"You are, and when we get back to America I shall see that the President hears of what you have done." "Blow me, cap'n, but a great man like he won't care about a boy's swim; why should he?" The letter from Vernon was read, and he agreed with his lieutenant. When morning dawned the British ship _Monarch_ was within half a mile of the _Caroline_ and _Lively Bee_. The Britisher swung around so that she could bring her long gun in line with the _Caroline_. Tempest saw his danger, and swung around at the same time, while the _Lively Bee's_ long gun was aimed straight at the _Monarch's_ mainmast. The stern-chaser belched forth, and the shot tore across the water, but missed the _Caroline_. At the same time a return shot was fired, much to the Britisher's surprise, by the _Lively Bee_, and a good-sized splinter was taken off the mast. The battle had now commenced in good earnest, although it was all on one side, for the guns possessed by the _Caroline_ were of too short a range to do any damage at such a distance. The _Lively Bee_ was bent on disabling the _Monarch_, and a second time the long gun was sighted for the mainmast. A loud cheer arose from the _Caroline's_ crew, as they saw the mainmast cut in two by the shot and go crashing over the side. The privateer was keeping the war ship active, and diverting attention from the _Caroline_. This was just what Tempest had planned. It gave him an opportunity to get in close alongside the _Monarch_. Then his voice rang out: "Give her a broadside!" The guns belched forth, and the shots tore up the deck of the enemy's forecastle, killing two men, breaking a middy's arm, and slightly injuring the bowsprit. Another broadside quickly followed, and before the smoke had cleared away, Tempest ordered the men to seize their grapnells and board. Cutlasses and boarding-pikes were passed from hand to hand along the deck, and Tempest, drawing his sword, waved it above his head, shouting to his men to follow him. "Have at them, boys," he shouted, "to the death!" He rained blows right and left, which no one could parry. Captain Scott sought out the brave lieutenant, and with eyes flashing like those of a snake he struck at the young officer with a savageness amounting to fury. But Tempest was on his guard. With a fierce and determined energy he met the British captain, and sent his sword twice through his arm, rendering it entirely useless. "Do you surrender?" asked Tempest as the sword fell from the captain's hand. "No, you Yankee dog, a Briton never surrenders except to death!" With his left hand Scott drew a pistol and leveled it, but with a swinging blow from Tempest's sword, which severed the captain's wrist, the pistol and hand dropped to the deck. "Surrender!" "Never!" Then, turning to his crew, he shouted: "Boys, never give in! Fight till you die. Whip the Yankees or die in the attempt!" But, though thus encouraged, the men could not hold out.