din of battle.
'Sail ho! Two sails on the far horizon!'
'Are they British?'
Gabe turned finding Mr. Davy before him-another boy who'd grown into a mature seasoned fighter on board Drakkar.
'Why don't you grab a glass and go aloft so that I may have a proper report, Mr. Davy?'
'Aye, sir.'
'Mr. Hazard! Mr. Lavery! We might be in for a bit of excitement today.'
'Aye, sir,' they said in unison, both excited at the possibility of prize money, but Hazard more so than Lavery. Hazard's father had worked at the
'Boston Company' and had been able to help his son advance to master's mate. However, since the war had broken out, Hazard's father had been let go from the firm for not showing enough patriotic enthusiasm. In truth, he agreed with the colonies but felt diplomacy was better than war. Now the family was dependent on Lieutenant Everette Hazard for survival.
Hazard didn't need to be told how lucky he was to have his commission. He felt luckier still having Lieutenant Gabe Anthony as the SeaWolf’s captain.
He'd heard some of the crew tell stories of their captain. It was said he made a fortune in prize money just before the war. Hopefully Everette Hazard might be able to pick up a guinea or two.
Watching Mr. Davy slide down the shrouds
reminded Hazard of what he'd been told of the diminutive young gentleman. Slight in frame he may be, but fearless. Those words from Dagan who rarely spoke. Hazard had seen the long wide scar along his rib cage where he'd been pierced by a huge splinter when Drakkar defeated the fifty-gun pirate vessel, Reaper. The boy was somewhat of a hero to the men and would make a fine officer.
Hazard only hoped he would fair as well, and felt a jealous pang as he thought of the relationship between Davy and the captain. Hazard had also not failed to notice that whenever someone seemed to question Davy's authority, the mysterious Dagan loomed.
'Two sails, Cap'n, just as the look-out said.
They appear to be on a nor-nor-westerly heading.
However a silvery brown patch off starboard appears to be another set of sails. We should have a better view soon. It's right where blue meets blue and I almost missed it.'
Gabe turned to Dagan, 'Hear that? He almost missed it.'
'Damme sir, but damme the boy's got eyes, ain't he?' Dagan proclaimed.
'Mr. Blake!'
'Aye, cap'n.'
'Set us a course to intercept Mr. Davy's sighting yonder. Mr. Hazard, once we can better identify those sails be prepared to go to quarters.'
'Aye, cap'n. Think she's a privateer?'
'Who knows, Mr. Hazard. My question is why those other two ships left her. They had to have seen her and we've not seen or heard any gunfire.
If she's British we'll get the latest news. If she's a privateer we'll fatten our purses.'
'Aye, sir. Mine could stand a little fat. It's been lean for a spell now.'
'Deck there,' the lookout called down. 'She's changing her tack.'
Gabe looked to his first lieutenant. 'No gossip today, Mr. Hazard. Beat to quarters if you will, but to be on the safe side put up our signal and see if she answers with the correct recognition.'
'Aye, sir.'
'Would you like for me to go aloft again, Mr. Hazard?'
'Eager today are we, Mr. Davy?'
'Aye, sir.'
'Mr. Davy?'
'Aye, Cap'n.'
'I surely expected you to be at your battle station by now and not trying to trick the first lieutenant into approving a skylarking trip for you.
Surely, sir, I've not misplaced my trust in you have I?'
'Nay, Cap'n, I'll make you proud,' Davy replied as he scampered off to his station, smiling as he noticed Dagan's wink when he passed by him.
'Mr. Druett.'
'Aye, Cap'n,' the gunner answered.
'As soon as we're in range I want you to put a ball across that one's bow.'
'Aye, Cap'n, I'll scorch its bowsprit, I will.'
'Deck there,' the lookout called down, 'She be a schooner, sir. Colonial from the looks of things.' B O O M!… Druett had let loose with the forward six-pounder.
'Deck there,' the lookout called again, 'She's a Jonothan, sir, and she's raised her colors and opened her starboard gun ports. She be a fourteen gunner, sir.'
'Very well. Mr. Hazard, I want to keep a crew on the forward gun but it's the starboard guns I want manned.'
'Mr. Blake,' Gabe called to the master, 'ease her a bit but be ready to put her helm down. I want to cross her stern and come up on her larboard side so be ready.'
'Aye, Cap'n,' the master nodded, beginning to understand what his master was about.
BOOM!…Druett had let loose with another shot and it landed just ahead of the chase,
drenching all those at the forward guns with its spray.
SeaWolf continued to overreach her prey. Her bow sliced the water as a strong wind caught her sails from dead astern and seemed to slingshot her forward, the wind fairly whistling through the shrouds. SeaWolf gained on the schooner at an alarming speed. Dagan was suddenly beside Gabe and said, 'She's not handled well, is she,' referring to the schooner. SeaWolf was now almost directly up with her prey. The deck vibrated as Druett let loose another round, this one striking the schooner about level with the foremast.
'Now, Mr. Blake,' Gabe ordered, trying to shout above the wind. 'Put your helm down Lively now. Hands to sheets. Reduce sail.' SeaWolf heeled sharply as she crossed in the schooner's wake. Blake could just imagine the bowsprit up the schooners gallery.
'Steady,' Gabe called, 'Hold her.'
Hazard and Blake looked at each other. If SeaWolf made it, it was a clever maneuver. If not, they'd have a new cap'n very soon. The admiralty didn't take kindly to new captains ramming their ships bowsprit up another ship's arse-hole.
SeaWolf’s rudder bit into water and she began to swing just as Gabe had planned. Crossing the schooner's wake caused SeaWolf to suddenly list larboard as her gunwales dipped into the trough. A large wave broke over the bow as they broke
through the water. Water sluiced down the length of SeaWolf’s scuppers and hands had to grab hold of something to keep from falling.
'That's it, ease her up now, ease up, full and by.
Open your starboard gun ports.'
Damn, thought Hazard. They'd crossed the schooner's stern with no more than a chain's length to spare. Hazard's knuckles had turned white from gripping a stay. Now that the maneuver was over he felt dumbfounded and grateful they hadn't capsized. He seemed numb. He'd never seen a ship handled so.
'Think he's crazy, don't you?'
Hazard looked at Nathan Lavery, the second and only other lieutenant on board. Without waiting for Hazard to answer Lavery added, 'Better get used to it. He's not squeamish.' The roar of SeaWolf’s cannons startled Hazard.
