"Have at them, boys," he shouted, "to the death!"
He rained blows right and left, which no one could parry.
Captain Scott sought out the brave lieutenant, and with eyes flashing like those of a snake he struck at the young officer with a savageness amounting to fury.
But Tempest was on his guard.
With a fierce and determined energy he met the British captain, and sent his sword twice through his arm, rendering it entirely useless.
"Do you surrender?" asked Tempest as the sword fell from the captain's hand.
"No, you Yankee dog, a Briton never surrenders except to death!"
With his left hand Scott drew a pistol and leveled it, but with a swinging blow from Tempest's sword, which severed the captain's wrist, the pistol and hand dropped to the deck.
"Surrender!"
"Never!" Then, turning to his crew, he shouted: "Boys, never give in! Fight till you die. Whip the Yankees or die in the attempt!"