"On deck, all of you!" he shouted.
"Make ready to repel boarders!"
Gordon took up the cry and repeated it, in tones loud and stentorian, down the hatchway, adding various expletives by way of emphasis.
The men came hurrying up the ladders, all excited and angry at being disturbed.
They heard the regular dip of the oars, but the fog was too dense for the Lively Bee to be seen.
The crew of the Caroline, armed with pistols and cutlasses, awaited the enemy.
The cannon were of little or no use, for it was only a waste of effort to fire at random, and the Lively Bee was hidden from view.
Captain Vernon knew that the Poietiers was very close, and so the less noise made the better.
He had said: "Use no pistols if you can help." And the men answered in their cheery way: "Ay, ay, sir!"
When the privateer was within a few yards of the English brig her tall spars were for the first time visible.