He was fastening his shirt as he made his way amidship where Lieutenant Nathan Lavery, SeaWolf’s second lieutenant, stood with a glass in his hand. One of the watch standers seeing the cap’n cleared his throat, his way of letting Lieutenant Lavery know the captain was on deck.

Seeing the captain, Lavery reported without being prompted, ‘Appears to be a single ship, sir. I’ve tried to get a better view through the glass but it still to dark. All I see is the fire.’

Lieutenant Gem Jackson, SeaWolf’s first lieutenant, had made it on deck and overheard the conversation. ‘Is it a fireship or a ship on fire?’

‘Makes no difference, she’s on a course to collide with the flagship.’

The group turned to see Gunnells, the master, who’d also made his way on deck. ‘Winds coming from ashore and blowing cross the harbour; that’s slowing her progress.’

The fire seemed to be getting bigger as the ship approached.

‘Deck ’thar,’ a lookout called, ‘’E’s under full sail, ’e is.’

Shaking his head, Jackson said, ‘Well, if it’s a fireship, he’s showed his hand way too soon.’

‘Aye,’ Gabe agreed with his first lieutenant, but that may be what gives us a chance to intercept the ship.’

‘Us,’ Jackson said surprised at what he was hearing.

‘Is there another ship in position that would have a better chance,’ Gabe asked coldly, more a statement than a question.

‘Are you going to try to sink her then?’ Jackson asked.

‘With SeaWolf’s pop guns? No, we’ll place SeaWolf between the fireship and the flagship. We’ll grapple and tow her if we can; but if we can’t we’ll ram her and try to push her away from the flagship.’

‘It could cost you SeaWolf,’ Jackson said, somewhat awed by his captain’s audacity.