The Brothers' Jolly

By Kenneth E. Watkins

The story deals with the birth of an illegitimate child who is slightly deformed with a curvature of the spine. The Father,Eduard Jolly a wealthy trader, refuses to accept the child and buys off the mother with ten sovereigns, heartbroken the mother moves to her sister in Manchester. Within a year Eduard Jolly snr. marries and sires another son who is christened William. The illegitimate son is christened Eduard Jolly, in the hope that in later life he may glean an inheritance. He is seven years old when his mother dies and he is sent to an orphanage. William grows up with all of the home comforts until the age of twelve years when he is accepted by the navy as a mid-shipman. Each boy suffers the strict regime they have been cast into. At the age of sixteen Eduard jnr. is a strong as any man, he falls foul of a master whom he crushes in his muscular arms and runs away to seek refuge in his aunts and uncles house. A fair comes to town and he is hired by a showman to act as a strong man. William is sent ashore in charge of a press gang to secure men. He returns to the ship with three weak and emaciated men. This causes the captain of the ship to devise a method in which William and a petty officer are sent ashore acting as though they have jumped ship to discover where the men of the village hide when the press is on shore. William becomes enamoured of Grace Fellows, landlady of the Flowing Well Inn. He and the petty officer are engaged by her to work at the inn. The petty officer is murdered by Gypsies and William absconds from the navy. The brothers lead their lives as they see fit and it is only when Eduard jnr , at the age of twenty one, goes in search of solicitors for a possible inheritance, only to discover that he has a brother two years his junior. and eventually the brothers meet.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Dec 14, 2015
• ISBN: 9781504993654

Kenneth E. Watkins

Kenneth Watkins was born in London in January 1937. With the outbreak of the Second World War the family moved to Oxford. He grew up in an environment of the countryside reflected in later years in various poems and had no compunction to return to London to live. After leaving school with a basic education he moved from job to job and joined the army at seventeen for three years. Prior to joining up he met Ann who became his wife at the age of nineteen when he was due to be sent to Cyprus. After a six months stint the regiment came back to England and for him demobilisation. He joined an asphalt roofing company where he worked his way up to supervisory status as a foreman. During this time he also took up judo and then to wrestling, first on a fairground booth and then as a professional where he performed in many towns and cities throughout England. He finally gave up wrestling when combining working and performing became too much. It was then that his wife had him to start writing. First there were poems and prose, then short stories, and finally a historical novel that she had encouraged and shared with him. Completed only a few months before her demise from cancer. He would therefore like to dedicate the book to her memory.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

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Black cumulus thunder clouds crowded in across the early evening sky cloaking all around in grey shadows. A screeching wind dragged savagely at the boat cloak of nineteen-year-old Midshipman William Jolly. With one hand grasping the cloak about him and the other clasping his bicorn hat to his head, he leaned into the salt spray wind and walked steadfastly along the stone jetty to the waiting boat.

He stopped and turned to stare at the pressed men hunched against the wind, surrounded by eight burly sailors, hastened along by the petty officer’s starter.

The Press had been poor, having spent the whole day ashore; William had only managed to secure six scrawny men. He held up his hand when a sudden squall of biting rain whipped across the group causing the pressed men to cower even lower in their threadbare clothing.

Rowers aboard! William yelled. The sailors climbed easily down the wet and slimy steps and clambered aboard the waiting boat effortlessly, despite the fact that it was tossing around in a maelstrom of foam-flecked waves.

The six prisoners made their way cautiously down the weed-slimed steps. If Fred Percival, the Petty Officer had left them to their own devices all might have been well. But he just loved to use his starter on some unexpected rump. Percival leaned down and knotted rattan howled through the air striking the last man in line with a mighty thwack.

The prisoner gave a cry of pain and in his attempt to avoid another lash from the starter. He tried to squeeze by the man in front and in doing so, slipped and pitched forward taking everyone with him. Three landed painfully in the boat, the other three struggled to escape in the freezing water, but before they could be saved they sank below the white capped waves. The three in the boat were thrown bailing bowls and ordered to toss the bilge-water lee-side not windward.

To alleviate the bone aching cold, one discovered that bailing quickly warmed him enough to stop his teeth from chattering, and was doing so when the Petty Officer and William hopped aboard, and the boat was cast off.

The other two were in the depths of seasickness misery rolling around in the bilge water at the bottom of the boat. Percival stepped clumsily past the rowers and laid into the men’s prostrate bodies with his starter. "Bail you bastards! Bail! Bail! Bail.! Each shout was accompanied by the howling knotted rope’s end thrashing down on them.

Dragging their emaciated and bruised bodies to the side of the boat they did their best at bailing. Percival sat back keeping his beady eye on them, lest they flag from their task.

The men at the oars pulled strongly towards the ship and on William’s order they stood off enabling him to judge the right time to close to the ship’s side. Too soon and they would be swamped, too late and the boat could turn turtle or end up smashed and drown every man aboard.

Give way! shouted William, raising his voice above the squalling wind. Standing up in the stern sheets he watched the ship with a practiced eye, ensuring that the boat was on course by keeping the bows into the waves to prevent being capsized.

When William came on board amidst the driving rain, Silas Wilberforce, a barrel chested short individual with the face of a prize-fighter, and captain of HMS Meridian, turned from the binnacle, eyed the three emaciated and frozen men disdainfully as they struggled aboard and stood in a shivering group.

Turning to William, Wilberforce snorted in disgust. Get them below and report to my cabin mister! He turned and stamped off sure-footed as a mountain- goat on the slippery canting deck.

William gulped in anguish. In an unsteady voice he instructed Petty Officer Percival to get the men below decks, then turned and followed Wilberforce to his cabin. Percival turned to watch him go with an anxious look on his face. He wondered if perhaps he should have said something in his defense.

Too late now, he decided. Besides, it was William’s word against his if it came to it. With a resigned shrug he turned to the pressed men and ordered them to a hatchway.

William drew back his broad shoulders and nervously knocked on the Captain’s door. There was the sound of a chair scraping on the floor planking followed by the rough voice of Wilberforce calling, Enter! William snatched off his hat and palming his hand over his thick dark hair hanging in a queue, he opened the door, stepped into the cabin and closed it behind him with a loud click. Wilberforce was standing with his back to William staring out of the stern lights. William stood loosely to attention and rolled with the ship that pulled intermittently snubbing on its anchor ropes, while he waited with baited breath.

He stood quaking in his shoes when Wilberforce suddenly turned round. Lifting his bald dome, he glowered at him from under his straggling bushy eyebrows and jutted his square jaw in William’s direction. Damned bad show today Jolly! His eyes gimleted William with an unfaltering stare.

I… That is, we scoured the countryside and only found six men sir.

Wilberforce’s eyes opened in amazement. Six?! Stap me eyes Sir! Six! He bellowed, as though shouting to a man in the top-most shrouds. You’ve only brought three aboard Mister. Where’s the other three…? Well…? I’m waiting!

Er… began William, dreading the Captain’s wrath that he was about to receive for losing the men. I…um… There was an accident at the jetty steps sir.

Accident? cut in Wilberforce. Explain yourself sir!

William gulped nervously. Well sir one of the prisoners slipped on the jetty steps and fell, in doing so he took the others with him. Three landed in the boat and the other three were lost to the sea and drowned sir before we could rescue them.

The Captain shook his head. More haste less speed Mister, take more care of landsmen in future. Clear? William gulped nervously Aye, aye, sir. Clear.

He inwardly relaxed when Wilberforce modulated his voice and asked. What I want to know is why there were so few men about when you were ashore?

I don’t know sir, could another ship have been before us? offered William, suddenly relieved at the turn of events at not being bawled out for inefficiency.

Mmmm, could be you’re right mister. I think there’s more to it than that. I believe as with the majority of would be impressed men, they go into hiding until we up anchor. Except of course that those men do not use the usual places to hide and the villagers remain tight lipped as to their whereabouts. The Captain gave out a series of sneezes and shivered involuntarily.

Brushing the sudden attack aside he looked speculatively at William who enthused somewhat cheerfully. Yes! But of course sir, that would explain everything.

Wilberforce gave a wintry smile. So how do we catch them Mister?

The storm abated slightly whilst they were talking. The ship ceased to jerk on the anchor ropes and settled down on a more even keel. Wilberforce held up his hand to stem any reply, he checked his chronometer, crossed to the ship’s log and made a laborious entry in ink using a scratchy quill pen. Laying the quill to one side he directed his attention back to William.

Well?! he barked, causing William to start in alarm… How would you propose catching them?

I…I’ve no idea sir. William stuttered nervously. Wilberforce gave him a knowing look.

Fortunately I have devised a plan. And since the lieutenant is still indisposed, you as senior midshipman will take charge of a party returning ashore.

But… William was about to state that the village men would simply disappear again. Wilberforce cut him short. Tonight we will up anchor and tomorrow the village men will no doubt return. You and your party will be put ashore a little way up the coast, from there you will make your way back to the village as though looking for work.

William saw the significance of the Captain’s plan, and asked. How many men will I need sir?

Wilberforce rubbed his huge chin. "I thought yourself and one other, simply to spy out the land.

We will return to this bay three days hence and send a full party ashore to meet up with you."

Wilberforce pointed at William. You, by this time, will have discovered their bolt-holes, or at least have some very good knowledge on the matter enabling you to take charge of the press from that ninny Wilks who will be bringing them ashore.

Aye, aye, sir.

Wilberforce continued. You will take Petty Officer Percival as I believe he has experience needed in dealing with landsmen. Ignoring William’s look of surprise Wilberforce continued. You then make ready to be landed at first light. I suggest you dress in an old uniform.

Seeing the questioning look from William he enlightened him. You will explain to those ashore that you have both jumped ship in Plymouth and are working your way round the coast. Oh yes, and by the by, said Wilberforce, delving into his pocket and retrieving a leather pouch filled with coins which he passed to William. Use this for expenses and obviously keep a record of how it was spent. Now, dismiss.

William placed the pouch in his pocket and turned to go when Wilberforce issued a sarcastic rejoinder. Perhaps this time you may bring back a full complement without losing half of them in the sea. Be ready to move the moment the boat’s over the side.

He turned back to face the Captain and called. Aye, aye, sir, and stood as though waiting further instructions. Due to his inaction Wilberforce barked. On your way then! William scuttled out of the cabin and Wilberforce turned back to the stern lights rocking with the pitch and fall of the ship. He shivered violently and rubbed his hands together for warmth, strode across to his clothing locker where he took out a thick boat cloak and wrapped himself in it.

In 1774 Wilberforce had taken over his first command on an undermanned ship. He had anchored off the coast of Wales and with warrants duly signed by a magistrate he sent a press party ashore under a lieutenant who knew that coast. The lieutenant had returned to the ship with twenty Welshmen found hiding in a cave. Within a few months they were very adept sailors, who had also formed themselves into a choir, much to the enjoyment of the captain and crew.

From the outset Wilberforce was determined to do right by his men. Strict but fair would be his motto. Flogging, only under the most extreme circumstances. Better to arrive at the truth rather than have a man’s back slashed to ribbons for the least demeanor when men were paramount in keeping the ship afloat. Twenty-four years at sea had not altered his opinion in any way.

He shivered again and sighed as he turned back to the table. Pulling up a chair he sat down morosely, when he remembered how he had lost best part of his crew including all of the Welshmen and several of the ship’s top men to yellow fever on leaving the tropics.

The depleted crew eventually docked in England and Wilberforce also an ill man had been summoned to the Admiralty. Desk sailors! he spat, reflecting on that ignominious time. After keeping him waiting half the day, he was eventually granted an audience where he was made to feel that the loss of his men to the terrible disease was his own fault.

His ship had been finally crewed by a small band of competent seamen and the dregs of the Prison Assizes where one in ten would be of any use as a sailor, providing they didn’t die in the meantime from gaol fever. Which often happened when the Fleet had to rely on impressed men to crew their ships.

The debilitating illness, that only a dousing in rum would abate, was on him once again. He called for his cabin boy to attend him and within minutes a small boy appeared and knowing what was required, he wordlessly poured the Captain a large glass of rum, handed it over and left the cabin as quietly as he had arrived. Wilberforce lifted the glass, drank deeply, and his ague slowly abated.

Leaning back in his chair he reflected on Midshipman Jolly and smiled. He had been with the ship for almost a year now and had fitted in well. He imagined that William could well make a fine officer once he had passed his lieutenant’s examination.

From what he had heard, before the lieutenant was suddenly struck down with a serious bout of what appeared to be malaria, that William was a competent sailor ever willing though nervous which didn’t hold with any advancement to the rank of lieutenant. However, the next few days would tell, Wilberforce decided, once more drinking from the glass.

‘Tween decks, William caught sight of Percival about to ascend the deck ladder. A word! Petty Officer Percival! he called authoritatively. Percival stopped and walked from the steps back to him.

Sir?

Retaining the edge on his voice, William lowered the tone and said. We; that is, you and I, will be returning to Marchant and dropped ashore up the coast at first light tomorrow.

Sir! Interrupted Percival, raising his eyebrows.

Gritting his teeth at the interruption, William continued. The story is that we jumped ship in Plymouth and are working our way round the coast. It will be our task to discover where the men disappear when the Press are ashore.

Percival turned back to the steps and called, "Aye, aye, sir, I’ll get right on to it.

You’ll do no such thing Petty Officer Percival until I give you a direct order to do so! Get back here at once! demanded William, loudly, his dark eyes wide in anger.

Percival returned to his former position in front of William and raised his eyebrows again.

Sir?

William’s face stiffened at Percival’s insubordinate and casual manner. Emulating the Captain, he thrust his head forward and barked in Percival’s face. If I see you use your starter un- necessarily again, I will have you tied to the gratings and flogged. And further! I have an extreme dislike of your current insubordinate attitude toward me also punishable as aforesaid. Do I make myself clear?

Percival lost his cockiness and came smartly to attention. Aye, Aye, Sir. As crystal.

William’s rage subsided as quickly as it had started. He leaned back still retaining eyeball contact with Percival and said. Make sure you keep it in mind Petty Officer Percival. I have no axe to grind. This time I told the Captain it was an accident that depleted our pressed men. Not the cause. Bye the bye, you were chosen to accompany me ashore due to your undoubtedly wide experience in these matters.

Percival suddenly realized that he was in the clear regarding the drowned men and knuckled his forehead in fealty when he answered in a relieved voice. Thank you sir, I’m indebted to you. And sir, I promise I’ll not let you down again.

William stood with his feet apart and his hands behind his back. Looking at Percival, he said. I suggest we prepare ourselves for our trip ashore. Now dismiss Percival saluted, called Aye, aye, sir. turned and climbed the deck-ladder. William followed shortly afterwards.

In the small cabin he shared with Wilks a junior midshipman, William dug out his old uniform from inside his sea chest. In the seven years he had been at sea, he had rarely been ashore. Once to visit his mother living in Croydon for five days leave while the ship on which he served was being refitted. He had returned after two days ashore. His step- father Josiah Hedges had made his stay intolerable and his mother now completely under the man’s thumb, said little. Apart from one quiet moment alone when she had informed William that in later years he would inherit his father’s bequest of several thousand pounds.

He had approached Panchard and Buckle the family solicitors and learned that the bequest would become payable on his twenty-first birthday. Although he was allowed a yearly annuity from which he could draw when the need arose. William withdrew a small amount from his account and returned to his ship that was now his home. Although homes might have been more appropriate because William moved from one ship to another during his seven years’ service.

His father Eduard had been a wealthy trader and ensured his son had started his private education early. William was ten when his father had died, leaving him and his mother Sally, comfortably well off. Finding the huge house too much, she moved into a smaller one and the proceeds of the sale went into the collective inheritance.

Unlike his half-brother who had been born illegitimately two years before William, to Lillian Blake. Eduard senior, seeing the child’s twisted spine shortly after the birth, he stepped back in horror declaring that the deformed monstrosity was no child of his and accused her of infidelity, which she vehemently denied.

He demanded that she either rid herself of the child or place it in an orphanage, but Lillian, having suffered that ignominy and depravation herself as a child, adamantly refused to do so.

Eduard had stormed out of the house, and two hours later he returned, tossed a bag on the bed containing ten sovereigns, in order that she signed a paper to absolve him from the illegitimate child, the promise of marriage and sever all contact with him forthwith.

Despite her heart felt cries he remained adamant, she signed the paper, and he left hurriedly. When she had recovered from the birth she moved from Addiscombe, Croydon, to Manchester to live with her married sister Bethany, her husband Harry Salter and their two daughters, Abigail and Janice.

The moment Harry saw the child he had second thoughts. Its grotesquely large deformed body with a head covered in thick dark hair, which seemed to grow out of its shoulders as though it had no neck. This was due to the curvature of the spine and the huge rounded chest. The child’s arms were long and thick and its legs were also thick but quite short in comparison to its body. Bethany talked Harry round and he finally accepted Lillian and her son, as she could also pay her way.

The child was christened Eduard Jolly, and the father was named on the parish records as Eduard Jolly. Bachelor of Croydon. Lillian did this to ensure that the child knew whom his father was, and since the man was wealthy, to lay claim to any inheritance in later life.

She also had a lawyer write the full account under oath of the father’s wrongdoing, and the address where he could be found. The letter was deposited at Snodgrass and Bulan the local solicitors, to be retrieved when Eduard junior was twenty-one years of age.

Two years later, dying of pneumonia, she begged Bethany and Harry to care for Eduard, thus leaving the remainder of the sovereigns and Eduard’s birth right with them, with written instructions to visit the solicitors with Eduard when he came of age.

Lillian was buried in the local churchyard. In attempting to keep their promise to her, they kept Eduard until he was seven years old. However, it became too much of a strain on their finances when Harry lost his job, and after much deliberation and soul searching Eduard was taken to an orphanage, until he was of an age to work and contribute towards his keep.

Bethany visited him fairly often with treats, what she did not know was that after every visit the boy had to be chastised and locked in an empty room because his behavior was out of control William Jolly’s mother, Sally, being still young, attracted many male admirers when she had come out of mourning. Her looks and cash attracted one Josiah Hedges a gambler and smooth talking rake whose suave good looks and casual manner won her over. Hardly a year had passed before he had talked her into marriage. Then William’s private tuition ceased, and shortly afterwards he was posted to his first ship as a twelve-year-old midshipman.

For the first week he was seasick every day. Other midshipmen aboard poked fun at him and made retching noises when talking to him about fat salt pork as he staggered around the ship tripping over all manner of obstacles or when he lay in his hammock in the depths of misery.

He was given a tot of rum and told to drink it, but the smell alone sent him rushing to the heads. Everyone appeared to be shouting at him for one thing or another, and towards the end of his first week, he laid in his hammock hoping to die.

At the end of the first month he had not only found his sea legs, he had also learned how to avoid ringbolts and other obstacles when moving about the deck.

He found that rum helped when seasickness threatened. It also helped to calm him during a ship to ship engagement, while standing at his post on the gun deck. But the aftermath, when choking cordite smoke and fumes drifted away, leaving screaming wounded and decks awash with blood; it gave him nightmares for weeks.

It was no bed of roses for Eduard in the orphanage; he too was trapped in an evil environment over-seen by sadistic and cruel masters, who appeared to delight in punishing him for the least demeanor because of his deformity and he like William his half-brother, each hated the harsh regime they had been cast into.

CHAPTER TWO

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In St. Clement’s Orphanage. Eduard now sixteen was as strong as any man and never seemed to tire from morning to night. He had become indispensable to the orphanage, so much so they decided to keep him for as long as possible. They may well have done so had not his friend, who had helped with his reading and writing whenever time allowed, fallen foul of a sadistic master who took it upon himself to beat the boy to the ground with a thick stave. The man would most probably have done him a serious injury had not Eduard intervened.

With an animal-like roar Eduard rushed over, snatched the stave from his grasp and snapped it like a twig. He leaped on him and crushed him with his long muscular arms. The master let out a piercing scream as his ribs broke, Eduard flung him aside, and then gently picking up his friend he carried him into the home and laid him on a bed.

Eduard was dabbing cold water on the boy’s wheals and bruises, when he heard angry shouts from outside. He peered out through the window and saw several men bending over the prostrate master. One of them pointed to the whipping post and a cat-o-nine-tails was brought out, then several of them made for the building.

Realizing it was him they were after; Eduard turned tail and fled out of the back of the building. He ran towards the high wall surrounding the orphanage. A master made the mistake of trying to stop him. Eduard tossed him aside, scaled the wall via a tree, dropped to the ground outside and took off like a hare.

All though he had not been to the house in years he finally arrived at his aunt and uncle’s house dusty and dishevelled, just as it was getting dark, and they appeared rather apprehensive to admit him.

Bethany softened to the appealing look on his face and took him to the kitchen and fed him. Harry noticed that the boy appeared to be on tenterhooks each time a horse and trap went by.

Why so nervous boy? You are of an age to earn your keep, and they can’t take you back unless we say so, said Harry, adamantly.

They want to whip me, Eduard replied, nervously.

Whip you…? Bethany gasped. But why?

Because I hurt a teacher, who was beating my friend, and looked likely to kill him, He stood up quickly and removed his shirt, then turned to show them both the criss-crossed scars on his huge bent back from previous punishments.

Bethany’s hands went up to her mouth to stifle her gasp of horror. Harry’s eyes opened wide in anger.

I’ve had enough whippings from there and what I did will earn me at least another fifty, even a hundred strokes. So I am not going back…Ever!

Why didn’t you ever tell your aunt that they did this to you boy? I’m sure we could have found a place here for you. You must understand that we didn’t put you there by choice, but necessity. We could hardly feed and clothe our own children, much less to have another mouth to feed.

Eduard shook his large head. I know, I do realize, there were many children in that place for just the same reason as me. So I do not blame you in any way. But they are bound to come here in their search for me. So what will you do then?

We’ll tell them to look elsewhere as we haven’t seen you, said Harry, adamantly. Yes, rejoined Bethany. And you can occupy the attic until the hue and cry dies down, we owe you that much.

A tear ran down Eduard’s face that he cuffed aside with his shirt before putting it back on. Thank you Uncle Harry, and you Aunt Bethany, I’ll be no trouble honestly He gave a cry of fear when a loud hammering on the front door scared him witless.

Quickly Eduard, come with me! cried Bethany, taking him by the hand and leading him towards a flight of stairs. Harry waited for them to ascend the stairs and in doing so provoked even louder knocking on the door.

Bethany realized she had no time to hide him in the attic, so she took him into the room where her daughters were in bed. She hushed them quiet, hid him under Abigail’s bed and told them to pretend to be asleep.

Although Janice was now twenty-one and Abigail nineteen, they obeyed without a word, and blew the candle out.

Harry opened the door to five angry men bearing torches, who with the authority of the parish demanded to search the house, as they were his close relations and the boy had been seen heading in that direction, they imagined he had gone there. Well he’s not here. If he’s run that’s your problem, now if you don’t mind I’d like to go to bed, grumbled Harry, and was about to close the door when one of the men stepped forward and thrust a paper under Harry’s nose. We has the legal right to search your house and out buildings, now stand aside so’s we can carry out our duty.

Wait! argued Harry, I’ll read this paper first before anyone crosses my threshold. And you won’t come in here with those stinking fish oil torches either.

He reached for the paper but the man drew it away. Leave the door open sir and fetch a lighted candle, when you have read it, you will admit us.

What is all the noise about? cried Bethany, now wearing a mobcap, a large coat over her nightclothes, and carrying a candle in a holder.

A thick set brutish man, who appeared to be the leader of the group, stepped forwards and snapped. We are looking for Eduard Jolly, who has run from Saint Clement’s Orphanage. We were told that he’s related to you and that he was heading in this direction and we ’ave a legal paper from the parish that allows us to search for him anywhere where we think fit. So Mistress, we demand to be allowed to search your premises. He handed the paper to Harry and told him to read it from the light of his wife’s candle

Having read the paper, Harry stood to one side, the torches were put out and Bethany led them into the front room then she and Harry accompanied them when they started their search.

When one of the men burst into the girl’s room holding a lighted candle the girls screamed in fear. Bethany rushed in and ordered him out. He sneered and walked out; she closed the door and stood guard over it lest anyone else tried to enter the room.

Following their abortive search, then men grudgingly apologized and went to search the out buildings. Shortly after they had left, Harry bolted all doors and ensured all windows were closed. He then accompanied Bethany to the girl’s room, and showed Eduard the loft where he would sleep on a mattress with several blankets to keep him warm. Eduard thanked him and settled down for the night.

Eduard may well have put up with the makeshift arrangements, if two sequences of events had not occurred. He often heard the daughters talking in their room, and then one night, a month after living there, he saw the glimmer of candlelight shining through a hole in the attic boards. He crept over and peered straight down into their room and wished he had not. Because both girls were parading naked in front of each other, then they hugged and kissed and fell onto a bed together, giggling.

Eduard drew back sharply from the spy hole with a strange feeling within him, and he realized he had to get away from the house. Fortunately, a week later the Fair came to town, and on the second night, Bethany, Harry and the two girls went to visit the Fair leaving Eduard hidden in the attic.

He opened the attic window, to see the lights and hear the bustle of people enjoying themselves. With no more ado, he climbed out of the attic window, made his way over the roof, climbed onto a lower roof, and thence the ground to make his furtive way to the fairground.

He was enthralled to hear the showmen shouting their wares, and having no money he slipped under the side canvas of a show and was apprehended before the show had started. The man who had grabbed him had a hard face and a cruel mouth that twisted into a sneer.

The sneer turned to shock when Eduard picked him up like a sack of feathers.

When the showman Jack Wild entered and stayed his hand. Eduard lowered the shaken man, who immediately stood behind Jack, while Eduard, apprehensively studied Jack Wild. He took in the man’s kindly smiling face, and relaxed when he saw there was no threat to him.

Jack Wild studied Eduard. You local boy? He asked, and continued in the same breath. Do you have a job? How would you like to work for me? The questions came out in rapid succession, to which Eduard either nodded affirmatively or negatively. Eduard held up his hands to further questioning and replied. So what do you want me to do? Jack Wild became affable and patted him on his broad shoulder. I am looking for a strong man for my show, the way you just picked up ol’ Silas ’ere, I reckon you’d fit the bill, well what d’y’ say?

Yes, Eduard agreed, I could do that, what do I get paid?

I’ll pay yer fair son. Say a percentage of what I make in a month, not forgettin’ I have others to pay as well. You’ll also get yer food thrown in. Do you have to let anyone know, or have you run from somewhere? Seeing Eduard’s frightened look, Jack Wild, shook his head and said. Son it don’t matter to me what you done short of murder or where you’ve come from, the jobs yours if you want it.

Eduard could hardly contain himself when he said excitedly. Yes I do want it, but I’ll have to let my aunt and uncle know what I intend to do, so I could start tomorrow. Jack Wild shook his head. Sorry we move off tomorrow son. So unless you can get back here before we leave in the morning at six, I’ll ’ave to leave without you. Eduard became anxious, and blurted out. I promise I will be here before you leave. Jack Wild smiled at Eduard’s enthusiasm, and nodded affirmatively. Right then son, you can watch the show for free, just don’t let me down; understood?

Yes thank you. I promise I won’t let you down. The showman gave him a final pat on the shoulder and opened the canvas flaps to allow the paying public in for the next show to take place. Eduard gasped at the knife throwers accuracy. He stared wide-eyed at the lady contortionist who seemed to tie herself in knots and a conjuror that Eduard imagined was really magic. The show ended and he filed out with everyone else.

He had hardly gone any distance when he bumped into his uncle who was just emerging from a show accompanied by Bethany and their two daughters. Harry stopped dead in surprize at seeing Eduard. He grabbed him by the arm and hissed urgently in his ear. What in heaven’s name are you doing Eduard? Do you wish to be caught and taken back? Get off home before anyone sees you!

I’m leaving, Uncle Harry. I have been offered a job as a strong man on a show.

He pointed towards the show tent. Harry relented when he realized it would get Eduard out of town and away from the search. He turned and spoke to Bethany who also realized that Eduard could not spend his life hiding in the attic, and agreed that he should take the job straight away, with their blessing. He kissed Bethany, thanked Harry, and calling goodbye to them all he turned on his heel and retraced his steps back to the showman who greeted him effusively.

Right my boy, said Jack, leading Eduard towards the large trailer occupied by the magician and knife thrower. "I’ll get you some beddin’ directly, for the time bein’ you can doss down with my other two artists.

Your meals’ll be provided every day, and at the end of each month we’ll have a divi up between the acts so’s you’ll also get paid. How’s that suit yer?"

Fine by me, Eduard replied, with a grin. I can’t wait to get started. What do I have to do?

About seven or eight shows a day, dependin’ on the weather and ’ow ever many people come to watch the show. Some day’s ’r good some not so good. You’ll see. They had reached the trailer, Jack climbed the steps up to the door, and he knocked and entered, waving for Eduard to follow him in.

–––––—

Eduard was eighteen when the biennial fair returned and set up within walking distance of his uncle and aunt’s house. He had written to them several times, although he had received no replies due to his nomadic way of life with the fairground show.

Jack Wild had treated Eduard quite fairly, because the boy never ceased to amaze him with his feats of strength. He had grown two inches in height, and had also broadened; his legs looked like tree trunks and bulged with muscles.

When Jack had seen the scars criss-crossing Eduard’s back, he talked him into acting out a little subterfuge for the show, where he would be billed as Samson the Wild Man.

For his act he had Eduard wear an old long greasy wig. Plus, tattered facial hair and ragged pantaloons which stopped short of his bare feet. When the curtain was drawn back on the stage, the audience saw Eduard was chained to a large anvil, where he would snarl and growl at them causing them to draw back in fear.

Jack Wild would then walk on the stage with Lydia the lady contortionist, dressed for her part. The moment he saw her, Eduard had to howl like a demented wolf. She crossed to within touching distance, waved her hand that in turn subdued him. Jack then walked to the front of the stage introduce the act and stated that the good lady Lydia was the only person who could control the beast. Under her command Eduard remained servile, while Jack invited members of the audience to test the chains holding the wild man to the anvil.

Several men were invited to lift the anvil, many tried but no one succeeded because the anvil was bolted underneath the stage that was only released when Jack stamped on the stage boards, the bolts were released by one of his sons, and Eduard picked it up. Sometimes as a finale’ Lydia would walk off the stage, Eduard then tried to go after her but was held fast by the chains to the anvil. With a lusty roar, Eduard would then grip the chain in either hand and pull on it until a link that had been fixed for the purpose, separated and the chain broke.

Seeing the chain break the audience cowered back while Eduard rushed to the front to the stage waved his arms and roared at them. Then just as it appeared that he was about to jump off the stage, Lydia would re-appear, she would call to him, and like a dog he would scamper after her, much to the relief of the crowd inside the tent who were ready to run.

On other occasions Jack had arranged to have him pick up large weights.

They too had been bolted from underneath the stage for the audience to try, even without being bolted, the men would have been hard pushed to lift them very high, but bolted, made their task impossible.

Even so Eduard still managed to heave the weights above his head. Following this, two ladies from the audience were invited up to sit on a seat at either end of a thick iron bar. Eduard would then create a seesaw for them.

Seeing the reactions of the various audiences, Jack decided that Eduard was the best tent filler he had ever come across. In the period of the winter lay-off when all of the shows closed down, he paid off the knife thrower and the conjurer, then he Lydia and Eduard set about building a show around the strong man. They rehearsed, and often fell about laughing at some of Eduard’s acting and clowning

The trio worked well together. They painted a backdrop to resemble a forest, from behind, which Eduard would stand and make weird animal noises. Part of the stage resembled a pathway through the forest, along which Lydia would slowly walk appearing to pick blue bells. Then out of the backdrop forest Eduard ambled. On seeing him Lydia dropped the flowers and stifled a scream with the back of her hand.

He ambled forwards, grabbed her and picked her right up in the air. Then her screams would alert Jack dressed as a woodsman. He would rush onto the stage ordering the wild man to let her go. From his belt he took a long whip which he cracked in the air. With that Eduard would lower Lydia to the stage.

She would run behind Jack and to keep the monster at bay while he appeared to lash Eduard’s back. His back had been painted red over the scars. So that when he turned it to the audience, they would see the wounds supposedly inflicted by the whip.

At the front of the stage was a large log almost eight feet in length and four feet around, with two hollowed out areas where iron handles had been fitted. The wild man went to the front of the stage and picking it up above his head, despite the whip being used on him, he would advance on Jack as though he would pile drive him into the ground.

Lydia then would run between the two men, and on seeing her, he replaced the log and allowed her to stroke his head. With that curtains would be lowered and Jack would stand at the front of the stage and defy any men in the audience to pick the log up. This had wooden wedges placed back and front to stop anyone from trying to roll it, and everyone marvelled at the strength of the wild man, when no single person could lift it.

The three helpers on the show were Jack’s sons, who kept themselves to themselves. They were Jacob the eldest then Michael and last, Jack junior. Their mother Ruth had long since died, and they fended for themselves, collecting the entrance money. Tending the horses, their caravan, plus the trailers of Eduard and Lydia, and shared the cooking to feed themselves, plus Jack, Lydia and Eduard. The show was changed from time to time from the forest scene to other scenes involving a damsel in distress, who was always saved by Jack in the nick of time.

Occasionally they would revert to the anvil and weights that were growing in size and weight, so much so that they no longer needed to be bolted down. The reason being that Eduard during a practice session had unwittingly grabbed a weight that was bolted down; he snatched it up and ripped up part of the stage. Consequently, Jack increased the size of the weights, lest Eduard broke the stage during a performance.

It was the anvil scene that Harry, Bethany and the two girls witnessed when they called in on the show in the hope of seeing Eduard. They hardly recognized him in his get up, and they applauded his feats of strength along with everyone else.

They hung back when everyone left the tent, and Jack walked over to them to explain that the show was over, until the next house. Actually, we have called to see our nephew Eduard, may we speak with him? Harry asked. Jack smiled. But of course you can, he’s out back I expect, resting for the next show. He beckoned them to follow, and led them round the back of the show where Eduard, now wrapped in a long cape, devoid of his wig and facial adornments, was resting on the steps of his trailer talking to Lydia.

Someone to see you Ted, Harry called, as he approached. Eduard leaped off the steps and ran to meet them. On reaching them, he hugged them each in turn and said to his uncle. This is Mr. Jack Wild the shows owner. Turning to Jack he said, This is Mr. Salter my uncle and aunt and their two daughters. The two men shook hands and the women each bobbed a curtsy. Eduard waved Lydia over and introduced her too. He left her with the women and walked back to Harry and Jack.

Harry appraised Eduard and turning to Jack he said. It looks like you fed him well Mr. Wild. Jack laughed and said. Feed him, Aye; he eats as much as two men, but I don’t begrudge him that, for he works as hard as any two who’ve ever worked for me. An’ he’s clever too an’ can read and write. And I’ll tell yer this much, we all muck along just fine. Just one thing though, Jack said, becoming serious. Who did that to his back? Because he’s never said, and I would like to meet ’em one dark night.

Ah yes I know. You see, when his mother died, we kept him with us as long as we could, until our economy was stretched to its limit. So he was put in an orphanage until he was of an age to earn a living. It wasn’t until he beat one of the masters and ran to us that we discovered what had been happening to him. Even though my wife visited him he never said anything to her. So we hid him when they came searching for him, and he decided to join your show.

Must’ve been serious for him to hurt anyone, I’ve never met a more friendly and likeable chap than him. Eduard was standing a little way off waiting to be invited into the conversation. Jack waved him over, and placing his arm across Eduard’s massive shoulders he said. I think you’ll find young Ted ’ere a boy to be proud of.

Oh we are I assure you sir. We have had several letters from him over the past two years telling us how he was getting on. He looks so well he does you credit Mr. Wild, without a doubt.

Nice of you to say so Harry, but the credit is all his, why you want to see him act in some of our shows we put on, fair scares the punters to death. With that he laughed and tousled Eduard’s hair. He’s the star of the show, and worth his weight in gold, him and Lydia of course, as you saw she is also part of the act.

Aye we did that. Harry said, and laughed.

Do you know, my two daughters squealed and jumped about a foot in the air when he ran to the front of the stage. But me and me wife were prepared for it, as he’d mentioned it in his letters, and we just laughed. He’s good though.

Aye, he is that. Jack replied, and patted Eduard on his large back. I have an idea Mr. Salter… Can I invite you all to a dinner in the local ale house?

I’ll ask the wife I’m sure she’d be delighted, and thank you Mr. Wild, most kind.

If we are going to be friends, I’m Jack, that’s Lydia and of course as you know, Ted.

Oh, right Jack. I’m Harry, the wife’s Bethany, and my daughters are Janice, the eldest is twenty-three, and Abigail is twenty-one.

He called and waved them over and introductions took place. Following that, the acceptance of sharing