Michael Aye - HMS Seawolf

Caleb looked at his friend, "Have a care and no heroics today. Your word."

Grasping Caleb's hand Gabe replied, "My word."

"Liar," Caleb responded then made his way below to recheck everything he'd already checked and make sure his mates were sober.

"Earl will have his hands full today," Hazard volunteered. He had gotten to know the man well during his temporary command of SeaWolf. "A very confident seaman and brave man. May God and luck be with him this day."

"Aye," Lavery answered. He too liked Earl and was concerned about his having to face a thirty-two gun frigate with a twenty gun corvette.

"Not worried about the odds are you Mr. Lavery?" Blake, the master asked.

"Who wouldn't be," Lavery responded matter-of-factly. "A schooner, a ketch, a brigantine, and a corvette against God knows what."

Overhearing the two lieutenants' conversation Gabe didn't speak out but felt the same apprehension.

It had sounded like the best plan available back in Warrior's wardroom…but now. Well now, the plan was in effect and that was al there was to it.

"Shall I go aloft?" Dagan asked. He knew Gabe needed him at the masthead but seemed reluctant to order it.

"Yes, let me know what we are facing, a true picture."

The lookout moved over as Dagan made his way onto the platform. A quick scan of three-hundred sixty degrees then Dagan settled his attention to the sails ahead. After scanning the horizon again, Dagan cal ed down his report.

"Seven ships and a gunboat, a gal ey I believe and there's wreckage aft, probably the gunboat we saw earlier."

"Probably a forward scout," Gabe thought.

As quickly as he'd gone aloft Dagan was quicker coming back down and expanding on his report.

"Seven ships and a large gal ey. Looks like three large schooners, sixteen or eighteen guns I'm thinking, a brig at least sixteen guns and the frigate. There's one ship aft I couldn't get a good look at and the gal ey appears to have a thirty-two pounder forward."

As the ships continued to approach on a converging tack Hazard approached Gabe, "It appears Le Frelon will be on one quarter and we'll be on the other of that frigate."

"Aye," Gabe answered, "If we can time it right we can both give her a broadside and hopeful y she'll not have enough gunners to deliver a full blow from both sides at once. However, don't forget sir, we have a large schooner to our larboard that will be doing her damnedest to cripple us as well."

"Aye, sir, I see her more clearly now."

"Deck there, the schooner has just fired a bow chaser in our direction."

It was a wet sailing master who turned inboard and growled. "A miss, but close enough to soak me, by Gawd. He'll have our range with the next one, I'm thinking."

Hearing the master's comments, Gabe spoke to his lieutenants, "To your stations now. Keep a good lookout and after my first order to fire, then fire as you will. Remember it will be close action and from al quarters so don't wait for me to tell you what to do…just do it."

As the two left Gabe looked over toward Swan. He could make out Markham and Davy. Both gave a wave and Gabe returned it.

"We'll al share a wet when this is over," Dagan spoke softly.

"I'm looking forward to it." Then Gabe made his way to the wheel. "Al ready, Mr. Blake?"

"Aye, cap'n, we're ready by Gawd."

Then speaking to the crew in general, Gabe cal ed out, "A guinea to every member of the gun crew whose gun scores the first hit." This set the men to howling.

"Mind you…mind you now. Men!" Gabe spoke again after quieting the men, "If there's a tie you'll have to share the purse but I'll double the rum ration." This again set the men to howling. This was what he wanted…to get the men in the right mood for what was forthcoming.

BOOM!…CRASH!…

The master was right. The approaching ships now had their range, and it would be a minute more before their guns would be in range; however, Earl had just let loose with a forward gun.

"Alter our course two points to windward," Gabe ordered the helmsman, "Then let's see if yon frigate notices the change before she fires again." BOOM!…BOOM!…The frigate fired at Earl who quickly returned fire.

"A hit, a hit. Le Frelon has scored a hit."

"The hornet has stung its prey," Dagan quipped.

"Let's hope he does more than just sting him," Blake replied after hearing Dagan's comment.

The converging schooner let off a gun. The shot landed close to SeaWolf’s bowsprit sending a spout of water over the bow and soaking a gun crew. still Gabe held his fire.

"Alter course again back to original course," Gabe ordered the helmsman. "No use wasting shots yet," Gabe spoke his thoughts aloud.

But the frigate was not concerned about range and fired another bow chaser at Le Frelon.

"She's hit, Le Frelon has been hit," cal ed down the lookout but Gabe could see with his own eyes.

The bowsprit was broken and dragging in the water. You could hear the officer's shouts and soon the bosun and a group of men with axes were chopping away at the wreckage and soon cast it adrift.

More gunfire, more flashes as Gabe made his way forward to get a better view. There was something unreal about al that was taking place. It was dream like. Then they were upon the privateers. A sudden exploding sound, a stupendous roar that could only be a broadside from the frigate fill ed the air. Loud whooshing howling sounds were heard as the air was rent by flying cannon bal s, half the wheel and the gaff boom were shattered with splinters flying everywhere.

Fire, had he given the order to fire? "Fire," he shouted, "Fire at will."

Great pieces of the bulwark were missing, a huge gouge in the deck, guns upturned, the rigging falling.

Looking up at the sails Gabe saw holes open up as shot after shot passed through them.

Then where there had been "booms", probably twelve pounders, Gabe thought, there was now "pops" from the schooner, puppies yapping when compared to the frigate's thunder.

The frigate was now on the starboard beam and the large rebel schooner to larboard. SeaWolf was being fired on from both quarters. Bal s whizzed overhead, tearing at the upper rigging while other bal s were finding their mark as they tore into the ship's hull.

CRASH!…loud screams fill ed the air as another of the frigate's bal found its mark. The bal had overturned another of SeaWolf’s forward guns, crushing several of the gun crew. Gabe felt dazed as the air felt like it was sucked from his chest as a bal flew past.

Watching it cross the deck, it appeared to be moving in slow motion until it hit one of the marines. Suddenly the man was without his legs. He fel to the deck, his lower body a gory pulp. Another crash…a group of men were cut down with the bal leaving a bloody path across the decking before the bal bounced up taking out a stanchion. As the frigate and the schooner continued their onslaught on SeaWolf, Gabe felt a great shudder as if she was trying to shake off the attack from her foes.

"Damme," he thought, "My ship is getting chopped to pieces." Men were down, bleeding, reaching out for help.

Some were crying while others were screaming and

writhing in pain from their injuries. Others merciful y lay silent, staring at the sky through sightless eyes.

The ship was completely engulfed in smoke. From aloft the enemy fire was making its mark as riggings separated then flew apart. Blocks and tackles plunged to the deck, some hitting harmlessly while others crashed into unsuspecting sailors with a sickening thud. That was it, knowing ship to ship they were no match for SeaWolf, the schooners were trying to cripple the brigantine by bringing down her riggings. The smoke began to clear as the wind carried it away. To leeward, they were closing with the islands, too damn close, Gabe thought. Then a bel owing roar as several of the larboard guns let loose; a roar that shook the deck beneath his feet.