HMS Aurora: A Charles Mullins Novel (Sea Command Book 3) (16 page)

Distracted by his own ship’s problems, he almost missed the cheering of his deckhands when the enemy fore staysail collapsed, its stay shot away. Through his glass, Mullins could see the commotion on the enemy decks as repairs were commenced. This was not serious damage, and a good crew could have the damage repaired in minutes.

While he watched through his glass, he saw the impact of another nine-pound shot striking the forward hull of the enemy. Despite the damage, her forward impetus seemed not to be slowed and the frigate continued closing.

Meeting with his sailing master and first officer, Mullins explained his plans. “I intend to come-to soon, our broadside facing his bow. I want every gun to fire as soon as it bears, whether or not the order has been given. I hope to obtain at least one good carronade strike upon the enemy. After that, we will see how events play out. If we get some good hits, I would like to continue to evade for a bit, hopefully causing more damage. I do not intend to engage the enemy, unless compelled to, until we have damaged her further.”

When the enemy veered course to starboard, to allow her port bow gun to bear, Mullins ordered the ship around, her portside guns firing as they bore. Few shot splashes were seen around the target. Most seemed to have struck home.

The enemy’s foremast had been damaged, it had assumed a decided lean to port. Mullins thought some shrouds had been shot away. Had he been the frigate’s commander, he might have ordered her to fall back until the damaged had been repaired.

The frigate’s captain however, was made of sterner stuff. Coming on, he also brought his ship around and fired his own broadside. Of sixteen guns firing, only four balls came aboard. Three did little important damage, but one twelve-pound ball passed through a gun crew, maiming and killing three good men, although leaving the gun intact.

Aurora continued on, repairing damage, while the enemy resumed her advance. Deciding to see if he could end this combat, Mullins told his officers he was going to put about and pass down the enemy’s starboard beam, a cable’s length off, and fire another broadside into her. This could be a risky maneuver since a lucky shot from the frigate could force them into a close action, with its attendant carnage.

Ordering Mister Whitbread below to attend to the safety of the women and child, he ordered the ship about. Immediately, long before most of her guns bore, the frigate began to fire her guns indiscriminately, apparently hoping a lucky shot might bring a hit. By the time Aurora had come abeam, the frigate’s guns had all been discharged, with only a few balls coming aboard. Aurora’s gun crews were now facing the frigate’s empty guns, many of which had been fired off into the blue. With careful deliberation, every gun fired into the enemy’s starboard beam, with minimal response.

Topmen in the enemy were hurriedly attempting to reduce sail on their foremast, when under the press of the remaining sail, the mast slowly fell, the remaining shrouds snapping and tearing. The wreckage fell over the side, forming a sea anchor, which brought the frigate around.

Mullins had intended to sail on past their victim, reload the guns and possibly make another pass. With the present damage though, he thought the fight might be about over. The frigate was motionless in the water as her crew frantically tried to cut away her wreckage. Aurora came across her stern, tops’ls backed, her guns threatening the unprotected stern of the enemy. When a party of seamen on the frigate fired upon them with muskets, several of the nine-pounders, now loaded with grape, fired back.

The blast not only eliminated the musket-men, but killed or wounded most of the quarterdeck staff on the frigate. Captain Leclerk would no longer have to concern himself about waiting guillotines or his career. A grapeshot severed the femoral artery in his leg and Leclerk was dead from shock and blood loss within minutes. A single survivor there, a signalman, slashed a halyard, and the tricolor flapped to the deck.

Much work was required to make both ships seaworthy again. Many of the Aglae’s crewmen, especially those East-Asians taken aboard during her stay in the eastern French colonies, worked willingly with the British seamen, with the understanding they might not have to suffer in the prison hulks with the more recalcitrant prisoners. In three days, they had a jury foremast rigged on Aglae, as well as the more important damage repaired and she could now carry sail.

Aurora herself, had a shot hole right up forward, low in her hull. It was a delicate place to get at, and the carpenter was fearful he might cause more damage if he tried to repair it. The first officer suggested putting the ship on her side on a coastal beach where the damage might be repaired, but the ship’s surgeon reminded all this was fever country, and any prolonged contact with shore might cause the loss of many people.

In the end, a sail was fothered over the leak and continued pumping brought Aurora and Aglae into Simon’s Town at the Cape. Their arrival brought much excitement, and the women were happy to go ashore, where Mullins took rooms at a Dutch home for them. He was able to go ashore now and again to visit, but by-and-large, his time was mostly spent getting Aurora ready for sea again.

The ship was heeled over in the harbor and the damaged wood removed and replaced. An old Dutch East-India ship, lying derelict in the sand, furnished copper for the repair, and soon Aurora was ready for sea again. During these repairs, a ship had come into port bringing word of the Peace, signed recently in Amiens and there was some consternation among the British when it was learned one of the provisions of the treaty was to return the Cape to the Dutch.

His ship’s repair complete, Mullins was called into the headquarters of General Francis Dundas, the governor of the Cape, who asked him to deliver requests for instructions to London. A flurry of activity resulted, as stores were brought aboard for the voyage north.

There was limited pork available, but the native tribesmen had herds of cattle which they were willing to offer in trade. The cattle were butchered on shore and the meat packed in salt in barrels. Gangs of natives wrestled the stores aboard lighters and pulled the provisions out to the ship.

One of the governor’s advisors came aboard Aurora and offered advice on a persistent pirate problem. Arab pirates, normally remaining north of the Line, had of late been raiding farther south, seeking slaves and plunder. While these rovers were not dangerous to a well worked-up warship, many of them had quantities of Christian slaves aboard, and given the opportunity, it would be well if some of these could be freed.

Aurora stood out to sea on her voyage back to England. Governor Dundas had kept Argae, in hopes she could be put back into commission to help defend the port. Mullins was dubious about that. There were few seamen available to man her, and besides, it was understood the plan was to return the colony to Dutch control.

Despite the wishes of the Dundas administration, Mullins was not all that anxious to initiate combat with any Moorish pirates. He had done that before, and these could be difficult people to fight. Besides, he had two women and a son on board, and he wished as smooth a voyage home as he could possibly arrange.

Working their way north off the coast of Africa, two weeks out of Simon’s Town, a brig was sighted. She immediately turned for the coast as if trying to flee. There could be legitimate reasons for this. The chase might be a Frenchman who had not learned about the peace yet, and feared being taken by this British warship.

Still, it seemed worthwhile to investigate this behavior. As they closed, it was obvious the rigging of the brig was damaged, and it was doubtful that her crew was experienced in sailing that particular rig. The brig seemed to be making for an island a few miles off the coast, and as they neared, another craft came from behind the island to meet the brig. This was a xebec, with its lateen sail plan.

Mullins was astonished to see the xebec, since they were rarely seen out of the Med, although Algerine pirates had used some for raiding out into the Atlantic. Doris had the baby out on deck, covered with a blanket as a shade. Chatting with a group of deckhands playing with the child, she was not at all happy when she was told she must take the baby below. When the xebec was pointed out to her, she did not see why they should not just ignore these people and go about their business.

Fortunately, Mrs. Cooper came up just then, and firmly seconded Mullin’s orders. Gathering up the baby and his things, they went below, although Mullins knew from experience the atmosphere at the supper table tonight was likely to be chilly.

Shifting attention to the brig and the xebec, he saw the brig in trouble. There was some kind of disturbance on deck, and as she started to enter the harbor, her canvas went aback, right in the narrow entrance to the harbor. As he watched, he saw figures on the brig’s deck go into the water and begin to swim toward shore.

Meanwhile, the xebec was coming right at them. She had dropped her sails and was coming on at speed with oars. Knowing these raiders were often packed with men, Mullins was not about to let this fellow get too close, so he came to port a bit to present his broadside. At Mullins nod to his first officer, Hardinger began walking the deck, ordering each section of guns to fire when they bore. These loads were ball, and the iron projectiles did impressive damage to the lightly built hull of the rover. The re-loads were to be first grape, then case-shot, as long as the range kept closing, as it was at the moment.

The continuous fire was virtually dis-assembling the xebec, which was coming apart as they watched. The carronades were the first to be reloaded and the destructive power of the massive loads of grape, delivered at close range, was spectacular. After the remainder of the guns delivered their charges, the xebec seemed to be finished.

Mullins ordered the rest of the guns to stand by, prepared to fire, while he waited to see what might develop. Had it not been for the slaves, many of them Europeans, in their chains at the oars, he would have kept pounding at the pirates until they were dead,

The pirates were now helpless and at the mercy of Mullins, but it seemed few of them realized it. He watched one fellow lashing at an oarsman with a whip, apparently in an attempt to get the sinking xebec moving. Turning to his sergeant of Marines standing beside him, he asked him to have that overseer shot, which a file of bootnecks promptly accomplished. The pirate, shot to rags, fell among the enslaved oarsmen, who belabored the dead body.

Coming alongside, Mullins ordered ‘Boarders away’, and most of his crew was over the side, brandishing cutlasses, pikes and boarding axes against the Moors. Aurora’s captain went over with his people, his sword in one hand, Manton pistol in the other. As he dropped down onto the sinking xebec, he saw one oarsman, somehow freed of his bonds, slashing away with a section of chain still on his wrist at some of the pirates still on their feet.

With most of the pirates dead or disabled, or in the water trying to make shore, the main effort was to rescue as many of the drowning slaves as possible. This was difficult at best, since their irons had been riveted on and were difficult to remove quickly. The ship’s armorer was able to free a number of drowning slaves with his hammer and cold chisel, but many more died.

When the last surviving slave was brought aboard and sent below to the surgeon, it was time to investigate the brig.

There was no sign of the original crew. She had probably been taken days before, although the African slaves had broken free of their bonds and overpowered the Moors guarding them just hours before. In fact, it had likely been Aurora’s appearance that led to the uprising. Probably, some of the slaves were being exercised on deck and their guards were distracted from their duty.

From all appearances, some of the escapees were in the process of freeing others when Aurora came on the scene. The freed Africans showed no sign of recognizing the boarders from Aurora as deliverers. Some went overboard in panic, while one well-built fellow seized a cutlass and charged a dozen Auroras in a blind fury.

The African was weak with hunger and thirst, as well as crippled from days spent in irons, and soon fell under the onslaught of the seamen. With most of the activity on the brig’s deck finished, Mullins inspected his men for injury. Three had been slashed and were sent back to the ship. The African was pinned to the deck by uninjured members of the boarding party, the weakened warrior expressing his fury loudly.

Many dead and badly wounded covered the deck and interior of the brig. These included both Moorish pirates, as well as African slaves. The pirates were left where they lay, for now. Those injured slaves not combative, were sent to Aurora for medical treatment, while a loblolly boy came to the brig to examine the others.

Ben Drake was not the usual un-schooled assistant to the surgeon, nor was he a boy. In better days, he had been a capable horse doctor in his rural community. The death of his wife and drink had brought him to the navy.

Drake first went to the wounded warrior, thrashing in his bonds, who seemed to be making most of the noise. The captive had been harshly used, both while freeing himself from his slave chains and later in the contest with Aurora’s boarding party. His face had been torn and bruised from a butt-stroke from a Brown Bess musket, besides numerous cuts and lacerations over his body.

While Drake was sponging gore from his patient’s face, he noticed the fellow’s tongue vainly trying to trap a trickle of water, running down his chin. Holding a mug of water to his mouth, he saw his patient try to swallow the drink in one gulp. Obviously this man was suffering from thirst. Calling for more water he directed some members of the boarding party to offer it to the other injured slaves.

Drake had in his pouch a small bottle containing his grog ration from the previous evening. Trying to wean himself from his habit, he had secretly bottled his issue, hoping to save it until he was truly desperate for a drink. Now, he emptied it into a pannican and added more water before holding it to the warrior’s lips. This too was hurriedly drained, although not quite as rapidly as the first.

Drake went on to minister to the others, cleaning their wounds and giving water. After a return trip to Aurora to replenish supplies, he came back to the brig. Offering the warrior another drink, this time the man gave a slight nod, in appreciation. Mullins came by that moment and was struck by the apparent change in the man’s attitude. He had just come up from below, where he had been appalled by what he saw. Investigation showed she had been a slaver, sailing under American colors, out of New York. Records in the cabin indicated she had picked up a full load of slaves in Dahomey, which were destined for ports along the southern United States.

When the brig had been loaded in Dahomey, its human cargo had been packed in like peas in a bag, with not a bit of room to move around. Had he lived, the slaver’s master would have received a generous share of the profits, from the sale of the slaves, so the purpose had been to pack in every man, woman or child that would physically fit, all bound securely by chains and irons.

After the Moors had captured the slaver, somehow a portion of the human cargo had freed themselves from their bonds and erupted upon deck, massacring the Moorish prize crew. Many of these survivors had gone over the side when Aurora’s prize crew came aboard. There were, however, well over a hundred slaves below, tightly packed as they were, still in their chains.

All were desperately thirsty and hungry, having received none of their rations since being taken by the xebec. Most of those still capable, were savagely angry, and Mullins believed any European who approached the chained Africans to loosen their bonds, would be in deadly danger.

Some of those Africans on deck still had remnants of their bonds remaining on their bodies. Hardinger approached, holding a ring of keys he had found on deck. Trying the keys on a lock on one dead African lying on deck, he found one that would open the lock. Four young women, were huddled on the foredeck, where they had hidden to escape the violence. The irons on their legs had been removed, but manacles still secured one woman’s arm to the next one.

At Mullin’s suggestion, Drake went to the women, offering each water. The trembling women spilled much of it, but each received enough to make them desperate for more. When their thirst had been relieved, Drake gently led the group of women to Mullins. In full view of the warrior, he tried the various keys until he found the one that would open the lock. He slowly turned the key so the African would see exactly how it worked, then ordered the seamen holding the man to release one arm. Putting the key in the man’s hand, he watched him release the women from their manacles.

Looking the warrior in the eye, he thought they had reached an understanding. Ordering the rest of his people, including the ones still restraining the warrior, from the brig, he led the warrior to the hatch leading below. The man was visibly reluctant to descend in the darkness below, but led the way, regardless.

The lantern Mullins held cast a little light on their surroundings. The remaining Africans were jammed onto ledges built onto the sides of the ship. The people themselves were packed, spoon-fashion, head to foot on these platforms. As soon as they made their appearance, the human cargo began screaming, shouting and probably uttering terrible threats. Mullins knew that if he would unlock the first set of chains, those freed would be upon him like starving animals.