The maiden voyage of the Mary Belle 10/13

They were all back at work early the next morning. The crew turned the brig so that the bow pointed towards the shore, then laid out two anchors from the stern. A strong rope was taken to the stern of the paddle steamer and fastened to the capstan in the brig’s bow. The sailors manned the capstan bars and began walking round, to try and winch the steamer down the beach.

At first nothing happened, the sailors strained even harder at the bars and then suddenly the capstan began to turn, winding in the rope. The sailors all cheered and re-doubled their efforts.

“Avast heaving,” shouted the mate. He went over to he captain. “It’s no good Cap’n, I’m afraid we’re only pulling the brig to the beach. The steamer is too heavy and the anchors are dragging!”

The captain ordered the heavy bower anchor to be moved aft and used to supplement the two others already in place. This meant a lot of hard work for a boat’s crew, rowing the great weight out to the right spot, at the same time dragging a heavy mooring rope behind them.

Finally everything was ready and the crew on the capstan tried again. In spite of all their efforts, they dragged the brig even closer to the steamer. Fern suggested lubricating the rollers by throwing water over them, so a party went ashore to try out the idea. Still no progress!

“There’s only one thing for it,” said Fern, “if the professionals can’t find a way to do a job, it’s time for an amateur to have a go. I’ve already told you she can usually think of a way to get home safely. Come over here and give us one of your bright ideas!”

Jennifer Jane had been watching all the failed attempts with interest. She’d tried to think of the way her father or Fundin would have dealt with the problem and believed that she’d come up with an answer. So when Fern called her, she walked across with a large grin on her face.

“I think it should be easy enough. I suppose the brig is heavier than the paddle steamer?”

“I’m sure it is,” said the captain, “it’s certainly much bigger.”

“Right then, let the brig take the ground when the tide has gone out about halfway. Then when we’re solidly aground we should be able to pull the steamer down below the high tide mark. Wait for the tide to come in again and we’re both afloat.”

Fern laughed, “I told you she manages to think of surprising ways to get home. I think it should work, it’s certainly worth having a go, after all we’ve tried everything else.”

The captain groaned. “Sounds too easy to be true, it’s certainly the sort of thing a sailor should have thought of, still I suppose we all live and learn.”

And that’s the way it was. The brig took the ground at half ebb and while the crew waited for the water to leave them high and dry, the anchors were brought back on board to add to the weight.

Then the capstan was manned and the paddle steamer slid down the rollers so easily, that everyone wondered what all the fuss had been about.

By the time evening had come, both vessels were riding at their anchors while the goblins were cheerfully tidying up after their hard work.

“Right then miss, so now how do we go about finding Barnacle Bill?”

All the goblins within earshot of the captain’s question, turned their heads and looked expectantly at Jennifer Jane. She was still feeling excited by the success of her idea and the sudden high regard of the brig’s crew and hadn’t given a thought about what to do next.

“I think we’re all tired and need a good night’s rest, I’m sure we can find a way in the morning.” She sounded much more confident than she felt. A vague idea about using the dragons to help came into her mind, but she had a feeling that they wouldn’t be too happy to interrupt their party again. Oh well, she’d have to take her own advice and sleep on it.

The next day dawned fine and bright. The crew were up early and after their breakfast, all hands gathered round Jennifer Jane to hear what she had to say. She’d lain awake most of the night trying to think of ways and means of finding where Barnacle Bill had gone, but couldn’t think of any thing original.

“I think we’d better start by asking Fern to go to the mast head again, to see if she can spot any signs of his whereabouts”

Fern obliged quite happily. After all, she was the only person who could leave the rigging and stand on the top of the mast without being in any danger. Once she’d arrived, she opened her wings to keep her balance and slowly turned round, searching the beach and the nearby jungle for any clues.

She suddenly saw a movement on the beach half a mile away to her left. A small figure was staggering from side to side and occasionally falling over in the loose sand.

“There he is,” she shouted, “follow me and send a boat quickly.” She jumped from the masthead and glided as far along the beach as she could, before folding her wings again and running along the beach just below the high water mark, where the sand was firmest.

The ship’s boat was still in the water and soon followed the direction Fern had taken. Jennifer Jane had jumped in at the last moment without being asked. It looked as if Barnacle Bill might be in trouble of some sort and she wanted to be there to help if she could. By the time the boat had caught up with Fern she had picked up Barnacle Bill and was sitting beside him in the shade of the trees

“Bring some water,” called Fern, as the boat’s crew scrambled ashore.