CHAPTER XXXV.
THE END OF THE LIVELY BEE.
The marriage of Harry Vernon with the daughter of Colonel Jones wasan event of note in Washington society. No matter how quiet thecontracting parties wished it to be, the people said, "No."
Vernon was a public man. He belonged to the public, and his marriagemust be a public one.
Such was the verdict of society, and to its edict he had to bow.
The ceremony was but halfway through when a man, wan and weary looking,entered the church and took a seat in the rear pew.
None seemed to recognize him until the bride, leaning on her husband'sarm, was nearly opposite him.
Then the groom turned, and with a glad shout left his wife and claspedthe stranger's hand.
"Tempest! My dear fellow, you don't know how glad I am to see you."
But there was another equally--nay, if possible more--glad, and thatwas the loving Bertha.
She did not faint.
She was made of heroic stuff, and while she rested her head on herhusband's shoulder she whispered her congratulations on his return.
"But you are ill. You look so poorly."
"Yes, dear, but I am alive, and to be with you will be better thanmedicine or physician's skill."
At the wedding feast the honored guest was John Tempest.
All were waiting for his story, all knew that there would be sadness inits recital.
Only one question had Vernon asked.
"What of the _Lively Bee_?"
And Tempest had answered:
"At the bottom of the sea. All lost save honor."
Then the story was told.
"The _Lively Bee_ had reached the roadstead of Fayal. The neutral flagof Portugal floated from its citadel, and I thought we were safe.
"But while we were lying in the port, getting fresh provisions andrepainting, a British squadron, composed of the _Plantagenet_,seventy-four guns; the _Rota_, thirty-eight, and _Carnation_, eighteen,hove in sight.
"The governor of Fayal sent for me and said he was too weak in militaryforces to protect me, so I must take my chance.
"At night four barges, let fall from the enemy's ships, each manned byforty men, made toward us.
"I ordered to beat to quarters, and when my men were at their posts Ishouted:
"'What boat is that? Answer or I'll fire.'
"You know I had four guns, as well as the long one, and when theBritish refused to answer I ordered a broadside to be fired.
"The carnage was terrible, for my gunners kept loading and firing withastonishing rapidity.
"So hot was the reception they got that the barges returned to theships.
"But another barge had come up on the leeward, and we were boardedalmost before we knew anything about it.
"'Come on, my lads,' I shouted, 'and we'll drive them into the sea.'
"My men fought so desperately that we did drive them into the sea, andthe remaining boats put back.
"It was not to be expected that we should escape.
"I ordered the long gun to be loaded and pointed down the hatch.
"When morning came the enemy had closed in upon us and the time hadcome when we must either destroy the _Lively Bee_ or give her up to theEnglish.
"'Haul down that rag,' shouted the captain of the _Plantagenet_,pointing to the Stars and Stripes.
"'Never,' I answered, and my men cheered lustily.
"I saw the boats put off, manned with boarders, and I knew the hour hadcome.
"With my own hand I applied the match, and a ball went crashing throughthe 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 wewere safe under the neutral flag.
"We could not get any vessel to bear us away, for the British wouldhave 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 ofthe 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.
Vernon clasped his hand.
"No, you have not lost all. A nation thanks you for your work. A nationplaces the laurel crown on your brow, for you saved the flag; you lostyour ship but you saved your honor--your country's honor, and in thatdefeat you are greater than if you had gained a victory."
"You have not lost all," exclaimed Bertha. "You have a loving wife andfaithful friends."
"And I thank Heaven that I have fought for my country and neversurrendered its flag," added Tempest, as he resumed his seat.
Congress thanked Vernon and Tempest for their patriotic work, and onthe archives of the nation was ordered written a true account of the"Cruise of the _Lively Bee_."
THE END.
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* * * * * *
Transcriber's note:
This story was first serialized in _Golden Hours_ from November 19,1892 to January 28, 1893. This electronic edition is derived from alater hardcover reprint.
The treanscriber added the table of contents.
The use of italics for ship names was made consistent.
Some inconsistent hyphenation (e.g. "overburdened" vs."over-burdened") was retained.
Some inconsistent capitalization (e.g. "jackie" vs. "Jackie") wasretained.
Inconsistent spellings of the name "Leech"/"Leach" were retained, asboth spellings appear an equal number of times.
Page 27, changed "fufilled" to "fulfilled."
Page 57, changed "answerd" to "answered."
Page 116, removed unnecessary quote at end of third paragraph.
Page 124, removed unnecessary quote at end of third paragraph.
Page 125, changed "usless" to "useless."
Page 132, removed unnecessary quote at start of last paragraph.
Page 140, removed unnecessary quote at end of second paragraph.
Page 145, added missing quote after "prize number two."
Page 159, added missing quote at beginning of page.
Page 165, added missing quote before "Murmurings."
Page 174, added missing quote at end of first paragraph.
Page 190, removed duplicate "the" from "the thickest."
Page 192, changed "seamean" to "seamen."
Page v, changed "cutivate" to "cultivate" and "wholsome" to "wholesome."
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