Michael Aye
The Fireship
A Short Story from The Fighting Anthony’s Series
’Hit were like a roaring inferno
The fires ’o ’ell so bright.
Flames leaping upwards
Like fireworks in The night.
’Hit started on the main deck
Quick like it climbed the mast.
The sails be ablaze now
The flame ’as spread so fast.
’Hits set a course for the flagship
Less some ’ow it’s turned.
The only choice Jack tar ’as
Is jump ship or burn.
…Michael Aye
‘Cap’n, Cap’n, wake up Cap’n…God, Cap’n please wake up.’ A very excited and frightened midshipman Lancaster cried. ‘Wake up, Cap’n.’
Hearing the excited midshipman, Lieutenant Gabriel (Gabe) Anthony commanding HMS SeaWolf, a brigantine of eighteen guns, tried to clear his head and focus on the youth who continued in his urgent attempt to awaken him.
After years of continuous service at sea, Gabe was used to being called from a deep sleep at all different hours, for whatever needed the ‘Captain’s’ attention.
However, after being wined and dined aboard the admiral’s flagship until the wee hours was making it much more difficult to rouse himself. Finally Gabe was able to clear the fog of too much drink and too many cigars from his brain and rise up from his bed focusing on the alarmed Lancaster who was almost comical in his exaggerated movements.
Holding up his hand to halt the boy’s blabbering Gabe said, ‘Stop, take a deep breath. Now tell me what’s happening.’
‘Mr. Lavery’s compliments, sir, and could you please come on deck, it’s a fireship.’
‘Fireship!’ Gabe roared.
‘Aye,’ the nervous Lancaster replied, ‘It appears to be headed at the flagship.’
‘Damme,’ Gabe exclaimed, snatching up his breeches and putting them on quickly, then putting his boots on bare feet not wasting time with his stockings. He grabbed a shirt as he left his cabin almost bowling over the marine sentry who stood guard at the door.
He was fastening his shirt as he made his way amidship where Lieutenant Nathan Lavery, SeaWolf’s second lieutenant, stood with a glass in his hand. One of the watch standers seeing the cap’n cleared his throat, his way of letting Lieutenant Lavery know the captain was on deck.
Seeing the captain, Lavery reported without being prompted, ‘Appears to be a single ship, sir. I’ve tried to get a better view through the glass but it still to dark. All I see is the fire.’
Lieutenant Gem Jackson, SeaWolf’s first lieutenant, had made it on deck and overheard the conversation. ‘Is it a fireship or a ship on fire?’
‘Makes no difference, she’s on a course to collide with the flagship.’
The group turned to see Gunnells, the master, who’d also made his way on deck. ‘Winds coming from ashore and blowing cross the harbour; that’s slowing her progress.’
The fire seemed to be getting bigger as the ship approached.
‘Deck ’thar,’ a lookout called, ‘’E’s under full sail, ’e is.’
Shaking his head, Jackson said, ‘Well, if it’s a fireship, he’s showed his hand way too soon.’
‘Aye,’ Gabe agreed with his first lieutenant, but that may be what gives us a chance to intercept the ship.’
‘Us,’ Jackson said surprised at what he was hearing.
‘Is there another ship in position that would have a better chance,’ Gabe asked coldly, more a statement than a question.
‘Are you going to try to sink her then?’ Jackson asked.
‘With SeaWolf’s pop guns? No, we’ll place SeaWolf between the fireship and the flagship. We’ll grapple and tow her if we can; but if we can’t we’ll ram her and try to push her away from the flagship.’
‘It could cost you SeaWolf,’ Jackson said, somewhat awed by his captain’s audacity.
‘Better a brigantine than a seventy-four, don’t you think,’ Gabe said matter-of-factly. ‘Now be so good as to beat to quarters.’
‘Aye, captain.’
Lieutenant Jackson then added, ‘Lavery has already had the crew roused up.’
‘Good,’ Gabe answered, ‘Now prepare to get us underway and have the bosun form a bucket brigade and douse the sails. It’ll not only help us catch a breeze it may also keep the sails from catching on fire from sparks or flying debris.’
SeaWolf had entered the anchorage at English Harbour, Antigua that day, delivering dispatches to Admiral Graves. Due to so many ships in harbour, SeaWolf had been forced into an anchorage apart from the other ships in port. There by making her the only ship in position to have a chance to save Admiral Grave’s flagship.
‘Mr. Gunnells,’ Gabe called to SeaWolf’s master.
‘Aye, sir.’
‘I would like you to steer us a course to intercept yonder fireship.’
‘Aye, aye, captain.’
Gabe called to the first lieutenant once more, ‘The master tells me we’ve a wind coming off the shore. I want two men with axes standing by the anchor cable, and then I want the sails hoisted. With the helm down this should swing us about and when I give the order, cut the cable.’
‘Aye, captain, shall I bouy the cable?’
‘If there’s time, but bouy or not I want the cable cut when I give you the word.’
‘Aye, captain, cut it’ll be,’ Jackson replied.
BOOM…BOOM…BOOM…
‘The flagship is firing at the fireship.’
Gabe turned to find Dagan speaking. Dagan was Gabe’s uncle, his protector and a man of mystery most would say.
‘They’ve shown their hand a bit premature,’ Gabe remarked to Dagan.
‘Aye, but the master says it’s the offshore wind they’re fighting that’s delaying their progress and giving us a chance. Otherwise…’
‘Do you think we have a chance?’ Gabe asked.
‘A chance for what?’ Dagan asked, and then continued on, ‘A chance to save the flagship? Aye, we’ve a chance. To save ourselves, to save SeaWolf, the odds aren’t so good. But with a little luck we should be enjoying a wet and a bowl of tobacco after the sun crosses the yard arm. Might even have Lum play us a tune on his lotz.’
Then Dagan turned away saying, ‘Best I go check on those axe men.’
Damme, if he didn’t make me feel better, Gabe thought.
Lieutenant Lavery had heard the conversation between Dagan and the captain. He’d been with the two since he’d been a midshipman. During that time he’d been through many battles. Some with the elements, and several with the enemy. The one thing he’d learned in all that time was to trust Dagan’s lady luck. Well he didn’t see no reason to change things now. If Dagan said it, he’d bet on it. ***
The sails were hoisted as men heaved on ropes as bosun mates threatened and cursed. More than one back felt the bosun mate’s ‘starter’ as evidenced by a yelp of pain here and there. Ordinarily Gabe wouldn’t allow this but the men had to attend their duties and not dwell on the fireship if they were to have a chance at saving the flagship.
‘Keep ’yer eyes off the fireship and ’yer back ’on the ropes you laggards. Wilson, ’es ye deef man, I said ’ta ’eave,’ a bosun mate growled.
A loud snap was heard from above as the wind filled the wet sails. Almost immediately SeaWolf began to swing on her cable.
‘Ease her up a bit,’ Gabe called to the master. As SeaWolf’s bow came around Gabe ordered, ‘Now Mr. Jackson, cut the cable now.’
The thud…thud…thud could be heard as the axe men chopped at the heavy rope that was holding SeaWolf to the anchor.
Almost at once one of the axe men shouted, ‘Cables cut,’ and SeaWolf lunged forward like a racehorse out of the gates.
BOOM…BOOM…BOOM…The flagship continued to fire.
‘Mr. Druett,’ Gabe called to his gunner.
‘Aye, cap’n.’
‘It’ll do us no good to be blasted away by the flagship’s guns while we’re trying to save them.’
‘Nay, cap’n, no good at all I’m thinking and them neither.’