By this time, the island they’d left has completely disappeared behind them. James stays by the rail until he begins to see another island coming up ahead of them. As they approach it, the captain begins hollering orders to his crew as they trim some of the sails to slow their approach.

“Looks like we’re making for the island over there,” Jiron says as he comes up behind them.

“I think so too,” James replies. “Miko and I are going to go exploring on the island while the captain makes some trades. He said we wouldn’t be leaving until tomorrow morning. Want to come along?”

“Sure,” he says.

They stay by the rail as the island ahead of them grows bigger and bigger. It isn’t long before they’re able to make out the docks and other ships at anchor there. The island itself is heavily populated, houses dot the land from one end to the other.

Commands can be heard being shouted by the captain as he makes ready to dock. The sailors begin furling the sails and several go over to the railing at the bow, readying lines to be cast to those who’re waiting on the docks.

With skill honed through years of practice, the captain and his men slow the ship as they approach the dock. The sailors toss the lines over to the men who’re waiting on the dock. With quick speed, the dock workers wrap the lines around mainstays and they can hear the dock groan as the ship pulls against the lines and comes to a stop.

Once the ship has stopped its forward momentum, the ship drifts backward and the dock workers take up the slack in the lines until the ship is securely tied to the dock.

The captain comes over to them and says, “You can disembark now if you like. We’ll be here for some time. Just be back by sunup.”

“Sure thing captain,” James says.

“That sure was something,” Miko exclaims. “The way you brought the ship right up to the docks, at just the right speed.”