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[Last time…]
“I wished I had never asked…”
“You shouldn’t have.”
“I won’t sleep a wink!”
“Probably not.”
"This will give me bad dreams for weeks!"
"No doubt...go to bed Silver!" (See: @joshuaslane/silver-adventures-captain-joshua-slane-24ja23-rescue-at-tasmania )
🔸🔸🔸[Ship's Log #4- 'Treacherous Waters of Cape Town!']
The frigate Silverton had now turned the corner of Cape Town and the winds had come up strong out of the north-west and the waters were turbulent! A clash of currents was fighting and unseen war right under the hull of the ship!
Standing Officer Prideofleo steadied himself against the forward bridge rail as the huge waves smashed against the ship’s portside hull!
“Furl down the forward jib!” He yelled out to the six seaman on the forecastle, “Get that main topgallant sail down now!”
The ship rocked and heaved as Seaman Kcgm and Boys Bdmillergallery, Saffisara, Rollingthunder, Pbock and Anchormetals all scrambled to bring down the high sails.
Standing Officer Tbnfl4sun did his best to hold the big ship’s wheel steady but it was a near losing battle…” Maybe we better call the Commander?”
“Aye, I think so! This is a hell of a gale!” Prideofleo yelled back as he ran down the bridge steps towards the galley stairs!
[Down below in the galley…]
Boys Myprecious, Dixiesilverminer and Hivebuzz all sat at the front table in front of the kitchen eating a plain and drinking a coffee when suddenly the floor rolled to the starboard side and all three lost their coffee mugs in their laps!
“Bloody hell!” Myprecious cursed as the hot coffee doused his tunic and the mug smashed on the floor.
The other two didn’t fair much better and Dixiesilverminer lost her plain as it skidded across the floor and was quickly pounced on and devoured by ‘Doug’, the ship’s dog!
“Blast it!” He yelled out as she started wiping the hot coffee off his shirt, “What’s going on up there anyways?!”
“I don’t know, but it’s certain we’ll get no more breakfast today!” Hivebuzz replied angrily.
Just then Commander Galligan entered the galley hall with Prideofleo right behind him, “All men up top on the main deck now!”
“Aye Sairrr!” “Aye, aye!”
The ships rubs and beams creaked and moaned under the strain of the lashing sea. As the group quickly made their way towards the stairs, Warrant Officer Kerrislravenhill and Cockpit Officer Ssg-Community joined them from the rear corridor.
Finally, up-top the Commander took quick stock of the situation…
“Prideofleo, get on that wheel and help Tbnfl4sun hold her steady!” He yelled as he ran across the main deck, eying the sails above, “Ssg-community, get the boys on those main topsails and furl them down before they split!”
“Aye Sairrr!”
”Should we get the Keptin up here Sairrr?!” Kerrislravenhill yelled.
”Not yet! Let’s see if we can get the bow to steady down and hold course first!” Galligan yelled as he mounted the bridge steps two by two and steadied himself on the front rail. Both Tbnfl4sun and Prideofleo had both hands on the big ship’s wheel and together were barely holding their own at keeping it from ripping out of their hands!
*“That’s it! Keep her on a south-easterly course men!” Galligan yelled as he gazed across the ship and watched the foreword mast with worry, “Kerrisl, get up front and have the boys bring down the fore topsail and the main fore sail now or we’re liable to lose the forecastle mast!”
“Aye Sairrr!” She yelled out as she ran down the bridge steps, smashing against the inner rail as the ship swayed to the starboard side and then regaining her balance to run across the main deck!
As the men and boys worked furiously the frigate Silverton heaved and rocked in the giant turbulent swells of the south African sea! The war of south-westerly ocean currents clashing with the south-easterly along with the violent wind had turned the ocean into a violent hell-storm! The ship reeled and tossed like a tiny insect in the midst of the roaring gale!
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References: - Pictures from: www.freeimages.com, www.pexels.com, pixabay.com, Hive.blog, Google maps an' Wikipedia. Data also sometimes finely crafted reit from th' author's extensiff personal experience an' such.
*🧾- Heelain Sassenach
nane.