Some More from Beyond the Ocean's Edge
During the course of the past week I had all sorts of ideas as to what to post. Now that it is time, perhaps past time to do so, I find I can't remember most of it. Therefore, you'll have to settle for another little excerpt from the Stone Island Sea Stories. This little episode occurs near the middle of Beyond the Ocean's Edge: A Stone Island Sea Story, just as the crew and passengers of Island Expedition are about to cross the equator.
Dave
“Ahoy the ship!” The hail came on the heels of a loud splash. “Come aboard?”
Pierce noticed with an inward grin that Dial and Townsend, presently on duty as officer and midshipman of the watch, had both jumped with a startled suddenness.
“Who’s hailing?” asked Dial rather loudly.
“Davy Jones!” the voice answered. “Come aboard?”
Dial was totally bewildered and looked about helplessly. He looked at Pierce, his countenance begging for a solution.
“Perhaps you should let him aboard, Mr. Dial!” said Pierce. “If I am correct, Davy Jones is a person of privilege. Were I you, side boys and bo’sun’s mates!”
“Davy Jones? Privileged? Side boys?” Dial was perplexed. He quickly recovered. “Aye aye, sir! Mr. Townsend, prepare to render honors!”
Moments later the side boys, some wiping sleep from their eyes, formed up along the starboard entry port. “The Most Honorable Davy Jones, please come aboard at your convenience!” said Townsend, reciting the words Pierce had given him an instant earlier.
A head of wild tangled hair under a soaked and dripping cocked hat appeared even with the deck. The pipes twittered, and the side boys saluted. The wet and bedraggled figure heaved itself on to the deck and stood dripping. It lifted the soggy misshapen hat in salute to the quarterdeck, a salute that was returned with due ceremony by the ship’s captain.
The strange visitor made his way to the captain, dripping seawater on the recently holystoned deck, and no doubt irritating the first lieutenant. Moving aft, the stranger busily unwrapped a parcel of tarred canvas, and as he reached the spot where Pierce stood, took out its contents.
A fairly short one this time, about one page in manuscript format. Hope you enjoy it.
Dave
Dave
“Ahoy the ship!” The hail came on the heels of a loud splash. “Come aboard?”
Pierce noticed with an inward grin that Dial and Townsend, presently on duty as officer and midshipman of the watch, had both jumped with a startled suddenness.
“Who’s hailing?” asked Dial rather loudly.
“Davy Jones!” the voice answered. “Come aboard?”
Dial was totally bewildered and looked about helplessly. He looked at Pierce, his countenance begging for a solution.
“Perhaps you should let him aboard, Mr. Dial!” said Pierce. “If I am correct, Davy Jones is a person of privilege. Were I you, side boys and bo’sun’s mates!”
“Davy Jones? Privileged? Side boys?” Dial was perplexed. He quickly recovered. “Aye aye, sir! Mr. Townsend, prepare to render honors!”
Moments later the side boys, some wiping sleep from their eyes, formed up along the starboard entry port. “The Most Honorable Davy Jones, please come aboard at your convenience!” said Townsend, reciting the words Pierce had given him an instant earlier.
A head of wild tangled hair under a soaked and dripping cocked hat appeared even with the deck. The pipes twittered, and the side boys saluted. The wet and bedraggled figure heaved itself on to the deck and stood dripping. It lifted the soggy misshapen hat in salute to the quarterdeck, a salute that was returned with due ceremony by the ship’s captain.
The strange visitor made his way to the captain, dripping seawater on the recently holystoned deck, and no doubt irritating the first lieutenant. Moving aft, the stranger busily unwrapped a parcel of tarred canvas, and as he reached the spot where Pierce stood, took out its contents.
A fairly short one this time, about one page in manuscript format. Hope you enjoy it.
Dave