Throughout the forenoon, Captain and I watched the engagement, the lines tacking-about almost in time to the ringing of Zealand's bell. There seemed to be no gain on either side until one of our ships exploded, shocking us both. "Appears they took a hit in their magazine, Boy."

"Magazine, sir?"

"The space where gunpowder is stowed. It is usually behind thick planking to prevent this, but it seems their angle to the shot allowed it to break through the hull forward. Such is the capriciousness of the Fates."

"So, we are now nine to their ten. Will they now overcome?"

"Nay, Boy." He turned and pointed over the port quarter. "Two of the fireboats are now about ready to sail."

I turned to watch them, and after a while, I asked, "How do you see everything, sir?"

He chuckled. "By not concentrating on one thing at a time. An essential skill for a mariner is to observe all that is about him. Here, by watching the fireboats make ready, you now miss the action of the battle line."

I spun about to look seaward. "Oh! The ship is not only burning; it is now sinking."

"Indeed, Boy. Let us hope most manage to jump and swim clear."

I strained my eyes, looking for crew, but saw none. Of course not. I see none on the other ships, either - the distance is too great for that.

"The first fireboat unfurls sails."

"Oh!" I spun about again. "How do I learn to see everything, sir?"

"By keeping in mind all that is happening. Regularly interrupt your attention to what is of most interest and check all else - in most instances, this need take but a few moments." He shrugged. "But with everything so new to you, and your eagerness to learn, do not berate yourself about this. It will come with experience."

A while later, when the fireboats had sailed past the end of our anchored line, it became easier to watch both them and the ongoing encounter with the Dutch. And beyond that to see the French ships returning. With three happenings only short eye shifts apart, I missed nothing. When eight bells sounded, I turned to ask Captain, finding him no longer beside me.

From the forward rail, he called, "Hoy! Hoy! You may continue watching, but let us not ease our readiness for the possibility of one or more of them daring to break through. White watch to dinner, blue at one bell and red at two."

When he finished, I approached and asked, "Shall I fetch assemblages and tae, sir?"

"Nay, Boy. Remain watching. Mate is preparing our dinner, and it will be brought here."

"Oh! How was this arranged?"

Captain chuckled. "While you were captivated by events to seaward, Mate came to get instructions for dinner."

"Directly to you? Not through the watch officer?"

"Aye. During action or pending action, I take the ship."

"Yes, of course. That is why it was you who announced to the crew."

"Indeed. Though I could have bade the watch officer do it, this was easier."

We returned our attention seaward, and after watching for a while, Captain said, "Predicting the enemy's movements is essential to the success of the fireboats."

I pondered this for a while, nodding. "It determines when to sail and what course to set."

"Indeed, they would have timed how long it takes the ships to turn about."

After watching for a while, I asked, "Why do they now turn this way and that?"

"Two reasons, Boy. One is to confuse the enemy, that they know not who are their targets. What would the other be?"

I puzzled on this until I realised. "To make it difficult to bring guns to bear, sir."

"Indeed, and all the more difficult because their approach presents the narrowness of their bows, rather than the breadth of their sides."

"And the fireboats have the full length of their targets."

"Indeed."

As we continued watching, a hand ascended from the waist with a pannier. Delighted I saw his arrival, I pointed. "Please, set it over there, atop the hatch cover. Have you been able to watch?"

"Once the stew was on, Mate let half us up at a time. Saw lots of shootin', but was below when the ship blew."

"Then, I will be slow to serve from the pannier." I pointed seaward. "Watch those two small ships approaching the centre of the returning French. In a minute or two, you will be well rewarded."

"Oh! The fireboats theys talkin' bout. When I came up, I couldna see em."

"Aye, from here, they now show only their sterns, their sails lost among those of their targets."

As I lifted two large bowls from the pannier, a wondrous aroma arose. "Ooh! This smells delicious."

"Aye, that there be mutton stew from fresh, not salt. [1] And the biskits be fresh-baked, too." [2]

"First one's afire," came a shout from forward, and we both turned to watch.

As the fireship's way took it toward a ship, its sails caught fire from the growing conflagration in its open hold. When it skewed a-port, I knew it had rammed, confirmed by the loud hoots and whistles from our crew and those of the other ships in the anchorage.

The second fireboat continued toward the other returning French ships. A few minutes later, cheering again arose as it set fire to a large man-of-war.

After we had added our own voices to this, I said, "Our dinner cools, sir."

While Captain and I stood with bowls in hand, spooning stew to our mouths, two more fireboats hove into view past the end of our line. He nodded toward them and said, "Chastened by their previous inattention, they will surely now see more approaching."

"Aye, as I was just now thinking. With the French withdrawing again, will the Dutch follow them?"

"Likely, Boy. There is little defence against fireboats so well positioned as these. They realise we have the upper hand, and to continue the attack will win them nothing but more losses."

We finished our stew and scones while our van again approached the Dutch and the two fireships turned away from the retreating French. When they headed toward the centre of our line, I was confounded, and I asked Captain to explain.

"Watch close, Boy. From their movements, predict where the ships will be."

I watched for a while before I realised. "Of course, when the Dutch finish their pass and begin another turn, they will be the new targets of the fireships."

"Exactly."

A few minutes later, after firing ineffective broad sides, the Dutch turned and followed the retreating French as loud hoots and whistles filled our anchorage.

Notes:

[1] In those days, meat and fish for ships were heavily salted and packed in barrels. Long soaking in many changes of water reduced the saltiness.
[2] Bisket was the spelling of biscuit until the early 19th century. They were twice-baked to crisp hardness and packed in barrels. Their later name of hardtack was first used in 1830.
[3] The underlying details of this entire encounter are taken from historical records and accounts. The Battle of Nevis marked the beginning of England's reascension in the Caribbean.