Young Dick Read online

CHAPTER TEN

  “It seems this grand plan solely depends on the natives being able to mount a successful attack overland through dense jungle,” said the Captain, opening up the discussion after Richard had completed his report.

  “I fear so, Sir; we do not have the firepower to enter the harbor and engage the pirate fleet; they would overwhelm us,” pointed out the Gunnery Officer.

  “We could not rely on the villagers to be successful without some of our crew boosting their strength with firearms,” suggested Jamie.

  “It is too risky, Sir; we may never see those men again and we have already lost seven dead, four amputations and six wounded,” pointed out the Third Officer.

  “The pirate town appears to be well founded and defended; that suggests to me that they would have accumulated much booty or they would store it on their ships ready for a hasty departure,” suggested the Purser.

  “Would you be prepared to take half a dozen lads and tramp overland to attack the base? The Captain asked Jamie.

  “Aye Sir, it is the second thing I do best,” answered Jamie.

  “Then it seems, Guns, that you might have the opportunity to use your beloved bow chaser,” said the Captain, his mind made up.

  “Do you think this is wise Sir, given the fact we do not know if the pirates have booty to confiscate or what the conditions are inland, and all this based on sign language by a native boy?” The third officer made a last ditch attempt to sway the Captain against the plan.

  “Sweeping pirates from the seas is an ancient tradition, Third, even Julius Caesar engaged in it; besides it will give us some credit with the local authorities should we be so unlucky to be detained by them. Call it a community service.” The Captain rose and his officers left the cabin to plan the attack.

  “No, young Dick,” began the Captain, anticipating Richard’s question. “You may not go with the First Officer overland but your new friend must; you will be needed on the guns.”

  “Aye Sir,” said Richard, trying to hide his disappointment.

  Almond eyes again viewed Subtile as she completed burials at sea, hoisted sail and sailed away. They did not see her drop anchor on the far side of the island and send in the boy to explain to the delighted villagers the plan to attack the pirates.

  Jamie and his six men were armed to the teeth with muskets, pistols and cutlasses. They bobbed in a longboat alongside Subtile and the Captain shouted down to them, reminding Jamie of the plan’s timing.

  “Remember, First, you have all day and a night to traverse the island; better to arrive early and wait than arrive late and allow us to lose the advantage of surprise. In the event of any cock-up we will return here and wait three days. You may cast off.” Jamie’s men began rowing to the village, and Saka waved to Richard.

  In the hour before dawn, Subtile, aided by an on shore wind and belayed by a sea anchor, glided towards the tip of the peninsular. “Remember, Guns, you will have the sun in your eyes when it rises,” hissed the Captain.

  “Aye Sir,” Guns whispered back.

  “Mark twenty fathoms, Sir,” called a crewmember, sounding at the bow quietly. The Captain handed Guns his glass as the blackness changed to a dark gray. Guns could barely make out the gun emplacement, but the embers of a careless fire threw the shadows of two guns into the lens.

  “Heave to, Sir; their guns look like ships’ 18 pounders but our longer barrel and more stable platform should give us the edge.” The single mizzen sail was dropped noiselessly, but the sound of the bow-chaser’s wedge being driven in to lower the barrel clearly carried to the shore battery. Figures darted about in the lightening sky.

  “Fire!”

  The gun slammed back on its restraining lines and the gun crew ran forward to reload. Richard waited for the fall of shot, but it failed to spot; instead, several of the pirate gun-crew ducked and pointed in the direction of Subtile.

  “Too high, Sir; it went over their heads,” he called, and Guns made a correction.

  “Fire!” This time the shot plowed into the low tide line, sending up a mini-mountain of sand, water and seaweed.

  “Why don’t they fire back?” Richard asked.

  “Their guns are mounted to fire on any ship attempting to enter the harbor, but we are stationed off to their right, so it will take them time to redeploy,” answered the Captain.

  “Fire!”

  This time the shot crashed to the left of the battery and several pirates fell screaming at stone splinter wounds. Richard saw an orange blossom followed by a cloud of smoke and counted the seconds. The ball plunged into the water, short followed by the sound of the cannon’s roar. The sun was now reddening the sky and Richard could see a hive of pirate activity on shore with at least two ships making ready to sail. Two blasts almost simultaneously forced Richard to look back at the shore battery; one of the guns had fired but the other had taken a direct hit, scattering bodies like rag dolls and spiraling the gun’s barrel of its carriage and high into the air. A plume of water spouted nearer to Subtile but still short. “More powder, boy,” yelled Guns, and Richard fled to the magazine. He heard the thump of the bow-chaser while below and returned with six canvas powder charges. He managed to glance into the bay; two of the pirate ships were under way and tacking towards Subtile; it was going to be a close run action. It took two more rounds to upset the pirates’ cannon off its base and upset its crew, causing them to flee. The Captain dropped the sea anchor line with a float attached and put on sail. Subtile moved to close off the harbor’s mouth.

  “If those other two ships join the fray, Third, they will split our fire power and be able to close and board us. They can sail closer to the wind than Subtile – where the bloody hell is the First Officer?” The Captain pounded the quarterdeck rail.