A wonderful adventure for readers 10 to a 110
IT BEGINS: Aye, I’m Wil DeVoe. I sailed as first mate aboard the Vengeferth. Amid our last trip out, the far known Captain Werthman charged me with someday putting ta the page a clear record a the events a that amazing voyage. Now I found the someday, an’ this page appears ready ta take on that voyage’s clearest account this hand can pen.
First, my apology ta ya men readers who put down your tuppence for this tome. Apology’s for leaving out the hard language ya might prefer left in. Aye, ‘twas there, salty sprinkled through, as where’er seafaring men are found. But I swear the tale can be well told without it. (‘Tis humor, swearing not ta use the swearing words.) I must leave out the hard language, or apologize ta the ladies an’ youngsters on its account.
Aye, I’ll leave out much a the more humdrum, trying stuff as well. Stuff trying a body’s patience an’ trying ta lower eyelids inta sleep. Yet rest assured our trip held far enough tribulations ta fill a hefty tome. I’ll go ta the grave recalling it frightfully clear. I swear I’m about ta use this fine feather pen’s blackest ink ta stow ya aboard an’ send ya smelling salty breezes an’ pickle brine on the Last Voyage a the Vengeferth. (Continued below.)
First, my apology ta ya men readers who put down your tuppence for this tome. Apology’s for leaving out the hard language ya might prefer left in. Aye, ‘twas there, salty sprinkled through, as where’er seafaring men are found. But I swear the tale can be well told without it. (‘Tis humor, swearing not ta use the swearing words.) I must leave out the hard language, or apologize ta the ladies an’ youngsters on its account.
Aye, I’ll leave out much a the more humdrum, trying stuff as well. Stuff trying a body’s patience an’ trying ta lower eyelids inta sleep. Yet rest assured our trip held far enough tribulations ta fill a hefty tome. I’ll go ta the grave recalling it frightfully clear. I swear I’m about ta use this fine feather pen’s blackest ink ta stow ya aboard an’ send ya smelling salty breezes an’ pickle brine on the Last Voyage a the Vengeferth. (Continued below.)
(l) Aboard the Vengeferth
The White (1): “’Twas done ‘fore the boy knew. ‘Fore any knew. The beast charged straight up from the black bowels a hell an’ swirled back unseen. Red broiling water told the tale ta all with eyes. In three thrashing seconds the brute came an’ went. We stood stunned witless. Best good thing was the quickness. The boy never knew it happened.
The boy’d done the smart thing. He listened well when I told ‘im if he struggled they’d tie ‘im ta the chair, an’ it could go worse. He sat right down on it, an’ stayed under a time, ‘fore climbing up ta poke his head out gasping. But then the brute hit. He should a been okay. I swear I didn’t mean ta lie ta the boy. There’s no knowing about whites. Just no knowing.
We began ta haul up the chair, but Captain wouldn’t have it. He cut the line. His grim face white as the mainsail. Had ta be angered at ‘imself for giving o’er ta such foolishness, an’ perhaps already with a touch a fear. His mouth was a thin line, an’ his eyes clenched ‘til ya thought ‘em closed.
Aloose, the chair took a notion ta float. Six meters out it hung in a red pool. It sat still, an’ we stared. Seemed near an hour. Till, just as sudden, it tipped an’ sunk, sucking the line down like a last noodle.
We’d had our time a prayer. Praying was o’er, an’ Captain strode ta his cabin, eyes narrow ahead, saying nothing an’ seeing nobody. We cleared his path more with fear than respect. There was little respect ta be found for ‘im about then.
Later he came ta mess. We’d a gone silent if we weren’t already. Usual chat wasn’t in us. Spoons clicking on plates sounded loud, till that too stopped when he showed his face.
“Men, ya know the boy wasn’t meant ta die,” Captain offered low, eyes down, a tremble in his voice as though speaking ta God. “He was a feisty sort, an’ certainly didn’t deserve it. Too sadly, what’s done’s done. Can’t bring ‘im back.” His o’ersized nose was red.
“Thing I can find ta do is seek out revenge on the ugly brute that took ‘im,” Captain’s voice came up stronger. “When they get a good meal, ya know they don’t always hurry off. More oft they hang about expecting another morsel. Jack, sharpen the old harpoons tonight. ‘Tis a fearfull mean business an’ mine alone. I'll ask no man ta join me, though a volunteer or two wouldn’t be turned away. Cookie, pull the two toughest steaks from the larder. Sorry ta give the beast one a our meals, boys. We’ll get us some better meat from next ship we take."
Good luck ta Cookie sorting that out. Seems ta me shoe leather’s all shoe leather by any name. As for Captain Werthman, I was thinking he aimed ta gain back respect, an’ he might have worries about the boy’s ghost. We’ve all heard enough stories about spirits an’ such ta feel there might be a string a truth in ‘em. Some believe stronger ‘n others. Never heard Captain’s take on that, but wasting a day ridding the sea a the white, seemed at least partly meant ta beg mercy from the boy's spirit should it e’er show.
There was little talk that eve. Boy’s loss’d sunk our spirits. ‘Twas sweaty warm. The water lay with a calmness seamen enjoy describing as smooth as the cheek a your sweet lass.
Smallboats aren’t the least like whaling boats, but the Captain had one rigged as close as he could. ‘Twas too small by half an’ the wrong shape. Not deep enough. The craft had ta be an easy tip. Coil a cord in the middle being too high. We had little true whaling line. Theirs was too heavy. Whaling line’s near as strong but lighter an’ less thick. Being as they were out for shark an’ not whale, the smallboat seemed likely ta do well enough if she didn’t tip. I could see no real need for Captain Werthman ta tie on all that line. Yet he owned a burning desire ta have certainty the beast was done.
They’d no gun ta shoot the harpoons. The boat wasn’t big enough for a harpoon gun. Kickback’d be a sure tip. They had three old wooden handled ones ta heave. Captain’d long had ‘em stowed. Two meters a true whaling line tied one on ta the top a the coil. I wondered about the bother a having three harpoons. No chance y'd have time ta retie a second one ta the line. But our grim eyed Captain had ‘im some idea.
Morn brought the slightest breeze. There was little chop when we winched the three down the side. Our tall Captain with his salt-an’-pepper beard, large nose, an’ wide brim, wasn’t alone in the smallboat. Aiming ta impress, youthfull Willie B an’ Jonesy were along. Those muscular adventurers climbed too easily aboard. Their smooth faces didn’t wear the serious-ness a the situation. They lacked scare in their eyes.
“Worst ya can do is step in the coil, boys,” Captain advised as we lowered the three in that too-small boat.
A cool breeze was picking up, an' clouds were moving in.
The fight (2) : Going for shark begs no imagination. Ya fling your bloody bait out there an’ ya wait. Captain’s steaks were but five meters out. Too near for my liking. A course ya couldn’t heave the heavy harpoon far, so I guess he needed his bait too close.
‘Twas was the picture. Our grim Captain standing ta the fore, Willie B an’ Jonesy seated aft. The three near six meters out in that too small boat, with a coil a line piled high in the middle an’ the bait but five meters out. The crew was scattered about the riggin. Our squinting eyes searched for a shark shadow. ‘Twas some hour a waiting. No little sharks nibbling about seemed ta say there was a big one near, scaring ‘em off. They usually come in slow, at the surface, their fin cutting waves like Captain’s dagger. From up in the riggin, most are shadows easy ta spot. Not the whites. They’re not really white but pale enough ta be hard ta see. Especially if they come in too deep for their scary big fin ta cut waves.
This monster surprised ‘cause she again came from under. Right from the bottom, like charging from the devil’s deepest pit a hell. She was scary big. Surely the biggest I ever saw. An’ this time jumping half a body up from the water. Could a told her the steaks were tough an’ not worth near the effort. But ‘twasn’t me had the brute’s ear. ‘Twas the devil ‘imself.
Up shadowing o’er that tiny boat she went. If the beast fell their way, the three’d be her supper for sure. Easy pickins. But she went sideways from ‘em, an’ Captain thrust the harpoon inta her side as she began down.
Now, the side’s not the best place ta hit ‘em. About the same as the back. They just swim ‘round a bit, shake your harpoon aloose, an’ have but another scar for your trouble. If ya hit one like that, about the only chance the brute’s finished is if she’s slowed an’ bleeding enough so’s her friends feed on her.
This one took the harpoon an’ headed straight out. White smoke an’ shrillest whine filled the air, line sawing the smallboat’s rail as it reeled out. We held breaths up top, asking in our heads what’d happen when a line on something that huge ran out. Many prayed. The bottom end a the coil was tied on ta the smallboat. A line tied on the smallboat ta the ship.
Right off, Willie B jumps in an’ swims toward us. He’s going near as fast’s the beast. We drop a line, an’ he scrambles wide eyed up the side. Just then the white turns sideways an’ stops. We see her treading water, seeming ta wait on something. Much a the coil was gone from the boat’s floor, an’ the line was slack. ‘Twas a scared silence. All awaited what was next.
Jonesy’d espied Willie clambering o’er the rail an’ saw his pal’d done the smart thing. So he decided ta come unfroze an’ follow. But in his stride, Jonesy stepped in the coil. ‘Twas meant as a quick step on his way ta dive toward the ship. But as though the espying devil ‘imself whispered in her ear, the best yanked exactly then!
Jonesy’s head smacked the smallboat rail loud like a cannon. Had ta be dead ‘fore he hit the water. The line about his ankle spun ‘im a quick turn an’ set ‘im aloose ta float ten meters out.
Musta been Jonesy’s head booming the rail that turned the beast sideways again with but a few meters a line left in the coil. Not two seconds passed till we saw the smell a Jonesy’s blood pull the monster back fast as she’d been running out.
“She’s a coming back for Jonesy, Captain!” Evans screech came from the riggin.
Our tall Captain was ghosty white an’ fiercely atremble. He’d no need ta jump in the water an’ swim for it. Any time he could grab the line ta the ship an’ pull his perilous self near enough ta catch a tossed line. It wouldn’t take a half minute. He stood stiff, awaiting the onrushing beast, his white knuckles glued ta the second harpoon, its hilt tucked under his arm.
Well, our Captain Werthman got as fortunate as any man in such a poor situation can imagine. The white slowed some as she came cutting in. She hit Jonesy, an’ carried his sideways body up nearly ta the Captain’s lap. He reflexed for’rd, thrusting the harpoon through the shark’s left eye directly ta her small brain. The brute’s last twitch was backwards. She flung Captain, who clung ta the harpoon, near twenty meters out. The harpoon stayed with the white. A wood handle was the last thing ta disappear as the beast’s dead weight sunk back. She took Jonesy along, down inta the black depths. (an' it goes on)
The White (1): “’Twas done ‘fore the boy knew. ‘Fore any knew. The beast charged straight up from the black bowels a hell an’ swirled back unseen. Red broiling water told the tale ta all with eyes. In three thrashing seconds the brute came an’ went. We stood stunned witless. Best good thing was the quickness. The boy never knew it happened.
The boy’d done the smart thing. He listened well when I told ‘im if he struggled they’d tie ‘im ta the chair, an’ it could go worse. He sat right down on it, an’ stayed under a time, ‘fore climbing up ta poke his head out gasping. But then the brute hit. He should a been okay. I swear I didn’t mean ta lie ta the boy. There’s no knowing about whites. Just no knowing.
We began ta haul up the chair, but Captain wouldn’t have it. He cut the line. His grim face white as the mainsail. Had ta be angered at ‘imself for giving o’er ta such foolishness, an’ perhaps already with a touch a fear. His mouth was a thin line, an’ his eyes clenched ‘til ya thought ‘em closed.
Aloose, the chair took a notion ta float. Six meters out it hung in a red pool. It sat still, an’ we stared. Seemed near an hour. Till, just as sudden, it tipped an’ sunk, sucking the line down like a last noodle.
We’d had our time a prayer. Praying was o’er, an’ Captain strode ta his cabin, eyes narrow ahead, saying nothing an’ seeing nobody. We cleared his path more with fear than respect. There was little respect ta be found for ‘im about then.
Later he came ta mess. We’d a gone silent if we weren’t already. Usual chat wasn’t in us. Spoons clicking on plates sounded loud, till that too stopped when he showed his face.
“Men, ya know the boy wasn’t meant ta die,” Captain offered low, eyes down, a tremble in his voice as though speaking ta God. “He was a feisty sort, an’ certainly didn’t deserve it. Too sadly, what’s done’s done. Can’t bring ‘im back.” His o’ersized nose was red.
“Thing I can find ta do is seek out revenge on the ugly brute that took ‘im,” Captain’s voice came up stronger. “When they get a good meal, ya know they don’t always hurry off. More oft they hang about expecting another morsel. Jack, sharpen the old harpoons tonight. ‘Tis a fearfull mean business an’ mine alone. I'll ask no man ta join me, though a volunteer or two wouldn’t be turned away. Cookie, pull the two toughest steaks from the larder. Sorry ta give the beast one a our meals, boys. We’ll get us some better meat from next ship we take."
Good luck ta Cookie sorting that out. Seems ta me shoe leather’s all shoe leather by any name. As for Captain Werthman, I was thinking he aimed ta gain back respect, an’ he might have worries about the boy’s ghost. We’ve all heard enough stories about spirits an’ such ta feel there might be a string a truth in ‘em. Some believe stronger ‘n others. Never heard Captain’s take on that, but wasting a day ridding the sea a the white, seemed at least partly meant ta beg mercy from the boy's spirit should it e’er show.
There was little talk that eve. Boy’s loss’d sunk our spirits. ‘Twas sweaty warm. The water lay with a calmness seamen enjoy describing as smooth as the cheek a your sweet lass.
Smallboats aren’t the least like whaling boats, but the Captain had one rigged as close as he could. ‘Twas too small by half an’ the wrong shape. Not deep enough. The craft had ta be an easy tip. Coil a cord in the middle being too high. We had little true whaling line. Theirs was too heavy. Whaling line’s near as strong but lighter an’ less thick. Being as they were out for shark an’ not whale, the smallboat seemed likely ta do well enough if she didn’t tip. I could see no real need for Captain Werthman ta tie on all that line. Yet he owned a burning desire ta have certainty the beast was done.
They’d no gun ta shoot the harpoons. The boat wasn’t big enough for a harpoon gun. Kickback’d be a sure tip. They had three old wooden handled ones ta heave. Captain’d long had ‘em stowed. Two meters a true whaling line tied one on ta the top a the coil. I wondered about the bother a having three harpoons. No chance y'd have time ta retie a second one ta the line. But our grim eyed Captain had ‘im some idea.
Morn brought the slightest breeze. There was little chop when we winched the three down the side. Our tall Captain with his salt-an’-pepper beard, large nose, an’ wide brim, wasn’t alone in the smallboat. Aiming ta impress, youthfull Willie B an’ Jonesy were along. Those muscular adventurers climbed too easily aboard. Their smooth faces didn’t wear the serious-ness a the situation. They lacked scare in their eyes.
“Worst ya can do is step in the coil, boys,” Captain advised as we lowered the three in that too-small boat.
A cool breeze was picking up, an' clouds were moving in.
The fight (2) : Going for shark begs no imagination. Ya fling your bloody bait out there an’ ya wait. Captain’s steaks were but five meters out. Too near for my liking. A course ya couldn’t heave the heavy harpoon far, so I guess he needed his bait too close.
‘Twas was the picture. Our grim Captain standing ta the fore, Willie B an’ Jonesy seated aft. The three near six meters out in that too small boat, with a coil a line piled high in the middle an’ the bait but five meters out. The crew was scattered about the riggin. Our squinting eyes searched for a shark shadow. ‘Twas some hour a waiting. No little sharks nibbling about seemed ta say there was a big one near, scaring ‘em off. They usually come in slow, at the surface, their fin cutting waves like Captain’s dagger. From up in the riggin, most are shadows easy ta spot. Not the whites. They’re not really white but pale enough ta be hard ta see. Especially if they come in too deep for their scary big fin ta cut waves.
This monster surprised ‘cause she again came from under. Right from the bottom, like charging from the devil’s deepest pit a hell. She was scary big. Surely the biggest I ever saw. An’ this time jumping half a body up from the water. Could a told her the steaks were tough an’ not worth near the effort. But ‘twasn’t me had the brute’s ear. ‘Twas the devil ‘imself.
Up shadowing o’er that tiny boat she went. If the beast fell their way, the three’d be her supper for sure. Easy pickins. But she went sideways from ‘em, an’ Captain thrust the harpoon inta her side as she began down.
Now, the side’s not the best place ta hit ‘em. About the same as the back. They just swim ‘round a bit, shake your harpoon aloose, an’ have but another scar for your trouble. If ya hit one like that, about the only chance the brute’s finished is if she’s slowed an’ bleeding enough so’s her friends feed on her.
This one took the harpoon an’ headed straight out. White smoke an’ shrillest whine filled the air, line sawing the smallboat’s rail as it reeled out. We held breaths up top, asking in our heads what’d happen when a line on something that huge ran out. Many prayed. The bottom end a the coil was tied on ta the smallboat. A line tied on the smallboat ta the ship.
Right off, Willie B jumps in an’ swims toward us. He’s going near as fast’s the beast. We drop a line, an’ he scrambles wide eyed up the side. Just then the white turns sideways an’ stops. We see her treading water, seeming ta wait on something. Much a the coil was gone from the boat’s floor, an’ the line was slack. ‘Twas a scared silence. All awaited what was next.
Jonesy’d espied Willie clambering o’er the rail an’ saw his pal’d done the smart thing. So he decided ta come unfroze an’ follow. But in his stride, Jonesy stepped in the coil. ‘Twas meant as a quick step on his way ta dive toward the ship. But as though the espying devil ‘imself whispered in her ear, the best yanked exactly then!
Jonesy’s head smacked the smallboat rail loud like a cannon. Had ta be dead ‘fore he hit the water. The line about his ankle spun ‘im a quick turn an’ set ‘im aloose ta float ten meters out.
Musta been Jonesy’s head booming the rail that turned the beast sideways again with but a few meters a line left in the coil. Not two seconds passed till we saw the smell a Jonesy’s blood pull the monster back fast as she’d been running out.
“She’s a coming back for Jonesy, Captain!” Evans screech came from the riggin.
Our tall Captain was ghosty white an’ fiercely atremble. He’d no need ta jump in the water an’ swim for it. Any time he could grab the line ta the ship an’ pull his perilous self near enough ta catch a tossed line. It wouldn’t take a half minute. He stood stiff, awaiting the onrushing beast, his white knuckles glued ta the second harpoon, its hilt tucked under his arm.
Well, our Captain Werthman got as fortunate as any man in such a poor situation can imagine. The white slowed some as she came cutting in. She hit Jonesy, an’ carried his sideways body up nearly ta the Captain’s lap. He reflexed for’rd, thrusting the harpoon through the shark’s left eye directly ta her small brain. The brute’s last twitch was backwards. She flung Captain, who clung ta the harpoon, near twenty meters out. The harpoon stayed with the white. A wood handle was the last thing ta disappear as the beast’s dead weight sunk back. She took Jonesy along, down inta the black depths. (an' it goes on)