Some carefully made examples were likely to have been used by a boatswain or ship's master-at-arms or ship's mate as a badge of office and discipline-enforcer.
Somehow (according to his later memoirs) a rumour went around that he was dead or dying, and his gunner and carpenter, both wounded, hastily consulted with the master-at-arms.
Why the master-at-arms is lying is anyone's guess at this point, but people telling the truth don't give conflicting statements, though they may add or delete details as time progresses.
