You say no to the man’s offer. Deserters deserve to hang. You do wish the army paid better, though. To earn extra money, you take a job unloading cargo from ships in the harbor.
You are in the barracks on the afternoon of Friday, March 2, 1770. Patrick Walker returns from Gray’s Ropeworks. His face is red with anger. “What happened?” you ask.
“I was looking for work,” he says. “But instead, I was insulted and knocked down, just because I’m a soldier. Go back to the ropeworks with me. We’ll get even.”
You, Walker, and eight or nine other soldiers arrive at the ropeworks ready to fight. But in the meantime, the ropeworkers called for their friends, who showed up with clubs. You don’t stand a chance against so many. You return to the barracks to get more soldiers.
Soldiers and other single men often ate their meals at taverns.
Once you are back at the barracks, you have second thoughts. What’s the point of making the brawl worse? Maybe you’ll go to the tavern instead. The owner’s wife cooks a fine stew. Just thinking about it makes you hungry.