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Aye lads, I’m returned fro’ me wee island what I lives on in th’ winter.  An’ jist in time I’m a- seein’.  Lads, have ye learned nothin’ on yer voyages?  Look to th’ clouds, look an’ watch.Y’see there?  How the clouds are goin’ low an’ dark?  They’ll be fat with rain, I can assure ye o’ that!!

Ye can see for yerselfs that the clouds are comin’ on fast, feel the breeze on yer phiz.  Can ye feel th’ cold an’ wet in the breeze?  Can ye see the clouds that are up higher?  Yes, the Mare’s Tails! 

I was a-seein’ ‘em’ at dawn, far away then; but red as blood they was, an I knew we’d be seekin’ safe harbour afore th’ evenin’ meal.

Aye, our captain’ll get us there, safe; I’m sure there ‘re several coves nearaways that he c’n choose fro.  I willna worry about it, I would ask ye lads to batten everythin’ and take up yon sails.

We’ll be tryin’ ta outrun this ugly wench o’ weather.  Oh aye, she’ll be a right Gorgon o’ a storm!

Step lively there lads!!  I c’n see th’ rain a-comin’ thisaway!!  Quickly now, afore we are ridin’ them waves comin’ on wi’ th’ rain!

C’n ye noo hear the hissin’ o’ th’ rain, and the cryin’ o’ th’ wind in th’ riggin’s?  If’n ye fall overboard in this blow, ye’ll be in Davy Jones’ Locker afore ye know it!

Good lads!!  Ye’ve got our Lady ridin’ high on th’ waves, and runnin’ like the Thoroughbred she is!

Ah!!  I ken where th’ Cap’n is a-headin’ fer!!  Horsehead Cove, as sweet a shelter as any Pirate could wish fer!!

We’ll be snug as a landlubber granny sittin’ by her fire.  Horsehead is a fine place to be stormbound, an’ I’n knowin’ we’ll reach her afore the worst o’ th’ storm is upon us.

Now lads, while ye and our Cap’n take us to Horsehead, I’ll be makin extra rations o’ grog, and finish the soup fer our dinner.  By tomorra night we’ll be eatin’ a fine venison stew and takin’ on fresh water and food t’keep us a-sail for a bit longer-like.

by Gwen Myers