Earl aimed at what appeared to be an officer and squeezed the trigger. As the man went down he put the fired pistol in his waistband and shifted his other pistol to his right hand. When he spotted another target, he aimed, held his breath for a second then fired. When the second man collapsed he took his sword and joined into the fight.
The privateers were now tiring. They'd all but won the battle with LeFrelon when Merlin joined in. A small half-crazed man screaming profanities was skewered by Lord Anthony's blade. He dropped the axe he had been carrying and bolted toward a ladder, before dropping to the deck, letting out a final bloodcurdling profane scream.
Earl, who was by Lord Anthony looked at the admiral and declared, "Blasphemy, by Gawd."
"Damnation," Bart cried. "Look!"
Knight was in the midst of a melee. The man could be heard yelling encouragement to his men. His voice strong and commanding could be heard above the din of battle.
Dead and dying men lay sprawled about the deck.
Little knots of men were still fighting. Lord Anthony now was face to face with a man carrying a blade and a tomahawk. Desperation showed on the man's face and
eyes as he circled and prodded with his blade, feinting then swinging the tomahawk.
Circling with the man, Anthony became aware of how slick the deck had become from all the blood and gore. Feeling himself tire, Anthony knew he had to soon end it. Then just as he started to press the man, there was a loud crack to his left.
His opponent's face turned from that of a man to unrecognizable gore. As the man dropped to the deck Bart stepped up next to Lord Anthony, smoking pistol still in his hand.
"No need to bother with that bugger. Iffen he'd 'ad any sense he'd throwed down 'is weapons and surrendered proper like. 'Nother one o' them buggers wot shoulda learned 'scretion, I'm thinking. Now 'e'll never share another wet with 's mates." The fighting was now over. Merlin's marine lieutenant was bellowing at his men to form up.
Wounded men were being carried below and the bodies of dead privateers were being dumped unceremoniously overboard. Cries from the orlop deck could be heard as Bart and Lord Anthony made their way back on board Merlin.
Turning to Lord Anthony, Bart spoke in a very solemn voice, "I don't know wot's worse, dying on deck or at the 'ands o' the surgeon."
Nursing a cut arm, Anthony replied, "I don't know but I think it's quicker in battle."
"Aye," Bart agreed, "Plus yew don't 'ave to lay there and think on it."
Back on board SeaWolf, Gabe and his crew were able to get the burning sail cut away and overboard before the fire had spread. Most of the damage from the battle was to the rails and bulwark. One gun would have to have a new carriage. Two crewmembers were dead and several wounded, a few from fighting the fire and not the battle.
LeFrelon was not so lucky. She had twenty dead and twice that wounded. The ship had taken a beating and may sink.
"Several planks has been stove in," the carpenter reported, "Plus she be holed twice."
As Knight reported to Admiral Anthony he felt distraught. "I doubt she'll ever fight again, my Lord. The frigate's heavier guns pounded her badly, I'm afraid."
"Think she'll make it to Saint Augustine?" Anthony inquired.
"I'm not sure, my Lord. If the wind doesn't get up she might."
"Very well," Lord Anthony said with a sigh. "Leave your first lieutenant and a skeleton crew on board and you take command of the frigate. What was her name?" Anthony asked.
"The Neptune, sir."
"Ah, yes, the Neptune. Since Lord Howe has promoted you to commander of LeFrelon, I'm sure he'll confirm your promotion to captain and command of the frigate. Did you loose any officers?"
"No, my Lord."
"Good, then we'll do what we can for LeFrelon now, and make a final decision when we get back to Saint Augustine."
PART II
Searching for fresh air.
The crew gathering on deck,
And stared out in awe;
As the Caribbean sun set.
They drank down their ration,
And lit up their pipes.
The master had promised,
Another scorching night.
– Michael Aye
Chapter Eight
The weeks following the battle with the privateers proved to be less rewarding. It was monotonous at times and hot all the time.
Anthony sent the ships out on patrol in pairs. Merlin and Swan were plying the coast up to Wilmington, North Carolina where two transports had been taken by rebel gunboats.
The Cape Fear River poured out into the Atlantic at Wilmington. The area had over a dozen inlets and most were suited for privateering. Strike fast, then escape into one of the inlets where navigation would be very treacherous for someone who didn't know the area.
Captain Knight on the newly captured Neptune, and Gabe on SeaWolf had just returned from their patrol south to the Keys and back. Pigeon and Audacity took turns as transport from the anchorage to Saint Augustine. Warrior continued at anchorage providing protection to the city.
"Boat ahoy!" Anthony could hear the challenge through the open skylight. A few minutes later Buck came down.
"Sir, flag captain," the marine sentry announced.
As Captain Buck entered, Anthony called to Silas,
"Bring us a glass of hock if you will." "Aye, my Lord, I have to fetch it from the bilges, but it shouldn't take long."
Seeing the official envelope with the Governor's seal, Anthony asked, "What have we here?"
"I'd guess it's an invitation," Buck replied.
"To what?"
"You'll have to tell me sir, as it's addressed to you." Anthony tore open the seal, and then sat silent for a moment while he read the invitation. "Well, Rupert," he spoke to Buck, using his first name. "It's time for you to meet some of the city's more eligible ladies."
"I don't understand," Buck said with a slight frown across his brow.
"The Governor is having a ball. Why, I have no idea, but you and the other ship's captains are all invited.
As I recall, it was at such an affair you struck up quite a relationship with a lady on Antigua."
"Aye," Buck replied as a smile creased his face. "A most warm and loving lady she was until she found out I'd not quit the sea to become her kept man. Mind you now, it was like a honeymoon itself every time we came back into port," Buck continued as he recalled the buxom dark-haired woman who had offered him a life of luxury.
"Trouble was, sir, nothing went with it. The plantation stayed in her name. She didn't want marriage and I couldn't see myself as some nabob." Anthony couldn't help but chuckle. He and Buck had been together for a long time and he could just see him as some rich widow's kept man.
"Wouldn't mind seeing her again for a day or so.
Then I'd be ready to set sail," Buck said as he took a deep sigh.
"Well, we'll see if Saint Augustine has anyone to stir your humours."
"Huh!" Buck replied. "There's plenty of that, I don't know if it's the sun or possibly the Spanish heritage sir, but the women in the… ah… establishments around Saint Augustine are dark-skinned with ready smiles and bold looks. The way they flash their eyes at you is enough to set a sailor's heart ablaze. They tend to be very shapely, sir, all buxom and smiles. Several of our lads wouldn't mind having a closer relationship with the local women I'm told."
"Well," Anthony said as he pushed his chair back allowing Silas to pour the hock he'd retrieved from the bilges, "let's try not to cause any problems with the local men over these women."
"Nay, my lord, there'll be no trouble as long as our jack tars keep a full purse and a condom on hand." Admiral Lord Anthony walked down the corridor toward the ballroom; Flag Captain Buck at his side and Flag Lieutenant Hazard was directly behind. As the door was opened by a footman Anthony heard Hazard take in a deep breath when he saw the bare shoulders and deep cleavages of the ladies who were wearing gowns of various colors. Anthony saw Buck hesitate ever so slightly in his pace so that Hazard would come abreast then whispered to the lieutenant, "Don't stare." Hazard gulped and shook his head.