Capturing Jamie
Jamie was looking down. Let’s face it: the rope that drew his neck towards his raised knees was so short that it left him little choice in the matter. He, a proud Scout, (a “Land-Farmer” as the local Sea Scouts put it) was bound and helpless in the middle of the floor of the Sea Scouts’ “Log Cabin” awaiting developments.
It was a fine, warm late May Friday afternoon when Jamie set out straight from school for the Scouts’ Cottage from where, as an Explorer, he was due to supervise the Buzzard Patrol on a weekend hiking & camping expedition. He was a tanned, muscular 14 year-old, the kind of boy that filled his clothing well. He had changes of clothing for the weekend, his PE kit and his school books in the rucksack which he carried as he started the 3 kilometre walk through the Forest to the Cottage. Jamie thought that walking the short distance would loosen him up for the coming exertions and he wanted to arrive well before the Buzzards to make some preparations. Little did he suspect . . !
He entered the inclosure surrounding the Cottage and was thinking pleasant thoughts about the coming week: no school as it was the half term holiday, the fine weather that had been forecast, the company of his brother scouts and no adults nagging him! The Inclosure was usually quiet and deserted because the lack of nearby car parks deterred all but the most determined dog-walkers and picnickers. Suddenly he became aware of the presence of the others.
The Sea Scouts had planned their attack well: the six of them could easily overpower Jamie even though each individual was smaller. They had positioned themselves beside the only sensible approach to the Cottage having persuaded their parents to deliver them by car to the nearest lay-by to the inclosure. They had come equipped with the necessary ropes, neckerchiefs and gaffer tape.
Jamie became aware of the “Sailor Boys” just that bit too late. He was taken down to the ground and spread-eagled face down with a Sea Scout on each limb and one seated on the small of his back, who was helping to constrain his legs. GP, the chubby red-head, appeared to him to be especially evil as he sorted out and selected from a collection of ropes. Not being stupid, Jamie quickly understood that resistance was useless and he prepared himself to accept the inevitable.
The Sea Scouts had already decided that it would not be a good idea to strip their prisoner as they had quite a distance to take him before they reached the Log Cabin and anyone walking in the Forest might see them. Jamie’s Rucksack was unstrapped and taken from him. Action Man and Evan, who held his arms, forced them into a back-hammer position and GP took a rope and applied a cross lashing to his wrists. The Sailor Boys knew what they were doing with their knots!
Jamie knew that, if he resisted, even more misfortune would come to him so he cooperated. In the light of his cooperation he thought that the subsequent application of ropes fastening his upper arms to his torso and up across his shoulders and back to his wrists was a bit cruel! His hands were drawn so high up between his shoulders that his fingers could nearly touch the end of his, admittedly rather long, pudding basin hair style. He was still in his school uniform of charcoal grey trousers, formal shoes and a polo shirt, which left him little protection from the rope biting into his well-developed biceps. He made a mental note that there was a certain red-head with piercing eyes who would suffer horribly once he had the upper hand once more.
Very little talk passed between the captors and their prisoner; it wasn’t necessary. T-Boy took Jamie’s rucksack. Jamie didn’t need telling why the Sea Scouts had kidnapped him. The previous weekend the Twins had stolen the Sailor Boys’ flag. They were out for revenge.
The Sea Scouts needed to get Jamie to the Log Cabin, a distance of about 5 km. Anyone might see them. Alex and Den took Jamie by the arms and propelled him, bent over, along the less popular woodland paths towards the Log Cabin as fast as they could. When they were unfortunate enough to encounter walkers on the same path, they explained that there was no need to worry and that it was just a game. Jamie, who’d been involved in such situations before, also confirmed that it was just a game (What a good job they hadn’t gagged him!).
Eventually the Sea Scouts delivered Jamie to the Log Cabin. By then he had been tied up for about two hours. The two Troops had a history of capturing one another but the provocation of having their flag captured meant that Jamie was probably treated more harshly than usual by the “Sailor Boys”.
Jamie asked to be allowed to visit the toilet. Sam, the SPL of the Sea Scouts, had to make a decision. He put it to Jamie that, if he were to give his word of honour (as a Scout) not to escape, he would be allowed to visit the toilet. Jamie gave his word. GP untied him and Jamie was allowed a few minutes to massage his arms and wrists. Not entirely reassured by Jamie’s promise, Action Man then insisted that Jamie remove his polo shirt leaving him bare-chested and then tied his wrists in front of him using a soft, white rope tied in a classic handcuff knot (with a few extra turns just to make sure . . .).
Although the Log Cabin had a water tap outside, it had no inside toilet. The sanitary arrangements were the traditional outside privy with an “Elsan” bucket. Jamie, being an honourable man, made no attempt to escape but the Sea Scouts still mounted guard outside the door just in case!
When Jamie returned, under escort, Sam put it to him that the Sea Scouts were a bit dischuffed (English understatement) by the capture of their flag. He wanted the flag to be returned and the culprits to be delivered, “suitably packaged” as he put it, to his Troop for punishment. He also knew that the Land Farmers needed Jamie if their weekend activities were to take place. Sam was in a strong negotiating position!
The Sea Scouts decided that their prisoner should be photographed in a predicament that would ensure that his own Troop would decide to procure his release as soon as possible. It was obvious that, if the Scouts wanted to ensure the successful completion of their expedition plans, it would be better for them to trade Jamie for almost anyone else from their Troop rather than enter into the usual war between the “Land Farmers” and the “Sailor Boys”.
Jamie was already stripped to the waist with his hands bound securely but not too closely in front of him. He was looking around the Cottage for escape routes but realised that such hopes were pointless. He heard the words that he was dreading: “OK Farmer Boy, strip”. He had the choice: undo his school trousers and wriggle free of them or risk being thrown to the floor and having them (and, perhaps, his underpants) forcibly removed. Jamie was not stupid. He kicked off his shoes and sat down and pulled off his white sports socks. He struggled to his feet and undid his belt, an unusual adornment for an adolescent boy, and tried his best to wriggle free from his trousers. He was, eventually assisted by T-Boy who floored him and pulled them over his ankles leaving Jamie sitting on the floor in only his underpants. At this point Jamie was glad that he was wearing his long boxer shorts with the button fly but he was wishing they were black rather than white.
The Sea Scouts looked at Jamie and decided that it would be good if he was photographed “sitting on the parrot perch”. His knees were forced up between his arms and a cricket stump was threaded over his right arm, under his knees and over his left arm. This restricted his movement almost completely. Jamie accepted it almost uncomplainingly except for the occasional “ouch” and only the odd rude word (The Sea Scouts were surely not all born out of wedlock?).
Following the insults it dawned on Alex that their prisoner was not gagged. It wasn’t really necessary with the nearest public footpath some distance away, but surely Jamie’s Troop would move more quickly if he looked more vulnerable. GP came into action again. He was really stacking up the future retaliation. Jamie didn’t see why he should be gagged, having been cooperative up until that point; it was not something he thought he deserved. GP produced a rubber ball, which he placed into a football sock (one of Jamie’s own navy blue ones retrieved from his rucksack) and offered it to Jamie’s mouth. The only movement left to the victim was to shake his head frantically in an attempt to avoid the gag, which he did. Sam got impatient; he wanted to get on with things. He put it to Jamie: “Either you open wide or we cut off your boxers and the photos go straight to Facebook and YouTube.” Jamie made a mental note that Sam was also due for special attention later. Sam was tall and skinny, a skilled windsurfer and climber, so what there was of him was pure muscle.
Jamie gave Sam one of his “burning” looks. But he did open wide. GP squashed the rubber ball, forced it behind his teeth and tied the sock tightly behind his neck. Up till that point, Jamie accepted that he was going to suffer for what his Troop had done last weekend but he thought that things were going a bit too far now. The final indignity was applied when GP (He should have really considered what was likely to happen to him later.) produced a short length of rope, tied it loosely around Jamie’s neck with a non-slip knot and, with some difficulty, looped both ends around the stump between his knees, drawing Jamie’s head towards his knees. He knotted the rope off and brought the loose ends back up to the prisoner’s neck, fastening it again with a non-slip knot. Jamie was not happy. Jamie was looking down.
The Scouts went home from school, changed, packed and arrived at the Cottage individually ready for their forthcoming expedition. Some Scouts who weren’t involved turned up too just to get away from home and chill with their mates for a few days at half term with their parents’ permission. Little Steve might have regretted that later.
Things were fairly normal with one exception: Jamie was missing. As each Scout arrived, he noticed the stolen flag that was proudly displayed on the front wall of the Training Room. The Sea Scouts were sure to be unhappy about that!
The “Land Farmers” had a special way of accommodating their “guests” and Scott had already ensured that he was accommodated. His idea of a good weekend was to be bound in various different positions by his mates. He made sure that he was so irritating to the rest of the Scouts early in the evening that they decided to “hang him in the wardrobe”.
The Cottage was an incredible legacy that the Scouts had for their exclusive use and in its training room was a substantial bar which spanned the room at a height of about 2.5 metres. This was ideal for drying out wet canvas. It also had another use. When the Scouts decided to hang someone in the wardrobe, the victim would be fitted with a ball gag (for some reason there was an enviable collection of bondage gear in the cottage!). This would be tightly applied and padlocked at the back of the “guest’s” head. The padlock would be hooked into a chain which would then be slung over the bar. The victim was then hauled up until his heels were clear of the floor. The return end of the chain would be hooked into the padlock and snapped into place.
Scott, with his hands cuffed behind him, was perfectly suited. He was a slim, athletic 14-year old with square shoulders and well-defined pecs. He must have annoyed the rest of the Troop quite a lot because they had stripped him down to his garish square-leg briefs. (from Top Man, as he told everybody) He was beginning to wish that his mum didn’t have his new black Calvin Kleins in the wash.
Scott was looking down!