“Silver Cycles” Adventures of Captain Joshua Slane- 25DE18 – ‘Surprise and disappointment at the wharf!’

🎄 🎁 🎄 🎁 🎄 . . .Ship's Log 25 ay Decembers, 1718

[Last time...]

“Cheers men!" Ickied said as he nodded and whirled around towards his crew, “Come 'en men, let's make fur it afair it's too late!"
“But Sairrr, whit abit loon Tipper?!" Seaman- Ordinary Seaman Evsup asked.
“First things first mate! 'Att can bide!"

With that, the crew of six ran out the jail house door and headed west down the main street at a dead run!

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[On board the Silverton…]

“Yo! Captain!" First Mate pirate Dax yelled as he hung on the middle mast of the Grand Bank schooner.
“What is it?!” Captain Callum yelled from the small bridge.
“Sir! It’s the Silverton Sir!!”
“The Silverton?!”
“Aye Sir, about three miles south of us, anchored off of Pemba!” Dax yelled urgently.

“Gawd damn Slane!” Callum cursed as he pulled out his scope and leaned over the starboard stern rail to have a look, “Sure as hell it is! Fock!”
“She’s at anchor…not moving…” Dax replied.
“I want every inch of sail clootie (cloth) let out right now mate!”
“Aye, aye sir!”

With that, the small crew furiously unfurled every inch of sail and set the rigging for a fast run east! Amongst those men, worked Commander Galligan, doing what he knew how to do best…

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[Back on the Silverton…]

“Look at 'att bugger go! He's lettin' oot every inch ay sail clootie in a stiff north-westerly win'! Dangerous! Whit dae ye hink he's up tae Sairrr?!" Cockpit Mate- Midshipman’s Mate Fisky said as he gazed through his scope.
“Nae mystery thaur mucker! He's seen us. He's runnin' scared. Damn th' luck! If Ahh hud nae crew ashair Ahh'd heel tae an' cut heem aff afair he gains th' open sea!” The Captain replied calmly as he eyed sleek, black schooner.
“Sae we jist lit heem rin?" Fisky asked as he kept his eye on the scope.
“Fur noo mate...fur noo..."

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[West wharf, Pemba…]

Petty Officer- Ship’s Corporal Ickied came to a skidding halt at the entrance to the west wharf dock. Breathing heavily, he glanced this way and that, but there was no schooner at dock.
“Waesucks!” he cursed as he realized that the mission had failed.

“Tar hail!!” A group of voices rang out from down the southern shore.

Ickied turned in time to see a small group of boys and three men running towards them!

“Whit dae ye make ay 'att Sairrr?!" Seaman- Ordinary Seaman Ouncil asked as he watched the approaching group.
“Europeans...ain they spick English...maybe they're shipwrecked...” Ickied replied.

The lead man of the approaching group slowed to a walk and nodded as he approached them…

“Awrite, Ahh’m – Seaman- Landsman Yrstikken an' these ur mah comrades..." the man said as he extended his hand.

Ickied gave him a firm shake and replied, “Ahh’m Petty Officer- Ship’s Corporal Ickied ay th' Scottish frigate Silverton..."
“Yoo've got a ship?! Thenk Gawd! We've bin left aff in a bad wark agreement wi' a Keptin ay a schooner 'att jist sailed yesterday! We painted an' caulked an' he promised tae tak' us tae Comoros in return fur uir labor. But, when we returned frae breakfast at th' pub, th' dobber had sit sail!” The man complained bitterly.
“That doesnae surprise me! Th' Keptin ay 'at schooner is Callum MacGibbon, a pirate an' a rogue!" Ickied replied as he gazed at the rest of the men.

Most were young and looked hungry.

“Damn!” the man exclaimed as he turned and introduced his group, “Thes is - Seaman- Landsmen Avidfnck an' Ehey, an' these ur ship's wee jimmies Extgencrypto, Erniesanders, Ngagement, Obydick, Andomthoughts, Hecyclist, Hedelegator an’ Iking-ventures.”

Ickied and crew shook all of their hands and nodded…

“Dae ye hink yer Keptin would tak' us oan? We're aw sailin' hans? We've bin stuck haur fur goin’ oan eleven months noo after uir fishin' boat burst a reef aff east Pemba…"
“Hmmm, Ahh cannae say. Three men an' nine wee jimmies...that's a sizable crew." Ickied said as he scratched his head.
“We'd nae let heem doon! An' e'en th' wee jimmies ur guid deck hans! Pemba is no place ta spend Christmas!" Yrstikken promised.
“Aye, ‘att it’s noot. But Ahh cannae gaurantee th' Keptin will allaw it, an' Ahh cannae tak' aw ay ye in mah longboat. Hae ye got a boat cheil?" Ickied asked.
“Aye we dae! It was aw we coods salvage frae uir fishin' vessel!"
“Alright 'en. Tak' yer men an' shove aff! We're moored oan th' north shair. We'll meet ye ower thaur."
“Aye Sairrr!” Yrstikken replied with a salute.
Ickied motioned to the crew to start back through town when he stopped a moment and turned back towards the men…

“Oh an’ Yrstikken… ye didne happen tae notice a tall cheil, dark beard an' a stockin' bunnit wi' them did ye?"
“As a matter ay fact, Ahh did. Had th' look ay an officer an' a cheil ay few words. Thaur was a yoong cabin loon wi' heem tay..." Yrstikken replied.
“A loon?! Abit eleven years auld?" Ickied asked in surprise.
“Och aye, abit eleven Ahh would say."
“Bloody Nora!” Ickied cursed as he gazed off to the horizon with sad eyes.

🎄 🎁 🎄 🎁 🎄

"Ahh wants tae tak' thes time tae wish aw ay mah crew a veery Merry Christmas! Yer support fur th' toor, yer up-votes an' replies is whit makes it aw a lot ay fun!" - Cap'n

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"If you’re enjoying mah adventure,
consider ‘Up-Voting’ mah blog!" –Cap’n
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"Confused? Ascared? Seasick? Need a private chat with the Captain?" - joshua.slane@aol.com