He has no commission yet."

"But you believe he will." Damned if I'm going to let him push me to this, Horatio thought. I can push just as hard.

"Yes, I do," Pellew answered, eyeing the young man before him. "He has shown me over the past week that he has an incredible grasp of all the functions of a ship."

"Yes," Horatio interjected. "So then to turn him before the mast serves no purpose except to embarrass him."

"Perhaps he needs embarrassment," Pellew said. "That way he will not be tempted to shirk his duties again. It is an intriguing suggestion you make, Mr. Hornblower, letting Mr. Kennedy make the decision regarding his punishment, and I believe that it will show just the kind of man he truly is."

Astounded, Horatio looked at him. "Then you will do it, sir?"

Pellew nodded as he pulled out his pocketwatch. "Yes. Mr. Kennedy will be here shortly and I shall put the matter before him."

"Aye, sir," Horatio said as he rose to his feet. "I trust he will make the best decision."

"Oh, you're not going anywhere, Mr. Hornblower. You will be here to witness this. It was your idea, and now you shall see the fruits of that idea. Sit."

Horatio sat, and the two men remained silent until a knock came at the door.

"Come," barked Pellew, rising to his feet.

Archie stepped inside, closing the door quietly behind him. He'd washed his face and straightened his queue and changed into a clean uniform before presenting himself before the captain, and now he stood tall before him. His gaze took in Horatio, who had risen to his feet and moved off to the side, but he said nothing to him, just facing his captain.

"Acting Lieutenant Kennedy reporting as ordered, sir."

"Yes, Mr. Kennedy. You know why you are here?"

"Aye, sir. I am here to receive punishment for missing my watch."

"And you know the punishment for that?"

"I do, sir."

Pellew clasped his hands behind his back as he regarded the young man before him. His sharp eyes took note of the bruises marking Archie's face, but what impressed him most was the clear, calm gaze that looked back at him. He was encouraged to note that there was no fear reflected there, just a calm acceptance.

"I will tell you, Mr. Kennedy, that this has been a most difficult decision for me. I had great hopes for you, sir, but I am extremely disappointed by your conduct. It was quite irresponsible of you, Mr. Kennedy."

"Yes, I understand, sir. It was inexcusable."

"Yes, sir, it was. Because of your unusual circumstances, I have been debating just how you should be punished. My first thought was the same as I had when you first lost your memory - to put you ashore and be done with you."

Archie swallowed, but his face remained impassive. "And is that your decision?"

"No," Pellew said shortly. "We are at war, sir, and the navy needs every man it can get. So my options were limited to two: to turn you before the mast, or to have you flogged."

Only a slight trembling of the chin betrayed what emotions Archie was feeling. "Those are the standard punishments, sir."

"Yes, they are. And if truth be told, you have disappointed me so badly that I seriously considered doing both of them."

"I apologize, sir. It was never my intent to cause you any distress."

"But you did, Mr. Kennedy. You did."

Archie closed his eyes briefly. No one felt worse about this than he did, but there was simply nothing to be done about it now. Nothing left but to accept his punishment like a man and get on with it.

"Again, my apologies, sir."

"Noted," Pellew said. "The decision regarding the manner of your punishment shall be your own."

It took a moment for that to register with Archie. "Sir?" he said in surprise, looking directly at the captain.

"Turned before the mast or flogged. It is up to you."

"Sir?" Archie said again in complete bewilderment. "My decision?"

"That is what I said, Mr. Kennedy," Pellew said impatiently. "And you may thank your friend Mr. Hornblower for the idea."

Archie swiveled his head around to look at Horatio, who looked back at him, trying to steady Archie with his gaze. Archie stared at him for a moment, not certain what he was feeling, and then he looked back at Pellew.

"Mr. Hornblower makes such decisions?"

"No, Mr. Kennedy," Pellew said sharply. "He makes suggestions. I make decisions. And now you shall make yours. What is it?"

Archie dropped his head, thinking hard. He flinched at the idea of a flogging - no one would welcome that - but to be turned before the mast, to have to serve as a regular seaman, to work beside Malley and Fuller with no recourse to anything they did to him... He had a good idea of how those two would react and it was too much. He simply didn't have the physical strength to continue fighting with a brute like Malley. Sooner or later, Malley would kill him.

He raised his eyes to meet Pellew's. "To be turned before the mast, to lose everything I have worked so hard for, even if it is only temporary, would be the worse thing I can imagine, sir. I would prefer almost anything but that."

Pellew looked back at him. "So you choose flogging, then."

Archie blanched, but his eyes did not leave Pellew's. "Aye, sir."

Pellew nodded. "Very well, Mr. Kennedy. It will be carried out tomorrow at six bells, with the full crew in attendance. Three dozen lashes."

Horatio bit back his reaction to that, as Archie paled visibly. Twelve was the usual and twenty-four considered excessive, thought Horatio angrily, and twelve more uncalled for. That was something you did to a common sailor, not an acting lieutenant with memory problems.

"Understood, sir," Archie said, his voice faint. "And thank you for not putting me ashore, sir. You would have been entitled." With a crisp salute, he turned and left the cabin, meeting Horatio's eyes briefly before he left.

Pellew was staring after him. "Bloody hell."

"Sir?" Horatio said.

"He thanked me. I order him flogged, and he bloody thanks me!"

Horatio fought back a grin despite the outcome, and his anger at the number chosen by Pellew. "Mr. Kennedy does have a habit of looking on the bright side of things, sir."

Pellew snorted. "I cannot imagine how he comes by that characteristic in this navy."

"It's just his nature, sir. He is rather...extraordinary."

"He'll have to be, Mr. Hornblower," Pellew said quietly. "Tomorrow will be his true test, when he undergoes the lash."

"Aye, sir," said Horatio, sobering. "And I doubt that he will disappoint either of us."

*********

Author's note: There has been some debate as to whether Pellew in truth would have flogged Archie or any other midshipman in full view of the crew, instead of below decks (as depicted in "Mutiny" and "Retribution" with Wellard). My contention is that Archie is several years older than Wellard was - he is past the age of majority or consent - and thus COULD be punished in this way. To support this, I cite the following:

By the 18th century we have reliable accounts of the punishment of midshipmen. These were trainee officers in their teens, usually better educated (or at least better connected) than ordinary seamen, and always referred to as "young gentlemen" rather than boys. One such, Jeffrey Raigersfeld (later Rear-Admiral), described life on the "Mediator" under Captain Collingwood in the 1780s:

... midshipmen were ... always open to the caprice of their commanding officers, punishments awarded to them during their apprenticeship, such as mast-heading, disrating, being turned before the mast, being flogged, and in fact being turned out of the service altogether, all of which are severe punishments; still I am of the opinion, they are ultimately for advantage to the individual, and equally for the benefit of the naval service of the country.

Youth often runs wild and riotous, and requires a tight hand to keep it within bounds. On board the Mediator, all these punishments were inflicted at various times; and one morning after breakfast, while at anchor in St John's Road, Antigua, all the midshipmen were sent for into the Captain's cabin, and four of us were tied up one after the other to the breech of one of the guns, and flogged upon our bare bottoms with a cat-o'-nine-tails, by the boatswain of the ship; some received six lashes, some seven, and myself three. No doubt we all deserved it, and were thankful that we were punished in the cabin instead of upon deck, which was not uncommon in other ships of the fleet.

[Jeffrey Baron de Raigersfeld, The Life of a Sea Officer, c.1830, reprinted in the "Seafarers' Library", Cassell, London, 1929.]

It seems to have been during the late 18th and early 19th centuries that matters of naval discipline gradually began to be more standardized. As far as boys were concerned, there were three levels of corporal punishment, in ascending order of severity: on-the-spot caning, summary ceremonial flogging, and flogging by Court Martial, and this three-pronged system remained essentially in place all through the Navy's Victorian heyday until 1906.

· On-the-spot caning: All boys under 19 could be instantly punished with a cane on the spot for minor offences; no record was kept of these punishments, which could be dished out by any officer or the boatswain. Six strokes of the cane applied to the hands was authorized but, because it impaired a boy's ability to climb the rigging, most captains preferred posterior chastisement. Cabin boys and midshipmen were regularly caned for minor offences or slackness.

· Summary flogging: For more serious offences, boys could be ceremonially flogged with the 'reduced cat' (sometimes referred to as the 'boy's cat' or 'pussy'), consisting of five tails of smooth whipcord. This was at a time when sea captains still had the summary power -- i.e. without reference to any higher authority -- to have sailors flogged with the cat-o'-nine-tails. Such floggings normally took place in the morning on the upper deck in front of the assembled crew, and had to be mentioned in the captain's daily log. Many 19th-century logbooks have survived and can be consulted in the Public Record Office.

· Flogging by Court Martial: Courts Martial were held only for very serious offences. It was rare for boys to be taken before a Court Martial but, when they were, they could be ordered to be flogged with the adult "cat". One such event occurred in 1813, when 17-year-old Valentine Woods was formally sentenced to receive 60 lashes with the cat of nine tails "on his bare Posteriors" for stabbing a crewmate.