"Every day," he said, "the crew exercise at the great guns, small arms, and single stick. Then, they have been so thoroughly trained as boarders that every man is prepared for such an emergency, with his cutlass as sharp as a razor, his dirk made out of a file, and a good pistol. Zounds, Tempest, and you, too, captain, but I hope we shall whet our blades soon." Vernon sighed. "What do you want us to do? Is the _Lively Bee_ a castaway?" "No, sir. If we can get to port, a week will make her as good as ever." "Then you want to be towed back?" "Anywhere will do." "Captain, come back with me to the _Essex_, and Captain Porter will arrange with you." In less than two hours the _Lively Bee_ was being towed by the _Essex_. Captain Vernon looked to his guns and ammunition, and to his great satisfaction found that everything was safe and his powder dry. He rigged up a mast, and before the end of the next day told Captain Porter he was in no particular hurry about making port, that a few days would make but little difference. "I am glad to hear you say that, Vernon, for I believe we shall have a chance to smell powder within the next forty-eight hours." "Then I would not think of taking you out of your way." The _Essex_ was intended for a victor. Its commander was a fighter, and as good a tactician as ever walked the deck of a man-of-war. During the calm he ordered the _Essex_ to be disguised. The top-gallant masts were housed, the ports of the gun deck closed in, and her usually trim cordage and nicely-squared yards were set in a way that only the most shiftless of merchant skippers would tolerate. Captain Vernon paced the deck of the _Lively Bee_ impatiently. He did not understand Porter's tactics, and there was nothing jarred more upon his seaman instincts than a slovenly-set ship. "Wait a bit," said Tempest. "Porter has set a trap for the British, and we shall have some hard fighting before long." And the young officer was right. Porter sent for Vernon. "Can you stand alone for a few days?" "Yes, if need be." "It will be better. Have your guns ready, but concealed; we will play the part of merchantmen and give the enemy fits." "Sail ho!" exclaimed the _Bee's_ lookout. "Where away?" "To windward." The news was signaled to the _Essex_, and it was soon known that a British war ship was bearing down on the _Essex_. Commander Porter carried his acting still further. Instead of the crowd of agile sailors that spring into the rigging of a man-of-war at the order to make sail, only a mere handful were ordered by the captain to set with the greatest awkwardness all the sail the _Essex_ could carry. Then two long heavy cables were quietly lowered over the stern, and dragging through the water, retarded the ship's progress. The Britisher thought he had fallen in with a heavy merchantman which was making frantic efforts to escape.