“Sir, I am directed to bring you on board the Bon Homme Richard.”
Captain Pearson inclined his head silently and stepped forward.
Scarcely were the words out of Dale’s mouth when the first lieutenant of the Serapis came up from below. Advancing eagerly, he said to his captain:
“Have the rebels struck, sir?”
Captain Pearson uttered no word, but looked into the lieutenant’s eyes with an expression of agony.
Then Dale spoke.
“No,” he said. “You have struck, and this ship is our prize.”
The lieutenant, rudely ignoring Dale, again asked the captain:
“Sir, have they struck?”
For answer, the brave Pearson covered his face with his hands. The lieutenant, turning on his heel, said: