BOOM!…KA…BOOM!
"What the hell!"
"I'm not sure, sir, seems like two explosions-a small one, then a larger one."
BOOM!…
"My God, sir, it appears the tender has exploded!"
"Aye, it does," Herrod, the first lieutenant, answered his fifth lieutenant. "Be careful that some of that debris doesn't set Warrior a blaze, Mr. Johns."
"Aye, sir, I'll call the fire party."
"Mr. Dewey."
"Aye," the young mid answered the first lieutenant.
"My compliments to the captain and he may desire to come on deck…Mr. Dewey?"
The young mid turned in his stride, "Yes, sir."
"The captain is in conversation with General Clinton and Lord Anthony so be mindful of your manners."
"Aye, sir. Mind them I will."
The harbour was alive with activity. Firelight from at least two blazing ships lit up the snowy night brilliantly when only minutes before a stiff offshore wind had been blowing flurries of snow across the dark anchorage.
"That's musket fire, is it not?" Turning, Herrod acknowledged his captain. "Aye, sir.
Small arm and explosives. What a way to start the first day of 1776, is it not, sir?"
"Aye, Mr. Herrod. Happy New Year," Captain Moffett replied dryly.
"Look…Look there, sir," Lieutenant Johns pointed.
"Some kind of vessel low in the water next to the transport, Cambridge. It's Cambridge 's marines that are firing their muskets at the contraption."
BOOM!…This explosion rocked Warrior and the small group of officers were thrown to the deck. The night sky was even brighter now with large pieces of fiery debris raining down on the ship. As Moffett and his officers regained their feet they could feel the intense heat.
"Mr. Herrod!"
"Aye, captain."
"Beat to quarters if you will, sir. Mr. Johns have the fire party form a line with buckets and douse the sails.
They're furled and covered with sleet but they could still catch fire with all the debris in the air." The bosun had to use his starter more than once to move the crew along. Several men appeared frightened and unnerved as they glared at the inferno that was once the proud Cambridge, her bowsprit hanging like a broken tooth. Now her tenders were also ablaze. Other ships had cut their cables to avoid being engulfed in the Cambridge 's flames and now several had drifted together, entangling spars and rigging, adding to the mass confusion.
"Quarters, sir. Eleven minutes flat even in this confusion."
"Very well," Moffett answered his first lieutenant.
"Now, Mr. Herrod, put a couple of boats in the water if you will. I want to be warned if that contraption comes toward Warrior. I'll not have Lord Anthony's flagship destroyed in harbour by some devilish boat only Satan would conjure up."