"Their flag is but a rag,Ours is the true one;Up with the Stars and Stripes!Down with the old one!"
"Their flag is but a rag,Ours is the true one;Up with the Stars and Stripes!Down with the old one!"
Tempest tore himself away from the side of Bertha and leaped on deck.
He saw a sloop of war, flying the English ensign, between theCarolineand the shore.
Quickly exchanging signals with theLively Bee, a course of action was agreed upon.
They must put out to sea.
The flight was attended with danger, for they might fall in with larger war ships; the only chance they had was to escape in the darkness of night.
"Stand by to get under way!" shouted John Tempest. "The wind is rising, and methinks theCarolinecan show her heels as well as theLively Bee."
The order was obeyed with alacrity, for the men loved a fight, even though the odds were against them, and they believed ere morning dawned they would smell powder.
The breeze ruffled the surface of the water around theCaroline, breaking into myriads of little waves, which leaped and danced and sparkled as the last rays of the sun fell upon the ocean.
The sloop-of-war had signaled theCarolineandLively Beeto lay to, but no notice was taken.
Then the Britisher fired a gun, and Tempest ordered the starry ensign to be dipped three times by way of salute.
It was galling to the Englishman, and our young Yankee intended it should be.
The sails were spread to the breeze; the jib which extended along the bowsprit was hoisted, and the good shipCaroline, bending low before the wind, moved along with increasing velocity.
The sloop gained upon them.
"Set the gaff-topsails, and hoist away the spencer!" shouted Tempest, and the men answered with a ready obedience.
The spencer, with three small, triangular sails stretched from the topmast, were now spread to the wind, giving additional speed to the vessel.
Straining through every joint, theCarolineparted the green waves before her, flinging the foam in feathery showers around her bows.
The sloop was gaining even then, and Tempest saw that they were in for a fight, unless darkness came on suddenly.
He heard his name called, and knew that Bertha was awake.
He hastened down the companionway.
"What was that report, John?" she asked.
"A gun was fired."
"At this ship?"
"No, it was a signal."
"What for?"
"Bertha, it is as well that you should know. We are putting out to sea."
"Then you deceived me?"
"No, Bertha; but a man-of-war is chasing us."
"And we shall all be killed."
"I hope not. We shall have to fight."
"Not with me on board?" she asked, with a little frightened scream.
"Seeing, my dear Bertha, that if you get off you will be drowned, I am afraid you will have to endure the annoyance."
"But why go out to sea? Have I not had enough sea?"
"My dear Bertha——"
"Don't dear Bertha me!" and the little beauty stamped her foot. "You ought to get to land as quickly as you can, and not fly into greater danger."
The heavy boom of a gun startled her.
"Take me back to America, won't you, Mr. Tempest?"
"I would like to; but there is some fighting before us, I am afraid."
He went on deck, not waiting to hear what new objection she would raise, or fresh obstacle interpose.
To his great joy he found that there was a likelihood of a very dark night, and neither British nor American would care about a night engagement at sea.
"Shall we reply, sir?" asked Scarron.
"No; we cannot reach the sloop, and we cannot afford to waste powder and shot."
"I found twenty kegs of powder in the hold, sir."
"You did? That is great!"
"So I thought, sir, and there are more shots than powder on theLively Bee, and we have a lot of nails on board."
"I see; if you get at close quarters you would fire nails?"
"Why not, sir? They would kill a man just as well as lead."
"You are right, but I don't want to fight at all if I can help it."
"I understand, sir. I guess we shan't do much until morning."
"Have everything in readiness."
"Yes, sir."
The darkness increased so rapidly that it was impossibleto do any effective fighting, and as theLively BeeandCarolinewould have to contend against a well-equipped man-of-war, it seemed the height of imprudence to attempt a surprise.
A boat was lowered from theCaroline, but no sooner did it strike the water than a gun was fired from the English vessel.
This was warning so significant that the boat did not proceed on its trip, and yet Tempest wanted to communicate with theLively Bee.
"I tell you, sir, only a good swimmer could reach the privateer safely," said Scarron.
"But who could swim that distance?" asked Tempest.
"There is Bob, the powder-monkey."
"Do you think——"
"That he would go? Why, sir, Bob would let his head be used as a rammer for a cannon if he thought he could serve the Republic."
"Send him to me."
"Ay, ay, sir."
A few minutes and a boy some fifteen years of age stood before Lieutenant Tempest.
"Bob, are you a good swimmer?" asked the officer.
Bob's face lighted up with a smile, a smile which quickly developed into a grin, which threatened to extend from ear to ear.
He did not answer, but pulled his forelock.
Bob had no other name, for he was a foundling. One night Scarron had discovered a wee might of humanity on the doorstep of a deserted house in New York.
He picked up the child, told the constables of his find, and they very good-naturedly declared that "those who find should keep," so Scarron kept the boy, called him Bob, and educated him in all the learning of the gutter.
Bob profited so well that before he was ten years old hecould swear like a trooper, fight like a pugilist, climb a flagpole with the smartest, swim like a fish, and do a very great many other physical feats.
He could not read. He had never tried to write except in his own peculiar manner, which no one else could understand.
His moral faculties were not overbright, but he believed in some power; he had been taught that unless he told the truth and acted honestly, God would take him to some dungeon where the light of day never entered.
He was as faithful as any dog, and had an intense love for Scarron, and secondarily for the starry banner, which he fancied had some magic power for good.
Bob was not handsome; in fact, it would be very difficult to find a plainer, or, to use very expressive language, uglier, boy in a week's search.
Tempest looked at him, and asked again:
"Can you swim a mile?"
Had the officer said a knot, or so many fathoms, he would have understood, but a mile was very vague.
"Is it a mile from York to Staten Island?" asked Bob.
"Yes, over five miles."
"Then I can do it, for I've swum to the island and back without stopping."
"Bob, listen to me. I want to send a message to theLively Bee; I dare not send a boat, for the English gunners would sink it. Could you carry it to Captain Vernon?"
"Is it heavy?"
"What?"
"The thing you want me to carry."
Tempest laughed.
"It is a letter."
"Yah, I can do it."
"I wish you would."
"Are we going to fight in the morning?"
"Perhaps so. I'd like to know how many guns that vessel has."
Tempest spoke to himself, and had no idea that Bob heard him.
The letter to Vernon was written and placed in a well-corked bottle to prevent its destruction.
This was tied around Bob's waist, and the boy lowered himself noiselessly into the water.
TheLively Beewas about half a mile from theCaroline, and Bob was not many minutes in covering the distance, for he was an expert swimmer.
The letter was read, and an answer prepared and placed in the bottle.
Once more Bob was in the water, but not swimming.
He lay on his back and floated, for he wanted to think.
Thinking, with him, was a difficult operation and required considerable scratching of his head.
To do this in the water was not the easiest thing, and Bob took longer than usual to think.
"He'd like to know how many guns that skunk has, would he? Well, I guess I can find out."
Bob arrived at this conclusion after five minutes' thought.
The Britisher was distant a mile, the three vessels forming a triangle.
Bob swam to the war ship, and waited to make sure he was not discovered.
He caught hold of the chains and climbed up until he could see the deck.
So silently did he move that not one of the men on deck heard him.
He crawled along in the shadows, waited in hiding until the watch passed, and then moved on again.
Bob knew more about a man-of-war than many a commodore,and his steps were guided by his instinctive knowledge.
He stood examining a gun which was longer than any he had ever seen, and his curiosity betrayed him.
One of the officers of the watch saw him.
Bob knew it, but was not afraid.
He turned quickly and seized the astonished officer by the throat.
The fingers were like iron. They closed tightly on the Englishman's throat, preventing him from crying out.
Two minutes and the officer was dead. Bob knew that by his weight. Letting the man down gently, he pulled a tarpaulin over him, and resumed his search as calmly as though nothing had disturbed him.
He was lowering himself into the water when he accidentally saw the English flag still flying at the stern.
"That ain't the right flag," he muttered, as he looked at the Union Jack. "Blow me crazy, but if I'd got the Stars and Stripes I'd put it there. Anyhow, that thing shan't stay."
Bob could move about with the silence of a mouse. He was barefooted, and so no footfall was heard.
Quietly he drew the halliards and lowered the flag.
The darkness aided him, or he would have failed.
He unfastened the flag and wound it around his body.
A piece of the halliard was cut off to tie the flag securely.
Bob was not yet satisfied.
He knew the direction of the captain's cabin, and he must pay his respects.
Placing his thumb to his nose, he extended his fingers and muttered:
"That's for you, cap'n."
One of the seamen was approaching, and Bob must escape.
He clambered over the bulwarks and reached for the chains, but missed them.
He fell into the water with a loud splash.
"Man overboard!"
The cry was taken up by the deck watch.
Lanterns were lowered over the side, and an object could be seen floating on the water a few yards away.
"Fire!"
Three muskets were leveled at the swimmer, but Bob was not going to be in the track of the shot.
He dived, and when he arose again to the surface he was a good many points to the east, and was out of range of their vision.
A new sensation diverted the attention of the crew.
"Murder!" shouted one of the watch, as he stumbled over the dead body of the murdered officer.
The crew gathered around.
Captain Scott looked at the lieutenant's body and asked:
"Who has done it?"
"I found him there, sir," answered the man.
"I'll find out who has done this, and he shall pay for it. Beat to quarters and let the roll be called."
The drums were beaten, and the men tumbled out of their hammocks, expecting to be called upon to fight.
The middies called the rolls, and every man answered.
When this was reported to the captain, he glared with savage wrath.
"Who, then, was that who leaped overboard?"
The mystery was greater than ever. Every man on board believed the lieutenant to have been murdered by one of the crew, who, to save himself from death by hanging, had trusted himself to the waves, hoping to reach one of the American vessels and be received as a deserter.
"What now, fellow?" roared the captain, as one of the deck watch spoke excitedly to his officer.
"Captain, this man tells me," said the middy, "that the flag has been lowered and the halliards cut."
"Death and fury! I'll give every man of the night watch a dozen lashes at the triangle in the morning. Zounds! who could have lowered our flag?
"Find out, sir!" addressing the chief officer, "or I'll report you as well. Fury! Has some Yankee boarded theMonarch, and none know of it?"
Captain Scott, of his majesty's sloop-of-warMonarch, was the angriest man in those waters that night.
THE MONARCH'S DOOM.
"He has failed, Scarron."
Lieutenant Tempest had repeated that assertion several times during the two hours that Bob was away.
"I fear so, and yet I never knew Bob to fail afore."
"But he has been gone so long."
"I guess he'll have a good showing when he does come. Hello! what's that?"
Going to the bulwark, Scarron looked over, and in a low voice uttered the nautical expression:
"Ahoy, there!"
Back came the answer:
"Toss me a rope."
"It is Bob!" cried Scarron. "A rope there, quick—the boy's tired."
"Where away, sir?"
"Nor—nor'west."
The rope was thrown, and the direction was right, for almost immediately it was grasped, and the men began to haul it in.
A few moments and Bob, the powder-monkey, stood on deck.
He was bewildered and faint with his great exertion.
Scarron gave him a good stiff glass of grog, and asked for the message sent by the captain of theLively Bee.
Bob laughed.
"Not likely. It's the cap'n as will get it, not you."
"What have you got on?" asked Scarron, for the first time noticing the flag wrapped around the boy's body.
Bob grinned, but did not reply. But when Tempestapproached, the boy pulled his forelock and began to untie the rope.
When he had unwound several yards of it, and unfolded the flag, Tempest asked:
"Where did you get it?"
Again Bob grinned, and that delayed the answer.
"You said you'd like to know how many barkers that there Britisher had got, so I went and counted."
"You were on board the man-of-war?"
"Certain I was, or else how could I count?"
"Tell me all about it."
Tempest spoke almost angrily, for he had an idea that Bob had acted treacherously, else how would it have been possible for him to have wandered about the gun deck of a well-ordered war ship?
The boy told of his adventures, and described the long stern-chasing gun, and the death of the officer.
"It was this way," he said. "I'd got to kill him, or he'd have killed me, and then who'd fight for the Stars?"
"But the flag?"
"I seen it flying," said Bob, more emphatically than correct, "and, thought I, it's only a rag anyway, and I'll take it to keep me dry. If I'd had a Starry flag, I'd have put it up, but I hadn't, so they have to do without one."
The flag was examined and the nameMonarchwas found on it.
The information given by Bob bore out the fact that the sloop was his majesty's shipMonarch, carrying eight guns, one of which was a stern-chaser capable of carrying a long distance.
"Bob, you are a true hero."
"Am I?"
"You are, and when we get back to America I shall see that the President hears of what you have done."
"Blow me, cap'n, but a great man like he won't care about a boy's swim; why should he?"
The letter from Vernon was read, and he agreed with his lieutenant.
When morning dawned the British shipMonarchwas within half a mile of theCarolineandLively Bee.
The Britisher swung around so that she could bring her long gun in line with theCaroline.
Tempest saw his danger, and swung around at the same time, while theLively Bee'slong gun was aimed straight at theMonarch'smainmast.
The stern-chaser belched forth, and the shot tore across the water, but missed theCaroline.
At the same time a return shot was fired, much to the Britisher's surprise, by theLively Bee, and a good-sized splinter was taken off the mast.
The battle had now commenced in good earnest, although it was all on one side, for the guns possessed by theCarolinewere of too short a range to do any damage at such a distance.
TheLively Beewas bent on disabling theMonarch, and a second time the long gun was sighted for the mainmast.
A loud cheer arose from theCaroline'screw, as they saw the mainmast cut in two by the shot and go crashing over the side.
The privateer was keeping the war ship active, and diverting attention from theCaroline.
This was just what Tempest had planned. It gave him an opportunity to get in close alongside theMonarch.
Then his voice rang out:
"Give her a broadside!"
The guns belched forth, and the shots tore up the deck of the enemy's forecastle, killing two men, breaking a middy's arm, and slightly injuring the bowsprit.
Another broadside quickly followed, and before thesmoke had cleared away, Tempest ordered the men to seize their grapnells and board.
Cutlasses and boarding-pikes were passed from hand to hand along the deck, and Tempest, drawing his sword, waved it above his head, shouting to his men to follow him.
"Have at them, boys," he shouted, "to the death!"
He rained blows right and left, which no one could parry.
Captain Scott sought out the brave lieutenant, and with eyes flashing like those of a snake he struck at the young officer with a savageness amounting to fury.
But Tempest was on his guard.
With a fierce and determined energy he met the British captain, and sent his sword twice through his arm, rendering it entirely useless.
"Do you surrender?" asked Tempest as the sword fell from the captain's hand.
"No, you Yankee dog, a Briton never surrenders except to death!"
With his left hand Scott drew a pistol and leveled it, but with a swinging blow from Tempest's sword, which severed the captain's wrist, the pistol and hand dropped to the deck.
"Surrender!"
"Never!" Then, turning to his crew, he shouted: "Boys, never give in! Fight till you die. Whip the Yankees or die in the attempt!"
But, though thus encouraged, the men could not hold out.
The ship was so badly injured that it rolled about unmanageable, and when the captain died, as he did a few minutes later, the men surrendered, and theCarolineclaimed theMonarchas a prize.
The ship was too much disabled to take into port, so,under the direction of Scarron, the guns were removed to theCaroline, together with a good portion of the ammunition.
When this was accomplished and the prisoners transferred, the order was given to blow up the war ship.
A terrific report which caused the waters to be troubled as though by an earthquake, and all was over with his majesty's sloop-of-warMonarch.
"Now to port!" shouted Tempest, obeying the signal of theLively Bee, and the men joyously spread the sails and cheered as they filled out with the wind, for they knew they were bound for home.
HOMEWARD BOUND.
"Do not undress; be ready at any moment to go to quarters."
Such was the command given the men who were sent below to sleep, after the watch was set for the night.
Tempest was not anxious for sleep, although he had been up all the previous night.
He had sent word to Bertha that if she liked to walk the deck with him, he should be pleased to have her company.
The lady was delighted.
She could not sleep, and the air of the little cabin was stifling.
She had been too much afraid to go on deck during the day, and had no real knowledge of the great events which had transpired.
Flushed as Tempest was with victory, he yet hesitated to tell Bertha all that had transpired, for war is no fit subject for feminine ears.
But she was fit to be a soldier's wife. Full of patriotic zeal, the overthrow of the British was a subject she rejoiced to hear spoken of; and when her own lover was the hero, her delight was beyond all computation.
The sails of theCarolinefilled at the first puff of wind, and she kept at hailing distance with theLively Bee.
"Where are we bound now?" asked Bertha as she paced the deck, her hand on Tempest's arm.
"Home!" was the answer.
"To stay?"
Instead of answering, Tempest said:
"We are at war with England. That country has destroyed some of our cities and is devastating our land. She has claimed the supremacy of the ocean, as you know. We have disputed her right. Now what is my duty? My great ancestor left England in theMayflower; he founded a family unexcelled for its patriotism. His descendants, by marriage, united the great tribes of the Indians with the white people. My father fought with Greene at Bunker Hill and with Washington at Valley Forge. What is my duty?"
Bertha Decatur did not hesitate in her answer.
"My brave boy, you must fight—until the end."
"I thought you would say so. But do you know what you told me when I asked for this little hand?" asked Tempest, placing his hard hand on her soft one.
"I said I would only marry a hero."
"And now——"
"I say the same."
"What constitutes a hero in your estimation?"
"I don't know, but I can tell you the name of one; he is my ideal——"
She turned away her head to hide her crimson blushes.
"What is his name, and I will try to imitate him."
Her hand trembled on his arm.
"Is it your uncle, the captain?" he asked.
She murmured so low that he almost thought he misunderstood her, for the name he heard was his own.
"Do you mean it?" he asked eagerly.
"You know I do. Have you not known it long, long ago?"
"I hoped, and yet I feared——"
"You should not fear."
"Then, Bertha, dear, will you——" he hesitated for a few moments. Her hand trembled, her face was turned away. "Will you become my wife as soon as we land?"
"I am your prisoner, sir, and prisoners are not usually consulted about their future," she answered mischievously.
"But I heard a lady say that if, as a prisoner, she was taken to the altar, she would kill herself."
"But her captor was English."
"Then any American who might capture you——"
"You have taken me prisoner, and if you cannot keep me, why—why, the bravest man shall have me. So there!"
"I do not fear now; and, Bertha, the first thing we will do when we reach land will be to get married."
"What noise is that?" she suddenly asked. "Is it not horrible?"
"Hush! you must not say that. It is the men below who are singing. If the hatchways were open you could hear the words."
As though one of the watch had heard the officer's words, the hatches were thrown back, and the gruff voices of the men, who were too excited to speak, were heard singing:
"'Ye tars of our country, who seek on the mainThe cause for the wrongs your country sustain,Rejoice and be merry, for bragging John BullHas got a sound drubbing from brave Captain Hull.Then charge the can cheerily,Send it round merrily!Here's to our country and captains commanding;To all who inheritOf Vernon the spiritDisdaining to strike while a stick is left standing.'"
"'Ye tars of our country, who seek on the mainThe cause for the wrongs your country sustain,Rejoice and be merry, for bragging John BullHas got a sound drubbing from brave Captain Hull.Then charge the can cheerily,Send it round merrily!Here's to our country and captains commanding;To all who inheritOf Vernon the spiritDisdaining to strike while a stick is left standing.'"
"Who is Vernon?" asked Bertha.
"The bravest and truest man who ever wore a blue jacket. The captain of theLively Bee."
"But he is a privateer."
"So am I. I entered his crew as a man before the mast. He made me first officer. He searched me out, becauseyour brother knew me. Vincent told him my story, and Vernon has given me a chance to win you, my darling."
"Hem! Ha! Ugh! Beg parding, sir, but my mate on the lookout says as how he sees a strange sail, which is kinder suspicious."
The man had crept up quietly behind the lovers and had tried to attract their attention by his coughing and strange noises.
"I will go forward, Smithson."
"Ay, ay, sir!" Then to himself he muttered: "He's a good sort, too good for a privateer; he ought to be on a reg'lar man-o'-war, or better'n that, a whaler away down in the Suthern seas. Blow me, but I like whalin' better'n fightin', I do."
"Go below, Bertha, and try and get some sleep. No one shall disturb your solitude, and I want some rose-bloom on your cheeks when you reach land, you know."
Bertha Decatur went to her cabin, for the first time wishing that her lover was anything but a fighting man. The danger was so great.
"I can pray for him," she said, "and who knows, mayhap prayers will save his life."
"A sail, did you say?"
"Ay ay, sir, and suspicious, too. She has a narrow head to her topsails, and looks like a Frenchman."
"Where away?"
Far away on the horizon, where the light was fast waning, a little white speck appeared, hardly visible to the naked eye, but quite plain through a glass, was a large ship on the port tack in cruising canvas only.
"What do you think—is she too big for us to tackle?" asked Tempest.
"I am afraid so, sir."
"Where is theLively Bee?"
The privateer was nowhere to be seen.
How had they missed her?
Surely no accident had happened to her; if so, signals would have been fired.
"There she is, sir, far away to the west'ard."
TheLively Beehad outdistanced theCaroline, and was only dimly visible in the twilight.
"Spread all sails! Let us overtake theLively Bee."
"Ay, ay, sir—but the vessel yonder?"
It was evident the man was in favor of stopping to fight, and theCarolinewas in good fettle as regards guns, for she had transferred those from theMonarch.
But Tempest never forgot that he was sailing under Captain Vernon, and whatever his own inclination, he would take no action without consultation with his chief.
"Haul your fore-sheet to windward!" he shouted to the men in the forecastle. "Right your helm, quartermaster. We must show our heels to the enemy for once."
On went theCaroline, as fast as the wind would carry her.
All was bustle on her deck, for all knew that unless they could outdistance the ship which was looming up in the fast darkening twilight, larger than ever, there would be no escaping a fight.
"That is theMacedonian, sir," said Scarron, touching his cap as he spoke.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, sir, and we stand no chance if she gets within gunshot. TheCarolineandLively Beewill change flags, and one and all our men will get sent to Dartmoor prison."
"Then we must fly."
"Ay, sir, fly like the wind, or faster than the wind. See, theLively Beeis coming back."
"Bless you, Vernon!" exclaimed Tempest aloud, "you never deserted a friend yet."
"No, Mr. Tempest, and Harry Vernon never will. I can answer for that," said Scarron, thinking that his officer had spoken to him.
The night was coming on apace, and Tempest hoped that he might get near enough the shore before morning to make attack dangerous.
An hour passed, and theLively Beewas within hailing distance.
"Is that theMacedonian?" asked Vernon.
"I think so, captain."
"Then we must show our heels, or go to Davy Jones' locker."
"That is just what I had ordered, sir. We must save the rich prize."
A light was seen to the westward, and Vernon muttered something like a curse, for he knew the signal to be from a man-of-war.
"Between two fires, Tempest. Only Heaven can save us!" he shouted.
And the brave lieutenant replied:
"In God we'll trust, sir."
But all the same, Tempest felt very anxious, for he had on board the one he loved better than life.
JACK'S REQUEST.
"And, oh; it was glorious and strange to behold,What torrents of fire from her red mouth she threw;And how from her broad wings and sulphurous sides,Hot showers of grapeshot and rifle balls flew."
"And, oh; it was glorious and strange to behold,What torrents of fire from her red mouth she threw;And how from her broad wings and sulphurous sides,Hot showers of grapeshot and rifle balls flew."
"In God we'll trust!" said Tempest, and Bertha Decatur drew nearer to him, as she whispered lovingly:
"He will protect us!"
Then, with a feminine fear, she asked:
"Do you think we shall have to fight?"
"I am afraid so; but if we do—can you be brave, my darling—can you bear to hear the truth?"
"Tell me what it is you fear."
"If we fight we shall be beaten. Against such as yon ship we have no chance. And if the other is a Britisher, we are doomed."
"Let me die with you."
"We may not be killed."
Bertha looked at her betrothed, her lips quivering and her body trembling, not with fear, but rather with the thought that her life might be so short, now that she had begun to realize how well it was worth living.
"But—you will never surrender?" she asked proudly.
"What would you wish, Bertha?"
"Wish? Why, better die than be a prisoner; better give your life for your flag, than live dishonored. We can die together—it would be better."
The man at the masthead shouted:
"Sail, ho!"
Tempest left Bertha, and exclaimed:
"Masthead, there!"
"Ay, ay, sir!"
"Where away is the sail?"
The direction was given. It was the sail seen between theCarolineand the shore.
"What does she look like?"
"A square-rigged vessel, sir."
After a few minutes Tempest again shouted:
"Masthead, there!"
"Sir?"
"What flag does she fly?"
There was a silence deep and profound as the answer was awaited.
"She shows no colors, sir! She is a large ship and bearing down upon us. The Britisher is gaining on us as well."
For a moment only did the brave young officer hesitate.
It was a bright, sunshiny morning and the air was clear.
"Run up the starry banner!" he shouted.
It was a defiance, and the crew cheered heartily as the flag ran up the halliards.
But the cheering suddenly ceased at a word from the commander.
"Masthead, what do you see?"
Scarcely a minute elapsed before the answer came.
"She has run up the American flag, sir!"
What cheering!
What joy filled the breasts of the crew!
Orders were given to stand toward the American.
"What name does she bear?" asked Tempest.
"TheUnited States," came the answer after a few minutes.
"How strange! What will Bertha say?" thoughtTempest, for theUnited Statesfrigate was commanded by her uncle, Captain Decatur.
On board theUnited Stateseverything was being put in order for a naval battle.
Decatur called his officers together.
"Gentlemen, we have to fight this Sabbath morning instead of worshiping. I want you to tell all your men that the conflict will be severe; but that the flag of my country on the ship I command shall never leave the staff on which it waves as long as there is a hull to support it."
The officers saluted as became men of their rank, but one middy was far too excited to merely salute.
He threw up his cap and shouted:
"Hurrah for Captain Decatur!"
Thus challenged, the officers responded, and never did men give more hearty cheers than those officers of the U. S. frigateUnited States.
There were a number of youths on board the American ship whose ages were from twelve to fourteen.
Many a lad, at that time, received his warrant as a midshipman while still in his tenth year.
If he was tall and well formed no questions were asked, but if below the ordinary stature he was interrogated closely.
It was illegal to enroll any boy's name on the roster, unless he had passed his twelfth birthday.
Jack Creamer wanted two weeks to be ten years old, but he was allowed to stay on board.
When Jack saw the English frigate approaching he looked troubled.
No one would have thought he was so young, for his face looked pinched and wan.
"Cowardly, cowardly, custard!" sneered one of the middies who had managed to get enrolled, though only eleven years old.
"I am no coward," said Jack.
"Of course not," responded another middy; "not a coward, only a little bit scared like. No wonder, you are only a child."
"I'm nearly as old as you," retorted Jack.
"Are you? I'm an officer in the United States navy, while you are too young to be enrolled."
So they rallied Jack, and he became indignant.
Something worried him.
No one imagined in his heart that Jack was afraid, but boys like to tease each other, and even middies are no exception to the rule.
An old quartermaster watched Jack closely.
"What is the matter, Jack?" he asked kindly.
"I would like to see the captain before going into action."
"You shall, my boy. Come now."
He took Jack Creamer up to the quarterdeck, and there waited for Captain Decatur's attention.
The captain turned and saw the two, and in his cheery voice asked:
"What is wanting now, Jack?"
The boy saluted, and in a quivering voice replied:
"Commodore, will you please to have my name put down on the muster roll?"
"Why, what for, my lad? You are far better as you are."
Jack had grown bold.
He pointed to the British ship, which was almost within gunshot range, and replied:
"So that I can draw my share of the prize money, commodore, when we take that Britisher."
"Your name shall be entered, Jack."
The lines left the boy's face, a brightness came to hiseyes, and he left the captain's presence far from decorously, for it was with a hop, skip and a jump.
Decatur directed the attention of the masthead man to the strange sails to the leeward.
"She flies the American flag," was the answer.
"And the other to the north of her?"
"I'd know her anywhere."
"Well?"
"She's all right. As tight a little boat as ever sailed. TheLively Bee, privateer."
"We shall have friends, then."
"Ay, ay, sir. Cap'n Vernon is as stanch as his boat, an' that's sayin' a lot."
"Beat to quarters."
How willingly the men obeyed! How quickly each man was at his post!
The surgeon in the cockpit got his instruments and bandages ready, the powder-monkeys were in line, the middies strutted about every bit as proud as peacocks, and all the officers waited for the action to commence.
The first gun fired was from the American ship.
The ships were rolling in a manner fatal to good aim.
Half an hour was devoted to throwing away good ammunition, for no other object was gained.
A terrific shout went up from the Yankees as they saw that the Englishman's mizzen topmast was shot away.
Captain Carden soon saw that his men could not cope with the Americans at such long range, so, with that bulldog courage which Britishers possess, he disdained all maneuvering and bore straight down on the enemy.
Both began to fire broadsides, and the firing from the American was so rapid that theMacedonian'screw shouted:
"She's on fire! Hurrah for England and her hearts of oak!"
But they had shouted too soon.
A well-aimed shot cut away the mizzenmast, which fell alongside, suspended by the cordage.
"Hurrah, Jack Creamer!" shouted a captain of a gun to the lad, whose face was as black as the ace of spades, from the powder and smoke.
"Huzza, cap'n!" responded Jack. "You've made a brig of her."
Captain Decatur heard the boy's remark and added cheerily:
"Ay, ay, my lad! Now let the next shot make a sloop of her."
Decatur was everywhere.
His activity was almost marvelous.
It seemed almost impossible that one man could accomplish so much and continue to be so cheerful.
"Ay, I guess it would do her good," he said, as he saw a gunner look along his gun.
"Did you speak to me, cap'n?"
"If you like; I saw you point your gun at the yellow streak. Aim just there, let us hull her."
The order was passed along the gun deck, and each gunner strove to see that his gun did the most damage.
The great missiles tore cruel holes in theMacedonian'swooden walls, and so rapid was the firing that the Britisher had no chance.
The flag was hauled down, and a ringing cheer from the Americans crowned the victory of that Sunday.
THE STORY OF THE FIGHT.
Lieutenant Allen was sent on board the prize.
He found the decks in a fearful condition.
The hauling down of the flag had turned the survivors into veritable demons.
They broke open the hatches and got to the rum.
Some of the crew were already drunk, others nearly so.
Some were throwing the dead overboard, and with a heartlessness which was horrible were even serving the wounded the same way.
Lieutenant Allen was examining the muster rolls of theMacedonianwhen a sailor pushed his way toward the quarterdeck.
"I am an American, sir! 'Pressed against my wishes, and there were seven more of us."
"Where are the others?"
"Three are dead, sir, the others want to be taken into your crew."
"And you fought against your country?"
"We had to do it, sir."
"You should have begged to go below."
"We did, and were ordered to the guns or to be treated as mutineers."
"I will see what can be done."
"Thank you, sir. We shall be happier fighting for our own flag."
When the first boat was filled the first lieutenant of theMacedonianinsultingly asked Lieutenant Allen if he was to lose his baggage.
"We are not privateersmen," answered Allen.
"I do not know what you are," sneered the Englishman.
A powder-monkey on board theMacedoniantold the story of the fight so graphically that Decatur sent for him and begged him to recount it once again.
"What is your name?"
"Samuel Leach, sir, as good a Briton as ever carried powder to a gun."
"I do not doubt it. Will you tell me what you know of the battle?"
"If your honor would like to hear it."
"I am waiting."
"Well, sir, I don't know as how you would care about hearing about what we thought of you when we saw you bearing down on us."
"Of course you were confident of victory?"
"That's true. And many a bet we made as to the amount of prize money we'd receive. You see, your honor, the men who gets most of the fighting, and who have to work the hardest, gets the least of the prize money. But when your boat fired I heard such a strange noise. It was like the tearing of sails just above our heads. That's the Yankee wind, said I, and so it was.
"My, how the cannon did roar! Both sides were hard at it, and made a most hideous noise.
"Then I heard the shots strike the sides of our ship, and the timbers flew in pieces like kindling wood.
"It was my first battle, and I trembled at the noise.
"Presently I saw the blood fly suddenly from the arm of a man serving at my gun. I don't know what hit him, but there was the blood.
"I hadn't much time to look around, for the boys belonging to the guns next to mine were all wounded, and I had to serve four guns. And that was hard work.
"My chum, Harry Lanyon, was serving at the next gun to me, and I saw a great ball strike him on the leg.
"Before he could be moved, the boy at the next gun had some canister sent through his ankle.
"A stout Yorkshireman lifted the boys, one after the other, and carried them to the cockpit. Each had to lose a leg.
"Then I rushed on deck. I was made frantic with what I had seen.
"I ran up to Tom Smithers—your honor didn't know Tom, but he was one of the bravest men that ever lived. Tom sprang forward to bid me go back to my duty, but before he could finish what he was saying he was cut clean in two by a terrible shot.
"Then I saw Middy Davis. Oh, sir, he was a bright boy—not as old as I am by a year or so. How his mother cried when we left Bristol, and how he tried to comfort her by saying he would bring back lots of prize money.
"Well, sir—captain, I mean—the young middy ordered us about just like an old man. He was so brave, and knew his duty.
"What did he do but jump on a gun and shout: 'Are we not Englishmen? Doesn't Britain rule the waves? Are we going to be beaten by a pack of Yankees?' Them's his words, sir, or I wouldn't repeat them, for you can't help being Yankees. Well, sir, as true as I'm a living sinner, he had scarcely said the words when a cannon ball took off his head just as clean as a sword cut. Poor chap, you wouldn't have thought he was good-looking, but he was. Then the lieutenant seeing me, shouts:
"'Leach, throw that thing overboard!' and he pushes the head along the deck as though it was a ball.
"A point abreast of the mainmast we called the slaughter house, 'cause so many were killed just there.
"There, sir, a ball entered a port and killed five men at one lick. It was horrible.
"I got so as I didn't mind slipping about in the blood, but I was glad when I heard the order given to stop firing, and I knew we were licked.
"I'd rather be alive and a prisoner than be dead, sir, so I would; but I've had enough fighting, and Sam Leech will never fight again if he knows what he's about."
Close behind Sam Leech stood Jack Creamer, who had come to the captain's cabin with a message, but had been so interested in the English boy's story that he had forgotten where he was, and only knew that he was listening to a good story.
"And you won't fight again?" he asked, giving Sam a friendly slap on the back.
"No, I'm blessed if I will!"
"Do you know why?" asked Jack, not noticing Lieutenant Allen, who was motioning him to be silent.
"I've had enough of it," answered Sam.
"You're on the wrong side, that's what's the matter. Why, Sam, if you were on this ship you wouldn't be tired."
"It seems you didn't get any damage done."
"Not much; only—"
"Jack, what can I do for you?" interrupted the captain.
The boy was so elated that, instead of answering Captain Decatur's question, he grinned, showing all his teeth, and said:
"We did take her, sir."
"Yes, my boy."
"I knew we should before we gave her the first broadside."
"Did you? Well, you will get your share of prize money. What will you do with it?"
"How much will it be, your honor?"
"It may be two hundred dollars."
Jack's face lighted up with joy, for such a sum seemed great wealth to him.
"Please, sir, I'd send half of it to my mother, and the rest will get me a bit of schooling when the war is over."
"Bravely said, Jack," responded the captain, warmly.
The interview ended abruptly, for the officer of the watch reported that a strange vessel was signaling.
"What does she want?"
"To speak with us."
"Well, find out what it is about."
Presently the report came that a boat was being put off from theCaroline.
"Lay to," ordered the captain.
It was true.
Tempest had sent a boat to the gun ship, and with it a message which sounded strange to Captain Decatur.
"Will Captain Decatur of the U. S. man-of-warUnited Statesaccept an invitation to visit theCaroline, which was captured from the British by theLively Bee, privateer? The reason is too important to be intrusted to paper."
Captain Decatur, like many sea dogs, and man-of-warsmen in particular, was very expressive in his language when excited.
In fact, it seemed that the uttering of anathemas formed a safety valve for his temper.
It was noticed that after such an outburst he was as gentle as a lamb.
When he read the unsigned letter he was furious.
"Am I captain? Am I sub-acting commodore? And should a privateersman order me about, and not even give his name? No, no, sir. Go back to your captain and tell him that an insult to me is an insult to the flag. I'll not see him. I'll not take any notice of him. It may be all a plot to capture me."
We have transcribed the substance of the message sentback to theCaroline; the real message would not look well in print, and certainly would not read well in a refined assembly.
The boat started back to theCaroline, and Decatur shouted another volley of anathemas at the receding crew.
Had the men sent by Tempest known the captain better, they would have waited until the explosion had passed off, and then they would have had another message to take back.
"Lower a boat!" he cried, when theCaroline'sboat was nearly back. "Row me over to that vessel. I'll show them that I cannot be insulted with impunity."
Tempest had no intention of insulting so gallant an officer, but he was afraid to use his own name, for fear the captain would think it unbecoming to acknowledge a man who had resigned from the navy.
At the same time that the boat put off from theUnited States, one left theLively Bee, and the distance being shorter, the latter reached theCarolinefirst.
"Merry Christmas to you, Tempest!" exclaimed Harry Vernon, as he leaped on deck.
"I had forgotten what day it was, but the same compliment to you, sir."
Tempest soon explained the awkward situation to Vernon, who undertook to pacify the angry naval officer.