The cruiser now showed itself plainly, and its name, the Belvidera, was discernible through the glass.
"I thought she was French," said Tempest.
"What are you going to do, sir?" asked Scarron. "Surrender?"
"No, sir. I shall never surrender until it is to Death. Give orders; let the Lively Bee show her heels to the Britisher, quick, or we may get raked with shot."
On sped the privateer, and the cruiser followed quickly after her.
Then the Lively Bee tacked, and the Belvidera saw, when almost too late, that she had been led nearly within gunshot of Commodore Rodgers' flagship, the President.
Both vessels began preparing for a test of skillful marksmanship, and for that most interesting of all engagements—a naval duel.
On the Belvidera the English sailors were busily engaged in shifting long eighteens and carronades to the stern, making a battery of stern-chasers mounting four guns.
The Lively Bee watched the preparations, and occasionally sent a shot tearing across the Belvidera's deck, throwing the crew into confusion.