"A sail! A strange sail, sir, and I believe she flies the British flag. If so, she is armed. Come on deck, Mr. Tempest, for, blow me, but I think we are in for a fight!"

The words fell so fast from Mr. Scarron's lips that he was scarcely distinct, but Tempest's face paled, not with fear for himself, but a precious life was now at stake, and he feared everything for her sake.

Scarron reached the deck in a couple of bounds, and again shouted:

"We are signaled to lay to, sir. What shall we do?"


[CHAPTER XIX.]

BOB, THE POWDER-MONKEY.

"Their flag is but a rag,
Ours is the true one;
Up with the Stars and Stripes!
Down with the old one!"

Tempest tore himself away from the side of Bertha and leaped on deck.