Shoelace Will
William Black had been an unextrordianry child. Born to the village shipwright and her husband he spent his childhood playing with toy boats in the harbour and setting them adrift in the waves. On his 12th year as was customary he left for a life at sea, enrolled as a deck hand on the Prancing Naiad. A swift cutter, the Naiad spent its working days ferrying wares across the infant sea; young Wiily exposed to all the wonders he could face. As he matured into adulthood it was clear he was a hefty lad, not broad but tall. Put to work furling sails and packing the hold it was apparent his continuous growth showed no signs of abatement. Struggling to manage his enlarged frame William had given up strapping his worn leather shoes as he was unable to reach them. The rest of the crew jibed and joked with their lumbering crew-mate and the soon enforced tag of “shoelace” became part of his moniker. Everything changed the day the midnight sails of the Swift Vengance hoved into view. Spying ...
