He rushed forward, flourishing his sword in the air exactly as he had seen the weapon displayed in pictures of such desperate affrays. Dunnett probably inspired with a supreme contempt for this puny antagonist, and more likely with a desire to wreak his vengeance upon the authors of his discomfiture, advanced upon him; and the captain trembled for the fate of his little officer. But Mr. Dickey parried the blow of the bowie-knife with the trusty blade, which had hitherto been only an ornament in his hand; and, stepping back a pace or two, he drew his pistol, and fired. Dunnett fell. The marines then charged upon the others who supported him. Disheartened by the fate of their chief, they gave way, and, throwing down their knives, were made prisoners. The battle was ended, and the Middy still remained in possession of the original officers and crew. “Mr. Dickey, you have done nobly!” said Captain Bankhead, when the gallant tars had given the cheers which are almost irrepressible after a victory. “Hurrah!” shouted the crew, as the captain took the hand of his second-lieutenant. “Thank you, sir. I have only endeavored to do my duty,” replied Mr. Dickey. “You have done it bravely; and I thank you for your valuable services, which, I assure you, I shall not fail to embody in my report to the flag-officer.” “I am very grateful to you, sir, both for the opportunity you afforded me of serving the cause, and for your kind appreciation of my humble endeavors to do my duty,” added Mr. Dickey. “But there is another man on board who ought to be remembered at this time,--one who ferreted out this plot, and gave me the information in time to prevent its execution. Where is Somers?” “Somers again!” exclaimed Mr. Dickey, facetiously repeating the captain’s words on a former occasion. “I am here, sir,” said Jack, who, after the engine started, had come down from the wheel-house to witness the exciting events transpiring on the main-deck,--“I am here, sir; but----” “Hurrah!” shouted the crew. “The credit does not belong to me, Captain Bankhead,” continued Jack. “It was Tom Longstone----” “Vast heavin’, my darling!” interposed that veteran. “It was Jack Somers, your honor. Don’t believe a word he says about me, sir.” “It was Longstone who first found out about it, sir. He told me when he came up to relieve the wheel, at dinner-time.” “Hurrah!” shouted the crew, swinging their caps in honor of the veteran quartermaster. “Silence, my lads!” said the captain. “Who climbed up the wind-sail, and heard what the lubbers had to say?” persisted Tom stoutly. “We owe our safety to both of you; and both of you have behaved very handsomely during the affair.” “Somers certainly has,” added Mr. McBride, who now reported the events which had taken place at the wheel-house. “Somers again!” added Mr. Dickey.