They were getting used to life at sea. It was interesting to see how their priories had changed from when they first started out. The skipper was making a pudding when a wave landed on top of them. Everyone dived to save the pudding and ignored everything else. The spatula had been washed clean across the boat but no one had payed any attention to it!
Trondur had a new trick for getting food. He put a piece of whale blubber on his fishing hook, and cast it out where a flock of fulmars were resting. They pecked at it and were soon squabbling over who should get it. One greedy fellow took the whole hook in his mouth. Trondur reeled him in, and cast the line back out. But soon the birds wouldn't fall for it. Then Trondur told Edan to reel the line in slowly. The birds followed it, trying to keep one eye on the bait and the other on the strange boat. When they got close enough, Trondur hit the nearest one over the head with the boat hook, breaking its neck. They boiled the seagulls to make a kind of soup, and it was a success. It was a nice supplement to their diet of dried and preserved foods.
Brendan made it to Iceland safely. She landed in the harbor of Reykjavik without any trouble at all.
More soon!
Bell
Friday, November 22, 2013
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
In Freedom's Cause: Ch. 3
Archie's mother finally let him go to his uncle, Sir Robert Gordon, so that Archie might learn more advanced swordsmanship. He had already learned as much as Sandy could teach him. Sir Robert found a man whose skill was famous in the town of Lanark, Duncan Macleod. He had in trials of skill beaten the best in the English garrison easily.
Archie practiced as much as he could, and his instructor was very happy with him. Duncan had learned his trade in France, where they were more skillful than in Scotland, where they trusted more to strength.
Sir William Wallace was a frequent topic of discussion at firesides all over Scotland. Sir Robert spoke little on this subject, except to point out that Sir William did not really help Scotland, for he wanted no war. He was alarmed by Archie's enthusiasm for the man. There was a girl, Mistress Marion Bradfurte, who came by to do embroidery with Archie's aunt. Though she was quiet and spoke little, Archie could see that she was of his mind in the matter. He had escorted her back to her house one night, and she told him that if he wanted to see Sir William, he should come tomorrow. She had left a piece of embroidery on the table, and it would be a good excuse for him to come and see her. She then told him that she was married to Sir William! This startled Archie, but he said he would be there the next night.
He came, and Sir William was pleased with him. He said he would be glad to have Archie in his band as soon as the lad was 18. Archie was to join sooner than that, however. He was taking a message to someone in town for his uncle, when he saw a large crowd and went over to see the reason why. Sir William and another knight were pressed against a wall, with many English soldiers attacking them. Archie joined in, and Sir William said he was able to strike a good blow, as he killed one man and disabled another upon joining them. They then had to make a retreat or the soldiers would have cut them off.
They had gotten to the house in which Marion was staying, when she opened the door and called for them to come in. They did, but Sir William wasn't happy with her. The governor would hurt her or do her some mischief, he was sure. But she just urged them to get out quickly, and they escaped. In the midst of all this, the Kerrs, father and son, had come and Sir John had tried to kill Archie. But Archie instead nearly killed him. The son, had, however, seen him so it was not safe to go back. He joined Sir Wallace, and went with him back to his hideout. Soon they recieved the news that Marion had been killed by the governor's orders for helping him.
More soon!
Bell
Archie practiced as much as he could, and his instructor was very happy with him. Duncan had learned his trade in France, where they were more skillful than in Scotland, where they trusted more to strength.
Sir William Wallace was a frequent topic of discussion at firesides all over Scotland. Sir Robert spoke little on this subject, except to point out that Sir William did not really help Scotland, for he wanted no war. He was alarmed by Archie's enthusiasm for the man. There was a girl, Mistress Marion Bradfurte, who came by to do embroidery with Archie's aunt. Though she was quiet and spoke little, Archie could see that she was of his mind in the matter. He had escorted her back to her house one night, and she told him that if he wanted to see Sir William, he should come tomorrow. She had left a piece of embroidery on the table, and it would be a good excuse for him to come and see her. She then told him that she was married to Sir William! This startled Archie, but he said he would be there the next night.
He came, and Sir William was pleased with him. He said he would be glad to have Archie in his band as soon as the lad was 18. Archie was to join sooner than that, however. He was taking a message to someone in town for his uncle, when he saw a large crowd and went over to see the reason why. Sir William and another knight were pressed against a wall, with many English soldiers attacking them. Archie joined in, and Sir William said he was able to strike a good blow, as he killed one man and disabled another upon joining them. They then had to make a retreat or the soldiers would have cut them off.
They had gotten to the house in which Marion was staying, when she opened the door and called for them to come in. They did, but Sir William wasn't happy with her. The governor would hurt her or do her some mischief, he was sure. But she just urged them to get out quickly, and they escaped. In the midst of all this, the Kerrs, father and son, had come and Sir John had tried to kill Archie. But Archie instead nearly killed him. The son, had, however, seen him so it was not safe to go back. He joined Sir Wallace, and went with him back to his hideout. Soon they recieved the news that Marion had been killed by the governor's orders for helping him.
More soon!
Bell
Monday, November 11, 2013
Brendan Voyage--1/2 Ch. 8
They set out for Iceland with their new crew member, Trondur. He was a very good fisherman, and soon Brendan was wearing a new decoration: Fish. There were fish everywhere, and they were a good supplement to their diet. Some curious whales came up and investigated Brendan, but they didn't bother her.
The monks had a story about this: they said that a "sea monster" had been chasing their boat when another "sea monster" came up and killed the first one. It floated away to the beach where it made food for the monks. They saw a killer whale pack one day, and one of them came over to investigate Brendan. However, the killer whale didn't think that they would make a good meal, so he left them alone. Some whales came up later, and they were very disturbed. Trondur suggested that killer whales might be chasing them. The killer whale is well named, and for a good reason the Spanish called them "lobo del mar," wolves of the sea. They are ferocious as the tiger.
On July 8th they got a good wind, which was especially good because they were off the south coast of Iceland. This was a very dangerous coast, and if the wind was blowing wrong they would be smashed on the rocks.
More soon!
Bell
The monks had a story about this: they said that a "sea monster" had been chasing their boat when another "sea monster" came up and killed the first one. It floated away to the beach where it made food for the monks. They saw a killer whale pack one day, and one of them came over to investigate Brendan. However, the killer whale didn't think that they would make a good meal, so he left them alone. Some whales came up later, and they were very disturbed. Trondur suggested that killer whales might be chasing them. The killer whale is well named, and for a good reason the Spanish called them "lobo del mar," wolves of the sea. They are ferocious as the tiger.
On July 8th they got a good wind, which was especially good because they were off the south coast of Iceland. This was a very dangerous coast, and if the wind was blowing wrong they would be smashed on the rocks.
More soon!
Bell
A Midsummer Night's Dream--Act 1, sn. 1
Theseus, duke of Athens, was preparing for his wedding with Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons. It is to be celebrated 4 days from now, at the New Moon.
Egeus, father of Hermia, comes to Theseus with a complaint against his daughter. She is in love with Lysander, but her father wants her to marry Demetrius. If Hermia does not marry who her father wants her to, she will either have to die or become a nun. She has until the New Moon only to decide.
Helena, Hermia's best friend, loves Demetrius, but he does not love her.
Lysander and Hermia decide to flee Athens that night, and meet in a wood outside that city. From there they will travel to his aunt's house and be married, outside of Athenian law.
They take Helena into their confidence, and she decides to tell Demetrius to win his favor.
More soon!
Bell
Egeus, father of Hermia, comes to Theseus with a complaint against his daughter. She is in love with Lysander, but her father wants her to marry Demetrius. If Hermia does not marry who her father wants her to, she will either have to die or become a nun. She has until the New Moon only to decide.
Helena, Hermia's best friend, loves Demetrius, but he does not love her.
Lysander and Hermia decide to flee Athens that night, and meet in a wood outside that city. From there they will travel to his aunt's house and be married, outside of Athenian law.
They take Helena into their confidence, and she decides to tell Demetrius to win his favor.
More soon!
Bell
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