Distant Gunfire by David O'Neil

Author:David O'Neil
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, adventure, action adventure, sea battles, action romance, adventure romance, romance historical, sea adventure, action historical
Publisher: A-Argus Better Book Publishers

***

The dark water swirled past the hull of the Delft as it made way in between the arms of the harbour entrance at Calais, the lights of the fort at the eastern side, showed faint through the mist that had risen following the warm day. The men crouched on deck were silent as they waited for a cry of warning or challenge but none came. The ship slid alongside against rope fenders and men leapt ashore to secure the ship alongside.

The landing party silently filed ashore and lined up. The carriage was swung on to the quay and the party gathered round and prepared to push it along between them. The uniformed men formed up, rifles at the port and the whole party moved off openly chattering and murmuring as they marched down the quay to the port battery. The tramp of feet and the noise of the creaking of the carriage warned the sentry at the battery, who came out of the guard room to challenge the party.

Leclerc spoke to the guard, explaining that they were supposed to be working on the repairs to the dock but the ship’s captain refused to sail any further in the poor visibility, so they had to walk round to the building site. The party moved on while the conversation took place and as they came abreast of the embrasures, the covers were whipped off the carriage and the ‘prisoners’ armed themselves and poured through the entryway into the courtyard behind the guns. The gun crews were sitting round the tables set out beside the magazine eating and drinking and playing cards.

The surprise was complete, and the gunners quickly lined up without a fuss and pushed into the storerooms that formed part of the enclosure behind the gun platforms.

“They haven’t even got slow matches alight, or ready use ammunition by the guns!” Roisters gunner’s mate was disgusted, and he immediately set about preparing the guns for action if required.

“Second party; man the boat and take the other battery. Lively now!” Leclerc’s voice was low but the snap was there and the party under Captain Ullyet boarded the boat lying alongside, with one of the Guernsey men to translate if needed. They set off, rowing on a compass bearing across the water to the other battery.

The cutting out party set off down the quay to the point where they could board the French ship. As they approached, the shadowy outline of the masts stood out against the lights of the city, quietly both the bow and stern parties ranged alongside the ship in their allotted places. At the call they boarded the ship swarming over the bulwarks and overpowering the deck watch.

The noise roused the rest of the crew and a pistol fired and the clash of steel signalled a general melee on the crowded deck. It was lucky that many of the crew were ashore in Calais; otherwise the outcome could have been different. As it was the ship was secured quickly, and with the sails raised the ship gradually gathered way.

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