Episode 31 - Hell Hath no Fury...
The pirates had made slow progress in getting their cannons, ammunition, and pillaged loot, into the rowboats and back across to the anchored ships off shore. A moderate evening breeze had made the seas a little choppy and a couple of boats almost capsized carrying their heavy burden.
At the edge of the beach, were the sands merged into the jungle foliage, the recently released Sisterhood crew and officers crouched, hidden from view, after quickly catching up to their retreating foes. Each musket-laden woman took up clear firing positions as they anxiously awaited the order to give the departing swabs a taste of their own medicine.
The unsuspecting Cutthroats on the beach continued to struggle against the worsening elements but patiently awaited the last few rowboats to return and take them over to the ships. Captain Cognito and his fellow officers waded into the shallow surf and hauled one of the boats up onto the sand - they quickly proceeded to load Sir Loin 'o Beef's paintings and sculptures into it but were abruptly halted in their tracks when a single shot, fired from the Jungle, whizzed over head.
"What da 'ell was that?" asked Moose, as he looked up and scrutinized the distant gunpowder smoke drift up out of the bushes.
In an instant, another shot rang out - quickly followed by another and another. The edge of the Jungle seemed to be on fire as flashes of shot, and plumes of powder smoke, drifted out over the beach.
Within seconds, a hoard of cutlass wielding women stormed out of the undergrowth and rushed at the confused pirates.
"Jeeesssuss!" called out Morgan, as the men jumped into the boat and ducked for cover.
In the Jungle, Captain Annabelle held her position for a moment. She had her musket primed and ready to fire. Slowly taking aim, she scanned the distant men on the beach as they scurried about looking for cover and duly found the target she was looking for - Captain Cognito!
Instantly, she squeezed the trigger - but just at that very second, Sir Loin 'o Beef grabbed his most prized possession - the oil painting of his favorite boar - and was about to hide it under some blankets, when the musket ball whizzed across the sands and hit it - ricocheted off at an angle and embedded itself into Coggy's backside!
"AAARRRGGHH I've been shot!" hollered the Captain as he fell out of the boat and began to painfully hop around in the shallow water.
Moose and Morgan leapt out of their hiding place and grabbed their wounded shipmate trying to drag him to safety.
"ME FRIGGIN' ARSE! I'VE BEEN SHOT!" shouted Coggy once more.
More and more musket shots pitted the sands and water all around the pirates - several of the crew fell dead in the shallow surf as they became victims to the Sisterhoods counter-attack.
"GIT IN DA BOAT!" barked Moose to his bloodied mate, "GIT IN HIM IN DA BOAT, 'ENRY!"
The two burly pirates pushed the boat out into deeper water and jumped in before hauling their wounded comrade out of the water and in after them. A few shots from the jungle pinged off the sides of the rowboat - causing splinters of wood to pepper its cowering occupants.
"Don't worry Cogs! The ships surgeon will have ye all patched up in no time" reassured Moose, as he handed his mate a handkerchief to stem the bleeding.
Coggy looked pale, his face etched in pain, "Those friggin' hags shot me! I'm headin' fer da locker!" he said, desirously.
"Nah mate, tis just I lil' flesh wound" replied Moose, with a reassuring grin.
As the boat drifted away from the shore, Beefy emerged from his cover and drew his cutlass. Standing up, he waved his sword menacingly towards the jungle and shouted, "YEW FRIGGIN' WHORES! I'LL GUT EVERY LAST ONE OF YE, I WILL!"
On seeing his mates' reaction, Coggy motioned for him to lay back down again and keep his head down. Struggling for words, Cog said, "Mate… it aint so bad… hurts like 'ell, but I'll be ok."
Beefy looked at the wounded Captain and replied, "I aint talking bout yew, I'm talking bout me friggin' picture!" he then lifted up the painting he'd been holding a few moments earlier and simply pointed to the gaping musket ball whole right between Billy boar's eyes.
"Look at it! Look at what dem whores did!" he said irately, as he flung the ruined picture over his shoulder and into the sea.
Back on the beach, the attacking women officers and crew quickly overwhelmed the few unfortunate stragglers left behind as the last rowboat pulled away.
Annabelle stood with Mandy at the edge of the bloodied water and watched as Coggy's rowboat drifted out of range, "I hope yew bleed ta death, yew scruvy bastid!" she said to herself.
The watching officers continued to fire a few more hopeful shots across the water, but within a few minutes, the rowboats had reached the waiting ships and the pirates wasted no time in getting their retreating shipmates aboard.
Coggy was gingerly helped up the rope ladders and onto the deck where the ships' surgeon was waiting. "Sir, I need to attend to your wound" he said.
But Coggy shoved his helpers away and stumbled about on deck, shouting, "LEAVE ME BE, YEW SWABS!"
"But Sir!" replied the concerned surgeon.
Coggy ignored the man as he staggered up the steps leading to the Bridge, "LOAD DEM FRIGGIN' CANNONS" came his forceful order.
Moose followed his mate onto the Bridge and asked, "What ye doin'? Ya need that wound stitching, and fast!"
"Not yet mate!" replied Cog, as he leaned against the Bridge railing and continued to apply pressure on the wound.
From the gun-deck came the cry he awaited, "CANNONS LOADED, SIR"
The Captain immediately ordered his gunners to open fire, and the Sloop shuddered as her fifty guns blasted out a deadly salvo of grape-shot.
A few seconds passed before the cannon-shot reached its target - blasting huge parts of the jungle edge to pieces and causing splintering palm trees to shower the retreating Sisterhood wenches on the beach.
"THOSE HAGS AINT HEARD THE LAST 'O COGGY DA BASTID!" barked Cog, before finally passing out due to blood loss.
Meanwhile, on the west side of the Island, the two returning Sisterhood ships had finished surveying the damaged port when they noticed the gunpowder smoke rising above the distant Jungle to the east.
Aboard the flagship Fearless, Captain CupperBut signaled her escort, the Bonny Maiden, to sail around the southern tip of the island and approach the distant battle that way, while the Fearless would sail around the northern edge and approach form there…