Ramage and the Saracens (r-1) by Dudley Pope

Author:Dudley Pope [Pope, Dudley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: adv_history, adv_maritime

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Down in his stable, Jackson walked round the carronade like an anxious hen circling its chicks. "I hope we'll hear the rocket," he said. "Here, Rosey, you station yourself by the door. But make sure you jump back quick when you hear the rocket because I shall fire at once. Almost at once, anyway."

"You be patient," said the practical Rossi, moving to the door. "If I am to be sure of hearing the rocket I'll be standing only a foot from the muzzle."

"All right, all right," Jackson said and turned to Stafford. "To save our Italian friend from being blown to pieces accidentally, don't you cock the lock until the rocket's gone off. Does that satisfy you Rosey?"

The Italian nodded grudgingly.

Stafford was busy preparing the gun. First he took the long, thin, pricker and thrust it down the vent, jabbing it in and out until he was sure it had pierced the cartridge. Then he pushed a quill down the vent and then sprinkled some priming powder from the horn round his neck, so that it filled the pan and covered the top of the quill. The moment that Jackson pulled his firing lanyard and the lock was triggered to make a spark, the powder would fire the quill and a spun of flame would flash down the vent and detonate the cartridge. But until the lock was cocked, there was no way that the flintlock could cause a spark.

His job as second captain completed, except for cocking the lock, Stafford stood back. Jackson crouched down and s'ghted along the barrel, although he knew the gun was already trained on the right section of the quay.

"I wonder how many there are," said Stafford.

"I heard Mr Ramage say he reckoned they'd have about twenty boats," Jackson said. "Tell me how many men the boats carry and I'll tell you how many men they have."

"They'll be galleys and tartanes and maybe a few fishing boats. Thirty or forty men in each boat?"

"I doubt if they'd have as many as that," Jackson said. "They need room for prisoners."

"Even if they have only twenty in each boat, they'll outnumber us two to one."

"But they won't have six carronades, half a dozen boat guns and a couple of hundred muskets and pistols," Jackson pointed out. "Cheer up, Staff, you probably won't end up your days in a Saracen galley!"

Stafford shuddered. "I should hope not. I can feel that whip across my shoulders, and my hands are raw from holding the oar."

"It's your imagination that makes you tired," Jackson said unsympathetically. "You just keep this gun firing and we'll all be all right."

"We'll certainly surprise 'em," Stafford said, seeking some consolation in the fact. "There they come dancing ashore thinking they're attacking a helpless fishing port, and bang, bang, there are the Calypsos waiting for them."

"I suspect that's why we're here," Jackson said sarcastically. "I can't help thinking that that's what crossed Mr Ramage's mind when he first stepped ashore here."

"I 'sped so," Stafford said in the tone of voice that took it for granted that the captain worked miracles.

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