CHAPTER XXXI.

THE REGINA, OF TORQUAY.

No one ever got a more royal welcome than did Bob, the powder-monkey, on his return to the _Lively Bee_.

He was, in the eyes of the crew, a gallant hero.

Not only had he been rescued from death in a most marvelous manner, but he had dined at the White House and had been praised by the President's wife.

His stories of Washington were so colored that they equaled those of the Arabian Nights or Baron Munchausen.

On the night after leaving port, Captain Vernon called all the crew to the quarterdeck.

"Men, our prizes were rich ones. The prize money is here and will be divided. I did not give it to you while in port, for I know what temptations there are, and many of you have wives and families who have a better claim on you than the harpies who prey on Jackies at every port. Have I done right?"

"Yes, you always do right, cap'n," was the general response.

"But some of you have no wives, but only sweethearts, and for their sakes I have kept back the money. Did I do right?"

The single men were just as well pleased as had been the married ones.

The crew had thought the prizes had not been sold, and were perfectly content to wait.

Had the money been distributed while in port, the best part of it would have disappeared and perhaps some of the best men deserted.

Not willfully, but Jack on shore is as innocent as a baby, and soon loses his money.

Each man was surprised at the amount he had to receive, for even Bob's share was equal to two hundred dollars, while Mr. Scarron received four thousand.

The prize money is distributed according to rank, and as Bob once told a friend:

"The more fighting you do, the less prize money; the less hard work, the more money you get."

But they expected no exception to be made, and each received more than was expected.

Each man counted his share and jingled the coins and examined the bank notes with just as much interest as would a child.

When that little matter was settled, and the men again at their posts of duty, Tempest tapped the captain's shoulder.

"What ails thee, Master Captain?" he asked.

"What eyes!" murmured Vernon; but as he suddenly aroused from his reverie, he stammered like a schoolgirl.

Tempest could read the signs of the times, for he had experienced all the bliss of young love.

"Whose eyes?" he asked, smiling as he spoke.

"Whose? As if there were any other eyes on earth. I know you can sympathize with me, Tempest--I am in love."

"I know that."

"Could I help it? Did you ever see any one in your whole life more beautiful than----"

"Bertha," added Tempest softly.

"No--Pauline!"

"She is pretty, and I have no doubt she is as good as her face is lovely."

"Thank you, Tempest, for that. I don't want you to think I disparage Bertha, for I have no wish; but when compared to Pauline----"

"Stay, captain. Let us be just. To me, my wife is the most beautiful, the most peerless woman on earth. To me she is perfection. I know of nothing which could be compared to her beauty, to the flash of her eye, to the sweetness of her smile. But what she is to me, Pauline Jones may be to you. Let us not make comparisons. We each judge from our own standpoint."

"But you are prejudiced----"

"Stay, captain, I have not finished. If you thought of my wife as I do--if she was to you the perfection of heaven transferred to earth, you would hate me for being her husband, for you would want her. If Pauline was to me what you think her, I should hate you, for I should wish to claim such beauty and perfection for myself. No, no, old fellow! Our loves are all they should be. And I pray Heaven to strike me dead that moment I first begin to think any woman more beautiful or more perfect than my Bertha."

"Sail, ho!"

That cry put a stop to all love talk.

From love-sick swains the officers were speedily transformed into warriors.

"Where away?" asked Vernon.

"Due east."

"What ensign does she fly?"

"I cannot see. She is a schooner, and evidently armed."

"Bear down upon her, that we may know her value."

All was excitement and flurry.

The crew were anxious for a brush with the enemy, and had come to think the _Lively Bee_ invincible.

No United States war ship was near, and so the field was open to the little privateer.

To the great disgust of the crew, however, the distant craft flew the Stars and Stripes, and so, was not an enemy.

For several days the _Lively Bee_ flew over the water without seeing the sail of an enemy's ship.

The men were getting weary and disheartened.

Amusements palled on them, and they were fast settling into a state of chronic grumbling.

Then it was that the masthead shouted:

"Sail, ho!"

And the very words sent a thrill through the crew, for they knew that unless there was a doubt about the nationality of the vessel, no cry would have been raised.

"Where away?"

"South, southwest," was the reply.

"What is she like?"

"A schooner."

"Good, and her ensign?"

"She flies the English colors."

Vernon ordered the Union Jack of England to be run up, and all appearances of war to be obliterated.

He gave orders to the helmsman to run the _Lively Bee_ close to the stranger.

When within gun range, Vernon fired a shot across the Englishman's bow.

This was answered, and the stranger slackened sail.

The two vessels were now only a musket-shot away, and Vernon saw that the stranger was the _Regina_, of Torquay.

"Whither bound?" asked Vernon through the speaking trumpet.

"To Baltimore."

"What cargo?"

"Tin, and tinplates."

"Have you met with any Yankee men-of-war?"

"No. But two English ships are eastward ten degrees."

"Can we reach Jamaica without molestation?" asked Vernon.

"Easily, if your ship can fly as she ought."

The vessels had now got within pistol-shot, and Vernon could see that the _Regina_ carried two guns.

He began to be suspicious.

Perhaps the ship was not a merchantman at all, but a regularly equipped man-of-war, with a good fighting crew below deck.

However, "faint heart never won fair lady," and Vernon determined to take the initiative.

He gave his orders to Scarron, and instantly the English flag was lowered, while the Stars and Stripes ran proudly up the halliards.

But the change was noticed quickly by the _Regina_, and almost as quick as a lightning flash, a large crew burst upon the deck, armed with cutlasses and boarding irons.