John looked from the Quarter Deck out at the ship they were catching up on. He used his spyglass to get a better look, "Ah a nice Fat Spanish Merchant ship." he chuckled. Putting down the spyglass he went to the railing and yelled down at the men. "Look alive lads, we have a fat prize before us. To your stations. Mr. Andrew, full canvas. Hoist the Colors!" The black flag with the skull and crossbones rose at the Missinmast and the crew scrambled for their positions. Gunners were preparing the cannons, the marksmen were taking up their positions.<br/><br/>The Sea Raven was a fast ship and could easily out distance and manuver the fat merchant ship. As more canvas was raised, the ship leaped forward closing the distance between the two ships. "All guns ready Captain." came the Gunner's Mates voice. John smiled as he had the helmsman turn the ship slightly so that they would begin to come up on the right side of it.<br/><br/>"We'll give them a broad side and then cut across their wake and give them another on the other side." He called down to the Gunner's mate. "Reload and be ready to pound them."<br/><br/>"Aye Captain!" the man yelled back up to him.<br/><br/>The distance closed and he could see the crew of the Spanish ship preparing to fire back. But they did not have the cannons he did and the ship was slow. He would pound them good then close and board her. Then the fighting would become up close and personal. He laughed and drew his cutlass. As they began to come along side of the ship he yelled, "Fire." Fourteen cannons on the Starboard side fired as one. The cannon balls tore through hull and railings and main deck siding, sending splintering wood everywhere and slicing into men's flesh They fired back but again they did not have the guns nor the expert gunners he had. Most missed and those that hit did little damage. The helmsman spun the wheel and the ship turned towards the Spanish ship and crossed behind it and came up on its Starbord side and again he gave the order and the port side cannons fired ripping the man deck to pieces. Then he closed the distance between the two ships.<br/><br/>"Boarding party. Grappling hooks away." Ropes were thrown over with grappling hooks that caught and the men pulled the ships together. With a blood thirst cry the crew of the Sea Raven surged over the Railings to the deck of the Spanish ship and engaged it's crew. John followed cutting down one then another that sought to cut him down. Sharpshooters took out officers, the helmsman and those with muskets trying to kill his crew.<br/><br/>The fighting was fierce and soon the deck ran red with slippery red blood. Finally John made it to the Quarter Deck where the Spanish Captain fought and engaged him with his blade. Back and forth the two of them went, the ring of steel filling the air. The Captain of the Spanish Ship was a good swordsman but so was John, perhaps a bit better. He also knew a few tricks and before long he disarmed the Captain and placed the point of his cutlass to the Captains throat. "Order your men to surrender, and you and they will live."<br/><br/><br/>The Spanish Captain gave the order and the fighting stopped. The Spanish crew was rounded up and placed in the middle of the main deck along with their officers, to be guarded. The rest of the Sea Raven's crew began to remove the cargo, which was indeed a rich one that had been headed to Spain. There was also another surprise waiting for John in the Captain's quarters. A lovely woman with long raven black hair and dark eyes, dressed somewhat questionably in men's clothing and trussed up like a Christmas turkey. "Well now, what do we have here?" When he removed her gag, she swore a colorful litany of words admirable in any pirate. "Hands off, swine! Tell me who you are and I might grace you with my name." John had just rescued the notorious captain, Rosalie DeRosario of the feared ship the Sea Witch.