Ilatsiak - 4

A three masted ship, freshly painted in horizontal bands of black and yellow, slowly edged away from the dock and into the Thames river current as the steam powered tug took up the slack on the cable attached to the ships stern. The docklines fell away with a splash, then trailed through the water towards the bow. Like two water snakes, releasing their grip on the land and now headed out to sea, they made their way to the sides of the glistening hull and as if attacking the ship itself they climbed up its sides and disppeared into twin holes in the ship’s rails as the sailors handed them into the forepeak. Caps slammed down on the houser holes with a heavy boot stomp for good measure. British Navy style.
David Young stood in place beside the ship’s Captain, James Fitzjames and watched the steam tug work. This was not a new scene for him. He had practically been raised on docks like the very ones they were departing. He had more than once been caught aboard ships at this very point and been tossed into the harbour to find his own way back to shore. The first time it happened he couldn’t really swim and floundered around splashing and yelling until someone on shore pushed a heavy piece of squared timber out to him. He made up his mind to learn to swim after that incident!

* * *
Ships heading off to sea were his whole life and from the time he was ten years old he began trying to stow on board ships coming into his home port of Stromness. Finally, having been discovered aboard once too often, a kindly merchant ship’s Captain named Fergus Anderson, seeing more of the boys good points than his bad, adopted David as his cabin boy. Together, they plied the trading routes between London and various parts of Ireland and occasionally the west coast of France and Spain. David soon became well known about the docks for his easy sea-faring ways, his ability to work hard and his particular flair at learning languages. In fact by this time David had a fair ability at Gaelic, Irish, French, some Spanish as well as passable Dutch besides his second language, English. He was even beginning to learn to read in English, thanks to Fergus, when he had the time. Fergus knew well that a boy like David would never amount to anything however. He lacked wealth and position in the highly structured society of England in the 1840’s. His low birth in the far off wilds of the Orkney Islands would make that a near certainty. It would keep him from raising much beyond an ordinary seaman, a rough and tumble life at best, and a short-lived and dangerous one at worst.
Fergus grew fond of David and the first chance he had, he passed David’s name along to some friends who worked now and then supplying various items, including men, to the Royal Navy. It was well known to those along the Thames wharves that the navy often were on the lookout for promising young lads to serve of cabin boys and midshipmen on naval ships, especially in these times when exploring more than fighting seemed to be the role of many naval ships. This had often been a backdoor into the officer’s world of the Navy and many a boy was able to rise to officer status via this route, many who would have never stood a chance otherwise. With the French wars over, there was not a lot of need for men, but still the occasional boy was sought for some of the special cruises the Navy was asked to send out.
“David!” Fergus could be heard clumping about on the upper deck as he called David’s name. “Where ya ‘bout, lad? I’ve some news fer ya. Where...? Oh! David, come here, quick, now. Listen, ‘ere, will ya!”
David bounded out of the aft cabin hatchway and faced the fatherly Captain Fergus. “Sir?”
“I’ve found you a navy ship, lad. A good ship, with good people. It’s your chance, me boy, your big chance!”
“Sir...I’d prefer to stay here, if I could...”
“Nonsense, lad. With me, there’s no future. With this berth, you be acting as a Midshipman. Think of it! It’s your chance to become something, lad. You being so young, you could learn much on a Navy ship, especially this one. Fitzjames, James Fitzjames is the Captain. He’s a good man, lad and runs a good ship. Made a real name for his’self in China last year or so. They’ll be sailing with Sir John Franklin to make the Northwest Passage. If they make it, and everyone says they will, you’ll be famous, me boy! Imagine that, if you can.”
“Really, sir? They’re going to try the Northwest Passage to China, sir?”
“That’s what I ‘ear, boy, that’s what I ‘ear. Now get along down to the Gravesend docks, quick as you can and ask there for directions to HMS Erebus and see what they thinks a ya. And ‘ere, take this letter introducing yourself. Ask for Mr. Reid. He’s acting as the Master and will let you aboard. Give him the letter. Now get along wi’ ya!”