"Certain I was, or else how could I count?"
"Tell me all about it."
Tempest spoke almost angrily, for he had an idea that Bob had acted treacherously, else how would it have been possible for him to have wandered about the gun deck of a well-ordered war ship?
The boy told of his adventures, and described the long stern-chasing gun, and the death of the officer.
"It was this way," he said. "I'd got to kill him, or he'd have killed me, and then who'd fight for the Stars?"
"But the flag?"
"I seen it flying," said Bob, more emphatically than correct, "and, thought I, it's only a rag anyway, and I'll take it to keep me dry. If I'd had a Starry flag, I'd have put it up, but I hadn't, so they have to do without one."
The flag was examined and the name Monarch was found on it.
The information given by Bob bore out the fact that the sloop was his majesty's ship Monarch, carrying eight guns, one of which was a stern-chaser capable of carrying a long distance.
"Bob, you are a true hero."