The battle had now commenced in good earnest, although it was all on one side, for the guns possessed by the Caroline were of too short a range to do any damage at such a distance.
The Lively Bee was bent on disabling the Monarch, and a second time the long gun was sighted for the mainmast.
A loud cheer arose from the Caroline's crew, as they saw the mainmast cut in two by the shot and go crashing over the side.
The privateer was keeping the war ship active, and diverting attention from the Caroline.
This was just what Tempest had planned. It gave him an opportunity to get in close alongside the Monarch.
Then his voice rang out:
"Give her a broadside!"
The guns belched forth, and the shots tore up the deck of the enemy's forecastle, killing two men, breaking a middy's arm, and slightly injuring the bowsprit.
Another broadside quickly followed, and before the smoke had cleared away, Tempest ordered the men to seize their grapnells and board.
Cutlasses and boarding-pikes were passed from hand to hand along the deck, and Tempest, drawing his sword, waved it above his head, shouting to his men to follow him.