THE END OF THE LIVELY BEE.
The marriage of Harry Vernon with the daughter of Colonel Jones was
an event of note in Washington society. No matter how quiet the
contracting parties wished it to be, the people said, "No."
Vernon was a public man. He belonged to the public, and his marriage
must 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's
arm, was nearly opposite him.
Then the groom turned, and with a glad shout left his wife and clasped
the 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 that
was the loving Bertha.
She did not faint.
She was made of heroic stuff, and while she rested her head on her
husband'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 than
medicine 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 in
its 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 flag
of Portugal floated from its citadel, and I thought we were safe.
"But while we were lying in the port, getting fresh provisions and
repainting, 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 military
forces to protect me, so I must take my chance.
"At night four barges, let fall from the enemy's ships, each manned by
forty men, made toward us.
"I ordered to beat to quarters, and when my men were at their posts I
shouted:
"'What boat is that? Answer or I'll fire.'
"You know I had four guns, as well as the long one, and when the
British refused to answer I ordered a broadside to be fired.
"The carnage was terrible, for my gunners kept loading and firing with
astonishing rapidity.
"So hot was the reception they got that the barges returned to the
ships.
"But another barge had come up on the leeward, and we were boarded
almost 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, and
the 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 had
come when we must either destroy the _Lively Bee_ or give her up to the
English.
"'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 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.
Vernon clasped his hand.
"No, you have not lost all. A nation thanks you for your work. A nation
places the laurel crown on your brow, for you saved the flag; you lost
your ship but you saved your honor--your country's honor, and in that
defeat you are greater than if you had gained a victory."
"You have not lost all," exclaimed Bertha. "You have a loving wife and
faithful friends."
"And I thank Heaven that I have fought for my country and never
surrendered its flag," added Tempest, as he resumed his seat.
Congress thanked Vernon and Tempest for their patriotic work, and on
the archives of the nation was ordered written a true account of the
"Cruise of the _Lively Bee_."
THE END.
_THE CREAM OF JUVENILE FICTION_
THE BOYS' OWN
LIBRARY
A Selection of the Best Books for Boys by the Most Popular Authors
The titles in this splendid juvenile series have been selected with
care, and as a result all the stories can be relied upon for their
excellence. They are bright and sparkling; not over-burdened with
lengthy descriptions, but brimful of adventure from the first page to
the last--in fact they are just the kind of yarns that appeal strongly
to the healthy boy who is fond of thrilling exploits and deeds of
heroism. Among the authors whose names are included in the Boys' Own
Library are Horatio Alger, Jr., Edward S. Ellis, James Otis, Capt.
Ralph Bonehill, Burt L. Standish, Gilbert Patten and Frank H. Converse.
SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE BOYS' OWN LIBRARY
All the books in this series are copyrighted, printed on good paper,
large type, illustrated, printed wrappers, handsome cloth covers
stamped in inks and gold--fifteen special cover designs.
_150 Titles--Price, per Volume, 75 cents_
For sale by all booksellers, or sent, postpaid, on receipt of price by
the publisher,
DAVID McKAY,
610 SO. WASHINGTON SQUARE, PHILADELPHIA, PA.
HORATIO ALGER, Jr.
One of the best known and most popular writers. Good, clean, healthy
stories for the American Boy.
Adventures of a Telegraph Boy
Dean Dunham
Erie Train Boy, The
Five Hundred Dollar Check
From Canal Boy to President
From Farm Boy to Senator
Backwoods Boy, The
Mark Stanton
Ned Newton
New York Boy
Tom Brace
Tom Tracy
Walter Griffith
Young Acrobat
C. B. ASHLEY.
One of the best stories ever written on hunting, trapping and adventure
in the West, after the Custer Massacre.
Gilbert, the Boy Trapper
ANNIE ASHMORE.
A splendid story, recording the adventures of a boy with smugglers.
Smuggler's Cave, The
CAPT. RALPH BONEHILL.
Capt. Bonehill is in the very front rank as an author of boys' stories.
These are two of his best works.
Neka, the Boy Conjurer
Tour of the Zero Club
WALTER F. BRUNS.
An excellent story of adventure in the celebrated Sunk Lands of
Missouri and Kansas.
In the Sunk Lands
FRANK H. CONVERSE.
This writer has established a splendid reputation as a boys' author,
and although his books usually command $1.25 per volume, we offer the
following at a more popular price.
Gold of Flat Top Mountain
Happy-Go-Lucky Jack
Heir to a Million
In Search of An Unknown Race
In Southern Seas
Mystery of a Diamond
That Treasure
Voyage to the Gold Coast
HARRY COLLINGWOOD.
One of England's most successful writers of stories for boys. His best
story is
Pirate Island
GEORGE H. COOMER.
Two books we highly recommend. One is a splendid story of adventure at
sea, when American ships were in every port in the world, and the other
tells of adventures while the first railway in the Andes Mountains was
being built.
Boys in the Forecastle
Old Man of the Mountain
WILLIAM DALTON.
Three stories by one of the very greatest writers for boys. The stories
deal with boys' adventures in India, China and Abyssinia. These books
are strongly recommended for boys' reading, as they contain a large
amount of historical information.
Tiger Prince
War Tiger
White Elephant
EDWARD S. ELLIS.
These books are considered the best works this well-known writer ever
produced. No better reading for bright young Americans.
Arthur Helmuth
Check No. 2134
From Tent to White House
Perils of the Jungle
On the Trail of Geronimo
White Mustang
GEORGE MANVILLE FENN.
For the past fifty years Mr. Fenn has been writing books for boys
and popular fiction. His books are justly popular throughout the
English-speaking world. We publish the following select list of his
boys' books, which we consider the best he ever wrote.
Commodore Junk
Dingo Boys
Golden Magnet
Grand Chaco
Weathercock
ENSIGN CLARKE FITCH, U. S. N.
A graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, and thoroughly
familiar with all naval matters. Mr. Fitch devoted himself to
literature, and has written a series of books for boys that every
young American should read. His stories are full of very interesting
information about the navy, training ships, etc.
Bound for Annapolis
Clif, the Naval Cadet
Cruise of the Training Ship
From Port to Port
Strange Cruise, A
WILLIAM MURRAY GRAYDON.
An author of world-wide popularity. Mr. Graydon is essentially a friend
of young people, and we offer herewith ten of his best works, wherein
he relates a great diversity of interesting adventures in various parts
of the world, combined with accurate historical data.
Butcher of Cawnpore, The
Camp in the Snow, The
Campaigning with Braddock
Cryptogram, The
From Lake to Wilderness
In Barracks and Wigwam
In Fort and Prison
Jungles and Traitors
Rajah's Fortress, The
White King of Africa, The
LIEUT. FREDERICK GARRISON, U. S. A.
Every American boy takes a keen interest in the affairs of West Point.
No more capable writer on this popular subject could be found than
Lieut. Garrison, who vividly describes the life, adventures and unique
incidents that have occurred in that great institution--in these famous
West Point stories.
Off for West Point
Cadet's Honor, A
On Guard
West Point Treasure, The
West Point Rivals, The
HEADON HILL.
The hunt for gold has always been a popular subject for consideration,
and Mr. Hill has added a splendid story on the subject in this romance
of the Klondyke.
Spectre Gold
HENRY HARRISON LEWIS.
Mr. Lewis is a graduate of the Naval Academy at Annapolis, and has
written a great many books for boys. Among his best works are the
following titles--the subjects include a vast series of adventures in
all parts of the world. The historical data is correct, and they should
be read by all boys, for the excellent information they contain.
Centreboard Jim
King of the Island
Midshipman Merrill
Ensign Merrill
Sword and Pen
Valley of Mystery, The
Yankee Boys in Japan
LIEUT. LIONEL LOUNSBERRY.
A series of books embracing many adventures under our famous naval
commanders, and with our army during the War of 1812 and the Civil War.
Founded on sound history, these books are written for boys, with the
idea of combining pleasure with profit; to cultivate a fondness for
study--especially of what has been accomplished by our army and navy.
Cadet Kit Carey
Captain Carey
Kit Carey's Protegé
Lieut. Carey's Luck
Out With Commodore Decatur
Bandy, the Pilot
Tom Truxton's School Days
Tom Truxton's Ocean Trip
Treasure of the Golden Crater
Won at West Point
BROOKS McCORMICK.
Four splendid books of adventure on sea and land, by this well-known
writer for boys.
Giant Islanders, The
How He Won
Nature's Young Nobleman
Rival Battalions
WALTER MORRIS.
This charming story contains thirty-two chapters of just the sort of
school life that charms the boy readers.
Bob Porter at Lakeview Academy
STANLEY NORRIS.
Mr. Norris is without a rival as a writer of "Circus Stories" for boys.
These four books are full of thrilling adventures, but good, wholesome
reading for young Americans.
Phil, the Showman
Young Showman's Rivals, The
Young Showman's Pluck, The
Young Showman's Triumph
LIEUT. JAMES K. ORTON.
When a boy has read one of Lieut. Orton's books, it requires no urging
to induce him to read the others. Not a dull page in any of them.
Beach Boy Joe
Last Chance Mine
Secret Chart, The
Tom Havens with the White Squadron
JAMES OTIS.
Mr. Otis is known by nearly every American boy, and needs no
introduction here. The following copyrights are among his best:
Chased Through Norway
Inland Waterways
Unprovoked Mutiny
Wheeling for Fortune
Reuben Green's Adventures at Yale
GILBERT PATTEN.
Mr. Patten has had the distinction of having his books adopted by the
U. S. Government for all naval libraries on board our war ships. While
aiming to avoid the extravagant and sensational, the stories contain
enough thrilling incidents to please the lad who loves action and
adventure. In the Rockspur stories the description of their Baseball
and Football Games and other contests with rival clubs and teams make
very exciting and absorbing reading; and few boys with warm blood in
their veins, having once begun the perusal of one of these books, will
willingly lay it down till it is finished.
Boy Boomers
Boy Cattle King
Boy from the West
Don Kirke's Mine
Jud and Joe
Rockspur Nine, The
Rockspur Eleven, The
Rockspur Rivals, The
ST. GEORGE RATHBORNE.
Mr. Rathborne's stories for boys have the peculiar charm of dealing
with localities and conditions with which he is thoroughly familiar.
The scenes of these excellent stories are along the Florida coast and
on the western prairies.
Canoe and Camp Fire
Paddling Under Palmettos
Rival Canoe Boys
Sunset Ranch
Chums of the Prairie
Young Range Riders
Gulf Cruisers
Shifting Winds
ARTHUR SEWELL.
An American story by an American author. It relates how a Yankee boy
overcame many obstacles in school and out. Thoroughly interesting from
start to finish.
Gay Dashleigh's Academy Days
CAPT. DAVID SOUTHWICK.
An exceptionally good story of frontier life among the Indians in the
far West, during the early settlement period.
Jack Wheeler
The Famous Frank Merriwell Stories.
BURT L. STANDISH.
No modern series of tales for boys and youths has met with anything
like the cordial reception and popularity accorded to the Frank
Merriwell Stories. There must be a reason for this and there is. Frank
Merriwell, as portrayed by the author, is a jolly whole-souled, honest,
courageous American lad, who appeals to the hearts of the boys. He
has no bad habits, and his manliness inculcates the idea that it is
not necessary for a boy to indulge in petty vices to be a hero. Frank
Merriwell's example is a shining light for every ambitious lad to
follow. Twenty volumes now ready:
Frank Merriwell's School Days
Frank Merriwell's Chums
Frank Merriwell's Foes
Frank Merriwell's Trip West
Frank Merriwell Down South
Frank Merriwell's Bravery
Frank Merriwell's Races
Frank Merriwell's Hunting Tour
Frank Merriwell's Sports Afield
Frank Merriwell at Yale
Frank Merriwell's Courage
Frank Merriwell's Daring
Frank Merriwell's Skill
Frank Merriwell's Champions
Frank Merriwell's Return to Yale
Frank Merriwell's Secret
Frank Merriwell's Loyalty
Frank Merriwell's Reward
Frank Merriwell's Faith
Frank Merriwell's Victories
VICTOR ST. CLAIR.
These books are full of good, clean adventure, thrilling enough to
please the full-blooded wide-awake boy, yet containing nothing to which
there can be any objection from those who are careful as to the kind of
books they put into the hands of the young.
Cast Away in the Jungle
Comrades Under Castro
For Home and Honor
From Switch to Lever
Little Snap, the Post Boy
Zig-Zag, the Boy Conjurer
Zip, the Acrobat
MATTHEW WHITE, JR.
Good, healthy, strong books for the American lad. No more interesting
books for the young appear on our lists.
Adventures of a Young Athlete
Eric Dane
Guy Hammersley
My Mysterious Fortune
Tour of a Private Car
Young Editor, The
ARTHUR M. WINFIELD.
One of the most popular authors of boys' books. Here are three of his
best.
Mark Dale's Stage Venture
Young Bank Clerk, The
Young Bridge Tender, The
GAYLE WINTERTON.
This very interesting story relates the trials and triumphs of a Young
American Actor, including the solution of a very puzzling mystery.
Young Actor, The
ERNEST A. YOUNG.
This book is not a treatise on sports, as the title would indicate, but
relates a series of thrilling adventures among boy campers in the woods
of Maine.
Boats, Bats and Bicycles
DAVID McKAY, Publisher, Philadelphia.
* * * * * *
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 a
later 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") was
retained.
Inconsistent spellings of the name "Leech"/"Leach" were retained, as
both 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."