Read Online The Mark of the Golden Dragon by Louis A. Meyer - Free Book Online
Authors: Louis A. Meyer
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commander of his ship, I do fear for the condition of his mind. In fact, I fear for his very sanity.
Lieutenant Joseph Jared grew up at sea and therefore, like others of his fatalistic seagoing ilk, is philosophical concerning life and death, since death is always very close and very present when on the unpredictable and wasteful ocean. Looking out over the waves at the scudding clouds on the horizon, he says, "We loved her, and in our hearts and our minds and our memories she will never grow any older, for whatever consolation that gives those of us left here behind. Her life was short, but she lived it as she wanted and she certainly packed a lot in to the short time she had. Jacky was given nine lives and I guess she finally used them all up. Rest in peace, Puss."
The fleet departed at dawn this morning on a northerly course, heading, for the most part, back to England. The
Lorelei Lee,
with her Irish crew, will part company with the rest at the bottom tip of Africa, and at that time will set her course for Boston to rejoin Faber Shipping Worldwide yet again.
On the
Nancy B. Alsop,
we raised anchor and headed south.
Yes, Captain Delaney has elected to make one more trip down the Straits of Malacca to search for Miss Faber, or her remains, saying, "She should have a proper burial, at least. We owe her that much. If she can be found, we will find her—and if she has to be buried on a heathen shore, then so be it. No sailor wants to be buried at sea."
He felt that the
Nancy B.,
being much smaller than the other ships in Miss Faber's former fleet, would be able to sail closer to the shore and to nip into smaller coves and inlets that would have proved dangerous to the larger ships, and so possibly gain better information as to Miss Faber's sad end and the disposition of her remains.
I heartily concurred in that and have elected to go with him. Although there is virtually no chance that she has survived, still a faint glimmer of hope remains.
No music is heard on the now somber decks of the
Nancy B.
I grieve with you and all of Miss Faber's friends, and I am Yr most Obedient and etc.
John Higgins
Chapter 10
And so the
Eastern Star
sails up into the Bay of Bengal, with a sturdy crew of two.
Back at sea, girl, and in your own boat. Ahhh, yes!
I named my new sailing skiff the
Eastern Star
in keeping with her sister boats back in Boston, the
Morning Star
and the
Evening Star.
She is about sixteen feet long, well-found, and a good little sailor, and she's the newest addition to the fleet of Faber Shipping Worldwide. I shall have to write to Ezra Pickering and have her added to the holdings of that Corporation.
I do like the deep yellow color of her hull and the maroon of her single sail, and I love the sun on my face and the sound of the sea slipping by under the
Stars
bottom.
I was further delighted, upon commandeering this craft, to discover many fish lines and hooks stashed under the gunwales. Some jugs of water, to boot—nothing was too good for the badmash. And two of those lovely cast nets, too! Joy!
I have taught Ravi the rudiments of sailing, and he seems to enjoy it—his hand on the mainsheet, his eye on the tautness of the sail. As I lie back and let Ravi guide us on ever northward, I hook an ankle over the port gunwale and wonder how Jaimy and Jared are getting along with me being out of the way. Probably pretty good, I'll wager... 'Course they got some things to resolve in the way of duty and male honor and all, but I do hope they'll work it out, I do. Maybe it'll be easier without my troublesome presence. Who knows? Certainly not me.
"Memsahib! Something on line!"
I jerk myself back into my present circumstances.
One of the fish lines is jerking violently, so I leap over to grab it and begin hauling it in. Whatever is on the other end is fighting mightily, but he shall not prevail. Oh, no you shan't, fishy, for Jacky Faber is too hungry for that!
After we had first taken the boat, we had
Lieutenant Joseph Jared grew up at sea and therefore, like others of his fatalistic seagoing ilk, is philosophical concerning life and death, since death is always very close and very present when on the unpredictable and wasteful ocean. Looking out over the waves at the scudding clouds on the horizon, he says, "We loved her, and in our hearts and our minds and our memories she will never grow any older, for whatever consolation that gives those of us left here behind. Her life was short, but she lived it as she wanted and she certainly packed a lot in to the short time she had. Jacky was given nine lives and I guess she finally used them all up. Rest in peace, Puss."
The fleet departed at dawn this morning on a northerly course, heading, for the most part, back to England. The
Lorelei Lee,
with her Irish crew, will part company with the rest at the bottom tip of Africa, and at that time will set her course for Boston to rejoin Faber Shipping Worldwide yet again.
On the
Nancy B. Alsop,
we raised anchor and headed south.
Yes, Captain Delaney has elected to make one more trip down the Straits of Malacca to search for Miss Faber, or her remains, saying, "She should have a proper burial, at least. We owe her that much. If she can be found, we will find her—and if she has to be buried on a heathen shore, then so be it. No sailor wants to be buried at sea."
He felt that the
Nancy B.,
being much smaller than the other ships in Miss Faber's former fleet, would be able to sail closer to the shore and to nip into smaller coves and inlets that would have proved dangerous to the larger ships, and so possibly gain better information as to Miss Faber's sad end and the disposition of her remains.
I heartily concurred in that and have elected to go with him. Although there is virtually no chance that she has survived, still a faint glimmer of hope remains.
No music is heard on the now somber decks of the
Nancy B.
I grieve with you and all of Miss Faber's friends, and I am Yr most Obedient and etc.
John Higgins
Chapter 10
And so the
Eastern Star
sails up into the Bay of Bengal, with a sturdy crew of two.
Back at sea, girl, and in your own boat. Ahhh, yes!
I named my new sailing skiff the
Eastern Star
in keeping with her sister boats back in Boston, the
Morning Star
and the
Evening Star.
She is about sixteen feet long, well-found, and a good little sailor, and she's the newest addition to the fleet of Faber Shipping Worldwide. I shall have to write to Ezra Pickering and have her added to the holdings of that Corporation.
I do like the deep yellow color of her hull and the maroon of her single sail, and I love the sun on my face and the sound of the sea slipping by under the
Stars
bottom.
I was further delighted, upon commandeering this craft, to discover many fish lines and hooks stashed under the gunwales. Some jugs of water, to boot—nothing was too good for the badmash. And two of those lovely cast nets, too! Joy!
I have taught Ravi the rudiments of sailing, and he seems to enjoy it—his hand on the mainsheet, his eye on the tautness of the sail. As I lie back and let Ravi guide us on ever northward, I hook an ankle over the port gunwale and wonder how Jaimy and Jared are getting along with me being out of the way. Probably pretty good, I'll wager... 'Course they got some things to resolve in the way of duty and male honor and all, but I do hope they'll work it out, I do. Maybe it'll be easier without my troublesome presence. Who knows? Certainly not me.
"Memsahib! Something on line!"
I jerk myself back into my present circumstances.
One of the fish lines is jerking violently, so I leap over to grab it and begin hauling it in. Whatever is on the other end is fighting mightily, but he shall not prevail. Oh, no you shan't, fishy, for Jacky Faber is too hungry for that!
After we had first taken the boat, we had
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