We’re closing fast now, did we judge it right, should we bring her up a point, Gabe wondered. No, he’d not tell the master his business. Gabe took a few steps forward. The fire was bright and fairly lit up the sky. He could now feel the intense heat as the two ships closed, one hundred yards…fifty yards.

Damn, Gabe thought, we’re going to collide.

‘Hold on,’ he shouted, everyone hold on.’

No sooner had Gabe gotten the words out of his mouth than a crash came from forward then a cracking sound as timber broke and the bows of the two ships collided and ground together sending a shudder through the ship.

Gabe was thrown to the deck hitting his shoulder and causing a sharp pain to penetrate. A crewman helped him to his feet and as he stood he looked aft and saw Gunnells had put two men on the wheel. I’m glad he thought about the need to have two men at the helm, Gabe thought, cause I’ve made a poor showing in that regards.

From forward Lavery shouted, ‘The bowsprit is gone.’

A groaning sound came from forward and Gabe hoped it wasn’t the mast about to come down, and then he realized it was the two hulls grinding together that caused the sound. Lieutenant Lavery and the bosun had a party forward cutting and hacking at the tangled mess that had the two ships locked together.

With her sails full SeaWolf did seem content to stay locked together with the blazing ship and started to slip forward gaining momentum as she did so, and pushing the bow of the fireship to starboard.

‘SeaWolf doesn’t like the heat any better than we do,’ Lancaster, the midshipman, volunteered.

It was the first time Gabe had noticed the boy since he’d come on deck and was glad to see that so far he was unhurt. As SeaWolf drove forward the bow of the fireship slipped further to starboard.

‘Mr. Lancaster.’

‘Aye sir.’

‘Run aft and give my compliments to the first lieutenant and tell him to be ready, hurry now.’