First Mate's Log: New Crew, Old Tricks

Captain finally found a carpenter and a cook, actually.  Two Italian brothers, actually, Paolo and Cristobal Magarelli.  Paolo is the carpenter and speaks almost no English, Cristobal is a classically trained chef who speaks English quite well.  Mr. Durkus calls him Christendom because he can’t remember his name.  We pick up our new cargo the day after tomorrow and then we sail back to England.  I imagine we will take a couple of ships on our way, spices don’t take up very much space.  

Barney hasn’t returned for the night, I worry about the boy.  Many of our crew have been taken by the Fielding Twins on this ridiculous filthy spit of an island.  Barney is likely too young to fall to their feminine trickery, but he did buy a flower from and for a pretty girl yesterday.  She was easily three years his senior.  Perhaps I should be concerned for our cabin boy.  If he doesn't return in a couple of hours I’ll take Cooper and go out looking for him.

R. Dawson

The Cabin Boy Goes Ashore

I like port almost as much as I like the see.  There be so many peepol runnin evrywere and there be lots of things to by.  Today I bot sweets to hide in my trunk while we at see.  I be bored to deth of salted see turtle. There be lots of gurls at port but my favrit be the gurls with ravin hair.  I bot a flawer from a gurl with ravin hair just to give it back to her.  She gigled at me.  Mr. Dawson say that be a good thing.

Barney

First Mate's log: First Day at Port

The first day at port is always difficult.  The men are so very excited to be off the boat that they always go a little crazy. Luckily we were able to get the cargo unloaded before people started disappearing.  Dr. Kamazora ran away first thing, again.  That man has tried to run away at every port since we kidnapped him off his sloop in January.  He always realized he has nowhere to go and comes back.  I believe the poor man will adjust.  He has no family back in India so what better things has he to do than be a pirate surgeon?

Cooper and the Captain went out looking for a carpenter, but found no one.  They will try again tomorrow, I have no doubts.  With any luck they’ll find a cook as well.  We’d starve without Mr. Durkus and his golden harpoon bringing in sea turtles, but it would be heaven to have someone who knew how to cook them. 

Tomorrow I’ll go looking for a new book and perhaps an atlas.  I’ll stay on the ship tonight, I find I have no reason to rent a room.  I miss dear Calypso when I’m away.

R. Dawson

Captain's Log; the Second

Unloaded our cargo today, all of it wool.  In two days we take on a cargo of spices, coffee, and cocoa.  The Bane will smell better than usual this trip.  I need to find a carpenter.

A. Penn

The Cabin Boy learns to write

My names Barney.  I be the cabin boy to capm Aberham Pen.  Mistur Durkus is my frend he is lernin me to read and rite.  He be the smartist man on Calypso’s Bane.  Maybe on the hole oshun.  I will rite my advenchures at see and sumday I will be capm of me own ship.  We go to port today and I will by some sweets wif me earnins.  I aint had sweets in a hundred years and capm says ifn he catches me drinkin he will toss me overboard.

Barney

First Mate's Log: Tomorrow will be a good day

Tomorrow we reach port, and it can’t come soon enough.  This trip has been particularly difficult for the crew as we’ve stopped for repairs twice, and even then we patch the poor girl back together with the broken remains of empty barrels and twine left over from the chicken cages of last summer’s most unfortunate cargo.  Captain says that he’s not leaving the ruddy dock until he has a carpenter in his employ.  I do hope we find a suitable man for the job, but I know Captain Penn will not be able to resist the siren call of the sea for long.  We’ll be back on the water within a week, carpenter aboard or no.  

Tomorrow marks the end of the trial period for our cabin boy, Barney.  I believe the Captain will keep him on: he works hard and obeys quickly.  The dear boy is never cross or insubordinate, though he never seems far away whenever trouble arises.  Mr. Durkus is teaching the boy to read and write, bless them both.  I wonder if perhaps no education at all would be preferable.

That reminds me.  Tomorrow I must purchase a new book.  I simply can’t bring myself to read The Iliad one more time.

R. Dawson

Captain's log, the first

We make port tomorrow.  The crew is restless and hungry.  I look forward to our new cargo.
A. Penn