Chapter X

PREPARING FOR ACTION.

The Lively Bee, privateer, had won the laurels of war, though she had not shared in the prizes, and Captain Vernon saw that the crew were getting somewhat dissatisfied. He called all hands on deck.

"Men, under the shadow of the U. S. frigate Constitution I offer you terms," he said.

All listened attentively, for all were in wonder as to his meaning.

"You are all fighters, and I believe desire to see the Stars and Stripes honored on the sea as well as on land. Is not that so?"

"It is. I can speak for all hands, captain," said Mr. Scarron.

"I knew it. I don't think there is one on board the Lively Bee who would value his life above liberty, but all are ready to die fighting for our flag."

"That is true as gospel, captain."

"The commander of the Constitution will take you all on board, and you can have your fill of fighting the enemy. You will be regular men then, with no risks other than all who engage in war will share with you.

"You can join the United States navy, or can remain on the Lively Bee. Which shall it be?"

"We will stick to you, captain."

"Ay, ay, the Lively Bee is a good enough craft for us."

"I thought you would say so, and I am well pleased it is so. But we must put into port and get rigged up. We have done a lot of fighting, but it has all been for others. Now, I propose taking some prizes for ourselves. What say you?"

There was no need to await a reply.

Every man on the Lively Bee was a privateer from choice and inclination.

He loved fighting, but wanted prize money as well as glory.

"I will then, in your name, decline the offer made by Captain Hull of the Constitution, and will make all sail to the nearest port."

Captain Vernon boarded the Constitution, and was well received.

Captain Hull, after he had seen the Peacock disabled, had consulted the captain of the privateer, and had agreed that it was not worth the trouble to overtake the Peacock, as she would not be worth much as a prize, and as the British vessel made full sail when the Constitution appeared, he deemed it advisable to let it go.

It was then that the captain made the offer to Vernon, which he had submitted to his men.

"I see what it is, Vernon. Your answer is one declining to join the navy. Well, mayhap you are right. And we shall meet, it may be, again. I did hear that the Guerriere was in these waters, and I am in search of her."

"She is a formidable war ship."

"I know, and a strange thing occurs to my mind. I have a bet with the captain on the result of our first engagement."

"A wager?"

"Yes, over a year ago our two vessels were lying in the Delaware. We exchanged calls. Captain Dacres of the Guerriere is a rattling good fellow—for an Englishman. 'Well, Dacres,' I said I one day, 'you may just take care of that ship of yours, if ever I catch her with the Constitution.' Captain Dacres laughed good humoredly, and offered to bet me a sum of money that, in case of a conflict, I should be the loser. 'No,' said I, 'I'll bet no money on it; but I will stake you a hat that the Constitution comes out victorious.' 'Done!' cried Dacres, and so the bet was made."

"I wish you luck, captain," said Vernon, "and I wish you may tow the Guerriere into Boston as a prize."

"Thanks, Vernon. And I need scarcely say I return the complimentary wish."

"I have a favor to ask you," said Vernon.

"Name it, and it is granted."

"Don't be too positive. I shall be in port a couple of weeks for repairs. I should like to send my first officer with you for that time. Land him at any port you are near. He shall have full directions how to find me."

"I should be delighted. What is his name?"

"John Tempest."

For a moment Captain Hull's face clouded, but a smile soon suffused itself over his countenance.

"He was on the Essex," said Vernon.

"I know it; he resigned. I shall be pleased to have him. He is a rattling good officer."

And so it came to pass that Lieutenant John Tempest was to spend a week or two on the U. S. frigate Constitution.

Vernon had a deep motive in this.

He had taken a great liking to the young lieutenant, and would like to have him reinstated in the navy.

Not that he wished to lose him, but he knew that Tempest would be happier in the regular service than on board a privateer.

Tempest was overjoyed.

Not that he wished to part from the Lively Bee, for he had learned to love every board in her deck, and believed no guns were better than hers; but he wanted once more to tread the deck of a large war ship, to see active service conducted openly and honorably, and so he thanked Vernon for his consideration and leave of absence.

The Constitution sailed away, and the Lively Bee entered port.

It was not long after the naval vessel had parted from the privateer, when the lookout aloft gave the long-drawn out hail:

"Ship ho-o-o!"

"Whereaway?"

"Nor'-nor'east."

Instantly the course of the Constitution was shaped toward the stranger.

In half an hour the glass was brought to bear upon the distant vessel, and she was declared to be a frigate and to be sailing toward the American.

Captain Hull began to make preparations for the meeting.

He acted with deliberation.

The Constitution was a valuable ship, and he dare not expose her to unnecessary risks.

The topgallant sails were furled, and the lighter spars lowered to the decks.

"The enemy is preparing also," said Tempest, who stood looking through the glass.

"I am glad to hear it," answered Captain Hull. "The better prepared she is the greater our victory will be."

It was near five o'clock when the two war ships were near enough to commence active work.

"The Guerriere!" shouted Tempest, as he read the name of the Britisher.

Captain Hull almost forgot his dignity.

He wanted to dance, so delighted was he to meet that vessel above all others.

"Beat to quarters!"

Then followed a rush of barefooted men along the deck.

There was no confusion; all ran in perfect order to their stations.

As the roll of drums died away the midshipmen, in boyish soprano, began calling off the quarter-bills, while the men, in gruff and deep bass voices, responded.

Every man knew his place.

The cook, as well as the captain, knew just what was expected of him.

The surgeon, with his assistants, descended to the cockpit and got ready his instruments and bandages, his splints and antiseptics.

The line of powder-passers was formed, the powder-monkeys looking serious as they thought of the business on hand.

While all these preparations were being made on the Constitution, the crew of the Guerriere were not resting quietly.

So many mean things have had to be recorded against England in its struggles that it is pleasant to be able to say a good word for Captain Dacres, of the British ship Guerriere, thirty-eight guns.

He had on board a Marblehead sailor, Captain William Orne, who had been captured some days before.

"Orne, tell me," said the captain of the man-of-war, when the American was first sighted, "what think you of yon ship?"

"An American frigate, sir."

"Do you think so? It seems to me she is too bold."

"No, sir. No American can be anything else but bold in this contest," replied Orne.

"I am glad you stick up for your country."

"I am right, sir; the vessel is armed."

"So much the better. The better he behaves the greater credit for us in taking him."

"Or vice versa, captain," Orne quietly added.

"My dear sir, I admire your patriotism, but England is empress of the seas, and no vessel America can build can make the Guerriere lower her flag. See, I will show defiance!"

The captain ordered the English flag to be set at each masthead, and the crew cheered lustily as the Union Jack rose up the halliards.

The Guerriere backed her maintopsail and waited for the American to commence the action.

"Captain Orne, as I suppose you will not wish to fight against your countrymen, you are at liberty to retire below the water line. And, stay—there are ten of my crew who are American sailors who have been impressed; they can go to the cockpit with you."

"I thank you for your generosity, Captain Dacres."

"Generosity—fiddle-de-dee, it is humanity. I should not like to be made to fight against my own country."

In this way Captain Dacres won the respect of his enemies, for he was both gallant and generous.

The order to beat to quarters was given, and the two vessels were ready for a fierce fight.

Both captains were experienced officers, and both were backed up by crews of undaunted valor.

The men were brave and equally patriotic.

The Guerriere was fighting for British supremacy, the Constitution for American independence.