Searching For Dad: Lost at Sea

By Pat Gantz

In book one Searching for Dad, Lost at Sea, Logan is determined to find his dad. His cousin Blair wants to help and stows away on the ship. But, in the midst of sailing the ocean blue, pirates kidnap Uncle Ronnie and Logan for their medical expertise. Logan and Blair learn that sa

• Language: English
• Publisher: Writers Publishing House
• Release date: Jun 5, 2024
• ISBN: 9781648734946

Pat Gantz

Pat Gantz lives with her husband, Ken, in Prescott, Arizona. As a child, Pat was the proverbial bookworm who read stories of historical fiction past midnight. This love of reading later extended to collecting books, especially from bookstores and museums during her travels. Surprisingly, in visiting seaport museums, she discovered something amiss; a lack of historical fiction during the Age of Sail for middle-grade readers. Inspired by tall mast ships that she explored when they were docked at seaports, Pat embarked on imaginary voyages that turned into stories for her Sailing the High Seas series. Rendezvous with Grandmother: A Pirate Queen, is Pat's second book in this series.

Book preview

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Men lean on the bars as they push the capstan around and around until the anchor jerks up from the seabed.

CHAPTER ONE

AN ARGUMENT

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Behind her English cottage Jonet’s grave rests in the shade of her favorite maple tree. A sad scene? Yes. A peaceful scene? No. Standing by his mum’s grave, young Logan Anderson was arguing furiously with his uncle, Doctor Ronnie Baran. Their shouting could be heard way down the dusty village lane. Any louder and their voices would carry to the Portsmouth docks.

Ian Campbell was busy in the yard repairing a wooden door, but it was difficult to ignore the fighting. Blast! he muttered. Those two are going at it again.

Fourteen-year-old Ian, a native of Scotland with a lively interest in exploring the world, went to sea at the tender age of eight years on a British ship. After a sea incident that left him more dead than alive, Ian met the Anderson family, fitting into the role of an older brother to Logan. And like typical brothers, they did not always see eye to eye.

Ian stopped sawing on the door’s edge and walked quickly to the grave. Once there he jumped into the heated fray, joining Doctor Baran’s side in the argument. "Oh, lad, ‘tis dangerous sailing on the open seas! Pirates are everywhere! Not only are ships lost at sea in terrifying storms, but men often die from fever or lose their teeth from scurvy along with their minds. In a sea battle, flying splinters could pierce your skin like arrows and kill ye. That is, if ye dinnae get shot or stabbed first."

A stubborn lad, Logan was unmoved by Ian’s sound reasoning. Exasperated, Ian threw up his arms in defeat. Talking with ye is just as bad as talking with your cousin Blair. One cannot reason with the lass either, especially when she goes on one of her escapades.

Diverted as usual by the mere mention of Blair, Uncle Ronnie muttered, Her foolish antics gave my sister, Jonet, gray hairs.

Speaking of his cousin made Logan shudder and grin at the same time. It was a good thing mum did not know of the adventures they encountered. The twelve-year-old lass was undeniably a force of nature, at times wild, other times gentle, but always with a mind of her own. At home, unknown to her trusting father, Blair explored the back streets of the city while her dad was at sea. Blair knew it was the Scottish way not to tattle so she trusted Logan not to snitch to her dad, tempted as he was.

Logan burst out, "Did I tell you about the last time I visited her in London? We rounded a corner to see a bully snatch the meat pasty from a young lad. How mean! I was too surprised to act. Not Blair. She reached down, made a snowball, aimed it, and splat! Blair hit that bully right in the back of his head. When he whipped around and saw us, Blair yelled, ‘Run!’ That bully was big and mean looking. I ran. Luckily, Blair knew how to lose him among the back alleys."

Grinning, Ian added, She’s a quick one, that lass. With those long legs of hers churning, I watched Blair leave ye lads in the dust. A daring tomboy, the village lads respected Blair, especially Chen Lo, who made no secret of admiring her spunk.

Clearing his throat, Ronnie said, Lads, you are changing the subject. Ian is right about the dangers of a sea journey, Logan. Be patient. Your dad will come home. He needs to find you here.

Impatiently the short, slender boy fired back, Uncle Ronnie, Ian, I have waited too long already!

Silence met the boy’s cry. Logan continued more reasonably, My father should have returned from his travels by now. What if Dad is sick or hurt? What if he cannot get home? We need to find him!

It was apparent that Logan was keen for action, or to sail on a mission to be more precise.

Frustrated, his Uncle Ronnie huffed a breath. Look Logan, I promised your mum to take care of you. That means I cannot make a decision that will endanger your life. Stay home. Study herbs and Chinese medicine with Mr. Lo at his apothecary.

Stubbornly the twelve-year-old stood his ground, shaking his head no. I’m sorry, but we need to find my dad.

Lad, you’re young, said Uncle Ronnie gently. Are you willing to give up your life to look for your dad? Because we may all perish on this journey.

Swallowing a lump in his throat, Logan said, Uncle Ronnie, I must find Dad and tell him about Mum, how brave she was, how much she loved him.

Once again, hearts ached, eyes burned. Along with Logan, Doctor Baran and Ian also witnessed Jonet’s courage as she fought the devastating cancer that spread throughout her body. After suffering much pain, the healer died with all three males at her side. The boy’s grief, as well as his determination, decided for them.

Despite the perils of sailing on the high seas in 1780, the lad would not be deterred from his mission. With his mum’s untimely death, Logan needed to find his father.

Hesitating, Ian began, If we go, we need our friend, Chen Lo. Although young, he not only is an experienced seaman and skilled in martial arts, but he is also blessed with an uncanny intuition for sensing trouble.

Is Chen home at the apothecary? As far as Logan was concerned, the sooner they could leave, the better.

Word is that Chen returned from China and is unloading his father’s trading ship at the wharves in Portsmouth. I’ll leave a message with Mr. Lo or one of his sons asking Chen to contact me. They are a family business and I trust them.

In his blunt Scottish manner Ian continued, Sailing with rough seamen is dangerous business. I know ye are peaceful lads, but our chances for survival will improve if Chen teaches ye martial art techniques. Starting today ye need to hide a short dagger and leather sheath beneath your trousers, strapped against your leg. First, ‘tis important that ye practice removing the dagger safely and quickly. Fools have been known to stab themselves.

You speak true, Ian. I’ve stitched up a few of those fools, said Doctor Baran.

Tomorrow after breakfast, I will teach ye how to defend yourself with the weapon. Uncle and nephew did not argue; in fact, they looked eager.

Hmm, Ian turned thoughtful. Maybe not so peaceful. ‘Tis true that the Scottish blood running through your veins is part warrior.

CRUACHAN! The high, shrill war yell nearly stopped Ian’s heart.

He observed dryly, Warriors or nae, I see ye know Clan Campbell’s Highland battle cry.

Aye, grinned Ronnie. I grew up in Scotland listening to old clan war stories. Even though the Battle of Culloden against the British in 1746 broke up the clans, Cruachan was the rallying cry that stirred the heart of every clan lad and terrified those foes facing us in battle. I dreamed of going on a cattle raid against enemy clans, but alas, the time for raids was past.

Years after the Scots lost at Culloden, my family had no choice but to leave the Highlands and move to the overcrowded tenements of Glasgow. At first, it was a struggle adjusting from the clean air of the village to dirty city living but we survived.

I remember Mum saying the boys made fun of your accent, clothes, and village ways until your fists changed their minds, recalled Logan.

Aye, that was the first week, said Ronnie. Once I proved with my fists they couldn’t scare me, we became friends, or at least tolerated each other. Testing new boys by fighting was not to my liking, he admitted, but it was a custom in the back alleys of the city.

Softly he added, It was in the tenements of Glasgow that I became interested in doctoring when I found boys beaten up and laying helpless in the dirt behind the shops.

Not knowing what to say, Logan changed the subject. What about a ship?

Thomas Reid of Sea Eagle is an honorable and well-respected ship captain, answered Ian, the type of captain who can trust his men not to disappear into the countryside when they have shore leave. When it is time to set sail again and the men are counted, he does not need to write RUN beside his sailors’ names.

"His merchantman is docked in Portsmouth and the captain needs seamen as well as ship’s boys for the next voyage. His crews are not as violent as the usual lot, but there are always three or four with hot tempers. After Chen teaches us some fighting moves, we will pay Captain Reid a visit."

It looks like we’re going to sea, that is if Captain Reid agrees to let us sail with him, said Logan.

After receiving Ian’s urgent message at the apothecary, Chen Lo was dropped off at the front gate by the village liveryman in his wagon. Chen was not the only delivery. Trying not to grin but failing, Chen said, Doctor Baran, we have a package for you.

Jumping down gracefully from the wagon, a sinewy lad dressed in worn garments said cheerily, Hi, Uncle Ronnie.

Her uncle closed his eyes, sighed, and ran his hand through his