Forever Young The Beginning Read Free

between the
two ships. They had no choice now but to try to help their fellow
pirates.
    “ Fire all swivel guns”
shouted Angus, then to Ian “Here Ian, I’ll take her” as he took the
helm. He knew that Gunny would fire one more round from the port
cannon as they passed the lead ship and would then move his crew to
the starboard side cannon for the second ship. Fire had broken out
on the lead pursuer’s remaining mast and sails. About the same
time, the two swivel guns on the rear deck barked and grapeshot
shredded sails and crew alike. Immediately after that Gunny gave
command to fire cannon again on the port side and the first craft
was devastated. She managed to send three rounds into Elsie, but again, well above water line. Musket
fire crackled from the first craft, and musket balls flying past
whined like angry bees. Several struck masts, but none hit a man.
Not waiting for Angus, Ian hollered “Take another look below for a
breach or leak. Stay at that post and report!”
    They passed by that craft and in
passing, Elsie’s stern guns again swept the pirates with grapeshot.
A cheer erupted from Elsie’s crew as fire now began to spread
rapidly on the lead ship.
    “ She’s crippled and on fire
Ian, now on to our prize, God willing.”
    “ Tack to rake her with our
starboard guns then?”
    “ Aye laddie” He
thought Ian, you’re a born
seaman . Ian leaped again from the stern
deck to run again to Gunny who met him part way. “Be sure to keep
all shots high Gunny. We don’t want to burn or sink her. Mark, call
all hands down from aloft!”
    “ Aye-aye, Ian.”
    “ Ready all hands available
with muskets Gunny, and see to it that they stay down well below
the side rail. Let the starboard cannon do the work for us. Fire
only when we’re in range, and then shoot the grapples.” The
grappling hooks and ropes would be fired toward the second craft by
means of hand held grapple mortars designed to fire those hooks
further than a man could throw them. Looking like fat muskets, they
were loaded and ready, lying on the deck behind the side rail,
their ropes all secured to Elsie’s masts.
    Elsie approached the second craft and
raked her with grapeshot from the foredeck guns. Her advantage in
height made the grapeshot even more devastating. As they drifted
broadside to her, both ships let loose with all cannon. Ian felt
another surge of energy as the deck shook again at the cannon’s
roar. It was an elixir to his adventurous soul and he could feel
the adrenalin surge through his body. Elsie took one at the water
line and five more besides, but the broadside that she delivered to
the second craft was devastating. One mast was broken, and the
sails shredded. By now they were in musket range. Every available
crewman positioned himself behind the side rail and took aim as
Gunny’s men reloaded the starboard cannon. Their height advantage
was coming into play even more now that they were within musket
range.
    Ian ran and grabbed a musket already
loaded and joined Gunny. “One volley Gunny, and then shoot the
grapples.” As soon as the volley was fired Ian shouted “Grapples
away!” The grapple mortars fired and even through the smoke the
devastation was easy to see. The pirates were able to fire back a
ragged volley and one round caught a man trying to descend from the
mainmast. He fell to the deck some ten feet and yelled as he
grasped his leg. From their lower height the pirates couldn’t find
another target to shoot at.
    Five of the eight hooks took hold and
the second pirate craft’s fate was sealed as Gunny’s marksmen fired
yet another round at anything standing aboard her. Others of the
crew drew in the grapple lines, drawing the pirates close. Ian was
first over the side as the cargo booms were swung out and downward.
He felt a surge of adrenalin again as he swung out over the lower
craft, and then dropped some twelve feet to their deck. Pulling
both pistols he shot a pirate point blank and snap-kicked