Michael Aye - HMS Seawolf

"Privateers you think?" Hazard asked.

"That'd be my guess," Gabe answered.

"But I thought they'd be bottled up by our blockade and lazing by the fire," Lavery commented.

"I'm sure they used the gale as a means of running the blockade," Gabe answered. "I'm not sure I'd risk broaching my ship in such a gale just to run down a bunch of privateers I probably couldn't catch and that'd likely end up on a lee shore anyway."

Then Gabe asked, "What about the rest of the convoy?"

"They're on station sir, including Wild Goose and Lancaster. I fired the flares as you ordered before you took ill," Hazard continued, "but Turtle never responded."

"I didn't expect her captain would," Gabe answered.

"The arrogant son of a bitch is probably going to cost us a lot before this day's over, gentlemen, especial y with those privateers lurking. Did you log his failure to respond, Mr. Hazard?"

"Aye, cap'n, last night and this morning."

"Very well, the wind is almost directly astern so have Mr. Druett fire one of the forward guns. He's bound to hear it. I know he's not deaf."

"Think we should signal for him to take up station, sir?"

"It wouldn't hurt; however, he didn't answer the flares so I doubt he'll answer the signal."

Feeling his stomach growl, Gabe realized he hadn't eaten in twenty-four hours. "Dagan, let's go below. Mr. Hazard let me know if there's any change." Once below, Dagan spoke, "You think he's ignoring the signals on purpose, don't you?"

"Yes," Gabe answered, "I think he's got a rendezvous set up with the privateers. Why else would a man be in such a hurry to risk himself and a load of gunpowder."

After a fitting breakfast and two cups of coffee Gabe returned back on deck. Lieutenant Hazard reported, "I was just about to send for you, sir. The Turtle has taken a more southerly course and the privateers seem to be ignoring her and headed toward us."

Gabe pounded the bulwark with his fist, ’I knew it." Then he explained his theory to his first lieutenant.

"Signal Lancaster to come abeam on the weather side.

Then have Estes to position Wild Goose behind Lancaster about midway through the convoy. If one of the privateers get through it's up to him to protect the convoy."

"Deck there," the lookout cal ed down, "The ships be ’seprating, sir. Ones ship rigged sir, she be about eight miles off the starboard bow. The schooners, sir, one going to windward and ’tother to leeward."

"Separating to get amongst the convoy," the master said while holding a ship's glass to his eye. "I can see the t'gal ants of one."

"Signal Wild Goose to be ready, Mr. Hazard, but tell him to stay on station for now. Let's see what their next move is."

"Aye, cap'n."

"Damn, sir," the master cal ed, "That ’un looks like she might be a French corvette."

"I'll go aloft," Dagan volunteered.

"Beat to quarters, Mr. Hazard."

"Aye, cap'n."

Dagan was down on the deck before Gabe realized it.

"She's a corvette right enough and appears to be a twenty-four."

"Damme," Gabe exclaimed. "I bet she's got a crew of a hundred and fifty or more." Sensing there was more, Gabe stopped talking and looked at Dagan. "What else?"

"She's flying the same company flag as that prize we took on the way to Barbados."

"So they're after blood as well as the convoy," Gabe muttered to himself.

"The wolves will be in firing distance in ten minutes or so, cap'n," Mr. Hazard said, "She's under full sail."

"In a hurry that one, ’ain't she," the master said.

"Deck there…The schooner to leeward has dropped back and appears to be taking the weather gage."

"I didn't think she'd keep her previous station," Gabe stated, "That was just a ploy to see how we responded."

"Deck there," the lookout howled down, "She's run out her larboard guns!"

"Deck there," the lookout cal ed again, "The furthest schooner, she be sailing wide and putting on more sail."

"A wolf trying to get among the cows."

"Sheep, Mr. Lavery, ’a wolf among the sheep," Gabe replied archly.

Lavery was intent on calling the convoy a herd of cows. Several anxious minutes passed then, "She's firing, sir," the lookout bel owed down, "She's firing." Gabe winced as bal s moaned through the air.

"He fired too high," Dagan commented, used to taking prizes not fighting ship to ship.

"Well, his next one won't be too high, I bet," Gabe replied. "Mr. Hazard, prepare to fire, sir." Gabe stood up

on the small poop deck. The corvette was now not two hundred yards away. "Fire! Give him what for lads, fire." SeaWolf’s six-pounders spoke as one. Hours of gun drill had paid off.

"She's hit," Dagan replied.

"Down, down everyone," Hazard cal ed and as he did the corvette fired again. Raising himself from the deck, Gabe was stupefied. Twelve guns had fired from the corvette, an entire broadside but with little damage.

"Grape," the master replied, "She's fired with grape." BOOM!…

SeaWolf gave a shudder; Druett had her guns in action again.

"We're hitting her, cap'n," Hazard was saying, "She got gaps in her bulwark, spars and rigging are dangling from aloft and at least two guns are out of order." Before Hazard had finished his comments the corvette fired again. This time the blast was thunderous. Some of the bal s hit the sea and caused fountains of water to gush up on SeaWolf’s deck. However, some were more effective.

Pieces of bulwark were gone, the corner of the small poop deck over Gabe's cabin was blasted away and the gaff boom was shot into. Surveying the damage, Gabe saw Hazard trying to raise himself. Several large splinters had penetrated his coat and were sticking out of his arm. His blue coat turning dark, then red from the shoulder down his sleeve.

BOOM!…

Druett's gunners were still at work. "We've opened up her gallery, sir."

"Dagan, see to Everette. Mr. Lavery, take over for the first lieutenant and prepare to come about."

"Aye, sir."

"Mr. Graf, how are things going with the Lancaster and Wild Goose?"

" Lancaster 's holding her own, sir, but the corvette seems to be on a course to give Wild Goose what for. They beat off the other schooner."

"Well, we'll be there to help directly. Signal the Lancaster to maintain her station."

"Mr. Dover!"

"Here, cap'n."

"What's the damage?

"Nothing below decks, sir, me mates double checking.

Most appears to be about the poop and gaff and that don't hinder our sailing. A few shot holes in the sails."

"Deck there, Wild Goose just took a broadside from the corvette but then cut across her stern and give her a load up the arse."

"Hell 's fire, damned if Estes don't know his business.

How are we, Mr. Blake?"

"We're over-hauling fast, cap'n."

"Mr. Druett, soon as you think reasonable see if you can get one of the forward guns in action."

"Aye, sir."

"How's the Lancaster?"

"She don't look as bad as the schooner, sir. She looks like she's lost her bowsprit and foretopsail.

BOOM!…

"Druett's got a gun in action, sir."

"Deck there, the corvette's hauling her wind, sir. So has the schooner."

"Wear ship, Mr. Lavery, let's see about that other schooner."

"Aye, sir, bosun hands to braces."

"Dagan, how is Mr. Hazard?"

"Caleb's taking care of him. Mr. Davy helped me get him below deck and he said to the first lieutenant, "don't worry, Mr. Hazard, the surgeons got plenty of experience with splinters, see here", then the bugger pulled up his shirt and showed Lieutenant Hazard his scar. When he did, Mr. Hazard fainted. I wondered if it was from his wound or the scare Davy gave him."

"Cap'n," Lavery was calling, "We're almost on the schooner. She's trying to change tack, but her rigging is in disarray and she's having a hard time of it."