'Mr. Howe, haul down the colors! immediately.'

Instead of jumping immediately, as was generally his wont to obey
Rowland's orders, the first lieutenant stood perfectly still, regarding
the captain with a puzzled and undecided manner, as much as to ask if he
had rightly understood the purport of his superior's words.

'Haul down the colors!' exclaimed the captain the second time, and as he
spoke in a stern, loud tone of voice, which precluded all
misunderstanding, the first lieutenant, for the first time ventured an
answer in the following words:

'Captain Rowland, I must own that I am at a loss to perceive the
necessity of hauling down our colors, when we have twice the number of
guns possessed by the brig, which would, in case of a conflict, enable
us easily to save the ship as well as our own lives.'

'I believe this ship is under my command and not yours, Mr. Howe,'
replied Rowland, coolly, 'and I alone am responsible for her safety.
Again, sir, I order you to haul down the colors.'

There was something in the cold, calm, passionless manner of Rowland,
which awed the lieutenant into compliance, notwithstanding he was
naturally a brave man, and he therefore walked forward and repeated to
one of the men the captain's order, which a moment afterwards was
sullenly obeyed, then a shout of exultation rose up from the crew of the
piratical brig, whilst a gun was fired in triumph as her commander
prepared to board the ship which had been so ingloriously placed without
a struggle within his grasp.