5. The journey South to Cape Town
Ned was quite chipper the following morning. The swelling in his buttocks had subsided and the marines had spared him their attentions, showing a somewhat more gentle side of their nature than Ned or I had expected. McAlister had achieved success in getting Gary Swain assigned to the marines mess and Jim was in high spirits as well. But the morning was spoilt with the news that the convict who had been flogged the previous day had died from his wounds and we had to attend to his burial. Death from such a flogging was quite uncommon and the doctor explained that the man must have had a weakness in his heart to have succumbed. Although no one was to blame, the other convicts grew restless at the news and the marine guard was on heightened alert for trouble.
Once the burial had been completed the ship's crew set about the business of getting the fair winds to speed us as quickly as possible towards Cape Town.
In the days that followed our lessons became more onerous and difficult and we all had to study hard to master the complexities of seamanship. Relaxation took the form of endless hours in the rigging and the occasional furtive adventure in the anchor storage area with one or more of the boys who had gathered into a circle of friendship which included me.
By the time I was able to enjoy one of these excursions with Ned and Gary, both had settled down to a routine of discipline and _s_e_x_ with the marines. As we furtively compared our finest attributes, Ned and Gary related their stories.
Ned had been left alone for only one night during which he was able to allow the pain of his beating to subside but the following evening was inevitably the object of the marines' affections. Gary was also there and explained what had occurred thus:
"They came to the mess for dinner which Ned and I served and from the beginning it was clear that we were not going to get away without being rogered. More than once, one of the men would grab at our backsides or fondle our privates as we leaned over the table. They made terrible jokes about how boys were better than women and how tight we would be. As we cleared the table and took the plates to the deck for washing, I suggested to Ned that we should use some of the fat from the cooking to moistened our holes so that, when they did penetrate us, it would be easier. Ned was so obliging and got me quite excited and he was sporting an erection after I had attended to his hole.
Thus prepared, we returned to the cabin where the men were in various states of casual dress. More than one was rubbing himself in the most obscene manner, making clear their intentions.
Without ceremony we were both order to strip for inspection and they proceeded to make comparisons talking about my soft nether cheeks and Ned's more muscular backside. They also looked closely at the marks which the canes had left on our buttocks and seemed to agree that they could "warm us up" a little without damaging us. So we knew what was in store form that moment.
They were really quite kind about it and I don't think that they really intended to hurt us because they tended to be quite playful and hugged us from time to time.
They couldn't decide how to determine what to do so they turned it into a game. They wrote down their names on little pieces of paper and, separately, what they would like to do with us. The rules excluded penetrating us - for that pleasure was to come later.
Of the ten marines, four were on duty so we were the attention of the remaining six. We had to draw one name from one tin cup and a separate piece of paper from the other and that would determine who would do what.
Ned had to do first and drew out a name which he read out and then drew a piece of paper which told him that he was to bet six strokes of the belt. The marine he had chosen took a strap and gave Ned six hefty blows which left his bum nice and red. Ned then moved to the side while I repeated the procedure. I was embarrassed because I can't read so the marines had Ned read out the name of the person who was to play and the punishment which was simply "suck". I quickly noticed that the marine I had selected had lowered his britches and revealed his semi-erect organ. I had to get on my knees and suck on that thing which was disgusting. The man had obviously not bathed for some time and the stench from his privates was horrible but I had no choice in the matter. I had to use my tongue and mouth on that huge organ to get it erect and I almost choked as he thrust it further and further into my throat.
After I had done this for some time, the game began again and continued until we had either been beaten or had to perform some other duty for each of the men. All in all, Ned got 12 blows with the strap and sucked off four of the men while I had to use my mouth on three of them and got 18 strokes of the strap.
With our backsides sore and our jaws aching, we were then ordered to draw out all the names and put them in two piles of three. The first marine selected took Ned and, with his two accomplices to assist, spread him out on the floor and proceeded to sodomise him until he spent his load into Ned's backside. The three then changed places and repeated the procedure.
The leader of the other group had me in much the same fashion and by the time we were able to get dressed they had each used our arses at least twice and our mouths more than once.
Finally they let us go to our hammocks and get some rest."
"I had my arse over the side of the ship for about an hour" Ned piped up as Gary completed the description of these events. Those guys put so much sunk up me that I thought it would never stop flowing."
"Didn't it hurt?" I inquired.
"What do you think!" Ned responded. "You take it from McAlister and we know that that hurts you because we can all hear you crying out. We might be more used to it than you but taking the _c_o_c_k_s of three big men - well, of course it hurts."
"You hear McAlister and me?" I asked.
"Of course we hear," replied Ned "this is a pretty small ship. Everyone knows when Robbie McAlister has his wench."
I blushed at the thought but, upon reflection, realised that I hear Jim when Mr Finch was especially brutal with him and from time to time hear muffled sounds from other parts of the ship as the sodomites went about their business. I resolved however to try to keep my performances to a less vocal and public level in the future although McAlister's massive manhood hurt terribly as it speared my backside.
As I was pondering this weighty matter, the door of the anchor locker where we were meeting was swung open by the Bosun who grinned obscenely at his discovery.
"Out you come my boys," he ordered as we gasped in horror at our discovery.
Startled, we crawled out of the rather confined space and stood at attention before the gloating Bosun.
"I'll have the hides off all three of you for this you know" he stated. "Now go straight to the Midshipmen's Mess while I fetch the First Officer."
The three of us trooped along the deck and down to the Mess and waited, not knowing what we had done that was so wrong.
Presently the First Officer arrived with the Master-at-Arms (Mr Michaels) and the Bosun.
Our interrogation was conducted by Mr Michaels who had apparently been told by the Bosun that we were in the locker for the purposes of indent behavior.
"Is this true?" he asked of me.
"No!" I replied emphatically. "We just went there to talk."
"And what is so important that you cannot talk of it on deck?"
"Nothing, but we just wanted to be together. Honest!" I exclaimed defensively.
Ned chimed in: "Please Sir, we weren't doing anything but talking."
"Lies!" stated the otherwise silent First Officer. "You wouldn't have been there if what you were doing was not something you could have done in sight of the rest of the crew. I find you all guilty and shall consult the Captain and Mr McAlister as to your punishment. Dismissed."
Shaking, we left the Mess and went up on deck where we tried to figure out how to get out of our predicament. We resolved that I should speak to Mr McAlister and so I proceeded to his cabin where he was relaxing, reading a book. I knocked and entered.
"What is up Christopher?" McAlister asked.
For the next few minutes I blurted out the story of our innocent meeting and our discovery.
When I had finished, McAlister look directly at me for a long time before he finally spoke. "You stupid, stupid boy," he said. "You realise that you could be put in chains and flogged for this? Come over here!"
Meekly I walk to him and he grabbed my wrist close. His other hand suddenly grabbed the front of my trousers which he pulled down. He made a close inspection of shirt tails and then simply ordered me to get out.
Confused, I pulled my pants up and hurriedly left the cabin. I raced up on deck to catch my breath and steady myself as Ned and Gary scuttled over to me. After a minute or two I explained that McAlister had warned of dire consequences and that I didn't know what was going to happen. After a while Jim came over to us and informed me that McAlister wanted to see me. Nervously I proceeded as directed.
"I've spoken with the Captain, the First officer and the Bosun" said McAlister. "I've told them that, since the Bosun didn't see any evidence of arousal or intimacy when he discovered you three, and since there was no physical evidence that I could see from my inspection of your body, there is every possibility that you were simply stupid. The Captain agrees but considers that you should be publicly punished. Given that the other two are in no fit state to be severely disciplined, I shall cane you this evening and then, in three days, when you have all recovered, the Captain shall announce your punishment. Tonight, when I return from supper, I shall expect to find you stripped naked and bending over the end of the bed. I am going to beat some sense into you if it's the last thing I do. Now go about your duties."
Shocked by the tirade I left and went to assist in with the preparations for the evening meal.
As the sun set McAlister went to dine with the Captain and the officers and I set about preparing for my beating. I cleaned myself thoroughly and brushed my hair and then waited. When I judged that the Officers' supper might be just about finished, I started to remove my clothes and then, as I heard McAlister approaching, I removed my trousers and bent, completely naked, over the end of the bed.
Looking to port I saw McAlister enter carrying both a long whippy cane and a much sturdier instrument. I watched as he closed the door and started to remove his shirt to reveal that big, broad chest which I admired so much. He kept his eyes fixed upon me as he disrobed and finally took up the thinner of the canes and approached me.
"Spread those legs, boy" he ordered as he pushed me further down onto the bed.
As I spread my legs I made sure to pull my testicles out of the way and to anchor them beneath me as I lay on the bed.
Measuring the distance with the cane, McAlister swung it well behind him and, with a pirouette-like motion swung it with full force into my arse. I shut my eyes moments before the blow struck and was surprised by the lack of pain that I registered. But a moment later the pain arrived as if a knife had sliced across my backside. I grabbed the pillow and buried my pace into it to stop from crying out as the second stroke landed. Slowly McAlister beat me until my whole backside was ablaze.
Finally, he stopped and stepped to my side with sweat streaming down his chest. As he gulped in air, he sought out a decanter of wine and poured a glass. I took this a signal that the punishment was over and, relieved, slowly got off the bed.
"Get back down there, you stupid boy" he yelled. "I haven't finished with you by a long shot."
Sobbing, I resumed my previous position as McAlister came over and, holding the glass in one hand, grabbed my hair and pulled my face up to almost meet his.
"Don't you realise that I am trying to protect you, you stupid, stupid boy. Every man on this ship would like a piece of that arse of yours. Are you so stupid that you can't see it in their eyes? They won't touch you while you are my cabin boy but if you can't start getting in line, I'll throw you to them and let every one of them have their way with you."
Releasing my hair, he pushed me back onto the bed and went to fetch the far heavier cane.
The first blow from the vicious instrument broke the skin of my already swollen backside and forced the breath from my lungs. As I regathered my breath the cane whistled through the air and struck a second and third time leaving me gasping and so breathless that I couldn't even cry out.
Suddenly McAlister threw the cane onto the floor as I writhed in agony on the bed.
Kicking my legs apart, he removed his trousers and suddenly one form of pain was replaced by another as he speared his weapon into my rectum. His hand gripped my sides as he pounded into me, tearing the skin around my hole. As his rhythm continued he put his hands under me and pulled me upwards until my back was tight against his sweaty chest. This motion intensified my pain as my hole was stretched further and my beaten backside rubbed continuously against his thighs and groin. Finally, I felt his member swell inside me as his orgasm erupted into my bowels. After a few more thrusts, he collapsed with me under him onto the bed, spent and exhausted.
Perhaps ten minutes passed before his organ subsided and he withdrew from the confines of my arse. Slowly he got up and wiped himself down and finally, told me to get cleaned up.
With blood oozing from the weals on my backside and, I was sure, from my anus, and water streaming from my eyes and nose, I gradually stood up. Gingerly I felt my cheeks which seemed to have swollen terribly. I shuffled to the side of the cabin and got some cloth with which to wipe my face and then my backside as McAlister slumped down onto the bed.
With an urgent need to relieve myself of the large quantity of semen with which I had been impregnated, I made my way topside and emptied my bowels of McAlister's juice. I cared not that the crew on the quarterdeck could see me. The wind seemed to relieve my pain somewhat and my sobbing ceased as relief came. Once emptied and cleaned, I returned to the cabin. McAlister was sleeping and did not stir as I quietly lay on the floor and tried to avoid concentrating on my throbbing backside as, eventually, the relief of sleep arrived.
The following day, and during those that followed, I tried to keep out of McAlister's way although at night that was obviously impossible. His love making became more gentle and there was a mutual intensity in our encounters. I had not quite made the connection between discipline and the more brutal _s_e_x_ual attacks and during those evenings I really enjoyed our mutual exploration and satisfaction.
Three days had passed and nothing had been said to Ned, Gary or myself about the threat of punishment hanging over our heads. Trouble below decks had erupted and one man had nearly died but McAlister did not discuss the reasons. Rumours were rife but it was impossible to determine the precise cause.
We had fair winds as we approached the Cape and Sunday services were observed on the main deck as usual. The Captain led the services and spoke to the assembly about the fair state of our ship and the fine time we were making on our journey. But my heart sank when he began to speak of recent incidents which showed a lack of discipline and informed the company that all hands were required on deck at midday to witness what he described as "a suitable lesson to anyone who thought that he was too lax".
Once the religious observances were completed, Ned, Gary and I gathered to ponder our fate. Nervously we watched as a grating was lashed to the stays and a barrel was secured to the main mast. I recalled McAlister's words about being flogged and thought that he might not have talked the Captain out of such a drastic and unusual punishment for us boys.
When the punishment parade was called, all three of us stood together as the Master-at-Arms appeared carrying the red bag in which the cat-of-nine-tails rested. He was accompanied by the Bosun who looked upon us with a wicked gleam in his eye and a cruel smile on his face.
The Captain arrived and a hush fell over the ship's company. I could feel other sailors eyeing we three as if to gauge or degree of apprehension. My legs started to feel quite shaky and my stomach tied itself in knots. Surreptitiously I touched the back of my hand to Gary's for reassurance. He pressed back, acknowledging the bond we shared.
"Three boys were caught in the anchor locker some days ago. I am sure you all suspect that they were up to no good or perhaps engaging in depraved acts. If I thought this was so I should have them in irons now but a thorough investigation has revealed that they were being foolish but not depraved. I shall not tolerate clandestine meeting on board this ship and I have determined that each shall receive two dozen lashes. One is a convict and shall receive punishment accordingly. The other two are ship's boys and shall be dealt with in the manner of a birching.
"There has also been some fighting below decks. One convict was seriously injured and his attacked shall receive eight dozen lashes. Master-at -Arms, proceed with the punishments and see that the lashes are well laid on."
Mr Michaels immediately sprang into action and called for Ned to be stripped and tied up. While we waited, I wondered as to what the Captain had intended when he referred to a birching but suspected the worst - that the whip was to be used in the absence of a birch rod.
As the men who were attending to Ned stepped back, I could not help but notice how frail and vulnerable he looked. He was beautiful in his nakedness and it seemed a great pity that he now to be scarred by the whip.
As the Bosun took the cat from its bag and cleared its terrible strands, Ned thrashed his head from side to side as if searching for pity or for escape but neither were forthcoming.
"Commence" instructed Mr Michaels and the Bosun began his terrible work.
Ned screamed from the first blow to the last as the whip tore firstly into his shoulders, then his back and finally his buttocks. After a dozen strokes blood was evident from his neck to his thighs and he struggled furiously against his bonds to try an escape the pain.
As the Bosun cleared the whip of Ned's blood and skin in preparation for the second half of Ned's punishment, Mr Michaels said something inaudible to the Bosun and the second dozen seemed to somewhat more lightly applied. Ned's cries continued as more flesh was ripped from his back and his posterior and as "twenty four" was announced and the final lash applied, I found myself crying at the sight before me. As Ned was released, I quickly dried my tears lest that be taken as a sign of fear.
"You, boy" said Mr Michaels looking at me. I moved forward not knowing what to do and was led by one of the Bosun's assistants to the barrel. The seaman then told me quietly to strip and I removed my shirt. In a daze, I could hardly manage even that simple task and before I knew it the seaman was untying my trousers and lowering my undergarments. He fondled me as he did so but I took no notice of his petty pleasure.
Two seamen came forward and grabbed my wrists and pulled me over the large barrel until my backside was almost on top of it. Two other grabbed my legs and pulled them apart and held them tightly as the Bosun moved to my side. I saw immediately that my worst fears were about to be realised and that the cat was to be used upon my defenseless backside.
As the punishment commenced I quickly realised that a whip creates a much greater impact than a cane and my body convulsed at each stroke despite the strong hands holding my limbs. I cried and bucked as time and again the evil whip tore at my buttocks. Blood seeped down my thighs and legs as the flogging continued. My mind went into a red haze as pain overwhelmed it and I could hear nothing as I struggled in vain to escape the ever increasing blanket of pain.
I was so absorbed by the pain that I was not even aware when the final lash had been announced and delivered and had to be helped down off the barrel and carried below to receive attention.
Jim later told me of what had transpired following my departure from the scene:
"Gary was dealt with just as you. His crying and thrashing about were almost as violent as your performance and, I have to say, quite a number of the men were clearly excited at the spectacle. Gary's arse bled not quite as much as yours but there was plenty of his skin and blood in the cat by the time the flogging was finished. The Bosun had to wash it before it could be used again.
"Then the convict who had caused the fight was stripped and tied to the grating upon which Ned's blood already was drying. They showed the poor bugger no mercy. He cried out after about a dozen lashes and his wailing continued until he passed out. I think it was quite clear that he died well before the final lashes were applied but the Bosun and Mr Michaels didn't stop until the full eight dozen were given. Immediately he flogging was completed, the man was cut down and pronounced dead and with that they tied him in canvas and put him over the side."
I leaned of the convict's death while I was lying naked on Mr McAlister's bunk sobbing from the excruciating pain in my arse. Ned was in the Midshipmens' Mess and Gary was apparently in the Surgeon's cabin, both in a similar state although Ned was racked with pain over a much wider area than either Gary or I.
For two days we were unable to move. The Surgeon attended us and washed our wounds. On the Sunday evening, Ned later told me that he was mounted by several of the men who showed no mercy at his painful condition and Gary told me that the Surgeon had fingered him as he (the Surgeon) brought himself _s_e_x_ual relief. McAlister left me alone in my agony that night and used his hand to relieve his _s_e_x_ual tension. He spent himself on my naked body and rubbed the juices across my arse but at least he put no pressure on my swollen and bloodied posterior.
The following night, still unable to move very mush, McAlister had no such compassion and played with me backside and cruelly slapped it to cause me to cry out before finally thrusting himself into me. The pain was more than my mind could bear and I fell unconscious as he commenced the rape. Blood and semen lay in a dried pool between my legs the following morning when I struggled out of the bunk for the first time.
I tried to dress but my backside was so swollen that I could not get my trousers tied and so I returned to the bed to await the Surgeon's ministrations. Walking, he told me, was essential and he forced me to get up and walk about the cabin. Surprisingly this exercise, while causing agony at the time, did relieve the pain and soon I was clearly on the road to recovery. Scabs formed over the tears in my arse and the healing process was speeded by the regular washing with seawater.
Four days after being so cruelly dealt with for such an innocent matter, I returned to the deck and to my lessons to find both Ned and Gary in much the same condition as I. Days later, when the scabs had fallen off, scars were evident where the cat had visited our bodies. While they would fade, each of carried evidence of our flogging for the rest of our days.
The remainder of the journey to the Cape was rather uneventful although discipline was more rigid and the crew more circumspect in their behaviour. Mr McAlister finally thought enough of my company to permit me to call him by his given name of Robert and even to use the even more familiar Robbie when we shared moments of intimacy. Without the need for any further disciplining for me, McAlister became more tender and appreciative in his love making and, although I could not get comfortable with the act of penetration, I came to look forward to our shared moments together.
Ned recovered from his wounds and spent many of his nights satisfying the lust of the marines while Gary and Jim were also no strangers to the _s_e_x_ual appetites of their respective masters. Despite this, we were happy in our existence and despite the occasional storm which sought to overwhelm the ship, it was a fair and sunny day as the "Agincourt" sailed into harbour. The crew was in particularly fine spirits at the prospect of shore leave and even the mood of the convicts appeared less solemn with the possibility of getting off the ship and onto dry land, even if their accommodation was to be a prison.
For his part, Mr McAlister started talking about his appetite for women as we neared our destination and suggested that it was time that Jim and I should meet the fairer _s_e_x_. His appetite for my charms seemed the slacked as the day of our arrival neared and it was with a sense of wanting that I endured an increasingly platonic relationship with the man for whom I felt such passion and needs. His continued insistence that I take a women when we reached port did little to generate enthusiasm for the halt to our journey but the prospect of fresh fools and new provisions for our vessel, as well as the opportunity to explore, albeit briefly, a new land did generate an element of excitement within me.