Silkie McDonough

Mister Quigley had fallen asleep. He knew this for two reasons. One, he had to be wakened for his next watch and two, he had been dreaming. The images he recalled were independent of each other, as vivid as memories but of no places or events he could recall from his lifetime. His imagination often ran like that when he was on the water after a day or two. This time he was doubly glad for the sleep because the churning in his innards was now gone. He stepped into his shoes, slid into his shirt, grabbed his neck scarf and shrugged into his waistcoat as he sprinted to the head. After relieving himself he continued to dress tying the neckerchief around his bald head making it to the waist well before the bell rang to start their watch. His early arrival was rewarded when he was assigned to the foredeck. Now he sat on the forecastle deck working a rope into another another Monkey's Fist as requested by the bosun and waiting for the next series of commands needed to adjust for the winds and water.

I too would love to go back once more.

Nay lad. D'Nykel allows little drinkn', only when in port for a few days do we drink. I wuz introduced t'Dark N'Stormy just recently while at Fells Point jus las munth.

Welcome Gordon. Ifin yer a friend of Scotty's den ...sorry ...can't trust ya as far as I could trow im. Owever I would bae willin t'take dat drink wot ya offer. "Dark n'Stormy" ifin ya will.

5/9 ...I decided to celebrete the day by sailing across the seas to a place that served sushi! lol

Happy Birthday Lady B.

I have always admired Mr. Badgers beard. Not that I wish to have one on my face.

Bring back gravity and physics. If I see another sword fight out on a yard arm during a storm while circling a maelstrom, I'm going to puke.

Dumbest scene ever.

I'm with William ....but then it wouldn't be PoTC.

I couldn't write a script for PoTC and if they keep going the direction thy are going I don't know that I will even want to see another. It requires too much suspension of disbelief.

Another O'Keeffe? Brothers? Well we already know what it is like to have two of Edward around ...right Dutch? lol Hmmmm ...maybe the brother will be just what we need to balance things out. Welcome Galen!

Okay ...having seen the cover of Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass' "Whipped Cream" I have to say that I appreciate the humor of The Frivolous Five's "Sour Cream and Other Delights" cover.

ET looks the part.

A Hard Days Work ...LOL

Vasco De Gama's sea chest ...wow ...so ...what does the ship look like?

Happy Birthday lass! Best t'ya!

Miss McDonough had kept very much to herself for the past few hours. She stood now with the others on deck anticipating the meaning of the distant musket blasts. Until this moment she had managed to avoid them, volunteering for work that would keep her farthest from her crew mates. Thus far no one had asked why she had been locked in the cable tier and she dared not give them the opportunity. She responded to officers with a nod of her head or in one word sentences. Captain Brand had not given her permission to speak, nor had he called for her. She hated this waiting, this not knowing.

As the marines began to place themselves about the deck the remainder of the crew began to speculate amongst themselves about the sound that halted their work. Murin quickly returned to her work but not before Nathan Bly made eye contact, glaring at her once again. Had she thought him capable of causing her harm, she may have felt fear, instead she mourned the loss of her friend. She wondered why he had been chosen for the ships liar.

When he had been chosen she had wanted to yell out, "NO, not Nathan! I should be the Liar!", but to do so would would be disobeying orders and she would not make that mistake again. In defending Nathan she would be betraying not only herself but Captain Brand as well. She had known her folly in speaking to John Sterling but had had not understood the implications of “talking to the enemy” until after Captain Brand warned her yesterday, informing her that she had compromised not only herself but her captain and her crew. She would hold her tongue no matter what. Speaking her mind had sent her to Barbados and the Hodge Plantation. Speaking without due caution had landed her in the cable tier. She was now keenly aware that she alone was not at risk, that Captain Brand, for whatever reason, had chosen to allow her to remain on the Watch Dog despite her associating with the enemy, despite her letting his name slip from her lips to the ears of the Englishman. Could she ever explain that John Sterling was not their enemy? Suddenly she was struck with fear, she crossed herself and said a silent prayer. "Dear Lord, nil let det bae a shot frum John's ship!" She was forced to remind herself, "He sails under the English flag ...that makes him the enemy."

Wouldn't a Harpsichord be safer located inside of the Fort, maybe kinda close to the Tavern? ...not exactly inside the Tavern, but at least inside one of the gun ports so it would be safe from the rain (if it decides to rain)....?

I'm not a musician (wot I can play on th' concertina don't count....) but wouldn't the acoustics be better inside one of the gun ports?

The problem I have with the acoustics inside the fort is the blasted echo! I can't hear over the din. It is all muddied up. However, Shay can play where ere Shay wishes. I am sure that none would be opposed to music in either place. I would however be delighted if said musician would grace the "Hide" with the sweet sounds of the harpsichord some day or evening.

some day I shall learn to run spell check before posting! lol

Twisting her hair she tucks it under her cap and pins it all in place. She drops down onto the pillow that Jen has placed by the hearth and warms her fingers and toes (my toes are ALLWAYS cold wool socks and all.).

Oi! Shay! Would bae louvlay t'ave such music playin in m'ordinary whilst d'likes uv Sterlin n' Brand discuss d'finer point's uv polatiks.

(In other words, tell me what songs to learn and I will sing along with you as will Ruzsty Nell and any number of the lads. If it rains I shall remove a table just so you can remain dry while entertaining at "The Sealkie's Hide". Jack ...bring the flower pot also!)

"Aye, rain ere too."

Silkie plucks the wide brimmed hat from her head and drops it onto the hook above the cape she has just shed. Taking her hair in her hands she gathers it and squeezes the water from the ends.

"I believe deres a river running tru d'root celler uv m'estalishment." (Or through the basement of my house if you prefer.) "Capn's, Mr. Willinferd." She nods to the men sitting around the fire. "Tain' fit fer man nor Dog, but in my eyes better den a heatwave dis time o'year."

Happy Birthday Padrig!

Awww Dutchie. Great minds think alike

Ya mean warped minds tink alike.

Happy Birthday Mister Gage.

Don't Ransom, at least you are making post cards.

I'm not saying don't lock it I am simply commenting/musing on how much security would be needed. Heck, all of the chests and desks in my house have locks ...none of them (antiques) has a key that I can find. LOL Of course the desks and chests are more valuable than anything inside of them.

Happy Birthday Mistress Alexander!

Very cool Dutch, thanks for sharing.

I am basically a lubber and know little of sailing for years on end, but how much of a lock would be needed on a sea chest while at sea? Yes, you wouldn't want to leave it without a lock of some sort however, if the ship is at sea and a person on board has no place to go, no place to hide and little time alone below deck to riffle through another's belongings, how much theft would go on and how many cases of thievery would go unsolved? It would be my guess that anything of real value might be left in the care of the captain or quartermaster at least while at sea. Finally, how much personal wealth might the average sailor have in his possession at any one time? I am sure thievery did happen, why else would a ships articles mention punishment for theft? I just wonder how much security would be needed on each chest.