Sergeant Musgrave's Dance

Sergeant Musgrave's Dance Summary | Act 1, Scene 1 Summary

Sparky, Hurst and Attercliffe wait on a wharf. Hurst and Attercliffe play cards as Sparky keeps watch, wondering how long "Black Jack Musgrave" is going to be. Attercliffe assures him Musgrave will be on time, and Sparky sings a song about desertion. Attercliffe tells him he shouldn't sing that song, but Sparky keeps singing. Hurst loses his temper, telling him to shut up. Sparky jokes that the others are afraid that "he" will hear the song, referring to a nearby box. Hurst tells Attercliffe to focus on the game.

The Bargee arrives. His conversation with the soldiers reveals that he is the man from whom the soldiers rented a barge to take them and their crates up the canal. He says he's ready to go, but the soldiers say they won't leave until Musgrave is there. As they load the boxes onto the barge, they argue with the Bargee about where to put them. The Bargee quickly becomes angry, but Musgrave comes in and tells him to calm down.

Attercliffe reports to Musgrave that the Gatling gun has been loaded and then goes with the others onto the barge. Musgrave and the Bargee talk about the weather, about the second Gatling gun to be loaded and about how this is the soldiers' first visit to the coal mining north country. The Bargee says it's cold and bleak up there, but Musgrave says it doesn't matter, the soldiers have their duty. He and the Bargee get on the barge and prepare to cast off.