The drums were beaten, and the men tumbled out of their hammocks, expecting to be called upon to fight.
The middies called the rolls, and every man answered.
When this was reported to the captain, he glared with savage wrath.
"Who, then, was that who leaped overboard?"
The mystery was greater than ever. Every man on board believed the lieutenant to have been murdered by one of the crew, who, to save himself from death by hanging, had trusted himself to the waves, hoping to reach one of the American vessels and be received as a deserter.
"What now, fellow?" roared the captain, as one of the deck watch spoke excitedly to his officer.
"Captain, this man tells me," said the middy, "that the flag has been lowered and the halliards cut."
"Death and fury! I'll give every man of the night watch a dozen lashes at the triangle in the morning. Zounds! who could have lowered our flag?
"Find out, sir!" addressing the chief officer, "or I'll report you as well. Fury! Has some Yankee boarded the Monarch, and none know of it?"