B4

In 1943 Lieutenant Alexander Barr was ordered into the Armed Guard aboard the merchant ship, like many other civillian officers with no real mechanical skills - teachers, writers, lawyers. His men were the rag-tag of merchant service and knew very little of it. Lieutenant Alec Barr had his crew well in hand except one particularly unpleasant character, a youngster called Zabinski.

 ORDER

B5

Every ship has its problem child, and Zabinski was Alec's cross. If anybody was drunk and in trouble ashore, it was Zabinski.

 IT

B6

If anybody was smoking on watch, or asleep on watch, it always was Zabinski.

 SMOKE

B7

Discipline on board was hard to keep and Zabinski made it worse. Alec called the boy to his cabin.

 BAD

B8

«I have tried to reason with you,» he said. «I've punished you with everything from confinement to ship to extra duty. I've come to the conclusion that the only thing you may understand is force. I've got some boxing gloves.

 TRY

B9

Navy Regulations say they should be used for recreation. We are going to have some.»

 USE

B10

«That's all right,» Zabinski said smiling.

 SMILE