Captain's Log, First Mate's Log: Mariella Appears

Two days since we took our last ship.  The weather continues fine though there be little wind.  Mariella will likely be the death of me, God love her.

A. Penn

Our dear Mariella Penn has made her entrance into the public eye.  Captain kept her safely hidden for almost two days before she escaped.  She somehow climbed out through one of the windows and up over the stern and onto the poop deck.  Johns was faithfully standing his post at the wheel, but he is likely our most superstitious crewman.  When he saw her he took such a fright that he jumped ship.  We had a proper struggle getting him back on deck.  Captain threatened to leave him in the water and sail away without him, giving Mr. Durkus the station of pilot.  Johns consented and returned to the helm, but I have no doubts that this is not our last incident involving the captain’s daughter.  Barney nearly fell to his death when he saw her.  Luckily climbs like a monkey.  Being inquisitive, he calls it.  He caught himself in the ratlines before he met his end on the deck.

At least the weather continues agreeable. 

R. Dawson

Captain's Log: The Girl's Mother

Having a woman on board is creating difficulties.  The crewmen are terribly superstitious.  I worry about their reaction when they find out.  Mariella informs me she was trying to get home to London to her mother, Marie Tamm.  I remember Marie well.

A. Penn

Cabin Boy's Log: There Be a Gurl

Ther is a gurl on this boat!  I jus know it!  I kin here her voice in capms cabin.  Misser Dawson say I be too inquizative for me own good.  I don know what that means, ezakly, but I think it means I be a good climber and I be jus that.  As soon as I suspect there be a gurl on the Bane I climb down outside capms window and by neptoons beard there is a gurl in there.  I want to ask Misser Dawson about her, but I have this feelin that he don want to be talkin about her.  They be hidin her for a reason, says I.  I jus need a little more infermashun before I ask him.

But I will meet this gurl before we take to port next.  Mark me words.

Barney

First Mate's Log: New Crew Member

We left the target ship this morning.  We took much of her cargo of wool and left behind what we didn’t have room for.  Captain Penn is very particular about his rum, so we left the rations on their ship and took only the captain’s private stash.  This was easily the strangest attack of my career.  I knew the first mate when I was a cabin boy twenty years ago.  He was a rigger back then.  On a related note, the captain met his long-lost fifteen-year-old daughter, Mariella.  She looks just like her father, there’s no mistaking the resemblance.  Captain Penn practically kidnapped her off that ship; we still haven’t worked out what she was doing with them.  Somehow we distracted the entire crew while he smuggled her into his cabin.  He just couldn’t leave her with that “band of swarthy cutthroats.”  I pointed out to him that those cutthroats are manning a merchant vessel and we are, in fact, pirates.  He chose to ignore that detail.

I can’t imagine how this could possibly end well.  I worry most about Barney; when he learns there’s a woman on board, he’ll be useless until we drop her off somewhere. 

R. Dawson

Captain's Log, Cabin Boy's Log: the Other Ship

We’ve taken the ship.  Opposing crew lost three men, we lost none.  Opposing crew with fifteen wounded, we have seven.  Cargo successfully transferred to the Bane.  A small matter of business remains, which will be dealt with in the morning.  A rotating watch of ten men guard the prisoners. 

A. Penn

Capm finely let me out of his cabin but he says if I so much as be thinkin abou goin ta the othur ship I be shark bait.   I aint got no shinin to go to the othur ship anyhow.  I jus wanna be in the crows nest.  Capm is bein awful meen I cant figer out wats got inta him.

Barney

Cabin Boy's Log: Locked Up

My life is so hard.  Capm lokt me in his cabin wile the croo is takin a ship.  He says if I stay in heer like a good lad til they be done I can stop helpin in the gally.  I cin heer the canons and the yellin and the ship be rokin with evry canon fire.  I hate being traped in heer.  I borded a ship before and took the capm’s hat even.  But Capm say this one be too danjerus.  A ship is a ship, says I.  They all be danjerus.  We be pirates, by thunder.  Its all danjerus. 

Tomorrow I will be back in the crows nest.  I ges I will jus lie heer on the flore and lissen to evry one else havin all the fun.

Barney

Cabin Boy's Log, Captain's Log

Ther be five days left in me exile to the gally. Misser Magrely be workin me fingers to the bone.  And he be forcin me to wash me hands.  It aint decent.  Capm been actin strange all day standin at the helm starin at the horizon.  He aint had nuffin to eet all day.  We try to talk to im but he just glare and grumble at us.  He only talk ta Misser Dawsin.  Oh, Misser Dawsin be makin me swab the deck.  That usually be the sailers job not the cabin boys.  I hope the capm be fine wiffout me helpin im.  It aint proper for the capm to have no one helpin im.  I told that to Misser Magrely and he made me wash pots.  

If I never rite agin it be becuz I dide from lak of sun and fresh are.

Barney

We’re stalking a freight ship.  She sits low in the water, heavy with cargo.  We should be upon her just before dawn tomorrow.

A. Penn

First Mate's Log: One Week at Sea

We’ve been one week out to sea and the Magarelli brothers are proving themselves assets.  Rations are the same as before, but somehow Cristobal turns everything into a savory masterpiece.  Paolo has the Bane all patched up like the day she was launched.  I’m not entirely sure they understand exactly what sort of ship this is, but they’ll understand as soon as we come across a suitable target.  It’s a dangerous game we play, working three different jobs.  But somehow Captain handles all of it.  We’ve lost some men across the years, but we’ve never been caught be the authorities.  As far as I’m concerned, that’s extremely lucky for a crew that runs legal trade, smuggling jobs, and attacks ships on the side.  I used to worry about putting things like that to paper, but now I figure if they have my journal they’ve taken the ship anyway and have found our incriminating cargo.  

Barney has been in the kitchen for a week, half of his punishment.  He claims he’s turning white from lack of sun.  This morning he told me that his hair will start to fall out if he doesn’t get “back against the sky as be proper.”  That boy could probably live his entire life in the crow’s nest and be satisfied.  Captain will not budge on the length of the boy’s sentence.

There are red skies at the horizon tonight.  Tomorrow should be a beautiful day.

R. Dawson