"What flag?" asked the captain. Tempest was looking through his glass at the distant ship. "I cannot see, but she is a war ship." Captain Vernon folded his arms and waited. "If she floats the British flag I accept no aid. If she wants to take us prisoners, those of you who are willing, can go, but for myself, I shall fire the magazine and blow up the _Lively Bee_ and myself as well." "I shall stay by your side, captain," said Tempest. "So say all of us," shouted Mullen. "Captain!" said Tempest. It was a sudden shout, and almost startled Vernon. "What is it, Mr. Tempest?" "The flag----" "Yes?" "Is ours." "God be praised! Are you sure?" "Yes; and--the boat--is commanded by--Mr. Farragut." "Then the ship is the _Essex_." "Yes!" "Thank Heaven!" CHAPTER VII. THE ESSEX. "Ship ahoy!" shouted Midshipman David Farragut. The answer was given by Captain Vernon. "What ship?" asked Farragut. "The _Lively Bee_ of Boston." "Captain Harry Vernon?" "Ay, ay, sir." The boat was too far away as yet for the men to be recognized by the eye, unaided by a glass, and the questions were given in a loud voice through the speaking horn. Soon the boat was alongside, and young Farragut swung himself up the chains to the deck. David Farragut--the naval hero of the century--was at that time a bright lad eleven years old. But, boy as he was, he ordered the old tars about, and was efficient as an officer. "We feared it might be a British vessel which sighted us," said Captain Vernon. But Farragut did not notice, his eyes were fixed forward where Tempest was standing. "Blow me! but isn't that young man Ensign Tempest?" he asked. "It is Lieutenant John Tempest," answered Vernon. "Blow me! but it seems promotion is rapid on a privateer. Tempest!" As Farragut shouted the name, the young man turned, his face crimson, for he remembered that the last time he had met the midshipman both were officers of the same ship. "Mr. Farragut." "Hoity-toity! How long have I been mister? Am I not still David to you?" "I hope so?" "Zounds, man! But your new dignity has made you proud. Don't you ever think of the capers we used to cut up on the _Essex_? But that was before I was a midshipman." "Yes, I remember. Those were happy days. I fear me, though, I am a Jonah." Farragut laughed and gave Tempest a hearty smack on the back, making him wince. "How did you weather the storm?" asked Vernon. "We were on the fringe of it. Quite local, you know, so we did not suffer much." "Did you fall in with the enemy?" "Not yet, but we are ready;" and young Farragut had started on a theme of which he never grew tired.