Sea Scoundrel by Annette Blair Page A

elbow.
    Like so.” He arranged her arms. “Remember this stance now, because it is your first position. My, you do look right fearful, Miss.”
    Sophie beamed then growled fiercely, exposing perfect white teeth.
    The sailors guffawed. The Captain didn’t think they’d ever had such a good time aboard ship.
    “Now, then. What you want to do, Miss, is to hit me on the nose.”
    Jasper had no sooner finished when little Miss Sophie shot out with her left, quick as lightening, hitting him square on the nose. Blood spurted onto her dress. Jasper went down with a thud smacking his head against the capstan, the sound like the crack of a cannon. And it was worse to hear for knowing it was the poor fel ow’s scul that got cracked.
    The Captain stepped forward.

    Sophie crumpled in a silent heap.
    Grace screamed and screamed, until Angel took her below.
    Rose tried to revive Sophie.
    Patience glanced at the quiet sailors as she wiped the blood from Jasper’s nose and the Captain made certain there were no bloody gashes about his head. The seamen looked from her, to the moaning Sophie, to the unconscious sailor.
    “Vimen,” the big Norwegian said, and then he began a rol ing chortle that grew loud and contagious. Before long, every man and woman roared gleeful y. They laughed because little Sophie had nearly kil ed their big strong ox of a boxer. They chuckled good-naturedly at the mumbling Jasper as he stood staggering, looking slightly bemused.
    Jasper, however, certain they were laughing because he was bested by a woman, acted none too pleased.
    In the end, only Jasper said they brought more bad luck.
    Patience was quite certain only he believed it.
    “Don’t concern yourself, Patience,” the Captain said.
    “Once his headache goes away—in two or three weeks—
    he’l forget al about this.”

    Patience moaned.
    The Captain cuffed her arm lightly. “I was only teasing.” He made her feel better with that bit of playful reassurance.
    But Sophie was broken-hearted. She had caused more bad luck.

CHAPTER SIX

    “They’re back. The flying fish are back!” Patience couldn’t believe her eyes. She’d never seen anything like.
    The girls’ cries drew Shane and the Captain toward the rail.
    Shane gravitated to Rose and the Captain stopped beside her. “They fly so far,” she said. “Are they real y wings?”
    “Of a fashion.” The Captain smiled. “I’ve seen some fly farther than a thousand feet, though five-hundred is probably average. When their wings get dry they have to dive back into the water.” He pointed aft. “Look. There.”
    “What’s that?” Angel asked.
    “A dolphin ready for its dinner. Dolphins wil keep just under a flying-fish waiting for it to alight.” The fish cunningly flew to a distant wave, dipped its wings and darted off at an angle, avoiding its pursuer.
    The girls cheered.
    The dolphin jumped out of the water, wiggled in midair, then dove back in. Patience leaned near the Captain, “I think the dolphin rather sweet.”
    He tweaked her nose. “If you ever tel anyone, I’l deny it, but I agree.”
    Happiness fil ed her. The Captain stood beside her, smiling. The sailors looked on, without scowls, and the girls enjoyed the show. At that moment, not a worry beset her.
    Could their bad luck be over?
    Without warning, a stream of sea-foam covered them. One of the girls screamed.
    When she wiped her eyes, Patience saw Sophie sitting in a puddle, hair dripping in her face, a flying-fish flopping in her lap. Wel ington cavorted to and fro before her, yapping.
    Patience knelt beside her. “What happened?”
    “It hit me in the face,” Sophie wailed, watching the offending creature stink up her gown. “I was so surprised, I tripped and landed on my ... deck.”
    “Sophie,” The Captain said. “If Doc is in a good mood, he’l fry that delicacy for the person lucky enough to find it.” Sophie examined the creature, mouth pursed, eyebrows furrowed. “Hmm.” She looked at the