by Michael Aye
Banty gave a sheepish smile, “No worries, quartermaster, my language will be that of a saint.”
Johannes snorted, “There’s nothing saintly about you, mate.”
The morning was clear; the harbor had gulls and sea birds all about. A pelican sat on a rock at the water’s edge and egrets walked about pausing to look into small pools looking for a tidbit of food. A sooty tern with its wide wingspan was headed out to sea.
“Eli Taylor told me a sooty tern will spend months at sea,” Cooper volunteered to Faith and Maddy.
“It’s a beautiful bird,” Maddy offered, watching the bird until it was out of sight.
Mac had the Raven underway in a fluid, professional manner. Cooper had not wanted to appear lacking in front of Maddy so he had asked Mac to get the ship underway.
However, Maddy broached the subject, “You let your first officer weigh anchor and put the ship to sea?”
Swallowing, Cooper replied, “Mac is a much better seaman than I.” Once he admitted that, the truth as he saw it flooded out of his mouth, “Maddy, I shouldn’t be Raven’s captain. I don’t know why I am. Mac is a much better seaman and officer than I am. He’s been at sea since he was twelve and I only have a year.”
Maddy looked at Cooper and smiled. She touched his hand and said, “You had to show something, Coop, otherwise Captain Taylor would never have turned the ship over to you. I think you under estimate your abilities. Father told me when he was a young lieutenant and got his first command, the most important thing Uncle Gil did was make sure he had a good master, an old salt who knew ships and the sea. Father told me on more than one occasion the master had made quiet recommendations that kept him out of trouble. I’m sure by the time you’ve been at sea as long as Mac has been you will find your skills and seamanship will be as good as anybody.”
Cooper suddenly had the urge to sweep Maddy off her feet and smother her with kisses. Damn, but she knew how to make a man feel good. However, with Faith standing close by he simply took Maddy’s hand and kissed the back of it. “You are an angel,” he said.
Maddy smiled now, “My parents and brothers would disagree with you.”
“I think your father would agree but, regardless, the others see you in a different light.”
“How would you define your light, Sir Pirate?”
“I think you know. If not, there’s no hope.”
Maddy put her hand on Cooper’s arm. “I know, but still a woman likes to hear the words.”
“I love you.”
Maddy’s reaction surprised Cooper. She literally jumped into his arms and kissed him long and hard. When she stopped, she stepped back but with her hands still on his chest. “Does that tell you how I feel, Sir Pirate?”
“Aye, your mother, me, and most of the crew,” Cooper replied.
Maddy’s hand went to her mouth as she smiled. She turned and saw a good many of the crew watching her. She gave a bow, which caused the crew to break out in cheers.
Cooper looked at Faith, “I’m sorry for that display, Madam.”
Faith smiled slightly. “It is not your fault, Coop. Maddy is an impulsive and passionate girl. When she wants something, she goes after it. Just remember, Coop, you’ve made no secret of what you do. I don’t want Maddy to be heartbroken with you being taken to the gallows. If you truly love Maddy, you need to give up this life as a pirate. My husband and son are duty bound. It’s been engrained since they were born. How would you feel if Jacob happened to be on a ship you were chasing? Could you look down the barrel of one of your cannons and fire?”
“No, Madam, I couldn’t.”
Faith smiled, but her face took on a sad look, “Your men would. You might be shot or thrown over the side but they’d fight to keep from being captured. Think about it, Cooper, think what you might be doing to Maddy. If you love her, as you say, think about her future.”
***
The night was cool with a slight breeze, and the moon looked big as it shined down. Occasionally, a cloud would pass in front to dim its glow for a few moments. Dinner had been served in Cooper’s cabin. He had taken turns every night bringing one of the crew in to dine with him, Faith, and Maddy. Johannes set up a lottery system where a new hand’s name was picked every night.
The crew enjoyed the meal and it helped quell the desire to sweep down on a likely prize when a sail was sighted. Other than Mac and Johannes, not a single crewman had ever sat down and dined with a lady. Some of the hands had even tried to bribe or pay another for his spot, knowing only a handful would have the pleasure of spending an evening with ‘ladies of quality.’
Maddy had traded her dress for seaman’s slops during the day, but at night, she dressed for dinner. After they had eaten a simple but tasty meal, they all came on deck. Mac was playing his guitar and singing with a group gathered around. The fiddler soon followed along.
Joining the group, Maddy was soon tapping her foot in time to the music. Seeing this, Mac and Moree, the fiddler, played an up tempo song. Banty jumped up, bowed to Maddy who took his outreached hand and the two danced to the delight of the crew. After Banty’s dance, Robinson, Bridges, and McKemie all took a turn.
“Play something slower,” Johannes said, as the last jig finished. As the music started, he asked Faith, “May I have the pleasure of this dance?” Faith gave a slight curtsey and the two danced an elegant dance. A side of Johannes, Cooper had never seen…a gentleman. Cooper then danced with Faith.
The last dance was with Maddy; a slow tune, a love ballad with Mac’s voice soft and mournful. Maddy leaned in to Cooper and he felt her head on his chest, her warm body touching his. It was like they were in another world. When the music stopped they lingered together a moment. She looked up and Cooper kissed her, her lips were warm and sent a shock through him.
Taking a breath, he stepped back. “Thank you for such a wonderful dance, my love.”
“You are most welcome, Sir Pirate.”
***
“Sail ho!”
“Where away,” Mac called.
“Dead ahead, straight off the bow.”
The call did not generate the excitement as it usually did. Maddy, in her slops, was amidships watching Banty as he worked on a line, wrapping the end with sailcloth and tying it tightly. As he turned his head, the sun reflected off of his earring.
“Tell me, Banty, why do sailors wear earrings?” she asked.
Banty paused at his task. “Don’t you know, Maddy, with you growing up with seamen?” Maddy shook her head no, so Banty continued, “Legend has it a man with gold in his ear will not drown.”
“Humm, can’t you swim, Banty?”
“No, my Cherie, most sailors can’t. That’s why they made ships, so we wouldn’t have to learn.”
This seemed odd to Maddy but she didn’t say any more, mostly because the lookout called down again. “Yonder ship has come about.”
This did create interest to everyone. Banty dropped what he was doing and went to the binnacle and took a glass from its rack. He glanced at Johannes, who gave him a nod, so up he went.
“Slide over, mate,” he said to Johnson, once he reached the tops. Banty focused his glass and studied the ship. She was bearing down under full sail. As he watched, he saw her gunports open. There was no doubt what the ship intended. Down a backstay he went. He hit the deck and dashed to the quarterdeck. “She’s a big bitch, a frigate I’d say and she’s just opened her gunports. This ain’t no social call.”
Spurlock turned to his friend, Diamond, “I hope this doesn’t mean I lose my turn to dine tonight.”
Diamond punched his friend, “I’ll stand in for you, mate.”
The crew went to quarters and Mac touched Cooper’s arm, giving a nod indicating Faith and Maddy. Quang was the closest sailor so Cooper called to him, “Take the women down to the sick berth. It’s about the safest place they could be.” As Quang gathered the women, Maddy turned to Cooper and mouthed, “I love you.”
Cooper nodded and turned his
attention to Mac and Johannes. “We can’t trade ball for ball with that one. She’s too big.”
“What do you intend to do?” Johannes asked.
“We can’t outrun her, correct?” Cooper asked.
“Never,” Mac responded.
“The only option left, as I see it, is to board her and fight it out, blade for blade,” he said. Both men nodded; Cooper was right.
“A word to the crew would be good, Captain.” This was said just as smoke erupted from the forward guns of their foe.
“Men,” Cooper shouted. “Yonder ship shows you no respect. They mean to take your ship, your plunder, and…your ladies.” This caused the crew to roar. Cooper held up his hand. “They are bigger with more metal but not a man among them could even beat Banty.” A laugh erupted from the crew. “I intend to lay us alongside and give them a taste of metal…this,” Cooper said, raising and waving his sword in the air.
Standing at the hatch where they had paused, Maddy thought, that’s why you are the captain, Sir Pirate. That’s why you are the captain.
***
Johannes had again placed two men on the wheel. A ball had landed alongside with a dull thud and splashing water inboard.
“Johannes, I want to keep Raven’s bow head on to yonder ship’s bow,” Cooper ordered. “If she changes course, as I’m sure she’ll do, we will counter. I do not want yonder captain to have his way. We will offer as small a target as we can.”
“Aye, Captain.”
Quang was back from getting the ladies below. Seeing him, Cooper said, “Quang, go tell Spurlock to have his gunners to fire as they bear. Don’t wait for my command, fire as the situation allows.”
“Aye, Captain.”
When the enemy ship turned to give a broadside, Johannes had the wheel put down, offering only the Raven’s stern, a much smaller target. It was a risky target if the rudder was hit but the maneuver was worth the risk. When the other ship’s captain laid his ship on a course to give chase, Raven was brought about with every gun firing as they bore on the other ship’s bow. Cheers went up as the bowsprit fell and wood flew high in the air.
“Did you see the figurehead?” Mac asked Cooper. “It’s a snake’s head, that’s the Cobra.”
The Cobra tried one more time to give a broadside but Johannes was quick to change course again. Two balls hit the stern railing and sent wood high into the air this time.
“Too, too close,” Mac snarled.
“We are dancing circles around the bugger,” someone yelled.
For now, Cooper thought. As the distance grew, the Cobra’s captain swung his ship around to give chase.
“Not the best ship handler I’ve seen,” Mac commented.
Regardless, the advantage that they’d been given by the slow ship handling was soon to disappear.
“Do we have time to come about and meet yonder ship head on?”
“It will be close but we can try.”
“Bring her about, Mr. Ewers.”
“Aye, Captain.” Formality was once again being used.
“Every shot they have fired has been with either the forward guns or the larboard side. Have you noticed that?” Cooper asked.
“Aye,” both Johannes and Mac answered.
“If the Cobra continues on a collision course as we are now headed, I want you to change course at the last moment possible and lay us alongside her starboard beam. Mr. Diamond, have your sail handlers ready. Quang, go tell Spurlock what we are about. I want every gun and swivel we have loaded with a double shot of grape. Let’s cut down as many of the whoresons as possible.”
“Aye, Captain, I like yer way of thinking.”
The Cobra continued to bear down. He must think I’m willing to trade broadsides, Cooper thought to himself. The ships continued to converge on each other. Another puff of smoke from the Cobra’s forward guns and Raven took a glancing hit. The men were seasoned and did not have to be told to stay down behind the rails.
This time clouds of smoke bellowed out as Cobra fired. The shot was heard overhead as it passed through the sails, two pockmarks. Spurlock had Raven’s guns going, getting two shots to one of the Cobra’s. A cheer went up. Spurlock’s last shot hit one of Cobra’s forward guns, knocking it into the air. It must have been about to fire as it exploded as it came down. But still the ship came on, with the bow was looking larger and larger.
Fear went through Cooper as he thought about the women below. Please God, he prayed, let us carry this day.
CHAPTER FORTY ONE
The Cobra’s captain’s mindset must have been enough of this dancing around. Maybe, he thought, Cobra’s heavier guns would end the battle with a broadside as Raven sailed past. Therefore, he continued on course. He did not tack and he did not come about. He didn’t alter his course in the least bit. If the two ships continued, Cobra’s starboard guns would erupt at pistol shot range. That’s what Cooper wanted the blackheart to think. That’s why he continued on course.
Mac stood next to Cooper, “We are going to be cutting it close, Coop.”
Johannes looked at his captain anxiously, much longer and the Cobra would ram Raven as she made her cut.
“Now,” Cooper ordered.
The helmsman spun the wheel as Johannes had instructed them in preparation for the maneuver.
“Mr. Spurlock, be ready,” Cooper ordered. “Are the men ready with the grappling hooks, Mr. Diamond?”
“Aye, Captain.”
The deck canted sharply as Raven responded to the wheel. Cooper, Mac, and Johannes had to grab hold of the fife rail to keep from falling. It seemed like they were holding on for ever when Johannes shouted for the change in course to lay Raven on Cobra’s larboard side. The wheel spun again. This time it seemed like it took forever for the rudder to bite and Raven’s new course set.
“Down with the sails,” Mac called as pre-planned.
Instead of the usual evolution, lines were cut. This was life or death. The lines could be fixed if Raven took the day. If not, it wouldn’t matter if all the lines were cut. They were almost alongside the Cobra.
Mac quickly took Cooper’s hand and shook it, “Meet you on Cobra’s quarterdeck.” He then ran to meet his boarders.
In the fighting tops, the men were ready. The gunners stood by their cannons, which were filled with grape and set on maximum elevation. Mr. Diamond stood by the men with grappling hooks. Raven crashed into Cobra’s side and bounced out with a loud thud, but came grinding back as the helmsman held the wheel over.
As the ships came together again the grappling hooks shot out and secured quickly. One, then two, and a third line snapped like a gunshot but more hooks were flying through the air. Cobra had not reduced sail so the first lines couldn’t take the strain. But the bosun, Mr. Diamond, had every hook the Raven carried flying over.
Cobra felt the weight and tension now and slowed, but water came over Raven’s stern. Would Raven be swamped? Overhead, the swivels banged away as they spit their load of grape down on men running to cut the grappling lines. The cannons roared and flames jumped forth as their deadly load flew across Cobra’s deck.
Spurlock, a wise and experienced gunner, had foreseen the problem of Raven’s possibly being swamped so he’d had every other gun captain concentrate on Cobra’s mast and sails. Double-shotted with a measure of grape, the guns leaped as they were fired. The devastation to Cobra’s mast and sails were felt at once as the air was rent with grape and ball. The sails were torn to pieces, tattered canvas flapping but unable to catch the wind. Spars, tackles, and rope all crashed down on Cobra’s crew. The foremast was leaning, its stays snapped.
“Boarders away,” Cooper yelled. Mac and Diamond followed suit.
Overhead, the swivel gunner poured another load down on Cobra’s crew. Men were down, kicking and screaming, but still Raven’s crew were significantly outnumbered. A sharpshooter on Cobra fired his musket, striking the swivel gunner on the mainmast. He held to the handle on his gun and pulled the lanyard, his loa
d cutting down several as he fell lifeless to the deck.
Seeing this, Johannes sent another man up to take the gunner’s place. “Quickly now,” Johannes urged the man.
Boarders from the Raven were climbing up Cobra’s side, forward, amidship, and aft. Some of Cobra’s men had opened gunports and were firing at the boarders, but they were quickly dispatched as several of Raven’s men took advantage of the open ports and climbed through them. No boarding nets, Mac thought, as he was up and over Cobra’s side. The captain would never make it in the Royal Navy.
As Raven’s men made the deck, they were met with Cobra’s crew. The men manning Raven’s swivels continued to cut down on the odds. Cobra’s captain finally sent someone to man their swivels, but Raven’s aft swivel gunner cut him down with a load. The guns were now getting hot…too hot to risk another charge of powder. The bucket for the wet swabs was empty. It was sent down on a rope but for now the gun was useless.
On Cobra’s deck, a fierce battle raged. Pistols were jammed into their foes’ guts and fired. The pistol was then used as a club or discarded. Cooper had already fired the three pistols he’d brought. Now it was steel on steel. Someone fired a pistol next to his ear making him duck as the hot air scorched his neck, deafening him suddenly. However, ducking saved his life as a cutlass swooshed through the air, inches from where his head had been. He thrust his blade forward into the rogue who had tried to decapitate him. As he yanked his sword free from the man, he was attacked by two men; one with a cutlass and the other with a boarding pike.
Cooper quickly pulled his small sword and thanked Sir Lawrence for Jean-Paul’s lessons. “You never know what or how many you will face,” the fencing master had said. Therefore, Cooper was trained to be ambidextrous. The lesson came in handy as the two cutthroats realizing the victory they believed they had was no more than an illusion. Cooper blocked the pike’s thrust with his sword, while deflecting the cutlass lunge with his small sword. The cutlass tore his shirt and sliced his shoulder but the blade did not impale his chest as the foe thought it would.