"'Never,' I answered, and my men cheered lustily.
"I saw the boats put off, manned with boarders, and I knew the hour had come.
"With my own hand I applied the match, and a ball went crashing through the bottom of the Lively Bee.
"Then I applied the torch, and a column of flame rose up to the clouds, and told the British that we could die but never surrender.
"We leaped into the water and all the crew reached the island, where we were safe under the neutral flag.
"We could not get any vessel to bear us away, for the British would have pursued and captured the vessel in order to secure us.
"So we stayed there, almost in a starving condition, for three months, until the coast was clear and we managed to get away.
"We have all returned—all save Mullen—he too rests at the bottom of the sea with the vessel he loved so much.
"We have lost all, but we did what we could."
Tempest's eyes were moist with tears as he finished his story.