David Farragut, with a wisdom beyond his age, answered his friend: "If I were not on the _Essex_, I would prefer to be on a privateer. Both are fighting for the same flag, and while we are bound by strict discipline, you can go where you like and fight when you please. Yours is a glorious life, and I almost wish for it myself." "Then you are not ashamed of me?" "Ashamed? I am proud, and so will the country be when this war is over. We shall meet again--of that I am sure." And so the two friends parted. They did meet again; they met when civil war had rent the country in twain, for John Tempest was with Admiral Farragut when New Orleans was surrendered, and again was on his ship in 1863, when in passing Port Hudson on the Mississippi, held by the Confederates, Farragut's son, then a boy of twelve, asked his father to let him go to West Point. "He has your grit," said Tempest, and then turning to the boy he added: "I served with your father when he was younger than you are." "Times have changed," said the admiral. "In what way?" asked the son. "You could not stand fire, my boy." "Try me, father." Then came that magnificent test of courage which ought to be depicted on the walls of the Capitol by the greatest artist of the day. "Come up here with me, my boy," said the admiral. Farragut and his son went up together into the maintop; the old man had himself and boy lashed to it, and in this way they passed Port Hudson. The Confederates saw the daring act. Sharpshooters took aim at the admiral; a heavy gun was trained on that target, and the ball tore away some of the rigging, but neither father nor son flinched. "My boy, you have the right pluck, you shall go to West Point," said the admiral when again he descended to the deck, and old John Tempest, then seventy years of age, exclaimed: "God bless you, David! you are just like what your father was when I knew him first." CHAPTER IX. A BRUSH WITH THE ENEMY. When the _Lively Bee_ parted company with the _Essex_, Captain Vernon began to put her in fighting trim. "Always be ready, is my maxim," he said to Tempest. "But surely you do not expect----" "To meet the enemy? I never expect anything else." "But we are disabled." "All the more reason why we may be attacked by the enemy. Our disabled condition invites it." So the preparations proceeded, and there was not a man on the _Lively Bee_ but hoped a chance of a fight would be offered. And their wish was gratified. On the morning of the second day a frigate flying the British flag hove in sight. "She is too big for us to tackle," said Tempest. "Yes, but----" and Captain Vernon walked to and fro for a few minutes without finishing his sentence. Tempest knew him well now, and awaited his pleasure. "But it is a question of take or be taken. We can't run from that frigate, with our present rig, and I don't want to be taken prisoner." "Neither do I. But what can we do?" "Prove that we have spunk."