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[Last time...]
Evsup quickly finished the note and tied it on the leg of Groober.
“Off wi' heem now an' Gawd's speed!" The Captain yelled.
The big bird flew out over the starboard rail and soon was no more than a speck, speeding quickly over the glistening waters…
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[In the Bay of Badjanani…]
As the blue smoke cleared, the crew of the Grand Bank quickly began reloading their muskets. Floating lifelessly in the waters a hundred yards out lie the body of the lone native messenger his canoe now drifting eastward away in the breeze.
“Fine job men! Hahaha! Nice shooting!” Captain Callum gloated as he stood on the deck, eying the shoreline closely.
Commander Galligan lowered his musket slowly and set the butt of the weapon on the deck beside him. He seemed deep in thought and somehow conflicted. Boy Tipper looked up at him in admiration…
“Ye did good Commander..." He whispered under his breath.
Galligan glanced down without speaking. His face shown in puzzlement.
[On-board the Silverton…]
“Th' situation is dangerous Fisky! Ahh have ta git a team ashair as quick as Ahh can! Pick eight of yer best men. No muskets! Thes must be stealth raid, in th' cover of darkness!" The Captain said to Cockpit Mate- Midshipman’s Mate Fisky in a low tone.
“Do ye want me ta lead th' raid Keptin?" Fisky asked loyally.
“No matie, Ahh cannot afford ta lose ye..."
Fisky thought for a moment, weighing the meaning of his words and then nodded.
“Aye Sairrr.”
Fisky walked across the main deck and began speaking with several of the crew while the Captain’s eyes never left the western shore of Badjanani.
[In the center square of Badjanani…]
Three warriors with spears were arguing quietly with King Rahil, who stood in front of the main council hut. His arms were folded and his face filled with concern as he listened to the men. At that moment Groober came soaring into the clearing and landed on a post not far from the men…
“What kind of bird is that?!” One warrior said as he lifted his spear slightly.
The King stayed his arm as he spoke, “I recognize that bird. Bring him to me!”
Slowly one of the warriors approached the big bird and to his amazement, it did not fly off, but rather stood quietly at rest. He cautiously held out his arm and the big bird hopped on top of it quickly.
“Auuugh!” He grunted in a startled tone.
The other two warriors laughed, “Look at the fierce warrior of Comoros, slayer of men…yet startled by birds! Hahaha!”
The first warrior was not amused as he walked back over to the King and held his arm out rigidly.
“There’s the message…” King Rahil said as he pointed to the roll around Groober’s neck.
The second warrior carefully reached out and unrolled the message. He read it slowly to the King. Rahil smiled slightly as he recognized the name of its sender.
After reading the message the warrior looked up at the King and spoke, “What is this?! We cannot sit and do nothing while the great ship in our bay kills our people!”
“We must be wise.” The King replied as he looked at the great bird, “This message comes from an old friend, an honorable man…”
“King, this is madness! We must attack the great canoe at once!” the third warrior protested.
“No. We will not attack. Give the order to have all of our people move away from the shore. Have every one return to their hut and stay there until I give the command.” The King replied with steady resolve.
“But my Lord!”
“Silence! Do as I said!”
[Back on the Silverton…]
“Captain Sairrr?” Fisky said as he climbed the steps to the bridge, “I’ve chosen the men, but Petty Officer- Ship’s Corporal Ickied requests to have a word with you…”
“He does?!”
“Aye Sairrr.”
“Send heem up haur 'en!"
Fisky nodded and in a moment returned with Officer Ickied…
“What's on yer min' man?" The Captain said quickly as he pulled out his pipe and packed it full of tobacco.
Ickied stood before the Captain with a bit of apprehension but in his face was a serious determination…
“Weel Sairrr, it is thes...” he began, “If there’s ta be a rescue party, Ahh request yer permission ta lead 'att party. Ahh owe much ta th' good Commander an' if there’s e'en th' slightest chance it is really heem, Ahh will risk mah life ta bring heem an' Tipper back. Ye recall 'att Ahh’ve bin on th' Grand Bank an all, Sairrr. Ahh’m familiar wi' th' ship as a prisoner on her, an' as Ahh got mah escape. Furthermore…Ahh despise 'att rat Callum as ye do an' Ahh owe heem retribution fur his heinous acts!” (See: https://steemit.com/story/@joshuaslane/silver-adventures-of-captain-joshua-slane-133-thaur-she-blows )
The Captain lifted an eyebrow as he let out a large plume of blue smoke in the shape of whale. His brilliant green eyes peered hard into the young officer’s and he weighed what the man just said…
“Thes will be an awful mission lad… Callum MacGibbon is a rogue, Ahh vouch fur 'att, but he’s evil, an' crafty as a moray eel! Not all crew will return son..." The Captain said with an almost fatherly tone.
“I know that Sairrr…” Ickied replied as he took a deep breath.
“An’ ye also know ‘att Senior Petty Officer- Caulker ErticalOne is seven levels above ye?" The Captain pointed out.
“Aye...Ahh knows it Sairrr..."
The captain took a long draw on his pipe and the embers burned red hot in the light of the setting sun…
“Puttin' a Junior Petty Officer in charge of thes raid is a risk fur me...an’ fur th' prisoners..." The Captain thought out loud, “But yoo've got a guid point. Knowin' yer way aroond th' Grand Bank will be a strong advantage...”
“Ahh will not let ye doon Sairrr..." Ickied said with a grim face.
“Ye ne'er have…” The Captain said as he looked out over the darkening waters, “Alright son, yoo'll lead th' raid tonight!"
Officer Ickie’s face lit up and a smile spread wide as he spoke, “Thenk ye Sairrr!”
“But heed mah words weel man! If 'att is Commander Galligan ower thaur on 'att vessel, an' Boy Tipper, an' ye lose them...” he paused as he turned towards him and a dark expression spread over his face, “Ahh'll have Officer ErticalOne himself flog ye on th' main mest until yer shirt runs red!"
Ickied swallowed hard as he listened to the warning, then nodded and saluted before turning and leaving.
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"Th' Crew ‘att Present" - (56) Strong
1-Joshua Slane -Captain
2-Hack – Warrant Officer- Surgeon
3-Fisky – Cockpit Mate- Midshipman’s Mate
4-ErticalOne – Senior Petty Officer- Caulker
5-Mickied – Junior Petty Officer- Cooper
6-Spinny – Junior Petty Officer- Gunner’s Mate
7-Azzuar – Junior Petty Officer- Boatswain’s Mate
8-Maxwellsilver- Seaman- Quarter Gunner
9-Filipino - Seaman- Carpenter’s Crew
10-Raise-me-up – Seaman- Carpenter’s Crew
11-Prepperbot - Seaman- Carpenter’s Crew
12-Ilver Medicine – Seaman- Carpenter’s Crew
13-Devsup – Seaman- Able Seaman
14-Council - Seaman- Able Seaman
15-Acknowledgment – Seaman- Able Seaman
16-Tuna – Seaman- Able Seaman
17-Hackerzizon - Seaman- Ordinary Seaman
18-Ytal - Seaman- Ordinary Seaman
19-Wolfeblog - Seaman- Ordinary Seaman
20-Fyrstikken – Seaman- Landsman
21-Davidfnck - Seaman- Landsman
22-Yehey - Seaman- Landsman
23-Thetroublenotes – Seaman Landsman
24-Magpielover - Seaman- Landsman
25-Pinoy – Seaman Landsman
26-Peg – Cook
26-Obaku - Boy
27-Ubg - Boy
28-Gormogon – Boy
29-Nextgencrypto - Boy
30-Berniesanders - Boy
31-Slickhustler007 - Boy
32-Youngomarqs - Boy
33-Engagement - Boy
34-Golgo-13 - Boy
35-Iflagtrash - Boy
36-Lec - Boy
37-Leduc1984 - Boy
38-Magician - Boy
39-Microbot - Boy
40-Mobydick - Boy
41-Ngc - Boy
42-Nutritree - Boy
43-Randomthoughts - Boy
44-Saidlewa - Boy
45-Sientondarto - Boy
46-Spammy - Boy
47-Steem.create - Boy
48-Steeming-hot – Boy
49-Thecyclist - Boy
50-Thedelegator - Boy
51-Circleoffriends - Boy
52-Viking-ventures - Boy
53-Wales - Boy
54-Tipper – Boy
55-Groober - Messenger Pidgeon
56-Doug – Ship’s Dog
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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?" - [email protected]
Reference: Pictures frae www.freeimages.com, www.pexels.com, pixabay.com, steemit.com an’ www.google.com/maps