"Pull for your lives, men!" shouted Dacres, and the men obeyed with a hearty good will.
"Steady there! Look to the starboard side, right! Now, then, boys, for a strong pull."
The little boat shot forward, and Dacres stretched forth his hand toward the floating object.
He caught Tempest's shoulder and held it in an iron grip until young Eagle saw him, and then he, too, reached over and helped to pull the young privateer into the boat.
Tempest had lost consciousness, but, as Dacres said, "while there is life there is hope."
"Pull hard, you lazy fellows," shouted the English captain. "A few minutes' delay, and one of the bravest men I have known will be dead."
The men bent their backs, and the oars dipped the water. Never had boat sped along so fast.
Eagle was rubbing Tempest's stomach and chest as he lay in the boat.
A loud cheer greeted the little crew as the boat was made fast alongside the Constitution, and when Lieutenant John Tempest of the Lively Bee, privateer, was lifted on deck, another cheer rent the air.