Gabe had ordered the guns be double shotted so the first broadside would be devastating. Not like SeaWolf's popguns, Merlin spoke with force.
Lieutenant Ferguson, the new lieutenant who had been one of Neptune 's officers was forward by the bow chasers. He had an apprehensive look but Gabe thought who wouldn't after having been mauled as they had.
This was his first action since that terrible day and if he didn't break today he'd be a fine officer.
Gabe forced himself to stand still while Lum handed him weapons, two pistols and his sword. Lum had a boarding pike and an axe while Dagan, true as always, had a blade the size of a claymore.
Gabe watched and as the bend was made shouted,
"Fire, fire as you bear."
The hull seemed to jerk and shudder as gun by gun the double shotted cannons spit forth a flame of murderous hell. The charges ripped over the channel and into the unsuspecting enemy. As the guns were being reloaded Gabe could hear SeaWolf's guns going off as she concentrated her fire on the clearing beyond the Barracuda.
Gabe recognized the unmistakable sounds of grapeshot being fired from swivel guns. Then Merlin jerked again as her cannons slung the twelve balls crashing into the Barracuda. Hit after hit was scored as evidenced by debris flying through the air.
On shore screams and curses were heard. A few men and several half-naked women ran into the trees while others ran for their ship.
"No doubt about those whoresons having headaches now," Hazard said jubilantly.
Dagan was then at Gabe's side, "The look is calling down. There's another ship."
So there was cause for Gil's concern, Gabe thought.
Looking beyond Barracuda's taller sides, sails could be seen as the smaller ship appeared to be headed out of the anchorage toward the Gulf. The ship had been sheltered from the onslaught by the bigger Barracuda.
Gabe had ordered all sails reduced before entering the channel but Merlin seemed to be gliding along faster than he wanted. He was about to reduce more sails when a hurrying Jackson skidded to a halt almost touching Gabe.
Shouting to make himself heard he said, "Barracuda's slipped her anchor cable and her bow is coming around."
How? Gabe thought. Then it suddenly came to him.
While de Lavago may have been surprised he'd kept his wits about him. Now with a glass Gabe could see Barracuda turning. They had passed a towline and the smaller ship was towing the larger ship down the channel.
Still looking through his glass, Gabe saw Barracuda's gunports open as she was pulled so that her guns came to bear.
"Down," Gabe cried. "Everyone down."
No sooner had the words been shouted than the air was rent with a flaming hell. It was like a volcano erupted as cries and screams mixed with the sound of shattered rails and torn planking emerged in to one.
Thank God SeaWolf was astern, Gabe thought, as he lifted himself up from the torn deck. Damn that cunning bastard, de Lavago, he thought. He'd one chance and he'd taken full advantage of it. Thank God, bow's on as they had only had a third or so of the cannons found their mark. That was bad enough, Gabe thought, as some men were being carried down to the surgeon while others, no longer recognizable as a man were being unceremoniously dumped over the side.
Seeing the bow chasers were still intact Gabe called,
"Lieutenant Ferguson."
"'E's done fer, sir," A gun captain said. "The 'Cuda's done got 'em."
I didn't even know the man, Gabe thought, but he seemed to know the… how did the gun captain say it… the 'Cuda. The 'Cuda had his number.
Turning his attention to the gun captains of the bow chasers, Gabe said, "An extra tot to the first crew to put a ball up… ' Cuda's arse."
This brought a cheer as the two crews raced to get off the first shot. Just before the guns went off Gabe heard a crashing sound as Merlin gave a shudder.
"Damme," he shouted. "Where'd that come from?"
"They've a battery ashore," Lieutenant Davy volunteered. "I saw the smoke from the mangroves yonder."
"Get this wreckage cleared," Gabe ordered.
Another crashing sound and Gabe raised his glass to see if there was enough smoke to pinpoint the battery.
"Mr. Lavery."
"Aye, captain,"
"I want you to lay a barrage on yonder mangroves.
There's at least two guns in there. Twenty-four pounders at least from the sound of them."
"Aye, aye captain."
Men were running in confusion as another ball scored a hit on one of the gun crews.
"God be merciful," Gabe whispered in a swift prayer. He was suddenly pushed backwards as a falling spar impacted with the deck creating a jolt throughout his body. Men were all about hacking away at the ropes and lines attached to the spar then when cut free dumped over the side.
A loud bang from forward attracted Gabe's attention as a cheer went up from the larboard bow chaser.
"Up 'is arse it be," the gun captain cried.
Then a loud boom ashore, Merlin's gunners must have hit the powder store for the shore battery as flames gushed into the air.
"That'll do them buggers," Gunnells declared.
There was no longer any fire from ashore so Gabe ordered, "Cease fire, cease fire. Mr. Lavery."
"Aye, captain."
"Mr. Druett."
"Aye, captain," the gunner replied.
"Keep a steady fire going with the bow chasers.
Maybe we'll get lucky and give the ' Cuda a taste o' what we gave the rogues ashore."
Lord Anthony walked the deck of Warrior unable to relax. It was already 'hot' in his cabin and only slightly better topside where a zephyr teased, disappeared then returned. It was now past dawn and impatiently he waited.
Warrior and Defiant had been at anchor for over an hour now. Glancing at Buck, the flag captain shook his head, "Nothing to report, my lord."
Bart appeared to be just as miserable himself only he'd had the good sense to remove his coat, so at least the heat was more bearable. Anthony had refused to remove his, citing the need to be recognized by the crew.
Bart had snorted, "'Em wot don't recognize yew now never will no matter wot yews wear." As the dawn broke Anthony could smell the aroma of pipe tobacco drifting across the deck. Bart had waited till the glow of the match wouldn't be seen ashore then lit up. His way of dealing with the stress of waiting. Silas had just brought him a glass of lime juice when he heard a distant rumble, not unlike thunder just over the horizon.
He walked to the lee rail and was met by Bart and Buck who drawled, "Gunfire by Gawd. Gabe has come to grips with the cutthroats."
Now the sound had become distinctive as the deep percussion of Merlin's cannons was followed by the bangs from SeaWolf's six pounders.
"Damme, if they ain't pouring it on," Buck said proudly.
"Hopefully they are giving and not receiving," Anthony said with a concerned voice.
The sound of gunfire continued almost in a rhythm when suddenly the unmistakable sound of a heavy broadside filled the air.
"That wasn't Gabe," Buck exclaimed.
Biting off a bitter retort Anthony tried to control his emotions as he felt his chest heave and a sickening wave of nausea swept over him. He gripped the bulwark trying not to be sick when Bart got his attention.
"Merlin be firing again, Gabe's giving the sodomite wot for again."
Anthony's ears now picked up what Bart's keen hearing already had. Thank God, he thought.
"Deck there," a cry from the lookout, "Two ships coming out the channel. One be a sloop hit be.
Tothers a frigate."
"'Bout time the bastard taste some real metal," Buck declared.
"I agree," Anthony said. "You may fire when convenient, Captain Buck, and pass the word to Defiant to do likewise."
"Aye, my lord."
"Rupert."
"Aye, sir."
"Concentrate on Barracuda. No prizes today. I want her sunk."
Buck was taken aback by the vehemence in Anthony's words but understood. They'd lost too much to this ship. "Sunk she'll be, my Lord, she'll never taste wind in her sail again."