The Wreck Of The President

Page 8

The crew ducked down for shelter. They had more grenades and if only they could throw them onto the deck of the nearest ghurabs they might still repel the attack, but any man who tried to was immediately fired upon from the two larger ships standing by.

By this time the cannons on the gundeck had been reloaded. As the enemy retreated from the grenades the gunners had thought it safe to open all the gunports allowing them to fire at whatsoever they wished. The pirates were returning and the cannons were being fired at their lead ship.

Then one of the cannons misfired. The wadding, the packing used to hold the ball and powder in place inside the gun, flew out of the muzzle still attached to the ball. Like a jet of flame, it shot over the heads of the men in the water and straight through the side of the great pirate ship.

There was a pause...

…the pirate ship exploded.

All the other vessels reeled in the shockwave. The heat, the flame and the flying wreckage tore into everything and everyone around. Below on the President’s gundeck the blast came in through the gunports and burned and blinded many of the sailors manning the guns. Up on deck most of the crew escaped the worst of it because they were already sheltering from the enemy’s guns and arrows.

Silence fell. No one knew what to do or say. They all just stared at the mess and the smoke where a great pirate ship had been only seconds before. Burning debris was falling everywhere.

Beaten at last, the remaining pirate ship, the two surviving ghurabs and the sinking one started to move away still shooting arrows and firing guns as they went, the men in the water and a few still on board the President were stranded. Some swam after their ships, others headed for the President’s longboat which was being towed behind her. They cut it loose and escaped in it.

There was no time to rest, the ship was on fire. The great explosion had started blazes all over the place, but mainly in the sails and rigging. Men climbed aloft to put out the fires even as the retreating pirates continued to shoot at them.

The sinking ghurab vessel did not last long and only three pirate ships got away – all of them badly damaged. The enemy had lost about seven hundred men.

At last it was over. With eleven dead and thirty-five wounded the President sailed back down the coast leaving behind her a sea carpeted with the floating bodies of her foes.

For all they knew the pirates might recover and pursue them. They needed to find somewhere to anchor the ship and begin repairs. Somewhere sheltered from the weather and with plenty of people about. But the coast in those parts was lonely; if they anchored there they might be attacked again. Wherever they stopped they would be in danger from prying eyes and mouths that might betray them for gold.

Heading back south along the coast in the direction of Karwar, they arrived back at the port of Goa. Sailing in warily, they dropped anchor and posted lookouts. The guns were kept loaded and ready for action.

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