Amazon
Category:
Action/Thriller
Publisher: Feadaread
ISBN-10: 178299291X
Type: Fiction
Pages: 334
Copyright: nove 2013
ISBN-13: 9781782992912
Price: $2.99 (eBook)
A rights of passage sea story set in the 1750's
Set in the 1750's Lost tot he sea is the first ina series of sea stories charting the life of James Johnson
The son of a fisherman, he is orphaned when his entire family are drowned. He is taken in and educated by the church.
After a year, he is Apprenticed to a local shipping ,master and sent to sea.
We follow his trials.tribulations and triumphs as he struggles to cope with the harsh life 'before the mast' on a merchant brig, and later, after being taken by the pressgang, below decks on a sloop of war.
Excerpt
The boy was standing in the prow, his dark hair tousled by the wind. The old man noted the gleam in the lad’s eye as he worked his way aft, his slight body swaying nimbly to the roll and lurch of the coble as she charged over the wildly tossing waves.
Taking the boy’s hand the old man placed it on the tiller. The hand was small, yet hard and rough like a man’s, the arms were thin, almost puny but sinewy and strong. His skin was darkly tanned and ruddy from exposure to the elements.
“Feel the sea kicking the rudder?” The old man asked. “Don't try to fight it now, just ease her gently so she rolls with the sea.”
Jamie’s hand trembled on the gnarled wood, it was not with fear.
He had a feeling of tremendous exhilaration as he felt the boat kick her stern against a rising swell. He watched her head as it started to pay off, then leaned his weight against the tiller bar. Imperceptibly, he felt, rather than saw the boat sheer off. The sail took the wind and the boat healed back onto her heading. He looked at his Grandfather for approval.
“That's it.” The old man said gruffly, his voice showing nothing of the pride or love he felt for the boy. “Be aware now, you must watch her at all times.” He cautioned. “The sea can be a cruel mistress if you don't give her your full attention she'll have you in her maw.”
There was intensity in the boy’s gaze that belied his years. He looked perfectly at home with legs braced wide apart against the swell, his eyes strained forward, constantly swivelling to take in the boats heading, the roll of the sea and the set of the sail, with the occasional glance astern watching for big rollers that might catch them unawares. If they broached, the boat would be forced beam on to the sea, a dangerous position for any vessel, but for an open fishing boat it could spell the end for her and her crew.
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