Harass, but don't attack. If we can play cat 'n' mouse long enough, we'll have the odds in our favor.'
'I wish the admiral hadn't sent Swan off on dispatch,' Lavery interjected.
'Not squeamish are you sir?' Gunnells asked. Being new on board SeaWolf, the master had no idea of the action Lavery had been in.
Hearing the interaction, Gabe not wanting any conflict spoke up for his lieutenant, 'Nay, Lavery's not squeamish. Prudent is more to my thinking.'
'Deck there, the leading schooner 'as opened 'er gunports,' the lookout called down.
'No doubt now,' Gabe volunteered to his officers.
'They are deliberately seeking action.' After looking over the ship Gabe spoke to the first lieutenant, Mr.
Jackson. 'Those boarding nets are too tight. See to them if you will sir, they need to be slackened.' Then looking down the main deck he could see the gun crews were standing about. The gunner had already carefully selected his first ball, making sure it was free of any rust and as near perfect as could be for roundness.
The men had various types of scarves and bandanas tied over their ears to reduce the noise.
A tub full of cutlasses, pikes and boarding axes set amidship. Turning aft Gabe saw Lum and Dawkins.
Neither had to be involved but he'd not try to talk them into going below to safety. Dagan was aft as well; he was talking to Caleb.
Wonder where that damned ape is, Gabe thought. As the thought crossed his mind so did another. Dagan was making his way toward him so Gabe held his thought.
When Dagan grew close he spoke softly, 'Did you ever hear of an ape being killed in action?' Dagan stopped dead in his tracks and looked directly into Gabe's eyes then they both burst out in laughter.
One of the gun captains hearing the laughter spoke to his gun crew, 'Lookie there laddies, iffen the cap'n can 'ave 'isself a chuckle then he can't be much worried about them buggers. So when the ossifer gives the word, fire, let's lay about like I's done showed ya!' The gun captain was a leathered wrinkled old salt who was nearly deaf from serving the guns for thirty or more years. His ready grin showed gaps between his yellowed teeth. Experienced as he was, his word put not only his gun crew but also those on either side at ease.
BOOM!… BOOM!… BOOM!
'Well, they'd open the ball,' Gunnells cried out.
Gabe ignored the privateer's opening shots. They were more for effect that anything else. It would be another five minutes before they would be in effect range. Noticing how the two schooners were sailing gave Gabe an idea. It would be nip 'n' tuck for a harried moment or so, but he knew what SeaWolf could do.
'Mr. Gunnells, do you see the two schooners are running parallel but the lead ship has a good distance over the sister ship?'
'Aye, cap'n, I sees it.'
'I want to split the two, then come around and pour a broadside up the latter ship's bunghole.' Smiling, Gunnells replied, 'I'll lay her so close to yonder ship's stern you could walk through the galley windows if you've a mind.'
'No nothing that close,' Gabe answered the old master, 'But pistol shot range will do.' BOOM!… BOOM!
'The frigate has fired on LeFrelon,' the lookout called.
Smoke had engulfed the privateer momentarily but was now drifting between the two ships.
BOOM!… BOOM!
The roar of cannon filled the air as LeFrelon fired back scoring a hit as pieces of debris went flying into the air. Seeing this, Gabe called to his gun crews, 'A guinea to the first gun to score a hit.'
This brought cheers from the men, profit and a gut full-o'-glory, 'Huzza to the cap'n, huzza.'
'Open ports,' Gabe ordered Jackson.
'Mr. Druett,' Gabe called to his gunner, 'Let go with the bowchaser if you will. I want those rogues to feel SeaWolf's fangs.'
'Aye, cap'n. Hear that lads,' Druett called. 'Time for SeaWolf to bare her fangs and give them whoresons a bite or two.'
BOOM!… BOOM! Both nine pounders had fired.
'We claim the guinea,' a man cried. Sure enough the huge jib on the leading schooner had been hit causing her to skew to larboard.
'Foul! Foul,' the ole gapped-tooth gun captain cried. 'We've had no chance to bear.'
Raising his hands in surrender, 'Fair is fair,' Gabe called. 'We'll make it even. A guinea to the first crew on each side to score a hit, but a tie means you split the purse.'
This brought more cheers from the men. SeaWolf was now bearing down on the schooners.
As an afterthought, Gabe turned to Jackson, 'Are the boats being towed?'
'Aye, captain, I set Mr. Graf to it soon as you ordered beat to quarters.'
SeaWolf and the leading schooner were virtually parallel. As Gabe gave the order to fire he could hear the firing as LeFrelon battled her foe. Lanyards jerked as one as the anxious gun captains heard the order they'd been waiting on.
SeaWolf rocked back as a whole broadside let loose with a tremendous crash. The entire side was in a frenzy.
As the guns hurled backwards to the end of their breechings, clouds of dirty yellow 'n' black acrid smoke filled the air then flowed aft toward the quarterdeck with the breeze.
The gun crew flung themselves at their guns as the gun captains shouted instructions and encouragement.
'Worm out, worm out laddies. 'At's it, now swab.
Atkins, ya bugger I said swab.'
Worming, swabbing, reloading, and running out, each crew was like a well-oiled machine. The occasional curse from a gun captain was more for show than need.
'Lively now! Fire! That's it, you lubberly whoresons! Worm… swab… reload.' On and on it went, each crew trying to beat the time of the next crew.
Gabe tried to watch the fall of shot. The schooner was being pounded but SeaWolf was being hit as well.
Several gaps were in the bulwark, the forward mainsail had a huge rent and one gun was overturned. One of the gun crew lay beneath the heavy barrel, his legs kicking the air. Then mercifully they thudded to the deck and lay still. Then they were past the first ship. Would he come about or continue on? Gabe wasn't sure but if things worked to plan, he'd have the second schooner between them.
'He's trying to come about, sir.' This from Gunnells, 'He's trying to come about on the same tack.' Well, he couldn't worry about that now; they were along side the other schooner and SeaWolf rocked as she was racked by the privateer's broadside.
'Four pounders,' Jackson cried out, 'She's only got four pounders.'
Was he glad or complaining, Dagan wondered. SeaWolf rocked again but this time it was from her own broadside. The schooner was hit good, but was firing her guns again, those that were left after SeaWolf spoke.
'She's got a good skipper,' Gabe spoke to Dagan.
'Aye, he's making a fight of it.'
Gabe had made his way aft to Gunnells and the wheel. He looked at the schooner as SeaWolf slid by then after a pause bellowed his order. 'Now, Mr. Gunnells, down helm. Put your helm down.'
The master had two men at the wheel. With all their might they spun the big wheel. Gabe felt the rudder bite and SeaWolf made her turn to larboard bringing the loaded cannon to bear on the stern.
'Ease her up, that's it, ease her up,' Gabe ordered.
SeaWolf crossed the privateer's stern with each gun firing as they sailed past. The galley windows were shattered by the first gun with each subsequent shot lending to the destruction of the one before it.
Then there was an explosion as the magazine was undoubtedly hit. The once proud beautiful ship was now nothing by fiery debris filling the air, then raining down all about. Huge chunks were hitting the sea with splashing and sizzling sounds.
Suddenly, one of the worst sounds heard aboard ship rang out: 'Fire! Fire! Fire to the mainsail.' Gabe turned to Gunnells, 'Put the ship before the wind, then heave to.' He then shouted orders to Jackson,
'Clew up the topsail and top gallant. Then cut away the mainsail.'
'Lavery?'
