He found the decks in a fearful condition.
The hauling down of the flag had turned the survivors into veritable demons.
They broke open the hatches and got to the rum.
Some of the crew were already drunk, others nearly so.
Some were throwing the dead overboard, and with a heartlessness which was horrible were even serving the wounded the same way.
Lieutenant Allen was examining the muster rolls of the Macedonian when a sailor pushed his way toward the quarterdeck.
"I am an American, sir! 'Pressed against my wishes, and there were seven more of us."
"Where are the others?"
"Three are dead, sir, the others want to be taken into your crew."
"And you fought against your country?"