The last tour of a hot day was by a party of American tourists,avid for the knowledge.Marine???,their guide,thinking wistfully of the refreshments that he would head for as soon as this lot was over,led his charges competently around Nelson's flagship,HMS Victory,situated in Portsmouth dockyard.He had mastered his brief well.They were impressed by his grasp of detail,the depth of his insight into what naval life was like during the Napoleonic wars,his interpretation of the events of that distant day off Cape Trafalgar,and the courteous readiness with which he replied to questions.The day was getting hotter.Marine ??? first beer was getting closer.He led them finally to the Orlop deck,deep in the bowels of the ship.Here for the first time,he drifted away from the script."This," he said,"is the Orlop deck,to which the famous Marine sergeant Secker carried Lord Nelson after he had been struck down by a French musket ball on the upper deck.It was a great struggle for the sergeant and I can tell you ,Ladies and gentlemen,that we, the Royal Marines,have had the bloody Navy on our backs ever since." Aye JR 
