Chase (ChronoShift Trilogy) Read Online Free PDF Page B

right.  After you prime the hole, get behind us, and do it quick.  Hardy, grab that ax and cut that wooden block out from the side of that rail."
    Just two chops of the ax, and the cannon was freed from a wooden rail that limited the angle at which the cannon could be fired.
    They loaded the cannon's barrel and bade their time. Then, their senior gunner finally made his way back toward them. Mark thought he was going to have to take the guy out, but at the last minute he tossed his slowmatch to Mark.  He had to go help another crew above deck.  It would be just the three of them on this gun which would make the plan even easier.
    Shank barked orders up and down the line.  The American ship must have drawn within range, because a couple of the British cannon roared, igniting the battle in earnest.  An explosion ripped the air as something smashed through the upper deck.
    Shank yelled at Mark and Hardy to get into the action.  Seeing no response, he advanced and began bellowing at them, face purple with rage at their apparent inactivity.  He drew his pistol.
     
    They did their best to look repentant, pretending to be hastily aiming the cannon.  Mark counted to three and then yelled, "Now!"
    The other American had hustled to a position behind them.  At Mark's command, Hardy pulled hard on the tow rope on the front of the cannon, and Mark pushed on the opposite side. They swung it around swiftly and halted it just as its barrel centered on Shank's large figure.
    Even in the low light, Mark could see the blood drain from his face.  He turned to run, pistol still in hand, but he had no time.  Mark touched the slowmatch to the firing hole and the giant gun belched.  The cannonball hurling through the air did what Mark's fists had not been able to.  Shank was no more, and a large hole now gaped in the planks in the back of the ship behind where he'd stood.
    The rest of the sailors who'd happened to be standing between their cannon and the back of the ship were too stunned by the concussion to react.  There was a big difference between being behind a cannon and in front of it when fired in an enclosed space.
    Mark grabbed the American’s upper arm. "What's your name?"
    "Swanson."
    "Are there any other Americans down here?"
    "Just one."
    "Grab him, we're going up."
    Hardy waded through the stunned bodies, grabbing the only other officer below deck.  Two blows and the man was out cold.  Hardy relieved him of his gun and his sword and shoved the barrel of the antique pistol down his own waistband.
    "Let's go!"
    They bounded up the stairs, followed by Swanson and another dark-haired fellow.  The rest of the men were beginning to recover and a few tried to come up after them.
    They reached the next deck just in time and slammed the hatch closed over the lower hold.  They pushed a few barrels on top of it, locking the majority of the crew down there.
    "They're going to keep firing on the American ship," Hardy remarked.
    "No help for it.  We've got to secure the captain."  Mark threw open the door to a cabinet where he'd seen a couple of other guns.  He gave one to Swanson.
    "Hardy, secure the rest of the weapons.  I'm going after the captain.  Swanson, find the other Americans.  Once Hardy's got some more guns, distribute them to the others.  After that, take over the helm and get this ship turned.  We need to get out of range of that American ship and fast."
    "Our modern pistols are somewhere on board," Hardy reminded him.
    "I'll find them."
    Mark was up the ladder first, the others following.
    The upper deck was in chaos.  Men manned even larger cannons, struggled with rigging, and ran back and forth delivering orders.  The captain was at the helm, commanding his men.  That there was order to the madness was clear, but their leader clearly had room to improve.
    Above deck, a lot more men were in British uniforms than had been below.  One officer hurried their way, apparently having been sent by the captain