“Then I certainly need his help,” I declared. “My mistress and I are seeking passage to the east. We’re on a journey, you see, to travel around the entire world in less than eighty days.”

The filly’s eyes lit up. “Wow! Well, I bet Dr. Crankshaft can figure something out.” She brushed past me and opened the door, trotting blithely inside. Just as I was about to follow, her head popped back out, and she chirped out, “Oh, and I’m Minnow! Come on in!”

The interior of the galleon was a vast space, filled with haphazardly organized technological detritus. The cogs, springs, sprockets and other unidentifiable scraps of metal looked to be haphazardly organized at best, but Minnow made a beeline for a heap of insulated wire and began rooting around within.

“My buddy and I are making a telegraph,” she said proudly. “Go ahead, I bet the Doctor’s in the back.”

I cautiously proceeded through the maze of junk...