Aw shucks Long John, the least you could have done was shared the rum with the squid, fed him the gunpowder for a snack, then used the lantern to light a tentacle, and turn into into a Giant SQUIB! Imagine a king-size Catherine Wheel?

That way you may have saved yourself, along with enough ship fragments (and rum) and wouldn't have to bludge booze. ... ;)

Hmmm.... having written the above, in jest, I have a recollection of reading a Kraken description as a 'Catherine Wheel' - the Noctiluca phosphourescence round it's body, at the surface at night.

Anyway.. Nice yarn LJ

Cheers - Sam