Michael Aye - HMS Seawolf

Another cheer from the gun crew let Gabe know they'd hit Druett's target. The ships were close now and Gabe was worried he'd waited to late to take in the sails.

"Dagan, Mr. Lavery, prepare boarding parties.

Dagan, you forward, Mr. Lavery."

"Aye, cap'n, we'll be aft."

"Mr. Graf, gather the rest of the men and we'll board amidships."

"Aye, cap'n," the bosun replied as he hurried to round up his party.

Al too quick they were along side the brig. I should have ordered the sails taken in sooner, Gabe thought. SeaWolf slammed into the brig with such a jar that it shook the deck planks. The two hull s thudded together and then seemed to bounce off each other before SeaWolf grinded to a stop. Graf's men were ready with grapnels and they were already flying through the air.

"Boarders, boarders away," Gabe cal ed as he gained his balance. The cry was repeated forward and aft as Dagan and Lavery made their way over to the brig. The privateer's crew fired at SeaWolf’s boarders.

Musket and pistols shots rang out and bal s smacked into the deck as men fel. SeaWolf had left a few marine sharpshooters in the rigging and they were returning fire, cutting down al they could.

A swivel gun fired defiantly, another of SeaWolf’s marines cutting down a group of would be resistance.

The boarders pushed forward, bent on reaching Le Frelon and helping their mates. Curses fill ed the air with the clang and rasp of steel upon steel.

Bel owing his loudest, Gabe directed his men to a group of four men with muskets that had gathered around the stump of the brig's mainmast. One of the sharpshooters sagged as Lum threw a boarding pike like a spear, impaling the man who fel forward his musket clanging on the deck and going off harmlessly. Another jerked convulsively as the bosun not to be out done by Lum had hurled his boarding axe into the skull of his foe. Gabe was now upon his man. Apparently the man had already fired his musket, although Gabe couldn't recall. Maybe it had been a misfire.

At any rate the man was trying to fiend off Gabe's sword with his musket barrel. Feeling the urgency to reach Earl, Gabe made a feint that the man overreacted to; Gabe stepped inside the man's guard and brought the hilt of his sword down on the man's exposed head, feeling him like an ox. Another man was racing toward Gabe when a shot rang out. Gabe heard a penetrating thump and the man's chest turned crimson as he fel to the deck.

SeaWolf’s crew was making their way onto Le Frelon and not a moment to soon. Bodies were al over the

deck, some lifeless, others wounded, bleeding and groaning. A horrible scream broke Gabe's revive.

There was something unreal about the scream as it rang out above the den of battle then a falling object from above crashed onto the deck with a crunching sound. It was an enemy sharpshooter. He lay in odd angles, twisted in a heap and blood gushing from his ears and nose. One eye socket was empty. Gabe's group was rushing forward; resistance now was only in little pockets. Earl's men had put up a fearsome fight but were in danger of being overrun.

Gabe saw Lavery and his group engaged with a band of privateers. The constant sound of curses and cries were mingled with the clang of metal on metal as blades flashed in the air then clashed together. The sounds of gunshots some muffled as a pistol was shoved against a foe as the trigger was pull ed. The air was heavy with the smell of gunpowder mixed with the distinct odor of death.

Out of the corner of his eye, Gabe realized Dagan was being overwhelmed by two men. As he gave ground he slipped and fel. As one of the men lunged at Dagan with his cutlass Gabe shot him with his pistol. At seeing his friend downed the other man turned facing Gabe. The man's face twisted in rage as he rushed at the man who shot his friend. Gabe met the man's rush head-on and his sword clanged with the other's cutlass.

Then the man spat tobacco juice into Gabe's face.

Some of it went into his eyes and caused his vision to blur, his eyes stung as if on fire. Gabe's opponent thought he'd won; a smile appeared on his face as he

raised his cutlass to finish off Gabe. However, the man had forgotten about Dagan who had quickly regained his footing. The man's smile suddenly changed as his arm was severed from Dagan's crashing blow with his cutlass. Then Dagan whirled and drove the cutlass through the man's chest. Gabe had wiped his eyes with his coat sleeve and vision was returning as he gathered his wits.

"Earl! Stephen Earl!" Gabe cal ed. "Earl!" His calling seemed to attract the attention of a group still fighting. The sight of the British sailors appearing unexpectedly had the privateers throwing down their weapons and raising their hands. Then it was over.

Dagan walked up to Gabe clapping him on the shoulder. "Any sign of Mr. Earl?"

"Not yet."

Seeing Lavery approaching, Gabe cal ed, "Take a party and take possession of the brig."

"Aye, cap'n. Mr. Graf, lend a hand with your party if you please."

"Aye, sir. You heard Mr. Lavery lads, lets be quick about it now, move it. Este's, They's dead, them buggers, they ’aint gona bother you none but careful where you step, ’at bloods still wet and slick ’lak."

"Sir…sir!" It was one of the bosun mates.

"Yes," Gabe answered.

"We've found Mr. Earl, sir, he and a group of men are on board the frigate. He's trying to prevent their escape but ’ands are cutting grapnel lines."

Gabe again felt a sense of urgency, "Lieutenant Baugean!"

"Aye, sir."

"Have your marines board the frigate aft if you please."

"Aye, sir."

"Mr. Baugean!"

"Sir."

"Put a couple of sharpshooters in the brig's riggings and have them mark down anyone not on our side who approaches the frigate's quarterdeck."

"Aye, cap'n."

Then Gabe cal ed to Dagan, "See if we can't find a few more grapnels to lash the ships together then meet me on board that frigate." Without waiting for Dagan to answer, Gabe gathered his men about him and boarded the frigate.

The frigate being a taller ship meant the men had to make their way up to her decks. This meant they were vulnerable to musket fire, exposed as they were. The sudden sound of gunfire fill ed the air and made Gabe pause to look, but none of his boarders appeared to have been hit, then a quick glance behind him told him it was Sergeant Schniedermirer firing onto the frigate.

Then Gabe's men were on board joining the melee.

Earl's men were mostly gathered around the mainmast and most of their resistance seemed to be from the direction of the quarterdeck. Set Fire! A

sudden vol ey of musket fire struck down a number of the privateers.

"Second rank fire" Lieutenant Baugean had divided his marines into two groups. The second vol ey caused the resistance to realize they were surrounded and then a sailor threw down his cutlass and raised his hands in surrender. Seeing the action of their comrade the rest of the men threw down their weapons as a group.

"Where's your officer?" a bruised and bleeding Earl demanded. When no one spoked, Earl grabbed the man nearest him and with his pistol levelled it at the man's face and said, "Well?"

The poor man stood there tongue-tied, to afraid to speak. From within the group a voice, "I think they're al dead, sir."

"Who are you?" Earl demanded.

"Lawson, sir, master's mate."

"They damn well better be," Earl responded with clenched teeth. His arm dropping suddenly, Gabe and Dagan took a step forward to support him.

"I'm fine," Earl spoke, "son of a bitch showed a white flag, then as we were boarding fired on us with a swivel gun. I'd be dead but Mr. Boyd was in front of me and he took most of the load. Poor man was screaming in agony. He's done for I'm sure." At that moment a hail… Markham was there with Swan and so was Kerry with the ketch. Caleb, who had been sent for, was now coming over to check on Earl.