He saw a sloop of war, flying the English ensign, between the Caroline and the shore.
Quickly exchanging signals with the Lively Bee, a course of action was agreed upon.
They must put out to sea.
The flight was attended with danger, for they might fall in with larger war ships; the only chance they had was to escape in the darkness of night.
"Stand by to get under way!" shouted John Tempest. "The wind is rising, and methinks the Caroline can show her heels as well as the Lively Bee."
The order was obeyed with alacrity, for the men loved a fight, even though the odds were against them, and they believed ere morning dawned they would smell powder.
The breeze ruffled the surface of the water around the Caroline, breaking into myriads of little waves, which leaped and danced and sparkled as the last rays of the sun fell upon the ocean.
The sloop-of-war had signaled the Caroline and Lively Bee to lay to, but no notice was taken.
Then the Britisher fired a gun, and Tempest ordered the starry ensign to be dipped three times by way of salute.