Boy Confesses Surgeon Bribed Him for False Testimony
Before the treacherous mess boy is dismissed, he confesses that surgeon Mackshane bribed him to give false testimony against the narrator and Morgan, paying him with a pair of stockings and two old checkered shirts that Mackshane’s servant later stole from the boy.
Discharging the Treacherous Mess Boy
The narrator and Morgan dismiss the disloyal mess boy from their service, ignoring his tearful pleas and claims of penitence for his role in betraying them.
Morgan’s Anger Over Missing Mess Provisions
When the keys to their storage chests are delivered, Morgan discovers that all his Cheshire cheese, brandy, and onions have been stolen. He flies into a rage, threatening to prosecute whoever stole the provisions, before calming down once he realizes the loss can be easily remedied.
Mackshane’s Feigned Well-Wishes After Release
Mackshane visits the pair under the pretense of retrieving items from the medicine chest, falsely claiming he worked hard to secure their release and warning them not to give him cause to regret his kindness. The narrator and Morgan do not acknowledge his false generosity, with Morgan hinting that he will eventually repay Mackshane for his wrongs.
Fleet Anchors at Jamaica’s Port Royal
The fleet joins a waiting squadron and anchors at Port Royal, Jamaica for approximately one month, during which time some unspecified consequential activity takes place.
Criticism of Delayed West India Squadron Joining
Critics argue that the fleet’s delay at Jamaica wasted valuable time, as the West India Squadron had advance notice of the fleet’s arrival and could have joined them at the western end of Hispaniola, allowing them to sail directly for Carthagena before Spanish forces could prepare their defenses or even learn of the planned attack.
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