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

The Cabin Boy Comes Home

I be in a lotta truble this time.  Yestrday I be with doc and he be wantin ta leave us.  This only be my first day at port since I joyned the croo, but Wessin say doc try to leave every time.  But this time doc be serius.  He heer tell of a Indian sloop in port and he be fixed to run ta that ship.  He has no famly jus like me but he don like the oshun.  I don no how a persun can not like the oshun.  Its lunisee.  But we be settin in the tavern doc and me, and I tells him wee needs him.  He made me all better wen I wus see sik my first week abord the bane.  Wen he change his mind and say he comin back to the bane the sun was up.  We went back to the ship and capm was havin a fit he was so mad at me.  He sent me to the gally to help the new cook.  I hate bein outa the ratlines, it be terrible small in the gally.  Cook won let me taste anythin.  I be don with me sentince in too weeks.  Then I be back agenst the sky as be proper. 

I aint never rote so much in me natural life.  Me hand herts.  Mr. Durkus say me writin be improovin.

Barney

First Mate's Log: Embarking

Several of us were up all night searching for Barney.  We were all over this dirty little island trying to find the lad, but with no luck at all.  We found the Fielding sisters in their little shop but they claimed they hadn’t seen him.  Colleen tried to sell Cooper a necklace that would give him fins and gills when he was in the water, and Anna lured Wesson into buying some concoction to make him taller.  We’ve been in and out of taverns and shops with no luck at all.  

At first light we came back to the ship to see if he had returned.  Captain was cross and nervous because we were to ship out with the tide.  Just as the morning sun hit the mast, who should come striding up the dock but our own cabin boy, Dr. Kamazora in tow.  Barney explained that the doctor had really decided not to return to the ship this time, so he stayed with him until his changed his mind.  Captain was very unhappy but he isn’t one to punish with a beating, so he banished the boy to the galley to assist the new cook; not being in the ratlines will be punishment enough. Barney will never again stay ashore overnight without leave.

We embarked without incident and had stuffed crab and caramelized onions for supper.  God bless our new cook.

R. Dawson

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