Distant Gunfire

by David O'Neil

  Lady Stephen retained her aloof air until the transit of the straits of Malacca, coldly beautiful was how Robert would have described her, until Malacca that is.

  Long infamous for the pirate activity, the straits lived up to their reputation and three attacks were made on the ships as they passed through.

  The first was nearly the last. During the early hours of the morning a small boat hooked on to the stern of Roister, two men climbed up to the stern windows and climbed through the open windows. Robert, who had been on deck taking a breath of air in the heavy humidity of the night, leaned over the stern to look at the wake and saw the boat, and the first man entering the cabin below. He ran immediately below and snatched his sword from his bunk and, pushing aside the marine at the cabin door, thrust the door open and entered. The figure by the bed occupied by Sir Marcus turned with raised knife, shocked by his sudden entry. Robert lunged and skewered the would-be assassin, who dropped the knife and fell to the deck. A movement on his left caused Robert to realise the other man was there then there was a cry and a scuffle he turned to reveal the semi-nude figure of Lady Stephen grappling with a dark figure. He grabbed the man and wrenched his head back. The crack of the man’s neck was loud in the dark cabin. His figure separated from his slender victim, who fell into Robert’s arms, clutching him, still shaking. The scissors in her hand fell to the floor with a clatter.

  “It’s all right, he’s done.” Robert said, stroking her back through the thin silky material of her shift. He felt her calm down and realised that he had heard no sound or reaction from Sir Marcus.

  “Your husband, I must check and see if he is alright, he hasn’t stirred!”

  “He won’t, he takes a sleeping draught every night; he will not awaked until dawn at least. He will be quite unaware of the attack.”

  Robert examined Sir Marcus’s recumbent figure to find he was in fact deeply unconscious and unstirring despite his hand on the man’s shoulder.

  Lady Stephen seemingly unaware of her semi-naked state stood and thanked Robert for his intrusion. He took a robe from the hook on the door and draped it round her. He indicated for the men at the door to remove the two assailants and she stood unmoved as the two bodies were carried out. Looking through the stern windows Robert saw the group of other boats apparently waiting a signal to board in their turn. Using the blade of his sword he cut the rope holding the small boat to the stern and watched it drop behind empty, rocking gently in the wake. The other boats dropped back and disappeared into the night.

  “Post a watch to guard against attempts to board. And in the morning warn the other ships to keep a special lookout while we pass through the straits.” Robert wiped the blade of his sword on a cloth to clean off the blood if the intruder. Sheathing it he returned to the deck to cool off once more. He was joined at the rail by Lady Stephen, now demurely clad in the robe he had placed about her shoulders earlier. He stood as she approached. “Your Ladyship.” He bowed.

  “Please,” she said. “Call me Eve; after all, we know each other a little better now. May I call you Robert?” She looked up at him, her blue eyes seeking his approval.

  “Of course, but your husband—will he approve?”

  “If he notices, I shall be surprised. Since he started to use the sleeping draughts he has lost interest in me and in the children. All he seems to do is rest. It is most frustrating and worrying.”

  They leaned together on the rail in companionable silence for a while before she stood upright once more. “I will sleep now. Thank youm Robert, for your timely intervention and for saving the lives of my husband and I; also for your company and understanding.”

  When she left the night seemed empty and soon Robert descended to his berth to sleep restlessly for the remainder of the night.

  While still in the Malacca Strait several suspicious boats and small craft were spotted and as Robert was pleased that he had posted lookouts to keep watch and give warning of any further attempt to board the ship. The rifles placed strategically round the deck were ready for any close action, and the swivel guns were mounted and loaded ready for action at close quarters.

  Just one hour into the first dog watch on the third day the raiders came. A fleet of dark boats came to intercept Roister, paddling swiftly from the shore ahead.

  Jaipur and Rivage were well astern, having been detached to collect water and provisions at Singapore, the settlement on the island at the southern end of the Malay Peninsula. They would not catch up until the morning.

  The First Lieutenant was on watch and when he was informed of the boats approaching he had the Captain called and quietly called the watch to arms. The watch below were warned to stand to in case they were needed and Robert called Eve to let her know that an attack was anticipated.

  The two officers peered over the bulwarks at the approaching craft. Slim catamarans, with masts stepped but no sails at present; a whole fleet of boats with maybe one hundred men poised to attack the ship.

  “Rifles; the lead craft.” Robert called the seven men crouched ready with their rifles cocked.

  “Rapid fire, commence!”

  The seven men rose and as one fired at the men in the lead craft, then they dropped behind the bulwarks and reloaded, they rose once more and fired another volley. Billy called forward a second group of riflemen. “Fire in turn target the first boat!” The second group waited until the first group were reloading and then rose in turn and fired at the first boat. When the reloaded group rose to fire once more; the lead rifleman said “Struth, what a mess, change target to the second boat, fire!”

  The havoc caused by the rifles shooting had turned the first boat into a reeking horror of bleeding dead and dying men.

  “Gunner, fire the swivels at any in range!” the clipped tones of the Captain broke the tension building on the quarterdeck, and the gunner leapt to the two guns mounted on the stern rail. He touched off the fuse on the starboard swivel; then over to the port swivel, aimed and set off its fuse. The first discharged its load of bits and pieces of scrap metal into the second boat then the second swivel fired it’s charge of musket balls into the next boat. Seeing what had happened to the first three boats, the others slowed their approach and started to circle round. The gunner went to the bow chasers and peered through the port, cursing his gun crew he had the gun turned a little to align it with the target, at Robert’s nod he touched the match to the touch hole on the cannon and stood back. The gun roared and leapt back against its stop ropes. The charge of grape shot tore the boat to pieces, smashing it and the men in it, to bloody shreds.

  The waters around the boats suddenly came alive with sharks and barracuda fighting for a share of the shattered bodies scattered around the small boat fleet. At the gunner’s look, Robert nodded and the gunner and his crew ran to the other bow chaser and turning the gun with spikes to line it up; the second charge this time of canister settled the issue. The charge hit the side of its target and the shattered boat tilted over and spilled the men, dead, wounded and uninjured into the shark-infested waters, adding to the screams of the other casualties already being torn to pieces by the voracious fish.

  The rest of the boats were scurrying away, ignoring the cries of their unfortunate compatriots not yet found by the sharks. Robert and his First Lieutenant watched them disappear into the loom of the dark shore.

  “Reload,” Robert ordered, “Hopefully that will be enough to warn them off. Well done, men. Stand down the watch below, Mr. Beaufort; I’ll be in my cabin if you need me. Keep a good lookout, they may have friends!”

  He went below to his cabin. As he passed the great cabin door it opened and the anxious face of Eve appeared, “Is everything alright? Have they gone away?” Her blue eyes were compelling, “I’ve got the children back to sleep but I am unable to settle down, it’s so hot. Is it safe to go on deck for a while to cool off?”

  “Of course, Eve,” he turned and took her arm and helped her up the steps to the quarter deck, and strolled with her arm in
arm up and down on the deck while she regained her composure and cooled off.

  The third attack was when they were leaving the straits and turning north to the South China Sea.

  The two junks sailed into view from the direction of Java; there was nothing to indicate that the ships were pirate, just two more of the myriad of ships and boats that sailed the southern sea and across the wide Pacific Ocean.

  Lieutenant Ogilvie watched the two junks with interest. They were bigger than many and they carried no flag though the big ribbed sails were painted with vivid images of Dragons and strange plants. He idly lifted the telescope and focussed on the leading junk.

  There were people on deck, quite a few, more than the operation of the sails merited, perhaps she carried passengers. He shrugged and turned to look at the second junk. As he swung the telescope he caught a flash of light from the deck of the leading vessel. Curious he swung the glass back, there was nothing that he could see that could have caused the flash, then it happened again. He concentrated on the location and suddenly realised that he was looking at the reflection of the sun from a blade, a weapon.

  He swung the glass to the second junk, studying the people on the deck intently, flash there it was again, another weapon? It was difficult to see, the sunlight was bright and for a moment he wondered if he was seeing things; what seemed to be a piece of cargo was a cannon. Why a cannon on a trading junk?

  He snapped the telescope shut decisively and called Alan Dawson over “Ask the Captain to join me on deck, Mr. Dawson,” and as Alan ran below to call the Captain, he strolled over to where Lady Stephen and Maria sat in the shade. “We may have a little excitement, ladies.” he said casually I think the two junks have ideas above their station.”

  Robert came on deck, pleased to get away from the seemingly endless reports he was expected to make.

  “Where away, Mr. Ogilvie?” Without waiting for the reply his eye’s swept the horizon and fixed on the two junks. He reached for the telescope that Ogilvie held out and raised it to study the approaching ships.

  “I believe you are right, Mr. Ogilvie. Please quietly call the hands to quarters, open the armoury and load the Port guns—canister, for the carronades, I think. Mr. Dawson, take the telescope to the Maintop and call down what you can see.”

  Ogilvie raised his voice further along the deck calling to the gunner, “Canister for the carronades.” He spoke to the Bo ‘sun and went to the deck lockers and opened the doors to display the rows of rifles standing in the racks.

  Captain Ullyet appeared on deck, immaculate as ever. He saluted the ladies and strolled over to the Captain. “Do I smell trouble, sir?”

  “I swear you must have the sight, Ullyet. You always seem to appear before you are called.”

  “We are trained to anticipate our leaders every wish, sir!”

  Robert chuckled. “Well, my wish is for your men to discreetly come on deck hiding behind the bulwarks, to prepare to repel boarders if it becomes necessary.”

  “At your command, sir.” Captain Ullyet tipped his hat to the ladies once more and went below only to appear almost immediately followed by his sergeant and the Company of marines all doubled over, hiding below the level of the bulwarks, to take up positions along the deck on the port side.

  At Robert’s raised eyebrow, Ullyet shrugged and with a smile said, “Part of the Marine culture, sir,” in answer to the unasked question.

  From the maintop Alan Dawson called, “Below there; armed men on deck of both junks, and to starboard three fishing boats approaching with armed men on their decks.”

  Ogilvie came over to the Captain and indicated without the telescope it was possible to make out the three big fishing boats approaching; through the glass it was possible to see the throng of men crowding the decks of all three craft.

  “Perhaps we should also load the starboard guns, Mr. Ogilvie. What think you, Mr. Beaufort?”

  The First Lieutenant had appeared on deck as the men were roused. “I think we should send a challenge, perhaps one each way just to keep things even handed.”

  “You think they may be rivals, do you? You could be right. Mr. Ogilvie, across their bows, if you please. Now, ladies, I think you aught to collect the twins and retire below.”

  “But, Captain, we can see everything from here; can we not stay?”

  “Sorry, ladies. Mr. Dawson, if you please!”

  Alan, having returned to the deck, collected the ladies and ushered them below, then returned and turfed out the twins who were currently hiding in the maintop.

  The boom of the cannon shattered the calm of the morning causing a great flutter among the many seabirds perched in the rigging and feeding from the galley scraps on the surrounding water.

  Two towers of white water rose in beautiful columns, one to port the other to starboard in front of the approaching junks and fishing craft.

  Neither altered course nor did they make any attempt to slow down. On the lead junk, the cannon noticed by Ogilvie was swung round and its boom was followed by the third column of white water to scar the blue of the sunlit water.

  There was no reply from the fishing craft, just the determined approach of the three craft now in line abreast.

  “Very good. Mr. Ogilvie, run out the guns.” With a rumble as the carriages were dragged into position in the now open ports, the Roister showed her teeth.

  “Fire when you are ready Mr. Ogilvie.”

  “Gunners, point your pieces,” when all the gun captains had their hands raised signalling ready

  Ogilvie gave the order and the guns fired.

  The crash of the broadside was loud on the quiet morning, the cloud of smoke blew clear and the effect of the guns could be seen. The first junk was a wreck, her masts shattered and the deck strewn with bodies and wreckage, she was down by the head and sinking steadily. The second junk had drawn alongside and was now engaged in rescuing the survivors from the devastating broadside from Roister.

  On the other beam all three of the fishing craft had received the benefit of the Roister’s guns; the long guns had smashed hulls and spars, and the carronades had created mayhem among the men crowded on deck.

  The cries of the wounded and splashes of blood painting the planking made a pitiful picture in the otherwise tranquil scene.

  “Should we stop to give assistance, sir?” Ogilvie looked pale.

  “Do you understand what would happen if those men got a foothold on this ship? Against my better judgement I am not going to stop and finish them off. You may clear the guns, Mr. Ogilvie, and send the hands to routine once more.”

  “Yes Sir,” Ogilvie turned and called to the Master gunner, “Secure the guns, Mr. Newton, and restore the armoury.”

  The rifles were restored to the armoury and the guns lashed, gun ports closed. Several of the gun crews gathered on the foc’sle to discuss the merits of their respective guns.

  Throughout the entire action, Sir Marcus Stephens did not appear nor did he show any interest whatsoever. When Robert spoke to Eve Stephens about it, she lifted her hands in the air,

  “He will not take notice of what I say. I believe he was comatose the whole time, he was certainly not awake when I went below before the action, and he showed no sign of waking when I came up afterwards.”

  Robert spoke of the condition of Sir Marcus to John Sweet, but was saddened to hear that John had already had words on the subject with Sir Marcus. Despite the surgeons disquiet about the use of the draught Sir Marcus was adamant that without it he could not sleep or even relax. He was therefore determined to use it whenever he felt it necessary.

  Sailing north through the scattered islands of the South China Sea they were attacked by pirates on two more occasions. The pirates came from more than one direction to attempt to swamp the ship’s defences. Dashing out from the concealment of the near islands gave little time to load the guns. However the rifles were placed in several places round the deck and the deadly accuracy of the marksmen dissuaded the pirates on ea
ch occasion. The softening attitude of Lady Stephen towards Robert and indeed the other officers on the ship made the voyage much more congenial. The absence of Sir Marcus ceased to be a topic of conversation or conjecture, and Adam Tamar fell in love.

  It was not surprising that in a ship full of men even a plain woman would be popular, and the pretty Maria, nanny to the twins, could have been the cause of mayhem had she chosen to. As it was she had seen Adam Tamar and for her there was no other on the ship. For Adam it was a total surprise to discover that this seventeen-year-old girl could captivate him in such a complete way.

  He confided in Alan Dawson that he wished to marry Maria, and when Alan pointed out he had never even spoken to her, he brushed this aside as incidental since he knew. Alan was mystified by this strange fixation that seemed to affect people when they grew up, he was made aware of the fact that he and Adam were years apart in age, a fact that had not been obvious up to now, and it saddened him.

  It was Eve who broke the news to Robert as they sat on the quarter deck in the shade of the Spanker sail.

  “You realise, Robert, that your masters mate, Adam Tamar, is in love with Maria?”

  “I realise that most of the crew are in love with Maria.” he replied with gentle irony.

  “True indeed, but in this case Maria returns his affection, and I think the situation is beyond curing. The twins have actually arranged for them to meet and talk for the first time this afternoon.”