It was strange sleeping on a surface that didn’t move with the rise and fall of the sea. Tedder had been on water for two years and often let the ship’s roll ease him to sleep. Odd as the stationary feeling was, he went to sleep as soon as it was dark, astonished to wake to bright sunshine and the marine sergeant yelling at them to get up.
‘Line up ye wretches,’ bawled a cudgel waiving guard from the ship.
The convicts shuffled into a line of sorts and as seemed fitting to their station and situation, stood with heads bowed and hands clasped in front. Like the other prisoners, Tedder was hungry and exhausted. He did not have the energy to be whipped or kicked or shoved; he was too miserable. So, he stood still and listened to instructions.
‘Get outside and turn ye worthless selves to th
