Broadsides!Broadsides!
"Hard to starboard. . .ready the guns. . .hold until we pass then fire each gun on my command. . .Fire. . .Fire. . .Fire! Your orders come quickly and sternly. You and your crew's lives depend on each command. Round after round explodes from the cannon as your ship delivers a resounding broadside at the pirate ship.
Your surprise turnabout caught the pirates completely unaware and they are able to bring only a handful of their guns to bear. And only a few of those are able to deliver even a close shot at your ship.
You turn for another round, but the pirate crew are ready for you this time. As you pass by each other again, both ships shudder from the exploding cannon and crashing cannonballs as they smash against the sides of the ships. Both ships are ablaze now. Both pirate crew and your sailors battle the fires and throw flaming debris over the sides of the ships.
Once again your crew
readies the cannon and once again the ships pass close to each other.
You see your number three battery deliver a steaming red hot cannon
ball right into the center of the pirate hull.
Suddenly
a roaring explosion shatters the side of the pirate ship. Screaming
pirates, some ablaze, jump frantically from the ship into the
quenching
waters below. Another explosion on the pirate ship. Your cannon has
found its target. . .the powder
magazine
of The Peril roars into
flame.
The battle has been raging for nearly 45 minutes now. Both you and your crew are tiring, but you're not willing to give up just yet. Suddenly one of your crew points toward the pirate ship and screams, "They've struck their colours, they're surrenderin'!" The pirate ship, listing badly now from taking on water from your last assault, lowers her sails and raises the white flag of surrender. A mighty cheer goes up among your crew.
