The Seahorse

by Michael Aye

  Dagan spoke up. “Who knows, but they can’t all be friendly.”

  This caused an eruption of laughter from those gathered. Gabe gave Dagan a brief nod, thankful he’d defused any friction before it got out of hand. Sir Victor would have to learn quarterdeck etiquette.

  “Beat to quarters, Mr Lavery. I fear this day is about to get hotter.”

  Taking his glass Gabe could see the little brig had been boarded. The deck was all but overrun by privateers.

  “Your weapons, Captain.” Paco, ever silent but always there, had gotten Gabe’s sword and pistols. Seeing his captain look at the pistols, Paco added, “Loaded and primed, sir.”

  Within nine minutes Peregrine was cleared for action. Constant drill from the time they left Plymouth with the convoy had paid off.

  “Have the guns loaded but don’t run them out yet. Double shot and grape,” Gabe ordered.

  Peregrine and Lizard bore down on the battling ships. A ship the size of a large frigate and a brigantine had apparently captured the small brig.

  “That’s the same frigate we saw leaving England!” Lieutenant Wiley exclaimed. “I marked her well so I’d not forget.”

  “Deck there, they’ve seen us.”

  “Too late,” Gabe said. “They have to fight. Mr Hawks!”

  “Aye, Captain.”

  “Signal Lizard engage brigantine.”

  The mid ran off then halted and turned. “Aye, Captain.”

  “Excited that one is.”

  Seeing the approaching ships, the privateers made a hasty retreat back to their own ships.

  Lieutenant Davy said, “Listen sir, they are cheering us on. The brig’s people are cheering us on.”

  Suddenly the sound of a broadside vibrated across the waves. Everyone was silent as the lookout called down, “The frigate ’as fired on the brig. She be in shambles, sir.”

  “Damn the whoresons,” Sir Victor said. “That was a hellish thing to do.”

  Gabe was suddenly calm, recalling something his brother had once said. “He’s trying to rile you. Mad men make mistakes.”

  The distance was closing rapidly now. She’s larger, a forty-four at least, Gabe thought. We can’t match her gun for gun.

  “Mr Gunnells, do you see yonder ship has her larboard gun ports open?”

  “Aye, Captain, she expects us to pass that way.”

  “When I tell you, put your helm down. We will cross between her and the brig.”

  “Captain, there’s precious little room.”

  “There’s enough. Mr Davy, we will open this dance with the starboard quartet if you please. Be ready.”

  Lieutenant Wiley, who was to be in charge of the quarterdeck guns, looked wild-eyed at Lavery, not believing what he’d heard.

  “You’ll get used to it,” Lavery said nonchalantly. He added, “Sails her like a yacht in the channel, don’t he?”

  Nearer and nearer the ships closed. The frigate’s bowsprit loomed larger and larger.

  “Now, Mr Gunnells, now.”

  Peregrine heeled over and men had to hold on as the deck canted. Sir Victor lost his footing but was grabbed by one of the quarterdeck gun crews.

  Hanging onto a shroud, Gabe watched forward, “Wait…wait…now, Mr Gunnells, bring her up. Lively now. Mr Davy, open your ports and fire as you bear.”

  Gabe shouted out his orders. As Peregrine passed between the brig and the frigate, he saw the senseless carnage. Peregrine shuddered as it made its way down the side of the frigate, her guns belching fire and death as the double shotted balls and grape tore into the enemy ship.

  Gabe watched with satisfaction as great pieces of the frigate’s bulwark caved in. Fragments of torn planking filled the air with deadly splinters. One of the quarterdeck guns bellowed out its defiance, causing Gabe to cover his ears with his hands. They were now past the larger ship and not a single gun had fired on them, the surprise being so complete.

  Shouting to be heard above the gunfire, Gabe ordered, “Cross her stern, Mr Gunnells, cross her stern.”

  The bang of musket fire sounded and balls thudded into the deck.

  “Walk about,” Gabe told Sir Victor. “No need to give the cutthroats a prime target.”

  Men coughed and wiped their eyes as gun smoke drifted about. Then Peregrine heeled again as the wheel was spun and she crossed the stern of the frigate. An explosion and screams came from forward. The frigate had its stern chasers in action and a forward gun was overturned, killing two of its crew.

  Davy had the main battery firing again and again. Gun after gun fired. “That’s it.” He fairly leaped up and down. “That’s it. Bugger them good. Put another round up her arse.”

  Dagan leaned over and shouted into Gabe’s ear. “Boy has gone wild, worse than Caleb’s ape.”

  Gabe burst into laughter. One of the quarterdeck gunners poked his mate and pointed at the sight of their captain laughing away in the den of battle.

  “’E’s ’aving a gay old time, that one is.”

  “Probably counting ’is prize money, I ’spect.”

  As Peregrine crossed the frigate’s stern, Gabe ordered, “Cease fire…cease fire.”

  He then turned to Lavery, “That was well done, sir.”

  “Mr Gunnells.”

  “Aye, sir.”

  “Come about and lay us alongside the frigate.”

  “Aye, sir.”

  “Why?” Sir Victor asked.

  Gabe held back the angry retort, realizing the man probably didn’t know. “I intend to board her, sir.”

  Dagan again was there. “Arm yourself or go below, sir. No spectators this go around.”

  “Where’s Lizard?” Gabe asked.

  “She’s took the brigantine, sir.” This from one of the younger midshipman, Peter Chase. His little face was so smudged Gabe wanted to laugh.

  “Good, young sir. Mr Hawks.”

  “Aye, Captain.”

  “Signal Lizard, board enemy.”

  “Will he know which one, sir?”

  Lavery cuffed the boy a good one. “He’s already took the brigantine, lad. There’s only one left to board.”

  As Peregrine came about, Gunnells said, “Look there, Captain. It appears when we crossed the privateers’ stern we scored a luck hit on either a rudder cable or the rudder itself.”

  “Damme, Gunnells!” Gabe exclaimed, taking a glass from his eye. “Bear off, bear off, signal Lizard to take station astern. Mr Lavery, how would you like to board yonder vessel and ask them to surrender?”

  “Terms, Captain?” Lavery asked.

  “Terms?” This from Sir Victor. “I’ll tell you what terms: a fair trial and a swift hanging.”

  Gabe cleared his throat. “As we’ve always done, Mr Lavery. We’ll sign those we can within the squadron. And we’ll review the papers the captain may possess before a further decision is made. Otherwise, we’ll stand off and blast them to hell. The choice is theirs.”

  A longboat was pulled alongside using the towing rope she’d been tied to.

  “Shall I go?” Dagan whispered to Gabe.

  “No, Mr Lavery has to gain the experience if he’s to be ready to command at some point.”

  Peregrine’s hull rose and fell with the gentle swell as the officers and crew waited for Lieutenant Lavery’s return. The men remained at their battle stations…guns loaded and run out. They were ready for any signs of treachery on the privateers’ part.

  “Deck there,” the lookout called down. “A group o’ ladies, sir, ’as been brought on deck.”

  Everyone who had a glass trained it on the enemy ship. Six women lined the rail. Lieutenant Lavery could be seen as he went over the side and down into the waiting longboat. It was only a few minutes till Lavery climbed through Peregrine’s entry port.

  “Yonder captain is a black heart, Captain.”

  The group on the quarterdeck drew closer to hear Lavery’s comments. “He has six women and a plantation owner aboard his ship as hostages. He says you have fif
teen minutes from the time I reached this ship to set sail or he’ll start hanging the hostages. One every fifteen minutes we delay. Starting with the women first. At least two of the women are related to the gentleman so he’ll have to go through the misery of watching his kin hanged.”

  “Surely he knows we’ll blast him to hell if he touches even one of the women,” Sir Victor hissed.

  “I said the same. The bastard only shrugged his shoulders and replied, ‘They’ll still be hung.’”

  Looking across at the badly damaged brig, Gabe knew the privateer had the advantage. “Prepare my gig, Paco.”

  “It won’t do,” Lavery said. “Either I’m to return or it’s no good. He said he didn’t like to deal with more than one person at a time.”

  “Was anything said about the captured brigantine?”

  “Not specifically but I took it he meant they sailed together.”

  “They’ll be dead or worse if he sails off with the women aboard,” Dagan said, speaking for the first time.

  “I agree,” Gabe answered. “Lieutenant Lavery return quickly and tell the captain to put the hostages in a longboat and he has my word of honour that when he is over the horizon we will collect the women and release the brigantine.”

  “Tell him,” Gabe said as an afterthought, “once the brigantine is over the horizon, I will be coming after him.”

  As Lavery climbed down into the awaiting boat, Gabe saw Dagan following. He needed to go to get a feel of the situation, Gabe thought.

  “Paco!”

  “Aye, Cap’n.”

  “Take my gig over to Lizard and explain what has transpired. Tell Captain Culzean not to release the brigantine before my signal.”

  “Is it necessary, Captain?” Sir Victor asked. “Is there no other way?”

  “None that I can think of,” Gabe answered. “Besides I’ve given my word.”

  “No one would hold it against you,” Sir Victor hissed. “You could blow them away and no one would even know you gave your word.”

  Gabe’s sudden frown and squinted eyes frightened Sir Victor as he hissed, “They would.” Sweeping his arm out and pointing to his crew. “And I would.”

  “They’re lowering a boat, Captain.” This was from Lieutenant Wiley.

  Had he heard the exchange? I don’t care if he did, Gabe realized. Do him good to know how politicians think. Damn them all anyway.

  Gabe then put the encounter out of his mind and watched as the women were lowered into the waiting boat. No sooner had the last woman made it safely into the boat then the man was thrown over the side. He landed next to the bobbing longboat. Two of the oarsman unhooked a boat oar and held it out for the man to latch on to. The sound of laughter was heard about the privateer.

  “Thinks it’s funny don’t they?” Gunnells said.

  “Aye,” Gabe replied. “They’ll think it’s funny when we next meet and they don’t have a group of women to hide behind.”

  Watching the two boats, Lavery could be seen tying a rope onto the bow of the hostages’ boat. He then returned to the ship trailing the rope behind them.

  Once aboard he explained, “I didn’t see any need to send another boat to gather them when we could just pull them over.”

  “Good thinking. Prepare to get us underway, Lieutenant Wiley. Mr Gunnells, lay us alongside the brig. We may still be of some use.”

  “Captain.”

  “Yes, Mr Lavery.”

  “As I was leaving the privateer, a man approached. He was not the ship’s captain but he seemed to be in charge. He was the one who agreed to your terms. He asked me,” Lavery continued, “‘Who is your captain?’ Seeing no reason not be honest I told him who you were. ‘I thought I recognized him,’ the man replied. He…ah…he then said…No offense please, Captain.”

  “Go on,” Gabe prodded.

  “He said, ‘Ask the bastard how is Faith?’”

  Gabe clinched his fist until the knuckles turned white. “Montique!!! It must be him.”

  “Aye,” Dagan, who was standing close by said. “I had a feeling.”

  Gabe stood there staring out at the disappearing ship. Dagan laid his hand on his nephew’s shoulder. “His day will come, I promise.”

  ***

  The damage to the little brig was worse than anyone imagined. One mast hung over the side causing it to list. The other mast was completely gone, leaving only a shattered stump. The rails were battered beyond recognition and huge sections of the deck planking were torn apart. Mr Livesey was being helped down onto the smaller ship. A few of the brig’s crew moved around in a daze trying to comfort the few survivors. Gabe and Dagan ducked below for a quick look in the captain’s tiny cabin. It was almost bare. Not unlike SeaWolf’s, Gabe thought.

  “Not much here,” Paco volunteered.

  He had entered behind the two. As the three started out of the cabin, Paco stopped suddenly. Movement came from under a piece of bed linen in the corner. Gabe and Dagan stepped back as Paco took a broken chair leg and lifted the cloth.

  “A dog,” he exclaimed.

  “A puppy,” Dagan corrected.

  “A damn big puppy,” Gabe added.

  “He’s been hurt,” Paco said. “Looks like somebody went after him with a blade. Do you want me to finish him, Cap’n?”

  Gabe paused as if in thought. Taking a deep breath, he said, “No, there’s been enough of that sort of thing already. Let’s see if the surgeon can fix him up.”

  The puppy stared at the men, cowering until Paco reached for him. Then the dog bared his teeth and snapped at the man. Clearly startled at the dog’s tenacity, Paco jumped back.

  “Let me see him,” Dagan said and stepped around Paco. He knelt down on his knees next to where the dog lay. He whispered softly to the dog and slowly reached out his hand. Continuing to whisper he laid the piece of linen over the dog’s wound and gently picked it up.

  “That’s it. Now take it easy. We won’t hurt you, big fellow. He’s a big one all right.”

  “Big and tough as Sampson,” Paco said.

  “Why you’ve named him, Paco. We’ll call him Sampson.” Gabe said.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Sir Victor went ashore at St. Lucia but was back within an hour. “We will make sail as soon as possible, Captain.”

  “Aye,” Gabe replied. “Are we headed back to Barbados?”

  “We are not. We are sailing to Antigua and there you may be relieved of my company,” Sir Victor informed Gabe.

  “What about Lizard, sir?” Gabe asked. “Does she sail in company or report back to the admiral?”

  “I see no reason for her to return. She may yet prove useful.”

  Hearing Sir Victor’s words, Gabe wasn’t sure if the foreign affairs agent felt safer having two ships in company or if he was still looked upon as bait. Either way they were going to Antigua and that meant seeing Faith. Wouldn’t that make Gil envious? Gabe thought, smiling to himself.

  “Captain.”

  “Aye, Mr Lavery.”

  “I’ve talked to the ah…hostages, sir.”

  “They’re no longer hostages, Mr Lavery.”

  “Ere, well…yes sir. At any rate Mr Houghton and his family are from Barbados. The other hostages…young ladies are from St. Johns on Antigua.”

  “Thank you for the clarification, Mr Lavery,” Gabe said. “I’d hate to sail all the way to the Virgin Islands only to learn I was at the wrong St. Johns.”

  “You’re welcome, Captain, though I wouldn’t mind a little more time at sea to get to know a couple of them better. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, Captain, but a couple of them are lookers.”

  “Humph!” Gabe responded.

  The young ladies were certainly attractive even in their torn and ragged attire. The dresses the girls wore were all in a state of ill repair. Some were torn so that most of a leg was visible or the top buttons were gone so more of their chest was open showing more than considerable cleavage. All of this caused Gabe to rethink his previou
s thought. Maybe it’s this attire that made them more attractive.

  Dagan, who had sided up to Gabe, touched his shoulder and motioned to the waist of the ship. One of the young ladies sat on a hatch cover. Standing over her Lieutenant Davy could be seen in conversation with her. However, standing over her as he was he had a full view of her healthy chest.

  “Bring back memories of our days back in Antigua?” Dagan asked.

  “Was I so obvious?” Gabe asked.

  “Like Squire Hugh’s dog pointing pheasant.”

  “Why didn’t somebody say something?” Gabe asked.

  “Cause they were all looking too.”

  “I see,” Gabe said, joking with his uncle. “I guess that included you as well.”

  “Me especially,” Dagan replied with a chuckle.

  “Well, let’s get ready to weigh anchor,” Gabe said, turning to give orders to the first lieutenant. Then as an afterthought he turned and called out, “Mr Davy!”

  “Aye, Captain.”

  “Please attend to your duties, sir, before you go blind.”

  “Right away, sir,” the young lieutenant replied and dashed off, leaving the young lady to puzzle over the comment…go blind?”

  The evening air was much cooler as Peregrine and Lizard sailed northward to Antigua. Seeing his captain glance aloft at the sails the quartermaster volunteered, “Winds steady and holding, sir.”

  “Thank you, Yates.”

  “Captain, it’s a beautiful evening.”

  “Aye, that it is, Mr Houghton,” Gabe replied to the planter they’d rescued. “Few things can match the beauty of the sun going over the horizon at sea”

  “I agree, Captain, especially after what we’ve just gone through. When we were taken aboard that privateer I just knew my time was up. I also knew a fate worse than death awaited my wife, daughter, and the other young ladies. If it wasn’t for the ship’s captain…he tried to behave as a gentleman but the other man…he was cruel.”

  “Aye,” Gabe answered. “I know the man. He is evil…a devious, evil man. He’s been a foe for some time now but I’ve yet to get the upper hand.”

  “Well keep your pistols loaded and primed, Captain. Loaded and primed.”

  “I will, sir,” Gabe replied. He asked the planter if he and his family would care to dine with him that evening.