"You took the responsibility; do the best you can."
"Very well, captain."
On went the schooner until it was so close that the big Britisher seemed to shut out all view of the horizon.
"Scarron! we are going to beat to quarters."
"Sir! Mr. Tempest, sir!"
"I said we were going to beat to quarters. Have you any objections?"
"Seems to me we'll die within sight of New York anyway," muttered Scarron.
"Very likely," Tempest calmly replied. "All the same, we shall fight that vessel."
Instead of waiting for Scarron to give the order to the drummer, Tempest did it himself.
No sooner had the roll of the drum been wafted across the waters than there was a change manifest in the attitude of the cruiser.