Allison; Taking Control

Chapter 5

"Hi, Mr. Washington! When did that sand glass run out and need to be turned? How long ago was that?

As young Mr. Washington ran up to flip the glass, Allison smirked in the darkness.

"My sincere apologies, Mr. Isaac .Six horns!

In accordance, the ship's bell rang three neat pairs of six times.

“So, Mr. Washington, just exactly what were you doing when you should have been taking care of your duty of keeping time?”

"Practicing with the s-sextant, sir," he said.

“I'm sure the Captain would be pleased with your dedication to your studies, but he would probably be even more dissatisfied with your lack of vigilance! After all, you are standing a watch!

"Yes, Mr. Isaac , yes.It will never occur again."

"Thank you, Mr. Washington. I think we can get by with this one minor error, but make sure you keep your word!According to what I've heard, Bosun Tallow once flayed a squirt like you and ate him for breakfast! Now, keep an eye on the weather for the rest of this watch!”

"Y-y-yes, Mr. Isaac ," I say. Washington vanished into the night.

Isaac was needed on this ship, though he was tough, stern, and obstinate—more set in his ways than a wall of mortared stone. His experience would undoubtedly be crucial in situations where the core of officers lacked experience. Allison, on the other hand, thought he would have to be careful about how much respect the man received. Although Isaac 's 35 years of experience earned him respect, his domineering personality had the potential to dominate men with less experience to the point where a command's integrity would be irreparably damaged.In the wake of poor Washington's reprimand, Allison saw an opportunity to maintain his authority in the eyes of the elderly veteran and inject a little humor into the situation.

The sailing master was now standing with one hand behind his back and his spyglass tucked under the other as Allison approached quietly until he was just behind the backlit form.

Master Isaac : "If I recall correctly, the Royal Navy generally forbids cannibalism."

Isaac moved around, "Wha?"My God. Captain! You move like a cat, I swear.I never saw or heard of you.

A good quality for a commander, don't you think? When no one is looking at the watch, the actions it takes are often a more honest reflection of how it really acts. Agreed?”

"Why, yes, sir, absolutely!" Isaac retorted.After that, he took a brief pause, as though thinking of an explanation. Young Washington seems to have lost track of his excellent navigational skills. He required a reminder of his duties.

Yes, Mr. Isaac , he did, and I commend you. However, it appears to be a good night to experiment with the sextant given the clear sky. Since we started, we haven't had the chance at all. However, despite its refreshing qualities, youthful enthusiasm sometimes requires sound governance.

Isaac responded more passionately, "My thoughts precisely, sir."

Allison inquired, "I wonder why Mr. Washington was so engrossed in his stellar navigation tonight."

"Well, sir, might have had something to do with this," I replied.

Isaac then brought out the chart that was being used to track the ship's position.

"I was telling the young man about some of the changes that needed to be made because of that storm.We discussed how to make those adjustments after determining our position and taking into account any existing conditions.

"I see, and where exactly are we at this point?It's been some time since my last report."

Isaac mentioned where they were on the chart.Sir, we are making progress. Although we may not be able to meet your schedule precisely due to the winds, we will absolutely do everything in our power to do so.

Master Isaac replied, "I can ask for no more."Continue.I'll be forward for a while, and if necessary, I'll probably return below.

"Yes, sir."

Allison walked along the port side of the flush deck toward the bow. When they saw their captain walking by in the dim light, several hands raised their foreheads in salute. Standing just above the bowsprit, he came to a stop and gazed out into the night.It was comforting to hear the steady, even sound of the ship's hull piercing the Atlantic wavelets as it surged forward. If I could, I would set even more canvas. It's time to end this uncertainty. Yes, it is true that humans have an instinctive fear of the unknown; however, I contend that the adage is most accurate when the unknown is created by humans.

His mind went back to the days before he even knew this little ship existed, and he was there in the misty darkness.

Things were okay, at least for a while, when we left the bed and breakfast early that morning. The gray skies that had been present since the moment he left New York City finally let loose their growing accumulation of rain. As the mentor headed along the streets which wound their direction through the two woods and fields, the typically harsh surface started to experience the ill effects of the consistent deluge; despite the fact that the softer ground made this more reassuring for Allison's hindquarters, it eventually led to other predicable problems.

He was already soaked to the bone when the slightest breeze pushed the rain through the open sides of his carriage. When one side of the coach's wheels got stuck in the mud, it got even worse. Even though they might have slowed down, they seemed to be moving along nicely for a minute. Then, Allison was tossed fiercely aside as the carriage pitched at a sharp point and halted abruptly. He also overheard the driver yelling at the horses in front to calm them as they neighed and whined in agony. At that point, even if only for a split second, Allison thought back to the grandiose promises Mr. Mike had made to him about his journey and how kindly his face might look now that it had been forced to change.He was being severely tested for his patience as he was confronted with a thought unworthy of a gentleman.He thought there was no way the trip could have made him feel less at ease—now this!

It was fortunate that there was a secluded hamlet nearby, and the good people there were generous and helpful. Not only had the coach become stuck, but one of the stuck wheels had broken several spokes and needed to be replaced. Fortunately, these people were able to get it replaced.

While others labored outside in the mud, Allison couldn't just remain where he was and be nothing more than a weight; As a result, he was compelled to leave and assist. A minimum of a dozen locals were present to assist the driver and him in releasing the coach. They were more than happy to assist them immediately in replacing the wheel once they were finished.

Allison couldn't help but be proud of the way his fellow colonists had helped an unknown traveler, much less a British officer who they couldn't have known was born as one of them, despite the cold, wetness, and mud up to his shins. However, their willingness to assist may have been influenced by more than just their good nature and the promise of an activity to break up the monotony of their country lives. For sure, while components of the English Armed force were likely seen crossing the streets through these parts all at once or another, a maritime official was an out and out oddity.

He could see others who had come out to the road to take a look as he had pulled, heaved, and lifted alongside these people in his shirt sleeves and without a coat. Some people made eye contact with him while conversing with others, others just stared at him, and some parents sat down next to their children and pointed in his direction while introducing themselves to them. He seemed to get even more attention when the work was almost done and he switched out his blue uniform coat for one with white cuffs. Some people thanked him for protecting them from the "savages who were turning against them" and asked to shake his hand. This man who "sailed the big ships" continued to draw the astonishment of others.The children, who probably had never seen anything larger than a river barge in their lives, walked around him, saluting and yelling, "Aye aye, sir!" at every opportunity. Avast there!"or "Hey ho!" Uncomfortably, Allison couldn't help but smile.

The coachman in his brown uniform told him that everything was ready and that they could still reach Trenton by nightfall. Allison was eager to get back on his way, remembering that this was an important part of the orders he had received. However, he felt compelled to express some gratitude to the people who had been so kind to them. Allison approached an elderly, bearded man who had been in charge of leading the majority of his fellow country folk through the process of completing the work. He pulled all of the coins he had on him from his pockets and offered whatever compensation he could, requesting that something be given to everyone who had helped him. The man refused, claiming to speak for all of them.

“No sir. That is unacceptable to us.Even though we don't get access to city newspapers on a daily basis, we still hear what the messengers and postmen have to say. We know what's going on with the French and the damned Indians because we see what they bring us from time to time. We are appreciative of your presence and efforts.

Despite the fact that Allison was not a foot soldier, these individuals were grateful for his service regardless of the location because of the growing fear caused by the conflict with the French and their native allies. He thanked him once more, tipped his hat, and returned to the coach that had been fixed. With mud still covering his shoes and pants, he got inside and signaled the driver to move on.