Beasts of the Sea

Chapter 3

Reserves of brandy running low

A terrific storm. Not enough healthy men to lower the mainsails. The sailcloth parted in the gale. Hard to keep a steady course.

The St Peter sails past a verdant island. However, replenishing the supplies of fresh water proves impossible, as there are now only ten healthy men on board, and they too are so weak that if we lower the anchor, they will not have the strength to raise it again.

Hourly updates in the logbook come to an end. Navigator Kharlam Yushin, hitherto responsible for noting down observations, writes: “I am already exhausted from scurvy, and I stand my watch only because of extreme necessity.”