Presently the report came that a boat was being put off from the _Caroline_. "Lay to," ordered the captain. It was true. Tempest had sent a boat to the gun ship, and with it a message which sounded strange to Captain Decatur. "Will Captain Decatur of the U. S. man-of-war _United States_ accept an invitation to visit the _Caroline_, which was captured from the British by the _Lively Bee_, privateer? The reason is too important to be intrusted to paper." Captain Decatur, like many sea dogs, and man-of-warsmen in particular, was very expressive in his language when excited. In fact, it seemed that the uttering of anathemas formed a safety valve for his temper. It was noticed that after such an outburst he was as gentle as a lamb. When he read the unsigned letter he was furious. "Am I captain? Am I sub-acting commodore? And should a privateersman order me about, and not even give his name? No, no, sir. Go back to your captain and tell him that an insult to me is an insult to the flag. I'll not see him. I'll not take any notice of him. It may be all a plot to capture me." We have transcribed the substance of the message sent back to the _Caroline_; the real message would not look well in print, and certainly would not read well in a refined assembly. The boat started back to the _Caroline_, and Decatur shouted another volley of anathemas at the receding crew. Had the men sent by Tempest known the captain better, they would have waited until the explosion had passed off, and then they would have had another message to take back. "Lower a boat!" he cried, when the _Caroline's_ boat was nearly back. "Row me over to that vessel. I'll show them that I cannot be insulted with impunity." Tempest had no intention of insulting so gallant an officer, but he was afraid to use his own name, for fear the captain would think it unbecoming to acknowledge a man who had resigned from the navy. At the same time that the boat put off from the _United States_, one left the _Lively Bee_, and the distance being shorter, the latter reached the _Caroline_ first. "Merry Christmas to you, Tempest!" exclaimed Harry Vernon, as he leaped on deck. "I had forgotten what day it was, but the same compliment to you, sir." Tempest soon explained the awkward situation to Vernon, who undertook to pacify the angry naval officer. CHAPTER XXIV. MARRIAGE AT SEA. To Vernon's astonishment, he recognized Decatur in the boat. No sooner did he recognize the honor than he ordered a salute to be fired, and the flag dipped. The naval officer swung himself on deck, and eyed Vernon for a moment before speaking. "Who are you, sir?" "Harry Vernon, Captain Decatur, and I welcome you to as fine a prize as was ever taken from an enemy." "My stars! And did your little schooner capture this?" "Yes, captain, and these guns bear the name of his Britannic majesty's _Monarch_ on them. That made prize number two."