Fighting-sail Stories

Author's note: Undercover Curiousers is the fourth book a series that began with Undercover on the Titanic. After surviving the Titanic sinking (despite the malfunction of Silverwood School's time machine), an attempt to rescue my parents in China and a kidnapping attempt by a gang of American security agents, Licia, Miguel and I are press-ganged onto a British 20 gun frigate in 1788 CE. Unfortunately, France has just declared war in support of the American war of independence. We quickly learn some new terminology useful on a 20 gun sailing frigate including;- lubber hole, futtock shrouds, jib halyard, bowsprit, mizzen sail, head (toilet), belaying pins, burgoo, cat 'o nine tails and grog. When a French frigate appears, we discover how to fire a ten gun broadside and how not to abandon a sinking ship as it runs aground. But leaving the ship makes us deserters . . . and the navy hangs deserters by the neck . . . from the yard arm.

Author's note: An updated edition of this book has been republished in three books UNDERCOVER - DARK FIRE DATA, CURIOUSERS and STEAM POWER. It's Christmas and the school's time machine malfunctions, sending us to 1778 CE where we are press-ganged onto a 20 gun frigate. After it runs aground, we escape and meet the famous James Watt. However, we are still deserters from the Royal Navy and subject to the death penalty. Back in the present, I am suspected of hacking into CIA computers and Murga is still trying to kidnap me despite Triple Oh's efforts to arrest him. My uncle Dunc (Triple Oh's talking, moon-walking goose) is also on the case. Author's note: This is the second book in the series so you might like to read Under Cover Goose first. Ziff. Cover photo - This is the frigate Surprise a replica of the HMS Rose which was nearly identical to HMS Curious. Cover quotation attributed to Mathew Bolton, James Watt's business partner at the start of the Industrial revolution.