"Belay that!" ordered Captain Ezra, calmly. "Ye didn't make a prize of me, an' you're aboard my ship. Don't forgit it." "Well," broke in the young man, angrily, "what are you going to do with me?" Captain Dewey had by this time come up on the quarter-deck, followed by the mates. "I presume likely," said the skipper of the _Blazing Star_, rather thoughtfully, "I presume likely we'll hang ye." The Englishman--for all doubts as to his nationality were set at rest by his appearance and manner of speech--drew back a step. His face, that had grown red in his anger, turned white again, and he gave a glance over his shoulder. The brig, hopelessly becalmed, lay way off against the horizon. As he looked, a puff of smoke broke from her bows. It was the signal for recall. He winced, and his eye followed the glance of the stalwart figure with the harpoon that stood behind him. "For God's sake, don't do that!" he said hastily. "I tell you, sir, that there is a war. There has been war for almost four months now. Upon my word of honor." The two captains exchanged looks of incredulity. Suddenly the prisoner's face lit up. "I can prove it to you," he said excitedly. "Here is a Yankee newspaper we took from a schooner we captured off the Capes five days ago." "_The New Bedford Chronicle_, by gosh!" exclaimed Captain Ezra, in astonishment, taking the soaked brown package. He spread it out on the rail. "It's true, Cap'n Sammy, it's true," he continued excitedly. "Thar's a war; listen to this," and he read in his halting, sailor manner, the startling headlines: "The Frigate _Constitution_ Captures the British Frigate _Guerrière_. Hurrah for Hull and his Gallant Seamen! Again the Eagle Screams with Victory." There was much more to it, and Captain Ezra read every word. "Young man," he said at last, "I owe ye an apology. If ye'll come daown into our cabin, I kin mix ye a toddy of fine old Medford rum. Between lawful an' honest enemies there should be no hard feelin's, when the fate of war delivers one into the hands of 'tother. Cap'n Sammy," he observed as he reached the cabin, "if we had really knowed thar was a war, we'd a gone back and took that thar brig." "Yaas," returned Captain Dewey, "we be summat behind the times." His eyes twinkled as he glanced out of the cabin window. Still becalmed and almost hull down, H.M.S. _Badger_ was but a speck against the horizon. The Englishman drew a long deep breath. "Come, sir," spoke up Captain Ezra. "Don't get down hearted. 'Live an learn,' that's my motto. We're drinkin' your good health, sir, join right in." * * * * * When the _Blazing Star_ arrived in port, she turned over to the United States authorities an officer and twelve men, prisoners of war. THE COWARD