Finding Home

Chapter Six

A shipmate named Eldridge came into the cabin yelling for the men to get up. The sailors began to stir and, one by one, tumbled out of their beds.

Everyone except Olivia.

She was still lying on her net in a deep slumber. Eldridge saw her disregard for his orders and marched over to her. He grabbed the edge of her net bed and yanked down hard. She woke abruptly when her body made contact with the hard floor.

            “Get up you swab,” barked Eldridge.

            She quickly stood holding her hip, still reeling over the pain. Panic soon rushed over Olivia as she remembered her cap, she threw her hands to her head and made sure every piece of her hair was tucked away. Everything was still hidden much to her relief. Olivia was thankful she wasn't exposed just as her ruse was starting to bear fruit.  

Drawing her attention back to Eldridge. “Pardon me, sir...I –” she stammered.

Eldridge was taken aback by her demeanor and loudly stated, “So you must be the new cabin boy!” Turning to the rest of the crew, he continued, “You men, see this boy! He is no man! He will not last the night,” laughing hardily, Eldridge circled back to Olivia, “Next time get up when you are told!”

            He marched towards the door. “All hands on deck you dogs!” He left the room as the crew followed him out.

Olivia suddenly felt small, weak and unwanted.

            A dark-complexioned sailor came up behind her. “Don't pay mind to Eldridge. He is a sour old lemon, always has been. Though, he is a good man once you get to know him.”

The two continued onto the middle deck. “What is your name?” the man asked.

            She moved towards him. “My name is Oliver, sir.”

            “Nice to meet you, Oliver. My name is Ezekiel Gibson, but everyone calls me Gibbs.”

Olivia smiled. It was good to finally make a friend.

            They walked into the galley to grab a quick bite before heading up to the main deck. On their way up, Olivia could hear voices laughing from the dayshift settling in to sleep, and she desperately wished to join them. 

Seeing her longing expression, Gibbs pointed out, “Don't worry. You will be used to shift work soon.”

Once on the main deck, she had trouble adjusting to the darkness around her. There were several lanterns lit all over the deck and even a couple up in the sails. Black figures moved rapidly around her as the men went about their work. She didn't know what she needed to do and froze where she stood.

“Boy, what are you doing? Get to work!” hollered Eldridge as he grabbed her arm and squeezed so tight she cringed in pain.

Gibbs ran over and gently seized her other arm, “I will take charge of the boy till he knows the ropes.”

Eldridge glared at Gibbs and reluctantly released his grip.

He leaned into Gibbs and pointed a demanding finger into his chest. “Mark my words, Mr. Gibbs, blunders made by this boy, and it will be you who suffers!”

Eldridge then turned towards the helm and stalked away.

She swallowed hard and looked at Gibbs, “Thank you.”

            He smiled at her and directed her over to a section of ropes that were fastened together in such a way it created a ladder. It led all the way up to the top of the large sail on the main mast. Gibbs began to climb up the ropes. He looked over his shoulder and beckoned Olivia to follow him. She wasn't sure she could do this. She had never climbed so high before. The highest she had ever been was standing on the second floor of the orphanage looking out the window.

            She was still getting used to the bobbing and weaving of the ship. Being on the main deck was a completely different world then down in the depths of the vessel. By the looks of it, the mast seemed to be moving at a more rapid pace then both the hull and main deck combined.

            She glanced over at Eldridge, who was glaring at her. She knew if she didn't do this it would be Gibbs that would pay. She took a deep breath and reluctantly began to climb.

When they finally reached the top of the sail, Olivia stretched her legs out as if she were sitting on a horse. As her body swayed in the breeze, she held on tight, hoping she wouldn't fall to the deck below.

            Gibbs, much more comfortable in his surroundings, began to tug on the ropes below them. “Oliver, these sails need to be checked every shift. If they are loose, you will be snagged-n-keel hauled.”

            She had heard this before. It meant if someone messed up, they would be caught and punished. She didn't want to imagine what kind of punishments Eldridge would dish out.  

Olivia shook off the horrible feeling.

            Gibbs then pointed to all the sails to either side of them. “Those are checked too.”

            Olivia was starting to feel dizzy at the idea of having to climb every rigging during every shift to check every sail. Creating enough courage within herself, she slowly looked down at the deck below. She smiled, realizing the deck wasn't that far below.

            Gibbs took her all along the sails and showed her the crow's nest. They went back down to the main deck, and he showed her how to swab the deck, which also had to be done often. Next, Gibbs talked to her about keeping an eye out for other ships and to inform the helmsmen if she saw one.

            Olivia asked, “Who might the helmsmen be?”

He pointed to the upper deck where a lantern was swaying on a hook next to a broad-shouldered man standing behind a large wooden wheel.

            “That is Barstow. He is the one steering the ship.” She nodded as Gibbs continued, “I almost forgot, we take turns in the crow's nest, watching out for ships and such. You will take a turn too.”

            He finished by showing her where most everything was. “As long as you follow what I say, and stay out of Eldridge's way, you will do just fine.”

With Gibbs' guidance, Olivia was becoming very comfortable with the ship and how it functioned. Though, there was still much to learn, but she knew now that she could do it.

            With the end of their shift in sight, they decided to join a few other sailors relaxing towards the back of the ship. Gibbs and Olivia sat down on a couple of barrels near the men.

            Gesturing to each of the sailors, Gibbs said to Olivia, “This is Westbrooke. He can play a mean fiddle when the time calls for it. This is Billingsley. He is the best sword fighter on the high seas. This is Jennings. When he isn't in the galley he is up here causing all sorts of trouble.”

Jennings shot Gibbs a sly smile.

            “Men, this is Oliver. He is the spirited stowaway turned cabin boy,” Gibbs continued as he slapped her on the back.

She lunged forward almost falling off her barrel. The sailors laughed, and she smiled shyly.

            Westbrooke was an older gentleman with a jolly round belly. He took out his old fiddle and began to play a slower sonnet that was calming after a long evening shift. From a few feet away, she could see a scrawny, younger man walking in their direction. He glanced over at her and took a seat nearby.

            “Hello, you must be the new cabin boy. I have been hearing much talk about you. My name is Finnegan Andrews.”

            Gibbs looked over at Andrews and then back at Olivia explaining, “He is the son of a Commander in the colonies. He is here apprenticing with the Captain.”

            Andrews cut in. “I may be a Commander's son, but I prefer the sea to land and my father knows it. That is why he has sent me to learn from the great Captain John Paul Jones himself.”

Olivia thought he seemed a bit too cocky and apparently, she was not the only one.

            “Come on, Andrews, just admit it, at the first sign of danger you run off to the Captain's Quarters like a scared little lass,” taunted Jennings.

The men began to chuckle again.

            “All right men, all right, give Andrews a break. It is not his fault he was born into a life of privilege,” stated Billingsley, mockingly, a slight smirk on his face.

            Andrews sat back on his barrel, not able to think of a good rebuttal. His face was expressing so much frustration and anger Olivia was surprised steam wasn't rising from his ears.

            After a few moments of listening to the ocean churn past the ship, Jennings turned to Olivia. “Since you are a landlubber, you must not know many of the legends of the high seas!”

            Gibbs interrupted, “This is the boy's first time working with a crew. Don't scare him with drivel stories of the sea.”

            Billingsley laughed. “Gibbs, relax. The boy will hear these stories anyways; best he hears them from us.”

Westbrooke continued to play his fiddle, but changed the music to more of a sharp, quieter tune to aid Jennings in his 'legends of the sea'.

            “All right then but watch what you say as he is just a boy,” reminded Gibbs.

            Jennings began in a low, hushed tone, “Many vessels from long past have been spotted on these seas. One such ship was the Octavius. The ship set sail over ten years ago and was never heard from again. The Octavius was found, not many years later, off Greenland, FROZEN! It is unknown what caused it, but you best beware of travels on bone chilling nights as you may see the ice covered ghostly sight of the Octavius.”

Olivia eyes widened, and she trembled at the thought of a ghost ship sailing out there at sea...with them.

            Andrews cut into the silence. “I know about the legend of Lady Lovibond!” He paused to see that everyone's attention was on him before continuing, “She set sail many years back. The Captain brought his wife aboard. It was said the first mate loved the Captain's wife as well, and so in his despair, he ran the ship onto the deadly Goodwin Sands, a sandbar off the coast of England, killing everyone on board. It has been said that she has been seen on the high seas as well.”

            “That tale is why woman folk are bad luck on ships,” added Westbrooke between melodies.

Olivia felt the color drain from her face.

If they only knew.

Gibbs became concerned over her startled expression. “I think that is enough, men. Can you not see you are scaring Oliver?”

            She shook off her feelings. “Gibbs, I'm fine.”

            Billingsley jumped in. “See, Gibbs, the boy is fine. Besides, there is just one more legend he will be needing to know about.” He looked back at Olivia, “The legend of the Fly'n Dutchman as most call it. It was many years ago when a Dutch ship sank off the coast of Cape of Good Hope. She was sailing to her berth when she was caught in a great gale. She hit treacherous rocks and sank, taking the crew with her to Davy Jones Locker!”

Olivia looked puzzled.

            Gibbs leaned over. “Davey Jones Locker is the name for the bottom of the sea.”

            Andrews interrupted Billingsley. “No, I heard it was Captain Vanderdecken, and he was sailing to his berth in Batavia. He was the one who vanished in the gale. Captain Vanderdecken refused warnings of storms in the area and is now doomed to sail for all eternity for tempting fate.”

            Westbrooke stopped playing and added, “I heard it was Captain Fokke, known for his swiftness across the seas, was making for his berth in Java. It is said he was in league with the Devil himself.”

            Jennings butted in. “You all are wrong. It was Captain Van Sraaten ...or was it Captain Ramhout Van Dam?”

            Billingsley irritated, barged into the heated discussion. “Whoever the Captain was who sailed the ship or for what reason it sank; the legend be TRUE! The ship will forever be known as the Fly'n Dutchman and will always be waiting and watching. A curse to those who see her. With the next gale you better hold on and hope the Fly'n Dutchman is not coming for you!”

            Olivia gripped the barrel as she hung onto every word Billingsley said. Suddenly, a loud blast of gunpowder rang out from behind her and she screamed, jumping off the barrel. The rest of the crew laughed wildly at her expense. A scowl crossed over her face.

            Jennings placed his hand on her shoulder. “Rest, Oliver, the men are just telling tales to scare you. Don't take it seriously.”

            Billingsley smacked Olivia on the back. “Agreed boy? Think of it as a welcoming to our crew.”

Just then the ship's bell rang.

            “Looks as though our watch be over,” exclaimed Gibbs as he looked towards Olivia. “Let us head to the galley for something to eat, shall we?”

She agreed.

            Down in the galley, the crew enjoyed a nice meal of fish, salted pork strips, and hardtack. Afterwards, Olivia lay down in her bed, satisfied with the way the night went. She felt prepared for the next shift and whatever the coming days held.