“Silver Adventures”- Captain Joshua Slane –09JA20- ‘Just remember who it is that pulls the lead out of your gut after the battles are over!’

⛵ ⛵ ⛵ ⛵...(Tour of "High Island")...

[Last time...]

“That's reit Joshua! An' whit happened?"

Junior Petty Officer Ickied’s mind raced in circles as he listened but he dared not say a word…

“Thaur was a stoatin battle! Th' French vessel was cut tae pieces an' 'er hull split!" The Captain said slowly as he sat with his eyes shut and his head down.
“Aye! An’ whit was th’ outcome Joshua?!” Hack asked as he took another drag on his cigarette.

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[In the great cabin...late at night...]

“Mony waur killed an' th’ rest taken prisoner. Th' lest of th' schooner sailors identified th' warst of them. A military tribunal was assembled in Parham Toon..." The Captain went on in a slurred speech.
“Waur ye thaur Joshua?" Warrant Officer Hack pushed on.
“Aye, Ahh was. Ahh was th’ yoongest witness tae testify against them!"
“An' whit was th' verdict Joshua?"

“Th' Keptin of th' French Corsairs was foond guilty of piracy an' murder! Th' thee warst of hee’s rebels...the same."

“An' th’ rest of th' Corsairs?"
“Guilty! Piracy an’ robbery oan th’ high seas!” The Captain mumbled.
“Whit was dain wi' them?"
“Th' French Keptin an' th' thee warst of them...was hanged until deid oan th' wharf at sunrise! Th’ others...spent they’s days dwindlin' awa' in th' tower of London."

Hack turned and looked at Galligan and nodded. It was clear, justice had been done…

“Joshua….Listen tae me closely...was nae justice dain 'en?" Hack continued.

The Captain squirmed in his chair, his face contorted. Junior Petty Officer - Quartermaster's Mate Ickied grew increasingly uncomfortable also but sat tight as he listened to the telling revelation.

“Nae! Justice wisnae dain!” The Captain blurted out with great emotion.
“Wa’ Joshua?! Wa nae?!" Hack asked intensely.
“Coz… they killed mah mammy! An' there's mair of them oot thaur!" He said in an anguished voice!

“Joshua… Justice was dain tae these bad men. Ye must see 'att?!"
“Fur these...Aye. But…nae fur aw th’ rest!" He said as he leaned forward and grabbed his knees again.
“Joshua...listen tae me...thaur's guid Frenchmen an' there's bad. They's nae aw th' same Joshua!"

The Captain straightened again and firmed his lower lip…”Nae! They’s aw’ bad! Every lest one of them!"

“Did yer faither...Admiral Gordan Slane teach ye 'att?" Hack said quietly as he edged closer to the Captain’s ear.

The Captain blinked twice and hesitated…

“Nae…he did nae…”
“Did he spent th’ rest of hee’s days killin' th' French?!" Hack incriminated.

“…Nae…he did nae…”

“'En he must have knoon Joshua...’att nae aw French ur bad?!"

Galligan raised an eyebrow and glanced at Ickied. Each moment that the old Warrant officer pressed on, the more he showed his genius, skill and compassion.

“Joshua…He must have knoon nae aw’ French ur bad?!” He repeated.

The Captain tilted his head and listened, his mind seemed to be weighing the scales of justice…

“Mebbe…he did…”
“Sae if he kent 'att Joshua an' he taught ye 'att...then wa dae ye want tae continue tae kill th' French?!" Hack said softly as he put his hand on the Captain’s shoulder.

There was a long pause. Tears flowed down the Captain’s face and he seemed torn in an internal battle with his own demons…

“Ahh……Ahh dunnae kinn!” He stammered as something seemed to break inside of him!

“Nae aw French ur bad Joshua… yer faither kent 'att an' ye ken 'att! Ye dornt haves tae kill anymair Frenchmen!"

The Captain sat silent, his body then seemed to suddenly relax…

“Ahh…dornt…?”
“Nae. Justice was dain Joshua...”

The Captain seemed to grow very placid, his fists relaxed and he closed his eyes…

“Justice…..”
“Aye Joshua, justice was dain.”

It seemed as though the weight of a thousand stones were lifted off of the Captain’s shoulders. He slumped back into his chair and fell into a deep sleep. Hack turned to Galligan and nodded…

“It's dain… Help me git heem tae scratcher!" He whispered.

The three men carefully lifted the unconscious Captain out of his chair and carefully carried him over to his bed. Laying him down on his back, he remained in a deep, peaceful sleep.

Hack turned and glanced at his comrades…

“Will it wark?" Galligan whispered.
“Heaven help us if it doesnae!" Hack whispered back as he took another drag on his cigarette.

By now, Ickied had seen far more than he understood and finally spoke cautiously, “Ahh...Ahh pure dornt kin whit went oan haur...?"

Hack turned towards him and stuck a stiff finger in his chest, “Yoo've seen naethin', yoo’ve heard naethin' an' ye ken naethin'! Understuid mucker?"

Ickied swallowed hard as he nodded, "Aye Sairrr..."

“Ain if 'att isn’t clear enaw… jist mind who it is 'att pulls th' lead oot of yer gut efter th' battles ur ower!” Hack finished as he pushed the door of the great cabin open and disappeared into the dark hallway.

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Vocab fur lainlubbers:

dain (done)
kent (knew)
kinn (know)
lest (last)
mony (many)
nae (no)
scratcher (bed)
thaur (there)
tae (to)
toon (town)
warst (worst)
waur (were)
wisnae (wasn't)

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"Confused? Ascared? Seasick? Need a private chat with the Captain?" - joshua.slane@aol.com

References: Pictures from: www.freeimages.com, www.pexels.com, pixabay.com, steemit.com an’ www.google.com/maps. Data loosely interpretted froms: Wikipedia, an' sometimes finely crafted reit from th' author's extensiff personal experience an' such.