gone in under a half an hour. The watch on deck was soaking wet where they’d been pelted by the rain. Looking aloft for any damage, Anthony sensed the master as he sidled up to him.
“She be intact,” Peckham said.
At that time, the lookout who had rode out the squall at his station called down, “Deck there. Signal from Shark. Large ship attacking Rascal.” Anthony whirled toward the master and Buck. Peckham volunteered, “The wind has veered with the squall taking any sound with it.”
Buck looked questioningly at Anthony, “Wear ship and beat to quarters?”
“Aye,” Anthony replied, a sense of urgency in his voice, “But it’ll be over before we get there. Signal Shark to keep lookout, but not to close with the enemy. Then signal LeFoxxe and LeCroix to take station on Drakkar. No use sacrificing them.”
The experience and training of the crew now showed. Drakkar had come quickly about, and under full sail was beating down on Rascal. They were already reaching on Shark.
Now that Rascal was in sight, Anthony could see she was engulfed in smoke. The helpless schooner appeared dead in the water. Even at this distance, the damage was obvious. The attacking ship was big all right-as large as Drakkar, or maybe even bigger And she was painted black. The smoke was drifting and Anthony could see his foe clearly.
“Even her sails are black,” Buck said. “Just like what that poor sod we plucked from the ocean told us.” The lookout called down again, “The ship is tacking, sir, and appears to be opening her larboard gun ports.” Buck caught Anthony looking up and volunteered, “She’s carrying every scrap of sail we got, sir.” Even as he spoke the pirate ship had closed with Rascal and was ready to let loose another broadside.
Anthony ordered Buck, “Fire the bow chasers!”
“Sir?” Buck looked surprised, not sure he’d heard right.
“Fire the damned gins!” Anthony snapped.
No sooner had the order been repeated than the long nines let loose. It suddenly dawned on Buck that Anthony was trying to attract attention to Drakkar, and away from Rascal. The realization caused him to he embarrassed that he hadn’t immediately understood Anthony’s actions.
Ignoring Drakkar’s bow chasers, the black ship let loose a salvo on Rascal. The salvo was ragged, but very effective. Every gun appeared to hit its target. Rascal’s foremast was over the side; the main mast was leaning and might fall. The bowsprit was intact, but the jib and fore-staysail, along with most of the rigging, were hanging in the water, acting like a sea anchor. Great sections of the bulwark were blasted away. Guns were upturned, and a large section of the transom was destroyed.
Anthony had the gun crews continue firing the bow chaser several more times, but it was more to vent frustration than any chance of hitting anything. By the time Drakkar was up on Rascal, the black ship had run with the wind. Anthony was torn between giving chase and stopping to help Rascal. Anthony decided to heave to as the black ship had hauled her wind in the direction of the squall. The likelihood of overtaking the pirate vessel was remote. Once she caught tip with the squall, she could easily lose herself. Anthony’s decision to not give chase was also based on the fact that his crew had been largely depleted to man the prizes that had already been captured. To defend Rascal was one thing. However, to seek out and engage a fully manned pirate vessel the size of the black ship would be not only foolish, but also suicidal considering the large number of captured pirates already on board Drakkar. He’d get no thanks from the admiralty for having Drakkar taken by a bunch of damn cutthroats.
*** Boarding Rascal, Anthony could see the destruction and the horror the crew had faced from such an overwhelming foe. Men were lying on deck crushed by upturned guns and fallen spars. Some were groaning in agony, their bodies impaled with large splinters. Others were mercifully dead, so great were their wounds.
“Bloody sodomites,” Peckham had shouted, his blood boiling for a fight. “Poxxed bastard won’t stand and fight man to man. He has to go after a puppy.” The master’s sentiment was felt throughout.
The Rascal had been battered all right. Drakkar’s crew members continued to search through the wreckage for survivors among the dead. They lay scattered beneath the fragments of cordage, netting, broken timbers and general carnage.
A couple of petty officers had gathered some of the survivors in an area where the master’s cabin had been. Now all that remained of the raised area was a handful of splintered planks. Walking toward this area, Anthony noticed how a layer of smoke seemed to hang in the air a few inches above he deck. This, mixed with the haze left from the recent squall, gave Rascal’s deck an even more ghastly appearance. Reaching the area where the master’s cabin had been, Anthony found Pitts. He’d been laid out on a plank by one of the crew, who was trying to comfort the lieutenant until the surgeon arrived. Pitts had been shot in the chest, and a large splinter protruded from his groin. The surgeon arrived and did a quick exam. He looked at Anthony and shook his head. Pitts tried to sit up, but pain shot through him. Crying out, he fell back on the plank. One of the petty officers had taken a discarded coat and tried to fashion a pillow for him.
“I’m… I’m sorry, sir,” Pitts was speaking, his voice cracked and strained.
“Shh, don’t talk now, Merle. Let’s get you well,” Anthony said taking the lieutenant’s hand in his.
“She came right outta the squall, sir, with guns blazing. We never even knew she was there till it was too late. I’m…I’m sorry, sir.’’
Anthony tried to quiet the dying man and make him comfortable. “It’s not your fault, Merle. Rest now.”
Silas had brought a small cup of wine and tried to help Pitts take a drink, but the cup was pushed aside.
“I want to…thank you, sir…for trusting me.” Then he was gone.
Anthony had the body taken aboard Drakkar. It was a somber group that carried the young lieutenant’s body back to the frigate to be made ready for burial. Pitts had been well liked by his fellow officers and the ship’s crew, and would be missed. As a flag was being draped over Pitts body Anthony gazed upon the crew. Heads were bowed in respect for Pitts and other crew members who had been slain by Reaper’s attack. Tears drained from eyes and dripped onto the deck. Anthony gave a nod to Buck who ordered “hats off.” When there was silence Anthony read the customary passage from the Bible and Lieutenant Pitts body was commanded to the deep, along with the other fallen crew members.
After a respectful pause, Dawkins spoke what they all felt, “Bloody sodomites has hit us’ns good. They got our ‘tention but they’s gonna pay. I lost some good mates along with Mr. Pitts and I don’t take kindly how the bastards went about it. We’s with you cap’n.”
“Aye, aye,” other crew members chorused.
“It’s hard to find a silver lining after what we’ve gone through today, captain,” Lieutenant Dunn stated, “But if there is one, the damned pirates have embittered the men so that I wouldn’t want to try to stop them from butchering the rogues.”
“Aye,” Buck joined in “I doubt they’d take kindly to taking prisoners.”
Anthony had to agree. A new air of determination seemed to prevail. However, burying those whom you put in harm’s way was one of the most difficult parts of command. Anthony couldn’t help but feel a sense of guilt, but he knew he must carry on. He had to carry on.
*** Later, Buck, the carpenter, and the bosun met with Anthony. “Most of the damage was done ‘betwixt wind and water,” the carpenter reported. “Therefore, she’ll float. However, with the foremast gone and the mainmast hit, it will take awhile to get her re-rigged and back to English Harbour. I’ll want to fish the mainmast, proper like, otherwise I’m not sure she’ll take the strain.”
