It seemed like we had been struggling against the current of the sea for forever when abruptly our rate of progress dramatically increased. After a while I managed to look up from the churned up water around us and saw that the small masted boat was practically on top of us. Men were moving quickly all along its decks and in the rigging overhead.
A rope splashed down near me in the water and I grabbed onto it desperately and held on as our forward progress was directed toward the sailing vessel. Netting had been thrown over the side and sailors eagerly lifted us out of the heavy water that dragged at our clothing.
As we reached the deck I bellowed out hoarsely, "We must get the horse aboard immediately!"
I had seen the fin of what must be some sea monster as I had been lifted onboard and I wasn't about to have Flin become his late morning snack.
"We can't bring the horse on board! It's too heavy and we're not equipped to handle such cargo!" Screamed a little man, who seemed to be in charge of the group of sailors near me.
My right hand shot out and I grasped him by his shirt front beneath his chin and lifted him completely off of the deck until we were eye to eye, "The horse comes!"
"But of course he will Master Roric. If you would now please unhand my second mate there, we will make preparations immediately."
My head swiveled to view the person, who had calmly issued the commanding words. A slim but finely muscled man in the uniform of what must be the captain had stridden onto the scene. I released the second mate, who gasped relievably upon his release and I watched as the captain began issuing orders in the same calm, but authoritative manner in which he had addressed me. In no time a crude but effective looking compilation of rigging and tackling blocks had been swung over the side of the vessel.
I yelled out encouragements to Flin trying to keep him calm, but it was hard succeeding at it, because he too had sensed the danger swishing in the waters below. Bravely a team of sailors dove over the side of the ship with ropes and netting. How they did it with Flin moving around I'm not sure, but they managed to attach a piece of netting under his belly and secured it by ropes to the crude winch lever system that had been constructed above the deck. As the order was given to pull I lent my own strength to the line of sailors throwing themselves on the ropes as the captain continued to orchestrate order into the massed confusion of the scene.