Jennifer Jane takes to the air 3/4

"Motor!" said the captain; "you don't have engines on real ships. Nasty, noisy, smelly things. No fear, if a ship is properly rigged and handled, you don't need engines."

Jennifer Jane had a feeling that she knew what would happen next. Sure enough, coming up quickly to the wrecked brig was Barnacle Bill's paddle steamer. Smoke was pouring out of the funnel and the paddle wheels were throwing up large waves. Jennifer Jane was sure that she'd never seen it going so fast.

When he was near enough to shout across to the Captain, Barnacle Bill slowed right down.

"I saw your signal rocket. Are you having a spot of bother, Cap'n?" he called, with a large grin on his face.

"Less lip, young Charlie. Can you give us a tow back to the boatyard?"

"Aye, Cap'n" and as usual, Barnacle Bill started giving himself orders as he turned the steamer round.

"Slow ahead starb'd, slow astern port. Stop both. Slow astern both. Stop all engines."

"Oh, do stop all that silly chatter," said the Captain "and stand by for a heaving line."

Barnacle Bill had turned his steamer round, so that the stern was in line with the brig's bow. One of the sailor goblins on the foredeck threw him a rope and Barnacle Bill tied it to a rail.

"Stand by to get under way," called Barnacle Bill and then, "slow ahead both."

The paddle wheels started to turn again and slowly, with the brig in tow, the two boats moved off towards the goblin boatyard.

"I have to admit that steamboats do have their uses sometimes," said the Captain to Jennifer Jane "but don’t you dare tell young Bill that I said so."

At last they got back to the boatyard. The Captain went ashore and started arguing with the foregoblin about the way in which the brig had been rigged. Jennifer Jane couldn't hear all of it.

"Running back stays on a boat that size...."

"...set them up before you go about."

"...try doing that at night in a seaway..."

They really were getting quite cross with each other.

"Here's your clothes, miss," said the cook, who had kindly dried them for her in the galley.

"Thank you," said Jennifer Jane and she went below to change.

She was soon back on deck in her own clothes and spoke to the Captain. "Thank you very much again for rescuing me," she said.

"Oh, that's all right, helping people in distress is the law of the sea, you know," he replied.

Jennifer Jane held out the bundle of sailor clothes she'd been wearing.

"You can keep them as a souvenir of today's events," said the Captain, "now then, how are you going to get home?"

"I wondered if Barnacle Bill could take me home in his steamer?"

"Ahoy there, Barnacle Bill," hailed the Captain, "can you give this young lady a ride home?"

"Good heavens, it's Jennifer Jane!" exclaimed Barnacle Bill, who hadn't recognised her while she'd been dressed as a goblin sailor. "Yes, of course I will."