"Then a new difficulty arose. The helmsmen were out of earshot of the quarterdeck. "A young middy suggested the remedy, and a line of middies was formed from the quarterdeck to the sailors who were tugging at the steering apparatus." "Bravo, Bainbridge!" shouted Hamilton. "I would like to have been there," added Tempest. "So would I," assented Harry Vernon. "It makes a man's blood run quicker when he hears of such things, and I can scarcely have patience to tell of the glorious deeds, I am so warm and excited. "The gunners had not been idle; they kept continuously firing, and the _Java's_ jibboom and bowsprit were so shattered that, when the ships met, the mizzen-mast fell, crashing through forecastle and main deck, and killing several of the officers." "Pardon me, Vernon, but you say, 'when the ships met.'" "Yes, the Englishman, seeing that the Yankee was getting the best of the fight, despite her crippled condition, determined to close and board. It was a mad thing to do, but English sailors are always daring. "The ships met and lay yardarm to yardarm. "The men could not see each other, for a dense sulphurous smoke hid the two vessels. It was only at rare intervals that the cloud of powder smoke arose, and then the faces of the gunners showed how determined they were. "When the British made ready to board the Yankee a new surprise awaited them. "In the _Constitution's_ tops were two small howitzers, and suddenly the topmen began to pour into the midst of the would-be boarders a perfect shower of grape and canister. "A daring young middy in the tops seized a musket and aimed at the _Java's_ captain. "The brave officer fell to the deck dead, but Lieutenant Chads, although badly wounded, continued the fight, and every British tar seemed to fight with greater determination. "The fight continued until the _Java_ was a helpless wreck. "Her flag was shot away, and only the Jack remained. This was hauled down, and the _Java_ was added to the rich prizes of the war." "I don't know much about the _Java_," said Hamilton. "She is new to me, and I thought I was pretty well posted about the enemy," Tempest added. "I never heard her name before," continued Vernon, "but I learned that she had just been fitted up for the accommodation of the governor-general of Bombay and his staff, all of whom were on board." "And they are prisoners?" asked Tempest. "They are." "What a ransom they would have had to pay the _Lively Bee_!" "Yes," laughed Vernon; "they are better off on the _Constitution_." "You have brought great, good news." "Indeed I have." "What became of the _Java_?" "She was fired, and only bits of charred wreckage remain of one of the best English frigates." "What did Scarron think?" asked Tempest. "Scarron was like a wild Indian. He danced and shouted, and when that did not satisfy him, he started singing 'Yankee Doodle,' but finally got on to his favorite chorus: