Treasure on the Southern Moor; Chapter 8: Repairs and a Rest; Pgs. 203-204
. Then the crew of the Southern Moor, hot and weary after the long day’s work, came back to the shore where their boats remained. Mr. Perkins and one of the loyal sailors had been tasked to guard them, and both of them looked as though they had just awakened out of a glorious sleep, yet no one reprimanded them as they had been up all the night before. They had been provisioned with some of the food they had recently purchased, which they must have consumed, for there was nothing left but crumbs.
. “Poor Mr. Heath,” said Adrianna as she yawned. “It has been a long night and day, and he has been down near the stable guarding the prisoners for ever so long.” Her eyes drooped, and her feet dragged in the sand as they made their way to the ship’s boats on the shore. She felt as though she could drop off at any moment.
. “We will relieve him as soon as we get onboard,” said Captain Underwood, and they pushed off.
. The waters were calm, and they soon reached the ship, climbing up the rope ladders that still dangled over the side. The first thing done once the boats were hoisted up was to relieve Mr. Heath of his post. He came on deck, looking weary yet still alert.
. “Nothing to report,” said the master gunner. “They’ve been a quiet lot for all that, though I expect that’s just because of the busy night they had before.”
. Stars had leapt into the night sky, and a slight breeze was in the air. It was welcoming after the hot day’s work. A few of the lanterns were lit, and the night watch was set (Mr. Perkins and the loyal sailor took first watch, as they had already had some sleep on the beach).
. “Now then,” said Mr. Thrussell as he looked over his journal. “It’s been a decent day’s labor.”
. “And tomorrow,” said the captain, looking at the rundown state of the ship, “the true work begins.”
. They retired for the night, Adrian, Adrianna, and the captain slipping into the captain’s cabin and everyone else crashing on their cots and hammocks (except the watch). Moonlight and starlight came in through the decorated stern windows, and the waters were calm. The children went to sleep to the lulling of the waves lapping against the Southern Moor.
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