"'Charge the can cheerily, Send it round merrily; Here's to our country and captains commanding; To all who inherit Of Bainbridge the spirit, Disdaining to strike while a stick is left standing.'" "That Scarron must be quite a poet, or _pote_, as Bob calls him," said Hamilton, "for Bob is always singing, and when I ask him where he learned the words, he always answers in the one word 'Scarron.'" "Did he tell you the verse Scarron declares the men on the _Guerriere_ sang when going into action?" "No; what was it?" "You remember the words, Tempest, don't you?" "I think so," answered Tempest; "they ran something after this fashion: "'Brave Dacres waved his sword, And he cried: "Now, lads, aboard; We'll soon stop their singing, Yankee Doodle Dandy, O!"'" "Yes, those were the words, and I remember Scarron singing a song giving our side of the story: "'Ye tars of our country, who seek on the main, The cause for the wrongs your country sustain, Rejoice and be merry, for bragging John Bull, Has got a sound drubbing from brave Captain Hull.'" The evening was far advanced before our friends thought of parting. Tempest was the first to rise; he had not forgotten that his bride was alone. Hamilton and Vernon had another bottle of wine, and were swearing eternal friendship when a constable, or watchman, as he was then called, entered, and looking at the two seamen, asked: "Do either of you gentlemen know a sea dog called Bob?" "Bob! yes; what of him?" "He is in trouble and wants to see you--not that you can do him any good." "What is the matter?" asked Vernon. "Oh, sir, as to that, it is a hanging matter. He is likely to die in a lofty position, 'twixt heaven and earth." "What mean you, fellow?" "Don't follow me; I am the watch." "Are you? Then lead on, that I may see Bob, who at least will talk sense." "Poor young boy, he'll be hanged, oh, yes, he will, and even your honors cannot save him." CHAPTER XXIX. A LESSON IN MILITARY LAW. Even the charms of Bertha Tempest's company did not cause her husband to neglect his duty. When he was told that Bob was in trouble, he at once deemed it to be his duty and a privilege to go with Vernon and see in what the boy's danger consisted. Bob was one of nature's rough gems, and Tempest believed there was a future for him which would repay Scarron for his kindness in adopting the waif. "Lead on!" commanded Vernon, as the watchman seemed to hesitate. Perhaps it was the hope of receiving something a little warmer than the cold air of the night which made the officer of the law linger over the blazing logs of wood on the massive andirons. But Vernon, though he liked the fire's warmth as much as did the watchman, was eager to find Bob. "Lead on. I must see the powder-monkey without delay." "Powder-monkey! ha, ha, ha, that's good, it just suits. Eh?"