When the man-of-war was near enough to perceive the signals, the _Essex_ warned the _Lively Bee_ to fly before the wind out of the way of the enemy. Vernon entered into the spirit of the thing, and instead of escaping, caused the schooner to drag along as though heavily freighted. On the deck of the _Essex_ the few sailors seemed excited and flurried, and the Britisher did not know that every action was assumed. Had the commander of the English ship been gifted with second sight he would have seen behind those closed ports a roomy gun deck glistening with that whiteness seen only on the decks of a well-ordered war ship. Down either side of the deck stretched a row of heavy carronades, each with its crew of gunners grouped about the breach, and each shotted and primed ready for the opening volley. On a man-of-war in time of action no one can be idle. Hence on this occasion, from the magazine amidships to the gun deck, there reached a line of stewards, cooks, waiters and extra deck hands, ready to pass up cartridges. Bare-footed boys, stripped naked to the waist, were skurrying about the deck. These were the "powder-monkeys," whose duty it would be, when the firing began, to take the cartridges from the line of powder passers and carry them to the guns. On the spar deck only a few sailors and officers were visible to the enemy. But under the taffrail lay crouched scores of jackies, wearing blue uniforms, and smooth-faced middies and veteran lieutenants, ready at the word of command to spring into the rigging, or to swarm over the side and board the enemy should the gunwales of the vessels touch. The English man-of-war knew nothing of all this preparation. The British captain was exultant and hoisted a flag bearing a large figure "7," meaning that his ship had captured that number of American merchantmen. In a few minutes the signal, "Haul too," was raised, but perhaps the Americans did not understand it, so the Britisher fired a gun. Still no notice was taken, but the _Essex_ gave the appearance of renewed exertion to escape, while the _Lively Bee_ kept signaling for assistance. The two vessels were near enough for the most minute signals to be understood, and the Britisher declared that he would add two more prizes to his conquests before the day was out, meaning the _Essex_ and the _Bee_. Three ringing cheers were given by the British crew, and the Union Jack was run up the mast. At the same time a broadside was fired at the _Essex_.