He gave orders to the helmsman to run the _Lively Bee_ close to the stranger. When within gun range, Vernon fired a shot across the Englishman's bow. This was answered, and the stranger slackened sail. The two vessels were now only a musket-shot away, and Vernon saw that the stranger was the _Regina_, of Torquay. "Whither bound?" asked Vernon through the speaking trumpet. "To Baltimore." "What cargo?" "Tin, and tinplates." "Have you met with any Yankee men-of-war?" "No. But two English ships are eastward ten degrees." "Can we reach Jamaica without molestation?" asked Vernon. "Easily, if your ship can fly as she ought." The vessels had now got within pistol-shot, and Vernon could see that the _Regina_ carried two guns. He began to be suspicious. Perhaps the ship was not a merchantman at all, but a regularly equipped man-of-war, with a good fighting crew below deck. However, "faint heart never won fair lady," and Vernon determined to take the initiative. He gave his orders to Scarron, and instantly the English flag was lowered, while the Stars and Stripes ran proudly up the halliards. But the change was noticed quickly by the _Regina_, and almost as quick as a lightning flash, a large crew burst upon the deck, armed with cutlasses and boarding irons. CHAPTER XXXII. HOW BOB KEPT HIS OATH. All doubt had ended. The _Regina_, of Torquay, professedly laden with tin, was as well armed as a war vessel, and was either a British privateer or a man-of-war of the second class. The captain of the _Lively Bee_ was not afraid of a hand-to-hand encounter. But with all his courage, he almost trembled when he saw that he was outnumbered almost two to one. He looked at his own men to see how they felt, and to his great joy their faces were radiant with happiness. The men were wishing for a fight, and saw a foe worthy of their steel. The two vessels were so close that a seaman could easily jump from one to the other. The _Regina_ took the initiative, and commenced lashing the two vessels together. But though the Britons were eager to fight, the Americans were equally so, and, headed by Vernon, the crew of the _Lively Bee_ leaped on the _Regina's_ deck, much to the surprise of the latter's crew. The two vessels grated against each other, and as they did so the British fired their pistols right in the faces of the Americans. Through the powder smoke the flash of steel could be seen, and like Trojans the two crews fought. The men cut and slashed with their cutlasses, and fired off their pistols with deadly earnestness. Marksmen posted in the tops of each vessel picked off men from the enemy's decks whenever an opportunity offered. The captain of the _Regina_ saw his men driven back, and sprang into the thickest of the fight to rally them. As he did so it was seen that the blood was streaming from a wound in his thigh. While every one felt sympathy with the brave man, yet that did not deter any from continuing the fight.