For the Honor of the Flag: A John Phillips Novel (War at Sea Book 2) by Richard Testrake Read Free Book Online

hiding the small frigate for a moment. Phillips heard the clatter of a ball hitting some gear in the rigging, but he saw nothing fall. Deciding the moment had come to see what the enemy was made of, he asked the sailing master to bring the frigate around, broadside to broadside with the enemy.
    He told Mullins to fire when the guns bore on their targets. As the ship swung around, its guns started firing, from the bow back to the stern. Immediately, serious hits were seen impacting the French corvette. That ship had no business standing up to a hammering of eighteen pounders. At the second full broadside, the enemy’s mizzen took a hard hit just above the deck, and it began to sway, held only by the standing rigging for that mast.
    Almost immediately, the tricolor came fluttering down, and the ship surrendered. The captured Indiamen were fleeing, hoping to get away while the French warship was taken into the bag.
     
    The launch, which had been towing astern, was led forward and filled with an armed boarding party. Knowing Mullins spoke the best French; he put him in charge, and told him to secure the enemy ship. He said, “If they give you any trouble, assure them we will be back shortly, and pound the snot out of them.”
    After Mullins reached the prize, he called back with the news that she was the French National corvette, Le Chacal. Her captain had been mortally wounded and was not long for this world. Courageous left the prize and continued after the Indiamen.
    Sometime later, Courageous had caught up to the first Indiaman. Seeing that crews were manning the broadside guns, he swung his frigate around on her stern. Acting Lieutenant Landrace held his hand in the air, signifying his readiness to fire upon the order. Phillips hated to fire into the ship’s stern, not knowing where the passengers might be located, but felt he had no choice. Apparently though, the French prize master did not wish to face a broadside raking his command in the stern, and the tricolor came down with a rush. Another boat was filled, and sent over with the same instructions.
    Bracing her yards around to take the wind, Courageous set out after the other two. These did not have especially brave prize crews because first one, then the last, hauled down their flags.
     
     
     
     
     

CHAPTER SEVEN
     
     

GIBRALTAR
     
     
    It took some time to get the Indiamen under control. While most of the original crews were present, as well as all of the lower ranking passengers, Phillips was told the ship’s officers and some passengers had been taken aboard the third rates that had captured them originally. Phillips sent a midshipman or bosun’s mate to each prize to take command. The French prize crews were secured, while the ships original crews were freed, and put to work manning the ships.
    Eventually, he ordered them to proceed into Gibraltar, and went back to check on the corvette that had struck to him. Matters there had not proceeded as well.
    When they neared the vessel, Mister Ranson pointed to her masthead. The tricolor floated above the British ensign. The Courageous stood higher than the Frenchman, and he could see Mullins and his crew lined up, their hands lashed behind them. One man lay still at their feet. “Mister Mullins, are you able to speak?” Phillips shouted.
    He watched Mullins exchange a few words with his captors. Mullins called to Phillips. “Sir, we were taken as soon as the ship went hull down. The captain of Chacal died soon after surrendering, and his first officer took over. He is no seaman, and is having difficulty making repairs. He has told his people you will not fire since you will kill us as well as the French. Sir, I think if you could kill him, the rest of the crew here would surrender.”
    Phillips called to one of the midshipman who was on the quarterdeck for relaying messages. “Youngster, I want you to go down to the hold, and find my rifle that was struck down there when the ship cleared for action.