Tempest thought he had never been so hot before. He was not afraid of work, he expected it. He had entered as a man before the mast, and he knew a dog's life was one to be envied when compared with that of a common seaman. The most barbarous cruelties were practiced on sailors; they were not treated to any consideration, and therefore John Tempest was not surprised at the hard work he had to endure. He was ready to drop with the heat and fatigue, but he would not allow the captain to see he was tired. The Narrows were reached before the boat overtook the _Lively Bee_, and the waters of the Lower Bay were entered before the captain and his men stood on the deck of the famous schooner. The crew saluted the captain, who responded warmly, and then bade Tempest follow him to the cabin. CHAPTER III. THE LIEUTENANT'S STORY. "I know you, John Tempest, better than you know me," commenced Captain Vernon, "and before you sign the ship's log I want to have a talk with you." Tempest followed, wondering much at the manner and deference shown to him by the captain of the privateer. "Sit down, and place yourself outside a stiff glass of that brandy," said Vernon, helping himself at the same time to a similar dose. "You possess a time-honored name, young man, and have spunk to maintain it. Have you forgotten that you were on the _Essex_ when the British boarded her and demanded the surrender of a deserter? "Your captain ordered the alleged deserter to prove his citizenship, and he couldn't!" "But he gave his word," said Tempest. "Yes, but who believes a man's word in such a case?" "How do you know all this? Who are you?" "Captain Vernon, of the good privateer _Lively Bee_." "Yes, but how did you know----" "Let me finish. Your captain agreed to give up the sailor, whose name was----" Vernon hesitated as though he would have liked Tempest to have finished the sentence. Tempest remained silent, and his captain continued: "His name was Vincent Decatur." "You are right, captain, though that was not the name in the ship's books." "No, he was known on board as James Vincent. He had good reasons for changing his name: Decatur went below to get his kit. The British officer and squad of marines waited him on deck. "Decatur saw an ax on the carpenter's bench as he passed. With only a moment's hesitation he seized it in his right hand, and with one blow cut off the left. It was then that you, John Tempest, junior officer on board the U. S. frigate _Essex_, saw the deed, and congratulated the man on his bravery. "Decatur went on deck carrying the severed hand with him. He presented himself before the British officer, maimed and useless as a sailor for life. "He showed his bleeding wrist to the officer, and, almost faint with loss of blood, he managed to say: