He had been carried down to the amputation table on the orlop deck and while the surgeon was attending to another wounded man, Barnet had run to tell Delora what had happened.
It was a strict and inviolable rule that the wounded should take their turn. The first brought down was the first to be dressed and no favour was shown to any man, be he Officer or swabber.
The fact that Conrad had to wait saved him from having his leg chopped off the moment the surgeon sighted him.
By the time Delora and Abigail arrived, Barnet had cut away Conrad’s white breeches and they could see the mess that had been made by the grapeshot.
They were, however, obviously only flesh wounds in his thigh and although unpleasantly deep, the bone was intact and unbroken.
The wounds were also all above the knee, w
