“I say, Finn old lad, catch this! Hon Rosie was her usual accurate self. She slung the rope, landing it neatly a pawsbreadth from Finnbarr. The otter latched on to it with powerful jaws. Next moment he was streaking through the waters like a great minnow, as Rosie and several others heaved the line in paw over paw.
“Whoohahahahoo! Up you come, you two. Great seasons, look at the bump on old Log-a-things bonce. Righto, Ive got him! The sails were billowing, blown out taut by the wind. Pearl Queen strained against the anchor rope like a wild animal waiting to be unleashed. Joseph, aided by Finnbarr Galedeep, heaved against the tiller, forcing the rudder around until Pearl Queen was bowsprit out, facing the horizon. The tide swell was lifting at its peak when the sea otter bellowed, “Cut loose your anchor cable!
Foremole had found a ships axe, perfectly suited to the job. He struck the rope twice where it came through the forard port. Whack! Thwack!
Pearl Queen ran free, veering southwest into the heaving seas.
Capn Slipp was waist deep in the water, about to take the plunge and swim toward his ship, when he saw it buck from the anchor cable and begin heading out to sea. With a howl of dismay he hurtled forward into the waves and struck out for his brothers ship. Dizzy from roistering in the close confines of a hot and well-lit cabin, Capn Strapp shivered on deck, rubbed his eyes, and peered into the darkness, demanding, “Whatn the name o burstin bilges is goin on?
Rappsnout, mate of the Pearl Queen, explained as best be could. “That bangin amidships, Capn, it was two hanimals, otter an a shrew I fink. They musta been tryin : to bore an ole in yer vessel, I reckon.
Strapp peered anxiously over the side. “An did they? be asked.
“Bless yer cockles, no, Capn. We chased em off, Rappsnout said brandishing his cutlass. “But they swim-med oer to yer brothers craft; looks like themn their mates ave took off with it.
“Avast the Shalloo. Throw me a line! Strapps eyes were now accustomed to the night. He saw his brother swimming toward the Shalloo, and shouted, “Rappsnout, throw Capn Slipp a line. The dutiful mate grabbed a heaving line and hurled one end of it out to the figure in the water. Strapp chuckled wickedly. “Now throw him the other end of it! Rappsnout blinked and scratched his head in bewilderment. “Frow im the other end, Capn. Are you sure? Strapp was already shouting orders to the two crews he had aboard. “Hoist yer anchor! Bring er about souwest. Unfurl all sail smart like! Nip to it! He turned to Rappsnout. “Sure? Course Im sure, mate. Thats if yer want to be Capn of the Shalloo. When weve captured the Pearl Queen, Ill be master of er. Ive alhis wanted that vessel for meself. Nows the penance!
A slow smile spread over Rappsnouts dull features.
“Ho, I see! Yer a sly un, Capn. But wot about yore brother?
Strapp felt the ship shudder as the anchor was hauled free of the water; he watched the sails billow out into the wind. “My brother, that stinkin bully! Capn of the seashore, thats wot e can be ifn e makes it back to land. Throw im the other end of the line, Capn Rappsnout!
Proud of his new appointment, the former mate tossed the line to Slipp, sticking his snout in the air, and ignoring the swimmers cries, in a dignified manner as befits a Captain. Slipp floundered in the creamy wake of the Shal-loo, swallowing seawater as he watched the stern recede southwest.
“Strapp, ye double-dyed villain, come back! Rappsnout, stop im, matey! Ill ave yore liver n lights fer this, dyou ear me! Ill saw off yer tail an ang yer by it, you scum! Treading water and still grasping both ends of the useless line, the infuriated pirate shouted threats and insults until the Shalloo grew small in the distance.
Foremole thumped Log-a-Logs back as he spat out sea-water, holding a wet cloth to the swollen lump between his ears.
“Thurr, youm taken et easy naow, zurr Log. Wem all safe!
Finnbarr had relinquished the tiller to Durry and Rufe, while Joseph went below to check the ships supplies and weaponry. The sea otter nicked Log-a-Log in a blanket. “There now, shipmate. Pity we never ad a chance to sink the Shalloo, but never mind. We got us the Pearl Queen. Our lads did a good job takin over. I ear young Rufe accounted fer four searats single-pawed. Haharr, we got us a prime crew, no mistake!
Rufe and Durry clung bravely to the tiller, holding the ship on course until further orders. They grinned fear-somely at one another and growled like old seadogs.
“Gooarrarrarrurrgggg!
Rosie found an unopened flagon at the foot of the mast, uncorked it, and took a long pull.
“Pthoowah!
It sprayed out over several shrews. Rosie held the flagon at paws length, her face crinkled in disgust. “Whoa, corks, I say, is this the stuff they call bilgewa-ter?
Joseph was passing by. He took the flagon and sniffed it. “No, marm, this is the famous seaweed grog. Itll come in very useful for lighting the galley fires. Now I can get a decent supper cooked.
Wiping her mouth on a kerchief, Hon Rosie muttered, “Thats about all the blinkin stuff is any good for!
The ship was well stocked and in excellent repair. Joseph discovered a good cache of cutlasses, knives, spears, and archery equipment in her arms locker. A hot meal of biscuits and shrimp soup was dished out to the crew; they relieved each other in turns so they could all eat. Finnbarr Sat under a stern awning with Joseph and Log-a-Log. The shrew was curious to know what course they were taking. Finnbarr licked a paw and tested the wind saying, “Were runnin southwest as I ordered, mate.
Joseph watched the first streaks of dawn over to the cast. “Southwest? I thought we were supposed to be “heading south. The sea otter drank soup from the bowl, smacking his lips. “So we will, Bellmaker. Take my affydavit for it, mate, well be runnin due south the moment we strike Roaringburn.
Joseph and Log-a-Log repeated the name simultaneously. “Roaringburn?
“Aye, Roaringburn. Finnbarr chuckled as he stretched out to take a nap. “Its a currentnarrow, deep an very swift, only ever runs one way, south. Mind, itll take some findin, but the moment we hit it, well shift like the wind!
The shrew Bandle poked his head around the awning. “Then wed best find it quick; the Shalloos hard on our paws an bearin down on us fast!
They dashed out from under the cover and, sure enough, there was the Shalloo with every scrap of canvas piled on, double crewed and coming after them like a hungry, windblown hawk.
Dawn also found Capn SHpp wandering the shoreline in a daze, completely unsure of how he had ever gotten back to land. Stumbling back to his position of the previous night, he found the ashes of his fire. He crouched in the wind-tossed sand and blew on a glowing ember, adding sticks and dry grass to it until a small fire flickered. Miserably he perched by it, drying off and waiting for the sun to get up. Cursing and muttering the most dreadful oaths to himself, he scanned the stretch of beach left by the ebbing waves of the outgoing tide. The corpses of six drowned crewrats who had been his ships watch lay still, washed up with the jetsam of the previous nights encounter.
Shivering and damp, Slipp stood up, turning his back to warm it by the fire. Then he saw it.
Blaggut, boatswain of the Pearl Queen, was seated in a shrewboat paddling into shore. Slipp leaped up and down, waving to attract the others attention.
“Ahoy there, Blaggut! Matey, its me, yer good ole Capn!
Blaggut heard and acknowledged with a wave of his paddle. Leaping out into the shallows, he dragged the boat ashore and beached it, smiling and waving joyfully. “Capn, Capn Slipp, matey,tis yerself!
Laughing happily he ran toward Slipp, paws outstretched. “Ho, Capn, ydont know ow god it does me eart tsee yore face, an a fire too! Theres a stroke o luck. Im froze to the marrow an starvin.
When they met, instead of embracing his boatswain, Slipp leapt upon him and began punching and kicking him. “Boatswain, eh? Had of the watch? Keepin me vessel safe from invaders, was you! You ... you ... useless, gutless, brainless, spineless jellyfish!