James Smith is a gentle soul. Him have a kind heart, always looking for the good in a person. Not able to see that not every heart have good intentions.

After a few weeks, we all start to find what the sailors call sea legs and, just like on the hulk, McDuff get us working. We must go up on deck if the weather stable, move round, clean utensils, wash clothes, leave them to dry, flapping in the sailing breeze. I don’t mind the work, keep me mind from straying too much, from getting overcome by the dread of all that water.

And when me mind settle down, I start to hear things. The sailors not happy with this Captain Bolton, not happy at all. They always whispering, complaining when him not round. Say the captain is a mean-hearted man. A rascal, cheap with him rations.

Is not only the crew that unhappy with him, is also Surgeon McKay, the doctor on board. I overhear him talking to Bolton when me up on deck.

‘We need to do something about the rations, Bolton. The prisoners are half starved. Too many of them are falling sick. When we get to the Cape of Good Hope, we must take on more supplies than you have apportioned.’

‘No need to adjust the rations,’ Bolton reply. ‘There is nothing in the rule book that says we must provide more than the standard issue.’

‘I’m in charge when it comes to the welfare of all those on board.’

‘Aye, I remember. But it’s my boat. My crew.’

‘You call this a crew. Starved, miserable, wretched creatures. Scrimping is illegal. I would never have come on board if I’d known you’d employ such methods to crew the ship.’

‘Like I said, McKay, they are my crew and under my jurisdiction. Who they are and how I treat them has nothing to do with you.’

‘We’ll see about that. But if we don’t get the rations right, I cannot guarantee we will arrive in Port Jackson with a full load of convicts. Need I remind you, a dead convict means no payment. And we get a bonus if they arrive healthy, not half dead.’

When is me turn to collect the plates, clean them after the morning meal, I stay close to Richard Peachy, ask him bout what I heard.

‘That Captain Bolton is only interested in money and ’ow much he’s going to make,’ Peachy whisper. ‘And when it comes to rations, we supposed to get so much o’ this, so much o’ that, but Bolton only brings on board the cheapest and poorest of staples.’

I tell him what McKay said bout the scrimps and him shake him head when him tell me.