1 Sea Faring Hares
Bolreyneus Vicktington or Bolrey the Hare Captain stared out at the vast sea laying before his schooner. The captains eyes slowly watched the waves rise and fall a almost nonexistent bit of air brought the smell of the sea. The captain had been wanting a good wind to break the calm spell that had been cast upon his ship the "Waterhare". If it kept up anymore it seemed he would have to break out the oars, but that was only a last resort. Around him his hare crew bustled about. A plump older hare with a cooking apron on came up with a small bowl of crunchy bread and thick stew and a copper cup full of grog .
"Thank you Viftul." Bolrey said as he ate the little meal, the old hare smiled. "Don't think of it for it's not much, but er Captain are you okay?" Bolrey stared at the hare. "Why do you ask Viftul?" The cooks eyes showed concern. "Well Cap'n you been up here staring at the sea and the crew think your losing your head." Bolrey chuckled. "I see well I guess I have been up here for quite some time, but I can't sleep, and it's catching on not sleeping. I feel restless, but tired at the same time because were not moving." The cooks eyes softened. "It's all right Cap'n, all of us feel the same. It's cabin fever, and it's drove many a sailor nuts! But do not worry wind will find it's way here." The Captain nodded. "Yes, thank you Viftul I needed that."
The captain then turned back to the sea munching on his meal thoughtfully. Viftul smiled and waddled off to his galley. Bolrey downed the last of the grog and questioned himself. "Is this restless feeling cabin fever? I feel it's more than that though, and when I feel something it's usually correct. Something is telling me that troubles brewing and maybe if we got going this troubling feeling would pass?"
After watching till the sun started making long shadows he started to think about the oars down in the lower levels of the ship. Then suddenly something caught the captains eyes. The flag at the top of the largest mast above the crows nest fluttered then slowly started to pick up till it was flapping in the wind. Bolrey watched the dark blue flag with two golden cannons crossing barrels. Below that gold letters spelled out "The Cannon Hares". Bolrey smiled and leapt up ears straight up and bound off the bow of his ship and onto the deck.
Whizzing past his crew, he came to a halt under the crows nest, some odd song coming from it. Bolrey blew a sharp whistle then yelled, "Ahoy Flyteye! You lazy flop eared yellow bellied son of a pickled toad come out of your nest and giveā¦" a hares head popped over the edge of the nest. " I hear ya you big buffoon!" The little rabbit chuckled at the mad captain hare hopping around at the base of his mast.
"Oh! You little rascal shut it and give the report on the wind!" Flyteye rolled his eyes and tested the wind, though he could of given a report in no time he spent as long as he wished till the captain started shaking the mast in madness. "Oh - ooohh - ok! Enough! I'll give the bally report!" Flyteye cleared his throat than started. "The winds is at about 5 knots now and climbing Sah! It's coming north-westish so by night which isn't far off we should be going at a good pace! Sah!"
Bolrey smiled. "Good report Flyteye, but if you cough an' attitude one more time I'll jolly well through you over board!" The captain left leaving the little hare jumping up and down in his nest shouting rude things at him. Bolrey came to the back of the ship where there was a some small steps leading up to the small open helms deck, next to that was a small door leading into the captains quarters.
The captain went up, on top was the wheel, a large base with a even larger compass on it , a pail of soapy water and a brush . The captain came to the helm where a mid sized hare with thick muscles, and had gray fur dappled with white, was dozing. The captain smiled then boomed out. "Otho! Come to attention if you don't mind!" The hare raised his head then suddenly jumped to attention at the sight of his captain! "Aye, Aye Cap'n! Report'n for duty! Sir!" The captain grinned. "At ease there! Just asking if I could bally well drive."
The hare jumped aside so fast that he hit the pail of soapy water slipped on the water that had spilt and landed on his behind. Bolrey chuckled. "Hm hm hm, seems that you're a little jumpy so If you don't mind will you jump up to that crows nest and kindly ask young Flyteye to come scrub the deck, and take over look out for a while! The hare smiled and bound off. The captain turned to his crew below. "Ok me hardies! The winds up and about so lets catch it and get the ship moving!" All the hares cheered and set to work. The captain smiled as the ship started moving. "Ho oh! Great night to be a sailing the great blue yonder!"
