Then the man spat tobacco juice into Gabe's face.
Some of it went into his eyes and caused his vision to blur, his eyes stung as if on fire. Gabe's opponent thought he'd won; a smile appeared on his face as he
raised his cutlass to finish off Gabe. However, the man had forgotten about Dagan who had quickly regained his footing. The man's smile suddenly changed as his arm was severed from Dagan's crashing blow with his cutlass. Then Dagan whirled and drove the cutlass through the man's chest. Gabe had wiped his eyes with his coat sleeve and vision was returning as he gathered his wits.
'Earl! Stephen Earl!' Gabe cal ed. 'Earl!' His calling seemed to attract the attention of a group still fighting. The sight of the British sailors appearing unexpectedly had the privateers throwing down their weapons and raising their hands. Then it was over.
Dagan walked up to Gabe clapping him on the shoulder. 'Any sign of Mr. Earl?'
'Not yet.'
Seeing Lavery approaching, Gabe cal ed, 'Take a party and take possession of the brig.'
'Aye, cap'n. Mr. Graf, lend a hand with your party if you please.'
'Aye, sir. You heard Mr. Lavery lads, lets be quick about it now, move it. Este's, They's dead, them buggers, they ’aint gona bother you none but careful where you step, ’at bloods still wet and slick ’lak.'
'Sir…sir!' It was one of the bosun mates.
'Yes,' Gabe answered.
'We've found Mr. Earl, sir, he and a group of men are on board the frigate. He's trying to prevent their escape but ’ands are cutting grapnel lines.'
Gabe again felt a sense of urgency, 'Lieutenant Baugean!'
'Aye, sir.'
'Have your marines board the frigate aft if you please.'
'Aye, sir.'
'Mr. Baugean!'
'Sir.'
'Put a couple of sharpshooters in the brig's riggings and have them mark down anyone not on our side who approaches the frigate's quarterdeck.'
'Aye, cap'n.'
Then Gabe cal ed to Dagan, 'See if we can't find a few more grapnels to lash the ships together then meet me on board that frigate.' Without waiting for Dagan to answer, Gabe gathered his men about him and boarded the frigate.
The frigate being a taller ship meant the men had to make their way up to her decks. This meant they were vulnerable to musket fire, exposed as they were. The sudden sound of gunfire fill ed the air and made Gabe pause to look, but none of his boarders appeared to have been hit, then a quick glance behind him told him it was Sergeant Schniedermirer firing onto the frigate.
Then Gabe's men were on board joining the melee.
Earl's men were mostly gathered around the mainmast and most of their resistance seemed to be from the direction of the quarterdeck. Set Fire! A
sudden vol ey of musket fire struck down a number of the privateers.
'Second rank fire' Lieutenant Baugean had divided his marines into two groups. The second vol ey caused the resistance to realize they were surrounded and then a sailor threw down his cutlass and raised his hands in surrender. Seeing the action of their comrade the rest of the men threw down their weapons as a group.
'Where's your officer?' a bruised and bleeding Earl demanded. When no one spoked, Earl grabbed the man nearest him and with his pistol levelled it at the man's face and said, 'Well?'
The poor man stood there tongue-tied, to afraid to speak. From within the group a voice, 'I think they're al dead, sir.'
'Who are you?' Earl demanded.
'Lawson, sir, master's mate.'
'They damn well better be,' Earl responded with clenched teeth. His arm dropping suddenly, Gabe and Dagan took a step forward to support him.
'I'm fine,' Earl spoke, 'son of a bitch showed a white flag, then as we were boarding fired on us with a swivel gun. I'd be dead but Mr. Boyd was in front of me and he took most of the load. Poor man was screaming in agony. He's done for I'm sure.' At that moment a hail… Markham was there with Swan and so was Kerry with the ketch. Caleb, who had been sent for, was now coming over to check on Earl.
As order was being restored the death and destruction
was overwhelming. Bodies were strewn so you had to step over them to get across the ship.
'Have you ever seen such a butcher's bill?' Earl asked his friend.
'Nay,' replied Gabe, 'But better them than us.'
Epilogue
Lieutenant Kerry was sent in the ketch, Pigeon, to inform Captain Buck on Merlin and Lieutenant Bush on the cutter, Audacity, that the invasion had been repulsed.
L e Frelon, SeaWolf and Swan headed back to Halifax with the frigate and the brig as prizes.
Warrior was anchored at the mouth of the harbour and Drakkar was just beyond. Both ships situated so that their guns protected the entry into the harbour from either a northern or southern approach.
Al eyes were on the approaching ships. Bart had been among the first to spot the approaching ships so he had hurried down to the admiral's quarters. Lord Anthony felt a burden lift from his shoulders as a grinning Bart approached his desk.
'Well, spit it out man,' Lord Anthony said to Bart, who had a smug grin on his face. 'Don't just stand there like the cat that ate the canary.'
'Well,' Bart said, 'Reckon ’ow much money do the admiralty got?'
'How much money?' Lord Anthony responded not believing his ears or understanding Bart's question,
'Why I guess they've enough, but why should that matter?'
'Cause it ’pears Gabe ’know'd what ’e was talking bout. Here they comes and ’hit looks like they done got themselves a big ole frigate and a fat brig as prizes.'
'Damme,' Lord Anthony responded as he quickly rose, grabbed his coat and headed topside. Seeing the admiral come on deck Moffett strode over to where he was and offered Lord Anthony his glass.
'A beautiful sight, is it not, my Lord?'
'Ah…but that it is, Dutch, that it is. Have the captains repair on board as soon as convenient and send the surgeon and his mates across. I've a feeling they'll be needed.'
'Aye, my Lord.'
Captain Moffett greeted the three captains on deck of the flagship while reports were sent below for the admiral. After his congratulations Bart led them on down to the great cabin. As they entered the cabin the first thing that came to Lord Anthony's mind was ’they look older'.
'War turns boys into men and men into old men before their time,' he thought.
Anthony then noticed not only the strained looks on his officer's faces but their wounds were showing in the stiffness of their moves. Earl's shoulder seemed to be causing him considerable pain.
'It's good to see you al in one piece,' Lord Anthony spoke trying to lighten the situation, then turning to Earl asked, 'Do you need the surgeon?'
'No, my Lord, Caleb has done a good job. He relates I'll be stiff for awhile but should mend completely,' he grimaced.
'Be seated while Silas provides a glass of wine. I think we could al do with a glass after what has transpired over the last few days,' said Lord Anthony.
'I'm sorry it took such a sacrifice but we can't afford to lose Nova Scotia, if we do I fear the war is lost before it begins. I know it's hard to see the worth when we lose such good men as Mr. Boyd, Mr. Blake and others. I hear its
