starboard. Then maybe we can overhaul the chase.
1
From her present position she'll have to tack before she closes with the nearest Key and by that time it's possible we'll be in position to cut off her escape.' Nodding his agreement Anthony said, 'She's your ship, captain, sail her as you think best.' Then as an afterthought he added, 'Signal SeaWolf your intention.'
'Aye, my lord,' Earl answered then went about ordering the change.
Within the turn of the glass it was obvious they were vastly overhauling the strange ship.
The lookout had called down, 'She's 'as the cut of a Dago, zur.'
Bart had also been eyeing the ship and turned to Anthony, 'She's a big un. I bet she wuz a merchantman turned privateer and I'll bet she's loaded to the gills.'
'Aye, Bart, my thoughts as well.'
With SeaWolf and Merlin converging on the chase they'd soon be upon her. Captain Earl approached Anthony again, 'Beat to quarters, my lord?'
'I think that would be appropriate.'
Then to punctuate the order the lookout called down, 'The chase 'as fired on SeaWolf, zur. No 'it as I can tell.'
'Captain Earl?'
'Aye, my lord!'
'As soon as convenient and we are in range have the bow chasers put into action.'
'Yes, my lord.'
Bart had gone below and now he returned. 'Your weapons, sir. I figured yew's be wanting us-uns to help out today.'
'Not ready to leave the fighting to the younger tars,' Anthony taunted his cox'n.
'Nay, my lord, maybe the exercise will do us-uns some good. Silas's cooking 'as turned us fat. Lady Barracuda 1
Deborah won't 'ardly recognize yew wid yews girth
'spanding such.'
'My girth,' Anthony exclaimed, sucking in his stomach. 'Damme Bart but you've taken on a portly appearance yourself.'
'Well, maybe I 'as but it's a wise man wot builds a shed over 'is tools.'
'What tools is that?' Anthony asked sarcastically.
'Me wedding tackle, that's wot tools.'
'Humph!' Anthony snorted, 'They're probably rusted off from lack of use by now.'
Bart cocked his head and very stoically replied,
'Nay, I use 'em regular like. Back in Saint Augustine they's this little mulatto who can't 'ardly wait till old Bart is there to dip 'is wick. She be a delightfully naughty little wench if they ever was one.'
Not believing his ear, Anthony suddenly became serious. 'Why Bart, I didn't know you had a steady woman. Is this more than just a fling with a trollop?'
'I ain't sure yet,' Bart replied. ''Er daddy be Portuguese and 'er mother's Spanish, English and mulatto mixed. But even if it's just a touch, she still 'as a bit o' black in her. 'Eer daddy paid one hundred pounds for 'er mother. After seeing 'er I believes 'e got a bargain and Esmeralda is more beautiful than 'er mother.'
'Is she for sale?' Anthony queried.
'I'm not sure,' Bart replied, 'I ain't got round to deciding iffen I wanta ask. It could be I could buy 'er, then it's possible 'er father would give 'er 'and in marriage. I just ain't decided if I's ready for a full time woman, 'specially with this war. She do make a good little bed warmer howsum ever.'
The roar of the bowchaser sounded and broke up the conversation. The acrid smell of the smoke drifted aft as another shot was let loose from the bowchaser.
'Went through 'er mainsail,' the lookout called down.
Taking his glass and resting it on a ratline Anthony looked at the distant ship. Gabe had ordered SeaWolf to let loose with her forward guns and now the chase was under fire from both ships.
'Captain Earl!'
'Yes, my lord.'
'As soon as convenient I want you to load with grape. I'd like to board yonder ship if possible without having to face great odds.'
'Aye, my lord,' Earl replied, and then went about the admiral's order. He knew privateers tended to carry lots of extra men so his lordship was being prudent. It was not unheard of where a larger ship boarded a smaller vessel only to be swamped by all the extra men on board. Then it was the privateers who gained a prize and not the other way around.
The wind had veered somewhat and after three broadsides in less than two minutes Merlin was completely engulfed in smoke from her larboard cannons. However the chase was now firing back. A portion of the taffrail was hit and a sailor screamed as splinters flew through the air. Another ball hit amidships dismembering a man as it put a great gouge in Merlin's gun deck. A shout from forward caused Anthony to peer over the bulwark in time to see the chase's mainmast go tumbling over the side with a great crack not unlike a cannon firing.
However, the ship's captain was a stubborn if not wise man and he continued to fight for his ship. Only his forward guns could bear on Merlin; and SeaWolf had now crossed the ship's stern firing as she crossed.
Anthony could hear Bart saying, 'That's me boy.
Gabe put a ball up 'er arse and blowed out 'er innards.
That'll slow ' em down I'm bettin'.'
Barracuda 1
Slow the return fire it did, but still the captain of the chase showed no signs of surrendering.
Seeing Earl, Anthony ordered, 'We'll grapple and board to starboard, signal SeaWolf to do the same to larboard.'
'Aye, my lord,' Earl replied then shouted out the orders.
Another broadside from Merlin sent grape buzzing through the chase like a wad of hornets.
Seeing SeaWolf close with the chase, Anthony then ordered Earl, 'Have the gunners cease firing Captain.
We don't want grape cutting down on SeaWolf's crew as they board.'
'Aye, my lord. Mr. Campbell,' Earl called to his first lieutenant, 'have the cannons cease fire then prepare to board yonder ship.'
The ships were coming together now and as the hulls ground together a shudder went through Merlin causing Anthony to stumble.
Bart caught a hold of him smiling and said, 'No lying back now; it be time for that exercise yews been talking bout.'
Then, with a pistol in one hand and a sword in the other, off the two went to join the melee. The sound of muskets filled Anthony's ears. Shots rang out as marine sharpshooters fired down on the men in the chase while a hand full of privateers fired back at the marines. A sergeant fell next to Anthony then struggled to his feet, blood pouring from a useless left arm.
One of the rogues on the chase lunged at Bart with a bayonet he'd picked up from a dead marine. The attack was clumsy and Bart easily parried the blade then slashed down with his cutlass, splitting the man's chest.
The fight became very close as screams, curses and words of encouragement all filled the air. Anthony knew the fight couldn't last long as the enemy ship had been
boarded from both quarters and British sailors now had flooded the deck.
Another rascal had just attacked Anthony who deflected the blow but was thrown off balance in doing so. His
