The Rescue

by Perry Comer

  “Aye, he’ll not expect that,” Powell said with glee.

  “Hornet will wait south of the island until Stinger’s sails are sighted then swing around the island to engage the American’s stern. The shore battery should inflict sufficient damage to cripple the sloop. Stinger will then tack to engage. Between the battery, Hornet and Stinger he should have little chance.”

  “Aye,” Jackson blurted.

  “A sound plan providing we have a fair wind and the American captain cooperates,” Powell said.

  “Aye, and I'm reasonably sure the American will be on his guard once you tack to the north. But, he will know that we can't match his iron. He will be cautious but confident.” Donland paused then said, “He may or may not know about the battery but if the ketch remains as it is with men working on her, he will be less inclined to consider the battery. It is my hope that captain will assume the men aboard the ketch are Dutch and repairing their ship.”

  “Aye, would seem logical,” Powell said then asked, “Sir, who will command the shore party?”

  “I will be going ashore to ascertain the situation. Once, there perhaps Lieutenant Jackson will lead the party to take the guns while I capture the ketch.”

  Donland called to Honest, “Fill their glasses and we shall have a toast.”

  “Aye, Captain,” Honest said and began filled glasses.

  “To success!” Donland said and lifted his glass.

  “To success!” they answered.

  Chapter Four

  “Deck there!” the lookout called down just after two bells into the afternoon watch. “The signal!”

  “Mister Aldridge, aloft with you. Keep Stinger in sight!” Donland ordered.

  “Aye Captain,” Aldridge replied and made his way to the shrouds.

  “We’re a half day’s sail to Anegada,” Dewitt said.

  “And a long night before us,” Donland replied.

  “No moon tonight,” Dewitt informed Donland.

  “Aye, Captain Powell will not lay-to but continue under reduced sail. With no moon, I doubt the American captain will attempt anything more than to close the distance. He will be cautious but desire to stay close enough to follow Stinger even if she tacks.”

  “Wind will die to little more than a breeze before midnight, not fit wind for either of them or for us,” Dewitt informed Donland.

  Donland considered Dewitt’s warning. If the American closed on Stinger before the wind died, the American captain might attempt sending boats and boarding. It would be a risky venture if he had not enough men to overwhelm Stinger’s company. He prayed Powell would consider the possibility. The plan to trap the American depended on Stinger staying well ahead of her pursuer.

  The sun was just over the horizon when its rays touched Stinger’s topmasts. Midshipman Welles called down, “Sail to the west! Amidships!”

  “Mister Aldridge, send up the signal!” Donland snapped.

  “Aye sir!” the young midshipman answered.

  “Mister Ashcroft, we will tack due west!” Donland barked.

  Jackson stated the obvious in a low voice, “Close enough to send signals.”

  “Aye, but not so close as to give the American notice of our presence,” Donland said.

  “Mister Ashcroft, I’ll have the topsail’s out, reefs when the tack is completed,” Donland shouted.

  “Aye Captain!” Ashcroft acknowledged.

  Hornet surged ahead on the westward tack, her sails bellowed in the stiff breeze.

  “Signal!” David called down. He said it again before Donland acknowledged his call.

  Donland lifted his head and shouted, “Aye.”

  Donland considered Hornet’s speed and called, “Reef topsails Mister Ashcroft!” He sighed with relief and then called, “Bring us back to a southern course, if you please, Mister Dewitt!”

  “Deck! Second sail!” David shouted.

  “Damn!” Donland exploded. They were close enough to the American to be seen.

  In the next breath, he shouted, “Helm, hard over larboard!”

  The helmsman replied, “Aye, Captain, hard over larboard!”

  Jackson stepped to the wheel and grasped two spindles of the wheel and helped the helmsman pull the rudder hard over to larboard. Hornet responded almost instantly.

  The turn into the wind emptied the sails and they began to flap. Slowly the way began to come off the ship.

  Ashcroft did not wait for a command, his booming voice gave commands in rapid-fire to haul braces and to swing the yards. In a matter of seconds, wind began to fill the sails.

  “We’re going about Mister Ashcroft!” Donland shouted.

  “Hold her due east!” He said to Dewitt.

  “What of the sail Mister Welles!” Donland called up.

  “Over the horizon Captain!” Welles shouted down.

  Jackson came alongside Donland. “Maybe the American didn’t see us,” He offered.

  “Perhaps not as their lookout would have been watching Stinger. But I think it best that we tack back to the north and come round behind him. Captain Powell knows what he is about and will entice the American if need be,” Donland said with a hint of caution in his voice.

  At mid-day, Donland and Dewitt stood at the railing with sextons taking the noon sighting. Porter recorded the sighting in the log. The fierce mid-day sun bore down on the trio. Hornet was barely making headway.

  “Wind will strengthen in an hour or so,” Dewitt assured Donland.

  “Aye, we’ve little time left to us. How far to Anegada?” Donland asked.

  “Good wind, no more than three hours,” Dewitt calculated.

  “If the wind strengthens,” Donland said and added, “if not at this pace maybe six.”

  “It'll come, Captain of that, I'm certain,” Dewitt said and grinned.

  Donland faced Porter and asked, “What say you Porter, will we have the wind?” Porter looked confused, his eyes shifted from Donland to Dewitt and then back.

  Porter managed weakly, “I’d not doubt Mister Dewitt’s judgement.”

  Donland smiled broadly and said, “Aye, nor I.”

  Porter’s face was wreathed in sweat. Donland said to him, “Relieve the lookout, the wind aloft might be more to your liking.”

  “Aye sir,” Porter said and handed Dewitt the logbook. “Duced hot and that’s no error,” he said as he strode for the shrouds.

  Once Porter was out of earshot, Donland asked Dewitt, “Too much grog?”

  “He’s not a drinking man,” Dewitt replied with concern in his voice. “Best we watch him, might be the fever.”

  “Aye, and see to it that he gets an extra portion of limes,” Donland suggested.

  “Aye, Captain,” Dewitt agreed.

  The mizzen sail slackened, shuddered and then pressed hard and full.

  “Sooner than expected,” Dewitt mused.

  “You can’t be right all the time and I’m thankful to the good Lord that you are this time. We need to press on if we are to accomplish our tasks,” Donland said and added, “I shall go below.”

  * * * * *

  “Prepare the boats if you please, Mister Jackson. Those fellows will be wading out to us if we wait much longer,” Donland said.

  “Aye, Captain, we’d not want them tempting the sharks after so long a wait,” Jackson replied.

  The two boats were lowered and Donland climbed down into the launch. The jolly boat followed the launch and was commanded by Aldridge.

  On the edge of the beach, the survivors shouted and waved. Donland knew straight away that Newland was not among them. He surmised that the young captain and most of his command were lost before the ship gained shallow water. The American would not have been merciful.

  “Lieutenant Richards, third aboard Jacket, Sir,” Richards said as he saluted.

  Donland made mental note of the raggedness of Richards and those with him. They were all thin, bearded and scantily clothed. “What of Captain Newland?” Donland asked.

 
“Died during the fight with an American sloop. I’m the only officer besides the two midshipmen. There’s just thirty-one of us left,” Richards informed Donland.

  “Any wounded?”

  “None seriously, sharks got most of the badly wounded. It was awful sir,” Richards said with sorrow in his voice.

  “Let’s go up to your camp and you can tell me of your ordeal,” Donland suggested.

  He turned to Aldridge, “See to these men and ferry them back to the ship. They are to be feed and given a ration of grog. Have Lieutenant Jackson examine them and those who are fit enough to serve are to sign the muster book. Return with all speed for we have little time remaining to us before the sun sets and we’ve much to accomplish.”

  “Aye, Captain,” Aldridge replied.

  “Now Mister Richards, what of your attacker?” Donland asked as he strode toward the trees and the shade.

  “We were ordered to carry dispatches and two government officials to Saint Thomas. A sloop flying that American flag, the one with bars and the circle of stars began to shadow us soon after departing Bermuda. Captain Newland attempted to outdistance her but in early afternoon the winds began to die and the sloop fired on us. She must have had a long nine in her bow because Jacket was more than a mile ahead. We lost the wind but she came on and closed the distance before she too lost the wind. She was still near enough to hit us and did so often. We took to the boats but so did her captain. A ball tore through our rigging soon after and there was naught we could do in return. Captain Newland kept us in the boats for three hours before the wind returned but two more shots took more of our sail and rigging and we didn’t have enough sail remaining to gain distance. She kept hitting us and our sixes never reached her. When we were holed, Captain Newland sought to beach Jacket and we almost made it even with the pounding we were receiving,” Richards said and turned to look back at the wreckage of his ship.

  “Twenty more yards and most of the company would have lived,” He said with sorrow in his voice.

  “Aye perhaps,” Donland said and asked, “What did the American do when you struck?”

  “No doubt he saw we were finished and Jacket wrecked beyond salvage. I know he heard the screams of those the sharks were getting at, bastard chose to sail away.”

  Two thin and gangling young men approached, one wore a tattered midshipman's rig. Donland judged their ages to be near twenty for both were as tall as Richards.

  “Mister Allen and Mister Buschard,” Richards introduced the midshipmen. “Both good swimmers, they saved a number of the hands.”

  “Well done lads,” Donland said.

  Richards was visibly weak, he sat on a stump in the shade of live oak. “My apologies Captain,” he said weakly.

  “Have you eaten today?” Donland asked.

  Richards answered, “Not as yet.”

  “Sir, he’s not eaten for two days,” Midshipman Allen spoke up.

  Donland was concerned for the young officer. He said, “Can’t have that now, I’ll need you strong before we lay into the Dutch camped on the other side of the island.”

  “They’re not Dutch Sir, only pirates,” Allen said.

  “You’ve spied on them?” Donland asked.

  “Aye, after they came at us. We had only a few knives among us and they came that first night, no more’n ten but they had pistols and swords. We lost eight men and killed two of theirs, would have been a slaughter were it not for old Mudge. He’d been in the wood yonder and when he heard the pistol shots he came like a mad bull will two big sticks, one in each hand. He flew into to them from behind and clubbed five or six of the buggers senseless. Gave us time to get up and get into them proper. Mudge got knifed but he fought on until one of the buggers run him through,” Allen said.

  Richards nodded and said, “I sent a party at first light to spy them out, seen their ship on the beach and their camp. One of the lads came round and saw the guns.”

  “Guns?” Donland interrupted.

  “Aye, two long nines on platforms of logs they roped together,” Richards explained.

  “I thought only one gun when we closed on their wreck. Two will serve my purpose all the more,” Donland said.

  “Have you a plan Captain?” Richards asked.

  “Aye, while we sit here Stinger is leading the American on a chase that will bring her under those guns at first light. I mean to sink her. Hornet is waiting to cut off escape after she comes under fire from those guns. Stinger will come about and we’ll have her in three fields of fire. Mind you, Stinger’s and Hornet’s sixes will do little but I’ve ordered both to fire chain-shot. They’ll not escape,” Donland said firmly.

  “You’ll be taking those guns before night falls?” Allen asked.

  “That we will do, that’s no err. I’ll lead a party of thirty for the purpose,” Donland said.

  Richards nodded, “Aye Captain, there's no more than eighteen of them. Your thirty and my lads make it a good forty.”

  “Mister Allen you have spied out their camp, I’ll need you to draw me a map and to lead us there, can you do that?” Donland asked the young man.

  “Aye Captain,” Allen answered with enthusiasm.

  “Now Lieutenant, you are to go down to the beach and out to Hornet, eat and tend your needs. Give my compliments to Lieutenant Jackson, he is to send your men back across after they’ve had their food and grog. Have them armed,” Donland instructed.

  “Aye Captain, feed and armed,” Richards said and rose.

  Thunder boomed in the distance. Donland could not see the sky for the canopy of trees overhead. He could only pray that the storm would not break on the island until after the attack. The men almost in place, Allen and his party were given the task of securing the wrecked vessel. Ashcroft and his party were to take the guns. Donland had decided to lead the main party and take the camp. If all went as he had laid it out, the fight would be no more than a quarter of an hour. His plan was simply to overrun the pirates and kill every one of them. The signal to attack would be Ashcroft firing his pistol at the first man he encountered.

  Sounds of hammering came from the direction of the stricken vessel. Donland reasoned that those working on the vessel were aware of danger and were attempting to finish repairs and get underway. If it were so, Richards and his men would gain a vessel after having lost Jacket.

  Donland was brought from his thoughts by the sound of a slap. Behind him, a man had slapped at an insect and cursed softly. The sentry was no more than ten paces from Donland and seemed to not hear.

  The shot rang out, dulled by distance and foliage. “At em’ lads!” Donland shouted and rose up, took aim and fired, dropping the sentry.

  The eight men in the camp began to rise and just as quickly were cut down by the eighteen that opposed them. It was quick and bloody work as pistols banged and swords slashed the air taking bone and sinew in their passing.

  Not all died, there was groaning and crying as several lay in agony. “See to them Honest!” Donland ordered as he surveyed the camp. Ashcroft and Allen must have dispatched those that opposed them with as much ease for there were no sounds of fighting in the distance. There was still light and darkness was yet an hour away. Time enough to sort out the dying pirates.

  Four pirates survived the attacks and were having their wounds tended. Three would surely die, the fourth, a lad of sixteen would live. Donland knelt on the ground beside a man with a pistol ball through his side. “You may live,” Donland began, “but you know well, just as I do, that most men succumb to the fever. It's what kills them; maybe hours but could be days. My men will do all they can to aid you, for that is the merciful thing to do. One of my company is a witch-doctor, he has done well to save limb and life when those he aids accept his ways. You would do well to heed his ministrations. I sent for him and he will arrive shortly.”

  Donland made himself more comfortable then asked, “What of your ship and crew, where were you bound?”

  The man stared defiantly at Donlan
d. His face was wadded in pain but he said nothing.

  “Live or die, it’s your choice. I could end your suffering but it would gain me nothing. Your silence, likewise, gains you nothing. I intend to repair your ship and sail her away from here. Your bones will be picked clean by the crabs and bleach in the sun. Who was your captain?”

  Still, the man remained silent. Donland rose just as thunder boomed. “Die in the mud if you won't talk,” he said and moved away.

  The next man was barely conscious, he had a pistol ball in his shoulder and a gaping cut across his back. “What's your name?” Donland asked.

  “Water,” the man grunted through clenched teeth.

  “Dawkins bring some water,” Donland shouted.

  “No water sir, but I’ve a bit of rum,” Dawkins answered.

  “Bring it!” Donland commanded.

  Donland reached down and raised the wounded man against the trunk of a tree. Taking the rum from Dawkins, he held it to the man’s lips. The man managed a mouthful, swallowed and coughed.

  “What’s your name?” Donland asked again.

  The man lifted his head and studied Donland’s face for a moment. “Wills, Bryon Wills it be,” the man said.

  “What ship yonder?” Donland asked.

  “Don’t know, never gave no name,” Wills answered.

  “What port did you board her?”

  Wills shook with a spasm of pain then answered, “San Juan, guns for cargo going to Bermuda.”

  “Spanish guns?” Donland asked.

  “Don’t know,” Wills answered and closed his eyes.

  Donland shook Wills by the shoulder but he did not stir.

  Lightning flashed and was followed a few seconds later by the boom of thunder. Donland could hear light rain falling onto the branches above his head. His best hope of obtaining information would be from the boy but that could wait. He had to be about preparing for the American.

  The battery consisted of two long nines on carriages as Richards had said. The pirates had taken care to construct the platforms made of logs. Shot was neatly stacked beside each gun. The power was stored thirty paces beyond the guns behind a mound of sand and covered with sailcloth. The pirate captain knew he was going to be there for an extended stay while the ship was being repaired.