‘Is it a League ship or Fayters?’ Phineus Clagg peered through the spyglass, his tongue sticking out of the side of his mouth as he concentrated. ‘Beats me, matey. But either way I wager they’ll have a drop of firewater on board. Saved at last!’ Paddy rolled his eyes and took the spyglass from him. ‘It’s a hobgoblin junk,’ he said. ‘See those battened sails? So the odds are good.’ ‘Then why are those merfolk attacking it?’ asked Frank. ‘Something’s changed,’ said Hal. They all looked back at the ship. The gunfire had stopped and the merfolk had disappeared into the water. There was still movement on deck though. ‘Looks like they’re arguing about something,’ said Paddy, adjusting the spyglass. ‘Now the crew are heading to their stations.’ Slowly but surely, the ship turned, tacking away from the island and back out to sea. East. The sails filled with wind. ‘Maw’s teeth,’ muttered Hal. He didn’t often swear, but it was unbearable being stuck here on the beach when the ship was so close.
