"To speak with us."
"Well, find out what it is about."
Presently the report came that a boat was being put off from the Caroline.
"Lay to," ordered the captain.
It was true.
Tempest had sent a boat to the gun ship, and with it a message which sounded strange to Captain Decatur.
"Will Captain Decatur of the U. S. man-of-war United States accept an invitation to visit the Caroline, which was captured from the British by the Lively Bee, privateer? The reason is too important to be intrusted to paper."
Captain Decatur, like many sea dogs, and man-of-warsmen in particular, was very expressive in his language when excited.
In fact, it seemed that the uttering of anathemas formed a safety valve for his temper.
It was noticed that after such an outburst he was as gentle as a lamb.