"Go below, Bertha, and try and get some sleep. No one shall disturb your solitude, and I want some rose-bloom on your cheeks when you reach land, you know." Bertha Decatur went to her cabin, for the first time wishing that her lover was anything but a fighting man. The danger was so great. "I can pray for him," she said, "and who knows, mayhap prayers will save his life." "A sail, did you say?" "Ay ay, sir, and suspicious, too. She has a narrow head to her topsails, and looks like a Frenchman." "Where away?" Far away on the horizon, where the light was fast waning, a little white speck appeared, hardly visible to the naked eye, but quite plain through a glass, was a large ship on the port tack in cruising canvas only. "What do you think--is she too big for us to tackle?" asked Tempest. "I am afraid so, sir." "Where is the _Lively Bee_?" The privateer was nowhere to be seen. How had they missed her? Surely no accident had happened to her; if so, signals would have been fired. "There she is, sir, far away to the west'ard." The _Lively Bee_ had outdistanced the _Caroline_, and was only dimly visible in the twilight. "Spread all sails! Let us overtake the _Lively Bee_." "Ay, ay, sir--but the vessel yonder?" It was evident the man was in favor of stopping to fight, and the _Caroline_ was in good fettle as regards guns, for she had transferred those from the _Monarch_. But Tempest never forgot that he was sailing under Captain Vernon, and whatever his own inclination, he would take no action without consultation with his chief. "Haul your fore-sheet to windward!" he shouted to the men in the forecastle. "Right your helm, quartermaster. We must show our heels to the enemy for once." On went the _Caroline_, as fast as the wind would carry her. All was bustle on her deck, for all knew that unless they could outdistance the ship which was looming up in the fast darkening twilight, larger than ever, there would be no escaping a fight. "That is the _Macedonian_, sir," said Scarron, touching his cap as he spoke. "Are you sure?" "Yes, sir, and we stand no chance if she gets within gunshot. The _Caroline_ and _Lively Bee_ will change flags, and one and all our men will get sent to Dartmoor prison." "Then we must fly." "Ay, sir, fly like the wind, or faster than the wind. See, the _Lively Bee_ is coming back." "Bless you, Vernon!" exclaimed Tempest aloud, "you never deserted a friend yet." "No, Mr. Tempest, and Harry Vernon never will. I can answer for that," said Scarron, thinking that his officer had spoken to him. The night was coming on apace, and Tempest hoped that he might get near enough the shore before morning to make attack dangerous. An hour passed, and the _Lively Bee_ was within hailing distance. "Is that the _Macedonian_?" asked Vernon. "I think so, captain." "Then we must show our heels, or go to Davy Jones' locker." "That is just what I had ordered, sir. We must save the rich prize."