Start of a transcript of To Sea in a Sieve A prequel to To Hell in a Hamper by J. J. Guest Release 1 / Serial number 231004 / Inform 7 build 6M62 (I6/v6.33 lib 6/12N) (Type "about" for credits and game information.) Identification number: //B65AE81F-9457-4793-973C-08871EED13CD// Interpreter version 0.6.0 / VM 3.1.3 / Library serial number 080126 Standard Rules version 3/120430 by Graham Nelson Assorted Text Generation version 5/150410 by Emily Short Measured Liquid version 6/201125 by Emily Short Dishes version 2 by Emily Short Volumetric Limiter version 2 by Daniel Gaskell Conversational Defaults version 2 by Eric Eve Conversation Responses version 6 by Eric Eve Scheduled Activities version 10 by John Clemens Conversation Framework version 12 by Eric Eve Epistemology version 9 by Eric Eve >about To Sea in a Sieve Peter Petibon, cabin boy, hath a problem. He be goin' down ? to Davy Jones locker, by the powers! Lest he seize the booty o' the dread pyrate Booby, and heave it all o'erboard, he and the Cap'n both will be hors d'oeuvres for the sharks. But what be in that mysterious sea-chest? Do beavers eat boats? And what, i' the devil's name is THE DREADED "YATEVEO" TREE? All o' these questions, an' more besides, will be answered when ye play "To Sea in a Sieve", a one-room game by J. J. Guest. About the Game To Sea in a Sieve is a prequel to To Hell in a Hamper which was first released in 2003. It is part one of The Curse of Captain Booby. To Sea in a Sieve is a one-room game, meaning that there is no need to make a map. Everything you need to win the game can be found aboard the jolly boat Puck. Special Commands One very important command is BAIL, which can be abbreviated to B. This command causes Peter Petibon to bail out the boat as much as he possibly can, provided he is carrying a suitable container, such as the bucket. You can also FILL BUCKET and EMPTY BUCKET (or POUR BUCKET INTO SEA) manually if you choose to. The boat is constantly filling up with water, so if you don't BAIL occasionally, it will sink. Keep a close eye on the ERE WE SINK meter in the status bar. You can ASK Captain Booby ABOUT many of the items on the boat. When talking to a character, ASK BOOBY ABOUT HAT can be abbreviated to A HAT. To throw something overboard, you need only type THROW (something). Hints To Sea in a Sieve includes an adaptive hint system. For a general hint, type HINT. To receive a hint about a specific object or person, type HINT ABOUT (something) or simply HINT (something). Credits To Sea in a Sieve was written by me, J. J. Guest, between 2020 and 2023, using Inform 7. I would like to thank my beta-testers, Andrew Schultz, Mike Carletta, Lance Campbell, Mark Bailey, Laura R. King, Max Bennett and dott. Piergiorgio d'Errico. The idea for "weeviling" was suggested by Lydia O'Sullivan. Dedication To Sea in a Sieve is dedicated with love to my nephew, Max Sidney Bennett, who has played To Hell in a Hamper to completion more times than any living being besides myself. This prequel, long overdue, is my gift to him. It is also dedicated with respect and affection to Jeffery Farnol, an unjustly neglected author of romances and swashbucklers, and the undisputed master of piratical language. I hope he would have enjoyed this salty yarn. >b I begin to bail with a will, filling my bucket with water from the bilges and dumping it o'er the side, 'til there be naught but a few inches left in the bottom of the boat. But water continues to pour in through the hole made by the round-shot, and 'twill not stop 'til all Booby's plunder hath been tossed o'erboard! "That's it, boy, bail away!" says the Captain. "An' keep on bailin' till we'm rescued, confound ye!" >l Jolly Boat This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck is sinking, her hull holed by a round-shot, and her stern is ankle-deep in water. The sea is all aglitter with the merciless Caribbean sun, while around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... Captain Booby stands between myself and his pile of treasure. The Captain's flintlock pistol is levelled at my chest. At this range, not even he could miss... >x booby Captain Rupert Booby is a large, ungainly figure. His black hair hangs in sodden tresses down his back, and his gimlet eyes seem to follow me about. He is dressed in a long, black coat, striped pantaloons and buccaneer boots. On his head sits a shapely felt hat, trimmed with a plume. A sailcloth bag is slung from his shoulder by a leather strap. Captain Booby stands between myself and his pile of treasure. The Captain's flintlock pistol is levelled at my chest. At this range, not even he could miss... >x pistol An old flintlock, with a wide flange around the pan and no cover on the lock. The pan is primed, and the muzzle pointed straight at me. >x sea The sea foams and sparkles in the rays of the setting sun, and ever and anon, a circle of black fins cleave the water ? sharks, awaiting the main chance. The sea offers a ready supply of seawater, not that I need any more on't. >b I begin to bail with all my might, filling my bucket with water from the bilges and dumping it o'er the side, 'til there be naught but a few inches left in the bottom of the boat. But water continues to pour in through the hole made by the round-shot, and 'twill not stop 'til all Booby's plunder hath been tossed o'erboard! "That's it, boy ? bail, an' jump to it!" says the Captain. "We'll be rescued soon enough, ye'll see, or I'm a fishfinger!" >x fins Sharks they be, awaiting the main chance! These watchful monsters wind lazily back and forth ? or else rest motionless on the water, as if listening to our voices ? and thirsting for our blood! >x me I am a tousle-headed boy of scarce fourteen, barefoot ? for e'en my shoes have been cast o'erboard ? and clad in a jerkin and ragged slops. I must cut a sorry figure, for which I can but apologise, but the life of a cabin-boy is not an easy one. >x jerkin A simple leather jerkin, softened by hard use. >x slops Wide kneed breeches, somewhat ragged at the hem. >i I am carrying: an empty wooden bucket >x bucket A sturdy bucket, made of wood. The empty wooden bucket contains only a trace of seawater at the bottom. >b I begin to bail as fast as I might, filling my bucket with water from the bilges and dumping it o'er the side, 'til there be naught but a few inches left in the bottom of the boat. But water continues to pour in through the hole made by the round-shot, and 'twill not stop 'til all Booby's plunder hath been tossed o'erboard! "That's it, boy ? aye, bail her out!" says the Captain. "'Twill all ha' been worthwhile when we'm rescued, ye'll see!" >l Jolly Boat This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck is sinking, her hull holed by a round-shot, and her stern is ankle-deep in water. The sea is all aglitter with the merciless Caribbean sun, while around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... Captain Booby stands between myself and his pile of treasure. The Captain's flintlock pistol is levelled at my chest. At this range, not even he could miss... >x hull I can see no such thing. >x stern The stern-sheets are the after part of an open boat, normally occupied by the person in command. >x boat The Puck is the ship's boat of the Queen Mab, or rather was, afore she sank. The jolly boat is about eighteen feet long. At the rear of the boat are the stern-sheets, whilst in the middle is the midship thwart, beneath which lie a pair of oars. >x thwart A rowing bench, placed across the hull athwart the keel. >x oars A pair of oars hath been stowed beneath the midship thwart. I will need them later, but for now they may remain where they are. >x keel I can see no such thing. >b I begin to bail with all my might, filling my bucket with water from the bilges and dumping it o'er the side, 'til there be naught but a few inches left in the bottom of the boat. But water continues to pour in through the hole made by the round-shot, and 'twill not stop 'til all Booby's plunder hath been tossed o'erboard! "That's it, boy, bail away!" says the Captain. "We'll be rescued soon enough, ye'll see, or I'm a breaded prawn!" >x sun The dazzling Caribbean sun beats down upon us mercilessly. >take fun I can see no such thing. >take gun I dare not try ? not while Captain Booby is armed! >fill bucket I fill the wooden bucket up with seawater from the bilges. >throw water at booby (the wooden bucket of seawater at Captain Booby) I slosh the seawater over Captain Booby, soaking him and wetting the powder in his pistol. Enraged, the Captain pulls the trigger, but the gun merely clicks. He charges towards me with murder in his eyes, but trips over the midship thwart and plunges headlong into the bilge water. His useless pistol sails over my head and lands with a plop in the ocean. Booby's pile of plunder now lies undefended before me. Its divers contents include a ten-pound pearl, an oak barrel, a brass cage, a hurdy-gurdy, a bar of silver, a pineapple, a silver framed Venetian hand mirror, an old sea-chest (on which is a monstrous potted plant) and a bottle of rum. I scan the pile for something to use as a shot-plug, but there is nothing suitable. I am left with no choice but to throw the whole lot overboard. >l Jolly Boat This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck is sinking, her hull holed by a round-shot, and her stern is knee-deep in water. The sea is all aglitter with the merciless Caribbean sun, while around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... In the stern of the jolly boat is Captain Booby's pile of plunder. Its divers contents include a ten-pound pearl, an oak barrel (sealed shut), a brass cage (in which is a North American beaver), a hurdy-gurdy, a bar of silver, a pineapple, a silver framed Venetian hand mirror, an old sea-chest (on which is a monstrous potted plant) and a bottle of rum. Captain Booby lies all asprawl in the bilges, swearing and vapouring as he struggles to right himself. The Captain stumbles to his feet, rocking the boat something horribly as he clutches at the gunwales for support. Wheezily he wins to verticality at last, muttering salty imprecations 'neath his breath. >b I begin to bail with a will, filling my bucket with water from the bilges and dumping it o'er the side, 'til there be naught but a few inches left in the bottom of the boat. But water continues to pour in through the hole made by the round-shot, and 'twill not stop 'til all Booby's plunder hath been tossed o'erboard! "That's it, boy ? aye, bail her out!" says the Captain. "'Twill all ha' been worthwhile when we'm rescued, ye'll see!" The Captain sits himself carelessly down in the stern-sheets, landing so heavily that seawater ships over the gunwales. "Captain, I think ye'd be better o'er here," says I, "for we must needs trim the boat." "Oh, and ye'd like that, wouldn't ye, Master Petibon?" snarls the Captain. "Me o'er there and out o' your way, whiles ye bide at this end, merry as any grig, tossing all me hard-won treasures o'erboard!" >talk to booby I am already talking to Captain Booby. >ask booby about treasure >a treasure 'Twill be necessary to deal with the treasure one piece at a time, unfortunately. >a me "I've always been fond o' ye, Petey, ever since I first clapped eyes on ye, hidin' away i' the orlops. Here's a likely lad, thinks I, here's a boy o' spirit! That's why I brought ye along o' me, an' not one o' them other curs. But that were before ye started throwin' me hard-won treasures i' the briny!" He shakes his head sadly. "I thought ye were a smart lad, Petey, but ye're little better off than a hen i' the matter o' sense, I reckon." >a ship "I be in no mood to talk about that," says the Captain. "So be done wi' yer babble an' back to bailin'!" >b I begin to bail as fast as I might, filling my bucket with water from the bilges and dumping it o'er the side, 'til there be naught but a few inches left in the bottom of the boat. But water continues to pour in through the hole made by the round-shot, and 'twill not stop 'til all Booby's plunder hath been tossed o'erboard! "That's it, boy, bail away!" says the Captain. "An' keep on bailin' till we'm rescued, burn an' blast yer bones!" >l Jolly Boat This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck is sinking, her hull holed by a round-shot, and her stern is ankle-deep in water. The sea is all aglitter with the merciless Caribbean sun, while around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... In the stern of the jolly boat is Captain Booby's pile of plunder. Its divers contents include a ten-pound pearl, an oak barrel (sealed shut), a brass cage (in which is a North American beaver), a hurdy-gurdy, a bar of silver, a pineapple, a silver framed Venetian hand mirror, an old sea-chest (on which is a monstrous potted plant) and a bottle of rum. Captain Booby sits in the stern-sheets, eyeing me suspiciously. Captain Booby picks up the hurdy-gurdy. >a hurdy gurdy "'Tis a Stradivarius," says the Captain. "The only one 'e ever made. 'Twill be worth a king's ransom in years to come, by my reckonin', on account o' the sweet sound it makes!" Captain Booby takes his silver snuffbox from his pocket and inhales a pinch. >x snuffbox A silver snuffbox, studded with brilliants. It is closed. Captain Booby tries to pick up the brass cage, but it is more than he can manage. "Aaargh, me back!" cries the Captain, wincing. "Cherish me guts, but it's no fun gettin' old, boy!" Captain Booby dabs daintily at his nose with a lace-edged handkerchief. >x handkerchief Methinks he hath stuffed it up his sleeve, but 'tis so light I need not waste any time on it. >x cage A heavy cage made of brass ? wood would never do! An ornery looking North American beaver glares at me through the bars. Captain Booby takes his silver snuffbox from his pocket and inhales a pinch. >x hurdy gurdy The beggar's lyre they call it; a string instrument with crank and keys. The strings are made of cat-gut, so I've heard, and accordingly, it sounds just the way a cat might sound if ye gutted it. There is a maker's label on the inside. Captain Booby goes to pick up the bottle, but a serpent-like tendril flashes out from the monstrous potted plant, striking him on the buttock. He steps back, sharpish. Captain Booby dabs daintily at his nose with a lace-edged handkerchief. >x beaver The beaver looks an ornery beast, and with good reason. Beaver hats are the rage in Europe, and an animal this size will fetch eight shillings in England. He's worth more dead than alive, and he knows it. Nearly three feet long, he must weigh about sixty pounds, a veritable monster! The beaver blinks, its weak eyes must needs be unused to this merciless tropical sun. Captain Booby takes his silver snuffbox from his pocket and inhales a pinch. >x bottle A squat gallon bottle made from dark glass. The bottle is almost full of rum. Captain Booby dabs daintily at his nose with a lace-edged handkerchief. >x plant A curious looking plant, having a thick, bulbous trunk surrounded by dozens of spiny tendrils that writhe in the air like serpents in angry discussion. From time to time these tendrils dart out, as though striking at some imaginary foe. At the top of the trunk, betwixt these tentacle-like stems, gapes a hellish maw ? fringed with tooth-like spines! On the pot is an East India Company shipping label which reads "Specimen #476, Attn: Carl Linnaeus, C/o George Clifford III, Hartekamp." Captain Booby takes his silver snuffbox from his pocket and inhales a pinch. >b I begin to bail with a will, filling my bucket with water from the bilges and dumping it o'er the side, 'til there be naught but a few inches left in the bottom of the boat. But water continues to pour in through the hole made by the round-shot, and 'twill not stop 'til all Booby's plunder hath been tossed o'erboard! "That's it, boy ? bail, an' speedy-like!" says the Captain. "'Twill all ha' been worthwhile when we'm rescued, ye'll see!" Captain Booby takes his silver snuffbox from his pocket and inhales a pinch. Captain Booby dabs daintily at his nose with a lace-edged handkerchief. >pet beaver That's not a verb I recognise. >talk to beaver I say hello to the beaver. Captain Booby picks up the pineapple. Captain Booby dabs daintily at his nose with a lace-edged handkerchief. >x pineapple A pineapple is considered a rare delicacy, and will fetch a pretty penny in Europe. A symbol of status, it will sit in the fruit bowl of a rich man's home until it rots ? a sad fate for such a toothsome fruit! >l Jolly Boat This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck is sinking, her hull holed by a round-shot, and her stern is ankle-deep in water. The sea is all aglitter with the merciless Caribbean sun, while around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... In the stern of the jolly boat is Captain Booby's pile of plunder. Its divers contents include a ten-pound pearl, an oak barrel (sealed shut), a brass cage (in which is a North American beaver), a bar of silver, a silver framed Venetian hand mirror, an old sea-chest (on which is a monstrous potted plant) and a bottle of rum. Captain Booby sits in the stern-sheets, checking his pineapple for bruises. He is carrying a hurdy-gurdy. Captain Booby picks up the ten-pound pearl. >a beaver "'Tis an ornery beast, that beaver, to be sure," says the Captain. "I'd o' skinned it mesself if I'd had the knowing of it, but since I don't, I've spared its life for to keep it fresh!" Captain Booby tries to pick up the brass cage, but it is more than he can manage. >a cage "You weary me wi' your pratin'," says the Captain. "So hold yer gab an' bail, ye cold-gutted codfish!" Captain Booby takes his silver snuffbox from his pocket and inhales a pinch. >b I begin to bail with all my might, filling my bucket with water from the bilges and dumping it o'er the side, 'til there be naught but a few inches left in the bottom of the boat. But water continues to pour in through the hole made by the round-shot, and 'twill not stop 'til all Booby's plunder hath been tossed o'erboard! "That's it, boy ? aye, bail her out!" says the Captain. "An' keep on bailin' till we'm rescued, damn ye!" Captain Booby takes his silver snuffbox from his pocket and inhales a pinch. Captain Booby dabs daintily at his nose with a lace-edged handkerchief. >a pearl "I plans to have it made into a ring for Sally's dainty finger. Well, 'twas more of a dainty flipper than a finger, as I recollect." Captain Booby dabs daintily at his nose with a lace-edged handkerchief. >x pearl An enormous pearl, weighing about ten pounds. The Captain intends it to be a gift for Sally, a "mermaid" he once fell in love with whilst we were stranded in the Florida mangroves at low tide. Nobody had the heart to tell him she was actually a sea-cow. >a sally "Arr, now there were a fine buxom lass, aye!" muses the Captain. "A rare dainty bit an' a proper lady! I'll never forget the evenin' we spent together on that beach, wi' the sun goin' down behind the mangroves ? ar! Romantic, it were, an' that's all there is of it. But she did smell a little o' fish, now I think on't..." >a mutiny "I be in no mood to talk about that," says the Captain. "So belay yer chatter an' back to bailin'!" Captain Booby takes his silver snuffbox from his pocket and inhales a pinch. >b I begin to bail as fast as I might, filling my bucket with water from the bilges and dumping it o'er the side, 'til there be naught but a few inches left in the bottom of the boat. But water continues to pour in through the hole made by the round-shot, and 'twill not stop 'til all Booby's plunder hath been tossed o'erboard! "That's it, boy ? bail, an' wi' a will!" says the Captain. "There'll be no need to pitch me plunder into the briny deep, burn an' blast yer bones!" Captain Booby dabs daintily at his nose with a lace-edged handkerchief. >l Jolly Boat This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck is sinking, her hull holed by a round-shot, and her stern is ankle-deep in water. In all directions lie the sun-smitten waters of the Carribean, while around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... In the stern of the jolly boat is Captain Booby's pile of plunder. Its divers contents include an oak barrel (sealed shut), a brass cage (in which is a North American beaver), a bar of silver, a silver framed Venetian hand mirror, an old sea-chest (on which is a monstrous potted plant) and a bottle of rum. Captain Booby sits in the stern-sheets, playing his hurdy-gurdy as he sings a shanty. He is carrying a ten-pound pearl and a pineapple. >a barrel "Never ye mind about that barrel," growls the Captain. "'Ain't nothin' in there you needs trouble yerself about." >x barrel An old oak barrel, containing the Devil knows what. The barrel is sealed, but there is a small empty knothole in the head. I can see naught but darkness through the knothole, but poking my finger within reveals a rough, hard surface just inside the barrel. >a silver Which do you mean, the silver framed Venetian hand mirror, the bar of silver or the silver snuffbox? >bar "I took that there bar off of a merchant vessel west o' Santa Catalina," says the Captain. "I used to have a lot more 'o them once, did I, but tea's expensive." >x bar A silver bar, bearing the hallmark of Gerrit van Driel and weighing one mark, or roughly five pounds. >b I begin to bail with all my might, filling my bucket with water from the bilges and dumping it o'er the side, 'til there be naught but a few inches left in the bottom of the boat. But water continues to pour in through the hole made by the round-shot, and 'twill not stop 'til all Booby's plunder hath been tossed o'erboard! "That's it, boy ? aye, bail her out!" says the Captain. "An' keep on bailin' till we'm rescued, curse ye!" >x mirror A Venetian looking glass with a silver frame. I would need to be carrying it to examine it more closely. >a mirror "Now, where'd I be without me mirror?" says the Captain. "A line o' kohl about the eyes sets 'em off to a nicety, says I, whilst a chiqueador or three will go a ways to hide a blemish. Ain't no shame in a bit o' camoflage, m'boy. 'Twill awaken ev'ry charm, as I've heard it said." >a rum "Drink hearty, lad," says the Captain. "'Twill put the devil in ye, it will, for rum's meat and drink to a gentleman o' fortune! Captain Booby takes his silver snuffbox from his pocket and inhales a pinch. >x bottle A squat gallon bottle made from dark glass. The bottle is almost full of rum. Captain Booby takes his silver snuffbox from his pocket and inhales a pinch. Captain Booby dabs daintily at his nose with a lace-edged handkerchief. >take bottle As I reach for the bottle of rum, the monstrous potted plant lashes out with one of its spiny tendrils, but I duck just in time! I now have the bottle of rum. "That's it, lad! Have a dash o' rum!" says the Captain. "'Twill fortify ye for bailin' out, that it will!" Captain Booby dabs daintily at his nose with a lace-edged handkerchief. >drink rum (first opening the bottle of rum) I pull the cork from the bottle of rum with my teeth. I take a sip of rum. It don't taste o' much besides alcohol. "Ah-harr, that's it, boy, have a little gulp," says the Captain. "Ye'll soon see things ain't so very black, and it'll buck ye up for the job o' bailin', so it will." >b I begin to bail with a will, filling my bucket with water from the bilges and dumping it o'er the side, 'til there be naught but a few inches left in the bottom of the boat. But water continues to pour in through the hole made by the round-shot, and 'twill not stop 'til all Booby's plunder hath been tossed o'erboard! "That's it, boy ? bail, an' lively now!" says the Captain. "'Twill all ha' been worthwhile when we'm rescued, ye'll see!" Captain Booby takes his silver snuffbox from his pocket and inhales a pinch. >throw rum I hurl the bottle of rum into the sea. It slowly fills with water and sinks. "Toss out me last drop o' grog, would ye?" grumbles Booby. "And without e'en lettin' me flog the monkey, ye mealy-mouthed maggot!" Throwing out this medium-sized object gains us around eight minutes. Captain Booby dabs daintily at his nose with a lace-edged handkerchief. >l Jolly Boat This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck is sinking, her hull holed by a round-shot, and her stern is ankle-deep in water. In all directions lie the sun-smitten waters of the Carribean, while around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... In the stern of the jolly boat is Captain Booby's pile of plunder. Its divers contents include an oak barrel (sealed shut), a brass cage (in which is a North American beaver), a bar of silver, a silver framed Venetian hand mirror and an old sea-chest (on which is a monstrous potted plant). Captain Booby sits in the stern-sheets, checking his pineapple for bruises. He is carrying a ten-pound pearl and a hurdy-gurdy. >x chest A heavy, iron-bound sea-chest, somewhat battered from rough usage. The old sea-chest is closed, and there is a monstrous potted plant on top. >a chest Every time I approach the old sea-chest, the potted plant shoots out one of its vicious, whip-like stems, and I think better of it. >talk to booby I am already talking to Captain Booby. Captain Booby takes his silver snuffbox from his pocket and inhales a pinch. >a chest Every time I approach the old sea-chest, the potted plant shoots out one of its vicious, whip-like stems, and I think better of it. Captain Booby dabs daintily at his nose with a lace-edged handkerchief. >ask booby about chest "Aargh, ye won't get near that chest wi' that potted "Yateveo" tree on top o' it," laughs the Captain. "'Tis better'n a guard dog, an' ye may depend upon it!" Captain Booby takes his silver snuffbox from his pocket and inhales a pinch. >a yateveo "A very strangely sinister thing it be, and all athirst for gore! It 'et poor bo'sun Wiggs, and the ship's cat too, it did! Though we'm had no trouble wi' rats since e'er it came aboard! 'Tis a good thing it be nickerty-nasty, the which means it goes to sleep at night, by th' powers!" Captain Booby dabs daintily at his nose with a lace-edged handkerchief. >take mirror As I reach for the silver framed Venetian hand mirror, one of the plant's serpent-like vines whips out, missing me by inches! I now have the mirror. "Take yer thievin' paws off me mirror," says Booby, "or I'll split ye in four halves, so help me!" >x mirror A Venetian looking glass with a silver frame. I accidentally reflect the sun into my eyes, momentarily dazzling me! "Serves ye right, ye glass-gazing skipjack!" says the Captain, roaring with laughter. >give mirror to plant The potted "Yateveo" tree snaps shut its trap as I approach with the silver framed Venetian hand mirror, thwarting my efforts. >throw mirror I throw the mirror over the side of the jolly boat. It sinks quickly. "No, not me mirror, ye dung-souled dog's breakfast!" screams the Captain, and he rushes over to the side of the boat in a vain attempt to fish it out. "Gut me for a buttered parsnip, but how'm I supposed to do me hair an' make-up now? I shall end up resemblin' a Pierrot, curse ye!" Throwing out this near insignificant weight gains us only four minutes. >l Jolly Boat This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck is sinking, her hull holed by a round-shot, and her stern is ankle-deep in water. In all directions lie the sun-smitten waters of the Carribean, while around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... In the stern of the jolly boat is Captain Booby's pile of plunder. Its divers contents include an oak barrel (sealed shut), a brass cage (in which is a North American beaver), a bar of silver and an old sea-chest (on which is a potted "Yateveo" tree). Captain Booby sits in the stern-sheets, checking his pineapple for bruises. He is carrying a ten-pound pearl and a hurdy-gurdy. >take bar As I reach for the bar of silver, a spiny tendril whips out from the potted "Yateveo" tree and wraps itself around my ankles! "Aargh, it's got ye now, lad!" says the Captain. "'Twas nice knowin' ye, but yer goose be cooked now, dammee, for no one escapes the clutches o' the dreaded Yateveo tree!" >kick tree I cannot, for I am entangled in spiny tendrils. The Yateveo tree hath secured me by the ankles w' one o' its spiny tendrils! Inch by inch, it drags me e'er closer to its ravening maw... >i I am carrying: a cork an empty wooden bucket From beneath the waves emerges a fearful, snake-like limb, covered in suckers. It is the arm of an octopus, and 'tis wrapped around the very same silver framed Venetian hand mirror I had but lately flung into the ocean! The octopus drops the mirror at my feet before slithering back into the depths from whence it came. 'Tis said to be uncommonly wise, the octopus ? mayhap this mirror will prove useful to me yet! I am now but a scant few inches from the ravening maw of the Yateveo tree, a spiny tendril dragging me e'er nearer! If I cannot get free, I am doomed! >hit tree with bucket I cannot, for I am entangled in spiny tendrils. Captain Booby takes his silver snuffbox from his pocket and inhales a pinch. The nauseating reek of rotting flesh assails me as the Yateveo tree drags me towards its horrible maw. Only by immediate action can I save myself from certain doom! "Arrr, ye disappoint me, lad!" says the Captain. "I'd o' thought ye'd at least o' put up a struggle!" >hit tree You will have to specify what to attack the potted "Yateveo" tree with. "We'm foundering!" roars the Captain, "an' here's ye lollygaggin' about in the bilges! I suppose I'll have to do it meself, shall I, and be damned to it!" The Captain snatches up the bucket and begins to bail as though his life depended upon it, which indeed it does. I have never seen him work so hard, and before long there are naught but a few inches of water left in the bottom of the boat. Captain Booby dabs daintily at his nose with a lace-edged handkerchief. I claw desperately at the burden boards, but to no avail. The dreaded Yateveo tree drags me kicking and screaming into its horrible maw, and as the tooth-like spines close over my head, I am done for. *** I HAVE BEEN EATEN ALIVE! *** In a total of 83 turns, ye have thrown out 10lb o' treasure. There be still 115lb to go afore the Puck is safe from sinkin'! Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, QUIT or UNDO the last command? > undo Jolly Boat (entangled in spiny tendrils) [Previous turn undone.] >undo Jolly Boat (entangled in spiny tendrils) [Previous turn undone.] >grab tendrils That's not a verb I recognise. >take tendrils What do you want to take those things from? >undo Jolly Boat (entangled in spiny tendrils) [Previous turn undone.] >take plant I cannot reach the potted "Yateveo" tree, for I am entangled in spiny tendrils. Captain Booby takes his silver snuffbox from his pocket and inhales a pinch. The nauseating reek of rotting flesh assails me as the Yateveo tree drags me towards its horrible maw. Only by immediate action can I save myself from certain doom! "Arrr, ye disappoint me, lad!" says the Captain. "I'd o' thought ye'd at least o' put up a struggle!" >undo Jolly Boat (entangled in spiny tendrils) [Previous turn undone.] >undo Jolly Boat (entangled in spiny tendrils) [Previous turn undone.] >undo Jolly Boat (entangled in spiny tendrils) [Previous turn undone.] >undo Jolly Boat (entangled in spiny tendrils) [Previous turn undone.] >undo Jolly Boat [Previous turn undone.] >l Jolly Boat This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck is sinking, her hull holed by a round-shot, and her stern is ankle-deep in water. In all directions lie the sun-smitten waters of the Carribean, while around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... In the stern of the jolly boat is Captain Booby's pile of plunder. Its divers contents include an oak barrel (sealed shut), a brass cage (in which is a North American beaver), a bar of silver and an old sea-chest (on which is a potted "Yateveo" tree). Captain Booby sits in the stern-sheets, playing his hurdy-gurdy as he sings a shanty. He is carrying a ten-pound pearl and a pineapple. Captain Booby takes his silver snuffbox from his pocket and inhales a pinch. >x pineapple A pineapple is considered a rare delicacy, and will fetch a pretty penny in Europe. A symbol of status, it will sit in the fruit bowl of a rich man's home until it rots ? a sad fate for such a toothsome fruit! Captain Booby dabs daintily at his nose with a lace-edged handkerchief. >listen I hear the sound of waves gently lapping 'gainst the hull, and the call of distant gulls. Captain Booby takes his silver snuffbox from his pocket and inhales a pinch. From beneath the waves emerges a fearful, snake-like limb, covered in suckers. It is the arm of an octopus, and 'tis wrapped around the very same silver framed Venetian hand mirror I had but lately flung into the ocean! The octopus drops the mirror at my feet before slithering back into the depths from whence it came. 'Tis said to be uncommonly wise, the octopus ? mayhap this mirror will prove useful to me yet! >smell I smell the reek o' bilge from the bilges, a sweet and exotic aroma from the pineapple, a stink like rotting flesh from potted "Yateveo" tree and the faintest whiff o' maple and willow, with a delicate topnote of borax from the hurdy-gurdy. It can get pretty whiffy in the jolly boat. Captain Booby dabs daintily at his nose with a lace-edged handkerchief. >take mirror As I reach for the silver framed Venetian hand mirror, a serpent-like vine whips out from the potted "Yateveo" tree and fastens upon me in sudden coils! "Aargh, it's got ye now, lad!" says the Captain. "'Twas nice knowin' ye, but yer goose be cooked now, dammee, for no one escapes the clutches o' the dreaded Yateveo tree!" "We'm foundering!" roars the Captain, "an' here's ye lollygaggin' about in the bilges! I suppose I'll have to do it meself, shall I, and be damned to it!" The Captain snatches up the bucket and begins to bail as though his life depended upon it, which indeed it does. I have never seen him work so hard, and before long there are naught but a few inches of water left in the bottom of the boat. >save Ok. >l Jolly Boat (entangled in spiny tendrils) This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck is sinking, her hull holed by a round-shot, and her stern is ankle-deep in water. In all directions lie the sun-smitten waters of the Carribean, while around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... In the stern of the jolly boat is Captain Booby's pile of plunder. Its divers contents include a silver framed Venetian hand mirror, an oak barrel (sealed shut), a brass cage (in which is a North American beaver), a bar of silver and an old sea-chest (on which is a potted "Yateveo" tree). Captain Booby sits in the stern-sheets, checking his pineapple for bruises. He is carrying an empty wooden bucket, a ten-pound pearl and a hurdy-gurdy. The Yateveo tree hath secured me by the ankles w' one o' its spiny tendrils! Inch by inch, it drags me e'er closer to its ravening maw... >i I am carrying: a cork I am now but a scant few inches from the ravening maw of the Yateveo tree, a spiny tendril dragging me e'er nearer! If I cannot get free, I am doomed! >undo Jolly Boat (entangled in spiny tendrils) [Previous turn undone.] >attack plant You will have to specify what to attack the potted "Yateveo" tree with. Captain Booby takes his silver snuffbox from his pocket and inhales a pinch. I am now but a scant few inches from the ravening maw of the Yateveo tree, a spiny tendril dragging me e'er nearer! If I cannot get free, I am doomed! >undo Jolly Boat (entangled in spiny tendrils) [Previous turn undone.] >take mirror I cannot reach the silver framed Venetian hand mirror, for I am entangled in spiny tendrils. I am now but a scant few inches from the ravening maw of the Yateveo tree, a spiny tendril dragging me e'er nearer! If I cannot get free, I am doomed! >undo Jolly Boat (entangled in spiny tendrils) [Previous turn undone.] >l Jolly Boat (entangled in spiny tendrils) This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck is sinking, her hull holed by a round-shot, and her stern is ankle-deep in water. In all directions lie the sun-smitten waters of the Carribean, while around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... In the stern of the jolly boat is Captain Booby's pile of plunder. Its divers contents include a silver framed Venetian hand mirror, an oak barrel (sealed shut), a brass cage (in which is a North American beaver), a bar of silver and an old sea-chest (on which is a potted "Yateveo" tree). Captain Booby sits in the stern-sheets, gazing wistfully at the ten-pound pearl. He is carrying an empty wooden bucket, a pineapple and a hurdy-gurdy. The Captain goes to pick up the bar of silver, but a whip-like vine flashes out from the potted "Yateveo" tree, catching him a glancing blow on the cheek, and he thinks better of it. I am now but a scant few inches from the ravening maw of the Yateveo tree, a spiny tendril dragging me e'er nearer! If I cannot get free, I am doomed! >undo Jolly Boat (entangled in spiny tendrils) [Previous turn undone.] >ask booby for help I cannot, for I am entangled in spiny tendrils. Captain Booby takes his silver snuffbox from his pocket and inhales a pinch. I am now but a scant few inches from the ravening maw of the Yateveo tree, a spiny tendril dragging me e'er nearer! If I cannot get free, I am doomed! >kick pot I cannot, for I am entangled in spiny tendrils. Captain Booby takes his silver snuffbox from his pocket and inhales a pinch. Captain Booby dabs daintily at his nose with a lace-edged handkerchief. The nauseating reek of rotting flesh assails me as the Yateveo tree drags me towards its horrible maw. Only by immediate action can I save myself from certain doom! "Arrr, ye disappoint me, lad!" says the Captain. "I'd o' thought ye'd at least o' put up a struggle!" >undo Jolly Boat (entangled in spiny tendrils) [Previous turn undone.] >undo Jolly Boat (entangled in spiny tendrils) [Previous turn undone.] >hint Right now, yer main goal be to throw all o' Booby's treasure o'erboard, an' remember to keep a weather-eye on the "ERE WE SINK" counter at the top o' the screen! Type HINT (something) or HINT ABOUT (something) to get more specific hints! >hint plant I cannot, for I am entangled in spiny tendrils. I am now but a scant few inches from the ravening maw of the Yateveo tree, a spiny tendril dragging me e'er nearer! If I cannot get free, I am doomed! >undo Jolly Boat (entangled in spiny tendrils) [Previous turn undone.] >hint about plant I cannot, for I am entangled in spiny tendrils. Captain Booby takes his silver snuffbox from his pocket and inhales a pinch. I am now but a scant few inches from the ravening maw of the Yateveo tree, a spiny tendril dragging me e'er nearer! If I cannot get free, I am doomed! >undo Jolly Boat (entangled in spiny tendrils) [Previous turn undone.] >hint about yateveo I cannot, for I am entangled in spiny tendrils. I am now but a scant few inches from the ravening maw of the Yateveo tree, a spiny tendril dragging me e'er nearer! If I cannot get free, I am doomed! >undo Jolly Boat (entangled in spiny tendrils) [Previous turn undone.] >attack plant with hands I can see no such thing. >attack plant with cork I cannot, for I am entangled in spiny tendrils. I am now but a scant few inches from the ravening maw of the Yateveo tree, a spiny tendril dragging me e'er nearer! If I cannot get free, I am doomed! >undo Jolly Boat (entangled in spiny tendrils) [Previous turn undone.] >run You'll have to say which compass direction to go in. I am now but a scant few inches from the ravening maw of the Yateveo tree, a spiny tendril dragging me e'er nearer! If I cannot get free, I am doomed! >undo Jolly Boat (entangled in spiny tendrils) [Previous turn undone.] >n Compass directions make no sense on board ship, but you can use up, down, inside, outside, starboard, larboard, fore and aft instead. I am now but a scant few inches from the ravening maw of the Yateveo tree, a spiny tendril dragging me e'er nearer! If I cannot get free, I am doomed! >undo Jolly Boat (entangled in spiny tendrils) [Previous turn undone.] >fore I am confined to the jolly boat, unless I wish to become an hors d'oeuvre for the sharks. Which I do not. Everything in the jolly boat is within easy reach. Captain Booby takes his silver snuffbox from his pocket and inhales a pinch. I am now but a scant few inches from the ravening maw of the Yateveo tree, a spiny tendril dragging me e'er nearer! If I cannot get free, I am doomed! >undo Jolly Boat (entangled in spiny tendrils) [Previous turn undone.] >jump I cannot, for I am entangled in spiny tendrils. Captain Booby takes his silver snuffbox from his pocket and inhales a pinch. I am now but a scant few inches from the ravening maw of the Yateveo tree, a spiny tendril dragging me e'er nearer! If I cannot get free, I am doomed! >undo Jolly Boat (entangled in spiny tendrils) [Previous turn undone.] >shout (hello to the empty knothole) I cannot, for I am entangled in spiny tendrils. I am now but a scant few inches from the ravening maw of the Yateveo tree, a spiny tendril dragging me e'er nearer! If I cannot get free, I am doomed! >undo Jolly Boat (entangled in spiny tendrils) [Previous turn undone.] >throw cork at plant I cannot, for I am entangled in spiny tendrils. Captain Booby takes his silver snuffbox from his pocket and inhales a pinch. I am now but a scant few inches from the ravening maw of the Yateveo tree, a spiny tendril dragging me e'er nearer! If I cannot get free, I am doomed! >undo Jolly Boat (entangled in spiny tendrils) [Previous turn undone.] >hint Right now, yer main goal be to throw all o' Booby's treasure o'erboard, an' remember to keep a weather-eye on the "ERE WE SINK" counter at the top o' the screen! Type HINT (something) or HINT ABOUT (something) to get more specific hints! >hint about tendrils I'm not sure what ye be wantin' a hint about. If it be somethin' we ain't encountered yet i' this playthrough, ye might try again later. >hint about plant I cannot, for I am entangled in spiny tendrils. Captain Booby takes his silver snuffbox from his pocket and inhales a pinch. I am now but a scant few inches from the ravening maw of the Yateveo tree, a spiny tendril dragging me e'er nearer! If I cannot get free, I am doomed! >undo Jolly Boat (entangled in spiny tendrils) [Previous turn undone.] >hint about tree I cannot, for I am entangled in spiny tendrils. I am now but a scant few inches from the ravening maw of the Yateveo tree, a spiny tendril dragging me e'er nearer! If I cannot get free, I am doomed! >undo Jolly Boat (entangled in spiny tendrils) [Previous turn undone.] >fight (the empty knothole) I cannot reach the empty knothole, for I am entangled in spiny tendrils. Captain Booby takes his silver snuffbox from his pocket and inhales a pinch. I am now but a scant few inches from the ravening maw of the Yateveo tree, a spiny tendril dragging me e'er nearer! If I cannot get free, I am doomed! >undo Jolly Boat (entangled in spiny tendrils) [Previous turn undone.] >take pineapple I cannot reach the pineapple, for I am entangled in spiny tendrils. I am now but a scant few inches from the ravening maw of the Yateveo tree, a spiny tendril dragging me e'er nearer! If I cannot get free, I am doomed! >z Time passes. The nauseating reek of rotting flesh assails me as the Yateveo tree drags me towards its horrible maw. Only by immediate action can I save myself from certain doom! "Arrr, ye disappoint me, lad!" says the Captain. "I'd o' thought ye'd at least o' put up a struggle!" >z Time passes. "Quit yer lollygaggin' an' bail, boy!" snaps the Captain. "Ye've black designs a-kindlin' i' that noggin o' yourn, I'll wager, an' I'll none of it, d'ye hear?" I claw desperately at the burden boards, but to no avail. The dreaded Yateveo tree drags me kicking and screaming into its horrible maw, and as the tooth-like spines close over my head, I am done for. *** I HAVE BEEN EATEN ALIVE! *** In a total of 87 turns, ye have thrown out 10lb o' treasure. There be still 115lb to go afore the Puck is safe from sinkin'! Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, QUIT or UNDO the last command? > restore Ok. >l Jolly Boat (entangled in spiny tendrils) This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck is sinking, her hull holed by a round-shot, and her stern is ankle-deep in water. In all directions lie the sun-smitten waters of the Carribean, while around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... In the stern of the jolly boat is Captain Booby's pile of plunder. Its divers contents include a silver framed Venetian hand mirror, an oak barrel (sealed shut), a brass cage (in which is a North American beaver), a bar of silver and an old sea-chest (on which is a potted "Yateveo" tree). Captain Booby sits in the stern-sheets, playing his hurdy-gurdy as he sings a shanty. He is carrying an empty wooden bucket, a ten-pound pearl and a pineapple. The Captain goes to pick up the bar of silver, but a whip-like vine flashes out from the potted "Yateveo" tree, catching him a glancing blow on the cheek, and he thinks better of it. The Yateveo tree hath secured me by the ankles w' one o' its spiny tendrils! Inch by inch, it drags me e'er closer to its ravening maw... >kick chest I cannot, for I am entangled in spiny tendrils. I am now but a scant few inches from the ravening maw of the Yateveo tree, a spiny tendril dragging me e'er nearer! If I cannot get free, I am doomed! >undo Jolly Boat (entangled in spiny tendrils) [Previous turn undone.] >cut tree I have nothing with which to cut the potted "Yateveo" tree. I am now but a scant few inches from the ravening maw of the Yateveo tree, a spiny tendril dragging me e'er nearer! If I cannot get free, I am doomed! >undo Jolly Boat (entangled in spiny tendrils) [Previous turn undone.] >eat tree I cannot reach the potted "Yateveo" tree, for I am entangled in spiny tendrils. I am now but a scant few inches from the ravening maw of the Yateveo tree, a spiny tendril dragging me e'er nearer! If I cannot get free, I am doomed! >undo Jolly Boat (entangled in spiny tendrils) [Previous turn undone.] >sing I cannot, for I am entangled in spiny tendrils. I am now but a scant few inches from the ravening maw of the Yateveo tree, a spiny tendril dragging me e'er nearer! If I cannot get free, I am doomed! >undo Jolly Boat (entangled in spiny tendrils) [Previous turn undone.] >fight (the empty knothole) I cannot reach the empty knothole, for I am entangled in spiny tendrils. Captain Booby goes to pick up the brass cage, but a serpent-like tendril flashes out from the potted "Yateveo" tree, missing him by a whisker. He steps back, sharpish. I am now but a scant few inches from the ravening maw of the Yateveo tree, a spiny tendril dragging me e'er nearer! If I cannot get free, I am doomed! >undo Jolly Boat (entangled in spiny tendrils) [Previous turn undone.] >take bucket I cannot reach the empty wooden bucket, for I am entangled in spiny tendrils. I am now but a scant few inches from the ravening maw of the Yateveo tree, a spiny tendril dragging me e'er nearer! If I cannot get free, I am doomed! >undo Jolly Boat (entangled in spiny tendrils) [Previous turn undone.] >pull plant I cannot reach the potted "Yateveo" tree, for I am entangled in spiny tendrils. I am now but a scant few inches from the ravening maw of the Yateveo tree, a spiny tendril dragging me e'er nearer! If I cannot get free, I am doomed! >x tendrils You can't use multiple objects with that verb. >x tendril A whiplike vine covered in thousands of sharp spines. The tendrils are writhing like serpents in angry discussion. From time to time one darts out, as though striking at some imaginary foe. The nauseating reek of rotting flesh assails me as the Yateveo tree drags me towards its horrible maw. Only by immediate action can I save myself from certain doom! "Arrr, ye disappoint me, lad!" says the Captain. "I'd o' thought ye'd at least o' put up a struggle!" >hit plant You will have to specify what to attack the potted "Yateveo" tree with. I claw desperately at the burden boards, but to no avail. The dreaded Yateveo tree drags me kicking and screaming into its horrible maw, and as the tooth-like spines close over my head, I am done for. *** I HAVE BEEN EATEN ALIVE! *** In a total of 87 turns, ye have thrown out 10lb o' treasure. There be still 115lb to go afore the Puck is safe from sinkin'! Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, QUIT or UNDO the last command? > undo Jolly Boat (entangled in spiny tendrils) [Previous turn undone.] >kick plant I cannot, for I am entangled in spiny tendrils. Captain Booby takes his silver snuffbox from his pocket and inhales a pinch. I claw desperately at the burden boards, but to no avail. The dreaded Yateveo tree drags me kicking and screaming into its horrible maw, and as the tooth-like spines close over my head, I am done for. *** I HAVE BEEN EATEN ALIVE! *** In a total of 87 turns, ye have thrown out 10lb o' treasure. There be still 115lb to go afore the Puck is safe from sinkin'! Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, QUIT or UNDO the last command? > undo Jolly Boat (entangled in spiny tendrils) [Previous turn undone.] >struggle I have always been something lithe, and with considerable effort, I manage at last to struggle free of the plant's serpent-like grip. The monstrous vegetable quivers all over, as though expressing frustration or rage, and hisses once again that sinister refrain; " Ya te veo! Ya te veo!" ? "I see you! I see you!" >l Jolly Boat This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck is sinking, her hull holed by a round-shot, and her stern is ankle-deep in water. In all directions lie the sun-smitten waters of the Carribean, while around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... In the stern of the jolly boat is Captain Booby's pile of plunder. Its divers contents include a silver framed Venetian hand mirror, an oak barrel (sealed shut), a brass cage (in which is a North American beaver), a bar of silver and an old sea-chest (on which is a potted "Yateveo" tree). Captain Booby sits in the stern-sheets, checking his pineapple for bruises. He is carrying an empty wooden bucket, a ten-pound pearl and a hurdy-gurdy. >take mirror I now have the mirror. "Unhand that mirror," cries Captain Booby, "or I'll cut ye into gobbets, ye scurvy dog!" >point mirror at plant That's not a verb I recognise. >verbs That's not a verb I recognise. >reflect sun at plant I angle the mirror to reflect the sun at the potted "Yateveo" tree. This has no appreciable effect on it. >reflect sun at booby I angle the mirror to reflect the sun into the Captain's eyes, momentarily blinding him. He steps backwards in confusion, raising his arm to shield his eyes, and in doing so drops his silver snuffbox. It falls unnoticed to the floor. >take snuffbox As I reach for the silver snuffbox, the potted "Yateveo" tree lashes out with one of its spiny tendrils, missing me by inches! I now have the snuffbox. "Put that back where ye found it," exclaims Captain Booby, "or I'll tip ye the black spot, by thunder!" >x snuffbox A silver snuffbox, studded with brilliants. It is closed. >a snuffbox "I've nothin' to say on that matter," says the Captain. "So hold yer clack an' bail, ye malapert miscreant!" >open snuffbox I open the silver snuffbox of snuff, which is almost full of snuff. >x snuff A silver snuffbox, studded with brilliants. The silver snuffbox is almost full of snuff. ('Tis a piquant, reddish-brown powder.) >x brilliants A silver snuffbox, studded with brilliants. The silver snuffbox is almost full of snuff. ('Tis a piquant, reddish-brown powder.) >sniff snuff From the silver snuffbox of snuff I smell the sweet, earthy aroma of tobacco. >throw snuffbox I drop the silver snuffbox over the side. "Not me snuffbox too," wails the Captain. "Well, here's lubberly manners! That snuffbox was o' great sentimental value to me, I'll have 'ee know. The man I killed fer it were a dear an' loyal friend!" Throwing out this near insignificant weight gains us only two minutes. >take bucket After a brief struggle, I manage to wrest the empty wooden bucket from the Captain's grip. "Take your thieving paws off me empty wooden bucket," says Booby, "or I'll gut ye like a flounder, says I!" Captain Booby tries to pick up the brass cage, but it is more than he can manage. >b I begin to bail as fast as I might, filling my bucket with water from the bilges and dumping it o'er the side, 'til there be naught but a few inches left in the bottom of the boat. But water continues to pour in through the hole made by the round-shot, and 'twill not stop 'til all Booby's plunder hath been tossed o'erboard! "That's it, boy ? aye, bail her out!" says the Captain. "An' keep on bailin' till we'm rescued, damn ye!" The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >reflect sun at booby I angle the mirror to reflect the sun into the Captain's eyes, momentarily blinding him. He steps backwards in confusion, raising his arm to shield his eyes. >l Jolly Boat This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck is sinking, her hull holed by a round-shot, and her stern is ankle-deep in water. The sun is setting over the Caribbean Sea, and the sky grows darker by the minute. Around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... In the stern of the jolly boat is Captain Booby's pile of plunder. Its divers contents include an oak barrel (sealed shut), a brass cage (in which is a North American beaver), a bar of silver and an old sea-chest (on which is a potted "Yateveo" tree). Captain Booby sits in the stern-sheets, gazing wistfully at the ten-pound pearl. He is carrying a pineapple and a hurdy-gurdy. From beneath the waves emerges a fearful, snake-like limb, covered in suckers. It is the arm of an octopus, and 'tis wrapped around the very same silver snuffbox of snuff I had but lately flung into the ocean! The octopus drops the snuffbox at my feet before slithering back into the depths from whence it came. 'Tis said to be uncommonly wise, the octopus ? mayhap this snuffbox will prove useful to me yet! >take snuffbox As I reach for the silver snuffbox of snuff, a spiny tendril whips out from the potted "Yateveo" tree and wraps about me in coil after coil! "That vegetable's got ye fouled, right enough," says the Captain, shaking his head. "I'd cut ye free, but I'd get all snarled up meself, like as not, an' then where'd we be? Nay, discretion's the best part o' valour, lad, an' ye may lay to that." Captain Booby goes to pick up the brass cage, but a serpent-like tendril flashes out from the potted "Yateveo" tree, striking him on the buttock. He steps back, sharpish. >a plant "A very strangely sinister thing it be, and all athirst for gore! It 'et poor bo'sun Wiggs, and the ship's cat too, it did! Though we'm had no trouble wi' rats since e'er it came aboard! 'Tis a good thing it be nickerty-nasty, the which means it goes to sleep at night, by th' powers!" The Yateveo tree hath secured me by the ankles w' one o' its spiny tendrils! Inch by inch, it drags me e'er closer to its ravening maw... >a octopus "Don't talk to me about fish!" snorts the Captain. "Dev'lish things they be, an' perfidious ? for ye can't outstare somethin' that never blinks!" The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. I am now but a scant few inches from the ravening maw of the Yateveo tree, a spiny tendril dragging me e'er nearer! If I cannot get free, I am doomed! >struggle I have always been something lithe, and with significant effort, I manage at last to struggle free of the plant's serpent-like grip. The monstrous vegetable quivers all over, as though expressing frustration or rage, and hisses once again that sinister refrain; " Ya te veo! Ya te veo!" ? "I see you! I see you!" >a mermaid "I be in no mood to talk about that," says the Captain. "So stop yer snivellin' an' back to bailin'!" >l Jolly Boat This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck is sinking, her hull holed by a round-shot, and her stern is ankle-deep in water. The sun is setting over the Caribbean Sea, and the sky grows darker by the minute. Around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... In the stern of the jolly boat is Captain Booby's pile of plunder. Its divers contents include a silver snuffbox of snuff, an oak barrel (sealed shut), a brass cage (in which is a North American beaver), a bar of silver and an old sea-chest (on which is a potted "Yateveo" tree). Captain Booby sits in the stern-sheets, checking his pineapple for bruises. He is carrying a ten-pound pearl and a hurdy-gurdy. >open barrel I lack the necessary tools to remove the top two hoops from the barrel. 'Twould take considerable force to open it without so doing. >take bar As I reach for the bar of silver, one of the plant's serpent-like vines whips out, missing me by inches! I now have the silver bar. "Leave that be," cries the Captain, "or I'll slit yer gizzard wi' an oyster-knife, by thunder!" >throw bar I hurl the heavy bar as far as I can manage. It lands with a splash in the ocean. "Be ye out o' your head?" roars the Captain, staring over the side. "That were a sterling silver bar ? worth its weight in gold, I tell 'ee!" Throwing out this medium-sized object gains us around five minutes. >push tree The potted "Yateveo" tree might not like that. >z Time passes. Captain Booby tries to pick up the brass cage, but it is more than he can manage. >z Time passes. "Quit yer lollygaggin' an' bail, boy!" snaps the Captain. "Ye've black designs a-kindlin' i' that noggin o' yourn, I'll wager, an' I doesn't like it!" The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. >b I begin to bail with a will, filling my bucket with water from the bilges and dumping it o'er the side, 'til there be naught but a few inches left in the bottom of the boat. But water continues to pour in through the hole made by the round-shot, and 'twill not stop 'til all Booby's plunder hath been tossed o'erboard! "That's it, boy, bail away!" says the Captain. "There'll be no need to pitch me plunder into the briny deep, curse ye!" The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >l Jolly Boat This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck is sinking, her hull holed by a round-shot, and her stern is ankle-deep in water. The sun is setting over the Caribbean Sea, and the sky grows darker by the minute. Around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... In the stern of the jolly boat is Captain Booby's pile of plunder. Its divers contents include a silver snuffbox of snuff, an oak barrel (sealed shut), a brass cage (in which is a North American beaver) and an old sea-chest (on which is a potted "Yateveo" tree). Captain Booby sits in the stern-sheets, gazing wistfully at the ten-pound pearl. He is carrying a pineapple and a hurdy-gurdy. >take pineapple I snatch the pineapple from the Captain's grasp. "Unhand that pineapple," cries Captain Booby, "or I'll nail ye to the mizzenmast, so I will!" The Captain goes to pick up the silver snuffbox, but a whip-like vine flashes out from the potted "Yateveo" tree, missing him by a whisker, and he thinks better of it. "Aarrgh, there ye be, me beauty!" says Booby, picking up the silver snuffbox and slipping it into his pocket. >reflect sun at booby I angle the mirror to reflect the sun into the Captain's eyes, momentarily blinding him. He steps backwards in confusion, raising his arm to shield his eyes, and in doing so drops his silver snuffbox. It falls unnoticed to the floor. >take snuffbox As I reach for the silver snuffbox, a serpent-like vine whips out from the potted "Yateveo" tree and fastens upon me in sudden coils! "Dammee, not again," laughs the Captain. "Ye were wiser to leave me trinkets alone, lad, for that vegetable's better'n a guard dog, an' there's an end on it!" >struggle Years of wriggling free of the law have made me a somewhat lissom youth, and with considerable effort, I manage at last to struggle free of the plant's serpent-like grip. The monstrous vegetable quivers all over, as though expressing frustration or rage, and hisses once again that sinister refrain; " Ya te veo! Ya te veo!" ? "I see you! I see you!" >eat pineapple I would need something to cut it with. >i I am carrying: a pineapple an empty wooden bucket a silver framed Venetian hand mirror a cork >take pearl I grapple furiously with the Captain until he lets go of the ten-pound pearl. "Unhand that ten-pound pearl," cries Captain Booby, "or I'll feed ye to the sharks, see if I don't!" The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >x pear I can see no such thing. >x pearl An enormous pearl, weighing about ten pounds. The Captain intends it to be a gift for Sally, a "mermaid" he once fell in love with whilst we were stranded in the Florida mangroves at low tide. Nobody had the heart to tell him she was actually a sea-cow. Captain Booby picks up the silver snuffbox. "Aarrgh, there ye be, me beauty!" says Booby, picking up the silver snuffbox and slipping it into his pocket. >throw pearl I hurl the prodigious pearl far out into the sea. It lands with a plop and vanishes from sight. "No, not me ten-pound pearl, wi' a wannion!" cries the Captain. "Not dear Sally's weddin' ring! I'd have asked ye to be me groomsman, but ye can fergit that now, ye faithless focsle-head! Ye'll be lucky if'n I invites ye to the after-party." Throwing out this medium-sized object gains us around ten minutes. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. Captain Booby takes his silver snuffbox from his pocket and inhales a pinch. >z Time passes. Captain Booby tries to pick up the brass cage, but it is more than he can manage. Captain Booby dabs daintily at his nose with a lace-edged handkerchief. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. Captain Booby goes to pick up the brass cage, but a serpent-like tendril flashes out from the potted "Yateveo" tree, catching him a glancing blow on the cheek. He steps back, sharpish. >take cage As I reach for the brass cage, the potted "Yateveo" tree lashes out with one of its spiny tendrils, missing me by inches! I don't have enough room left to carry the brass cage. >i I am carrying: a pineapple an empty wooden bucket a silver framed Venetian hand mirror a cork Captain Booby takes his silver snuffbox from his pocket and inhales a pinch. >drop mirror Dropped. Captain Booby dabs daintily at his nose with a lace-edged handkerchief. >take cage I don't have enough room left to carry the brass cage. >drop all pineapple: Dropped. empty wooden bucket: Dropped. cork: Dropped. Captain Booby tries to pick up the brass cage, but it is more than he can manage. >take cage I now have the cage. "Unhand that cage," cries Captain Booby, "or I'll hang ye from the yard-arm, so I will!" >x cage A heavy cage made of brass ? wood would never do! An ornery looking North American beaver glares at me through the bars. Captain Booby takes his silver snuffbox from his pocket and inhales a pinch. >x beaver The beaver looks an ornery beast, and with good reason. Beaver hats are the rage in Europe, and an animal this size will fetch eight shillings in England. He's worth more dead than alive, and he knows it. Nearly three feet long, he must weigh about sixty pounds, a veritable monster! The beaver blinks, its weak eyes must needs be unused to this merciless tropical sun. Captain Booby dabs daintily at his nose with a lace-edged handkerchief. >open cage I've heard tell these critters can fell a tree in five minutes flat. I am certain that so rapacious an animal would make short work of our poor jolly boat! >throw cage With an effort, I hoist the heavy cage onto the gunwales. But as I prepare to push the cage into the sea, the malevolent glint disappears from the beaver's eyes, the which become as large as dinner plates. Beneath those colossal incisors, its lower lip sets to trembling, and a single tear rolls down its furry cheek. Somewhere in the distance, a violin plays. No, I can't do it. Brutal pyrate and savage scourge of the seas I may be, but murderer of helpless woodland creatures, I am not. >drop cage Dropped. >take all One thing at a time, if ye please! >l Jolly Boat This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck is sinking, her hull holed by a round-shot, and her stern is ankle-deep in water. The sun is setting over the Caribbean Sea, and the sky grows darker by the minute. Around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... In the stern of the jolly boat is Captain Booby's pile of plunder. Its divers contents include a brass cage (in which is a North American beaver), a pineapple, a silver framed Venetian hand mirror, an oak barrel (sealed shut) and an old sea-chest (on which is a potted "Yateveo" tree). Captain Booby sits in the stern-sheets, playing his hurdy-gurdy as he sings a shanty. Lying on the floor of the jolly boat are a cork and an empty wooden bucket. Captain Booby takes his silver snuffbox from his pocket and inhales a pinch. >take cork I now have the cork. "Put that back where ye found it," exclaims Captain Booby, "or I'll nail ye to the mizzenmast, by th' powers!" Captain Booby dabs daintily at his nose with a lace-edged handkerchief. >take bucket I take the empty wooden bucket. Captain Booby takes his silver snuffbox from his pocket and inhales a pinch. >b I begin to bail as fast as I might, filling my bucket with water from the bilges and dumping it o'er the side, 'til there be naught but a few inches left in the bottom of the boat. But water continues to pour in through the hole made by the round-shot, and 'twill not stop 'til all Booby's plunder hath been tossed o'erboard! "That's it, boy ? aye, bail her out!" says the Captain. "An' keep on bailin' till we'm rescued, confound ye!" Captain Booby picks up the pineapple. "If ye've taken a bite out o' this, I'll frizzle ye like a kipper!" he cries. Captain Booby dabs daintily at his nose with a lace-edged handkerchief. >hurdy gurdy That's not a verb I recognise. >take hurdy gurdy I snatch the hurdy-gurdy from the Captain's grasp. "Take your thieving paws off me hurdy-gurdy," says Booby, "or I'll gut ye like a flounder, so I will!" >play hurdy gurdy The only crewmember who could play worth a damn was old Lamentation Bangs, the one-eyed ship's cook, now gone to the bottom of the ocean with the rest of 'em. Howbeit, I can but do my best. The resulting sound might charitably be described as a hypnotic drone, or more accurately, perhaps, as a terrible ear-splitting racket. The potted "Yateveo" tree shudders violently in reaction... "Aarrgh!" cries the Captain, covering his ears. "I thinks I sees what ye're goin' for there boy ? 'tis neither linear nor non-linear, so it ain't ? but whate'er it is, 'tis awful." >play (the empty knothole) (first taking the empty knothole) That is part o' the head of the barrel, as I do think. >play hurdy The resulting sound might charitably be described as a hypnotic drone, or more accurately, perhaps, as a terrible ear-splitting racket. The potted "Yateveo" tree shudders violently in reaction... "Aarrgh!" cries the Captain, covering his ears. "Ye be liberatin' sound beyond all tradition, so ye are ? and I wish ye'd stop it." Captain Booby takes his silver snuffbox from his pocket and inhales a pinch. >play hurdy The resulting sound might charitably be described as a hypnotic drone, or more accurately, perhaps, as a terrible ear-splitting racket. The potted "Yateveo" tree shudders violently in reaction... "Aarrgh!" cries the Captain, covering his ears. "Ye be playin' all the right notes, boy, but if that be music, then I'm a steamed turbot!" Captain Booby takes his silver snuffbox from his pocket and inhales a pinch. Captain Booby dabs daintily at his nose with a lace-edged handkerchief. >play hurdy at plant I only understood you as far as wanting to play the hurdy-gurdy. >l Jolly Boat This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck is sinking, her hull holed by a round-shot, and her stern is ankle-deep in water. Dusk is falling, and the sun bathes the ocean in a glory of pink. Around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... In the stern of the jolly boat is Captain Booby's pile of plunder. Its divers contents include a brass cage (in which is a North American beaver), a silver framed Venetian hand mirror, an oak barrel (sealed shut) and an old sea-chest (on which is a potted "Yateveo" tree). Captain Booby sits in the stern-sheets, checking his pineapple for bruises. Captain Booby dabs daintily at his nose with a lace-edged handkerchief. >take mirror As I reach for the silver framed Venetian hand mirror, one of the plant's serpent-like vines whips out, missing me by inches! I now have the mirror. "Put that back where ye found it," exclaims Captain Booby, "or I'll frizzle ye like a kipper, wi' a wannion!" >reflect sun at booby I angle the mirror to reflect the sun into the Captain's eyes, momentarily blinding him. He steps backwards in confusion, raising his arm to shield his eyes, and in doing so drops his silver snuffbox. It falls unnoticed to the floor. >take snuff I now have the snuffbox. "Unhand that snuffbox," cries Captain Booby, "or I'll watch ye dance the yard-arm jig, so I will!" >open snuffbox I open the silver snuffbox of snuff, which is almost full of snuff. >throw snuff at booby I lack the nerve when it comes to the crucial moment. >throw snuff at plant There is naught to be gained by covering the potted "Yateveo" tree with snuff. The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >i I am carrying: a silver snuffbox of snuff a silver framed Venetian hand mirror a hurdy-gurdy an empty wooden bucket a cork The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >eat snuff That's plainly inedible. >take snuff I take a pinch of snuff while the Captain is not looking. 'Tis not to my liking. >l Jolly Boat This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck is sinking, her hull holed by a round-shot, and her stern is ankle-deep in water. Dusk is falling, and the sun bathes the ocean in a glory of pink. Around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... In the stern of the jolly boat is Captain Booby's pile of plunder. Its divers contents include a brass cage (in which is a North American beaver), an oak barrel (sealed shut) and an old sea-chest (on which is a potted "Yateveo" tree). Captain Booby sits in the stern-sheets, checking his pineapple for bruises. >take barrel As I reach for the oak barrel, a spiny tendril whips out from the potted "Yateveo" tree and wraps about me in coil after coil! The Captain merely shakes his head in bemusement. >struggle My years as a Billingsgate pickpocket have made me rather nimble, and with significant effort, I manage at last to struggle free of the plant's serpent-like grip. The monstrous vegetable quivers all over, as though expressing frustration or rage, and hisses once again that sinister refrain; " Ya te veo! Ya te veo!" ? "I see you! I see you!" >play hurdy The resulting sound might charitably be described as a hypnotic drone, or more accurately, perhaps, as a terrible ear-splitting racket. The potted "Yateveo" tree shudders violently in reaction... "Aarrgh!" cries the Captain, covering his ears. "Ye be liberatin' sound beyond all tradition, so ye are ? and I wish ye'd stop it." >yell at plant That's not a verb I recognise. >shout at plant You can only do that to something animate. >shout at booby You can only do that to something animate. >x booby Captain Rupert Booby is a large, ungainly figure. His black hair hangs in sodden tresses down his back, and his gimlet eyes seem to follow me about. He is dressed in a long, black coat, striped pantaloons and buccaneer boots. On his head sits a shapely felt hat, trimmed with a plume. A sailcloth bag is slung from his shoulder by a leather strap. Captain Booby sits in the stern-sheets, checking his pineapple for bruises. >take bag I try to pull the bag from the Captain's shoulder, but he grabs ahold of the strap. "Leave me bag alone, ye fool-headed fuddler!" he growls. >pickpocket booby That's not a verb I recognise. >reflect sun at booby I angle the mirror to reflect the sun into the Captain's eyes, momentarily blinding him. He steps backwards in confusion, raising his arm to shield his eyes. >pickpocket booby That's not a verb I recognise. >take bag I try to pull the bag from the Captain's shoulder, but he grabs ahold of the strap. >a bag "Never you mind about me sailcloth bag," says the Captain. "'Tis Captain's stuff, and none o' your concern." >give snuff to booby Nay ? I might never get it back again! >x bag A sailcloth bag, waterproofed with tar and suspended from the Captain's shoulder by a leather strap. Captain Booby tries to pick up the brass cage, but it is more than he can manage. >i I am carrying: a silver snuffbox of snuff a silver framed Venetian hand mirror a hurdy-gurdy an empty wooden bucket a cork >break mirror You will have to specify what to attack the silver framed Venetian hand mirror with. The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >give snuff to plant The potted "Yateveo" tree snaps shut its trap as I approach with the silver snuffbox of snuff, thwarting my efforts. The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >give snuff to beaver The brass cage isn't open. >open cage I've heard tell these critters can fell a tree in five minutes flat. I am certain that so rapacious an animal would make short work of our poor jolly boat! >l Jolly Boat This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck is sinking, her hull holed by a round-shot, and her stern is knee-deep in water. Dusk is falling, and the sun bathes the ocean in a glory of pink. Around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... In the stern of the jolly boat is Captain Booby's pile of plunder. Its divers contents include a brass cage (in which is a North American beaver), an oak barrel (sealed shut) and an old sea-chest (on which is a potted "Yateveo" tree). Captain Booby sits in the stern-sheets, checking his pineapple for bruises. >push barrel 'Tis too heavy to push when full, an' besides, there may yet be somethin' o' use inside. >push chest Every time I approach the old sea-chest, the potted plant shoots out one of its vicious, whip-like stems, and I think better of it. The Captain turns mortal white as the water comes up to his waist. "We'm done for!" he cries. "Ha' done with your fleering folly and bail, damn ye, bail!" >b I begin to bail with a will, filling my bucket with water from the bilges and dumping it o'er the side, 'til there be naught but a few inches left in the bottom of the boat. But water continues to pour in through the hole made by the round-shot, and 'twill not stop 'til all Booby's plunder hath been tossed o'erboard! "Burn and sink me, but that were close, boy!" screams Booby. "The waters were up to me waist, so they were. Be a bit quicker about it next time, if ye please!" "'Tis tiring work, sir! You might try it yourself, once in a while. Especially," I add, darkly, "if ye want to save any o' these trinkets o' your'n." The Captain considers this for a moment. "'Tis share an' share alike i' the Brotherhood. These treasures be your'n as well as mine," he says at last. "But I'll tell ye what we'll do, lad. We'll weevil for it, that we will! The loser takes the bucket, and the responsibility o' bailin' out. The winner takes his ease." Weeviling was a way of drawing lots on board the Queen Mab. It was used to settle disputes between two parties. The first crewman would take a ship's biscuit and tap out a weevil. The second crewman would take the same biscuit and do likewise. Whoever tapped out the smaller weevil won the lot, since e'en on board a pyrate ship, you must always choose the lesser of two weevils. The Captain, making use of his quizzing-glass, would adjudicate, and his judgment was law. "You go first, lad!" says the Captain, handing me the ship's biscuit. The Captain waits patiently for me to tap out a weevil. >x biscuit Old Lamentation Bangs used to tell the tale of how his life was saved when a piece of hard-tack, just such as this ? the which was tucked into his vest pocket ? stopped a bullet. Howbeit, he also claimed to have eaten one once, so you can't believe every tale you hear on board a pyrate ship. "Go on, boy ? tap the biscuit!" says the Captain. "'Tis generous offer I be makin' ye, for bailin' out ain't captain's work, d'ye see?" >eat biscuit With the ship's dentist dead and drown'd, I would rather not chance it. Besides, I've not yet tapped out all the weevils. The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. "Tap the biscuit, ye mealy-mouthed biscuit weevil!" growls the Captain. "This be your last chance, d'ye hear, or I'm a battered cod!" >tap biscuit I tap the biscuit against the midship thwart, and a weevil drops out. "Aar, 'tis a main small 'un, to be certain," says the Captain, peering at it. "Now, let me see if I can't do better." He takes the biscuit from me and taps it against the thwart. A second weevil drops out beside the first. The first weevil is smaller, making it the lesser of two weevils. "You win, fair and square," says the Captain, and he takes the bucket from me. "I'll bail alright, an' heartily, you'll see, for I ain't never the man for to shirk a dooty. Howbeit, not a whit more o' me plunder will ye toss o'erboard, by th' powers, or the deal's off, d'ye hear?" >yes Captain Booby does not respond. >z Time passes. The two weevils scurry away into a cranny and disappear. >undo Jolly Boat [Previous turn undone.] >x weevils You can't use multiple objects with that verb. >x weevil Which do you mean, the second weevil or the first weevil? >first A biscuit weevil. 'Tis the lesser of two weevils. The two weevils scurry away into a chink and disappear. >undo Jolly Boat [Previous turn undone.] >x second weevil A biscuit weevil. 'Tis the greater of two weevils. The two weevils scurry away into a nook and disappear. >i I am carrying: a silver snuffbox of snuff a silver framed Venetian hand mirror a hurdy-gurdy a cork >x biscuit Old Lamentation Bangs used to tell the tale of how his life was saved when a piece of hard-tack, just such as this ? the which was tucked into his vest pocket ? stopped a bullet. Howbeit, he also claimed to have eaten one once, so you can't believe every tale you hear on board a pyrate ship. >take biscuit After a brief struggle, I manage to wrest the evil-looking ship's biscuit from the Captain's grip. "Unhand that evil-looking ship's biscuit," cries Captain Booby, "or I'll spit ye like a pig, wi' a curse!" The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >l Jolly Boat This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck is sinking, her hull holed by a round-shot, and her stern is ankle-deep in water. Dusk is falling, and the sun bathes the ocean in a glory of pink. Around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... In the stern of the jolly boat is Captain Booby's pile of plunder. Its divers contents include a brass cage (in which is a North American beaver), an oak barrel (sealed shut) and an old sea-chest (on which is a potted "Yateveo" tree). Captain Booby sits in the stern-sheets, checking his pineapple for bruises. He is carrying an empty wooden bucket. >x booby Captain Rupert Booby is a large, ungainly figure. His black hair hangs in sodden tresses down his back, and his gimlet eyes seem to follow me about. He is dressed in a long, black coat, striped pantaloons and buccaneer boots. On his head sits a shapely felt hat, trimmed with a plume. A sailcloth bag is slung from his shoulder by a leather strap. Captain Booby sits in the stern-sheets, checking his pineapple for bruises. >x hair I can see no such thing. >x coat Booby's shabby garments were once things of splendour. His wide-skirted, black velvet coat, be-laced and gold-braided, is now stained with salt and covered with patches. It hath two pockets, left and right. >pick pocket Which do you mean, the Captain's left-hand coat pocket or the Captain's right-hand coat pocket? >left What do you want to pick the Captain's left-hand coat pocket up with? >x left pocket I surreptitiously sneak a look inside the Captain's left-hand coat pocket. It is empty. Captain Booby tries to pick up the brass cage, but it is more than he can manage. >x right pocket I surreptitiously sneak a look inside the Captain's right-hand coat pocket. It contains a pocketknife (folded up) and the Captain's quizzing-glass. The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >take knife I was, before I stowed away to sea and fell in with pyrates, a Billingsgate pick-pocket, and I have not lost none of my skill! I sneak the pocketknife (folded up) from inside the Captain's right-hand coat pocket. Captain Booby tries to pick up the brass cage, but it is more than he can manage. >take glass I sneak the Captain's quizzing-glass from inside the Captain's right-hand coat pocket. The Captain goes to pick up the brass cage, but a whip-like vine flashes out from the potted "Yateveo" tree, striking him on the buttock, and he thinks better of it. >x glass 'Tis a single magnifying lens, mounted upon a handle. The Captain uses it to peer disdainfully at anything that does not meet his niminy-piminy standards. >x knife A small pocketknife. Its silver handle is wrought into the shape of a mermaid in languorous pose. The pocketknife is folded away. >open knif I can see no such thing. >open knife I unfold the blade of the pocketknife. >cut bag (with the pocketknife (unfolded)) I cut through the leather strap with the pocketknife, and the bag drops neatly into my hands. The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >x bag A sailcloth bag, waterproofed with tar. The leather strap has been cut, making it unwearable. >look in bag I can't see inside, since the sailcloth bag is closed. Captain Booby tries to pick up the brass cage, but it is more than he can manage. >open bag I open the sailcloth bag, revealing a powder tin and a coil of cannon fuse. >take tin I take the powder tin from inside the sailcloth bag. The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >take fuse I take the coil of cannon fuse from inside the sailcloth bag. >x tin A tin of powder. It is closed. >x fuse Several feet of cannon fuse, wound into a coil. >l Jolly Boat This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck is sinking, her hull holed by a round-shot, and her stern is ankle-deep in water. Dusk is falling, and the sun bathes the ocean in a glory of pink. Around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... In the stern of the jolly boat is Captain Booby's pile of plunder. Its divers contents include a brass cage (in which is a North American beaver), an oak barrel (sealed shut) and an old sea-chest (on which is a potted "Yateveo" tree). Captain Booby sits in the stern-sheets, checking his pineapple for bruises. He is carrying an empty wooden bucket. >take pineapple I grapple furiously with the Captain until he lets go of the pineapple. "Give that back," exclaims Captain Booby, "or I'll frizzle ye like a kipper, so help me!" >cut pineapple (with the pocketknife (unfolded)) I cut off a small chunk of pineapple and eat it. 'Tis uncommonly sweet and toothsome! "Stop nibblin' at me pineapple, ye wooden-headed wharf rat!" snarls the Captain. Captain Booby tries to pick up the brass cage, but it is more than he can manage. >take pineapple I already have that. The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >eat pineapple I cut off a small chunk of pineapple and eat it. 'Tis uncommonly sweet and toothsome! "Leave me pineapple alone, ye chicken-hearted cur!" snarls the Captain. >give pineapple to plant " Soy carn vora!" hisses the the potted "Yateveo" tree, waving away the pineapple. The Captain begins to bail out, filling the bucket with water from the bilges and dumping it o'er the side, and grumbling all the while. 'til there be naught but a few inches left in the bottom of the boat. But water continues to pour in through the hole made by the round-shot, and 'twill not stop 'til all his plunder hath been tossed o'erboard! >i I am carrying: a pineapple a coil of cannon fuse a powder tin (closed) a sailcloth bag (open but empty) the Captain's quizzing-glass a pocketknife (unfolded) an evil-looking ship's biscuit a silver snuffbox of snuff a silver framed Venetian hand mirror a hurdy-gurdy a cork The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >look through glass I find nothing of interest. The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >put all in bag pineapple: Done. coil of cannon fuse: Done. powder tin: Done. Captain's quizzing-glass: Done. pocketknife (unfolded): (first folding the blade of the pocketknife (unfolded) into the handle) Done. evil-looking ship's biscuit: Done. silver snuffbox of snuff: (first closing the silver snuffbox of snuff) Done. silver framed Venetian hand mirror: The silver framed Venetian hand mirror is too large to fit in the sailcloth bag. hurdy-gurdy: The hurdy-gurdy is too large to fit in the sailcloth bag. cork: Done. >i I am carrying: a sailcloth bag (open) a cork a silver snuffbox (closed) an evil-looking ship's biscuit a pocketknife (folded up) the Captain's quizzing-glass a powder tin (closed) a coil of cannon fuse a pineapple a silver framed Venetian hand mirror a hurdy-gurdy >l Jolly Boat This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck is sinking, her hull holed by a round-shot, and her stern is ankle-deep in water. Dusk is falling, and the sun bathes the ocean in a glory of pink. Around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... In the stern of the jolly boat is Captain Booby's pile of plunder. Its divers contents include a brass cage (in which is a North American beaver), an oak barrel (sealed shut) and an old sea-chest (on which is a potted "Yateveo" tree). Captain Booby sits in the stern-sheets, watching me closely. He is carrying an empty wooden bucket. >a hurdy "'Tis a Stradivarius," says the Captain. "The only one 'e ever made. 'Twill be worth a king's ransom in years to come, I dare swear, on account o' the sweet sound it makes. So, careful not to scratch the varnish, curse ye!" The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >a snuff "You weary me wi' your pratin'," says the Captain. "So hold yer tongue an' bail, ye mutinous monkey!" The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >a snuffbox "I've nothin' to say on that matter," says the Captain. "So be done wi' yer babble an' back to bailin'!" >a cork "You weary me wi' your pratin'," says the Captain. "So hold yer tongue an' bail, ye false-tongued focsle-head!" The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >a biscuit "Remember ol' Cap'n Lewis?" reminisces the Captain. "Him as we marooned on Sombrero Island, wi' sixty cases o' hard tack? Well, he built hisself a fine house wi' them biscuits, so I'm told, the which is still standin' today. As to Cap'n Lewis, well, he starved to death o' course, the sorry wretch, but at least his head were dry!" Captain Booby tries to pick up the brass cage, but it is more than he can manage. >a powder "I be in no mood to talk about that," says the Captain. "So be done wi' yer babble an' back to bailin'!" >give biscuit to tree (first taking the evil-looking ship's biscuit) I take the evil-looking ship's biscuit from inside the sailcloth bag. I toss the evil-looking ship's biscuit into the potted "Yateveo" tree's slavering maw. A second or two later the biscuit shoots into the air like a pistol shot. It comes to earth in the stern-sheets, leaving a small dent. " Claramente incomible!" hisses the plant, angrily. >take biscuit I now have the ship's biscuit. "Put that back where ye found it," exclaims Captain Booby, "or I'll nail ye to the mizzenmast, ye scurvy dog!" >l Jolly Boat This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck is sinking, her hull holed by a round-shot, and her stern is ankle-deep in water. Dusk is falling, and the sun bathes the ocean in a glory of pink. Around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... In the stern of the jolly boat is Captain Booby's pile of plunder. Its divers contents include a brass cage (in which is a North American beaver), an oak barrel (sealed shut) and an old sea-chest (on which is a potted "Yateveo" tree). Captain Booby sits in the stern-sheets, glaring at me reproachfully. He is carrying an empty wooden bucket. >i I am carrying: an evil-looking ship's biscuit a sailcloth bag (open) a cork a silver snuffbox (closed) a pocketknife (folded up) the Captain's quizzing-glass a powder tin (closed) a coil of cannon fuse a pineapple a silver framed Venetian hand mirror a hurdy-gurdy >put powder in biscuit (first taking the powder tin) I take the powder tin from inside the sailcloth bag. That can't contain things. >x tin A tin of powder. It is closed. The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >open tin I open the tin of gunpowder, which is almost full of gunpowder. >put powder on biscuit Putting things on the evil-looking ship's biscuit would avail me naught. >close tin I close the powder tin. Captain Booby tries to pick up the brass cage, but it is more than he can manage. >cut pineapple I have nothing with which to cut the pineapple. The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >take knife I take the pocketknife (folded up) from inside the sailcloth bag. >cut pineapple (with the pocketknife (folded up)) (first unfolding the pocketknife) I cut off a small chunk of pineapple and eat it. 'Tis uncommonly sweet and toothsome! "Stop nibblin' at me pineapple, ye shallow-pated skipjack!" snarls the Captain. >give pineapple to tree (first taking the pineapple) I take the pineapple from inside the sailcloth bag. " Soy carn vora!" hisses the the potted "Yateveo" tree, waving away the pineapple. The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >i I am carrying: a pineapple a pocketknife (unfolded) a powder tin (closed) an evil-looking ship's biscuit a sailcloth bag (open) a cork a silver snuffbox (closed) the Captain's quizzing-glass a coil of cannon fuse a silver framed Venetian hand mirror a hurdy-gurdy Captain Booby goes to pick up the brass cage, but a serpent-like tendril flashes out from the potted "Yateveo" tree, missing him by a whisker. He steps back, sharpish. >light powder How? (Try LIGHTing the tin WITH something) >light powder with fuse (first taking the coil of cannon fuse) I take the coil of cannon fuse from inside the sailcloth bag. The coil of cannon fuse cannot be used to set fire to things. >reflect sun at fuse I use the mirror to reflect the sun's light at the coil of cannon fuse, making it appear brighter. >x glass 'Tis a single magnifying lens, mounted upon a handle. The Captain uses it to peer disdainfully at anything that does not meet his niminy-piminy standards. >hint Right now, yer main goal be to throw all o' Booby's treasure o'erboard, an' remember to keep a weather-eye on the "ERE WE SINK" counter at the top o' the screen! Type HINT (something) or HINT ABOUT (something) to get more specific hints! >hint tree Ha' ye tried askin' Captain Booby about the potted "Yateveo" tree? Ye may hear somethin' to yer advantage. >a tree "A very strangely sinister thing it be, and all athirst for gore! It 'et poor bo'sun Wiggs, and the ship's cat too, it did! Though we'm had no trouble wi' rats since e'er it came aboard! 'Tis a good thing it be nickerty-nasty, the which means it goes to sleep at night, by th' powers!" The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. The Captain begins to bail out, filling the bucket with water from the bilges and dumping it o'er the side, and grumbling all the while. 'til there be naught but a few inches left in the bottom of the boat. But water continues to pour in through the hole made by the round-shot, and 'twill not stop 'til all his plunder hath been tossed o'erboard! >z Time passes. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. >l Jolly Boat This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck is sinking, her hull holed by a round-shot, and her stern is ankle-deep in water. Dusk is falling, and the sun bathes the ocean in a glory of pink. Around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... In the stern of the jolly boat is Captain Booby's pile of plunder. Its divers contents include a brass cage (in which is a North American beaver), an oak barrel (sealed shut) and an old sea-chest (on which is a potted "Yateveo" tree). Captain Booby sits in the stern-sheets, picking absently at the frayed cuff of his overcoat. He is carrying an empty wooden bucket. The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >x plant A curious looking plant, having a thick, bulbous trunk surrounded by dozens of spiny tendrils that writhe in the air like serpents in angry discussion. From time to time these tendrils dart out, as though striking at some imaginary foe. At the top of the trunk, betwixt these tentacle-like stems, gapes a hellish maw ? fringed with tooth-like spines! On the pot is an East India Company shipping label which reads "Specimen #476, Attn: Carl Linnaeus, C/o George Clifford III, Hartekamp." >i I am carrying: a coil of cannon fuse a pineapple a pocketknife (unfolded) a powder tin (closed) an evil-looking ship's biscuit a sailcloth bag (open) a cork a silver snuffbox (closed) the Captain's quizzing-glass a silver framed Venetian hand mirror a hurdy-gurdy >throw pineapple I hurl the pineapple as far as I can. It lands with a splosh in the ocean. "Arr, not me pineapple!" says the Captain, woefully. "I had me a fancy to make a lovely canap ? pineapple and hunks o' cheese, served up on the spines of a porpentine. Ye've set haute cuisine back centuries, damn ye!" Throwing out this near insignificant weight gains us only two minutes. >throw biscuit I hurl the evil-looking ship's biscuit as far out to sea as I can. Suddenly, and to my great surprise, a mighty shark surges out of the water and snatches the biscuit out of the air! Even from here I can hear the horrible snap of its breaking teeth as the miserable creature plunges back beneath the waves. Throwing out this negligible weight makes no difference whatever to our plight. >throw cork (first taking the cork) I take the cork from inside the sailcloth bag. Having no further use for the cork, I hurl it far out into the sea. It bobs about i' the water, buoyant as any cork. Throwing out this negligible weight makes no difference whatever to our plight. >throw hurdy I hurl the instrument into the sea. It bobs about on the surface for a moment, before succumbing to the waves. "No, not me hurdy-gurdy," wails the Captain. "'Twas a Stradivarius, d' ye see? The only one 'e ever made. 'Twould o' been worth a king's ransom in years to come, confound ye! Ha' ye no thought for appreciation?" Throwing out this medium-sized object gains us around six minutes. >z Time passes. The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >z Time passes. Captain Booby tries to pick up the brass cage, but it is more than he can manage. >z Time passes. The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. Captain Booby tries to pick up the brass cage, but it is more than he can manage. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. >i I am carrying: a coil of cannon fuse a pocketknife (unfolded) a powder tin (closed) a sailcloth bag (open) a silver snuffbox (closed) the Captain's quizzing-glass a silver framed Venetian hand mirror >throw knife I have a feeling that it might come in useful later. >l Jolly Boat This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck is sinking, her hull holed by a round-shot, and her stern is ankle-deep in water. Dusk is falling, and the sun bathes the ocean in a glory of pink. Around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... In the stern of the jolly boat is Captain Booby's pile of plunder. Its divers contents include a brass cage (in which is a North American beaver), an oak barrel (sealed shut) and an old sea-chest (on which is a potted "Yateveo" tree). Captain Booby sits in the stern-sheets, eyeing me suspiciously. He is carrying an empty wooden bucket. Captain Booby tries to pick up the brass cage, but it is more than he can manage. >z Time passes. The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >z Time passes. Captain Booby tries to pick up the brass cage, but it is more than he can manage. >z Time passes. The Captain goes to pick up the brass cage, but a whip-like vine flashes out from the potted "Yateveo" tree, striking him on the buttock, and he thinks better of it. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. Captain Booby tries to pick up the brass cage, but it is more than he can manage. >l Jolly Boat This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck is sinking, her hull holed by a round-shot, and her stern is ankle-deep in water. Dusk is falling, and the sun bathes the ocean in a glory of pink. Around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... In the stern of the jolly boat is Captain Booby's pile of plunder. Its divers contents include a brass cage (in which is a North American beaver), an oak barrel (sealed shut) and an old sea-chest (on which is a potted "Yateveo" tree). Captain Booby sits in the stern-sheets, glaring at me reproachfully. He is carrying an empty wooden bucket. >i I am carrying: a coil of cannon fuse a pocketknife (unfolded) a powder tin (closed) a sailcloth bag (open) a silver snuffbox (closed) the Captain's quizzing-glass a silver framed Venetian hand mirror >give snuff to plant (first taking the silver snuffbox) I take the silver snuffbox from inside the sailcloth bag. The potted "Yateveo" tree snaps shut its trap as I approach with the silver snuffbox, thwarting my efforts. >take glass I take the Captain's quizzing-glass from inside the sailcloth bag. >i I am carrying: the Captain's quizzing-glass a silver snuffbox (closed) a coil of cannon fuse a pocketknife (unfolded) a powder tin (closed) a sailcloth bag (open but empty) a silver framed Venetian hand mirror Captain Booby tries to pick up the brass cage, but it is more than he can manage. >throw bag Having no further use for the sailcloth bag, I hurl it far out into the sea. It bobs about i' the water, buoyant as any cork. Throwing out this near insignificant weight gains us only two minutes. >i I am carrying: the Captain's quizzing-glass a silver snuffbox (closed) a coil of cannon fuse a pocketknife (unfolded) a powder tin (closed) a silver framed Venetian hand mirror >z Time passes. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. > Be bold, and speak your mind! >z Time passes. Captain Booby tries to pick up the brass cage, but it is more than he can manage. >l Jolly Boat This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck is sinking, her hull holed by a round-shot, and her stern is knee-deep in water. Dusk is falling, and the sun bathes the ocean in a glory of pink. Around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... In the stern of the jolly boat is Captain Booby's pile of plunder. Its divers contents include a brass cage (in which is a North American beaver), an oak barrel (sealed shut) and an old sea-chest (on which is a potted "Yateveo" tree). Captain Booby sits in the stern-sheets, watching me closely. He is carrying an empty wooden bucket. >z Time passes. The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. The Captain begins to bail out, filling the bucket with water from the bilges and dumping it o'er the side, and grumbling all the while. 'til there be naught but a few inches left in the bottom of the boat. But water continues to pour in through the hole made by the round-shot, and 'twill not stop 'til all his plunder hath been tossed o'erboard! >l Jolly Boat This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck is sinking, her hull holed by a round-shot, and her stern is ankle-deep in water. Dusk is falling, and the sun bathes the ocean in a glory of pink. Around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... In the stern of the jolly boat is Captain Booby's pile of plunder. Its divers contents include a brass cage (in which is a North American beaver), an oak barrel (sealed shut) and an old sea-chest (on which is a potted "Yateveo" tree). Captain Booby sits in the stern-sheets, glaring at me reproachfully. He is carrying an empty wooden bucket. >l Jolly Boat This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck is sinking, her hull holed by a round-shot, and her stern is ankle-deep in water. Dusk is falling, and the sun bathes the ocean in a glory of pink. Around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... In the stern of the jolly boat is Captain Booby's pile of plunder. Its divers contents include a brass cage (in which is a North American beaver), an oak barrel (sealed shut) and an old sea-chest (on which is a potted "Yateveo" tree). Captain Booby sits in the stern-sheets, picking absently at the frayed cuff of his overcoat. He is carrying an empty wooden bucket. >x booby Captain Rupert Booby is a large, ungainly figure. His black hair hangs in sodden tresses down his back, and his gimlet eyes seem to follow me about. He is dressed in a long, black coat, striped pantaloons and buccaneer boots. On his head sits a shapely felt hat, trimmed with a plume. Captain Booby sits in the stern-sheets, watching me closely. >x hat A shapely hat, cocked in the latest mode, complete with a plume and embellished with gold brocade. It was no doubt stolen from an Admiral in the British Navy. >x plume 'Tis a scarlet flamingo plume. The captain is uncommonly fond of roast flamingo ? "'tis fit for a prince's table," he often saith. The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >take plume That is part o' the shapely felt hat, as I do think. >take hat I quail at the very idea of removing the Captain's hat. He would never be parted from it ? lest his life depended on it! >x boots The Captain's legs dight in striped pantaloons and prodigiously long, Cordovan leather sea-boots ? so long, in fact, that there is scarce any pantaloon to be seen, but he hath at least remembered to put some on this morning. Captain Booby tries to pick up the brass cage, but it is more than he can manage. >x coat Booby's shabby garments were once things of splendour. His wide-skirted, black velvet coat, be-laced and gold-braided, is now stained with salt and covered with patches. It hath two pockets, left and right. The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >i I am carrying: the Captain's quizzing-glass a silver snuffbox (closed) a coil of cannon fuse a pocketknife (unfolded) a powder tin (closed) a silver framed Venetian hand mirror The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >x sun The dazzling Caribbean sun beats down upon us mercilessly. >l Jolly Boat This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck is sinking, her hull holed by a round-shot, and her stern is ankle-deep in water. Dusk is falling, and the sun bathes the ocean in a glory of pink. Around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... In the stern of the jolly boat is Captain Booby's pile of plunder. Its divers contents include a brass cage (in which is a North American beaver), an oak barrel (sealed shut) and an old sea-chest (on which is a potted "Yateveo" tree). Captain Booby sits in the stern-sheets, eyeing me suspiciously. He is carrying an empty wooden bucket. >reflect sun at booby I angle the mirror to reflect the sun into the Captain's eyes, momentarily blinding him. He steps backwards in confusion, raising his arm to shield his eyes. >i I am carrying: the Captain's quizzing-glass a silver snuffbox (closed) a coil of cannon fuse a pocketknife (unfolded) a powder tin (closed) a silver framed Venetian hand mirror >hint glass The Captain's quizzing-glass might be useful to have. Shall I go on? > y There are one problems for which the Captain's quizzing-glass might come in handy. Captain Booby goes to pick up the brass cage, but a serpent-like tendril flashes out from the potted "Yateveo" tree, missing him by a whisker. He steps back, sharpish. >save Ok. >quit Are you sure you want to quit? y >restore Ok. >l Jolly Boat This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck is sinking, her hull holed by a round-shot, and her stern is ankle-deep in water. Dusk is falling, and the sun bathes the ocean in a glory of pink. Around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... In the stern of the jolly boat is Captain Booby's pile of plunder. Its divers contents include a brass cage (in which is a North American beaver), an oak barrel (sealed shut) and an old sea-chest (on which is a potted "Yateveo" tree). Captain Booby sits in the stern-sheets, picking absently at the frayed cuff of his overcoat. He is carrying an empty wooden bucket. >i I am carrying: the Captain's quizzing-glass a silver snuffbox (closed) a coil of cannon fuse a pocketknife (unfolded) a powder tin (closed) a silver framed Venetian hand mirror >use glass on mirror That's not a verb I recognise. >put glass on mirror Putting things on the silver framed Venetian hand mirror would avail me naught. >shine glass on mirror I would need to use something shiny for that. >shine mirror at glass I use the mirror to reflect the sun's light at the Captain's quizzing-glass, making it appear brighter. Captain Booby tries to pick up the brass cage, but it is more than he can manage. >hint mirror It can be used to dazzle someone ? or somethin'! Shall I go on? > y The beaver has weak eyes ? use the mirror to dazzle it! The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >reflect sun at beaver I angle the mirror to reflect the sun into the beaver's eyes. Beavers have weak eyes, or so I've heard, and the sun's fierce rays render the poor creature quite helpless for a moment. >open cage I've heard tell these critters can fell a tree in five minutes flat. I am certain that so rapacious an animal would make short work of our poor jolly boat! >hint beaver Ye should be sure that you have the silver framed Venetian hand mirror. The Captain goes to pick up the brass cage, but a whip-like vine flashes out from the potted "Yateveo" tree, striking him on the buttock, and he thinks better of it. >hint beaver Ye should be sure that you have the silver framed Venetian hand mirror. >give barrel to beaver The brass cage isn't open. >x cage A heavy cage made of brass ? wood would never do! An ornery looking North American beaver glares at me through the bars. >hint mirror It can be used to dazzle someone ? or somethin'! Shall I go on? > y The beaver has weak eyes ? use the mirror to dazzle it! The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >hint snuff The snuffbox will have its uses, be ye don't need it yet. >i I am carrying: the Captain's quizzing-glass a silver snuffbox (closed) a coil of cannon fuse a pocketknife (unfolded) a powder tin (closed) a silver framed Venetian hand mirror Captain Booby tries to pick up the brass cage, but it is more than he can manage. >hint powder Ye could open the powder tin. >open tin I open the tin of gunpowder, which is almost full of gunpowder. The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >hint powder Ye might find out somethin' if ye examine the tin of gunpowder. Captain Booby goes to pick up the brass cage, but a serpent-like tendril flashes out from the potted "Yateveo" tree, catching him a glancing blow on the cheek. He steps back, sharpish. >x tin An open powder tin. The tin is almost full of gunpowder. ('Tis a sulfurous, dark grey powder.) >hint powder Sorry, I've no more to say about that. Captain Booby tries to pick up the brass cage, but it is more than he can manage. >hint fuse A coil can be cut into shorter lengths, if need be. The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >cut fuse (with the pocketknife (unfolded)) I cut a short length of cannon fuse from the coil, and discard the rest. >hint fuse (the short length of cannon fuse) Ye needs to put it where it be neeeded! Shall I go on? > y Put it in the knothole in the top o' the barrel! >put fuse in knothole (the short length of cannon fuse in the empty knothole) I put the short length of cannon fuse into the empty knothole. The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >reflect sun at fuse (the coil of cannon fuse) I use the mirror to reflect the sun's light at the coil of cannon fuse, making it appear brighter. >x glass 'Tis a single magnifying lens, mounted upon a handle. The Captain uses it to peer disdainfully at anything that does not meet his niminy-piminy standards. >look through glass I find nothing of interest. >x lens 'Tis a single magnifying lens, mounted upon a handle. The Captain uses it to peer disdainfully at anything that does not meet his niminy-piminy standards. >reflect sun through lens I didn't understand that sentence. >reflect sun at lens I use the mirror to reflect the sun's light at the Captain's quizzing-glass, making it appear brighter. >put powder in knothole (pouring the tin of gunpowder into the empty knothole) I tip all of the gunpowder from the tin into the knothole in the top of the barrel. Captain Booby tries to pick up the brass cage, but it is more than he can manage. >light fuse with glass (the short length of cannon fuse with the Captain's quizzing-glass) Using the Captain's quizzing-glass, I focus the sun's rays on the end of the fuse. In less than a minute, it has caught alight! >take bucket I snatch the empty wooden bucket from the Captain's grasp. "Aargh, so ye wants to bail after all, do ye? Well fair enough, says I. 'Tis no work for a captain, anyhow." The Captain turns mortal white as the water comes up to his waist. "Bail, damn ye, an' lively ho!" he cries. "We'm sinking!" >b I begin to bail as fast as I might, filling my bucket with water from the bilges and dumping it o'er the side, 'til there be naught but a few inches left in the bottom of the boat. But water continues to pour in through the hole made by the round-shot, and 'twill not stop 'til all Booby's plunder hath been tossed o'erboard! The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. As the flaming end of the fuse disappears into the knothole in the top of the barrel, I duck down and place my fingers in my ears. The explosion blows off the head of the barrel and the top two hoops. They fly high into the air and fall into the ocean somewhere to larboard. When the smoke clears, the staves at the top of the barrel have been blasted open like the petals of some strange, blackened flower and everything is stained with indigo dust. "Ye've tried me too high this time, ye driveling dogfish!" snarls the Captain. "There were a keg of indigo in the top o' that barrel and ye've gone an' blown it to bits! Look a' me now ? stained blue from trucks to keelson! ? this stuff don't wash out, ye know!" The Captain says true, for his wet clothes and face are all stained blue with indigo dust, and so, for that matter, are my own! I canst but help laugh aloud. "Ye'll rue the day ye e'er set foot aboard the Queen Mab, so ye will," he goes on, "for here's a taste o' bloody vengeance!" Then, to my infinite horror, the Captain unfastens the door of the beaver's cage and unlooses the creature to the deck. "Go, me beauty, run free! Kill that double-dealin' blaggard where he stands. Gnaw 'is spindly shanks off, curse him!" To the Captain's evident surprise the beaver ignores me completely and begins gnawing at the gunwales of the jolly boat instead. "'Tis passing strange," says the Captain, scratching his head. "For I've heard tell that beavers was the fiercest critters in all o' North Americy! But p'raps I be thinkin' o' bears?" >x barrel The top of the barrel has been blown clean off, and the blackened staves fan out like some strange variety of garden flower. Within the barrel, I behold a bolt of rich brocade and a sack. There may be more in there besides, but that is all I can see. The beaver has chewed through the gunwales on the larboard side and is working his way down the strakes. "For God's sake, sir," I cry, "that beast will be the end of us! Whatever possessed you to let it loose?" >reflect sun at beaver I angle the mirror to reflect the sun into the beaver's eyes. Beavers have weak eyes, or so I've heard, and the sun's fierce rays render the varmint quite helpless for a moment. A moment is all it takes, and the Yateveo tree is not slow to react. A snake-like tendril whips out and ensnares the helpless creature 'round its waist. It flips the beaver into the air as though it were a peanut and catches it in its ghastly maw ? which snaps shut like a steel trap! The horrid plant agitates its tentacle-like stems in apparent delight, and the rasping sound this makes sounds uncannily like " Sabroso! Muy sabroso!" "Eaten by a tree," says the Captain, shaking his head. "Now there's irony, an' ye may lay to that." >l Jolly Boat This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck is sinking, her hull holed by a round-shot, and her stern is ankle-deep in water. Dusk is falling, and the sun bathes the ocean in a glory of pink. Around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... In the stern of the jolly boat is Captain Booby's pile of plunder. Its divers contents include a brass cage, an oak barrel (in which are a bolt of rich brocade and a sack of cayenne pepper) and an old sea-chest (on which is a potted "Yateveo" tree). Captain Booby sits in the stern-sheets, eyeing me suspiciously. Lying on the floor of the jolly boat is a coil of cannon fuse. Captain Booby picks up the brass cage. >give bucket to booby "Sink me for a flounder, but bailin' ain't captain's work," growls Booby. "Besides which, I've done my share! 'Tis up to you, now." >x bolt Midnight blue, wi' a pattern of silver stars. >take bolt I take the bolt of rich brocade from inside the oak barrel. "Take yer filthy paws off me nice silk brocade, confound ye!" says the Captain. "I'll lay ye a guinea you ain't washed 'em in a week!" >a bolt "I took it from one o' the Great Mogul's own Ships," says the Captain. "'Twill make a comely pair o' Mogul's breeches, as I do think. The Portuguese wear 'em a-bed, if what I hear be right, an' I does like to stay i' the mode." >a beaver "Eaten by a tree," says the Captain. "Now there's irony, or I'm a shotten herring!" >x plant A curious looking plant, having a thick, bulbous trunk surrounded by dozens of spiny tendrils that writhe in the air like serpents in angry discussion. From time to time these tendrils dart out, as though striking at some imaginary foe. At the top of the trunk, betwixt these tentacle-like stems, gapes a hellish maw ? fringed with tooth-like spines! On the pot is an East India Company shipping label which reads "Specimen #476, Attn: Carl Linnaeus, C/o George Clifford III, Hartekamp." >x sack A heavy hessian sack. The sack is almost full of cayenne pepper. ('Tis a pungent, reddish-brown powder.) >take sack I take the sack of cayenne pepper from inside the oak barrel. "Careful with that sack of cayenne pepper, ye insolent whelp!" growls the Captain. "That blasted stuff makes me sneeze like a whale, so it does, an' curse me for a lubber if it don't!" >x barrel The top of the barrel has been blown clean off, and the blackened staves fan out like some strange variety of garden flower. At the bottom of the barrel is a mahogany tea caddy. >x caddy 'Tis the Captain's tea caddy! He always did prefer tea to rum, strange fellow. It is inlaid with a pattern of flowers, very fine. >take caddy I take the mahogany tea caddy from inside the oak barrel. >x caddy 'Tis the Captain's tea caddy! He always did prefer tea to rum, strange fellow. It is inlaid with a pattern of flowers, very fine. When I turn the caddy over, it rattles, but unfortunately it is locked. >i I am carrying: a mahogany tea caddy (closed and locked) a sack of cayenne pepper a bolt of rich brocade an empty wooden bucket the Captain's quizzing-glass a silver snuffbox (closed) a pocketknife (unfolded) an empty tin (open but empty) a silver framed Venetian hand mirror >throw bolt I toss the bolt of rich brocade over the side of the boat, and watch as it sinks below. "Aargh! Not me brocade, lad, not me indigo blue brocade," moans Booby. "I had me a fancy to have a pair o' mogul's breeches made, and right comfy they'd o' been, wi' a curse! I'll crack ye like a flea for this, I will, or may I rot!" Throwing out this near insignificant weight gains us only four minutes. >throw tin Having no further use for the empty tin, I hurl it far out into the sea. It sinks without a trace. Throwing out this near insignificant weight gains us only two minutes. >throw mirror I throw the mirror over the side of the jolly boat. It sinks quickly. "No, not me mirror, ye spindle-shanked skulker!" screams the Captain, and he rushes over to the side of the boat in a vain attempt to fish it out. "Damn me for a preacher, but how'm I supposed to do me hair an' make-up now? I shall end up resemblin' a Pierrot, curse ye!" Throwing out this near insignificant weight gains us only four minutes. >throw glass I have a feeling that it might come in useful later. >l Jolly Boat This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck is sinking, her hull holed by a round-shot, and her stern is ankle-deep in water. Dusk is falling, and the sun bathes the ocean in a glory of pink. Around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... In the stern of the jolly boat is the last of Captain Booby's pile of plunder: an old sea-chest (on which is a potted "Yateveo" tree). Captain Booby sits in the stern-sheets, clutching the empty brass cage. Lying on the floor of the jolly boat are a coil of cannon fuse and an oak barrel (empty). From beneath the waves emerges a fearful, snake-like limb, covered in suckers. It is the arm of an octopus, and 'tis wrapped around the very same bolt of rich brocade I had but lately flung into the ocean! The octopus drops the silk brocade at my feet before slithering back into the depths from whence it came. 'Tis said to be uncommonly wise, the octopus ? mayhap this silk brocade will prove useful to me yet! >take fuse I now have the coil. "Put that back where ye found it," exclaims Captain Booby, "or I'll watch ye dance the yard-arm jig, so help me!" >throw fuse Having no further use for the coil of cannon fuse, I hurl it far out into the sea. It sinks without a trace. Throwing out this near insignificant weight gains us only two minutes. >take barrel The oak barrel is too large for me to carry. >push barrel Straining every muscle to the uttermost, I heave the heavy oak barrel over the gunwales into the sea. Unburdening the jolly boat of this large, heavy object gains us roughly twenty-four minutes. >take cage I don't have enough room left to carry the brass cage. The Captain goes to pick up the bolt of rich brocade, but a whip-like vine flashes out from the potted "Yateveo" tree, missing him by a whisker, and he thinks better of it. >take bolt I now have the silk brocade. "Take yer thievin' paws off me silk brocade," says Booby, "or I'll crack ye like a flea, wi' a curse!" >i I am carrying: a bolt of rich brocade a mahogany tea caddy (closed and locked) a sack of cayenne pepper an empty wooden bucket the Captain's quizzing-glass a silver snuffbox (closed) a pocketknife (unfolded) >cut brocade (with the pocketknife (unfolded)) The pocketknife (unfolded) is not very effective against the bolt of rich brocade. >l Jolly Boat This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck is sinking, her hull holed by a round-shot, and her stern is ankle-deep in water. Dusk is falling, and the sun bathes the ocean in a glory of pink. Around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... In the stern of the jolly boat is the last of Captain Booby's pile of plunder: an old sea-chest (on which is a potted "Yateveo" tree). Floating just out of reach, a little way to starboard, is the heavy oak barrel, now half full of water. Captain Booby sits in the stern-sheets, clutching the empty brass cage. >a caddy "Aargh, now you be careful wi' that," growls Captain Booby. "I'd kill fer a cup o' tea, that I would, but I ain't got the key no more. E'en a piece o' hardtack's palatable if'n ye soak it in tea fer an hour or two. You'd best pass it to me, lad, so's I can keep it safe an' sound." >give caddy to booby Nay ? I might never get it back again! >a pepper "'Tis peppery stuff, right enough," says the Captain. "Those Portuguese will put it in everythin', or so I'm told, but I ain't got the constitution for it mesself." >put brocade on tree I throw the bolt of midnight blue brocade over the potted "Yateveo" tree (dormant), covering it nigh completely. Only a few of its spiny tendrils can be seen. Gradually these tendrils thrash with less and less vigour, until at last they lie still upon the burden boards, limp as Chinese noodles. A faint sound emits therefrom; " Zzzzzz, zzzzzz, zzzzzz!" >push plant The potted "Yateveo" tree (dormant) might not like that. >x tree The potted "Yateveo" tree (dormant) hath been covered over with a bolt of midnight blue brocade, beneath which the plant appears dormant. Such tendrils as can be seen lie limp as Chinese noodles, and a faint sound emits therefrom ? " Zzzzzz, zzzzzz, zzzzzz!" >open chest (first removing the potted "Yateveo" tree (dormant)) I don't have enough room left to carry the potted "Yateveo" tree (dormant). I'd have to remove the potted "Yateveo" tree (dormant) from the lid first. >i I am carrying: a mahogany tea caddy (closed and locked) a sack of cayenne pepper an empty wooden bucket the Captain's quizzing-glass a silver snuffbox (closed) a pocketknife (unfolded) The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >drop bucket Dropped. >drop all mahogany tea caddy: Dropped. sack of cayenne pepper: Dropped. Captain's quizzing-glass: Dropped. silver snuffbox: Dropped. pocketknife (unfolded): Dropped. >open chest (first removing the potted "Yateveo" tree (dormant)) I wrap my arms about the earthenware pot and lift the enormously heavy "Yateveo" tree from the lid of the old sea-chest. It is all I can do to keep from dropping it. (first unlocking the old sea-chest) To my horror, the old sea-chest is locked, and I do not have the key! "You'll never open it, lad!" roars the Captain. "For the key has gone to the bottom o' the ocean, so it has, and burn me if it ain't!" >throw plant I hurl the hateful plant into the ocean ? as far as I can. It lands with a heavy splash and slowly sinks from sight. "Ye devious dog!" cries Booby. "That specimen might o' made my name! A modern Newton I'd o' been, prancin' in a periwig through the courts o' Cambridge, by th' powers, wi' people callin' me 'p'fessor' and 'your cleverness' an' sich! Or else I could ha' sold it and bought a mess o' grog. I'll cut ye into gobbets for this, wi' a wannion!" Unburdening the jolly boat of this large, heavy object gains us roughly sixteen minutes. >take caddy I now have the tea caddy. "Leave that be," cries the Captain, "or I'll hang ye from the yard-arm, ye scurvy dog!" >take sack I now have the sack. "Put that back where ye found it," exclaims Captain Booby, "or I'll send ye to hell-fire, by thunder!" >take glass I pick up the Captain's quizzing-glass. >take snuff I now have the snuffbox. "Put that back where ye found it," exclaims Captain Booby, "or I'll gut ye like a flounder, so I will!" >take knife I grab the pocketknife (unfolded). >l Jolly Boat This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck is sinking, her hull holed by a round-shot, and her stern is ankle-deep in water. Dusk is falling, and the sun bathes the ocean in a glory of pink. Around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... In the stern of the jolly boat is the last of Captain Booby's pile of plunder: an old sea-chest. Floating just out of reach, a little way to starboard, is the heavy oak barrel, now half full of water. Captain Booby sits in the stern-sheets, clutching the empty brass cage. Lying on the floor of the jolly boat is an empty wooden bucket. The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >take bucket I seize the empty wooden bucket. >i I am carrying: an empty wooden bucket a pocketknife (unfolded) a silver snuffbox (closed) the Captain's quizzing-glass a sack of cayenne pepper a mahogany tea caddy (closed and locked) >break caddy You will have to specify what to attack the mahogany tea caddy with. >unlock caddy with knife I try to prise the caddy open with the pocketknife (unfolded), but 'tis very well made, for I can do little more than scratch it. >unlock chest with knife The pocketknife (unfolded) does not fit the old sea-chest. >hit caddy with bucket The empty wooden bucket would not make a very effective weapon. The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >hit caddy with glass The Captain's quizzing-glass would not make a very effective weapon. The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >l Jolly Boat This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck is sinking, her hull holed by a round-shot, and her stern is ankle-deep in water. Dusk is falling, and the sun bathes the ocean in a glory of pink. Around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... In the stern of the jolly boat is the last of Captain Booby's pile of plunder: an old sea-chest. Floating just out of reach, a little way to starboard, is the heavy oak barrel, now half full of water. Captain Booby sits in the stern-sheets, clutching the empty brass cage. The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >x barrel The heavy oak barrel is floating a little way off the starboard bow, and I cannot reach it unaided. >i I am carrying: an empty wooden bucket a pocketknife (unfolded) a silver snuffbox (closed) the Captain's quizzing-glass a sack of cayenne pepper a mahogany tea caddy (closed and locked) >cut caddy (with the pocketknife (unfolded)) I try to prise the caddy open with the pocketknife (unfolded), but 'tis very well made, for I can do little more than scratch it. >throw sack at captain I lack the nerve when it comes to the crucial moment. >open sack It isn't something I can open. >x sack A heavy hessian sack. The sack is almost full of cayenne pepper. ('Tis a pungent, reddish-brown powder.) The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >throw pepper at captain I lack the nerve when it comes to the crucial moment. >open snuffbox I open the silver snuffbox of snuff, which is almost full of snuff. >throw snuff I drop the silver snuffbox over the side. "Not me snuffbox too," wails the Captain. "Well, here's lubberly manners! That snuffbox was o' great sentimental value to me, I'll have 'ee know. The man I killed fer it were a dear an' loyal friend!" Throwing out this near insignificant weight gains us only two minutes. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. From beneath the waves emerges a fearful, snake-like limb, covered in suckers. It is the arm of an octopus, and 'tis wrapped around the very same silver snuffbox of snuff I had but lately flung into the ocean! The octopus drops the snuffbox at my feet before slithering back into the depths from whence it came. 'Tis said to be uncommonly wise, the octopus ? mayhap this snuffbox will prove useful to me yet! >take snuffbox I now have the snuffbox. "Leave that be," cries the Captain, "or I'll spit ye like a pig, wi' a curse!" >put cayenne in snuffbox (pouring the sack of cayenne pepper into the silver snuffbox of snuff) The silver snuffbox cannot contain any more than it already holds. >take snuff from snuffbox Nay ? once is enough. >empty snuffbox I dump out the silver snuffbox into the sea, buying me two minutes. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >z Time passes. >put pepper in snuffbox (pouring the sack of cayenne pepper into the empty silver snuffbox) I pour cayenne pepper into the silver snuffbox. The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >give snuff to booby I can see no such thing. >give snuffbox to booby "Here y'are, Captain," I say innocently. "You dropped your snuffbox." Giving me a puzzled look, he slips the snuffbox into his left-hand pocket. Captain Booby takes his silver snuffbox from his pocket and inhales a pinch of cayenne pepper. Immediately he falls to sneezing so lustily that it is a wonder he does not blow his own brains out through his nose. It causeth him to drop his brass cage... "Burn and sink me, but this snuff packs a punch!" says he, wi' his eyes full o' tears. "I'll be havin' me some strong words wi' th' manufacturer, so I will, an' ye may be sure o' that!" >take cage I don't have enough room left to carry the brass cage. Captain Booby dabs daintily at his nose with a lace-edged handkerchief. >drop all empty wooden bucket: Dropped. pocketknife (unfolded): Dropped. Captain's quizzing-glass: Dropped. sack of cayenne pepper: Dropped. mahogany tea caddy: Dropped. >take cage I now have the cage. "Put that back where ye found it," exclaims Captain Booby, "or I'll tickle yer winkles wi' an oyster-knife, and be damned t' ye!" >throw cage I heave the heavy brass cage over the side of the boat. It sinks like a stone. The Captain merely scowls. Throwing out this medium-sized object gains us around eight minutes. >take bucket I take the empty wooden bucket. >take knife I grab the pocketknife (unfolded). >take glass I seize the Captain's quizzing-glass. >throw sack (first taking the sack of cayenne pepper) I heave the heavy sack o'er the side of the jolly boat. It lands with a heavy splash in the sea. As the ruddy powder disperses into the briny waters, the circle of sharks grows noticeably wider. "Scupper, sink an' burn me, but you're a mess o' trouble, boy!" mutters the Captain. "That sack were worth a tidy fortune, I'll warrant, to them as likes it hot!" Throwing out this medium-sized object gains us around twelve minutes. >take caddy I now have the tea caddy. "Take yer thievin' paws off me tea caddy," says Booby, "or I'll make worm's meat of ye, by thunder!" >b I begin to bail with a will, filling my bucket with water from the bilges and dumping it o'er the side, 'til there be naught but a few inches left in the bottom of the boat. But water continues to pour in through the hole made by the round-shot, and 'twill not stop 'til all Booby's plunder hath been tossed o'erboard! "That's it, boy ? bail, an' look sharp about it!" says the Captain. "'Twill all ha' been worthwhile when we'm rescued, ye'll see!" >i I am carrying: a mahogany tea caddy (closed and locked) the Captain's quizzing-glass a pocketknife (unfolded) an empty wooden bucket >push chest It would be a simpler matter to throw the old sea-chest overboard. >throw chest (first taking the old sea-chest) 'Tis too heavy for me to lift! Captain Booby takes his silver snuffbox from his pocket and inhales a pinch of cayenne pepper. Immediately he falls to sneezing so heartily that I wonder his eyes do not pop out like corks from a bottle. "Curse me wi' everlasting torments!" he squeals, wi' his eyes full o' tears. "This cursed snuff hath unbalanced me humours, by thunder! Me eyes are become hot coals, and me nostrils a brace o' furnaces!" >x glass 'Tis a single magnifying lens, mounted upon a handle. The Captain uses it to peer disdainfully at anything that does not meet his niminy-piminy standards. Captain Booby takes his silver snuffbox from his pocket and inhales a pinch of cayenne pepper. Immediately he falls to sneezing so lustily that I am amazed his head does not go off like a bomb. "Rot me for a lubber, but, but this snuff be fiery stuff!" says he. "'Tis filthy habit, an' will make an end o' me yet. Hang me for a flounder if it don't!" Captain Booby dabs daintily at his nose with a lace-edged handkerchief. >push booby The Captain has tried my patience almost beyond enduring, but for all his threats and bluster he's a heart in him as soft as the belly of an eel when it comes to me, and I cannot make an end of him. Besides which, he's a vasty fellow and I doubt that I could move him. Captain Booby dabs daintily at his nose with a lace-edged handkerchief. >l Jolly Boat This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck is sinking, her hull holed by a round-shot, and her stern is ankle-deep in water. Dusk is falling, and the sun bathes the ocean in a glory of pink. Around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... In the stern of the jolly boat is the last of Captain Booby's pile of plunder: an old sea-chest. Floating just out of reach, a little way to starboard, is the heavy oak barrel, now half full of water. Captain Booby sits in the stern-sheets, watching me closely. >a chest "Ye'll never find the key," says the Captain, "for it ha' gone to Davy Jones locker along o' the Queen Mab. Save yerself the bother o' lookin' for it, 'tis waste o' time!" >a key "Ye'll never find the key," says the Captain, "for it ha' gone to Davy Jones locker along o' the Queen Mab. Save yerself the bother o' lookin' for it, 'tis waste o' time!" >a mab "You weary me wi' your pratin'," says the Captain. "So hold yer gab an' bail, ye misbegotten maggot!" >a him "Aargh, ye knows me well enough, Petey," says the Captain. "Black Booby, they calls me. Fiercest gentleman adventurer that e'er sailed the Main, that's I, an' don't let's ye ferget it." >a snuff "I be in no mood to talk about that," says the Captain. "So stop yer snivellin' an' back to bailin'!" Captain Booby takes his silver snuffbox from his pocket and inhales a pinch of cayenne pepper. Immediately he falls to sneezing so heartily that I fear he will blow the top of his own head off. "Blow me scuttle-butt!" he squeals, wi' his eyes full o' tears. "This cursed snuff hath unbalanced me humours, i' the Fiend's name! Me eyes are become hot coals, and me nostrils a brace o' furnaces!" >x left pocket I surreptitiously sneak a look inside the Captain's left-hand coat pocket. It contains a silver snuffbox. Captain Booby takes his silver snuffbox from his pocket and inhales a pinch of cayenne pepper. Immediately he falls to sneezing so lustily that it is a wonder he does not blow his own brains out through his nose. "Cherish me guts, but this snuff be hot stuff!" says he, wi' his eyes full o' tears. "I'll be havin' me some strong words wi' th' manufacturer, so I will, an' that's flat!" Captain Booby dabs daintily at his nose with a lace-edged handkerchief. >take snuffbox I sneak the silver snuffbox from inside the Captain's left-hand coat pocket. Captain Booby dabs daintily at his nose with a lace-edged handkerchief. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. >l Jolly Boat This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck is sinking, her hull holed by a round-shot, and her stern is ankle-deep in water. Dusk is falling, and the sun bathes the ocean in a glory of pink. Around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... In the stern of the jolly boat is the last of Captain Booby's pile of plunder: an old sea-chest. Floating just out of reach, a little way to starboard, is the heavy oak barrel, now half full of water. Captain Booby sits in the stern-sheets, picking absently at the frayed cuff of his overcoat. >i I am carrying: a silver snuffbox (closed) a mahogany tea caddy (closed and locked) the Captain's quizzing-glass a pocketknife (unfolded) an empty wooden bucket The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >hint snuffbox Ye don't need the snuffbox yet, but 'tis best to be prepared. Shall I go on? > no Ye could open the silver snuffbox. >hint caddy Ye be missin' an object that might be o' use to ye in regards to the mahogany tea caddy. Shall I go on? > y The Captain's quizzing-glass might be useful to have. Shall I go on? > y The Captain's quizzing-glass may help with the mahogany tea caddy. >look at caddy with glass I examine the caddy minutely with the Captain's quizzing-glass. One of the flowers appears different! When I press this flower it proves to be a hidden catch, and a secret drawer slides open! This drawer would once have concealed a silver caddy spoon, as I do think, but instead there resides an old iron key! The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >x key It looks as though it might fit the Captain's sea-chest. >throw glass I have a feeling that it might come in useful later. >take key I take the iron key from inside the secret drawer. >a key "Now, let's not be hasty, lad ? there's gold enough in there for thee and me both," says the Captain. >unlock chest (with the iron key) I unlock the old sea-chest. >open chest I heave open the old sea-chest, and find it filled to the brim with doubloons, double guineas, cob dollars, dog dollars, moidores, louis-d'ors and pieces of eight. Lying atop these is a cutlass with a jewelled hilt. This, the Captain snatches up, and with a cry of "sa-ha!" sets to waving it about threateningly, or fairly threateningly, since he normally has a crew of men to do the waving about for him and is something out of practice. Howbeit, the Captain is once again armed and fairly dangerous, and I dare not approach the chest lest he chop me up in little pieces. >x booby Captain Rupert Booby is a large, ungainly figure. His black hair hangs in sodden tresses down his back, and his gimlet eyes seem to follow me about. He is dressed in a long, black coat, striped pantaloons and buccaneer boots. On his head sits a shapely felt hat, trimmed with a plume. The Captain's face and shirt hath been stained indigo blue by the exploding barrel. The colour suits him, methinks. The Captain stands between me and his treasure chest, with jewelled cutlass in hand and his eyes agleam with wrath. >x cutlass A glittering cutlass, inlaid with gems, and very sharp. The Captain searches his pockets for his silver snuffbox, but cannot find it. >give snuffbox (to Captain Booby) "Here y'are, Captain," I say innocently. "All full!" He slips the snuffbox into his left-hand pocket. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. Captain Booby takes his silver snuffbox from his pocket and inhales a pinch of cayenne pepper. Immediately he falls to sneezing so heartily that I fear he will blow the top of his own head off. It causeth him to drop his jewelled cutlass... "Burn and sink me, but, but this snuff be fiery stuff!" says he. "'Tis filthy habit, an' will put me to bed wi' a shovel, so it will. Gut me for a preacher if it don't!" >take cutlass I now have the cutlass. "Take yer thievin' hands off my cutlass," roars the Captain, "an' then pass it o'er here so as I can cleave ye to the brisket wi' it." Captain Booby dabs daintily at his nose with a lace-edged handkerchief. >throw cutlass I hurl the accursed thing far out into the ocean. "Damn ye for a mutinous mannikin!" snarls the Captain. "That cutlass were a gift from the Guv'nor o' Maracaibo! A gift, says I, but if truth be told he didn't give it willingly-like. Howbeit, if I but had it now, I'd cut ye into gobbets wi' it, an' feed ye piecemeal to the sharks!" Throwing out this near insignificant weight gains us only two minutes. >x chest A heavy, iron-bound sea-chest, somewhat battered from rough usage. The old sea-chest is almost full of doubloons. "'Od's blood, fire and thunder, my sinuses!" roars the Captain, pinching his nose in agony. He opens his silver snuffbox and pours the remaining cayenne pepper into the sea. "'Tis time I give it up anyhow. 'Tis filthy habit I'll own, but damn me, they should put a health warnin' on that stuff!" >x doubloons A heavy, iron-bound sea-chest, somewhat battered from rough usage. The old sea-chest is almost full of doubloons. >throw doubloons (first taking the old sea-chest of doubloons) 'Tis too heavy for me to lift with all those doubloons in it! >take doubloons 'Tis too heavy for me to lift with all those doubloons in it! The Captain stares out to sea, dolefully. >i I am carrying: an iron key a mahogany tea caddy (closed and locked) the Captain's quizzing-glass a pocketknife (unfolded) an empty wooden bucket >put doubloons in bucket (pouring the old sea-chest of doubloons into the empty wooden bucket) I fill the wooden bucket with doubloons. "What are ye doin' wi' that chest o' gold there?" growls the Captain, suspiciously. "It better not be what I think it be!" >throw doubloons (the wooden bucket of doubloons) Not that! I'll need it for bailing ? without it, we be sunk! The Captain peers at me through narrowed eyes. >empty bucket I dump out the wooden bucket into the sea, buying me five minutes. "Aargh! Not me coin as well?" screams the Captain. "Ha' the sun made a moon-calf of ye, Petey? Or ha' the weevils been nibblin' at yer brains? For that gold be your'n as well as mine, lad! Your'n as well as mine!" >x chest A heavy, iron-bound sea-chest, somewhat battered from rough usage. The old sea-chest is about two thirds full of doubloons. >put doubloons in bucket (pouring the old sea-chest of doubloons into the empty wooden bucket) I fill the wooden bucket with doubloons. "Belay that! Avast an' belay, d'ye hear?" squeaks the Captain, desperately. "Ye wouldn't leave your old Cap'n without a sous to his name, would ye?" >empty bucket I dump out the wooden bucket into the sea, buying me five minutes. "Ha' mercy, messmate!" begs the Captain. "Ha'n't I always treated ye well, Petey? Ha'n't I been like a father to ye, who never had'n?" "Always, Captain," I reply, "but the boat is still taking on water. I have no choice." >l Jolly Boat This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck is sinking, her hull holed by a round-shot, and her stern is ankle-deep in water. Dusk is falling, and the sun bathes the ocean in a glory of pink. Around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... In the stern of the jolly boat is the last of Captain Booby's pile of plunder: an old sea-chest of doubloons. Floating just out of reach, a little way to starboard, is the heavy oak barrel, now half full of water. Captain Booby stands hard by, eyeing me suspiciously. >fill bucket I fill the wooden bucket up with seawater from the bilges. >empty bucket I dump out the wooden bucket into the sea, buying me two minutes. "That's it, boy ? aye, bail her out!" says the Captain. "'Twill all ha' been worthwhile when we'm rescued, ye'll see!" >put doubloons in bucket (pouring the old sea-chest of doubloons into the empty wooden bucket) I pour doubloons into the wooden bucket, leaving the old sea-chest empty. "For pity's sake, boy, there's enough now! Spare me a few coin for me old age, I begs ye!" says the Captain. >take a doubloon I only understood you as far as wanting to take aft. >take one doubloon I can see no such thing. >throw doubloons (the wooden bucket of doubloons) Not that! I'll need it for bailing ? without it, we be sunk! >empty bucket I dump out the wooden bucket into the sea, buying me five minutes. "Devil damn ye, ye ungrateful wretch!" screams the Captain. "This is how ye repay me is't? I as took ye under 'is fin an' raised ye from a whelp? Dandled ye on me knee? Tol' ye a yarn a' bedtime? Took a poor, lost, lubberly orphan boy, and made a pyrate o' ye? Or ha' ye forgotten?" "I have not forgotten, sir," I reply, "and aye, this is how I repay you ? by saving your life." >l Jolly Boat This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck is sinking, her hull holed by a round-shot, and her stern is ankle-deep in water. Dusk is falling, and the sun bathes the ocean in a glory of pink. Around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... In the stern of the jolly boat is the last of Captain Booby's pile of plunder: an empty old sea-chest. Floating just out of reach, a little way to starboard, is the heavy oak barrel, now half full of water. Captain Booby stands hard by, glaring at me reproachfully. >throw chest (first taking the empty old sea-chest) I don't have enough room left to carry the empty old sea-chest. The Captain mutters something 'neath his breath. >i I am carrying: an iron key a mahogany tea caddy (closed and locked) the Captain's quizzing-glass a pocketknife (unfolded) an empty wooden bucket >throw caddy I toss the tea caddy far out to sea. "Rot me for a lubber, but you're a bilge-sucking baboon!" roars the Captain. "Ruthless is one thing, but to deny a man a last cuppa is uncommon cruel, an' no bones about it." Throwing out this near insignificant weight gains us only two minutes. >throw glass I have a feeling that it might come in useful later. >throw key I throw the key as far as I possibly can, while the Captain looks on despairingly. Throwing out this negligible weight makes no difference whatever to our plight. >throw knife I have a feeling that it might come in useful later. >throw chest (first taking the empty old sea-chest) I don't have enough room left to carry the empty old sea-chest. >drop all Captain's quizzing-glass: Dropped. pocketknife (unfolded): Dropped. empty wooden bucket: Dropped. >throw chest (first taking the empty old sea-chest) I haul the empty wooden chest onto the gunwales and push it into the ocean. It lands with a heavy splash before filling with water and sinking out of sight. Throwing out this medium-sized object gains us around twelve minutes. "'Tis done, Captain!" says I. "Lookee, sir ? the shot-hole is above the waterline! We'm saved, Captain! We'm saved!" "Saved?!" roars the Captain. "Curse me! Saved, says ye? Ye've doomed me, that's what ye've done! Doomed me to a life o' penury! I as was a man o' means, as was a rich man not two hours agone! I'll see ye hang for this, m'boy. I'll set ye a-sun-dryin' like a scare-crow, ye'll see!" He picks up one of the oars and, weilding it above his head, charges towards me like a mad bull. I hasten to the prow in alarm, but the Captain trips over the midship thwart and falls flat on his face. His improvised weapon sails high over my head and lands with a splash in the ocean. The Captain scrambles to his feet and peers out to sea, where our stricken oar bobs far out of reach. "Od's bobs, hammer, and tongs ? now look what ye've made me do!" >o Sorry, that can't be corrected. >i I am carrying nothing. >l Jolly Boat This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck has been holed by a round-shot, but the shot-hole is now well above the waterline. Dusk is falling, and the sun bathes the ocean in a glory of pink. Around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... Floating just out of reach, a little way to starboard, is the heavy oak barrel, now half full of water. Some way off the larboard bow, meanwhile, bobs our stricken oar, well beyond reach. Captain Booby stands hard by, picking absently at the frayed cuff of his overcoat. Scattered about the floor of the jolly boat are a single, solitary oar, an empty wooden bucket, a pocketknife (unfolded) and the Captain's quizzing-glass. >x oar One oar lies at my feet, whilst the other floats i' the sea, well beyond reach. >take oar I pick up the oar. >take knife I seize the pocketknife (unfolded). >take glass I pick up the Captain's quizzing-glass. "If I had me cutlass now," mutters the Captain, "I'd make a mere pincushion o' yer breeches, so I would, or I'm a smoked mackerel!" >l Jolly Boat This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck has been holed by a round-shot, but the shot-hole is now well above the waterline. Dusk is falling, and the sun bathes the ocean in a glory of pink. Around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... Floating just out of reach, a little way to starboard, is the heavy oak barrel, now half full of water. Some way off the larboard bow, meanwhile, bobs our stricken oar, well beyond reach. Captain Booby stands hard by, glaring at me reproachfully. Lying on the floor of the jolly boat is an empty wooden bucket. >throw bucket (first taking the empty wooden bucket) There be no longer any need to throw anything out o' the boat. >jump to barrel I only understood you as far as wanting to jump. >climb on barrel I can see no such thing. >grab barrel with oar That's not a verb I recognise. >paddle to barrel I can see no such thing. >paddle (the Jolly Boat) (first seating myself upon the midship thwart) I need both oars to row, lest we go in circles! >reach barrel with oar I cannot retrieve the barrel with my oar, for 'tis too large and heavy, but mayhap there is something else I can do with it... "Aargh, I just fancies me a pineapple right now," bemoans the Captain. "But I ain't got one no more, an' whose fault be that?" >reach oar with oar (first getting off the midship thwart) I lean out as far as I dare in an attempt to recover the drifting oar. However, it is still too far out to reach, even with the other oar! If only the boat were but a little closer, I could reach it! >save Ok. >jump on barrel I only understood you as far as wanting to jump. >l Jolly Boat This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck has been holed by a round-shot, but the shot-hole is now well above the waterline. Dusk is falling, and the sun bathes the ocean in a glory of pink. Around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... Floating just out of reach, a little way to starboard, is the heavy oak barrel, now half full of water. Some way off the larboard bow, meanwhile, bobs our stricken oar, well beyond reach. Captain Booby stands hard by, eyeing me suspiciously. "That sack o' pepper would ha' fetched a handsome price at market," laments the Captain. >i I am carrying: an empty wooden bucket the Captain's quizzing-glass a pocketknife (unfolded) a single oar >push barrel with oar I brace the oar against the oak barrel and push, hard. The jolly boat drifts judderingly a little way to larboard. >l Jolly Boat This is the jolly boat Puck, all that is left of the Queen Mab, the ship of the dread pyrate Booby. The Puck has been holed by a round-shot, but the shot-hole is now well above the waterline. Dusk is falling, and the sun bathes the ocean in a glory of pink. Around the boat, a circle of black fins cleave the water... Floating far out of reach, some distance to starboard, is the heavy oak barrel, now half full of water. Just off the larboard bow, meanwhile, bobs our stricken oar, just out of reach. Captain Booby stands hard by, glaring at me reproachfully. "If only I had me a mirror," grumbles Booby, "I could gaze upon me own doleful countenance. 'Twould pass the time." >reach oar with oar I lean out as far as I dare, and attempt to recover the drifting oar with the other oar. After a few frustrating moments, my efforts are rewarded, and I manage to retrieve it. "There were coin enough i' that ol' chest for thee an' me both," bemoans the Captain. "But it all has to go, says you, an' there's an end on it." >paddle (the Jolly Boat) (first seating myself upon the midship thwart) I slide the oars into the oar-locks and haul away... Please press SPACE to continue. Excerpt from A General History of the Pyrates by Captain Charles Johnson: Chapter XVII: Of Captain BOOBY And his Crew [From the Appendix in Volume II, Continued] I rowed night and day, taking nary a break, until at last we reached New Providence. All that time, the Captain said nothing. He sat, immovable as a walrus, in the stern-sheets, scribbling away on a scrap of parchment with the burnt end of a matchstick. What he was writing, he would not say. At New Providence we beached the boat. I collapsed exhausted upon the sand, and fell asleep. When I awoke night had fallen, and the Captain had built a fire. He peered at me across the flames, and at last he gave voice. "I thought I could trust 'ee, lad. Thought we was best o' pals. Why'd'ye think I took 'ee along o' me, an' not one o' t'others?" "Captain, I..." "A couple more days o' bailin', that's all it'd took, an' we'd been rescued. A couple o' days, that's all. That treasure was your'n as well as mine. We could ha' lived like kings, lad. We could ha' lived like kings..." A solitary tear tricked down his nose, and I must confess, that my own eyes welled with tears, too. I wanted to tell him that, no, we could not have chanced another two days ? nor e'en one ? for my strength e'en then was failing, and our water all was gone. But the anger in those dark eyes flamed anew, and he went on... "Ye've denied me the comforts of me old age, that's what ye've done. Left me destitute of all human necessaries! Tossed away all me precious amenities and delicate what-nots. Things as I've troubled, fought, and aye, murdered for ? that's right! I bartered me soul for them trinkets, lad, and ye'll pay the price for it, ye will ? ye, and all thy kinsmen!" The Captain then cleared his throat, and taking the scrap of parchment in hand, began to sing a shanty: "Ho, haul away, me hearties, haul away, An' hark'ee well to what I've got ter say, For Peter Petibon and all his kin, Be cursed to fail if they dar'st begin! This curse be heavy, as heavy as lead, An' 'twill foller 'em till they be dead, For on any voyage they undertake, The weight they carry shall seal their fate! It might be gold, or cargo of freight, A heavy heart, or a burden o' hate, It matters not the form it takes, The curse will follow, and their journey breaks! How will this curse exact its due? 'Tis the Boobys' lot to carry it through! An' down the generations quench, Ol' Rupert Booby's thirst for revenge! So heed this warnin', Peter Petibon, An' pass it down to yer daughter and son, For the curse shall pass to each and ev'ry one, A legacy o' doom that cannot be undone! Ho, haul away, me hearties, haul away, And let my curse be heard today, For Peter Petibon and all his kin, Be cursed to fail if they dar'st begin!" With that, he took him to his feet and started away across the sands. By the time I reached Nassau he had already taken passage, and I never saw him again. In due course I took the King's Pardon and returned to London, where I endeavoured to make an honest gentleman of myself. In time I found employment as a clerk of the Customs House, where I earn a comfortable living to this day. But I have never forgotten those haunting words, and on moonless nights when the south wind soughs along Thames Street, carrying with it the smells of damp wood, sea air, tobacco and spices, I hear them still. *** THE END *** The saga continues in To Hell in a Hamper and will conclude with To the Moon in a Microbus... Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, see some suggestions for AMUSING things to do, QUIT or UNDO the last command? > amusing Have you tried... ...drinking all of the rum? ...setting fire to the Yateveo tree? ...feeding the ship's biscuit to the beaver? ...feeding the ship's biscuit to the Yateveo tree? ...kicking the bucket (a few times)? ...asking Captain Booby about things? Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, see some suggestions for AMUSING things to do, QUIT or UNDO the last command? > script off Please give one of the answers above. Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, see some suggestions for AMUSING things to do, QUIT or UNDO the last command? > undo Jolly Boat [Previous turn undone.] >script off End of transcript.