Pirates of the Caribbean: The Price of Freedom

He knew his plan was risky. If he didn’t time this maneuver just
right, he and his crew would wind up trapped, sitting ducks. On the
other hand, if he were successful, the pirate sloop would run aground,
and the Wench would be free to come about and blast her to flinders
with her twelve-pounders. A ship that couldn’t move couldn’t aim her
cannons properly.
Jack took a deep breath and crossed his fingers. All I need is
good timing and a bit of luck.
Time passed, seeming to crawl, as the two ships continued on their
respective courses. As the afternoon lengthened, the pirate sloop
gradually closed the distance between it and the Wicked Wench. Jack
watched the gap between them narrow, checking the sloop through his
spyglass as it drew closer and closer. When the sloop was barely two
miles away, the pirate hoisted his colors.
It was almost anticlimactic for Jack to recognize the flag the sloop
ran up as a rogue pirate’s distinctive red ensign. On some level he’d
known the pirate ship pursuing him was Borya Palachnik ever since
the lookout had shouted his alert.
Jack handed Robby the spyglass. When Robby lowered the
glass, he was pale, but resolute. Jack kept his voice flat. “Mr. Greene,
call all hands.”
Cupping his hands around his mouth, Robby shouted, “All hands
on deck!” The ship’s bell rang stridently.
By this time many of the crew had already gathered, nervously
watching as the sloop paced them, drawing ever closer. The remaining
hands arrived quickly.
Jack turned and climbed a few steps up from the weather deck,
waiting for his men to gather. As soon as he was sure they were all
there, watching him silently, he spoke, raising his voice so all could
hear. “Lads, you’re a good crew, none better. We’re shipmates, so I’m
going to be honest with you. Lads, we’re in a tight spot. That sloop
over there”—he pointed—“is a rogue pirate, flying the red flag. She’s
after us, and we’re going to have to fight.”
Jack paused, hearing the mutter of anxious voices. He cleared his