Mr. Cooper

Word Count 300

The characters of Captain Hornblower and Lieutenant Bush were created by C.S. Forester in the Horatio Hornblower series.

    I’m Senior Midshipmen, Nathan Cooper of the H.M.S. Lydia.  Until one hour ago I’d never been a discipline problem, but that’s changed now.  I couldn’t stomach Mr. Hargrove’s abuse of the cabin boy, young Tom Cochrane, any longer.  Mr. Hargrove, a junior officer, struck young Tom to the deck for lagging with his noon grog; then began to beat him for spilling the grog.  I spoke out of turn in young Tom’s defense, Mr. Hargrove’s foul temperament then turned on me.  Hargrove began to beat me. In defense, without thinking, I struck back. 

    Mr. Hargrove struck my head with a belaying pin and began kicking me while I lay on deck.  Mr. Bush, the first mate, stopped Mr. Hargrove before he could do more damage.  As it is an eye is swollen shut, my head is split, and I have broken ribs.  However, at dawn tomorrow I shall cease to feel.

    Mr. Bush looked down at me, “You know the meaning of this Mr. Cooper?”

    “Aye Sir,” I wheezed, “The Navy says hanging.”

    “Thompson, Muldoon, take Mr. Cooper below, place him in irons, the rest of you about your duty.”

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    At dawn I was brought on deck, the ship’s company was present.  Captain Hornblower and Mr. Bush were on the quarterdeck.

    Mr. Bush read from a parchment.  I’d been promoted to a Junior Officer, yesterday.

    The Captain boomed, “It seems you and Mr. Hargrove were peers at the time of your altercation, Mr. Cooper.  You’ll be spared the yardarm.”

    The crew cheered.

    “Silence,” roared Captain Hornblower.  “You’ll take two-dozen lashes for your indiscretion, Mr. Cooper.”

Like most seamen of his era, Mr. Cooper suffered his lashes stoically, before losing consciousness

Word Count 300