'Damn,' Gabe thought. He looked and Swan had her own troubles. At least, Pigeon was almost up with her and could help. 'Evans, prepare to put your helm down when I order. Dagan! I want every gun loaded, with double shot.'
'Aye,' Dagan replied.
'Mr. Lavery, I want your section loaded with bal and canister.'
'Aye, cap'n.'
As the two ships converged, Gabe looked up. The wind was holding…this never predictable and always perverse wind was holding. 'Dagan's lady luck,' Gabe thought as subconsciously his hand went to the pouch around his neck. The now empty pouch. 'Please God…be with her,' Gabe prayed silently then turned his attention back to the battle.
Looking forward, Gabe scratched his jaw and eyed the oncoming schooner. If he timed it right one by one every gun on the larboard side would get a chance to
'bloody her nose.' If he mistimed it the schooner would ram them. Looking aloft the commission pennant's tail stood out like it was pointing the way.
'Now, Evans, put your helm down now!' It took a moment for the rudder to bit and that moment seemed forever then SeaWolf responded. Now
instead of passing side by side, they were crossing the bow of the schooner.
'As you bear Mr. Lavery, fire as you bear. Rake her good.'
Gun after gun gave a bel owing roar. White smoke engulfed the ship and Gabe was temporarily blinded.
However, the smoke was quickly swept away. It was sickening to see what was left of the once proud schooner.
'Up helm, up helm, Evans. Dagan, be ready.'
'No need, sir,' this from Lavery. As Gabe looked up he saw the reason for Lavery's comment.
The schooner was on fire, flames were now shooting up her sails. People were diving into the frigid waters. Every captain's nightmare, a fire at sea.
'Dagan, see if any of the boats are still in tow and set them adrift as we pass.'
'Your not going to heave to?' Evans asked.
Pointing forward with his sword, Gabe asked,
'Would you have me leave Captain Earl without assistance while we pick up enemy survivors?'
'Nay, cap'n, my apologies, my mind was adrift with the sight before me, I'm afraid.'
'Mr. Druett,' Gabe cal ed his gunner.
'Aye, cap'n.'
'Do you think your aim is good enough to hit yonder brig and not Le Frelon?'
'Aye, cap'n, when in range I can knock a flea off a cat's arse without singeing ’is ’airs if ’ye'd like for me to.'
'Nothing so precise Mr. Druett, I just want to lay a few rounds about her deck.'
'Aye, cap'n. ’Bout ’er deck it'll be.' Any moment now, Gabe was thinking when the forward gun fired. He quickly stood on the bulwark to see if he could tell where the bal landed. He was not quick enough to see the exact spot but he did see shattered planking flying into the air.
Druett was true to his word, and then the gun fired again. This time there was no need to guess, the jubilant gun crew was jumping up and down cheering, their teeth appearing unusual y white with powder blackened faces.
'Easy lads, easy now, let's give them another with the cap'n's compliments.'
'Another hit by Gawd,' Evans swore! 'Damme, if Druett don't know his business, sir.'
'Look sir,' someone forward cal ed. Through the smoke Gabe could see the brig's mast was leaning dangerously.
'Surprised we haven't been fired on.' Dagan said as he made his way to Gabe.
'I'm sure they used al the crew to board Le Frelon. I just hope we're not too late to help Earl. Alter course,
Evans, bring us along side the brig. Mr. Graf, let's take in another sail.'
Suddenly there was a puff of smoke from the brig and Gabe felt SeaWolf shudder. That had been a hard hit. He was about to cal out to Druett when one of the forward guns fired, followed quickly by the other. The gunner had loaded both guns and after firing one, sighted and fired the second.
Another cheer from the gun crew let Gabe know they'd hit Druett's target. The ships were close now and Gabe was worried he'd waited to late to take in the sails.
'Dagan, Mr. Lavery, prepare boarding parties.
Dagan, you forward, Mr. Lavery.'
'Aye, cap'n, we'll be aft.'
'Mr. Graf, gather the rest of the men and we'll board amidships.'
'Aye, cap'n,' the bosun replied as he hurried to round up his party.
Al too quick they were along side the brig. I should have ordered the sails taken in sooner, Gabe thought. SeaWolf slammed into the brig with such a jar that it shook the deck planks. The two hull s thudded together and then seemed to bounce off each other before SeaWolf grinded to a stop. Graf's men were ready with grapnels and they were already flying through the air.
'Boarders, boarders away,' Gabe cal ed as he gained his balance. The cry was repeated forward and aft as Dagan and Lavery made their way over to the brig. The privateer's crew fired at SeaWolf’s boarders.
Musket and pistols shots rang out and bal s smacked into the deck as men fel. SeaWolf had left a few marine sharpshooters in the rigging and they were returning fire, cutting down al they could.
A swivel gun fired defiantly, another of SeaWolf’s marines cutting down a group of would be resistance.
The boarders pushed forward, bent on reaching Le Frelon and helping their mates. Curses fill ed the air with the clang and rasp of steel upon steel.
Bel owing his loudest, Gabe directed his men to a group of four men with muskets that had gathered around the stump of the brig's mainmast. One of the sharpshooters sagged as Lum threw a boarding pike like a spear, impaling the man who fel forward his musket clanging on the deck and going off harmlessly. Another jerked convulsively as the bosun not to be out done by Lum had hurled his boarding axe into the skull of his foe. Gabe was now upon his man. Apparently the man had already fired his musket, although Gabe couldn't recall. Maybe it had been a misfire.
At any rate the man was trying to fiend off Gabe's sword with his musket barrel. Feeling the urgency to reach Earl, Gabe made a feint that the man overreacted to; Gabe stepped inside the man's guard and brought the hilt of his sword down on the man's exposed head, feeling him like an ox. Another man was racing toward Gabe when a shot rang out. Gabe heard a penetrating thump and the man's chest turned crimson as he fel to the deck.
SeaWolf’s crew was making their way onto Le Frelon and not a moment to soon. Bodies were al over the
deck, some lifeless, others wounded, bleeding and groaning. A horrible scream broke Gabe's revive.
There was something unreal about the scream as it rang out above the den of battle then a falling object from above crashed onto the deck with a crunching sound. It was an enemy sharpshooter. He lay in odd angles, twisted in a heap and blood gushing from his ears and nose. One eye socket was empty. Gabe's group was rushing forward; resistance now was only in little pockets. Earl's men had put up a fearsome fight but were in danger of being overrun.
Gabe saw Lavery and his group engaged with a band of privateers. The constant sound of curses and cries were mingled with the clang of metal on metal as blades flashed in the air then clashed together. The sounds of gunshots some muffled as a pistol was shoved against a foe as the trigger was pull ed. The air was heavy with the smell of gunpowder mixed with the distinct odor of death.
Out of the corner of his eye, Gabe realized Dagan was being overwhelmed by two men. As he gave ground he slipped and fel. As one of the men lunged at Dagan with his cutlass Gabe shot him with his pistol. At seeing his friend downed the other man turned facing Gabe. The man's face twisted in rage as he rushed at the man who shot his friend. Gabe met the man's rush head-on and his sword clanged with the other's cutlass.
