Read saluted the captain, and stepped to the side of the ship, but turned back. "Would you like the assistance of a surgeon, or surgeon's mate, in caring for your wounded?" he asked the captain. "Well, sir, I should suppose you had on your own ship business enough for all your medical officers." "Oh, no," responded the American. "We have only seven wounded, and their wounds have been dressed some time ago." Captain Dacres dare not attempt to answer, for had he done so his voice would have been choked with sobs. "Only seven wounded," he murmured, and remembered that on the deck he had twenty-three dead or mortally wounded, while his surgeons were busy attending to fifty-six who were desperately injured. Captain Orne returned with Lieutenant Read to the _Constitution_. He reported to Captain Hull, and was asked to describe the state of the _Guerriere_. "I came on deck about half-past seven," he said, "and beheld a scene it would be impossible ever to forget. "All the ship's masts were gone, and as she had no sails to steady her, she was rolling like a log in the trough of the sea." "Were many killed and wounded?" asked Captain Hull. "The crew were busy throwing the dead overboard," answered Orne; "the decks were covered with blood, and looked more like a ship's slaughter house. The cockpit is filled with wounded men." It was hard to feel pleasure at such a report, and yet the patriotism of Hull could scarcely repress a cheer. But he asked Orne one other question: "How are the survivors acting?" "Badly--utterly demoralized. Some of the petty officers got at the liquor and gave it out to the men. Many are drunk, and what with their ribald songs, the noise and confusion, the groans of the dying, it is like a perfect hell, sir." "Were such a thing as defeat to happen to the _Constitution_," said Hull, "I would with my own hand shoot the first man who touched liquor." The captain walked the deck uneasily for a few moments. "Tempest!" he called, and there being no answer, he turned to one of his boys. "Tell Mr. Tempest I want to speak with him." In a few moments the young officer of the _Lively Bee_ appeared. "I want you to undertake a most difficult duty." "I am prepared, sir." "I knew it. Are you ready?" "Quite, sir." "I want you to board the _Guerriere_--she is sinking fast--and transfer all her officers and crew to our ship." "Yes, captain; it shall be done." "But--the men have got to the grog, you may have difficulty. You have authority to shoot any one who disregards your orders." "The wounded shall be removed first." "That is right. But stay; the officers must have precedence, even over the wounded." When Tempest left the captain's cabin, Orne remarked, _sotto voce_: "That young man will never return alive." "Perhaps not; but I want to try his mettle." "He is brave." "Ay, as brave as any man who ever trod a deck." In the first boatload Tempest sent from the British ship was Captain Dacres.