Episode 29 - The Pirate Hunters: Part Two
The afternoon of the 27th day of February, 1640.
"SLAUGHTER 'EM TO THA LAST!" screamed Coggy to his murderous men as they began to win the day.
The crippled Frigate was beginning to sink, but Cog refused to recall his men - he wanted blood, even though the other Pirate Hunter was heading straight for them!
Tew watched as the Frigate that had caused him so much damage finally slipped beneath the waves, leaving a floating mass of debris on the surface.
"Right dats dat - now get after tha Ol'Man," he barked, as the ship came about.
"But Sir, what about tha others?" called his anxious first mate as he watched Coggy's Sloop and Moose's Baron Boat continue fighting alone.
"LEAVE 'EM BE!" snapped Tew, "I WANTS THA OL'MAN"
Meanwhile, Moose's sinking ship limped towards the grappled Grim Reaper and her crippled foe.
"If'n we's goin' down - we's takin' one 'o those Frigates with us!" he called to his rallied men.
"Standby to light the magazine!" he announced.
The MooseMen on board looked their Captain in his eyes as an eerie silence descended over the ship, then without any more hesitation, they readied their vessel for ramming.
Coggy's men had routed the Pirate Hunter's crew and where furiously looting the Frigate before she sank. But the other enemy ship was preparing to unleash a 100-gun broadside into the belly of the pirates.
"COGGY!" screamed Morgan as he looked on in shock at the impending attack.
Coggy turned to the starboard side and watched in anger as the Pirate Hunter's ship slowly began to face broadside on.
"Tas been nice knowin' ye all" called Davey Jones as he put down his musket and opened his last bottle of rum.
Morgan, Quinn, and Davey stood on the Bridge and waited as a trip to the Locker loomed.
Through the smoke, the pirates saw a flash of light. But what followed was not the familiar sound of approaching cannon shot - it was a massive explosion that blew the Pirate Hunter to pieces as Moose's Baron Boat rammed her from the blind-side!
Both ships exploded into a thousand fragments of burning embers and the crew of the Grim Reaper looked on in stunned silence as a raging inferno engulfed the crumpled mass. Thick black smoke lingered in the air as fragments of both ships rained down onto the burning ocean.
"Poor ol' Moose," murmured Quinn as the four shocked pirates stood on the Bridge in silence before slowly removing their caps in respect.
Coggy's remaining Cutthroats quickly made their way back on board the Sloop and watched as the grappled Frigate listed to her portside and gradually sank.
The Grim Reaper had lost most of her sails and was slowly taking on water. Most of the crew had been lost, but a handfull of survivors began clearing the deck of debris and started to bail out her watery hull.
A few moments later...
Pirate Jim stood watching the smoke clear off the starboard side, "SIR, LOOK!" he called with delight.
Coggy and his mates glanced over and watched in astonishment as a rowboat approached the ship.
"I don't bleedin' believe it!" called Cog, with a smile.
The four pirates began to laugh as Moose and a group of surviving MooseMen pulled along side.
"Permission to come aboard, Sir," asked the grinning Moose as he made his way up the rope ladders.
"Granted... Granted Sir," replied the gleeful Cog as he met his mate on deck and shook his hand.
The others wasted no time in joining in the welcome and the five hardy souls celebrated with a round of rum.
"Twas a trick I learned from the good Admiral," laughed Moose as he watched the remaining debris of the rammed Pirate Hunter disperse across the surface.
Just then, another bedraggled soul clambered aboard and stumbled over the railing.
"Oh yeah, I forgot" said Moose with a sly grin, "'Appen we found dis sorry bugger try'n ta tread water so we offered 'im a 'elpin' 'and" he added, as the drenched and battered La Foot slumped onto the deck.
One hour later...
By now, the pirates where coming to terms with their losses.
"Me ship wus me pride 'n joy, Cog" said Moose in a saddened tone, "…but if'n it was a choice between her 'n tha swag we took from Cartagena, or seein' me mates perish to a bunch 'o filthy pirate hunters - then me hearty, thar wus only one decision ta make."
Morgan and Quinn consoled their mate, "Ne 'er ye mind, matey. 'Cos if'n we ever gets Cogs treasure we'll buy yew a fleet 'o Baron Boats," said Morgan, patting his mate on the back.
"Aye lads... if'n we ever gits tha treasure," added Davey as he glanced towards the horizon.
"Looks like the Admiral and Ol'Man 'r gonna git thar before we does" he announced as he took another swig 'o rum and motioned towards the distant ships.
Coggy lifted his spyglass and watched as the Grey Ghost disappeared over the horizon with Tew's Man 'o War in close pursuit, "Arrr, me tinks tha Admiral 'n Ol'Man will be too busy chasin' each other ta perdition's edge. If'n we patches up me sails maybe we'll beat 'em to it" replied Coggy trying to lift the spirits of the five men.
"GIT THOSE SAILS UP" he barked to his remaining crew, "WE'S STILL GOT TREASURE TA FIND!"
"Coggy, Coggy, we's goin' neywhere in a hurry" butted in Morgan.
"Aye, Cog, 'Enry's right... we're in no fit state ta go treasure hunting now, mate" added Moose.
The frustration began to eat away at the pirate.
"In case yee've all fergot, we's jus' lost a bleedin' fortune in swag. We aint come all dis way fer nottin'" he barked.
"Coggy, mate, tis over... we's finished I tells ye, we be lucky ta reach tha closest port before she fills wit water 'n sinks beneath our very feet," replied Davey Jones.
Coggy was irate at loosing the loot from Cartagena, but thinking that Ol'Man or Tew would get to the waiting treasure before him made him unbearable.
"YEW SNIVILLIN' COWARDS! ME SHIP 'ILL STAY AFLOAT 'N WE CAN CATCH 'EM... I'LL MAKE EVERY FRIGGER ON BOARD KEEP BAILIN' TILL WE DOES!" he screamed.
Morgan tried to calm his mate, "Ol'Man 'n Tew 'r goin' nowhere in a hurry. Lest ye ferget - tha Ol'Bastid only has a skeleton crew aboard, and Tew's ship has lost a friggin' mast!" he said, before adding, "I agrees wit ye 'bout catchin' up wit 'em - BUT we needs yer ship repaired first."
Moose stepped forward, "Aye, he's right, Cog. If'n we makes it ta Santa Catalina, we can get the repairs thar 'n catch those buggers within a week."
Coggy calmed a little.
"Ok, ok… lets stop yakkin' 'n git on wit it then," he said, as he gave the order to his crew to get underway.
La Foot made his way onto the Bridge. The surgeon had patched the young Lieutenant up as best he could but he still bore all the markings of his run-in with Cyclone.
"That treacherous Ol'Swine has broken tha oath, Cap'n. He wanted nottin' ta do wit 'elping yew out back thar." explained La Foot.
Coggy patted his Lieutenant on the shoulder, "Never mind, lad. We's gonna catch upta that theiv'n swab if'n it's tha last ting we do. I'll give yew tha pleasure 'o 'angin' his wench from me yardarm, while Moose 'n Morgan fillets tha Ol'Bugger with me bluntest cutlass." he said.