Day 335. Flying fish and salt horse: a seafaring tale
30th June 1860:
Saturday 30th. Had a nice little breeze during last night, this morning at 8 AM. Going 4 knots. The Kensington still on our weather bow about the same distance off. The little pig Neptune, nearly croaked yesterday, all right again this morning. the weather getting warmer every day as we get to the Northward. The Sailmaker knocked off keeping watch, works all day and turns in all night again. Hands variously employed. pumps carefully attended. Poupard has had the nightmare, or some other mare, the last two or three nights. we have rare fun with him about it. The Carpenter tells him he will have to go live on the Longboat. At 9 AM the breeze freshened. Going 8 knots at 4 PM 6 8 10 and 12 PM and 7 knots this morning at 8 AM.
There’s no sympathy for Poupard and his frightening dreams - he is also still a teenager like Richard but has to take the ribbing like a man.
There’s still at least one pig on aboard though the livestock doesn’t often get a mention. He’s been named after the Roman god of the sea, perhaps a little disrespectfully. Let’s hope Neptune’s not annoyed about that.