"Get out the sweeps, boys, and pull with all your might."
Slowly, but with a quicker motion than was possible for the war ships, the Lively Bee got out of the range of the Frolic and Poietiers.
But there was the third Britisher, a brig, which Tempest had not taken much notice of.
Suddenly the young officer shouted to the captain:
"A merchantman!"
"Where away?"
"Being convoyed by the war ships."
It was true. The third vessel was a rich merchantman, which had been traveling under the protection of the men-of-war.
By some miscalculation she had drifted away from her escort, and was practically defenseless.
"If we can't take her we can make her valueless," said Tempest.