At lunch that day the doctor congratulated himself warmly upon the success of the ducking punishment. ‘I never doubted,’ said he, ‘that it would fail in the case of female convicts. Two buckets they told me sufficed for the most clamorous of the foul-mouths. But I had my misgivings as to its efficacy with male prisoners. I am satisfied. The fellow below seems to have been soaked into repentance. I spoke to him in the prison a little while since, and he humbly begged my pardon and promised never to use another oath again.’
‘It’s a goosefleshing discipline,’ said Captain Barrett! ‘but they’ll make a joke of it in the tropics.’
‘Is this box arrangement your only punishment, Ellice?’ said the subaltern.
‘We have thin water-gruel,’ answered the doctor. ‘I know a man who became sincerely religious after two days of thin water-gruel. Then there are the irons which I have struck off, with or without the addition of handcuffs. Then there is the prison. Separation works wholesomely. Loneliness is good physic for the felon mind. Finally, there’s a black-list, in which I enter the offender’s name for submission to his Excellency the Governor at the end of the voyage.’
The subject was then changed. To this brief talk I listened greedily, forgetting Will’s hint that I should carry a deaf face. I met the doctor’s eyes, but my duties dismissed me to the galley, and I was out of the cuddy while the meal lasted.
That afternoon, whilst I was rubbing the shining length of cuddy-table, the doctor came from his cabin. He looked at me a moment or two and then approached. There was a sort of kindness in his manner; he even put on a grave, condescending smile when he addressed me. It was seldom that Doctor Russell-Ellice smiled.
‘I am glad to believe,’ said he, ‘that I was mistaken in you. One of the apprentices, who, I understand, is very respectably connected, has, I hear, some knowledge of you. But, young man, you should have chosen any vessel sooner than a convict ship to hide yourself in.’
I cast my eyes down.
‘I observe that you take a great interest in all conversation that relates to convicts. I am willing to believe you honest. You will therefore give me, truthfully, your reason for the interest you take in the prisoners?’
‘It is curiosity more than interest, sir. I have often read and heard about convict ships. I cannot help feeling curious and listening and looking about me.’