"Ah har, 'e looks a fine lad. 'As 'e been ta sea 'afore?"
"No sir, but one day I would like to be captain of my own ship and travel the world discovering new lands and civilisations."
"Aye, wouldn't we all lad. Do 'e 'ave 'es bags packed."
"Yes sir!"
"'E 'as ta say aye, aye, cap'n, not yes sir."
"Aye, aye, cap'n."
"Come then Christopher lad, we 'as ta get back ta Portsmouth an' prepare ta go catch Grey Beard. An' if I catch 'e paintin' the ship 'e's gonna walk the plank, got it!" Roger winked at Henry.
"Aye, aye, cap'n."
The three said their goodbyes to the King and Queen, Christopher collected his baggage, and soon they were on their way to Portsmouth.
Meanwhile, aboard The Wood Pigeon and The Mass o’ Hearties, the crews were preparing the ships for the next voyage. Supplies were loaded, the decks scrubbed, the sails washed, and the donkeys fed and exercised. All was ready for Roger and Julian who returned directly to their respective vessels.
"Ah har, all hands on deck!" commanded Roger. "Oh, I give up. STAND UP! Now then me 'earties, we 'ave a new cabin boy, a nephew of the King, Christopher. What be 'e full name sonny."
"Christopher Columbus sir, I mean cap'n."
"Ah har, Christopher Columbus. 'E tells me 'es gonna be a famous sailor what's gonna discover new lands an' civilisations, ha, ha, ha, ha, ho, ho, ho, ho, he, he, he, he." The whole crew
laughed with Roger. "Let’s give the lad a chance lads, 'e'll make a fine sailor I'm sure. Now lads we 'as ta catch ol' Grey Beard an' 'is missus Elsie, so up anchor an' set them sails, we's heading for Gibraltar, ah har."
The Wood Pigeon sailed out to sea closely followed by The Mass o' Hearties. They headed due south on their journey to the Mediterranean island of Gibraltar. Christopher transferred to The Mass o' Hearties so that he could learn the art of being a cabin boy from Julian, who himself had been the best cabin boy Roger had come across.
Three days later, just after midnight, the ships anchored off Gibraltar and Roger went ashore for the latest news of Grey Beard. The best source for such news was sure to be found at the local seaman's tavern, where he would find the crews of ships that sailed the Med. In Gibraltar, the tavern, called The Rock, was open twenty four hours a day, so sailors could visit The Rock around the clock, Roger was sure to get news of Grey Beard and be underway by dawn.
Roger looked through the window of the tavern, inside he could see three men, they had their sleeves rolled up and two of them were arm wrestling. As he looked again, he spotted that one of the sailors had a wooden leg, another had an eye patch, the third had a hook hand.
"Ah har, just your average group of normal sailors," Roger said to himself.
Roger decided that his best course was to join the three in their arm wrestling contest so that he could gain their confidence.
"Ah har, I'll enter The Rock an' roll up my sleeves," he muttered to himself.
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