by Michael Aye
"Go on," Lord Anthony prodded.
"We can send a frigate or maybe a frigate and a cutter to Sable Island to deal with the ships there. Then the other frigate can sail up into the Bay of Bundy and position itself to protect Hampton. Warrior can be stationed at the mouth of Halifax Harbour and the rest of us can meet the privateers as they make their way out of Machia's Bay and past Gran Manan Island. They'll not be expecting us, so surprise will be on our side. The way I've figured it, my Lord, we've trumped their every move."
"It sounds good, lieutenant," Captain Moffett said,
"But remember this is not whist and there's more at stake than a card game."
Buck and Earl had risen, "We think Gabe is right, my Lord," Buck volunteered.
"Very well," Lord Anthony replied, "Let's breakout the charts and get a better feel for what routes they'll have to take." Then turning to Gabe, Lord Anthony asked, "Have you spoken of this to anyone?"
"Aye, sir," Gabe replied, "I discussed it with Lieutenant Markham on two occasions. Mr. Davy was present for part of one conversation but he heard no specifics."
"Anyone else?" the admiral firmly asked the lieutenants.
"No sir," Markham replied.
When Gabe hesitated, the admiral spoke again,
"Lieutenant Anthony?"
"Well, sir, I did discuss it with one other."
"Who, sir?"
"Dagan, my Lord."
A relief went over Lord Anthony's face as a general sigh escaped from Buck and Pope and the other gathered captains. No one would doubt Dagan's discretion, certainly not the admiral and that was al that mattered.
***
Halifax Harbour became a beehive of activity as Lord Anthony's ships were made ready for sea. Since the word had been "leaked" the fleet was headed south, the ships took on stores as would be necessary for the trip. This was to add credibility to the leaked story, when in truth whether the battle was won or lost the ships would only need one good day's supplies on board. However, anyone spying on the harbour would see what they would expect to see. Water hoys plying back and forth, victuallers, ship's boats and finally the ordnance barges.
Gabe was visiting Stephen Earl on board Le Frelon.
It was Gabe's first visit since Earl had taken command.
There was an obvious change in the ship's overall appearance. The freshly holystoned decks, the smell of fresh pitch fill ed the air. Cannons had been cleaned and
blackened, ropes were neatly coiled. Brick dust had been taken to the brass work and now it shined brighter than it probably had since the ship was launched.
"What a farce," Earl said, speaking of al the comings and goings of smaller craft.
"Aye," Gabe replied, "But a necessary one if we're to maintain surprise."
At that time, Mr. Boyd approached. He was Earl's first lieutenant and came from Merlin, where he had been Captain Buck's third lieutenant. "Pardon me, sir, but the twenty new hands have arrived as you mentioned. Would you care to speak to the men?" Earl looked at Gabe who tried to hide his smile.
"No, Mr. Boyd, turn them over to the bosun," Earl replied, "He'll take care of them."
As the lieutenant went to do his bidding, Earl shook his head and said, "He means well and seems quite knowledgeable but he's a long way from where I expect my first lieutenant to be."
"He'll learn quickly," Gabe said.
"Huh," snorted Earl, "He better, cause I'm thinking we're about to face an enemy like we've not done before."
"Do you think my plan is wrong?" Gabe asked his friend.
"No,Gabe. With no more at our disposal than what we have and there being no time for reinforcements, I think it's as good a plan as we could have. I do think the butcher's bill will be high whether we win or lose.
Those privateers will be crowded with fighting men for the invasion. It may sound cruel but I intend to sink what I can rather than come together and be overrun by large numbers."
"I agree," Gabe said then asked, "Have you a surgeon yet?"
"Unfortunately not, and there's a possibility we won't have. By the way," Earl continued, "Rumor has it Caleb has been smitten by some little rebel girl." Gabe felt a pang at the term "rebel girl" as it made him think of Faith. Seeing the look come over Gabe's face Earl realized he may have blundered.
"Forgive me, Gabe, I did not mean to be callous or insensitive."
Clapping his hand on his friend's shoulder Gabe said, "It's nothing." Then went on to explain, "Caleb has found himself infatuated with a young lady, Dagan's niece."
"Well, damme," Earl exclaimed, "I'd tread lightly if I were Caleb. I'd not want Dagen angry with me."
Chapter Five
The men were at their stations and the guns had al been made ready. The marines were ready, what few they were. The deck had been wet down and sanded.
Though wetting the deck down now appeared to have been a wasted effort. A heavy fog seemed to leave al in its wake wet.
Now it was time to wait. Hurry up, move your arses, then wait. The darkness finally gave way to dawn; a foggy dawn.
"It will break by mid-morning," Blake, the master said.
"That's a long time," an anxious Gabe replied. "Is there any sign of Swan, Le Frelon, or Pigeon?"
"Aye, sir." Lavery said. "The Swan is to larboard and Le Frelon is to starboard. I can't see the ketch but on last sighting she was on station with Le Frelon." Silence fill ed the deck. Every sound a ship makes at sea seemed to be magnified by the silence. The fog moved across the deck and through the rigging in a ghostly eerie silence then disappeared only to be replaced by another patch, leaving moisture as its only sign of having been present. The master wiped the compass with a dry cloth and Dagan taking Gabe's glass wiped the lens thoroughly though damn little good it would do as the next patch of fog would have it cloudy al over again.
Out of the corner of his eye, Gabe saw Lum whispering to Dagan who nodded and was now making his way to the wheel.
"Lum says he hears something not unlike the flap of the sail on the fishing yawl back home when the wind would fill the sail then die down."
"He's right," Gabe said, "I've heard the sound a time or two but couldn't make it out. Pass the word to the lookouts to watch for small boats, not just ships, Mr. Hazard."
"Aye, captain."
"I don't like the feel of the wind," the master, Blake, complained. "It's from the north but seems to bounce off yonder island. I…" There was a confused shouting to larboard, then a flash as a gun was fired.
A lookout shouted, "A gunboat, a black gunboat, sir, just let off a gun, can't tell if it hit anyone."
"Damme sir, but it sounded like a thirty-two pounder."
"Aye, that it did, Mr. Hazard."
Then she was visible again. A gunboat with one large gun mounted high on her bow. She had a lug sail and four sets of sweeps to maneuver her with when there was no wind. The marines were quick into action pouring round after round from their muskets and SeaWolf’s swivel guns into the smaller boat from their places in the rigging before she disappeared into the heavy fog bank. Then a flash of light, somebody set off a flare. Was it Earl on Le Frelon or the privateers?
"Makes no difference," Gabe thought, as in that one burst of light he saw what looked like six or more sets of sails dead ahead. Firing was sporadic and if anything was being hit it was not obvious yet. He felt suddenly queasy thinking what that thirty-two pounder would do to Swan if she were hit. Then a thunderous roar and flashes to starboard.
"That was Earl, I'm sure," Lavery said, his voice suddenly excited and high pitched.
"What was he firing at? Another gunboat? The ships ahead were not yet in range."
Meanwhile aboard SeaWolf with still no visible target, the gun crews sat at their stations, restless and uncomfortable now that the north wind was gathering in force.
"Fog will be gone quick like," the master proclaimed but that did nothing for the men as they shuffled and shivered, damp from the fog and cold from the wind. Gabe wished he hadn'
t ordered the gal ey fires out; a warm cup of coffee would have lifted their spirits if nothing else.
It was like holes in the sky as the sun was finally able to punch its way through the clouds. "Maybe we can see now, sir," the first lieutenant volunteered.
"And pray we be truly thankful for that which we are about to see," Gabe replied sarcastically but was suddenly sorry for his words. "My apologies, Mr. Hazard, I'm foul company this morning I fear."
Another patch of fog rolled across the waves and with its passing the sky was almost clear. And with the clear sky the glimpse of sails Gabe had seen earlier, they were dead ahead and stretched across the horizon.
The lookout was calling down, "Six…no…seven sets of sails, sir and one's a frigate."
"What about the damn gunboats?" Gabe cal ed.
"No sign, sir."
"We'll have to tack soon," Hazard volunteered,
"The master has stated the sooner the better." A number of smaller islands were now visible from the masthead and just beyond them a larger island, Grand Manan. Their present tack would take them dangerously close to those smaller islands.
"If it ain't the privateers, it is shoals and rocks," the master declared.
"Signal from Le Frelon, sir, engage enemy, single action."
"Damned cheeky of Earl if you ask me." Turning Gabe was face to face with Caleb, "Thinks he's a commodore no doubt."
Gabe had to smile, "Come to grab a bit of fresh sea sir before the excitement starts?"
"Aye," Caleb replied, and then asked, "What does Earl mean single action?"
"We'll break through the enemy's lines as a group then it's every man or every ship for himself."
"Did I hear the lookout say one was a frigate?"
"That you did, my friend, but it's a small one, twenty-eight or thirty-two guns I'm sure, not a forty-four like Drakkar. "
"Deck there, the frigate has fired but ain't yet found the range."
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 wa
s 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.
"That's it boys give them another round," Lavery cal ed out. A cheer came from the gun crews, the schooner had been hit hard…so hard she was dead in the water. The marine's sharpshooters continued to fire at human targets. Then they were past the enemy and in the clear.