Chapter 21
To Bridie’s surprise, Alf knew a great deal about Lady Sophia’s rigging. Anything he didn’t know, he asked old Joe the bosun’s mate. Between them, they managed to name every yard, sheet, and sail. It was a mammoth task, and not the least bit interesting. But working with Alf wasn’t as miserable as Bridie had imagined. As they grappled with the workings of the ship and sought to understand the sailors’ feverish activity on the yards, she found it easier to speak to him without snarling.
As Christmas approached, the excitement in steerage mounted. It felt odd with the day’s heat smarting their noses, but the deck rang with carols of an evening. The single men threw themselves into auditions and rehearsals. The choir took every opportunity to practise Rhys’s version of ‘Ar Hyd y
