Most of the guns were thirty-two pounders, some even carried several swivels. Even though the vessels looked clumsy, they handled easy enough and each carried ninety to one-hundred men. More when needed for a cutting out expedition, such as in the close quarters as the Bay of Bundy.
Upon the sighting, Bart had rushed down and got Lord Anthony's weapons. "Here's your sword and pistol," he said, "Looks like we's in for a bit ’o ’citment."
"A hot bit it appears," Anthony replied as one of the gun boats thirty-two pounders cut loose at close range.
"Pigeon and Audacity will never stand up to that. Captain Moffett!"
"Aye, my Lord."
"How many gun boats are attacking?"
"The lookout has made out six, my Lord. Two forward, two astern and just forward of Merlin and two abeam. They're low in the water making our gunnery difficult."
"A hit by gawd," this from the masthead lookout.
"Two to one the gunner laid that himself," Moffett exclaimed.
A sudden explosion and Warrior seemed to shudder.
Aft a large section of the taffrail had a huge gouge where the thirty-two pound bal had torn its ugly path.
"Luckily, no one was injured. He fired at extreme elevation," Moffett said. "He'd have done better shooting at the rudder instead of the mast."
"Don't give the bugger's no ideas," Bart cried.
"One's twixt SeaWolf and the convoy," the lookout cried down.
"Mr. Herrod?"
"Aye, cap'n."
"See if we can get a shot with the bowchaser."
"Directly, sir."
"Mr. Foxxe, Mr. Foxxe to the bow," Herrod cal ed the gunner as he made his way forward.
"Look," Anthony cried, "Looks like Merlin has a hit."
"Aye, Mr. Buck's done for that bugger, he has," Bart said as he turned toward Anthony. "`Hit don't seem right, do it sir, ’usuns being by-standers and the like."
"Got a touch of battle lust do you, Bart?"
"Aye, sir, guess I does. It's hard to be a sight-seer."
"Don't fret my friend, you'll get your chance and with this fog and smoke it may be sooner than you think."
"My Lord!"
"Yes, captain."
"Foxxe hit the gunboat but they boarded the supply ship and have cut her out to starboard. Audacity has taken chase."
"Very well, captain, by my count we've sunk three of the raiders. Where are the other three?"
"I'm not sure my Lord, between the ’fog of war' and nature's fog visibility is poor. The master swears he can hear the waves on the rocks to larboard so he's edgy."
"Well, I'd like to not get any closer myself," Anthony said. "No telling what else they got waiting on us." Moffett's fog of war was the gun smoke. The raiders thirty-two pounders gave off a tremendous amount of smoke. The heavy smell filling the air and burning one's eyes.
"Deck there, Pigeon's grappled with one of the raiders."
"Damme," Moffett shouted. "Can you see the other raider?"
"No sir," the lookout cal ed down.
"Should we send Merlin to assist my Lord?" Moffett asked.
"No, not without knowing where the other raider has gotten. The gunboat will not likely be able to traverse its cannons before it has to repel boarders. Let's just hope Mr. Kerry has his wits about him today." While visibility was difficult, the din of battle was clearly heard between Pigeon and the raider. Musket shots, men's cries of anger turned into cries of pain. At moments the gleam of metal could be seen as a blade flashed through the air only to rise bloody.
"Captain Moffett? As we are almost on Pigeon send a couple of boats to assist Lieutenant Kerry. I'm sure Captain Dunlap would be more then willing to contribute a squad of marines."
"Aye, my Lord, I'll see to it."
Looking down from his flagship, Anthony could see the dirty chop of a wave against the hull. Mangled bodies and debris was al about, some of it thumping again and again against Warrior as she moved slowly ahead. The battle was al but over but he received no pleasure. How many of the Americans and British lives had been lost? It seemed different when he had been in
the thick of battle but now… now! Bart was right, being a sight-seer was difficult. "Captain's compliments, sir, but Merlin has signalled they've cut off escape by the raiders and Audacity has boarded and retook the ship."
"Thank you, Mr. Dewy. Any word on the other raiders?"
"No sir, but we're still searching. The master thinks they took wind."
"Well, we'll see if the master is right."
"Aye, my Lord."
"Looks like they've took the other bugger sir, they've put up a flag," Bart volunteered. "Brave man that Mister Kerry is, not the smartest block I've known, but he ain't no coward, sir."
"Bart."
"Aye, sir."
"You're talking about a King's officer."
"He won't be long, sir, ’iffen you don't teach ’em some smarts. Likely get himself and half his crew Lt. `Scretion is what ’e needs ’ta learn."
"You mean discretion."
"Aye, sir, `scretion and plenty of it, I'm thinking."
Chapter Seven
Skirting the usual wagon path, Lum worked his way toward the slaves' quarters that sat scattered among the oak trees behind the main house. A haggard looking outbuilding had started to lean and was in danger of falling. This building sat in such a way it blocked the view of Lum's small cabin from the rear windows and back porch of the main house.
It was here that Lum halted the mule. "Whoa…
Whoa now Bessie." As soon as the wagon stopped the mule immediately started cropping grass and swishing flies with her tail. Helping nanny down the two slaves went to the back of the wagon to help with Gabe.
"You don't think we can take him up to the house?" Faith asked.
"Child, you see dat uniform. Dis man is one of dem heathen Britishers like tried to take Charlestown. Maybe he even was a part of it," Nanny said rebuking the girl.
"Master Adam see this man he'll put him in jail like he does with folks at times. Shuck's he might even ’jus shoot him."
Hearing this stopped Faith's objections. Nanny was right.
"What you ought to be worrying about is what's gonna happen to Lum if the Marse finds dat man heah.
Like as not he'll set Marse Hindley loose on Lum with dat whip ’o his."
"I won't let him," Faith said trying to be stern.
"Not much you can do, child," Lum said for the first time. "We's ’a chance it. I don't like to see none of God's creatures suffer. Now let's get this po' soul inside and you go fetch Ruby. She's helped with delivering babies and fixing mules and ’da hosses and such. So maybe she can help him. Besides she'll keep her mouth shut."
Several days went by with Gabe suffering from high fevers. Ruby had washed and cleaned his wounds and put several stitches in his leg using a hair from ’ole Bessie, the mule's tail. Food was sneaked in for Gabe, and Faith was able to get some clothes together so Gabe's uniform could be cleaned and repaired. As Gabe's health improved he became anxious to be up and about. Lying in Lum's bed, he watched the single candle as it gave off a faint yellow glow.
The flickering flame caused wavering shadows on the rough wooden wall s of the cabin. The shadows would take shapes that would disappear, and reappear, and then other shapes would merge together. Watching the candles and hearing the slaves whisper among themselves Gabe grew afraid, not of death but of capture.
How long would he be held? He thought of his brother, Gil; surely he'd think he was dead. What of Dagan? Gabe was sure he was alive. If he were unhurt he'd be coming to get him. At times Gabe would fall asleep and awaken with Faith sitting next to him usual y running her fingers along the gray furrow on his scalp.
Once her kissing his lips woke him. When he reached for her she darted out of the cabin.