Chapter XXXV

THE END OF THE LIVELY BEE.

The marriage of Harry Vernon with the daughter of Colonel Jones was an event of note in Washington society. No matter how quiet the contracting parties wished it to be, the people said, "No."

Vernon was a public man. He belonged to the public, and his marriage must be a public one.

Such was the verdict of society, and to its edict he had to bow.

The ceremony was but halfway through when a man, wan and weary looking, entered the church and took a seat in the rear pew.

None seemed to recognize him until the bride, leaning on her husband's arm, was nearly opposite him.

Then the groom turned, and with a glad shout left his wife and clasped the stranger's hand.

"Tempest! My dear fellow, you don't know how glad I am to see you."

But there was another equally—nay, if possible more—glad, and that was the loving Bertha.

She did not faint.

She was made of heroic stuff, and while she rested her head on her husband's shoulder she whispered her congratulations on his return.

"But you are ill. You look so poorly."

"Yes, dear, but I am alive, and to be with you will be better than medicine or physician's skill."

At the wedding feast the honored guest was John Tempest.

All were waiting for his story, all knew that there would be sadness in its recital.

Only one question had Vernon asked.

"What of the Lively Bee?"

And Tempest had answered:

"At the bottom of the sea. All lost save honor."

Then the story was told.

"The Lively Bee had reached the roadstead of Fayal. The neutral flag of Portugal floated from its citadel, and I thought we were safe.

"But while we were lying in the port, getting fresh provisions and repainting, a British squadron, composed of the Plantagenet, seventy-four guns; the Rota, thirty-eight, and Carnation, eighteen, hove in sight.

"The governor of Fayal sent for me and said he was too weak in military forces to protect me, so I must take my chance.

"At night four barges, let fall from the enemy's ships, each manned by forty men, made toward us.

"I ordered to beat to quarters, and when my men were at their posts I shouted:

"'What boat is that? Answer or I'll fire.'

"You know I had four guns, as well as the long one, and when the British refused to answer I ordered a broadside to be fired.

"The carnage was terrible, for my gunners kept loading and firing with astonishing rapidity.

"So hot was the reception they got that the barges returned to the ships.

"But another barge had come up on the leeward, and we were boarded almost before we knew anything about it.

"'Come on, my lads,' I shouted, 'and we'll drive them into the sea.'

"My men fought so desperately that we did drive them into the sea, and the remaining boats put back.

"It was not to be expected that we should escape.

"I ordered the long gun to be loaded and pointed down the hatch.

"When morning came the enemy had closed in upon us and the time had come when we must either destroy the Lively Bee or give her up to the English.

"'Haul down that rag,' shouted the captain of the Plantagenet, pointing to the Stars and Stripes.

"'Never,' I answered, and my men cheered lustily.

"I saw the boats put off, manned with boarders, and I knew the hour had come.

"With my own hand I applied the match, and a ball went crashing through the bottom of the Lively Bee.

"Then I applied the torch, and a column of flame rose up to the clouds, and told the British that we could die but never surrender.

"We leaped into the water and all the crew reached the island, where we were safe under the neutral flag.

"We could not get any vessel to bear us away, for the British would have pursued and captured the vessel in order to secure us.

"So we stayed there, almost in a starving condition, for three months, until the coast was clear and we managed to get away.

"We have all returned—all save Mullen—he too rests at the bottom of the sea with the vessel he loved so much.

"We have lost all, but we did what we could."

Tempest's eyes were moist with tears as he finished his story.

Vernon clasped his hand.

"No, you have not lost all. A nation thanks you for your work. A nation places the laurel crown on your brow, for you saved the flag; you lost your ship but you saved your honor—your country's honor, and in that defeat you are greater than if you had gained a victory."

"You have not lost all," exclaimed Bertha. "You have a loving wife and faithful friends."

"And I thank Heaven that I have fought for my country and never surrendered its flag," added Tempest, as he resumed his seat.

Congress thanked Vernon and Tempest for their patriotic work, and on the archives of the nation was ordered written a true account of the "Cruise of the Lively Bee."

THE END.