To the Boats

When we recovered our sight, the imposter had cut loose the jolly boat and drifted astern. I ordered the Men to swing out the yawl* so that we might pursue. Ghostly voices confused the crew, and some tenebrous Fog covered the quarterdeck. Laithoren and I went to the taffrail in hopes of Sighting the jolly boat before it passed beyond arrow shot, but it was Invisible.

Grayson and Inai cried to us to join them (and two sailors, and Inai's otter) in the Yawl, it being adrift and the Prosperity surging past it, therefore I caught up a Line and swung down**. Laithoren demurred, I know not why, but speculate not for want of Courage; for he is no sailor, and likely could not shoot well from a small boat in the open Sea, and may have thought instead to take Aim from the quarterdeck. But as we in the yawl pulled away, a mighty Thunderclap smote the ship, coming, as it seemed, from the wardroom or the Great Cabin, the lights of which blew out with spray of Glass and stench of vile Alchemy. The rudderhead was sundered, and I know not what further Hurts the ship may have suffered; for Prosperity being rudderless was unable to Wear, and, sailing on, was soon lost to our sight in the Rain.

We in the yawl espied some Flaw in the veil of invisibility over the jolly boat, and our brave sailors pulling lustily at their oars, we drew closer. I flung several sling bullets at the dimly seen shape, but know not whether I hit. I believe, though, that I must have discommoded the imposter, for he rose up and cast a bolt of black fire, and then another, the both of which hit me and burned, but not too severely. We drew closer, and it seemed we would soon be able to leap into the jolly boat and finish the matter, but the imposter hurled some thing which, landing in our boat, was shewn to be a dozen Snakes, who struck at us. Grayson and I slew them, but Grayson and the sailors having taken Venom, were unable to pull at the oars, and we drifted further away from our Prey. Inai's otter, however, being in the water, knew where the jolly boat was***, and discerning this, I, with Inai's blessing, leapt into the water, and swam with the Wings of the Sea. Upon reaching the jolly boat, it was Out Steel, up over the Transom, and have at him. His blade was the longer, but I slipped past his point, and put him down with one thrust. Thence it was a simple matter of binding and gagging him, and steering back to the others. Him being unconscious, Mellon's visage faded from him, and behold, the magician was the hapless Moffrey! Inai tended his wounds, and he awoke, and would have stirred, but I vouchsafed to him that, I having thought hard on whether to bandage him or to put a dagger through his eye, and having made the one choice once, I should, an he gave me cause to rethink it, be inclined to try the other choice. He took my meaning at once, and subsided.

Prosperity still being beyond our sight, and maybe sunk by the injury done her, we took counsel. With the help of Inai and Grayson, I stepped the mast, and set course as best I could for Llewellyn, the wind being from the northeast and favorable, and that being the nearest city, and further a likely choice for Prosperity to seek repairs if she is able. By good fortune I had foodstuffs in my haversack, and was able to give sausage, cheese and brandy to all, and a bit of chocolate to Inai, who had never known it before. Night is falling now, but the rain has let up, the wind is fair, and we sail to the sunset.