For th 
 
 a 
 
 Of 4 ' 
 
 ^F& Jk, 3GL ^n^ 
 
 ^ -. 4- 
 
 i :...; 
 
 Cyrus Townsend Bradj 
 
 : -'.: : - - - : .'/ - -.-.>.
 
 W,0,MDBSON, 
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 GIFT OF 
 
 Commodore Byron McCandless

 
 AM I TO CONSIDER YOU AS A PRISON EU OF WAR OR AN 
 
 ENEMY ?" Frontispiece.
 
 SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION 
 
 For the Freedom of 
 the Sea 
 
 A Romance of the War of 1812 
 
 BY 
 
 CYRUS TOWNSEND BRADY 
 
 AUTHOR OF " FOR LOVE OF COUNTRY," ETC. 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 INTERNATIONAL BOOK AND 
 
 PUBLISHING COMPANY 
 
 1900
 
 This volume is issued for sale 
 in paper covers only 
 
 COPYRIGHT, 1899, BY CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS 
 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
 
 P.O 
 
 Eegpectfullg J3rtitcate& 
 
 TO 
 
 WILLIAM T SAMPSON, 
 
 A Rear Admiral in th? Navy of the United States, 
 
 IN HEARTFELT APPRECIATION OF THE PRQFOUND STRATEGY, 
 
 BRILLIANT TACTICS, AND UNWEARIED VIGILANCE OF 
 
 HIS GREAT CAMPAIGN IN THE WEST INDIES, 
 
 TO WHICH 
 
 HIS GLORIOUS VICTORY OF JULY 3, 1898, WAS A FITTING 
 AND WELL-EARNED CULMINATION. 
 
 9571
 
 Contents 
 
 HBoofe I 
 
 BROTHERS DIVIDED 
 
 CHAPTER PACK 
 
 I THE BEAUTIFUL ANNE FITZHUGH 3 
 
 II A WAGER OF BATTLE ri 
 
 III THE FIRST WALTZ IN AMERICA 16 
 
 IV THE UNFINISHED DUEL ........ 29 
 
 V COLONEL BARRETT ASKS QUESTIONS .... 39 
 
 VI ON THE DECK OF THE CONSTITUTION ... 46 
 
 VII THE ENGLISH GIVE UP THE GAME 55 
 
 VIII A ROSE REJECTED 61 
 
 HBoofe II 
 
 "OLD IRONSIDES" 
 
 IX MASTER RHODES' OPINION OF THE CAPTAIN . 69 
 
 X THE YOUNG FINANCIER 76 
 
 XI THE GUERRIERE BEGINS THE GAME .... 80 
 
 XII THE CONSTITUTION MAKES REPLY .... 86 
 
 XIII BOARDERS AWAY 92 
 
 XIV A LOST WAGER 97 
 
 XV BROTHERS UNITED 103 
 
 XVI CAPTAIN HULL'S REWARD ........ 108 
 
 vii
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 Book in 
 
 THE EPIC OF THE WHIP 
 
 CHAPTER PAGE 
 
 XVII THE PIECES ARE SET 113 
 
 XVIII THE SENTENCE OF THE COURT . . . . . 118 
 
 XIX THE CAT-O'-NINE-TAILS 123 
 
 XX THE SONG OF THE LASH 129 
 
 XXI THE JUDGMENT OF GOD 132 
 
 XXII THE END OF THE GOSPEL OF FORCE . . 136 
 
 Boob iv 
 
 A DASH FOR FREEDOM 
 
 XXIII CAPTAIN FAIRFORD TAKES COMMAND . . 143 
 
 XXIV A LETTER AND ITS ANSWER 152 
 
 XXV INTO THE MIDNIGHT 167 
 
 XXVI IF AN ENEMY OPPOSES, RIDE HIM DOWN . 175 
 
 XXVII A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS ...*.. 182 
 
 XXVIII A THEOLOGICAL DISCUSSION 189 
 
 XXIX NEW DUTIES FOR WILLIAM COTTON ... 197 
 
 XXX SAFE AT SEA 203 
 
 XXXI t FAIRFORD PICKS UP A CREW 219 
 
 XXXII AN OLD FRIEND AGAIN 226 
 
 XXXIII No LADIES' MAIDS ON THE CONSTITUTION 234 
 
 XXXIV YARNING ON THE FORECASTLE .... 239 
 
 viii
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER 
 XXXV 
 
 PAGE 
 
 WHALIN' 3 s THE GAME 251 
 
 XXXVI WHY THEY FOUGHT 256 
 
 XXXVII LOVE ON THE QUARTER DECK .... 267 
 
 XXXVIII His BROTHER'S SHIP 275 
 
 XXXIX OFF TRISTAN DA CUNHA 285 t 
 
 XL UNITED AND DIVIDED 296 
 
 XLI A COMPANION OF NELSON 306. 
 
 XLII THEIR WEDDING JOURNEY 315 
 
 XLIII PASSED BY, AS THE IDLE WIND .... 323 
 
 XLIV WOMAN, BEHOLD THY SON 328 
 
 EPILOGUE . . ..... .... 338
 
 " AM I TO CONSIDER YOU AS A PRISONER OF 
 
 WAR OR AN ENEMY ?" Frontispiece 
 
 TO FACB PACE 
 
 " ARE YOU READY, GENTLEMEN ?" 34 
 
 THE ENGLISH CAPTAIN, FILLED WITH RAGE AND 
 
 DESPAIR, SNAPPED HIS PISTOL 212 
 
 " A SHIP-OF-THE-LINE," ROARED FAIRFORD, TAKING 
 
 A LOOK THROUGH THE GLASS 280
 
 BROTHERS DIVIDED
 
 For the Freedom of the Sea 
 
 t 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 The Beautiful Anne Fitzhugh 
 
 HT^HE beautiful Anne Fitzhugh sprang from one 
 JL of the proudest and oldest of those great 
 Virginia families, whose achievements in the past 
 had given that fair Commonwealth such remarkable 
 pre-eminence in the small family of nations, which 
 then made up the United States of America. The 
 beautiful Anne Fitzhugh' s pride in her ancestry was 
 as great as her descent was long. 
 
 That they had been Tories in the Revolution 'in 
 no way diminished her reverence for the name she 
 bore. She even looked upon the warm friend 
 ship, which had subsisted between her father and a 
 certain other great Virginian of so exalted a charac 
 ter that he had been chief est in all the nation and 
 through whose paramount influence the family 
 estates, somewhat diminished in extent and cur 
 tailed as to revenue, had been saved from confisca 
 tion, which was the American reward for unappre 
 ciated services to King George III. as a blot on 
 the scutcheon of the family history. 
 
 Everybody was astonished, therefore, when she 
 married Mr. George Fairford of New York, since 
 
 3
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 he was nobody in particular nothing but a gentle 
 man no ancestral estates, no ancient name, noth 
 ing but money! His father had been, or was, in 
 trade ! think of it a shopkeeper, or a merchant, 
 or something of that sort, whose large means, at his 
 only son's disposal, had permitted him to journey to 
 the far land of Virginia, where he had the unspeak 
 able audacity and unparalleled good luck to capti 
 vate the belle of the State, broad acres, ancient 
 name, beauty, pride, all there was, in fact. 
 
 The wedded life of the young couple, in the beau 
 tiful old place at Blakely, on the Chesapeake, the 
 Fitzhugh place, of course, for the bride positively re 
 fused to live in Dutch and plebeian New York, passed 
 pleasantly enough. Mr. Fairford was entirely con 
 scious of the exalted station of the lady who had 
 honored him, and indeed did not lack information on 
 the subject, which was supplied by kindly disposed 
 friends, as well as by the lady herself, when her 
 pride got the better of her discretion, which was not 
 infrequently. The situation had not yet become too 
 entirely unbearable, however, when Providence, 
 jealous of the honor of the Fitzhughs, it was 
 believed, terminated a connection so damaging to 
 their pride by removing the modest husband to that 
 sphere where, since there is no giving in marriage 
 there, he could scarcely hope by his fascinations to 
 capture another Fitzhugh ! 
 
 During their brief period of wedded life, Madam 
 Fairford, ne'e Fitzhugh, as she loved to subscribe 
 herself to the end of her days, had magnificently 
 Tx>rne a son to well, to herself; an act, it was 
 thought, of great condescension on her part to the
 
 THE BEAUTIFUL ANNE FITZHUGH 
 
 exigencies of family life. The young man in 
 herited some of his mother's beauty, much of her 
 unbending pride, and a little of the sternness of dis 
 position which came from old Colonel John Parke, 
 whose portrait in the hall, with its piercing blue 
 eyes, had looked fiercely down upon many genera 
 tions, which had lived and died since his day; he 
 had also a touch of his father's sunny gentleness at 
 times. 
 
 But it had not yet appeared what he should be, or 
 what he might have become under the stern regimen 
 of his proud and beautiful mother, who took herself 
 and her family so seriously that, when a few years 
 after Mr. Fairford's death she removed to England 
 as the bride of another wanderer, Sir James 
 Heathcote of Heathcote Hall, in the county of 
 Surrey, she was not sure but that she had made 
 another mesalliance. 
 
 "In Virginia," she was wont to say to her meek 
 husband, "other people think it an honor to be shot 
 dead by a Fitzhugh; we are not one of, but actually, 
 the first family of Virginia! While you, sir, I find, 
 are only a small country baronet of James the First's 
 creation! Where I was born, I have been accus 
 tomed to precede every one, while here I must fol 
 low every red-faced country girl whose father happens 
 to be a degree above you. 'T is a shame, Sir 
 James, and I did not expect it. " Alas, that not 
 even the pride and glory of the Fitzhughs could 
 break the Median laws of precedence ! 
 
 Sir James happened, as had been her first incum 
 bent, to be a gentleman (indeed, Mistress Fitzhugh 
 could have married no other), and was of the same 
 
 5
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 modest, retiring disposition. He was not without a 
 certain simple pride of birth of his own; but when 
 he first mentioned, in his deprecating way, that his 
 people had come over with William the Conqueror, 
 Lady Anne crushed him with the stare she had 
 inherited from Colonel Parke, and which generations 
 of Fitzhughs had intensified until it was most dis 
 concerting, indeed; and added a cutting remark 
 about William the Conqueror being a most improper 
 person, of no birth at all, scarcely to be named in 
 the presence of a lady, etc. As another act of 
 great condescension on her part, Lady Anne had 
 borne another son to well, to herself as before, 
 and young Richard Heathcote inherited all of his 
 mother's pride and none of his father's mildness. 
 
 Poor little Blakely Fitzhugh Fairford was lerc De- 
 hind to the tender care of his mother's friends and 
 relatives in Virginia when his mother followed no, 
 led Sir James back across the seas. He was thus 
 early deprived of that love and care which even the 
 sternest mother feels for her offspring, and which 
 was lavished upon his more fortunate step-brother 
 in Heathcote Hall in such measure that the fondest 
 and most doting peasant woman could not have sur 
 passed it in intensity and degree, while Blakely was 
 more or less forgotten. 
 
 Seeing his mother and his brother, some three 
 years younger than himself, at more and more 
 infrequent intervals in fact, Lady Anne's visits 
 t6 the ancestral acres, which were the only occasions 
 upon which she saw her son, gradually diminished, 
 until they finally ceased altogether the connection 
 between mother and son was kept up by a yearly 
 
 6
 
 letter, which grew more and more formal with each 
 repetition. His mother's picture in miniature, how 
 ever, hung in his room, and, in larger shape, looked 
 down upon him from over the mantel in the dining- 
 room ; and the haughty beauty of the pictured face 
 appealed to his artistic nature so strongly that, with 
 it and the faint recollections of childhood, he 
 created for himself an ideal mother, very far re 
 moved, indeed, from the real one, to which he gave 
 all the devotion and love of his bereft little heart. 
 A passion for this, his own creation, grew upon him 
 until the lonely little boy developed into a man, 
 when he clung to this semblance of family relation 
 ship left him like a ship to her anchor. 
 
 The Virginia estates were carefully managed for 
 Lady Anne's benefit, and the revenue regularly sent 
 to England, where, with prudent forethought, it was 
 safely invested for young James' future benefit. 
 Fairford did not suffer thereby, being in the enjoy 
 ment of a sufficient competence from the estate of his 
 deceased grandfather, the New Yorker " in trade." 
 He made his home in Virginia, when he was at 
 home, with old Colonel Barrett, a distant connec 
 tion of his mother, whose place adjoined her own. 
 By profession he was a sailor, an officer in the 
 American Navy; he had been a midshipman under 
 Truxton on the Constellation, getting his first taste 
 of war when that fortunate ship defeated La Ven 
 geance and L'Insurgente. Afterward, with Decatur 
 at Tripoli, he had taken further lessons, and now 
 was rated first lieutenant of the U. S. S. Constitu 
 tion 44, Captain Isaac Hull, lazily swinging at her 
 anchor in the deep water of the Chesapeake Bay, at 
 
 7
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 the foot of the hill opposite Blakely Hall and the 
 Barrett place. 
 
 Singularly enough and we can only account for 
 it by pre-supposing a strain of roving blood in the 
 Fitzhughs one of them had been a pirate, a buc 
 caneer, or, let us say as did the family, " a gentle 
 man adventurer," in the old days when the risks 
 were great, the takings many, and dead men told 
 no tales on the Spanish main Richard Heathcote 
 was also a sailor; and, at present, third lieutenant 
 of H. B. M. S. Guerriere 38, Captain James Richard 
 Dacres, which, in company with H. B. M. S. Lion 
 50, Captain Henry Cunningham, was moored not 
 far from the Constitution on this gentle spring even 
 ing, in the year of grace, 1812. 
 
 The three ships had been anchored near each other 
 for some days past, and there had been much visit 
 ing among the officers. Fairford had warmly wel 
 comed his brother to Virginia, and the ties of 
 relationship between them had made the transition 
 from acquaintanceship to affection an easy one; 
 though the feeling upon Fairford's part was deeper 
 than upon that of Heathcote, as was natural, since 
 the one was practically motherless, and the other 
 rejoiced in home affections of the deepest kind. 
 
 There had been rumors of war, and two partial 
 engagements, at least, had occurred between ships 
 of the two countries; and, while there had, as yet, 
 been no open rupture or declaration of war, the feel 
 ing of the Americans had been so strained that it 
 was only a question of days until the breaking point 
 would be reached. The high-handed arrogance of 
 the British Navy, the cruisers of which stopped
 
 THE BEAUTIFUL ANNE FITZHUGH 
 
 peaceful American trading ships on the high seas 
 when and where it was convenient to them, 'some 
 times violating our harbors for the same purpose, 
 and took from them such men for their service as 
 pleased them, under the plea that they were deserters 
 or British subjects, or what you will without any 
 plea at all, in fact had awakened such a feeling of 
 rage and indignation that, when the various conciliar 
 acts, necessitated by the greater wars which Eng 
 land was conducting with her great Continental rival, 
 were brought into operation, the end was certain. t 
 
 The claim of perpetuity of dominion over a citi 
 zen, which implied that no man could change his 
 domicile, nor renounce his allegiance, nor become a 
 citizen of another country, was one which could be 
 maintained only by force of arms, not of right. 
 England found it most difficult to maintain and man 
 that immense and most efficient navy, which, after 
 all is said and done, was the great bulwark of liberty, 
 and insured the final triumph of democracy over 
 imperialism as the principle of government, during 
 the earlier years of the century. This was a suffi 
 cient cause for English statesmen and administrators 
 to disregard the rights of individual men and insti 
 tute the odious press gang. They were compelled to 
 maintain discipline in their ships by the frightful 
 methods of punishment in vogue, and to use Ameri 
 can ships as recruiting stations. Naturally this did 
 not avail to excuse their conduct from an American 
 point of view. 
 
 Between the Berlin Decrees of the French 
 Emperor, and the Orders in Council of Great 
 Britain, the commerce of the United States, upon 
 
 9
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 which the prosperity of the nation at that time 
 depended, was practically at an end. When the 
 British openly disregarded the protection which 
 should be given by the flag on the ocean, looking at 
 the Atlantic as they did the Mediterranean, "as a 
 British lake," it was high time to strike. Indeed, 
 it was strike or die; many people said strike and 
 die; in either event action was imperative and 
 necessary, and national death preferable to a further 
 submission to the British claims. When the Ameri 
 can flag no longer protected American citizens on 
 shipboard, or wherever it floated above them, the 
 blow must be struck, and struck hard for the free 
 dom of the sea. 
 
 In view of these things, Sir James Heathcote, 
 accompanied by a distant connection of his, Miss 
 Evelyn Heathcote, having left his wife, who became 
 more and more English, though not less of a Fitz- 
 hugh, with each succeeding year, at home, came over 
 to Virginia to look after the ancestral estates. If 
 possible, he hoped to make some permanent arrange 
 ment for their safe-keeping during the coming and 
 inevitable war. Sir James and Evelyn were the 
 guests of Colonel Barrett and his daughter Margaret 
 for the time being, and a delightful friendship had 
 sprung up between the two young girls. On the 
 evening in which this story opens, the captains of 
 the Constitution and the Guerriere, Captain Cun 
 ningham being indisposed, with Fairford, Heath 
 cote, and such other of their higher officers as could 
 be spared from their duties, and several officers of 
 the American Navy, were dining at the Hall, pre 
 paratory to a ball to be given after supper. 
 
 10
 
 CHAPTER II 
 
 A Wager of Battle 
 
 SUPPER was over, the sun was not yet set, and, 
 all the members of the house party were out 
 of doors in the pleasant evening weather. Old 
 Colonel Barrett, a soldier of the Revolution, and 
 .Sir James Heathcote, engaged in earnest conversa 
 tion, were sitting near the end of the long, lofty 
 porch, which extended across the front of the build 
 ing, and rose to the height of the roof. 
 
 Two officers, one a very tall, thin, melancholy 
 looking man, in the uniform of the British Navy, 
 the other wearing an American Naval uniform, and 
 as short and stout as his companion was long and 
 .slender, were walking slowly down the gravelled 
 walk toward a little pleasure-house, which stood 
 just on the edge of the high bluff overlooking the 
 bay. 
 
 In the doorway the two young girls were standing, 
 and surrounding them, a group of young officers, all, 
 apparently, in eager rivalry for the favors of the fair. 
 In a grove near the house, and just on the brow 
 of the hill, the white tents of a battery of artillery 
 and a battalion of infantry, which had encamped 
 there for the night, while en route to Washington, 
 the capital, gleamed under the trees, and the bright 
 uniforms of the men as they lounged on the out- 
 
 ii
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 skirts of the camp, gazing at the occupants of the 
 Hall, gave a dash of vivid color to the scene. 
 
 The two naval officers stopped at the summer- 
 house, and looked down upon the three ships below 
 them. A pretty picture they made, the white 
 decks ; the rows of spotless hammocks ; the grim, 
 black guns ; the lofty spars, with their tightly and 
 neatly furled sails; the seamen lounging about the 
 deck after supper, for it was the second dog watch, 
 one of Jack's infrequent hours of play.' The short 
 man broke the silence. 
 
 "I tell you, Dacres, it 's got to stop." 
 
 "My dear Hull," replied the other, "I don't see 
 how it can." 
 
 "It can and shall." 
 
 "But how? A British sailor is a British sailor 
 wherever he goes and whatever he does ; once a sub 
 ject of King George, always one, you know." 
 
 " No, I don't know not when he goes as an 
 American citizen under that flag. Besides, you 
 have taken anybody you wanted. I know there are 
 Americans on your ships down here." 
 
 "Oh, come now, Hull." 
 
 " I tell you again, Captain Dacres, I know it. 
 We have stood this thing long enough, and, if I 
 know the temper of our people, it 's got to stop, or 
 something will come of it. I don't hesitate to say 
 that I'd rather sink alongside you than give up a 
 man to any demand you fellows might make. I 
 would not care of what nationality he was." 
 
 "My dear fellow," replied Captain Dacres, smil 
 ing imperturbably, "we disagree, I see. Well, if 
 anything is coming, let it come. I fancy we shall
 
 A WAGER OF BATTLE 
 
 be ready for it. If you won't give up our men, why, 
 then we shall have to take them, that 's all." 
 
 " They 're not your men ; but if they were, I would 
 not give them up as long as I commanded a ship." 
 
 " Oh, well, there are the points of difference. We 
 must have men, and, as long as you have them, we 
 will take them. Why, how could you help your 
 self?" went on the Englishman, calmly. "Sup 
 pose, for instance, you met the Guerriere. I could 
 take you in half an hour; knock that bundle of pine 
 boards of yours to pieces in less time, possibly." 
 
 "Captain Dacres, you insult me," exclaimed the 
 stout, choleric American, his face flushing deeply at 
 this nonchalant and certainly aggravating remark. 
 His hand played ominously with his sword for a 
 moment, but his face gradually cleared as Dacres 
 explained, urbanely, 
 
 " My dear Captain Hull, I mean no insult, and 
 cry you pardon if one is conveyed in my words. I 
 am only stating facts. We could knock you into a 
 cocked hat, you know." 
 
 "I'll bet you a cocked hat you don't, Dacres; 
 and, if I don't finish you up in thirty minutes my 
 self, I '11 give you two cocked hats instead of one," 
 said Hull, smiling. 
 
 "Done; but I ought to give you odds, I think, to 
 be perfectly fair." 
 
 "Never mind the odds, or, if you think best, I 
 will give them to you; mine is the heavier ship, 
 you know." 
 
 "That only makes us even; mine is an English 
 ship." 
 
 "And mine an American." 
 13
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 "Dash it all, that's why I wanted to give you 
 odds." 
 
 "And that is why I shall feel uncomfortable 
 about taking your cocked hat, Dacres." 
 
 "Well, well, wait until you get it, my friend; 
 meanwhile, we won't quarrel ourselves about it, but 
 fight it out when the war begins." 
 
 "And begin it will unless you stop," replied 
 Captain Hull. 
 
 "And stop we won't." 
 
 " There, you see, we begin our discussion all over." 
 
 "Let us drop it, then," said Captain Dacres; "we 
 can't agree." 
 
 "Very well," was the reply. "There is only one 
 way to settle it, and that is with the ships side by 
 side and then God guard the right." 
 
 "Amen," said the Englishman, solemnly; "we, 
 at least, will remain friends." 
 
 "Ay, surely," replied Hull, frankly; "my father 
 fought against England in the Revolution, and died 
 in the prison ship Jersey in Wallabout Bay." 
 
 "And mine commanded a schooner in the naval 
 battle on Lake Champlain, in the same war, and 
 died a Vice- Admiral of the Red a few years since." 
 
 "I am sorry he did not transmit a better opinion 
 of us to his son." 
 
 "Ah, well, my friend, all you lack is experience; 
 when you have been fighting the Dutch, the French, 
 the Spanish, the whole world, even," continued 
 Dacres, proudly, "as long as we have, you'll get 
 that experience." 
 
 " We '11 get all we need from you, Dacres," replied 
 Hull, bluntly. 
 
 14
 
 A WAGER OF BATTLE 
 
 "You will find us anxious and willing to give it 
 to you, I 'm sure," said Dacres. 
 
 "And don't forget the hat." 
 
 " Not I, for I count upon wearing it but it has 
 grown late; let us go into the house; I see the 
 guests of the evening are arriving." 
 
 Arm in arm the two men turned toward the Hall.
 
 CHAPTER III 
 The First Walts in America 
 
 DURING the conversation between the two cap 
 tains, the lingering twilight had faded into 
 darkness. The Virginians of that day kept early 
 hours, and for some time past a stream of carriages 
 from the neighboring country seats had each been 
 discharging, before the wide entrance, its load of 
 ladies fair, their attendant cavaliers for the most 
 part arriving on horseback. After laying aside 
 their wrappings, the guests, with whom the two 
 officers mingled, were received in the great drawing- 
 room by Colonel Barrett and his daughter Margaret, 
 assisted by Evelyn Heathcote. 
 
 The two girls made a pretty picture as they stood 
 together under a brilliantly-lighted chandelier at 
 the end of the long room. Evelyn Heathcote was 
 cast in a rather large mould, tall, stately and impos 
 ing in her presence, with a nobility of carriage and 
 of feature that impressed the most casual observer. 
 Like most of the daughters of England, her com 
 plexion was fair, and her abundant hair had that 
 glint of sunshine in its meshes by which a compen 
 sating nature strives to lighten the dull air of the 
 foggy little island; and her eyes were as blue as the 
 sea which washes its shores. Upon her usually 
 pale, calm face, the excitement of the evening and
 
 THE FIRST WALTZ IN AMERICA 
 
 a defection on the part of an hitherto devoted cava 
 lier, Lieutenant Richard Heathcote, which her keen 
 eye had speedily become aware of, had brought a 
 delicate play of color to her cheek, which put to 
 blush the pink roses she wore at her breast, and 
 which not even the gentle gale from the tiny fan she 
 carried could dispel. 
 
 She was dressed in a short-waisted gown of pale 
 blue, made after the fashion called Empire, a fashion 
 imported from France; there were straps of pearl 
 passementerie drawn across the breast, and the 
 dress was cut very decollete, disclosing a pair of 
 snowy shoulders; a broad panel of the same pearl 
 trimming fell from the short waist to the hem of the 
 gown. Her hands and arms were covered with long 
 white wrinkled gloves; her hair was dressed a la 
 Grecque with a large knot, into which a bunch of 
 white ostrich tips had been thrust, with numbers of 
 curls falling on either side of her face; on her 
 feet she wore pink satin shoes with ties crossed over 
 the instep and white silk stockings, which the dress, 
 cut rather short before, though trailing a 'little 
 behind, plainly exposed. In short, she represented 
 the extreme of the mode of the period; and at 
 Almack's they used to say there was not a better 
 gowned nor a better looking woman in all England 
 than Evelyn Heathcote. 
 
 Greater contrast could not be imagined than that 
 presented by the two girls, for Margaret Barrett, a 
 year or two younger than her friend, was as small 
 and dark as the other was tall and fair. Her hair, 
 which she of course wore in the all-prevailing Greek 
 knot with two coquettish and fascinating little curls 
 2 17
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 over her ears, and otherwise dressed low on her 
 pretty forehead, was of a dark chestnut color; her 
 complexion was of that rich olive tint so rarely seen 
 in its perfection, which bespeaks the ardent kisses 
 of tropic suns through generations of ancestors; the 
 prevailing tint of her large, expressive eyes was 
 hazel, sometimes lightening into a shadowy gray, 
 sometimes darkening into a bluish black. Some 
 times they dreamed, sometimes they glistened with 
 limpid light, sometimes they filled with tears, some 
 times they flashed with fire, according to her varying 
 moods. 
 
 She had a smiling and most kissable mouth, the 
 red lips shaped like a Cupid's bow, a nose very 
 slightly retrousse, and a merry piquant coquettish 
 expression suited to her slender and graceful figure. 
 
 She was simply gowned in white, and wore no 
 gloves ; the modestly cut neck and half-open sleeves 
 of her dress permitted glimpses of a pair of round 
 brown arms and youthful shoulders, charming in 
 their immaturity and innocence. Slippers of pale 
 blue with ties crossed over pale pink stockings 
 covered her dainty feet. Instead of a fan, she 
 carried a bunch of deep red roses, one of which 
 nestled in the midnight of her hair. Unlike her 
 majestic friend, all her movements lacked the repose 
 of majesty, and were quick, active, and full of life 
 and nervous energy. Evelyn was a girl to love and 
 admire; Margaret was one to live and die for. 
 
 Though the tendency to brilliancy in the mascu 
 line dress had been somewhat modified by the intro 
 duction of less extravagant fashions than those of 
 the past, the extent of the change was not yet great, 
 
 18
 
 THE FIRST WALTZ IN AMERICA 
 
 and men still expressed their fancy in the choice of 
 their attire. Silk, satin, brocade, and vivid color 
 had not yet become the exclusive property of the 
 women. Colonel Barrett, for instance, clung to the 
 fashion of the not distant Revolutionary days, and 
 appeared in all the glory of powdered hair, immense 
 ruffled tie, satin coat, waistcoat and knee breeches, 
 with silk stockings, diamond buckles, court sword, 
 and so forth. 
 
 The naval officers wore their uniforms ruffled 
 shirts, blue coats heavily laced on the breast, collar 
 and cuffs with gold, one or two brilliant gold epau 
 lets, according to their rank, white or red waistcoats, 
 as they were Americans or English. They carried 
 cocked hats under the arm, wore swords at the side, 
 tight-fitting ankle trousers and tasselled half boots 
 for the Americans, and knee breeches, silk stockings 
 and pumps for the English. 
 
 Lieutenant Colonel Winfield Scott and his officers 
 were arrayed in the rich blue uniform of the Artil 
 lery Corps, trimmed with gold lace, with white 
 crossed belts on the breast, black stock, high riding 
 boots, immense chapeau with plume, eagle and 
 cockade. 
 
 Major Hugh Brady and his Infantry officers wore 
 a similar uniform, but laced with silver, and each 
 carried a polished leather shako with white pompon, 
 and wore high leather gaiters instead of boots. The 
 American Marine officers were in green uniforms, 
 faced with white, and the British were in brilliant 
 scarlet. 
 
 The civilians wore high white stocks, with broad, 
 full cravats and ruffled shirts; long skirted coats,.
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 with high rolling collars, of blue, green, brown, 
 red, white, or any other color; with low fancy waist 
 coats, heavy watch fobs, tight knee breeches and 
 boots, or long tight-fitting trousers tied at the 
 ankle; with slippers and rosettes on their feet. 
 The ball-room, therefore, lighted by hundreds of 
 wax candles in chandelier, sconces and candelabra, 
 presented a brilliant picture of moving color, the 
 like of which we no longer see. 
 
 It was a day in which old-fashioned ceremony and 
 courtesy had not been displaced by new-fashioned 
 indifference. The gentle art of courtseying was 
 still as much a part of a young lady's education as 
 were reading, writing and ciphering. So there was 
 much elaboration and form in the welcoming of the 
 guests before the opening of the ball, and a degree 
 of stiffness in the party which was not removed 
 until the coming of the negro fiddlers, slaves on the 
 plantation, who furnished the humble orchestra for 
 the prospective gayety. 
 
 Then the dance began, and contra-dance, reel and 
 jig succeeded each other in pleasant succession. 
 For those who did not dance there were card-tables 
 provided in appointed rooms of the great house, 
 which were much sought after by the elder men and 
 the dowagers; and the great buffet and the tables in 
 the dining-room were loaded with the substantial 
 eatables and drinkables of those days. 
 
 Among the most indefatigable of the dancers was 
 Lieutenant Heathcote, and the principal object of 
 his attention during the evening was the fair hostess 
 herself. It was remarked by many, and by none 
 more forcibly than by Lieutenant Fairford, that she
 
 THE FIRST WALTZ IN AMERICA 
 
 seemed in no wise averse to accepting the atten 
 tions of the handsome Englishman, and it was not 
 until the evening was far advanced that Fairford 
 found himself able to secure the attention of his 
 lovely cousin. Taking her hand with the old- 
 fashioned grace of his ancestry, he led her out of the 
 hall toward the little summer-house at the end of 
 the wharf. His outward manner was gracious, but 
 his inward feelings were quite the reverse. 
 
 While he had not exactly grown up with Margaret, 
 on account of the long absences necessitated by his 
 cruises in distant seas, he had been at home at regu 
 larly recurring intervals of two or three years, and 
 the affection with which, as a boy, he had regarded 
 the tried little comrade and merry-hearted companion 
 of his childhood had unconsciously and insensibly 
 deepened, until it had become the all-absorbing 
 passion of his whole nature. It had required, how 
 ever, just the stimulus which the evident apprecia 
 tion exhibited by his step-brother for his cousin- 
 supplied, to discover to him the full depth and 
 intensity of his love; and that which had hitherto- 
 smouldered little heeded, suddenly broke into flame. 
 He was a modest man, however, and, as he had 
 never spoken to Margaret on this subject, he had no 
 assurance upon which to found that airy structure 
 of happiness and hope which lovers build, and it 
 was with much trepidation and great misgiving that 
 he spoke that night. 
 
 As to Margaret herself, the thought of Blakely 
 Fairford as a lover had never entered her head, 
 though Destiny, under whose leading we walk as; 
 children, had been unconsciously directing her foot-
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 steps in the same pathway her lover trod. When 
 Fairford spoke to her that night therefore, her heart, 
 under the influence of his sweet pleading, opened 
 before her own vision as the morning glory whose 
 vines twined around the summer-house in which 
 they stood, opened before the touch of the rising 
 sun. The feeling of open admiration with which 
 she had enjoyed the comradeship of the debonair 
 young Englishman was lost in the depth of a newer 
 and truer emotion. However, and I grieve to say 
 it, Margaret was not only witty and wise and gay, 
 but she was a natural coquette of the most finished 
 type as well; and that tendency, coupled with her 
 surprise at the sudden and overwhelming revelation 
 not only of Fairford's feeling, but of her own, 
 moved her to simulate an indifference she did not 
 feel. 
 
 So, when Fairford told her how he loved her, she 
 laughed. When he begged her not to dance with 
 his brother again, when he asked for a kiss, which 
 she would have freely given him that very morning 
 as a sister might, when he pleaded for a rose from 
 those which she held in her hand, she put him off 
 with smiles and jests. 
 
 But when the old Fitzhugh temper rose to the 
 surface in him and he grew angry and imperious, 
 demanding, when he should have continued to plead, 
 she became as hard as a struck flint, and matched 
 the blows of his pride by returning flashes of fire, 
 until, within open rupture, and with a bitter feeling, 
 the two who loved each other walked back to the 
 house at odds. If Margaret had been beautiful 
 before, she surpassed herself now; and the color in 
 
 22
 
 THE FIRST WALTZ IN AMERICA 
 
 her cheeks rivalled that of the rose which she waved 
 airily in the direction of Heathcote as she entered, 
 while Fairford, gloomy and furious, remained behind 
 in the doorway. She accepted an invitation for a 
 reel from Heathcote at once, very much to the 
 discomfiture and indignation of Miss Evelyn, and 
 that completed the breach. Fairford, naturally, and 
 with a quick appreciation that it might not be 
 pleasant to his brother, consoled himself by dancing 
 attendance upon Evelyn Heathcote, whom he really 
 liked extremely, and who, piqued at the desertion 
 of her cousin Richard, whom she had always con 
 sidered her own private property, was in nowise 
 loath to accept the attentions of so dashing a cava 
 lier as the American. Thus, of the characters in 
 this story, three, in the midst of merriment, were 
 breaking their hearts needlessly, while the cause of 
 all the trouble, save for some uneasiness at Evelyn's 
 apparent acquiescence in the situation, thoroughly 
 enjoyed it all. 
 
 Toward the close of the evening, during a cessa 
 tion of the dances, Heathcote proposed to Margaret 
 that he should teach her a new dance, lately intro 
 duced into England, and of which none of the 
 Americans had ever heard, called the waltz. Mar 
 garet, ignorant of the character of the dance, and 
 happening to catch a particularly stern glance from 
 the jealous Fairford at the moment, readily acqui 
 esced, and gave strict attention while Heathcote 
 showed her the steps. 
 
 "Oh, don't let her dance it," whispered Evelyn to 
 Fairford. "It is really not the thing at all; 'tis 
 much condemned in England and ..." 
 
 2 3
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 "She may do what she pleases for aught I care," 
 he answered recklessly. 
 
 "But you don't understand," she continued 
 quickly. " He has to take her in his arms and . . . 
 do interfere." 
 
 "It will be useless, you will see; but I will try," 
 he answered, stepping forward to where Margaret 
 stood watching Heathcote humming the air and 
 exhibiting the step. 
 
 "I think I understand how it is done," she said, 
 smiling. "So," taking her skirts in her hand and 
 making the turn gracefully. 
 
 "Splendid! Splendid!" cried Heathcote, amid 
 a murmur of applause from the other guests, who 
 had gathered about them. "Who will play for us? 
 Evelyn, you ? " 
 
 She shook her head, and Fairford said, 
 
 "Margaret, don't dance this, I beg of you. I am 
 informed that . . . that . . ." he hesitated, not 
 liking openly to affront his brother, who was, in 
 a certain sense, his guest. 
 
 "Have a care, Fairford," responded that gentle 
 man, smiling, but with a menacing ring in his 
 voice ; " if you wish to play master of the revels, 
 you will have to wear a more smiling face; besides, 
 Miss Barrett has promised to dance this with me." 
 
 ''Margaret, I must request you," continued Fair- 
 ford, in his most imperious manner, his face 
 flushing. 
 
 " Since when have you assumed the position of 
 arbiter of the dance?" she interrupted, smiling 
 defiantly, her eyes shining, her face full of color. 
 "You forget this is not the quarter-deck of your 
 
 24
 
 THE FIRST WALTZ IN AMERICA 
 
 ship, sir; I dance this with Lieutenant Heathcote, 
 as I promised." 
 
 "As you please, Mistress Barrett," returned 
 Fairford at this, while he bowed and retreated. 
 
 "Who can play the measure?" cried Heathcote, 
 gaily, enjoying his triumph. "You can, Howard? 
 Sit down, then, at this harpsichord. Now, Madam," 
 he cried, as the first few bars of the slow, dreamy 
 trots temps, the original waltz, floated through the 
 room. Then, stepping forward, to her great sur 
 prise, he slipped an arm around her waist, and, 
 before she knew it, whirled her away in what was 
 probably the first waltz ever danced on the Ameri 
 can continent. 
 
 For a moment she struggled to break away, and 
 then, catching sight of Fairford's gloomy face, con 
 vulsed with rage and jealousy, she abandoned her 
 self to the fascinating motion. Though her partner 
 held her at arm's length, barely touching her, a 
 wave of horrified indignation swept over the people 
 in the ball-room, and they were by no means Puri 
 tans, either. Such a shocking thing had never been 
 seen or heard of before; actually, she was being 
 pulled around in his arms; shades of her ancestors! 
 A perfect storm of disapproval rose in feminine 
 breasts, while envy filled the souls of the young 
 men. A moment more and Margaret had lost caste 
 forever; and what might have broken forth no one 
 can tell, when the voice of Colonel Barrett, who 
 had just come in from the card-room, stopped the 
 guilty pair, and rescued his daughter from the con 
 sequences of her reckless behavior before it was too 
 late.
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 "My daughter," he said, with perfect courtesy, 
 and yet with crushing disapproval, " if you will 
 honor me, and enough others can be found to follow 
 our example, we will, in the menuet de la cour, show 
 the thoughtless and foolish present with what dig 
 nity and grace the dances of the past were carried 
 on." 
 
 "A rose in memory of this," whispered Heathcote 
 to his fair partner. Carelessly dropping one from 
 the bunch at his feet, with a heightened color and 
 an angry heart, for certainly she had represented, if 
 any one did, the "thoughtless and foolish present," 
 at the subtle, though delicate reproof of her father, 
 anger, which vented itself upon the innocent Fair- 
 ford chiefly, with the unreasoning tendency of angry 
 womanhood, she returned her father's stately bow 
 with a deep courtesy, and, in company with the 
 others, reverted to the past in the minuet. Shortly 
 after this, as it was long past the usual retiring hour 
 even for balls, the party broke up. Those who 
 lived near by returned home; others of the ladies 
 sought their apartments for the night, while the 
 gentlemen adjourned to the billiard-room and 
 dining-room.
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 The Unfinished Duel 
 
 WHEN the young men congregated in the din 
 ing-room, cards were produced, and the play 
 became fast and furious there. The wine, which 
 had been rather sparingly used heretofore, out of 
 deference to the ladies, flowed freely. Those who 
 did not play including Fairford and Heathcote 
 engaged in conversation, and the subject under dis 
 cussion was, of course, the burning question of the 
 hour the impossible claims of England on the 
 high seas, and the position the United States would 
 take thereupon. 
 
 An acrid tone soon pervaded the conversation; 
 and, under the stimulus of the wine he had taken, 
 Lieutenant Heathcote assumed a leading, and, un 
 fortunately, an offensive part. The laws of cour 
 tesy were more or less forgotten. 
 
 " What chance have you against the British Navy 
 with your old frigates ? They are nothing but pine 
 boards after all." 
 
 " You will find that pine is a stronger wood than 
 you think for, Richard," replied Fairford, quietly, 
 but with his eyes blazing. 
 
 " Oh, shall we ? " sneered Heathcote ; " what 's the 
 odds if we do ? We have over a thousand ships and 
 you less than twenty. We will run that prison- 
 
 27
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 striped flag of yours off the ocean," he concluded. 
 There were cries of "Shame! Shame!" from the 
 little group of Americans, and even some of Heath- 
 cote's brother officers attempted to remonstrate with 
 him. 
 
 "Oh, come now, Heathcote, this is too much," 
 said Howard, first lieutenant of the Lion. "Re 
 member where you are, man." 
 
 "I know where I am," was the answer. "Let 
 me alone, will you? Once an Englishman, always 
 one, that's our creed; a man who once belongs to 
 King George belongs to him forever. We'll take 
 him and keep him wherever we find him, on the 
 high seas, on the decks of your ships . . . where 
 you will. What are you going to do about it?" he 
 continued hotly; "how are you going to help it, 
 pray? I will wager I can take a sloop-of-war and 
 capture any frigate you have, in spite of your dirty 
 little flag." 
 
 " I am the senior American Naval officer present," 
 responded Fairford, fiercely. " I demand that you 
 apologize at once for your insult to the flag." 
 
 "Apologize be d d," returned Heathcote, with 
 equal fierceness. "We'll not only take the men, 
 but " and he smiled mockingly as he drew a 
 red rose from his breast ; " we ' 11 take the women, 
 too." 
 
 His tone and manner were particularly offensive. 
 
 Fairford, with upraised hand, sprang at him at 
 once; but others quickly intervened, and the blow 
 fell upon the empty air. 
 
 "This is an insult which can only be wiped out 
 in one way," he cried furiously. 
 
 28
 
 THE UNFINISHED DUEL 
 
 "Quite so," replied Heathcote, with equal spirit. 
 "When and where you please." 
 
 "I am ready now," answered Fairford, striving t 
 recover his composure. 
 
 "Gentlemen, gentlemen," said one of the older 
 officers " between brothers ..." 
 
 " No more brothers than Englishmen and Ameri 
 cans are," broke in Lieutenant Colonel Scott, 
 fiercely. 
 
 "The observation of the gentleman is most accu 
 rate," answered Heathcote, smoothly, beginning to 
 get the better of the wine he had taken, as the emer 
 gency deepened. "Being of this mind, and having 
 obtruded his large personality into this quarrel, 
 perhaps he is willing -to bear the consequences of 
 his interference." 
 
 "With the greatest pleasure, sir," answered Scott, 
 "if there are any effective possibilities left in you 
 when Mr. Fairford has finished with you." 
 
 "The gentleman does me too much honor; he 
 would make an excellent target. If it were not so 
 manifestly unfair to him, I would suggest cannon 
 at long range." 
 
 Deeply enraged at the reference to his great size, 
 the hot-tempered Scott stepped toward the English 
 man, whose slender figure looked small, indeed, 
 beside his huge American antagonist. Heathcote 
 had all the courage and pride of his race and nation, 
 and he faced his enemy with magnificent calmness. 
 
 "Have patience, my great sir, and you may get as 
 near to me as you wish in your turn." 
 
 "Hold on, Scott," said his friend, Major Brady 
 of the Infantry, restraining him with a powerful
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 grasp. "It's not your turn yet; and you, sir," 
 addressing Heathcote, " if this is going to be a tour 
 nament, I hope you won't omit the Infantry from 
 your entertainment." 
 
 "An Irishman is always ready to fight in any 
 body's quarrel but his own; you shall follow your 
 two friends, sir." 
 
 "Faith, I wish I had a better chance of getting 
 into action, then." 
 
 "Don't despair, sir, I beg of you. Is there any 
 one else . . . the gentleman in green? We have 
 the Navy, the Artillery, and the Infantry; we can 
 complete the service if he will represent the Cavalry, 
 say the Horse Marines?" continued Heathcote, 
 smiling and sneering. 
 
 " I am accustomed to be addressed in a proper 
 manner by those whom I desire to kill; but I will 
 waive my right in this instance, and give you an 
 opportunity, if, after all, you desire it," intrepidly 
 replied Captain Bush of the Marine Corps, as brave 
 an officer as ever drew a sword. 
 
 "Sir, I thank you; I do desire it. What next?" 
 said Heathcote, bowing gracefully. 
 
 " Let us proceed to business if your engagement 
 book is sufficiently well filled for your purpose," 
 answered Fairford. 
 
 "If you wish to make a general affair of this, 
 Heathcote, and intend challenging the whole United 
 States, why not select three of us to accompany you 
 and settle the thing at once? I shall be glad to be 
 one. I don't like this procession of yours," said 
 one of the English officers. 
 
 "No," said Heathcote, promptly, "this is my 
 30
 
 THE UNFINISHED DUEL 
 
 affair; one Englishman should be a match for any 
 four Americans ; it is odds to which we are accus 
 tomed; let no one interfere with me, and we will 
 begin immediately." 
 
 " Would it not be better to wait until morning 
 instead of showing such unseemly haste to conclude 
 this unfortunate affair?" commented one of the 
 American officers, Robert Ludlow, third lieutenant 
 of the Constitution, a great friend of Fairford, and 
 a great admirer of Evelyn Heathcote as well. 
 
 " I should be most happy to oblige you," responded 
 Heathcote ; " but, unfortunately, we are under orders 
 to sail early in the morning, and we shall have to- 
 conclude the affair at once, or postpone it to a more 
 distant day." 
 
 "The sooner the better," replied Fairford; "I 
 believe that I have already expressed my desire to 
 settle the matter at once. If I am not mistaken, 
 you will find the colonel's duelling pistols in the 
 cabinet there. Lieutenant Ludlow will act for 
 me " 
 
 "And Lieutenant Howard for me," continued 
 Heathcote, quickly. " Dr. St. George of the Guer- 
 riere is present, and he will do whatever may be 
 necessary, I am sure; so we are provided for all con 
 tingencies." 
 
 The three gentlemen named bowed and withdrew 
 to one side for a short consultation, taking the 
 colonel's pistols with them. The other officers and 
 men gathered themselves together at the other side 
 of the room, in a small alcove, leaving the two 
 brothers alone in the centre. 
 
 With a smile of haughty indifference, Heathcote: 
 3 1
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 turned on his heel and walked over toward the 
 mantel at the end of the long apartment. Fairford 
 stood waiting quietly by the side of the table. 
 Like every true American, he fiercely resented the 
 insult to the flag which represented his country, 
 and chafed under the openly expressed contempt of 
 the English for the little Navy itself. These insults 
 were quite sufficient to have brought about the 
 present condition; and when there was added the 
 bitterness of jealousy, caused by Margaret's inex 
 plicable conduct with his step-brother, the vivid 
 remembrance of that wild foreign dance, it was with 
 hot and bitter rage that he longed for an opportu 
 nity to kill him. 
 
 Duels were common at that date, especially in the 
 naval service. The naval records of the day tell the 
 melancholy tale of valuable lives sacrificed, and 
 many a brilliant career cut short, under the compul 
 sion of the so-called code of honor. Life was cheap, 
 indeed, and men lived and died hard in the days 
 of our forefathers. Under such circumstances, it 
 seemed as if all those natural feelings, which the 
 intercourse of the last week had begun to develop, 
 were held in abeyance. 
 
 On his part, with much less cause, Richard Heath- 
 cote was almost as much incensed against his 
 brother. Jealous of the latter 's supposed influence 
 with Margaret Barrett, whom, if he did not love, he 
 greatly admired; and, by a singular contradiction of 
 sentiment, even more jealous of the attention which 
 his brother had latterly paid to Evelyn, for whom 
 he cherished a deeper affection than he would have 
 admitted, and infuriated by her kindly reception of
 
 THE UNFINISHED DUEL 
 
 that attention ; with an honest and thorough-going 
 contempt for the little American Navy, both as re 
 gards personnel and material ; and, lastly, somewhat 
 inflamed by the wine he had taken, and spurred on 
 by pride as well, he was almost as bitter and eager 
 as his step-brother. 
 
 Still, as they stood in silence together, a little 
 natural feeling would obtrude itself upon their situa 
 tion in spite of all they could do, for each one really 
 liked the other; and it is possible that if there had 
 been time for reflection the matter might have been 
 adjusted amicably and without recourse to arms. 
 
 The two seconds and the doctor came forward 
 at this juncture, and announced the arrangements 
 through Lieutenant Howard. 
 
 " Gentlemen, we have agreed that the weapons 
 shall be pistols, and that you will stand face to face 
 the long way of the room, at a distance of ten paces. 
 Lieutenant Ludlow of the Constitution will give 
 the word; he will count three, and give the word to 
 fire; you are not to fire until after the word has 
 been given. In consideration of the fact that my 
 principal is under engagement to meet Lieutenant 
 Colonel Scott, Major Brady, and Captain Bush 
 in succession to-night, you will each be allowed 
 but one shot at the other. Do you accept the 
 terms ? " 
 
 "Certainly," responded both the principals. 
 
 " Here are the pistols which we have just charged ; 
 there is, we believe, no difference between them. 
 My principal, as the challenged party, has the first 
 choice." 
 
 As he spoke, he extended his hands with the 
 3 33
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 weapons toward Heathcote, who carelessly took the 
 nearest one. Fairford received the other. 
 
 "As there is no difference in position on account 
 of the light, which I will hold, myself, where I now 
 stand, the other lights in the room being extin 
 guished, Lieutenant Heathcote will stand where he 
 now is, and Lieutenant Fairford will stand here," 
 he continued, after he had carefully walked ten 
 paces from the former. 
 
 "Take your places, gentlemen. I presume it is 
 unnecessary to state to the other gentlemen that 
 they must remain absolutely quiet. Now, Lieu 
 tenant Ludlow, will you give the word ? " 
 
 " Are you ready, gentlemen ? " said the latter. 
 
 "One moment," said Fairford, quietly, in the 
 intense silence; " I desire to say that I have already 
 used this pistol, and this may give me some advan 
 tage." Ludlow turned toward Howard, who looked 
 toward Heathcote. 
 
 "It is of no consequence whatever," replied that 
 officer, carelessly. " Proceed. " 
 
 " Are you ready, gentlemen ? " said Ludlow again ; 
 and when Fairford, stern and cold, and Heathcote, 
 smiling and gay, had nodded acquiescence, he 
 began to count in a stillness which was absolutely 
 breathless. 
 
 " One, two " Both men, with arms steady from 
 long practice, raised their pistols simultaneously, 
 and each took careful aim at the other. 
 
 Back of Heathcote, over the mantel hung the 
 picture of a proudly beautiful woman. Though the 
 two antagonists facing each other were totally differ 
 ent types of men, Fairford being fair, tall, broad- 
 
 34
 
 "AUE YOU UEAUY, GENTLEMEN?" Page 34.
 
 THE UNFINISHED DUEL 
 
 shouldered and strong, while Heathcote, though as 
 tall as his brother, was dark and slender, there was 
 a curious likeness in the face of each man to the 
 face in the picture. Some trick of carriage, a pride 
 of port, the poise of the head, the piercing glance of 
 the strong gray eyes, which they all three had in 
 common, proclaimed that she was the mother of 
 both. 
 
 As Ludlow counted three, Fairford's glance, for 
 a flying moment, comprehended both the face in the 
 picture and the face of his brother. 
 
 His brother! Good God, what were they about 
 to do ? 
 
 He started slightly, and then the enormity of the 
 situation burst upon him. Was it too late? He 
 had half opened his mouth to speak, when the 
 ominous word "fire" fell upon his ear! Then he 
 held himself as steady as a rock, mechanically glanc 
 ing along the barrel of his pistol. A sharp report 
 rang through the room. He heard the whistle of a 
 bullet pass his ear, heard the crash of breaking glass 
 behind him; he felt a slight tug at the side of his 
 head. 
 
 When the smoke had cleared away, he found him 
 self entirely unharmed, confronting his defenceless 
 brother. Heathcote, his discharged pistol hanging 
 by his side, was bravely facing him; his face was a 
 trifle paler than before, but he was still serenely 
 smiling. He, too, had had his moment of realiza 
 tion; it had come as he had pressed the trigger, and 
 had unconsciously deflected his hand. "Thank 
 God!" he whispered to himself, "he is unharmed.' 1 
 Fairford, nerving himself, and seeking to silence 
 
 35
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 his conscience, took long and careful aim, while the 
 others waited in breathless silence to see the result 
 of the expected shot. Presently, to everybody's 
 great surp'rise, he slowly lowered his arm. There 
 was an instant murmur from the group of men in the 
 alcove. 
 
 "I must ask," cried Lieutenant Howard to Lieu 
 tenant Ludlow, "that your principal take his shot at 
 once. Such a proceeding as this is most unusual." 
 
 " Heave ahead, Fairford, why do you delay ? " 
 answered Ludlow, promptly; "there are others here 
 who must be considered." 
 
 " Let the gentleman take his time, Howard, I can 
 wait," said Heathcote, urbanely. 
 
 "Enough of this," interjected Fairford; "I refuse 
 to continue. I cannot fire at a defenceless man who 
 looks at me with my mother's eyes. The matter 
 can go no further. He is my brother, and cannot 
 insult me." He threw the pistol on the table, and 
 folded his arms. 
 
 "I say you shall fire," responded Heathcote, 
 starting forward eagerly. " By heaven, you humili 
 ate me beyond expression. No man shall receive 
 my shot without returning it." 
 
 "I cannot and will not," answered Fairford. 
 " You may say and do what you please, you are my 
 brother and I cannot forget it." 
 
 "You shall, you must. Blake," responded Heath 
 cote, sternly, though using the familiar name, "you 
 cannot put this disgrace upon me. How can I 
 oblige these other gentlemen if I allow this matter 
 to end in this way? Do not put this shame upon 
 me," he cried, seizing the pistol at the same time, 
 
 36
 
 THE UNFINISHED DUEL 
 
 and trying to force it into Fairford's unwilling hand. 
 " Brother, for the sake of my honor, take the shot. 
 Gentlemen, I appeal to you," he said, turning to the 
 two seconds, as Fairford still shook his head. 
 
 "The laws of honor certainly demand that he 
 take his shot," said Howard. "You agree with me, 
 do you not, Mr. Ludlow?" 
 
 "Certainly, you must do it, Fairford," said Lud 
 low, immediately. 
 
 " And I tell you now the laws of nature and the 
 laws of God " began Fairford, firmly. 
 
 "And to you, gentlemen, I appeal," said Heath- 
 cote, interrupting again, and turning to the specta 
 tors, "we are not dealing with laws other than those 
 of honor now. Give your voice." 
 
 " Take the shot " 
 
 "Give him his shot " 
 
 "It is a shame to refuse," cried the others, their 
 angry passions in the ascendant. 
 
 "I want none of my brother's blood upon my 
 hands, and I will not, as I have said before, con 
 tinue this affair," returned Fairford, inflexibly. 
 "You have abundant evidence of Lieutenant Heath- 
 cote's courage in his gallant action here, and, if any 
 other gentleman doubts his or mine, I shall be most 
 happy to accommodate him at once and promise no 
 interruptions." 
 
 "May I ask," said Lieutenant Colonel Scott, 
 suavely, " in what situation this leaves me with 
 regard to my unfulfilled engagement with Lieu 
 tenant Heathcote ? " 
 
 "And what is my position?" brusquely added 
 Major Brady. 
 
 37
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 "And mine?" chimed in Captain Bush. 
 
 " In no position at all, gentlemen ; the affair is 
 ended. This is not the place where the question of 
 efficiency and superiority, which has been raised by 
 my English brother, can be settled. We will fight 
 it out on the decks of our ships, and on the field of 
 battle, where, I doubt not, ample opportunity will 
 be afforded for the exhibition of that courage which 
 is the common heritage of the descendants of the 
 Anglo-Saxon." 
 
 "And of the Celt as well," interrupted Brady, 
 impulsively. 
 
 "1 hope Lieutenant Fairford will not discrimi 
 nate against the Germans, from whom I sprang," 
 said Captain Bush. 
 
 " Certainly not, gentlemen, certainly not. That 
 courage which is the common heritage of every man, 
 I should have said." 
 
 "Oh, Blake, you have undone me," said Heath- 
 cote, bitterly, still unconvinced. 
 
 " Not so, Richard, for " 
 
 At this juncture the door of the room opened, 
 and Colonel Barrett, Sir James, Captains Hull and 
 Dacres, and the older members of the party entered.
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 Colonel Barrett Asks Questions 
 
 ENTLEMEN, gentlemen," said Colonel Bar- 
 rett, sniffing the powder smoke, and seeing 
 from the broken glass behind Fairford, and the gen 
 eral disorder in the room, what had happened. " How 
 is this; have you been fighting in my house; vio 
 lating my hospitality by engaging in a duel under 
 my roof? " 
 
 " If it was one of my men, I will engage it was not 
 without cause that he entered into the matter," said 
 Hull, calmly. 
 
 " I will engage the same thing of mine," answered 
 Dacres, passionately, his dark face flushing. 
 
 "Lieutenant Colonel Scott," continued Colonel 
 Barrett, unheeding this interruption, " will you have 
 the goodness to advise me . . . ." but he was inter 
 rupted once more this time by the faint sound of 
 the roll of a drum heard from the outside in the still 
 night. All the officers started simultaneously. It 
 was the beat to quarters, and Hull exclaimed under 
 his breath, " That is the Constitution surely." 
 
 The old colonel, however, kept on imperturbably : 
 " Will you tell me what is the cause of whatever action 
 has been taken on this occasion, and give me inform 
 ation as to the details of this scene?" 
 
 39
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 Scott hesitated, looking about the room inquiringly. 
 
 "Out with it, man," exclaimed Hull. " If there 
 has been any fighting, we want to know what it was 
 about, and if there is going to be any more we want 
 to take a hand in it. I trust I voice your sentiments, 
 Captain Dacres?" 
 
 " Completely," replied the Englishman, proudly. 
 " Pray give us the details, Colonel Scott." 
 
 "Have I your permission, gentlemen?" asked 
 Scott, looking around at the principals and seconds. 
 
 " Yes, yes." 
 
 " Go on, go on," was the reply from all parts of the 
 room. It was noticed that the Englishmen had with 
 drawn to one side and arranged themselves about 
 Captain Dacres, while the American sailors had as 
 sembled near Captain Hull, leaving Scott, Brady, and 
 their officers, and the other guests facing Colonel 
 Barrett in the middle of the room between the two 
 parties. 
 
 " The question, sir," said Scott, gravely, " was the 
 old and open one of the right of His Britannic Ma 
 jesty's ships to search our ships, impress our men, 
 and insult our flag, with a secondary question of the 
 efficiency of our Navy." 
 
 " By gad, I will wager they will find out that 
 neither of these is an open question very shortly," 
 interrupted Brady, fiercely. Hull and his officers 
 smiled at the impetuous Irishman, while the English 
 officers laughed scornfully. 
 
 "Silence, sir," commanded Colonel Barrett; "do 
 you wish to precipitate another quarrel? Proceed." 
 
 " That is all, sir. We resented both the statement 
 and the manner of its presentation, and Lieutenant 
 
 40
 
 COLONEL BARRETT ASKS QUESTIONS 
 
 Fairford, Major Brady, Captain Bush and myself took 
 the matter up." 
 
 "Who were your antagonists? " said the colonel. 
 
 " We had one only, Lieutenant Heathcote." 
 
 "What! were you all going to fight him?" de 
 manded the astonished colonel. 
 
 "Yes, sir, but in succession." 
 
 " Well done, Dick," said old Sir James approv 
 ingly to his son. 
 
 " I must beg that I be not interrupted again. Go 
 on, Colonel Scott," said Colonel Barrett, impres 
 sively. 
 
 " Well, sir, Mr. Fairford was to have the first 
 chance at the man. He received his broth Lieu 
 tenant Heathcote's fire unharmed, and then threw 
 down his pistol and refused to take his shot, saying 
 that he could not fire at a man who looked at him 
 with his mother's eyes. That was your phrase, was 
 it not?" said the tall artilleryman, bowing toward 
 Lieutenant Fairford. 
 
 " It was, sir," was the response. 
 
 " Gentlemen, I call you to witness," interrupted 
 Heathcote at this point, " that I begged and implored 
 him to return my fire." 
 
 " You did; it 's true," came from all parts of the 
 room. 
 
 " Our man was right no fight in the family," 
 cried Hull, impetuously. " I will take his place, and 
 I doubt not Captain Dacres will represent his own 
 lieutenant. Our nations have forgotten the common 
 brotherhood of a common ancestry in that which 
 now lies between them, and I pledge my word there 
 will be no interruptions on this occasion." 
 
 41
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 Dacres, with his hand on his sword, started forward 
 impetuously. 
 
 " The man who fights in this house, must first cross 
 swords with me," s'aid old Colonel Barrett, calmly ; 
 " and old as I am, I trust that I have not forgotten 
 how to bear arms as becomes a gentleman." 
 
 At this moment one of the colonel's servants came 
 into the room. 
 
 " Please, suh, deys an offisuh fum de Constitution 
 heah to see de cap'n." 
 
 "Captain Hull, where is he?" cried a young, ex 
 cited voice. 
 
 " Here, sir," answered the captain, sharply. " Why 
 do you call so loudly? " 
 
 " Sir," said the midshipman, saluting, " Lieutenant 
 Read" the officer left in command during Hull's 
 absence "has sent me to say that a deserter from 
 the Guerriere came aboard the Constitution at seven 
 bells, and shortly after an officer from that ship to 
 demand his return." 
 
 "What answer did he make to that demand?" re 
 turned Hull, starting forward eagerly. 
 
 " He said, ' No, sir,' " responded the boy, breath 
 lessly. 
 
 "What else did he do?" 
 
 " Beat to quarters, sir." 
 
 Hull smiled and lifted his hands. 
 
 " Well done ! " he cried. 
 
 The Americans in the room broke into cheers. 
 
 " We will try out this quarrel on the decks of our 
 ships," cried Dacres, fiercely. " Gentlemen," turn 
 ing to his officers, " to your stations. Colonel Bar 
 rett, we thank you for your hospitality and bid you 
 
 42
 
 COLONEL BARRETT ASKS QUESTIONS 
 
 good-night. Captain Hull, here 's to our speedy meet 
 ing," and laying his hand upon his sword, followed 
 by his officers, he walked proudly out of the room. 
 
 "Gentlemen," said Hull, smiling, "we have a 
 worthy antagonist. Let us go to our stations. 
 Colonel Scott, Major Brady, a few words with you, 
 please. Now, gentlemen," said Hull, after a little 
 whispered conversation with the two army officers, 
 " I am ready to go. Colonel Barrett, good-night." 
 
 " Captain Hull," said the old colonel, "as there is 
 to be an engagement, I trust that I am not too old to 
 remember the lessons of the Revolution. I shall be 
 happy to serve as a volunteer with you, and these 
 gentlemen here will desire the same privilege, I am 
 sure." 
 
 " Three cheers for Colonel Barrett," was the reply, 
 and they were given with a will. Then Hull con 
 tinued : " I accept your, services, gentlemen, and al 
 though I cannot take you on a cruise, if the action 
 is to be fought here, you will be of great help to us." 
 
 Then after a further word or two between Captain 
 Hull and the military officers, the whole party left 
 the house and rapidly moved across the lawn toward 
 the bay. 
 
 After the house with its remaining inmates had 
 resumed its normal midnight quietness, two fright 
 ened girls, who had heard from the chamber they 
 shared, which was immediately over the dining-room, 
 the noise of the shot, the cheers, the roll of the drum 
 in the still night, and had caught part of the con 
 versation from the high pitched voices which in 
 dicated the quarrel; whose hearts were filled with 
 
 43
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 curiosity mingled with terror, crept softly down the 
 stairs and into the empty room. Alas, even to 
 women in that period, the deserted and disordered 
 apartment told the not uncommon story. 
 
 " I am sure I distinguished Blake's voice," said 
 Margaret. 
 
 " And I, Richard's," answered Evelyn. 
 
 " They must have been the principals if we heard 
 aright," replied Margaret. 
 
 " Oh, to know that he ... they are safe," said 
 Evelyn, nervously. 
 
 " I see no blood stains," answered Margaret, shud 
 dering and gazing wildly about the room. 
 
 " Oh, what is that? " suddenly cried Evelyn, point 
 ing toward the floor in front of the shattered mirror. 
 Margaret turned and stooped swiftly. "That" was 
 one sunny curl that had been clipt from Fairford's 
 head by Heathcote's bullet. 
 
 " Look," she said, holding it up to Evelyn's gaze, 
 " I see it all now ; Lieutenant Heathcote must have 
 stood there beneath his mother's picture and Blake 
 here. There was but one shot, you know, and that 
 cut off this lock of hair, then there was an interrup 
 tion of some sort, and now they have gone. He is 
 unharmed . . . both of them . . . thank God." 
 
 "You are right," said Evelyn, "I see it too; but 
 do you care so much for Lieutenant Fairford?" she 
 asked softly. 
 
 "I love him," said Margaret, hiding her face in her 
 hands, and weeping in the relief of the assurance. 
 "And you, Evelyn?" she resumed in a moment, 
 " are you not grateful there was but one shot? 
 That they are both safe?" 
 
 44
 
 COLONEL BARRETT ASKS QUESTIONS 
 
 " I am grateful and glad indeed," said the more 
 reticent English girl, " that he ... both are safe, 
 thankful that no hand is stained with a brother's 
 blood," she added solemnly. 
 
 " More than glad for one at least, are you not, 
 Evelyn?" cried Margaret, springing forward with 
 impulsive affection, and clasping her tall friend in 
 her arms. " See, here is the rose he wore over his 
 heart. I gave it to him, but that is nothing. It is 
 you he loves; will you not keep it?" 
 
 Evelyn took it with a long sigh of relief and pressed 
 it to her lips. " You are a sweet child, Margaret," 
 she said gratefully. " Yes, more than glad, for I 
 too ..." and then Margaret kissed her and the two 
 girls clung to each other in a new-born affection and 
 sympathy, which not all the wars on earth could ever 
 break.
 
 CHAPTER VI 
 On the Deck of the Constitution 
 
 AT the end of the wharf at the foot of the hill. 
 Captain Hull found one of the Constitution's 
 boats waiting, and noticed with pleasure that the men 
 who manned it were armed. The little party was 
 soon embarked, and, under the impetus of the well 
 trained and vigorous boat's crew, who used the long 
 and steady man-of-war stroke, the cutter disappeared 
 in the direction of the Constitution. The watchful 
 officers on that ship presently heard the rattle of the 
 oars in the row-locks, and then made out a dark blur 
 on the still water. 
 
 " Boat ahoy ! " cried the officer of the deck. 
 
 " Constitution," was the reply given by Hull him 
 self. The officer at once sprang toward the star 
 board gangway, attended by the other officers, who 
 were all on deck. The boatswain and his mates 
 ranged themselves about the entrance with the side 
 boys, while the midshipman in charge of the cutter 
 brought her deftly alongside of the gangway, when 
 the shrill whistling of the boatswain's pipes, as the 
 captain stepped aboard, a somewhat unusual practice 
 at night by the way, announced the arrival of the 
 commanding officer. Acknowledging the salutes of 
 his officers, his keen vision swept across the decks 
 
 45
 
 crowded with men at their stations and lighted by- 
 long lines of battle lanterns. 
 
 "Well, Mr. Read," he said to the lieutenant in 
 command, "you have a deserter on board?" 
 
 " Yes, sir, three." 
 
 " Three ! I thought you said one from the 
 Guerriere." 
 
 " So I did, sir, but, since that time, two more have 
 come aboard from the Lion." 
 
 " Gad, gentlemen," said Hull, smiling, " if this- 
 keeps up, they won't have men enough left to fight 
 us. Where are these deserters? I wish to see 
 them," he continued, walking aft to the quarter 
 deck. 
 
 " Forward there," cried Lieutenant Read, sharply ; 
 "pass the word for the men from the Lion and the 
 Guerriere to lay aft to the quarter-deck." 
 
 In a few moments, three men still dripping with 
 water from their long swim, presented themselves 
 before the captain. 
 
 "What is your name? " he asked of the smallest. 
 
 " Badely, sir, Bill Badely, at your honor's service," 
 answered the man, with an unmistakable English 
 accent, making a sea scrape with his foot, and knuck 
 ling his forehead by way of salute. 
 
 "And you are an American, are you? " 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 "Where were you born?" 
 
 " In Boston, sir." 
 
 " Oh, you were, were you? Boston, England, most 
 likely." The man grinned sheepishly. 
 
 "What's your name?" asked the captain of the 
 elder of the other two, a man of gigantic build. 
 
 47
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 "John Martin, sir, and this is my son Samuel 
 AVe were ..." 
 
 " Steady," said Hull, sharply, " do not volunteer 
 any information until you are asked for it. You are 
 not an old man-o'-vvar's man, are you ? " 
 
 " No, sir, we 're fishermen." 
 
 " Where are you from? " 
 
 " Massachusetts, sir. Gloucester." 
 
 " So I should judge from hearing you speak. Are 
 you two from the Lion? " 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 " Ah, and you, Badely, from the Guerriere, I 
 suppose? " 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 " How came you and your son to get on the Lion, 
 Martin?" 
 
 " We were kidnapped two weeks ago from the 
 -schooner Eliza Ann by the d d, murdering ..." 
 
 " Avast there, that will do," said Hull, sternly. 
 " I do all the swearing that is done on this quarter 
 deck myself. Go forward all of you." 
 
 " Beg your pardon, sir," said the elder Martin, 
 touching his forehead respectfully as he realized 
 something of the nature of the captain with whom he 
 was dealing; " may I speak, sir?" 
 
 " What is it? Out with it." 
 
 " You won't give us up, sir, will you? " 
 
 The question was perfectly audible throughout the 
 ship, the men of which were listening with strained 
 attention for the reply. 
 
 " No ! " said Hull, with emphasis. 
 
 " Three cheers for Captain Hull ! " shouted the 
 chief boatswain's mate, an old seaman by the name 
 
 43
 
 ON THE DECK OF THE CONSTITUTION 
 
 of Joe Rhodes, who was standing near the mainmast 
 in the waist of the ship, and the " fir-built " frigate 
 rang from truck to keelson with the wild shouts of 
 the crew. 
 
 The captain, not ill-pleased, turned to Mr. Read. 
 
 " Relate me all the circumstances as they occurred, 
 sir." 
 
 " About seven bells in the first night watch a man 
 from the Guerriere came alongside. His escape 
 must have been discovered immediately, for a boat 
 followed soon after with an officer and a demand for 
 his surrender. I refused to return him without con 
 sulting you, and, as the Englishman was abusive and 
 threatening, I thought it best to call all hands to 
 their stations, while I sent a messenger to you. A 
 short time ago the other two came aboard from the 
 Lion. That is all, sir." 
 
 " You have done well, sir," replied the captain, 
 " very well indeed. Now, gentlemen, to your stations 
 all. Mr. Fairford, look to the batteries. Sailing 
 master, I want springs got on the cables at once, in 
 case it becomes necessary to wind her. Thank God, 
 we are moored to that buoy astern as well as an 
 chored ahead, it gives us a command of her that we 
 may need. Let the men remain at their stations by 
 the guns, Mr. Fairford, and keep all fast until I 
 give the order. Let the officers keep a strict watch of 
 the enemy and report at once the first suspicious 
 movement. Colonel Barrett and the other gentle 
 men will remain with me on the quarter-deck. The 
 armorer will provide you with arms, gentlemen, of 
 which I am sure you will make good use in case of 
 need." 
 
 4 49
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 At this moment the noise of an approaching boat 
 was heard. 
 
 " Boat ahoy ! " was the hail from the ship. 
 
 " Ay, ay," came the response. 
 
 " What boat is that?" 
 
 " Boat from the Guerriere." 
 
 " Boat ahoy," again shouted the lieutenant on the 
 quarter-deck, as another cutter came shooting out of 
 the darkness ; " what boat is that? " 
 
 " Boat from the Lion." 
 
 The two boats speedily reached the gangway, and 
 an officer left each and mounted to the deck. 
 
 "Is Captain Hull aboard?" said the first one, 
 Lieutenant Howard of the Lion. 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 " I have a message for him from Captain 
 Cunningham." 
 
 " And I, one from Captain Dacres," said the 
 second officer, who was Lieutenant Heathcote. 
 
 A midshipman at this moment came up and saluted. 
 
 " Captain Hull's compliments, sir. Will the gentle 
 men be kind enough to lay aft to the quarter-deck? " 
 
 When the two officers reached the quarter-deck, 
 they found Captain Hull surrounded by a little group 
 of officers, waiting for them. After a ceremonious 
 interchange of salutations, Lieutenant Howard opened 
 the conversation. 
 
 " We are informed, sir, that you have on board 
 two men named Martin, deserters from the Lion." 
 
 " And one named Badely, a deserter from the 
 Guerriere," added Heathcote. 
 
 "Your information is correct, gentlemen," res 
 ponded Hull. 
 
 50
 
 ON THE DECK OF THE CONSTITUTION 
 
 " Such being the case," said Howard, " I beg to- 
 present Captain Cunningham's compliments and 
 transmit his demand that the men be given up at 
 once." The officer's manner was arrogant and insult 
 ing to the last degree. 
 
 " I have the same demand to make on behalf of 
 Captain Dacres for the Guerriere's man," said Heath- 
 cote, in the same rude way. 
 
 "Gentlemen," said Hull, his face flushing at the 
 offensive language and manner of the two English 
 men, "I beg 'to present my compliments to your 
 respective captains, and inform them that the men in 
 question claim to be American citizens, and I can 
 not give them up." 
 
 " Such being your answer," said Howard, threaten 
 ingly, " I am directed to state that Captain Cunning 
 ham proposes to have those men of his, even if he 
 has to use force to secure them." 
 
 " Captain Dacres is of the same opinion, and the 
 two ships are prepared to co-operate if necessary 
 though that would hardly be the case to effect the 
 thing at once," added Heathcote, imperiously, laying 
 his hand on his sword. 
 
 " Very good, gentlemen," said Hull, recovering his 
 'composure with difficulty in the face of this unparal 
 leled insult to him on his own quarter-deck, "you 
 have delivered your messages, and I am indebted to 
 Captains Dacres and Cunningham for the extremely 
 courteous manner in which they couched their terms 
 as well as for their happy choice of messengers. As 
 to my reply, you shall have it in this way ..." 
 
 " Beat to quarters, there! " he shouted in a voice of 
 thunder, and, as soon as he could be heard above the
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 long roll of the drum, he continued in succession, as 
 each order was obeyed : " Cast loose and provide! 
 Man the starboard battery ! Run in ! Load f Let the 
 guns be double shotted ! Run out ! Let the forward 
 division train on the^Guerriere, the others on the Lion ! 
 Stand by the guns ! " 
 
 The men, with hearts full of joy, sprang to their 
 work, and, at the words of command, cast loose from 
 their sea lashings the massive guns of the ship's 
 battery, ran them in, loaded them swiftly, and then 
 ran them out like playthings. The ports of the ship 
 were thrown open, and the lights from the battle 
 lanterns streamed out over the dark waters, while 
 the guns were trained and swung to right or left by 
 their eager crews. 
 
 " Boat ahoy ! " was heard again in sudden inter 
 ruption. " What boat is that? " 
 
 " Message from Colonel Scott, sir," was the answer. 
 
 " Come aboard, here," promptly replied an officer 
 at the port gangway. 
 
 A young lieutenant of artillery soon stepped upon 
 the quarter-deck and saluted the captain. 
 
 " Well, sir," said Captain Hull. 
 
 " Colonel Scott's compliments, sir, and he has 
 complied with your request. His artillery is now 
 unlimbered, with the guns trained on the two British 
 ships. They are in easy range, he says, and he awaits 
 your signal to commence firing." 
 
 " Good," replied Hull. " Tell him when we let go 
 the Constitution's battery, it will be a signal for him 
 to join in." 
 
 " Major Brady," continued the lieutenant, " bade 
 ine say that he has his riflemen lined up behind the 
 
 5 2
 
 ON THE DECK OF THE CONSTITUTION 
 
 fence on the bank, and not a soul can live on the tops 
 and decks of those English ships if you give the 
 word." 
 
 " Good again," said Hull, " tell him to begin when 
 he sees us open fire. Now, gentlemen," he added, 
 turning to the two English officers, who had heard 
 the report of the lieutenant, and witnessed the action 
 of the American captain, with ill-concealed rage, 
 " you may have my answer, if these," with a wave of 
 his hand toward the main deck, " have not told it to 
 you. The men you speak of claim to be Americans. 
 I am bound to believe their statements. They have- 
 applied to me, to protect them in their rights. They 
 are now under the jurisdiction of the American flag. 
 I apply your own theory, and your own course of 
 procedure in the case. Once under the flag, always 
 under it. They are here, and they shall remain here. 
 If your captains wish to take them, and are able to do 
 so, they are welcome to make the attempt, but, may 
 I be lost eternally, if I give them up so long as one 
 plank clings to another on this old ship." 
 
 "Very good, sir," replied Lieutenant Howard, 
 haughtily. " Come, Heathcote," he added, turning 
 away. 
 
 " Gad, sir," shrieked Heathcote, white with passion, 
 and exercising less constraint over himself, " if we 
 Guerrieres ever catch your pine coffin on the high 
 seas ..." 
 
 " Enough, sir ! " thundered Hull. " I recognize no 
 privilege conferred by your position as a messenger 
 that gives you the right to insult me twice on my 
 own ship. Leave it, sir, and do not come back 
 again, unless at the head of a boarding party. Mr. 
 
 53
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 Fairford, will you escort these gentlemen over the 
 side?" 
 
 " Three cheers again for Captain Hull ! " shouted 
 the boatswain's mate, and, with the ominous voices 
 of the American sailors ringing in their ears, the two 
 officers left the ship.
 
 CHAPTER VII 
 
 The English Give up the Game 
 
 WHEN the Englishmen reached their respective 
 ships, the two frigates awoke to life immedi 
 ately. The rolling of their drums again broke the 
 quiet of the still night, and the eager watchers on the 
 Constitution, with ears trained by long practice, 
 quickly detected other notes of preparation which 
 indicated that the ships were clearing for action. 
 
 With perfect equanimity Captain Hull and his men 
 awaited the battle storm which seemed about to break 
 upon them. The Constitution alone would have been 
 no match for the two British ships, one of which, as 
 has been stated, was a " razee," that is, a cut down line- 
 of-battle ship, of fifty guns ; but, with the assistance 
 of Colonel Scott's battery, which was so placed that it 
 could deliver a deadly plunging, raking fire from 
 above with but little chance for a return from the 
 ships, and with the swarm of Major Brady's riflemen, 
 excellent shots as were all American woodsmen of 
 that day posted behind light breastworks on the 
 hill and easily able to pick off the exposed English 
 men on the decks, the chances of the combat were 
 more than equalized. 
 
 Though Hull expected and was indeed willing to 
 be sunk at his anchors, if his antagonists attempted to 
 carry out their threats, it was more than likely that
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 they would be worth nothing for offensive or defen 
 sive purposes when the conflict was over. About 
 the only people who did not share the universal idea 
 of British supremacy on the seas, were the little band 
 of officers of the American Navy; and, since the 
 trouble arose entirely over ships and sailors, they 
 were especially anxious for that trial of strength and 
 skill and seamanship and gunnery of which they soon 
 showed themselves such masterly exponents. 
 
 Consequently, when Captain Hull left the quarter 
 deck, and walked up and down among his officers 
 and men at their stations in the batteries, with a word 
 of grim pleasantry here and there, he was met with 
 such a spirit of determination and eagerness as left 
 nothing to be desired. 
 
 The scene was indeed a striking one. Little groups 
 of men at their appointed stations, many of them 
 stripped to the waist, clustered about the massive 
 artillery, which was illuminated by the bright light 
 from the long rows of battle lanterns ; the light was 
 reflected from the polished cannon upon whose beau- 
 tification the different crews had expended much 
 assiduous labor, often giving the guns names as if 
 they were human beings ; the white decks were cov 
 ered with the moving shadows of the eager men ; 
 convenient to hand were racks of glittering pikes and 
 muskets; here and there a cutlass was poised in 
 some nervous hand. 
 
 Below, out of sight, the surgeon and his mates in 
 the cockpit word of ominous and bloody signifi 
 cance were arranging the simple surgical instru 
 ments of the period; the gunner and his men were 
 prepared to hand out the charges from the maga 
 
 56
 
 THE ENGLISH GIVE UP THE GAME 
 
 zine to the eager powder boys crowded about the 
 hatchways. 
 
 Above, the marines on the poop-deck and the fore 
 castle, the sail-trimmers in the gangways and about 
 the masts, with the topmen aloft in the tops, com 
 pleted the preparations. When Hull's brief inspection 
 had been concluded, he returned to the quarter-deck 
 and briefly addressed the men, exhorting them one 
 and all to do their duty; reminding them at the same 
 time, that the fight was peculiarly their own. As he 
 finished his terse remarks, Joe Rhodes, the boatswain's 
 mate, leaped upon the breech of a gun. 
 
 " Men," he shouted in his powerful voice, " let the 
 quarter-deck look to the colors. We '11 take care of 
 the guns." 
 
 The response was a hurricane roar of, "Ay, Ays," 
 followed by three more ringing cheers, while some of 
 the younger men broke into the lively steps of the 
 sailor's hornpipe, and all were smiling as if they were 
 going to a party of pleasure rather than verging upon 
 the imminent breach of a possible battle against 
 heavy odds. 
 
 " With such a crew, and such a ship, I think we 
 will give a good account of ourselves in case Dacres 
 and Cunningham attempt to enforce their demands," 
 said the captain to his first lieutenant. 
 
 " We all hope so," responded the latter, eagerly, 
 " I will answer for the men in any contingency, sir." 
 
 Inasmuch as the training and efficiency of a ship 
 and her company largely depend upon the capability 
 and zeal of her first lieutenant, Fairford certainly 
 spoke with authority. 
 
 " Well do I know it, my lad," said the captain, 
 57
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 kindly. " Let us go up aft and see what the English 
 are doing." 
 
 The English appeared to be in a state of uncer 
 tainty. It was evident that both ships had their men 
 at quarters, and were clear for action. Their ports 
 were open, and the lights from the battle lanterns 
 brilliantly illuminated the water about them. Rous 
 ing cheers had been heard from time to time from 
 their decks. One of the Lion's boats had been seen 
 making its way to the Guerriere, and it was presumed 
 that a consultation was going on between the two 
 captains. Hull and his lieutenant walked the deck 
 together, its regular occupants having withdrawn to 
 the other side. Colonel Barrett and the gentlemen 
 volunteers, all full of eagerness for the fight, were 
 grouped a little distance away upon the quarter 
 deck. 
 
 "'Tell me, Blake," said Hull, dropping the com 
 manding officer in the friend, for he had known Fair- 
 ford since the latter had been a boy reefer with him 
 on the old frigate John Adams, " was there anything 
 back of that quarrel you had in the house? " 
 
 Fairford hesitated. He was usually reticent, his 
 'loneliness had made him so, but he was devoted to 
 &is captain, not only as an officer but as a friend. 
 
 " Yes, sir, there was." 
 
 *< A woman? " asked Hull. 
 
 '*' Miss Barrett," answered Fairford, " that waltz 
 , . . the rose she gave him. . . ." 
 
 '* Put not your trust in woman," said Hull, with a 
 gloomy cynicism unusual to one of his cheerful dis 
 position, and one who was noted for his habitual 
 consideration -of and gentle courtesy to all women. 
 
 58
 
 THE ENGLISH GIVE UP THE GAME 
 
 " Once I myself had . . . well . . . She laughed 
 at me, my lad, when I had only one swab on my 
 shoulder, and, when I was posted captain, she 
 laughed again, and said she would n't marry any 
 American sailor while all our ships were afraid of 
 every cock-boat that flew the English flag; so I have 
 put her out of my mind altogether, and now I am 
 wedded to my ship. It's a sailor's best bride, Fair- 
 ford, believe me." 
 
 Fairford, who noticed that his captain sighed 
 deeply nevertheless, received this rather astonishing 
 confession in silence, and the two continued to pace 
 up and down together, until Hull, awaking from his 
 reverie, and perhaps ashamed of his confidence, sent 
 the first lieutenant to his station, directing him to 
 allow the men of the gun crews to go to sleep beside 
 their guns, their captains only remaining on the alert, 
 since no movement had been made by the English. 
 
 Thenceforth, until the gray dawn came stealing 
 over the hills, he walked his deck alone, buried in his 
 own thoughts, though never for a moment losing 
 sight of his antagonists, all the men in his little com 
 pany respecting his silence. When the day broke, 
 Dacres and Cunningham, who had been much per 
 plexed as to the action to be taken, and in whose 
 otherwise simple calculations Scott's batteries and 
 Brady's riflemen had obtruded themselves as very 
 disturbing factors, saw with their own eyes the unten 
 able nature of their position. 
 
 The morning also brought reflection. War had 
 not yet been declared, they would bide their time. 
 After a hasty consultation, therefore, without more 
 ado, their men were called from their quarters and 
 
 59
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 ordered to get the ships under way. The anchors 
 were soon a-trip and the ships, covered with clouds of 
 canvas, slipped away before the fresh breeze without 
 any further interchange of courtesies, and with the 
 derisive cheers of the Americans, in which the men 
 of Colonel Scott's battery and the Infantry uproari 
 ously joined, ringing in their ears. The Constitu 
 tion's men were not happy, however, if one could 
 judge from the remarks of Rhodes, who said sotto 
 voce, in the hearing of the captain, 
 
 " Dash it all, don't we get no fightin 1 at all after 
 all this night performance?" 
 
 *' You shall have all you want, Rhodes, and that be 
 fore long, or I am not a prophet," said Hull, smiling. 
 "Mr. Fairford, pipe to breakfast; Colonel Barrett, 
 gentlemen, will you honor me? " 
 
 60
 
 CHAPTER VIII 
 
 A Rose Rejected 
 
 LATE in the afternoon, when the English ships 
 had long since disappeared down the bay and 
 were well on their way to the sea, a boat was called 
 away, and Colonel Barrett and the other gentlemen 
 were taken back to the Hall. They were accom 
 panied by Lieutenants Fairford and Ludlow. On the 
 arrival of the party at the house, they found the 
 ladies congregated on the porch, and greatly excited 
 over the mysterious happenings of the night and 
 morning, of which they had somehow become aware. 
 
 They swarmed about the men with eager inquiries, 
 and the conversation soon became general. A thrill 
 of delight pervaded Margaret's heart when she saw 
 Fairford unharmed, and, although that gentleman 
 continued to regard her with the gloomy animosity 
 and grave dissatisfaction of the previous evening, she 
 was filled with joy in the consciousness of their 
 mutual affection. She believed of course that the 
 estrangement between them would be temporary at 
 most, and waited impatiently for a moment alone 
 with him to effect a reconciliation. 
 
 "Can you tell me," said Evelyn to Lieutenant Lud 
 low, when she had with much dexterity made an 
 opportunity to see him alone, " if all of the English 
 officers were unharmed after last night? " 
 
 6x
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 As she spoke, in spite of her self-control, she found 
 herself blushing deeply. 
 
 "All of them, I believe, were perfectly safe when 
 the ships sailed away." 
 
 "Are you sure? Was my cousin . . . ? " 
 
 " He was as well as the rest," said Ludlow. "Tell 
 me, Miss Evelyn, is it only because of your relation 
 ship as his cousin that you ask? " 
 
 "Surely," said Evelyn, drawing herself up in sur 
 prise; "but by what right do you question? " 
 
 " By no right, unless the fact that I love you my 
 self confers the privilege," he said promptly. 
 
 " I never thought of this, Mr. Ludlow," she said in 
 great surprise at this blunt and sailor-like declaration. 
 
 "Did you not? I was afraid all the world could 
 see it, but is it too late? Won't you think of it 
 now?" 
 
 She shook her head sadly, in pity for the gallant 
 young man, the sincerity of whose affection she could 
 not doubt, in spite of the suddenness of its declara 
 tion, and the haste in which it had come into being, 
 after a short week of companionship. * 
 
 " No, I cannot even dream of such things, nor must 
 you. You will soon forget it, I am sure. Believe 
 me, I am sorry." 
 
 " Sorry enough to give me one of those roses you 
 wear?" he said, mournfully accepting the inevitable, 
 which spoke in her voice, as she calmly met his 
 prompt decisiveness with her own. 
 
 " Certainly. Why not? " she replied, giving him the 
 choicest bud of those she held. " Now let us rejoin 
 the rest, and we will both forget this little episode," 
 and she extended her hand to him, smiling kindly. . 
 
 62
 
 A ROSE REJECTED 
 
 " As you will," he answered, bowing gravely over 
 her friendly hand, " but it is not an episode to me,, 
 unless life and death are but episodes after all." 
 
 Far down the road leading over the hills back of 
 the plantation, which was for a long distance in full 
 view of the party on the porch, a horseman could be 
 seen rapidly coming toward them. He rode in haste 
 as if pursued. When he drew rein on the gravelled' 
 walk before the door, they saw that his horse was 
 covered with foam, panting and exhausted. The man' 
 leaned from the saddle. 
 
 " In the service of the Government," he cried,, 
 " Captain Hull of the Constitution?" 
 
 " He is on his ship below, yonder," answered 
 Colonel Barrett. "Do you bear news?" he added, 
 as the messenger gathered up the reins and turned 
 toward the wharf. 
 
 "Yes, sir; war has been declared with England,, 
 and I have orders for the Constitution to get to sea/* 
 he cried, striking his spurs into his jaded steed. 
 
 " Hold, sir," said Colonel Barrett, quickly; " two 
 of that ship's officers are here, and will take you on, 
 board. Leave your horse with us till you return." 
 
 " Come, Ludlow," cried Fairford, full of excitement.. 
 " Good bye, Colonel Barrett," he added as he wrung 
 the old soldier's hand. 
 
 " God bless you, my boy," was the answer, and 
 then raising his hat gracefully to the ladies, the young 
 officer turned to the messenger. 
 
 " Come this way, sir." 
 
 'Margaret's heart sank within her as the little party 
 walked rapidly down the walk past the end of the- 
 
 63
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 porch. She detached herself from the rest and ran 
 fleetly to intercept them. 
 
 " Blake," she called softly. 
 
 <' Go on," said the young man to his companions, 
 *' I will overtake you." He turned and stood before 
 her with bared head. 
 
 " Blake," she said again, holding out her hand, 
 *' you are not going away without saying good bye to 
 tne, are you? " 
 
 He made no answer, and she went on timidly, de 
 taching a rose from those she wore at her breast, 
 *' won't you take a rose now?" 
 
 " Your roses are too generally distributed, Margaret, 
 for them to be of great value." She shrank back 
 before his bitter words, and he went on mercilessly : 
 *' Perhaps if we overtake the Guerriere, I can get one 
 from my brother ... if I wish it- after last night," 
 he added, meaningly. Her little hand dropped by 
 her side at his bitter words, and the neglected rose 
 fell at her feet. Where had her pride gone? Ap 
 parently he had it all as he had her heart. Her eyes 
 swam with tears. 
 
 " Good fortune to you . . . farewell," she whispered. 
 
 " Thank you, good bye," he said coldly with fool 
 ish pride; and then after hesitating a moment he 
 turned upon his heel and ran rapidly after his 
 .disappearing companions. 
 
 "" God bring him safely back to me," she murmured, 
 rand then, avoiding the rest, sought the quiet of her 
 , chamber. 
 
 " What have you there, Robert? " said Fairford, to 
 A his friend as they sat in the boat. 
 
 6 4
 
 A ROSE REJECTED 
 
 " Nothing but a flower and a memory, Blake," was 
 the reply. 
 
 " I have no flower and I wish to heaven I had no 
 memory," said Fairford, bitterly, looking back to the 
 white house on the hill. 
 
 " Muster the crew," said Hull, calmly, when he had 
 read his orders. " My lads," he said to the men as 
 they ranged themselves around the mast, crowding 
 the gangways and filling the waist, " war has been 
 declared against Great Britain. We are ordered to 
 sea with special instructions to look out for the 
 Guerriere. We will get under way at once and 
 perhaps we may overhaul her to-morrow. Mr. Fair- 
 ford, take the ship." 
 
 "All hands up anchor! " shouted the young lieu 
 tenant in exultation, leaping upon the bridge amid 
 the cheers of the men. " Man the capstan ! " 
 
 Had they been returning home from a foreign 
 cruise the men could not have surpassed the eager 
 ness with which they sprung to the bars. To the 
 rude tune of some time-honored chantey, or song, 
 the anchor was jerked from its oozy bed and catted 
 and fished in an incredibly short time. At the word 
 of command the eager topmen sprang into the 
 shrouds and spread themselves upon the soarin-g 
 yards. Cloth after cloth of snowy canvas was 
 unfurled; the sheets hauled home; the yards mast 
 headed with a will, until the old frigate, bowing to 
 the gentle breeze, started forth upon that career of 
 conquest which was to make her the most famous 
 ship in history. The cheers of the Artillerymen and 
 the Infantrymen on the banks bade them God speed. 
 
 As they passed the little summer house on the 
 5 65
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 brow of the hill, the colonel and the others with the 
 little group of women waved their hands in farewell. 
 
 One there was, small and weak and brown, who, 
 from her chamber window, watched the great ship 
 speeding down the bay, till she was lost in the falling 
 night. Her trembling hands pressed a neglected red 
 rose to her lips as she bowed her head upon the 
 window ledge in something not unlike despair. 
 
 66
 
 "OLD IRONSIDES"
 
 CHAPTER IX 
 Master Rhodes' Opinion of the Captain 
 
 TWO months had elapsed since the declaration 
 of war. On the afternoon of Wednesday, 
 August the nineteenth, the frigate Constitution 
 under all plain sail, about eight hundred miles off 
 the Massachusetts coast, or as the sights at noon 
 had indicated in latitude 41 41' North, longitude 55 
 48' West, was moving swiftly southward. Several 
 prizes had been taken since she left Boston, which 
 she had visited after her brilliant escape from the 
 British fleet in the preceding month, but nothing of 
 any great importance had as yet occurred on this 
 cruise. 
 
 Several English frigates were known to be off the 
 coast, however, and the Constitution had a lookout 
 at every masthead eagerly sweeping the sea. Both 
 watches had finished dinner, and as the afternoon 
 drills had not yet begun, the Jackies were having a 
 few moments of idleness, which they employed as 
 usual in smoking, skylarking, or yarning. After 
 noon grog had just been served out, and there had 
 been much smacking of lips over the small modicum 
 of the fiery mixture of rum and water allotted to each 
 individual. One jolly seaman in the gangway was 
 trolling out the verse of a song: 
 
 69
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 " Here 'j grog enough; come drink about, 
 I know your hearts are firm and stout, 
 American blood ivill never give out, 
 And often ive have proved it" 
 
 Forward on the topgallant forecastle, Master Rhodes, 
 the old boatswain's mate, was holding forth to an 
 admiring group of the more substantial sea-worthies 
 congregated there. 
 
 " Well, wot kind of a man do you think the old 
 man would be in a fight, matey?" asked one old salt 
 who had made many voyages in Baltimore clippers, 
 speaking with the soft drawl of the South which even 
 the rough sea could not alter. " You see, most of us 
 is from the merchant service, an' aint had no experi 
 ence afore in warships." 
 
 " Ay," said another, with an unmistakable Yankee 
 twang, " we Ve been wondering wot he 'd do if we 'd 
 rise a British frigate off yonder." 
 
 "We know he is a prime seaman right enough," 
 added a third. " Any man as ever handled a wheel 
 or passed a weather earrin' can see that all right." 
 
 " Well now, mates," said old Rhodes, thoughtfully 
 removing a spent chew of tobacco from his capacious 
 mouth, and flipping the quid over the side, " I '11 tell 
 you that he 's as good a fighter as he is a sailor, an' 
 I can't say no mor 'n that, can I ? " 
 
 " No, ye can't." 
 
 " That 's good enough, sure." 
 
 " True for you, old man," were the responses. 
 
 " You know wot sort of a seaman he is. You saw 
 him git away from that English squadron we run 
 into last month, an' them as shipped at Boston an' 
 did n't see it have heard tell of it." 
 
 70
 
 " Aint heard nothin' but that since I come aboard," 
 growled a young foretopman, strolling across the deck 
 and joining in the conversation. 
 
 "Well, that was good work," continued Rhodes, 
 disdaining the interruption, " towin' when we could 
 tow, kedgin' when we could kedge, histin' the boats 
 to the davits on the run, never losin' a spar or a gun, 
 an' only lightenin' the ship by pumpin' out water, 
 'which we did n't need much anyways, havin' plenty 
 o' grog aboard." 
 
 "Ay, that was fine work, never seed nothin' like it 
 afore," responded the captain of the forecastle 
 approvingly. 
 
 " Fine it was, shipmates, I could n't ha' done it 
 better myself," said old Joe, smiling at the general 
 laugh which followed his remark. " I Ve knowed him 
 for twenty year. I was coxun of the cap'n's gig, 
 as smart a sailor as ever you see in them days, if I do 
 say so myself as I should n't, when he came aboard 
 as passed midshipman actin' fourth luff in the old John 
 Adams frigate, an' him just appinted from the mer 
 chant sarvice too. She were a sailor an' no mistake, 
 the fastest thing on the ocean in her day, an' before 
 we quit her, he was the first luff. With him he 
 brought a young reefer scarcely big enough to go 
 without them things little children wears, what d' ye 
 call 'em? Some one who 's married gimme a lift." 
 
 " I 've been married several times," said the Bene 
 dick of the forecastle, with mournful hesitation. 
 
 " Only to one woman at a time I 'm hopin', mate," 
 said Rhodes, who was a great moralist in his way. 
 
 " I knowed a man that had a wife in Havana, an' 
 one in South Shields, an' another in Boston, an' God
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 knows where else ; a nice time he '11 have if he gits 
 to heaven with all them wimmen," said another 
 veteran tar. 
 
 " I 'm lowin' to go to heaven fur to git a rest," re 
 turned the Benedick, sadly. " You was askin' me 
 about child's riggin', was you not, shipmate? Well, 
 I call 'em pantylets." 
 
 "Ay, pantylets, that's the word," said Rhodes. 
 " Well, as I was a sayin' he was a bright one too, an' 
 there he stands aft there," said old Joe, pointing to 
 ward Fairford on the quarter-deck. " We left Cap'n 
 Hull after a spell an' I went with the reefer into the 
 old Constellation. She was another good one too. 
 My, how we did lick the Froggies in two frigate 
 fights on her. Then I got back under Cap'n Hull 
 agin, an' the reefer he come too, an' the old man 
 was first leftenant on this yere very ship. An' I was 
 one of a boarding party that did a mighty neat thing 
 a follerin' him down at Forty Platty in Hayti." 
 
 " How was that, Joe? Tell us the yarn, old ship 
 mate," said the captain of the afterguard, as the old 
 man paused meditatively and then continued: 
 
 " There was a French privateer there that had been 
 makin' no end of trouble for our traders in them seas. 
 We took a small schooner called the Sally, an' a 
 tight little craft she were too, like some gals of the 
 name I 've knowed. We loaded her up with men 
 from the Constitution an' run boldly into the harbor, 
 an' landed a company of marines, who behaved very 
 well, considerin' wot sort o' mermaids they are. They 
 spiked the guns of the fort which was commandin' us, 
 an' then we piled over the bows of the privateer, an* 
 give 'em the cold edge of our cutlashes. My, how 
 
 72
 
 RHODES' OPINION OF THE CAPTAIN 
 
 the Craypos fought, but 't want no use, an' presently the 
 last one slung down his pike an' went over the bows, 
 an' we had her. Him and me was in the thick of it all." 
 
 "Was Leftenant Fairford there too?" interrupted 
 one of the eager auditors. 
 
 " That he was," said old Joe ; " he never was far 
 away when there was any fightin' goin' that he could 
 git his hands in." 
 
 "Who led the marines? " said another. 
 
 " Why, our present marine officer, Cap'n Bush. He 
 was only leftenant then. I hate a marine like I hate 
 a lee-shore, but dash my wig if that one aint about 
 as good as they make 'em. He aint afeard of nothin,' 
 any mor 'n the captain aint. Now you can judge from 
 that what kind of a man we're sailin' under, an' I tell 
 you, my hearties, if he gits sight of the English in 
 this old hooker, there's goin' to be a surprise, pro- 
 vidin' you fellers do your part." 
 
 "We '11 do that all right, eh, my bullies?" said the 
 young foretopman before mentioned. 
 
 " Ay, ay," came a deep-toned chorus in approval. 
 
 " We Ve all got scores to settle with them fellows," 
 said one. 
 
 " My father died in the prison ship Jersey in the 
 Revolution, d n 'em," said another. 
 
 " My boy and I were pressed on the Lion and 
 treated like dogs," said old Martin, who with his son 
 had just joined the group. 
 
 " I Ve got lashes enough on my back to make me 
 hate 'em," said Badely, the English deserter. " Curse 
 'em, I was pressed took up by a gang of brutes 
 the evenin' of the day I was married think of that, 
 mates, an' beat insensible an' hauled aboard like a 
 
 73
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 pig, an' Polly lyin' in a dead swoond upon the beach 
 when I see her last. If it comes to fightin' I 'm as 
 good an American as any of ye." 
 
 " I aint never been married," answered one sym 
 pathetically, " but it must have been hard, mate." 
 
 " It aint till after a man 's been married some while 
 that he 's willin' to be pressed aboard ship," said the 
 nautical Benedick, with another melancholy shake 
 of the head. 
 
 " Did n't he do no fightin' off Tripoli? " asked one 
 of the group of Rhodes. 
 
 " I Ve heard so. I was n't there myself, more 's 
 the pity, till it was most over, but I've heard how he 
 *ised to take the old Argus brig in under their pagan 
 batteries, an' raise merry h 1, him bein' just as calm 
 and peaceful like as he is now, all the time." 
 
 " Mr. Rhodes," respectfully said one of the ship's 
 boys, who had only come aboard at Boston, and for 
 whom the chief boatswain's mate was a great person 
 age indeed, " will we get any prize money, do you 
 think, sir?" 
 
 " Prize money, you young cub," said Joe, catching 
 liim playfully by the ear, " of course. Everybody 
 % whose name is on the muster roll will git his share." 
 
 " Mine aint on yet though, sir," said the boy, 
 squirming. 
 
 " Better give it in then an' git it on," said Joe, re 
 leasing him. " Lord, to think of them old times. I 
 was bos'un's mate then, an' I'm bos'un's mate now, 
 -an' bos'un's mate I '11 be when I die, an' if there are 
 ships in heaven, I reckon I '11 be a bos'un's mate 
 there." 
 
 " Yes, if you git there," said the master-at-arms, 
 74
 
 RHODES' OPINION OF THE CAPTAIN 
 
 sneeringly, having heard the latter part of the 
 conversation. 
 
 " D n your eyes," said the old sailor, with sudden 
 heat, " why should n't I git there? I Ve always done 
 my duty, an' barrin' a few drunks an' an occasional 
 fight or so, an' when I was younger a ... a ... 
 sweetheart, I Ve done it well too. They need masters- 
 at-arms in hell though, I'm told, and that's where 
 you '11 go sure, an' you 're well fitted for the place, 
 eh, mates? We don't get no chance to be religious on 
 shipboard, but I don't believe God 's goin' to be too 
 hard on a poor sailor man. What d' ye think, mates ? " 
 
 " You are right, Joe," said the old gunner's mate. 
 
 " An' He knows us, an' I reckon He 's lookin' after 
 us," went on the old sailor, simply, " an' unless He is 
 mighty easy with us, we won't have no chance at all." 
 
 The mellow tone of the ship's bell here interrupted 
 the conversation. 
 
 " Four bells," said old Joe, " we '11 be called to 
 target practice in a minute now. I '11 lay aft to be 
 ready for " 
 
 " Sail ho ! " came down from the foremast head 
 from the lookout on the royal yard. 
 
 " Where away ? " shouted the officer of the deck. 
 
 " Two points on port bow, sir." 
 
 "That's well. Keep a bright lookout there. Sing 
 out when you make anything of her." 
 
 " I feel it in my bones, mates," said Rhodes, as he 
 walked along the gangway, " that you 're goin' to 
 find out pretty soon what kind of a fighter the old 
 man is, an' wot's more, he's goin' to find out wot 
 kind of a fighter you are, by the same token." 
 
 75
 
 CHAPTER X 
 The Young Financier 
 
 midshipman on watch, by direction of his 
 JL superior, the officer on deck, had instantly 
 reported the sail to Captain Hull, who came hastily 
 from his cabin to the quarter-deck. The advent of a 
 sail at sea is always a matter of interest, a relief to 
 the so-called monotony of a voyage, but when the 
 waters teem with ships of the enemy in time of war, 
 it becomes a matter of serious import, at once. 
 
 "How does she bear, Mr. Read? " said Hull to that 
 officer. 
 
 " East sou'east, sir," was the reply. " Over there, 
 about two points on the port bow." 
 
 " Head her on that course, then," said Hull, quietly. 
 Break out the stun'sls, too, we '11 have a look at her. 
 Better call all hands," he added, though this was 
 a perfunctory order, since everybody not necessarily 
 employed below was already on deck. In an in 
 credibly short time the ship, her course having been 
 altered and her airy studding sails extended far 
 beyond the broad yard-arms like the wings of a 
 gigantic bird, swept forward toward the strange sail 
 with greatly accelerated motion. 
 
 At five bells, the man on the main royal hailed : 
 
 " I can make her out now, sir." 
 76
 
 THE YOUNG FINANCIER 
 
 "What is it?" 
 
 " Large ship, sir ... man-o-'war ... a frigate, I 
 think." 
 
 At six bells or three o'clock the ship was in plain 
 sight from the deck. As the lookouts had surmised, 
 she was a large warship evidently, and presumably an 
 enemy. She was heading about southwest on the 
 starboard tack under easy canvas. The Constitution 
 was kept off a little, so as not to pass astern of the 
 chase, which at half-past four o'clock hauled up her 
 courses and took in and furled her topgallant sails, 
 her royal yards not having been crossed. There 
 was no doubt as to her character now, and while 
 there was a question as to her name and force, yet 
 all who were capable of judging on the Constitution, 
 were confident that she was the Guerriere. 
 
 There was no ship on the ocean which was so 
 thoroughly detested by the Americans for her offen 
 sive acts, as the Guerriere. Under her previous cap 
 tains, she had been foremost in disrespect to the flag 
 and abuse of maritime privilege; in fact, she was the 
 insult of the ocean upon our shores. The frigates 
 President, United States and Constitution, sister ship-y, 
 were each anxious to meet her, and two of them, 
 which had got to sea, were eagerly seeking her. It 
 was with great joy, therefore, that Hull welcomed a 
 prospective opportunity for trying her mettle. 
 
 "What do y^ou think of her, Master Rhodes?" he 
 said to the old seaman, who happened to be passing 
 by, and who was a great favorite and something of a 
 privileged character with all the officers. 
 
 "It's the Gurreer, sir," he replied, touching his 
 hat. 
 
 77
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 '* Now you '11 get that fight you wanted so badly in 
 the Chesapeake, I think," said the captain, smiling. 
 
 " Yes, sir, an' we '11 git a good one too, I guess. 
 Them British, sir, you know, are hard fellows on salt 
 water." 
 
 " I know that," answered Hull ; " they are a hard 
 set of fellows surely, but we Ve got a harder set, 
 I think." 
 
 " Lord love you, your honor," answered Rhodes, 
 "we have surely. They're as full o' fight as game 
 cocks. Here 's one of 'em, sir, an' a little one he is 
 too, as wants to see you." 
 
 Shrinking behind old Rhodes' gigantic figure was 
 the small boy before mentioned, yclept William 
 Cotton. He was trembling with nervousness at the 
 idea of speaking to the captain, and if it had not been 
 for Rhodes' restraining hand on his shoulder, he 
 would have cut and run at the last moment. 
 
 " What is it, my lad ? " said Hull, quietly. Although 
 he was a severe disciplinarian, he was just and 
 humane in his treatment of his men, who repaid 
 him with a devotion little short of idolatry, and he 
 was desirous of granting any reasonable request even 
 from a small boy, especially in view of the approach 
 ing action. " Speak out. Don't be afraid. I don't 
 want anybody on this ship to be afraid of anything. 
 Is not that correct, Mr. Fairford?" 
 
 " Of course, sir, but a little judicious fear of the 
 captain is not a bad thing after all, I think," said the 
 young lieutenant, thoughtfully. 
 
 "Oh er of course, I did n't refer to that, which 
 is most proper, as you say." 
 
 " P-p-p-plcase, sir," said the boy, squirming, " I 
 78
 
 only come aboard at Boston, sir, and my name is. 
 not on the muster roll, sir. I want you to have it 
 put down now, sir." 
 
 " What for?" said Hull, smiling. 
 
 " So 's I can draw my prize money, sir." 
 
 The captain laughed. " It shall be done," he said.. 
 " Mr. Fairford, do you see that the name of this young 
 financier is entered upon the muster roll at once.'" 
 William saluted, and with a light heart ran forward, 
 visions of wealth dazzling his sight. 
 
 The Constitution having now drawn sufficiently 
 near the chase, which indeed had not showed the 
 slightest desire to escape, but having backed her 
 main topsail was calmly awaiting the approach, 
 Captain Hull deliberately took in his studding-sails, 
 sent down the royal yards, furled the topgallant sails, 
 hauled down the staysails, hauled up the courses and 
 left them hanging in the brails, then took a reef in 
 the topsails and having made everything snug alow 
 and aloft, beat to quarters and squared away for the 
 enemy. 
 
 79
 
 CHAPTER XI 
 The Guerrttre Begins the Game 
 
 AS the Constitution with diminished speed on 
 account of her reduced sail slowly neared the 
 Guerriere, an intense silence pervaded the ship. 
 Every one, from the smallest powder-monkey to the 
 captain, realized the momentous nature of the im 
 pending conflict. A new aspirant for naval honors 
 was about to meet the hitherto undisputed mistress 
 of the seas. Would her fate be that of the Dutch 
 man, the Frenchman and the Spaniard, who had 
 successively challenged and yielded the title, or would 
 the new-comer break the spell of the British name? 
 So far as the American Navy had been hitherto tried 
 in the war with France and in the Tripolitan conflict, 
 it had proved itself of first-class efficiency; and to 
 go still further back, the few combats of the Revolu 
 tion had augured well for its future. 
 
 The crew of the Constitution was in a certain sense 
 a green crew. They had been together but a short 
 time, and many of them had probably never heard a 
 shot fired in anger from the great gun of a ship, yet 
 there was a large body of veteran seamen on board, 
 old men-o'-war's men like Rhodes, who had been judi 
 ciously distributed throughout the gun crews, which 
 they generally commanded, and allotted to the more 
 important stations of the ship.
 
 THE GUERRIERE BEGINS THE GAME 
 
 The crews of the English men-o'-war of the day 
 had been raised, so to speak, upon battle, but the 
 general character of the men who composed them 
 was very far* below that of the Americans, who were 
 recruited from a singularly capable merchant service, 
 the men being hardy and bold to a notable degree. 
 Many of them had been pressed into the British service, 
 learning something of righting there, and carried a 
 rankling desire for revenge in their bosoms ; a desire 
 punctuated and accentuated by the deep scars left by 
 the cat upon their backs. 
 
 Short as had been the period of their service, they 
 had been exercised with unusual frequency at the 
 great guns, and their captain had not been afraid to 
 expend powder and shot in daily target practice. 
 The armament of the frigate was of the very best and 
 latest pattern. One great advantage she possessed 
 over the English lay in the fact that all her guns were 
 provided with sights and the captains had been 
 trained to take careful aim. 
 
 The discipline of the ship, while stern and rigorous, 
 as must be that of every war vessel, was in no sense 
 merciless, cruel or unjust. With such a crew, there 
 was no necessity for that iron severity by which Eng 
 land retained control of and rendered efficient the 
 motley refuse which the press gang collected and 
 deposited upon her decks. The older men, no mean 
 judges in the matter, had received ample demonstra 
 tion of Hull's transcendent ability as a sailor, in the 
 brilliant tactics and seamanship by which he had 
 effected his escape from the squadron which had pur 
 sued them a month before, and among which had 
 been the very ship they were now approaching. 
 6 Si
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 Indeed, it may be confidently stated, that no more 
 thorough seaman ever commanded a ship in the 
 United States Navy, or in any other navy, than Isaac 
 Hull. His long apprenticeship in the merchant 
 service, and his varied experiences in the navy, com 
 bined with a remarkable degree of professional apti 
 tude, had made him a past master of the difficult and 
 delicate art of the sailor. He had sailed in the Con 
 stitution years before, and knew the ship and her 
 qualities, what she could do and what she could not 
 do, better than the average man knows the true 
 character of his wife, for the ship spoke to him with 
 out dissimulation and without reserve, and followed 
 his guidance without disobedience or strife. There 
 fore, as the captain, attended by the sailing-master 
 and several midshipmen as aids, stood upon the top 
 gallant forecastle for the better purpose of observing 
 the enemy, he looked forward with perfect confidence 
 to the impending conflict. 
 
 As the Constitution drew near to her antagonist, 
 through the glass the English officers could be 
 plainly seen, passing and repassing the ports where 
 the gun crews stood at their quarters. At this mo 
 ment the stops upon several small dark balls of bunt 
 ing which had been hanging at the several mastheads 
 and the gaff were broken, and four of the splendid 
 and glorious red ensigns of old England streamed 
 out in the fresh breeze. They were at once an 
 swered by a display of the beautiful stars and 
 stripes from similar points of vantage on the Ameri 
 can ship. 
 
 Presently the mainyard of the English ship was 
 swung, she gathered way and slowly forged ahead. 
 
 82
 
 THE GUERRIERE BEGINS THE GAME 
 
 Suddenly the eager watchers saw flashes of light 
 shoot out frofn her side, followed by shrouding clouds 
 of smoke which completely obscured the ship for a 
 moment and out of which came the deep roar of the 
 heavy guns of the frigate's batteries. The first broad 
 side of the English did no damage as the Constitution 
 was not yet within range, but the sound of it sent a 
 thrill of emotion through every heart. Their antag 
 onist meant business, the battle was on. The veteran 
 gunners blew their smoking matches and looked 
 eagerly toward the captain. 
 
 The Guerriere shot out from the cloud of smoke and 
 wore around (that is, turned upon her heel away from 
 the wind in order to bring the other side to bear). 
 The distance between the ships was now less than 
 before, but Hull's practised eye scarcely yet con 
 sidered the ships in range. Again the English ship 
 was wreathed in flame and smoke, and this time a few 
 of her shot passed over the Constitution, doing no 
 damage beyond cutting a rope here and there. 
 
 The silence upon the decks of the American was 
 absolute. Not a sound could be heard above the 
 splash of the waves against her bows, or the singing 
 of the wind, which was steadily freshening, through 
 the top hamper. As the breeze carried away the 
 smoke, it was seen that the English ship, handled 
 with that beautiful smartness for which their navy 
 was famous, was again wearing to bring her starboard 
 broadside into play once more. 
 
 "Mr. Neill," said Hull quietly to one of his mid 
 shipmen, " run aft and tell the quarter-master to 
 stand by to put the helm to starboard. We must 
 not let her rake us, Mr. Aylwyn," he said to the sail- 
 
 83
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 Ing-master, as the midshipman touched his cap and 
 ran along the gangway toward the wheel. 
 
 " Stand by," he shouted a moment afterward, and 
 then, " Hard a-starboard. Flow the head-sheets 
 there. Haul aft the spanker-sheet." 
 
 As these orders were obeyed swiftly the Constitu 
 tion swung her great side parallel to the enemy to 
 avoid being raked, and received a third broadside, 
 which did no more damage than the others. 
 
 " First division there," shouted Hull at the same 
 moment, " give him a shot with the forward guns." 
 Several sharp reports followed in succession. 
 
 " Let her go off again. Flatten in the head-sheets. 
 Steady with the helm, we must close with her. I do 
 not like this business of playing at long bowls," he 
 said. 
 
 The Guerriere was wearing again in the smoke to 
 bring the other broadside to bear. As before, the 
 Constitution presented her broadside to the enemy 
 and answered with her forward guns, in one instance 
 delivering a broadside. The manoeuvre was several 
 times repeated without any apparent material damage 
 to either ship, until the Englishman, who had as 
 sumed to play it, tired of the game, and slowly ran 
 off with the wind on the port quarter; an open 
 invitation to close, which Hull would not have 
 disregarded in any event, even had he not been per 
 sistently endeavoring to get into close action ever 
 since the chase was sighted. 
 
 " We '11 never get alongside at this rate," he said 
 finally. " Main topsail yard there, lay aloft and loose 
 the to'gallant sail. Lively ! Man the to'gallant hal 
 yards ; hands on the foresheets ; overhaul the brails,
 
 THE GUERRIERE BEGINS THE GAME 
 
 there, one of you. Let fall, sheet home, hoist 
 away." 
 
 The men ran the foresail down and the topgallant 
 sail up as if they had been silk instead of stiff and 
 heavy canvas. The courses of the two ships now- 
 made a sharp angle with each other, and the Consti 
 tution under the added sail began rapidly to over 
 haul the enemy, which was leisurely jogging along 
 waiting for her, her batteries grimly silent. 
 
 " Have the guns double shotted, Mr. Fairford," said 
 Hull calmly to his first lieutenant, who had been 
 superintending the batteries as was customary* 
 " One round shot and a stand of grape as well."
 
 CHAPTER XII 
 
 The Constitution Makes Reply 
 
 AT this moment, the fire from the Guerriere re 
 opened fiercely again. This time the shot of 
 the English took effect. Shrouds, ropes and braces 
 were cut here and there ; a great rent appeared in 
 the foresail; one heavy shot struck the rail forward 
 and sent a cloud of splinters flying almost as high as 
 the foreyard ; one jagged piece of wood tore the 
 throat out of the captain of number three gun forward ; 
 another splinter, and a larger piece struck one of the 
 sail-trimmers clustered about the foremast a frightful 
 blo\v in the chest, completely crushing it in, and lay 
 ing him senseless on the deck, upon which he died 
 before he could be taken below. Blood which 
 dripped down from the foretop, where were stationed 
 topmen and marines, indicated that at least one bullet 
 had found its billet there as well. 
 
 " Steady, men, steady," said Read, the officer com 
 manding the forward division, in which these casual 
 ties had occurred, noticing the pale faces and horrified 
 looks of some of the younger men, although the old 
 veterans, used to such scenes, calmly squinted along 
 the sights of their guns, and with waves of their hands 
 and whispered words to the men at the elevating 
 chocks or to the hand-spikesmen and tacklemen, kept 
 
 86
 
 THE CONSTITUTION MAKES REPLY 
 
 them training upon the enemy, which was now pour 
 ing forth a rapid fire. 
 
 Hull had resumed his station on the quarter-deck. 
 He was standing with his hands clasped behind his 
 back, his head bent forward, looking eagerly at the 
 other ship. His lips were tightly closed and his eyes 
 shone with battle fire. In common with many chol 
 eric and excitable men, he became more and more 
 cool and composed as the supreme moment of emer 
 gency approached. Fairford sprang aft hurriedly. 
 
 " The enemy has opened fire and killed two of our 
 men ; shall I return jt, sir? " 
 
 "Not yet, sir," answered Hull, calmly. 
 
 The helm, by the captain's direction, had been 
 gradually shifted to starboard until the two vessels 
 were running in parallel courses. An attempt on the 
 enemy's part to cross the Constitution's bow, and an 
 attempt on her part to pass the Englishman's stern, 
 both for the purpose of raking, had been promptly 
 made, and being skilfully met, had been given over in 
 both instances, and the two captains at once resigned 
 themselves to a yard-arm to yard-arm fight and 
 squared away. The starboard bow of the Constitu 
 tion began gradually to lap the Englishman's port 
 quarter. 
 
 "Shall I open fire now, sir?" asked Fairford 
 again, the men eagerly awaiting the reply. 
 
 " Not yet, sir." 
 
 The bow drew up opposite the gangway. 
 
 " Now, sir?" cried Fairford the third time. 
 
 " Not yet, sir," responded Hull, imperturbably. 
 
 The Englishmen were firing rapidly though with but 
 little apparent effort, and the Americans noticed that 
 
 37
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 many of their shot were striking the stout sides of 
 the Constitution and falling back into the water, with 
 out penetrating or doing any damage, hence the 
 sailors and indeed everybody else after that 
 called that ship by her now famous name, " Old Iron 
 sides." 
 
 The bow of the Constitution was now abreast of the 
 foremast of the Englishman. 
 
 " Stand by," shouted the captain at this moment, 
 stepping over to the starboard or engaged side of the 
 deck. Every gun captain took a last glimpse at the 
 English ship. Their hands instinctively tightened on 
 their smoking matches which they blew furiously. 
 Men stood in attitudes of tense expectation. 
 
 " Fire ! Let tlicm have it, men ! Pour it into tlicm" 
 shouted Hull, with all the force of his deep powerful 
 voice, bending himself almost double in eager empha 
 sis, as he delivered the commands. He was wearing 
 a very tight pair of white knee trousers, and history 
 likes to tell that as he gave this order, he split them 
 from knee to waistband, and went through all the 
 rest of the combat thus peculiarly habited. With a 
 crash like thunder, the twenty-seven heavy guns of 
 the Constitution's starboard battery roared out in 
 unison. 
 
 The two ships were now within half pistol shot dis 
 tance from each other, and the aim of the practised 
 Americans was absolutely perfect. Neglecting the 
 upper works, every shot was driven home in the 
 enemy. Hull had fired with perfect calculation,, 
 choosing the downward roll of his ship as the oppor 
 tune moment, and the heavy round shot from the 
 grim twenty-four pounders and the carronades could 
 
 88
 
 THE CONSTITUTION MAKES REPLY 
 
 be heard crushing through the sides, while the hail of 
 grapeshot swept through the ports and laid out man 
 after man ; so sudden and awful was the effect of the 
 broadside that for a moment the fire of the English 
 man was completely suspended. 
 
 Three stout British cheers rang out bravely, how 
 ever, and the enemy, recovering themselves, answered 
 the broadside with spirit; but nothing could equal 
 the swiftness and rapidity of the American fire. The 
 stout seamen served and ran the guns in and out like 
 toys. Their hot muzzles were wreathed in sheets of 
 flame. They were firing at an average of about once 
 every forty seconds, and the roar of the discharge 
 was practically continuous. The crackle of the small- 
 arms of the topmen and marines produced a staccato 
 note easily heard above the diapason of the cannonade 
 and the wild screeching of the carronade slides 
 which added much to the confusion. Here and there 
 a man fell and lay groaning and unheeded in the mad 
 excitement of the combat. 
 
 For a long fifteen minutes the two ships side by 
 side kept up the fierce battle, until the mizzenmast 
 of the enemy, having been squarely pierced by a 
 twenty-four pound shot, broke short off and went 
 over the starboard quarter with a crash plainly audible 
 above the roar of the guns. 
 
 " Hurrah, lads," shouted Hull gaily, his eye kin 
 dling and glancing, " we 've made a brig of her." 
 
 "If she floats long enough," said one of the men 
 audaciously, " we '11 make her a sloop." 
 
 " Hull her. Hull her," cried another, pointing ta 
 the captain. 
 
 These examples of forecastle wit were greeted by
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 a gigantic laugh and wild cheers from the men. The 
 heavy spars of the mizzenmast acting as a drag on 
 the leeside of the Englishman, counteracted the helm 
 and now pulled her head slightly around away from 
 the wind. The Constitution having drawn somewhat 
 ahead previously, shot clear of the smoke around the 
 Guerriere, and the firing for the moment ceased. Men 
 were working furiously with axes to cut away the 
 wreck which rendered the Englishman partially un 
 manageable. Manoeuvring as he came clear of the 
 smoke which the strong breeze carried swiftly to 
 leeward, Hull saw his opportunity. 
 
 " Port the helm. . . . Lively," he shouted. "Hands 
 by the braces there." The hardy Constitution swept 
 around as gracefully as an airy bird. The wind struck 
 her upon the starboard quarter; slowly she bore up; 
 the starboard tacks were boarded, the bowlines 
 tautened and the sheets hauled aft. In a trice she 
 was standing across the bows of the hapless English 
 man, who received a broadside at close range square 
 in the face. His ship was raked from stem to stern, 
 and he could oppose no guns to those of his enemy. 
 
 Luffing up into the wind to check her headway 
 before she passed out of range, the Constitution 
 repeated her raking broadside. Through and through 
 the length of the English ship swept the searching 
 hail. The carnage and destruction were frightful. 
 But the Constitution was now almost in irons, and it 
 became necessary to boxhaul, to get back on the 
 other tack. As she drew slowly ahead, the headyards 
 were braced aback to box her off in order that she 
 might cross the bows of the enemy once more, bring 
 ing the port broadside to bear for a further raking. 
 
 90
 
 THE CONSTITUTION MAKES REPLY 
 
 At the critical moment of the manoeuvre, some of 
 the braces being carried away, the yards jammed, the 
 ship gathered sternway, and her head slowly swung 
 to port. At the same time, the English ship, her 
 wrecked mizzenmast having been cut away, forged 
 ahead ; her helm was ported and swung to starboard, 
 in a last desperate effort to close and board. Slowly 
 her long bowsprit swept over the Constitution's 
 quarter and the two ships came together abaft the 
 latter's mizzenmast with a mighty crash.
 
 CHAPTER XIII 
 Boarders Away! 
 
 THE bowsprit of the Guerriere fell against the 
 port mizzen-rigging of the Constitution and 
 the two ships drew so close together that the roll of 
 the sea, growing steadily heavier under the freshening 
 breeze, caused the cutwater of the Englishman to 
 chafe and grind against the side of the American 
 ship. The vessels were so near to each other that 
 the men could see the whites of the eyes of their 
 enemies, and the white and gold figurehead of the 
 French-built English ship was within easy reach 
 of the hand, her bowsprit stretching far across the 
 quarter-deck. 
 
 The Constitution in this position had not a single 
 gun that she could bring to bear. The starboard 
 bow guns of the enemy, however, pounded the after 
 cabins of Captain Hull's ship to pieces, and the 
 burning gun-wads soon caused a fire to start in 
 that vulnerable part of the ship ; but the flames were 
 at once extinguished by the after division under Lieu 
 tenant Hamilton, who brought a severe musketry fire 
 to bear upon the enemy through the after ports, 
 which temporarily silenced her bow guns by depriv 
 ing them of their crews. 
 
 Just then the flag at the Constitution's mizzen-truck, 
 the halyards having been cut by a shot, came down
 
 BOARDERS AWAY! 
 
 in the top with a run, but Hogan, a young marine, 
 spiritedly climbed up to the truck with it in his hand, 
 and although a number of British marines fired at 
 him, he replaced it at the masthead and descended in 
 safety to his station. 
 
 The instant the two ships came together, both sides 
 called away boarders, the Englishmen mustering on 
 the forecastle, the Americans on the quarter-deck. 
 The bowsprit of the former extending over the deck 
 formed a convenient line of attack. As the upper 
 decks became crowded with men, the masses made a 
 splendid target for the riflemen in the tops. There 
 were seven marines in the mizzentop of the Constitu 
 tion, under an old sergeant who was noted for his skill 
 as a marksman ; six of them loaded, while he fired 
 with the calmest deliberation shot after shot into the 
 swarming English. 
 
 Captain Bush of the Marine Corps with the utmost 
 gallantry sprang upon the taffrail to lead his marines, 
 crying, "Board, Board!" A bullet went crashing 
 through his skull, killing him instantly. Undaunted 
 by the catastrophe, Aylwyn, the sailing-master, 
 jumped upon the same spot, but a bullet from the 
 Englishmen's maintop severely wounded him in the 
 shoulder. Fairford had climbed up on the bowsprit 
 with a view to lashing the two ships together, and 
 had already taken a few turns of the mainbrace around 
 the spar, when another bullet drove through his body, 
 desperately wounding him, and he fell to the deck. 
 Hull, with his sword in his hand, leaped upon an arm- 
 chest and endeavored to spring upon the taffrail, 
 when old Rhodes, the boatswain's mate, seized 
 him roughly about the waist and held him back in
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 spite of his efforts with all the force of his mighty 
 arms. 
 
 " Not with them swabs on, sir," cried the old 
 sailor, alluding to the great bullion epaulets the 
 captain wore; "it would be sure death for your 
 honor." 
 
 As the captain, furious with rage, struggled in 
 the arms of the stalwart seaman, the Constitution 
 gathered way and drew ahead again. On the English 
 vessel, the loss had been even more severe than on 
 her enemy. The sailing-master and his mate had 
 been desperately wounded ; two of the junior lieuten 
 ants had been shot down, and Heathcote had been 
 wounded. Most of the men in the forecastle had 
 been killed or wounded, and the captain himself, while 
 standing on the starboard forecastle hammocks en 
 couraging his men, had been shot in the back by the 
 marine sergeant in the mizzentop. Had the bullet 
 passed a little more to the left, the wound would 
 have proved fatal. 
 
 The roll of the ships prevented either party from 
 successfully boarding, however, and at this juncture 
 the two ships gathered way and parted. As the 
 Constitution forged ahead turning to port slowly, the 
 English ship, minus her after-sail, swung to starboard 
 again, and aided by an unusually heavy sea, her bow 
 sprit struck the quarter of the Constitution a mighty 
 blow. The tremendous stroke carried away the 
 loosened forestays of the English ship, and the shrouds 
 on the port side having been all cut away by the 
 withering fire to which she had been subjected, the 
 weakened foremast, which had been previously 
 wounded by a shot, immediately fell to starboard 
 
 94
 
 BOARDERS AWAY ! 
 
 across the mainstays. The sudden strain thus 
 brought upon the mainmast, which was in little better 
 condition than had been the fore, brought it down to 
 starboard as well with a mighty crash; the massive 
 spars beating and thundering against her weakened 
 side in the rolling sea, completing by their battering 
 ram onset her ruin. 
 
 The Guerriere was a perfect wreck, and the ship 
 careened to starboard and fell off, exposing sheets of 
 glistening copper far below the water line. The Con 
 stitution mercifully held her fire from the side of her 
 hapless enemy, and although the enormous amount 
 of wreckage was soon cut away, the English working 
 with the energy of despair, yet their ship, completely 
 deprived of motive power, was not under control, and 
 at once fell into the trough of the sea, rolling and 
 pitching there at the play of the waves, until she 
 buried her maindeck guns in the water with every 
 heave. 
 
 " What time is it, lad? " asked Hull of Midshipman 
 Neill, who had rendered efficient service during the 
 action. 
 
 " Twenty-two minutes after six o'clock, sir," was 
 the reply. 
 
 "Less than thirty minutes of actual fighting time," 
 remarked the victorious captain, sotto voce, counting 
 from the time the Constitution's first broadside had 
 been delivered. " I think I Ve won the hat. 
 
 " Mr. Neill, jump below and ask the surgeon to 
 send me a report of the casualties at once. Forward, 
 there. . . . Pass the word for the carpenter and sail- 
 master to advise me as to the damage we have sus 
 tained. Mr. Read, you will act as first lieutenant 
 
 95
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 until poor Fairford recovers. We '11 run orf a little 
 and heave to, overhaul the gear and repair damages ; 
 in case we should be compelled to meet another of 
 these gentry, we must be prepared for them." 
 
 " And how about the prize, sir?" asked Read, re 
 spectfully. 
 
 " She '11 stay where she is until we get ourselves to 
 rights, I think," said Hull, smiling. 
 
 About seven bells in the second dog watch, or half 
 after seven o'clock, the Constitution, her colors flying 
 proudly, filled away, wore around, and came down 
 across the bows of the hapless English ship again. 
 The British sailors had rigged an ensign to the stump 
 of the mizzenmast. As the Constitution came into 
 position with her mighty battery prepared to rake 
 again, the ship being practically uninjured in any 
 material way and ready to engage another English 
 vessel on the moment, having replaced the few un 
 important spars which had been lost and with the cut 
 ropes and torn sails hastily spliced and patched, or 
 shifted, the English fired a lee gun and slowly and 
 reluctantly the ensign fell to the deck. The battle 
 was over. One of the cutters was called away by 
 Hull's directions and Lieutenant Read was sent to 
 take possession of the prize. 
 
 It was a rather hard row from the Constitution to 
 the Guerriere on account of the heavy sea, but finally 
 the cutter rounded to off the lee side of the enemy. 
 
 96
 
 CHAPTER XIV 
 
 A Lost Wager 
 
 ONE can scarcely imagine the shame and humili 
 ation in Captain Dacres' heart. The English 
 Navy could point to thirty years of continuous war 
 fare with all the world, and in over two hundred des 
 perate encounters between single ships with anything 
 like equality of force, the losses could be counted 
 upon the fingers of a single hand ; and now to have 
 to surrender to an American to a despised Amer 
 ican to whom he had personally expressed his 
 entire confidence in his own ship, and his contempt 
 for the other ! It was almost more than Captain 
 Dacres could bear. Not the slightest doubt of the 
 issue of the combat had ever crossed his mind. As 
 soon as he had determined that the approaching ship 
 was an enemy, he had looked upon her as already a 
 prize. Strange to say, he had expressed himself that 
 afternoon, while watching the manoeuvres of the Con 
 stitution before the action to the effect " that she 
 comes down a thought too boldly for an American," 
 following up this sapient remark by this undoubtedly 
 true reflection: " However, the better he behaves the 
 more honor we shall gain by taking him." He closed 
 his address to his crew before the battle with these 
 significant words, 
 
 7 97
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 " There is a Yankee frigate ; in forty-five minutes 
 she is certainly ours. Take her in fifteen and I 
 promise you four months' pay ! " 
 
 Alas for his anticipations! thirty minutes after the 
 battle began he was the most surprised and chagrined 
 man upon the ocean. 
 
 "What ship is that?" demanded Read from the 
 boat, when he finally reached the Guerriere. 
 
 " His Britannic Majesty's Ship Guerriere," answered 
 a weak voice, as a tall figure showed itself above the 
 rail. 
 
 " Have you struck, sir?" called Read. 
 
 " I don't know that it would be prudent to continue 
 the engagement any longer," was the reply. 
 
 "Do I understand you to say that you have 
 struck?" asked Lieutenant Read a second time. 
 
 " Not precisely," said Dacres, " but I don't know 
 that it will be worth while to fight any longer." 
 
 " If you will not decide, I will return aboard my 
 ship and resume the engagement," returned the 
 American officer. To this Captain Dacres called out 
 somewhat excitedly, 
 
 " Why, I am pretty much hors de combat already. 
 I have hardly enough men left to work a single gun 
 and my ship is in a sinking condition." 
 * " I wish to know, sir," peremptorily demanded 
 Lieutenant Read, " whether I am to consider you as 
 a prisoner of war or an enemy. I have no time for 
 further parley." 
 
 "If I could fight longer I I I would with 
 pleasure; but but I must surrender," Captain 
 Dacres replied with evident reluctance, " I believe 
 there is no alternative."
 
 A LOST WAGER 
 
 " Give way, lads," said Read, at this most satisfac 
 tory termination of the little colloquy, and the boat 
 was sent alongside of the gangway, where he climbed 
 aboard to take possession. What a picture the 
 doomed ship presented ; what a contrast to her ap 
 pearance an hour ago, when with spars that searched 
 the skies and with sails that extended out like the 
 wings of a gigantic bird, she proudly rode the sea. 
 
 Now she rolled, a helpless, sinking hulk, a picture 
 of ruin and destruction, blood-stained water gushing 
 from her scuppers at every roll ; her sides broken 
 and battered by the Constitution's heavy shot; her 
 bulwarks and rails smashed from the same cause, and 
 from the impact of the falling spars; three jagged, 
 upright pieces of timber showing where the masts 
 had been. Many of her guns were dismounted and 
 destroyed ; some of them had broken loose and were 
 swinging wildly to and fro ; nearly one third of her 
 crew had been killed and wounded, many were miss 
 ing, probably carried 'overboard by the falling masts 
 and drowned ; all of her boats were lost or destroyed ; 
 and, in short, she was a complete wreck. 
 
 Stepping aft to the quarter-deck, where Dacres, 
 weak and faint from his wound, was sitting on an 
 arm-chest despondently surveying his crew, who had 
 abandoned all effort to clear the ship and were hang 
 ing about in melancholy silent groups examining 
 their antagonist, Read saluted him with a profound 
 respect, which seemed to touch the unfortunate Eng 
 lishman, who opened the conversation by asking : 
 
 " Is that the Constitution? " 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 " Is she still commanded by Captain Hull?" 
 99
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 Thereupon Dacres showed his manliness. Instead 
 of handing his sword to Lieutenant Read, and plead 
 ing his severe wound as an excuse for not delivering 
 it to Captain Hull in person, he remarked, 
 
 " If you will allow me the use of your boat, I will 
 go aboard your ship and surrender my sword to 
 Captain Hull." 
 
 So pitiful was the condition of Captain Dacres, 
 that Read ventured to remonstrate. 
 
 " Would it not be better for you to remain here 
 for the present, Captain Dacres, in view of the wound 
 from which you are suffering?" 
 
 " My lad," said the elder man, looking at the 
 younger one kindly, and pointing toward his wounded 
 back, " it is not this wound that causes me the suffer 
 ing. No, I will go. It is only justice to your 
 captain." 
 
 Having descended to the boat, he was soon aboard 
 of the Constitution. As he climbed the side with 
 slow and painful steps he was tenderly assisted as 
 much as possible by the officers and men. Captain 
 Hull met him in the gangway. 
 
 " I see you are wounded, Dacres," he said kindly. 
 " Give me your hand." 
 
 " Sir," said Dacres, formally, " my ship has sur 
 rendered, and I have come to deliver to you my 
 sword," and he extended it toward the American. 
 
 "No, no," said Hull, generously waiving it away, 
 " I will not take a sword from one who knows so well 
 how to use it." Then he added, with a merry twinkle 
 in his eye, and laying his hand on Dacres' shoulder: 
 " But, Dacres, I will take that hat." 
 
 100
 
 A LOST WAGER 
 
 " Very well, captain," replied the other, making a 
 gallant attempt to enter into the spirit of the claim ; 
 " you shall have the hat, and, if mine will fit you, 
 I believe I will offer to lend you a pair of trousers as 
 well." 
 
 "Gad!" said Hull, looking down at his small 
 clothes, which were waving in the breeze, " I forgot 
 all about them until this minute." 
 
 " It is the only wound you have sustained, I trust," 
 said Dacres. "And the ship seems to be in equally 
 good condition," he added, after thoughtfully survey 
 ing the Constitution. 
 
 " Shall I send our surgeon or his mate over to look 
 after your people?" asked Hull, as they walked arm 
 in arm to the quarter-deck. 
 
 " Why, have n't you need of them yourself ? " 
 answered Dacres, greatly surprised. 
 
 " No, all of ours have been attended to an hour 
 ago." 
 
 " How many were your casualties? " 
 
 " Seven killed and seven wounded," was the reply. 
 
 " Send them over if you will," said Dacres, mourn 
 fully, throwing up his hands, " we have seven times 
 as many. By the way, there are ten Americans on 
 board." 
 
 "Are any of them wounded or killed?" said Hull, 
 anxiously. 
 
 " No, I allowed them to go below before we began 
 the action; I would not compel them to fight against 
 their flag," answered the chivalrous Englishman. 
 
 " That was handsomely done, and I thank you in 
 behalf of my countrymen," replied Hull, with deep 
 feeling. 
 
 id i
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 " To think that you are practically unharmed both 
 in ship and crew," Dacres added, after they had 
 entered the cabin, " and that we are a wreck. You 
 will never take her into port though. The carpenter 
 tells me we received as many as thirty shots as low as 
 five sheets of copper below the bends on the engaged 
 side. To think of it, to think of it!" he continued 
 mournfully, sitting down before the table and leaning 
 his head upon his hands. " To have struck my flag, 
 and to an American ! " 
 
 " Never mind, Dacres," said Hull, encouragingly, 
 "you won't be the last one to strike his flag to an 
 American in this war, I '11 wager." 
 
 " I've had enough of your wagers, Hull," answered 
 the Englishman, with a rueful smile. 
 
 102
 
 CHAPTER XV 
 
 Brothers United 
 
 WHILE this conversation had been going on, 
 the boats of the Constitution had been called 
 away, and the transfer of prisoners was begun, and 
 a large prize crew from the heavily manned American 
 ship was making strenuous efforts to fit the Guerriere 
 for service, so that she might be brought to the 
 United States. The first boat-load of prisoners con 
 tained Lieutenant Richard Heathcote, carrying his 
 arm in a sling from a slight wound he had received 
 while gallantly assisting the captain in rallying the 
 men on the forecastle. The first question he asked 
 when he reached the quarter-deck was for the wel 
 fare of his brother. 
 
 " I saw him jump on our bowsprit when the two 
 ships came together, then he fell back and I missed 
 him. Where is he? I do not see him." 
 
 "Unfortunately, he was desperately wounded at 
 that period of the action, a bullet having passed 
 through his body," replied the officer of the deck. 
 
 " May I not see him?" asked Heathcote, eagerly. 
 
 Having received permission from the surgeon, in a 
 short time he was standing in the little cabin occupied 
 by the first lieutenant of the ship. Fairford, who had 
 lost much blood from his wound, was lying in his 
 berth with his eyes closed. There was a fierce flush 
 of fever upon his sunken cheeks, and his mind had 
 
 103
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 wandered far away from the present scene. As 
 Heathcote looked at him, he heard him murmuring 
 disconnectedly, and bent his head to listen. 
 
 " Margaret . . . Margaret ... I wish I had taken 
 the rose," the weak voice muttered. 
 
 Richard, full of alarm, laid his hand gently on his 
 brother's shoulder. 
 
 " Blake," he said softly to the sick man, who 
 opened his eyes and gazed at him dully. 
 
 "You, Dick," he answered feebly, after a time, his 
 eye brightening as he collected his scattered senses 
 under the stimulus of his brother's appeal. " What 
 have you done with that rose she gave you?" he 
 added, still a little dazed by the situation. 
 
 " I lost it ... forgot it ... left it behind, I am 
 sorry to say," was the smiling and somewhat shame 
 faced reply. 
 
 " Then you did not love her? " 
 
 "Not I, charming though she is." 
 
 " And that foreign dance, that waltz, Dick?" 
 
 " I am sorry for that, too, Blake, and I am sorry 
 for the other things as well. I want to take back 
 what I said about your ships and your flag." 
 
 " That 's all right," said the latter, extending his 
 hand, " and you forgive me for the shot I would n't 
 take?" 
 
 " Of course," responded Heathcote, promptly clasp 
 ing the proffered hand, though he added bitterly: 
 " you got -it in with a whole ship's broadside instead 
 of with a single pistol." 
 
 "Don't take this so hard, brother," said Fairford, 
 tenderly, " ours is the heavier ship, you know. Other 
 things being equal, we were bound to win." 
 
 104
 
 BROTHERS UNITED 
 
 "Yes," was the reply, "but the fact that other 
 things were equal, nay, more than equal, is what 
 makes it hard. Blake, I shall get a ship when I get 
 back to England, if you let us back, and I swear to 
 you that I'll take a leaf out of your own books. 
 The mother has often found it necessary to learn 
 from the child before, and I '11 have a ship and a crew 
 with which to meet the best of you some day, and 
 that soon." 
 
 " No doubt, no doubt, Dick. I shall probably get 
 one too, when I return. God send the two ships do 
 not meet." 
 
 " Ay," replied the other, " I say amen to that, but 
 if they do . . ." 
 
 " I will not withhold my fire at that time," said 
 Fairford. 
 
 " And we '11 be brothers still," answered Heathcote, 
 smiling, " in spite of all that happens." 
 
 During the night after the battle, a strange sail was 
 reported on the Constitution, and the men were at: 
 once called from their needed rest to their quarters 
 again. The ship was as ready for action as if she had 
 not fought a battle, but the sail speedily drew out of 
 sight. The Constitution remaining near her prize, of 
 course, did not pursue. 
 
 When the day dawned it was quite evident from 
 the appearance of the Guerriere that her condition 
 was hopeless. The officer in charge hailed to say 
 that she had four feet of water in her, and she was 
 making water fast. Captain Dacres' melancholy 
 prognostication was correct, it would not be possible 
 to bring her in. The prize crew had worked assidu^ 
 
 105
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 ously to save her all night long, but with no success ; 
 and after a thorough investigation by his more ex 
 perienced officers, upon the strength of their report 
 Hull reluctantly decided to set her on fire and de 
 stroy her; with four feet of water in the hold, she 
 might sink at any moment. 
 
 The rest of the day was employed in transferring 
 the balance of the prisoners and the wounded men, 
 with their personal belongings, and other portable 
 property, to the Constitution. Trains were then laid 
 to the powder magazine of the ill-fated Guerriere and 
 the torch was about to be applied, when Hull with 
 the exquisite courtesy and consideration he had 
 shown at every stage since the capture, asked Dacres 
 if there was anything else on the ship that he desired 
 brought away before she was destroyed. 
 
 "My mother's Bible," said Dacres, gratefully; "it 
 will be found in my cabin, in the upper drawer of my 
 desk." 
 
 So the Book of love was the last thing removed 
 from the ship of war by the conquerors. When it 
 was placed in the hands of the conquered, his eyes 
 suffused with not unmanly tears. This action was 
 not unprophetic of the future, for by and by, out of 
 that strife between the mother and the daughter 
 countries, like the Book from the cabin, came an 
 honorable peace based upon mutual concession and 
 mutual respect, never since broken, and which in the 
 closing years of the century has blossomed into a 
 flower of unity and harmony among the Anglo- 
 Saxons, which is the pride of the age, and is the best 
 augury for the peace of the world in the future. 
 
 The torch was then applied to the Guerriere. 
 106
 
 BROTHERS UNITED 
 
 The Constitution drew off a suitable distance and 
 hove to, to wait for the end. The English officers 
 and prisoners clustered about the rails, as they were 
 permitted to gaze upon their ship. The flames spread 
 rapidly, and some of the guns left shotted were dis 
 charged by the heat; until with this wild and mourn 
 ful salute of farewell from her own batteries, a little 
 after six bells in the afternoon watch, she blew up. 
 
 " When she was launched," said Captain Dacres 
 to himself, " she sailed under the tri-color of France, 
 then we captured her in fair fight, now she is gone 
 down under the red flag of ruin. Who would have 
 thought it? What an end to a great career! Who' 
 would have thought it ! " he added bitterly, turning 
 toward the cabin, followed by his officers. There was 
 no cheering. The chivalrous Americans stood up 
 in silence, out of respect to his grief. The Constitu 
 tion was alone upon the ocean. 
 
 The first blow had been struck for the freedom of 
 the sea. 
 
 107
 
 CHAPTER XVI 
 
 Captain Hull's Reward 
 
 TEN days later the Constitution reached Boston, 
 and entering the lower harbor, anchored off the 
 lighthouse. The day being Sunday, Captain Hull 
 remained quietly at his anchorage and did not bring 
 the ship up to the city. However, the news of his 
 successful battle was carried on shore by the first 
 boat which spoke with him. 
 
 Though it was Sunday in a Puritan land, the 
 people could not restrain their joy ; a Yankee ship 
 built in their own shipyards, and under a Yankee 
 captain, had met the detested enemy in the shape of 
 that hateful scourge of the seaboard the Guer- 
 riere and in less than half an hour of actual battle, 
 had not only captured, but had destroyed her. 
 
 On Monday morning, with the national colors 
 flying from every masthead, and bedecked with flags, 
 and with the British ensign below the stars and stripes, 
 Old Ironsides came up to the city; and, amid the 
 booming of cannon, and frantic cheers from the men 
 crowded upon the gaily dressed ships in the harbor, 
 gracefully and with becoming dignity, as if conscious 
 of her honor, moved to her anchorage. The wharves 
 and streets and buildings overlooking the bay were 
 filled with people mad with excitement, and when 
 Hull stepped ashore, he received such an enthusiastic 
 
 108
 
 CAPTAIN HULL'S REWARD 
 
 welcome from the inhabitants of the profusely dec 
 orated town, as has rarely been accorded to a citizen 
 of the Republic. 
 
 The news came in the nick of time. General 
 Hull, who was singularly enough an uncle of the 
 doughty captain of the Constitution, had just sur 
 rendered Detroit and the whole territory of the Mis 
 sissippi without a blow; the garrison at Fort Dearborn 
 had been massacred by the Indians; the English 
 armies had crossed the northern and western frontiers, 
 and undeterred by the feeble opposition of the raw 
 American militia levies were advancing toward the 
 interior in every direction. The joy of the people 
 of the country when the news of Hull's mighty 
 victory spread among them, as it did with marvellous 
 rapidity, was unparalleled. Honors, swords and 
 pieces of plate were showered upon the officers and 
 crew, and banquets and feasts galore were tendered 
 to them. Congress voted medals to the officers, 
 many of whom were promoted, and fifty thousand 
 dollars prize money to be divided among the officers 
 and crew. 
 
 Fairford, aided by youth and health and his brother's 
 careful nursing, had recovered somewhat from his 
 wound, and was given a promotion and a leave of 
 absence with an assurance of the command of the first 
 sloop-of-war vacant. He did not return to Virginia, 
 but waited in Boston for his promised command. The 
 two most acceptable things which came to Captain 
 Hull, who generously yielded the further command of 
 the Constitution when he might have retained it, to a 
 brother officer, Commodore Bainbridge, were not be 
 stowed either by Congress or the public generally. 
 
 TOQ
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 One was found in the report of Captain Dacres to 
 the British Admiralty. In it he said : 
 
 " I feel it my duty to state that the conduct of Captain 
 Hull and his officers to our men has been that of a brave 
 enemy, the greatest care being taken to prevent our men 
 from losing the slightest trifle, and the greatest attention 
 being given to the wounded." 
 
 A friendship sprang up between these two gallant 
 seamen, which lasted until death had parted them. 
 
 The other came to him in the shape of a message 
 from the young woman of whom he had spoken to 
 Fairford the night of the interrupted duel. 
 
 " How delightful," she is reported to have said to 
 one whom she knew would carry her words to the 
 captain " how delightful it must be to be the wife 
 of a hero ! " 
 
 Captain Hull after due deliberation concluded that 
 he had spoken unadvisedly when he declared that a 
 sailor's best bride was his ship, and Fairford had the 
 privilege of being best man at his wedding several 
 months after. 
 
 At the wedding the doughty captain carried a 
 brand new chapeau, and the curious might have seen 
 these words traced on the band inside the cocked 
 hat, 
 
 " Compliments of R. Dacres, London." 
 
 1 10
 
 HI 
 THE EPIC OF THE WHIP
 
 CHAPTER XVII 
 The Pieces Are Set 
 
 TWO years had elapsed since the famous victory 
 of the Constitution over the Guerriere. Dur 
 ing this period, the ship to which Blakely Fairford 
 had been assigned as commander had been securely 
 blockaded in one of the harbors on the Maine coast, 
 and, save for a spirited repulse of a heavily armed 
 cutting-out expedition, his service had been one of 
 ceaseless watchfulness and wearing inactivity. 
 
 Early in the year 1814 he had applied for the com 
 mand of the new frigate Narragansett, 36, then near- 
 ing completion at the Navy Yard near Washington. 
 His request had been granted after due deliberation; 
 but, unfortunately, the day he received the orders 
 detaching him from his blockaded cruiser, and assign 
 ing him to the command of the Narragansett, the 
 British under General Ross, with the co-operation 
 of a powerful fleet under Admiral Cockburn, which 
 had held well-nigh undisputed control of the Chesa 
 peake since the year began, defeated the American 
 troops at Bladensburg, captured and burned Wash 
 ington, and carried away the Narragansett. The 
 ship had just been completed, and was filled with 
 stores and ammunition for a long cruise. 
 
 Awaiting the arrival of her new captain, who was 
 to bring a large detachment of men with him, she 
 8 113
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 had but a small crew on board, which had not been 
 able to make any effective resistance to the British 
 attack. An attempt to destroy her before the enemy 
 took possession had failed, owing to the general 
 panic and disgraceful disorganization everywhere 
 prevalent. As the invaders withdrew at once from 
 Washington, in order to prosecute their attack upon 
 Baltimore, the Narragansett, with a prize crew 
 aboard, under the command of Captain Henry Cun 
 ningham, late commander of the Lion, who had 
 been invalided home, had dropped down the Potomac, 
 and had anchored off the west shore of the Chesa 
 peake Bay. As luck would have it, she lay a mile 
 or two below Colonel Barrett's place, where she 
 remained for a short period. 
 
 Sir James and Evelyn Heathcote had gone aboard 
 of her the day of her arrival to take passage for Eng 
 land. After the declaration of war, Sir James' 
 business affairs in Virginia, where as the guest of 
 Colonel Barrett he had remained unmolested, and a 
 serious illness early in the year had prevented his 
 return when it was practicable; after that, various 
 other considerations had concurred to detain him in 
 America, until, owing to the activity of the Ameri 
 can war vessels and privateers, which were sweep 
 ing the seas in every direction, it would have been 
 dangerous to attempt a return in anything other 
 than a heavily armed cruiser. He had gladly wel 
 comed the advent of the British fleet and army, and 
 eagerly availed himself of Captain Cunningham's 
 offer of a passage home in his ship. 
 
 The presence of Sir James Heathcote in America 
 had not been without avail to the Barretts, for by 
 
 114
 
 THE PIECES ARE SET 
 
 his influence and position he had been able to 
 secure the immunity of the plantation of his friend, 
 as well as that of his wife, from the ravages of the 
 British marauders, who had lately infested the land, 
 burning, plundering, and outraging in every direc 
 tion, looking upon the undefended counties of the 
 Chesapeake as their pleasant gardens from which 
 they took what they would. 
 
 Life in the midst of stirring times elsewhere had 
 flowed by peacefully, therefore, for the colonel and 
 his daughter. That somewhat immature but pre 
 cocious young lady had rounded and developed into- 
 a woman, both in character and in person. Social 
 gayeties had, of course, been largely intermitted 
 since the war began, most of the young men having 
 gone into the service of their country; and the 
 two girls, Evelyn and Margaret, had enjoyed abun 
 dant opportunity to dream uninterruptedly of the 
 absent sailors to whom they had given their hearts. 
 
 The tedium of their hours had been lightened by 
 a visit from Richard Heathcote, who had been 
 allowed, through Colonel Barrett's influence, this- 
 privilege on his parole, during his brief stay in this 
 country as a prisoner of war before he had been 
 exchanged. There were no waltzes and flirtations 
 on this occasion, and the tacit understanding which 
 had existed betwen Evelyn and himself was formally 
 ratified by an engagement based upon their mutual 
 affection. 
 
 Richard had carried messages of affection to 
 Colonel Barrett, and others of a more formal charac 
 ter to his daughter, from Fairford, in response to* 
 which Margaret had written in a friendly, sisterly
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 way, which was very far from expressing her true 
 feeling, as often as limited and frequently inter 
 rupted postal facilities permitted. Fairford replied 
 to her letters in a similar spirit. 
 
 There had been no other communication between 
 them, however, and matters still continued in a 
 most unsatisfactory condition. Margaret, woman 
 like, trusted and dreamed and hoped, while Fair- 
 ford, by determined attention to his duties, constantly 
 -strove to resist the ever-increasing tension upon his 
 heartstrings, which the thought of her produced. 
 
 When Fairford received his orders to take com 
 mand of the Narragansett, he had immediately 
 started for Washington with a picked body of a 
 hundred seamen, who had been with him for sev 
 eral years, including, in their number, old Joseph 
 Rhodes, the boatswain's mate, and Master Billy 
 Cotton, the youngster who had been so zealous for 
 his prize-money on the Constitution, with several 
 other veterans from that ship. Ludlow, his inti 
 mate friend, had been appointed his first lieutenant, 
 and accompanied them. 
 
 They reached Baltimore in time to take part in 
 repelling the attack upon that city, and it was there 
 that they learned of the capture of the Narragan 
 sett, and her present position off the mouth of the 
 Potomac. Fairford at once conceived the bold 
 design of cutting her out. A careful reconnoissance 
 which he made with a small boat soon after his 
 arrival, disclosed the fact that she was moored head 
 and stern about two cables' length from the other 
 English ships, a man-of-war brig of eighteen guns, 
 and a new forty-four gun frigate which the English 
 
 116
 
 THE PIECES ARE SET 
 
 had built after the Constitution's model, to cope 
 with the heavy American frigates. 
 
 The second night after his observations, as there 
 was no moonlight, he selected for the attempt. He 
 had not yet had time to communicate his arrival to 
 Colonel Barrett and his family, as he most assuredly 
 would have done under other circumstances; and 
 they were not aware of his presence in their vicinity. 
 His prompt decision to cut out the ship at once was 
 most fortunate, as it happened, for the Narragansett 
 was under orders to get away for England on the day 
 following the night selected for the boat expedition.. 
 She had been delayed for a specific cause. 
 
 117
 
 CHAPTER XVIII 
 The Sentence of the Court 
 
 IN the cabin of the captain of the Narragansett 
 the captains of the three ships and several other 
 officers in full uniform were seated at one end of a 
 table. At the other end three men, heavily hand- 
 cuffed and strongly guarded by marines, were stand 
 ing. The first was one William Badely, an 
 Englishman, once a member of the crew of His 
 Britannic Majesty's late lamented ship Guerriere; 
 the other two were John and Samuel Martin, father 
 and son, the Gloucester fishermen, sometime mem- 
 "bers of the crew of His Britannic Majesty's ship 
 Lion, once commanded by Henry Cunningham, who 
 was now in command of the Narragansett prize, and 
 who sat at the head of the table. 
 
 These officers comprised a court-martial which 
 had tried these three deserters who had been captured 
 with the Narragansett, to which they had been 
 ordered by a scurvy trick of fate. They had pre 
 viously finished their deliberations, but had been 
 reassembled, and the prisoners had been summoned 
 to hear their sentences, which had been received 
 back that morning from Admiral Cockburn, com 
 manding the fleet in the Chesapeake. 
 
 "William Badely, stand forth," said Cunningham, 
 the president of the court, with much solemnity, at 
 
 118 %
 
 THE SENTENCE OF THE COURT 
 
 the same time standing up himself and putting his 
 cocked hat upon his head, and laying his hand upon 
 his sword, "and hear the sentence of this honorable 
 court, which has been approved by the admiral 
 commanding the fleet. The sentence is, that you 
 be hung from the yard-arm of the Narragansett 
 prize, at two bells in the first dog-watch, this day, 
 October ist, 1814; there to hang until sunrise the 
 next morning, as a warning to the crews of His 
 Majesty's ships in these waters, for desertion and 
 for bearing arms in the service of the enemy ; and 
 may God have mercy on your soul ! " 
 
 Badely, though not deficient in the ordinary cour 
 age of his station, turned as white as a sheet at this 
 terrible announcement, which was received in deep 
 silence by the others in the cabin. Moistening his 
 lips nervously with his tongue, he endeavored to 
 speak, and finally gave utterance in a hoarse whisper. 
 
 "For God's sake, sir, your honor, give me another 
 chance. I didn't ship willin' on the Gurreer, sir. 
 I was pressed the very night I was married," he 
 went on, piteously stretching forth his manacled 
 hands, "an" I ain't never seen my wife since the day 
 I left her swoondin' on the beach. So help me 
 God, I never meant no harm by leavin' the ship. 
 Oh, good, kind gentlemen," he continued, his wild 
 gaze turning toward the faces of the other members 
 of the court, as he recoiled before Cunningham's 
 impassive, contemptuous glance, "you wouldn't go 
 for to make a poor sailor man wot knows nothin' 
 about the rights and wrongs of this matter, slip his 
 cable an' sail into the presence of his Maker, with 
 out no more chance than four hours leaves him for 
 
 no
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 to get ready in? Oh, please, sir, if you have a wife 
 of your own, an" love life an' freedom," he begged, 
 with rude eloquence, turning to Cunningham again, 
 his voice gaining strength, "give me another 
 chance, your hon9r. I '11 fight for you, I '11 work 
 for you I'll do anything. For God's sake, sir, 
 don't hang me like a dog." 
 
 "Enough of this," said Cunningham, harshly; 
 ''the sentence of the court will be carried out. The 
 chaplain will visit you, and if you have any prepara 
 tions to make you would better make them. Ser 
 geant," he added, turning to the marine guard, 
 "remove your prisoner." The blood came rushing 
 into the face of Badely as he realized the hopeless 
 ness of his situation, and with it came that reckless 
 indifference which often follows hard upon the heels 
 of departing hope. Grinding his teeth with rage, 
 he lifted up his hands, and, leaping forward, struck 
 murderously at the captain. 
 
 "D n your soul," he cried, while his frantic 
 efforts to reach the officer were frustrated by the 
 promptitude of the guards, who closed around him 
 and seized him in a ruthless grasp, " if I could only 
 get at ye, I 'd tear the heart out of ye, ye bloody 
 murderin' tyrant. May the curse of God come on 
 ye for this day's work, and on King George, aye, 
 and on his chaplain, too. I want none of them, 
 ye " 
 
 "Gag that man," quietly said Cunningham, who 
 had not moved an inch during the onset; for though 
 the Englishman was a tyrant, he was not a coward, 
 "and remove him." 
 
 Screaming frightful oaths and imprecations, and 
 120
 
 THE SENTENCE OF THE COURT 
 
 struggling in a most terrible way, Badely was finally 
 overpowered and dragged from the cabin. 
 
 Turning calmly to the other two prisoners, the 
 captain continued : " The sentence of the court for 
 the same offences, upon you, John Martin, is, that 
 you receive three hundred lashes on the bare back 
 with the cat-o'-nine-tails, at eight bells, noon, on 
 this ship, this day; and that you, Samuel Martin, 
 in consideration of your youth, receive one hundred 
 and fifty lashes of the cat at the same time, and 
 in the same place, and you may thank His Ma 
 jesty's officers for their mercy and clemency in your 
 case. " 
 
 Samuel Martin, who was a slender, somewhat 
 delicate young fellow, scarcely twenty-one years of 
 age, turned pale and laughed wildly. 
 
 " Mercy ! " he shrieked, " you call one hundred 
 and fifty lashes mercy ! " 
 
 "Silence, sir," shouted Cunningham. 
 
 "By heaven," said the elder Martin, a man of the 
 stoutest and strongest fibre, "you can't do it. You 
 dare not ! As I told ye, I am an American citizen, 
 born in Massachusetts, and my son here as well. 
 There 's not a man standing at that table but what 
 knows it. Did you ever hear an Englishman talk 
 as I do ? I claim our rights, ye d d murdering, 
 kidnapping " 
 
 "If you say another word, Martin," interrupted 
 Cunningham, fiercely, "I'll add another hundred 
 lashes to your punishment; you '11 find out what we 
 dare." 
 
 "You " shrieked old Martin, when Cunningham 
 continued, 
 
 121
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 "And, on second thought, I won't add it to your 
 own punishment, but to your boy's yonder." 
 
 At this fearful threat Martin's lips were sealed. 
 Ever since the death of his wife at the birth of this 
 child, his lonely life had held but one passion, 
 his son. He clenched his teeth together, and looked 
 at Cunningham, who smiled slightly, in bitter 
 triumph. 
 
 "It is a bad thing to cross me, as you have found 
 out. It was a bad day when you deserted my ship, 
 Master Martin remember, no more words," he 
 added, lifting a warning hand, as he saw the bitter 
 struggle going on in the man's breast. He waited 
 a moment to get the full effect of his triumph. 
 
 "Take them forward," he said, finally, with a low 
 scornful laugh, which capped the climax, and added 
 the last straw to the balance in which old Martin 
 weighed his tormentor. 
 
 122
 
 CHAPTER XIX 
 The Cat- o ' Nine- Tails 
 
 AS eight bells were struck forward, the shrill 
 pipes of the boatswain and his mates were 
 heard, followed by the hoarse cry: 
 
 "All hands lay aft to witness punishment." 
 In obedience to this command, the expectant sea 
 men came tumbling up from below, or lay down 
 from the topgallant forecastle and ranged themselves 
 forward of the mainmast in either gangway, accord 
 ing to their watches, facing aft. They were joking 
 and laughing among themselves, eagerly anticipat 
 ing the approaching spectacle, which they looked 
 upon as a delectable amusement when not the 
 objects of punishment themselves, so blunted were 
 their sensibilities by that harsh and brutal treatment 
 wrongly considered necessary to proper discipline. 
 
 A marine guard, lent by one of the other ships, 
 was drawn up in lines on the poop deck, facing for 
 ward, with their muskets charged and ready. The 
 captain stood near the starboard gangway on the 
 quarter-deck, facing the crew; the other officers, fully 
 armed, Jamieson, the first lieutenant, at their head, 
 formed a little group near the break of the poop, 
 abaft of and at some distance from the captain. On 
 the port side of the quarter-deck a heavy wooden 
 
 123
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 hatch grating had been thrown upon the deck in 
 front of the cabin doors. 
 
 "Bring up the two prisoners," said the captain to 
 the master-at-arms. " Mr. Jamieson, you will read 
 the findings and sentence of the court-martial to the 
 crew." 
 
 While the brief document was being read, the 
 master-at-arms and his assistants brought the prison 
 ers to the mast. The several boatswain's mates, 
 who, for their strength, skill, and experience, had 
 been selected to administer the brutal punishment, 
 now rolled up the sleeves of their shirts, exposing 
 their brawny arms, and each one took a new cat-o'- 
 nine-tails, commonly called the cat. 
 
 This terrible instrument of punishment consisted 
 of nine stout pieces of new quarter-inch manila 
 rope, each about a yard long, usually with one end 
 carefully whipped, and the other attached securely 
 to a stout wooden handle. Sometimes each rope 
 ended in a "Turk's head," a round hard knot, with 
 other similar knots half way between the end and 
 the handle. 
 
 "Which one shall we take first, sir?" said- the 
 master-at-arms. 
 
 "The old one," replied the captain; "we'll let 
 him show his boy how to take it." 
 
 The two seamen holding the unfortunate Martin 
 roughly strippd his shirt from him, and turned down 
 his trousers slightly, exposing the whole range of 
 his bare back. Then they started to drag him aft. 
 
 "I'll walk," said the man; "you don't have to 
 drag me." 
 
 "Anxious to get there, are you?" sneered the 
 124
 
 THE CAT-O'-NINE-TAILS 
 
 captain, tauntingly, with his handsome face flushed 
 deeply, bespeaking the fact that he had been drink 
 ing, and was somewhat under the influence of the 
 liquor he had taken, else he would never have de 
 scended to such undignified baiting. "You'll be 
 more anxious to get away from that grating presently, 
 I fancy," he added, with his mocking'laugh. That 
 was the second time Martin had heard that laugh. 
 
 Not deigning to reply, and only shooting one 
 glance of such determinate hatred and resolution in 
 the captain's direction as might well have made him 
 tremble, if he had been in his right senses, his arms 
 still tightly clasped by his guards, who seemed to 
 fear an attempt at escape, he walked to the grating. 
 Ropes were brought, and his bare feet were tied 
 securely to the heavy cross-pieces of the grating; 
 his hands were triced up over his head, and lashed 
 in the same way to another grating, which had been 
 fastened to the break of the poop, leaving his back 
 to the crew. The first boatswain's mate stepped to 
 one side, shook out the cat, and then looked at the 
 captain. 
 
 "Go on," said that officer. 
 
 In a silence which was absolute, the man threw 
 the cat backward over his shoulder, and then raised 
 his arm and brought it down squarely upon the 
 white and naked back of the prisoned man. The 
 nine ropes whizzed through the air, singing a song 
 of hate and destruction. Then, with a dreadful 
 sucking clasp, they bit eagerly into the smooth 
 white flesh of the unfortunate man; the tender skin 
 seemed to crisp and curl upon the mighty back, and 
 broad red welts showed themselves from shoulder to 
 
 I2 5
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 hip. The man shuddered slightly, but made no 
 sound. 
 
 " One ! " said the boatswain, who had been ap 
 pointed to keep tally. The arm was raised again ; 
 this time the man sprang forward viciously, as if to 
 make his own weight tell in the blow, and once 
 more the lash fell upon the sailor. With a skill 
 born of long practice, the boatswain's mate slightly 
 checked the lash as it descended, and gave it a pecu 
 liar twisting, withdrawing motion; when it fell 
 away it brought little pieces of flesh with it, and 
 the blood spurted. 
 
 The man shuddered again, but kept silent, as before. 
 
 "Good," said the captain. 
 
 " Two ! " counted the boatswain, impassively. 
 
 At twenty-five lashes, the man who had been 
 officiating gave place to another, a left-handed man 
 this time, who crossed the blows. At fifty lashes, 
 the flesh on the back looked like raw meat freshly 
 torn from a bleeding carcass. 
 
 The terrible punishment was almost more than 
 the resolution of man could bear, yet not a single 
 groan had escaped from the closed lips of the iron- 
 hearted sailor. He stood leaning upon his suspended 
 arms, convulsive shudders alone bespeaking life. 
 His magnificent courage and resolution even evoked 
 the admiration of the hardened crew, who had not 
 been used to a silent reception of punishment of this 
 kind ; and murmurs were heard here and there 
 among them, until they were silenced by the stern 
 voice of the inflexible captain. 
 
 At the one hundred and fiftieth lash, physical 
 nature could stand no rrfore, and there was a sudden 
 
 126
 
 THE CAT-O'-NINE-TAILS 
 
 collapse of body, not of will, which left the lacerated"? 
 man hanging limply from the lashings which secured? 
 his hands. 
 
 " Belay there a moment, " said the captain. " Some 
 of you fetch a bucket of water," he continued, while 
 the boatswain's mate combed out the knotted, inter- ' 
 twined strands of the bloody cat with his fingers. 
 
 "Dash it over him," he said. 
 
 As the cold salt water struck Martin's body and 
 penetrated the ragged and bleeding wounds upon 
 his back, consciousness returned, and before he had 
 recovered full command of himself a low moan rose 
 to his lips, which he stifled as soon as he realized 
 the situation. 
 
 "Doctor," said the captain, with a wave of his 
 hand to that functionary, " step forward and feel his 
 pulse." 
 
 " He will safely stand a little more, I think, cap 
 tain," replied the obsequious physician, after obey 
 ing the command. "Better finish out the second 
 hundred, I should say, sir." 
 
 " Very good. That will leave one hundred more 
 to be delivered when he gets over this as a dessert 
 for his meal," said the captain, brutally, nodding 
 acquiescence. 
 
 This barbarous custom of deferring a portion of 
 the punishment was frequently practised, in spite of 
 the piteous importunities of the men, who had no. 
 wish to receive an additional lashing upon a half-, 
 healed and tender back, but usually preferred to take- 
 it all at once, at whatever present cost. Therefore, 
 at the two hundredth lash Martin was unbound. 
 
 As he was turned about to face the officers and 
 127
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 crew, his face was scarcely less frightful in appear 
 ance than had been his raw and beaten back. A 
 carelessly delivered blow or, perhaps, a malicious 
 one had caused the lashes of the cat to reach his 
 face, which was seamed with great red welts. The 
 knotted end of one lash had struck him fairly in the 
 right eye, which the blow had beaten to a pulp. 
 Blood dripped down upon his breast from his under 
 lip, which he had bitten through and through in his 
 effort at self-restraint, so that it now hung pendulous 
 upon his chin. His sides were seamed by the over 
 reaching ends of the lashes. He had stepped up to 
 the gratings a splendid, stalwart man, in the prime 
 of life and strength ; he left it an old, bent, broken 
 wreck broken in body, not in spirit. 
 
 As he was turned, he staggered blindly, and would 
 have fallen if it had not been for the assistance of 
 the man who attended him. There was nothing 
 about him that, to a casual inspection, indicated 
 humanity or strength ; even the baleful glance of 
 his bloodshot but unwounded left eye was beast-like 
 in its dull, stupid ferocity the animal, for the 
 moment, was uppermost. 
 
 " Shall we take him below, sir? " said the master- 
 at-arms, carelessly sprinkling the man's back with a 
 handful of salt. 
 
 "No," said the captain, brutally, "let him stay 
 by the mast there, so he can get a full view of how 
 his whelp takes it. I '11 break the will of the 
 mutinous dog before I get through with him," he 
 said to himself, muttering fiercely in his disappoint 
 ment at Martin's prodigious self-control. 
 
 128
 
 CHAPTER XX 
 
 T TNABLE to stand alone, old Martin leaned 
 vJ heavily against the fife-rail about the mast, 
 and his attendants released him as now beneath con 
 tempt. When he had gone aft to receive the cruel 
 and undeserved punishment a few moments since, 
 his mind had been so full of the bitter outrage that 
 was to be done not only to his citizenship, but to 
 his manhood as well; his being was so pervaded 
 with the keenest sense of the bitter injustice and 
 glaring wrong of it all; and his soul was so filled 
 with rage at the author of his misery, and of the 
 tyrannical system he represented, and the conscious 
 ness of his own impotent helplessness, : that he 
 ground his teeth together, and scarcely felt the first 
 blow of the cat. 
 
 But those blows succeeded each other in such 
 rapid succession, falling again and again with an 
 ever-increasing pain upon the same portion of his 
 body, that the mental anguish he had suffered grad 
 ually faded away in the dreadful present stroke of 
 that hydra-headed, snake-like whip. His nervous 
 system responded so keenly to the terrible demands 
 made upon it by his bodily agony, that all the think 
 ing power he had left merged itself in one supreme 
 9 129
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 effort to keep silent. He thought of nothing but 
 how to suffer and make no sound. 
 
 Oh, the torture of those whistling lashes! The 
 familiar objects near him swam redly before his 
 vision as he stared at them. He forgot what he was 
 where he was what was happening; but one 
 thing remained to him, he must not shriek, nor 
 moan, nor sob, nor cry aloud ; he was to be silent, 
 no matter what occurred. He concentrated his will 
 upon that idea, and clung to it with a tenacity of 
 resolution, unbreakable. He was long past tears. 
 Tears are for the feeble for the little sorrow for 
 the easy pain. 
 
 Presently he found himself at the focus of a vast 
 whirling vortex of wild, lurid sensations. The 
 world was strangely silent to him, save for a fierce 
 singing, whistling sound, like the beating wings of 
 a bird rushing madly through the air the song of 
 the lash ! By and by the unbearable physical pain 
 seemed to grow gradually less. There was no 
 respite for him in the torture, however, a more 
 intolerable agony succeeded. Strange things took 
 the place of the whip, and caused him even more- 
 suffering. One was a rough hammering sound. 
 Beat ! beat ! beat ! it said, in the silence which 
 surrounded the vast whirlpool of which he was the 
 centre. Beat ! beat ! beat ! It seemed to rise up 
 and strike him in the throat and choke him. He 
 could not know that it was his own wild heart. 
 
 The whip caressed him now. Its stroke seemed 
 as soft and tender as the kiss of a baby's lips, or 
 the touch of a falling leaf. He would have enjoyed 
 the exquisite pain, but another sound denied him 
 
 130
 
 THE SONG OF THE LASH 
 
 that privilege. It was a far-off voice. It counted 
 counted counted with damnable iteration. 
 What was it counting? that beating, hammering 
 thing? Count beat stroke! The whole world 
 grew black to him. The vortex rose up in mighty 
 waves, and overwhelmed him. He drifted away in 
 delicious languor to sleep. Was it sleep? 
 
 There was a sudden awakening. Something sharp 
 seemed to ring in the hollow of his fretted ear like a 
 blow, like the high piercing note of a silver bell 
 heard in the still night. The red mist wavered 
 before him once more. What was that? the beat, 
 the count, the blows again ! The short respite 
 had brought back the agony. He longed to shriek 
 and curse and blaspheme, but he dimly remembered 
 that for some reason he was to keep his lips closed 
 and be still. 
 
 By and by it stopped the counting, the beating, 
 the lash, which had screamed like an evil bird of 
 prey, they all stopped. An appalling silence fell 
 upon him.
 
 CHAPTER XXI 
 
 The Judgment of God 
 
 HE was turned about and supported. The blind 
 ing light of the noonday sun fell full in his 
 face; it was daytime, then! He could only see 
 dimly with one of his eyes. He staggered, and 
 would have fallen. He felt himself half carried, 
 half dragged forward, and placed against some solid 
 support. Was it over? 
 
 The gentle autumn breeze blew across his face. 
 Realization began to come to him, and with it a 
 wild joy. He knew now that he had been beaten 
 like a dog nay, as no dog had ever been beaten 
 and because he was a man, and not a beast, he had 
 not cried out. That was triumph, surely. 
 
 With returning mental clearness came returning 
 physical consciousness. The fires of hell were 
 burning upon his shoulders now; a hideous hot iron 
 seemed to be turning about in his beaten eye. 
 God ! Was there, then, a God ? How much longer 
 could he bear it? He found himself mechanically 
 clutching wood and ropes, and looking at a strange, 
 curious figure seen dimly through the mists. 
 
 A figure covered with blue and gold, wearing a face 
 handsome and mocking a sinister, sneering smile 
 upon his lips. The face of a god and the smile 
 
 132
 
 THE JUDGMENT OF GOD 
 
 of a devil. He stared, fascinated and forgetting. 
 It was a strangely familiar sight. Where had he 
 seen that smiling face? What was it smiling at? 
 And then another sound broke upon his dulled ear, 
 followed by that diabolical whistling sound; the 
 lash was singing again, yet he felt no blows. What 
 was it? A young voice, high and shrill with 
 agony despair torture in its notes, a remi 
 niscent voice. It clutched at his heart like a vise. 
 Where had he heard that voice before ? 
 
 Ah, it came back to him with a mighty rush of 
 recollection. There was a young woman lying on a 
 bed there white-faced and still and clutching at 
 the cold breast which rose and fell no more, a baby's 
 hand ; the child cried loud and shrill, and that smil 
 ing, mocking face looked on. 
 
 The picture faded. There was a little boy play 
 ing about his knee in a little home; the still, white- 
 faced woman was gone forever; they were alone 
 save for that insistent, smiling demon. Then before 
 him rose a garden, overlooking the sea; the child 
 was older; they walked side by side with that 
 sneering face with its hellish smile between them. 
 
 They sailed together on the sea; the child a man 
 God in heaven ! What was that ? That shriek ? 
 Whose was that bloody figure? What ship was 
 this? 
 
 The man awoke; humanity regained the upper 
 hand once more, the man witnessing the torture of 
 the son whom he had loved better than his life. 
 He knew what that terrible whip was like he had 
 just received its caresses. They mistake who say 
 that it is only mothers who love their children; the
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 measure of love for humanity lies in the gift of a 
 Father who sent his Son. 
 
 The man straightened out his arms and dragged 
 himself painfully to his feet. Strength returned to 
 him. He heard that shriek once more, and in the 
 silence a low mocking laugh. He knew it now. 
 The ship the captain he was the chosen instru 
 ment. "God have mercy upon us," he whispered, 
 starting forward. Like the blind Samson in his 
 hour of shame, his powers came back to him ; God 
 was with him. 
 
 As he struggled slowly to his feet, the lieutenant 
 commanding the marines happened to glance at him. 
 A moment before Captain Cunningham had stepped 
 backward toward the opening in the bulwarks, and, 
 looking at the hapless father, had laughed, sardoni 
 cally, a third time. That was his last laugh. 
 
 Before he realized it, a blood-stained, hideous 
 figure, its lurid face seamed and welted, with one 
 eye gone beaten into a shapeless pulp but with 
 the other looking hell into his own with burning 
 glance, sprang upon him like a storm. Two mighty 
 arms closed about him like a vise, crushing the life 
 out of him with their tremendous pressure. A 
 bold man was Captain Cunningham, and a hardy, 
 but the spirit went out of him then; and in that 
 fleeting moment he lived over some of the tortures 
 he had inflicted upon his helpless fellow-men. 
 Though the blood-boltered lips so near his own 
 made no sound, a voice whispered to his soul, 
 " Vengeance is wine ; I will repay." 
 
 The marine officer, as Martin sprang upon the 
 captain, seized a musket from the man next him, and 
 
 134
 
 THE JUDGMENT OF GOD 
 
 hastily giving the alarm, pulled the trigger. It was 
 too late. The bullet buried itself harmlessly in the 
 mainmast. No one dared fire again for fear of hit 
 ting the captain. 
 
 "Seize him, d n him," thickly groaned Cunning 
 ham, fumbling weakly for his sword. They were 
 his last words. The dazed officers and men sprang 
 at the two. Bat old Martin was too quick for them. 
 Raising the captain in his arms like a child, he 
 leaped with him, still tightly clasped in that fearful 
 embrace, through the open gangway. A little rope 
 looped across the top of the entrance broke like 
 paper they were gone gone forever from the 
 sight of man. A rush through the air, a sullen 
 splash, a ripple in the still water, a few bubbles on 
 the surface that was all.
 
 CHAPTER XXII 
 The End of the Gospel of Force 
 
 "\/OUNG Martin was not made of the strong stuff 
 i of his indomitable father. He had received 
 an heritage of weakness from his mother which had 
 endeared him to his father's iron heart, but which 
 ill-fitted him for experiences of this sort. A differ 
 ent ichor filled his veins, and a different spirit per 
 vaded his body; the sight of his father during and 
 after his flogging had almost undermined his cour 
 age. He nervously summoned all his resolution, 
 however, and it was not until the fifth lash upon his 
 thin and delicate shoulders that he gave way. The 
 terrible shrieks and groans to which he gave utter 
 ance had added the last touch to the strain upon the 
 overwrought old father, who, with the last remnant 
 of his vital force, had extended judgment upon the 
 captain. 
 
 From the time old Martin rose from the mast 
 until they disappeared beneath the water, but a few 
 seconds had elapsed. 
 
 "Man overboard! Every man to his station," 
 shouted Jamieson, recovering himself with the 
 promptitude of a sailor, as, after a moment of hor 
 rified surprise, the men came crowding aft. "Mr. 
 Swaim, stand by with the marines. Lay aft the 
 crew of the gig. Jump for life, men ! Overhaul the 
 
 136
 
 THE END OF THE GOSPEL OF FORCE 
 
 falls there. Mr. Price, go with them. Lower 
 away. " With incredible smartness the crew of the 
 gig of the dead captain tumbled into the boat, Lieu 
 tenant Price took command, and the boat dropped to 
 the water, and darted to the starboard side, where 
 the two had gone overboard. 
 
 "Ready!" said the clear voice of the marine 
 lieutenant, Swaim. "Take aim!" and the pieces of 
 the marine guard came up to the shoulders, cover 
 ing the crew with military precision. The crew,, 
 who had perhaps not intended any mutinous action, 
 though one never knows what would happen if the 
 iron rule of discipline were for a moment relaxed 
 upon an English ship, were at once cowed by this 
 prompt display of force, and settled back quietly to 
 their stations as before. But the long moments 
 wore away, and the captain and the sailor rose no 
 more to the surface. The tragedy was complete. 
 Justice had been done. Locked in each other's 
 arms, they drifted out to the sea; and it may be, 
 that, so clasped, they stood before the great judg 
 ment seat, each to plead his cause in person, in that 
 final day when the king and the captain stand on 
 the same rigid level with the peasant and the sailor, 
 where alone humanity finds equal justice and 
 impartiality, for there alone is God. 
 
 "Go over and report this to the officer command 
 ing the squadron. It's useless to look any longer 
 for them," finally called out Lieutenant Jamieson to 
 the officer in charge of the boat which had been 
 rowed carefully about the ship. "Meanwhile, I see 
 no reason why we should not finish the punishment 
 of the young one. Go on, bosun."
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 When the unfortunate young Martin was carried 
 below, after he had received one hundred and fifty 
 lashes, his constitution and nervous system had 
 been shattered and ruined for life. He was delirious 
 that night, and for several nights after; and when 
 he recovered, he was like a harmless, broken-spirited 
 child, mind and body irreparably wrecked. 
 
 At the appointed hour, in spite of what had 
 occurred, the sentence of the court-martial was 
 carried out upon the remaining prisoner; and the 
 unfortunate Badely, shrieking and cursing, and 
 struggling unavailingly as before, was run up to the 
 foreyard-arm, where he slowly choked to death, and 
 where he was left to hang, in ghastly warning, until 
 the morning. In spite of his horrid death, it was 
 hardly to be doubted that Fate had been more merci 
 ful to him than she had been to the other two. 
 
 The tale of Cunningham's death was long told in 
 both services. As he had a reputation for ferocity 
 and brutality unequalled, it was felt that there was 
 a sort of rude retributive justice in the manner 
 of his taking off. 
 
 NOTE. The punishment accorded these three men was not 
 considered in any way excessive, as desertion to the enemy and 
 service under his flag, was one of the most serious breaches of 
 discipline. As to flogging in general, it is of record, that, on 
 a ship commanded by one John Surnam Garden, called the 
 Macedonian, as late as iSn, a man received three hundred 
 lashes with the cat in two different instalments, merely for 
 having stolen a handkerchief, and that in despite of the fact 
 that the charge was not clearly proven ! It is a pleasure to add 
 that Garden and his ship were captured a year later by Decatur 
 and the frigate United States. 
 
 The English Navy maintained its control of the men by these 
 138
 
 THE END OF THE GOSPEL OF FORCE 
 
 and other severe punishments. It had not been so long since 
 men were keel-hauled ; that is, fastened to a continuous rope 
 which went from one yard-arm beneath the bottom of the ship 
 up to the yard-arm on the other side, the unfortunate subject 
 being dragged from one side to the other, until life was extinct. 
 Men had been spread-eagled across the cut-water, when the ship 
 was in motion, until they were beaten to death by the thrust of 
 the ship upon the waves. 
 
 In these particulars, England, bad as she was, was yet more 
 merciful than other continental nations. In the United States 
 Navy, keel-hauling and spread-eagling, as I have alluded to 
 them, were not permitted, and the use of the cat circumscribed 
 by severe regulations. While there were undoubtedly some 
 brutal and tyrannical officers in our service, the number was 
 trifling; and as opportunities for the indulgence of their pecu 
 liar proclivities were so limited, it may be stated that there 
 were little or none of the grosser forms of cruelty or oppression 
 in the service. 
 
 In ruling her men, England, and the rest of the world as well, 
 used the old gospel of force, while America used the new gospel 
 of love. I do not mean to convey the idea that the relation 
 between the officers and men of the American men-of-war was a 
 sentimental one. The discipline was as it always should be, 
 and must be in the naval service, stern and severe; human 
 beings are not made men without these things. And the obedi 
 ence exacted was prompt and unquestioned, but the severity 
 was tempered with mercy. The officers were considerate and 
 careful, just and humane, to their crews to a remarkable extent 
 in those ruder days ; while the crews repaid them in almost 
 every instance with a degree of devotion and attachment, which 
 conduced greatly to the remarkable efficiency of the service. 
 The honorable history of the United States Navy is disgraced 
 by no record of mutiny induced by oppression, and the same 
 cannot be said of any other nation. 
 
 There was every reason in the world why the American ships 
 should win when matched against English ships in equal single 
 combat. Some of the reasons have been stated, but the great 
 est of them all lay in this : that the gospel of love, even though 
 it be ever so lamely exhibited, and on a ship-of-war at that, 
 in the long run always triumphs over the gospel of force, be it 
 
 139
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 ever so fiercely proclaimed. Flogging has been entirely abol 
 ished in the United States Navy since the middle of the cen 
 tury, and in all other civilized navies as well. 
 
 The English sailor is treated as well as his American brother. 
 The cat-o'-nine-tails has become archaic, and is now relegated to 
 the collection of the curiosity seeker with the rack and the 
 thumbscrew.
 
 IV 
 A DASH FOR FREEDOM 
 
 141
 
 CHAPTER XXIII 
 Captain Fairford Takes Command 
 
 SHORTLY after sunset the rain began to come 
 down heavily and continuously, with ever- 
 increasing force, beating upon the decks of the 
 ships, and lashing the face of the water into foam ; 
 the wind rose until it blew a half gale, and the 
 night fell dark and stormy. The ships strained and 
 tugged at their anchors with restless uneasiness. 
 Inasmuch as the only naval force irf the bay, Com 
 modore Barney's gunboats, had been destroyed, and 
 the commodore himself desperately wounded, and 
 with the larger part of his seamen taken prisoners 
 after a most gallant defence (the only defence 
 worthy of the name there) at the battle of Bladens- 
 burg, where they had efficiently served a heavy 
 battery, the anchor watches upon the Narragansett, 
 and upon the other ships as well, which were charged 
 with looking after their welfare, were negligent and 
 careless in the extreme. 
 
 The three large bateaux, crowded with the mem 
 bers of the picked crew, whom Fairford had brought 
 with him, were able, favored by the darkness of the 
 night, and by the wind which blew down the bay, 
 and the tide just beginning to ebb, to pass by the two 
 larger ships and approach the Narragansett unde-
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 tected. To bring the boats alongside without attract 
 ing attention was an operation that required the 
 nicest skill. In this instance their efforts were 
 attended with perfect success. Fairford, who com 
 manded the largest boat, brought to upon the after 
 cable; the second boat, commanded by Ludlow, the 
 only other officer in the party, fastened upon the 
 forward cable; while the third, intrusted to the 
 guidance of that tried and veteran seaman, Rhodes, 
 swung gently alongside the starboard gangway. 
 
 "Wouldn't a cracked a eggshell with that 'ere 
 touch," muttered old Joseph, complacently, under 
 his breath, as he waited for the time to go aboard. 
 
 It had been arranged that Fairford and his men 
 should board from the stern first; the other two boat 
 crews were to remain in their boats for a short time, 
 or until they had slowly counted a hundred, when 
 they were to come aboard from their positions with 
 a rush, though with as little noise as possible, to pre 
 vent the alarm being given. When they got aboard 
 each party had received definite instructions as to 
 what it was to do. Even if successful, they could 
 hope for only a few moments of time before they 
 were seen from the other ships, and the quickest 
 kind of work would be necessary if they were to get 
 the Narragansett away. 
 
 Nothing avoidable had been left to chance. All 
 the members of the cutting-out expedition, with the 
 exception of the officers and the boatswain's mates, 
 had been deprived of their pistols, and were armed 
 only with cutlasses which had been sharpened to 
 razor edge. The cutlass was a more silent weapon 
 than the pistol at close quarters, and almost as sure, 
 
 144
 
 CAPTAIN FAIRFORD TAKES COMMAND 
 
 The men were all barefoot, and for recognition in 
 the darkness, by the captain's direction, each one 
 had tied a white handkerchief about his head. 
 
 There was, as usual, a Jacob's ladder depending 
 from the stern of the ship on either side. Fairford 
 waited the appointed time, or until he was sure the 
 other boats were at their stations. After having 
 detailed two men to act as boat-keepers, at the last 
 moment he appointed two others to remain on the 
 Jacob's ladders, abreast the stern windows of the 
 after cabin, with particular instructions to be fol 
 lowed out in case of a certain emergency. Then, 
 taking off his boots in the boat, and taking his 
 sword between his teeth, after giving a last whis 
 pered caution to his men to make no noise, he 
 climbed softly up the ladder, followed by the men. 
 
 They soon gained the poop-deck of the unprotected 
 frigate. In the thick darkness they could not see 
 a soul upon her decks. There was a faint light 
 streaming out from the hatch of the captain's cabin 
 beneath their feet; and as Fairford cautiously 
 looked through the glass, he saw several officers 
 sitting about the table, Sir James Heathcote among 
 them, to his great surprise, all engaged in earnest 
 conversation. Quietly signalling to the bulk of his 
 party to remain in readiness where they were until 
 called, he descended to the main-deck, followed by 
 several of the older men, cutlasses in hand, and 
 stopped at the starboard gangway to meet the boat 
 swain's mate, who, with his party, was soon stand 
 ing upon the deck beside him. 
 
 The only Englishmen upon the deck were the two 
 men of the anchor watch, who were standing on the 
 10 MS
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 topgallant forecastle in the lee of the foremast. 
 They were much astonished when powerful hands, 
 suddenly, and without warning, seized them from 
 behind. Turning in quick surprise to see what was 
 the matter, before either of them could cry out or 
 give the alarm, one was promptly choked into 
 insensibility by the firm grasp of Fairford's sinewy 
 hands about his throat, and the other, receiving the 
 knotty fist of the boatswain's mate full in the face, 
 backed by all the force of that doughty gentleman's 
 arm, fell like a log to the deck. So far the boarders 
 had wonderful luck. Ludlow's men were signalled 
 to, and now came pouring over the bow. The young 
 captain spoke hurriedly: 
 
 " Rhodes, take a dozen of your men to the gun 
 deck, and cover the hatches securely to restrain the 
 crew. Mr. Ludlow, detail some of yours to secure 
 those who are quartered in the forecastle. Fasten 
 the sliding doors and the hatches, if you can, and do 
 not allow the crew to be awakened, if avoidable. I 
 will attend to the wardroom and cabin. You will 
 take the 'deck until I return. Send men aloft to 
 loose the three topsails and the foresail, and get 
 .the ship underway. While the others are making 
 sail, do you cut the cables and slip away. Let 
 the boats go adrift." All this, which was but a re 
 hearsal of previous directions, was said in a hurried 
 whisper. 
 
 "Ay, ay, sir," responded Ludlow and Rhodes, as 
 the captain ran aft, and the men, perfectly under 
 standing the orders and their duties, quickly sprang 
 to their appointed tasks. But the presence of nearly 
 one hundred men upon the decks of the ship, in 
 
 146
 
 CAPTAIN FAIRFORD TAKES COMMAND 
 
 spite of the noise of the rain, and every other pre 
 caution they had taken and the seamen had movedi 
 about as quietly as cats attracted the attention of 
 some of the older British seamen forward, and they 
 sprang from their hammocks with a vague sense of 
 uneasiness, to see what had occurred. When they 
 found the berth-deck hatches covered, and the slid 
 ing doors in the forecastle fastened, barring their 
 escape from their quarters, they immediately realized 
 that something was wrong, and began to pound on. 
 the doors and hatch covers with their fists, and 
 immediately awakened the other sleepers with their 
 hasty cries. 
 
 Some of Ludlow's men, in the meanwhile, had 
 entered the wardroom by the companion hatch, and 
 as the officers in their berths awofce in the confu 
 sion, each one found himself guarded by a resolute 
 sailor with a drawn cutlass, who commanded him to- 
 lie still if he valued his life. All of them lay still. 
 At the same moment Fairford entered the cabin,, 
 followed by the remainder of his men. 
 
 "Gentlemen," he said to the astonished officers, 
 "you are my prisoners." 
 
 "Who are you, sir? " cried Jamieson, starting up, 
 while Sir James threw up his hands in amazement, 
 and exclaimed, 
 
 " Mr. Fairford ! How came you here ? " 
 
 "My government," responded Fairford, smiling 
 grimly, "appointed me captain of this ship, and I 
 am come to take command. I hope I find you well, 
 Sir James? " 
 
 At this moment, after a quick look of intelli 
 gence between Jamieson and another officer, each 
 
 M7
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 one sprang at the after-cabin window nearest him. 
 Jamieson threw open the sash and called loudly, 
 
 " Ahoy the " 
 
 He never finished the sentence, for a bullet from 
 Fairford's pistol silenced him forever. The other 
 officer, as the Americans rushed around the table 
 toward him, seeing the, fate of his superior, made no 
 attempt to cry out, hoping to save a shot; but, 
 jumping upon the transom, tore open the sash, and 
 endeavored to leap through the port, trusting that if 
 he could once get into the water he could escape in 
 the darkness, or, in any event, give the alarm. 
 But the sailor outside, upon the Jacob's ladder, who 
 had been stationed there in anticipation of this very 
 contingency, and whose attention had been attracted 
 by the report of the pistol, was ready for the man. 
 
 He was not placed conveniently for striking; but, 
 as he saw the officer's head and shoulders silhouetted 
 against the brilliant light of the window, his arm 
 shortened, and he drove the cutlass home in the 
 side of the man's neck. Almost before his pursuers 
 reached him, the Englishman's muscles relaxed, 
 and he fell limply across the transom, half in -and 
 half out of the port, blood pouring from his wounds. 
 In a few seconds he was dead. The other officers 
 had been roughly seized by the excited sailors, and 
 Fairford was now master of the ship. 
 
 "Sir James," he said to that gentleman, "what 
 are you doing here?" 
 
 " I am going back to England." 
 
 "Not on this ship if I know it," answered 
 -Pairford. 
 
 " Won't you set me ashore, then? " 
 u.8
 
 CAPTAIN FAIRFORD TAKES COMMAND 
 
 "I must get away first. I am rather pressed for 
 time, you see," was the reply. 
 
 At this moment the door of trie port cabin opened, 
 and Evelyn Heathcote, who had been awakened by 
 the shot and the confusion, came forth into the 
 light, arrayed in a white dressing-robe. 
 
 "Good heavens, a woman ! Miss Heathcote! Is 
 she aboard as well? " exclaimed Fairford in astonish 
 ment and dismay; and then, mindful of the duties 
 devolving upon him, while a frightened shriek burst 
 from the startled English girl as she saw the dead 
 body of Jamieson at her feet, he rushed back to the 
 deck. 
 
 The hatches which confined the *men below had 
 been opened a little, and a few vigorous threats 
 from the boatswain's mate to the effect that their 
 captors would open fire if the prisoners did not keep 
 silent had the effect of quieting them. The shrouds 
 were shaking under the feet of the men swarming 
 aloft to make sail; but the noise and confusion had, 
 of course, grown louder and louder with every pass 
 ing moment, and Jamieson's hail and Fairford's 
 shot had at last attracted the attention of the men 
 upon the other ships. The boat-keepers in the 
 bateaux had hastily passed on board the things 
 which had been left with them when the attack 
 began ; the cables were cut, the boats cast off, and 
 the ship began to drift slowly out with the ebb 
 tide. 
 
 At this moment a voice from the large frigate 
 hailed. No answer to this hail was made on the 
 Narragansett. A moment later the flapping of the 
 heavy canvas above them showed that the men aloft 
 
 149
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 "had accomplished their task. They had loosed sail 
 with incredible swiftness, in the emergency, not 
 taking time to cast off the gaskets, but had cut 
 them with their sheath knives. Suddenly a bright 
 flare was made on the forecastle of the English 
 frigate. 
 
 The light from some inflammable substance plainly 
 discovered the situation of the Narragansett. Sharp 
 words of command were heard instantly from both 
 of the English ships, followed by the rapid roll of 
 their drums calling their crews to quarters. Their 
 cables were cut at once, and a shift of the helm, as 
 the larger one slowly gathered way, brought the bow 
 guns to bear on the Narragansett, and the roar of 
 their discharge broke the stillness of the night. All 
 necessity for secrecy and quietness was, of course, 
 at an end. 
 
 "Down from aloft ! Down for your lives, men!" 
 shouted Fairford. " Lead along the main topsail 
 halyards; man the sheets; jump, my hearties; 
 hands by the foresheets there; overhaul the brails 
 forward; tend the braces; sheet home; hoist 
 away ! " 
 
 The crew, making up in zeal and excitement for 
 what they lacked in numbers, soon mastheaded the 
 ponderous yard, the sheets were hauled home, the 
 foresail came down with a run. Next they tailed on 
 to the gear of the fore and mizzen topsails, then of 
 the spanker and jib, and finally of the main topgal 
 lant sail. The wind was already blowing a half 
 gale, growing stronger with every moment; and 
 though the royal yards were not crossed, it was 
 doubtful if she could have borne even the other top-
 
 CAPTAIN FAIRFORD TAKES COMMAND 
 
 gallant sails, or whether much would have been 
 added thereby to her speed. 
 
 By Fairford's direction, every light was at once 
 extinguished, and the Narragansett, having obtained 
 a good start, soon disappeared from the view of her 
 pursuers, who had ceased firing, and made sail with 
 surprising swiftness. Though the British had lost 
 sight of the chase, they knew she must continue 
 down the bay, and they hoped either to overhaul her 
 speedily, or else drive her into the hands of those 
 British ships which were always cruising about the 
 mouth of the bay. 
 
 So far Fairford had been favoi*ed in the most 
 extraordinary way by good fortune ; but his chances 
 of escape, under ordinary circumstances, were about 
 one in a thousand. In an undermanned ship, with 
 more prisoners than his own crew numbered, totally 
 unfamiliar with the ship itself and her plan, shut up 
 in enclosed waters, filled with ships of the enemy, 
 his undertaking was, indeed, desperate, and the 
 prospect of success a dark one. .Matched against 
 these odds were the indomitable nature of the young 
 sailor, his rare skill, the ability and experience of 
 Ludlow, his second in command, the devotion of 
 her crew, the reputed sailing capacity of the new 
 Narragansett, her bottom clean from the shipyard, 
 his own knowledge of the bay, and his own resolu 
 tion not to be captured. When an unexpected, 
 though apparently a feeble ally, was thrown into the 
 balance, like the mouse which gnawed the net 
 restraining the lion, in the prospect before them 
 appeared a slight gleam of hope.
 
 CHAPTER XXIV 
 
 A Letter and its Answer 
 
 ALOW fire, to dispel the dampness of the rainy 
 night, was burning upon the broad hearth of 
 the little reception-room opening out of the great 
 hall in Colonel Barrett's house. The colonel him 
 self was seated in his great arm-chair near the table, 
 upon which a pair of lighted candelabra were stand 
 ing. He was dressed with his usual care, though he 
 looked older and thinner than the night of the duel. 
 He was reading from a ponderous tome, and his 
 right foot, swathed in bandages until it looked pre- 
 ternaturally huge in the flickering firelight, was 
 extended upon a rest before him. 
 
 It was very late, but the colonel could not sleep, 
 and his daughter was keeping him company. The 
 colonel had the gout, and, like every other indi 
 vidual afHicted with that painful disease, he en 
 deavored to console himself with the reflection that 
 it was the most aristocratic of ailments. No great 
 degree of comfort did he find in this consideration, 
 ""however, and it was only by the exercise of the most 
 intense self-control that he refrained from crying 
 out. 
 
 The colonel was a gentleman of culture, and a 
 devoted Churchman as well ; but when the pangs
 
 A LETTER AND ITS ANSWER 
 
 became unbearably excessive, his habits of speech 
 reverted to the days of the past, when he had been a 
 soldier, and a muttered oath escaped him. It would 
 be a mild sort of oath, as oaths go, if any oaths evdr 
 can be called mild, but whenever it broke from his 
 lips he glanced at his daughter, who sat opposite 
 him in a low chair, with a small leather box, in 
 which she kept her most precious treasures, lying 
 on her lap. 
 
 When she heard the infrequent ejaculations, her 
 gray eyes would look reproachfully at him, until a 
 feeling of shame pervaded his heart^ which was just 
 as inefficacious, by the way, as had been his former 
 reflections in subduing the pain. He would shake 
 his head mournfully, make a new resolution, and go 
 back to his book. 
 
 Margaret was indulging in idle dreams. The 
 subject of her thought was, of course, the sailor 
 whom she deemed far away. 
 
 It was so long since she had seen him, and they 
 had parted in anger. How handsome he looked in 
 his uniform that day, at the end of the porch, as he 
 stood bareheaded before her, the sunlight falling 
 upon his sunny, curly hair. How he quivered upon 
 his foot before he turned away! But what an 
 imperious monster he had been the night before; 
 how she hated to be domineered by anybody much 
 less a man yet if Blake would only come back 
 again; if she could only see him once more was 
 there not something about obey in the marriage 
 service ? Of course they were not married, she 
 blushed hotly at the very thought of her heart, 
 they were not married then, anyhow, and how mean
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 it had been of him to insist, before them all, in that 
 regal way. How did he expect her to know the de 
 tails of that waltz? 
 
 It was a hateful dance, she thought, at the same 
 time beginning to hum the air, and unconsciously to 
 tap the floor with her foot, in time; but she would 
 teach it to Blake when was there ever going to be 
 a when, she wondered ? She opened the box softly, 
 she was such a foolish little thing, she thought, and 
 looked within it for the hundredth time that day 
 as usual. There were a dozen or more brief letters 
 in Fairford's big, bold hand. Nice, brotherly letters 
 they were, too. Pshaw! she didn't want to be his 
 sister at all ! 
 
 There was a red rose, dried and faded, which he 
 had refused to take from her hand ; also there was a 
 little sunny curl tied with a ribbon of navy blue. 
 What a fool she was ! Not like the proud and stately 
 Evelyn Heathcote, whose going away that day had 
 been such a heartbreak to her. Evelyn was so 
 calm and contented but, then, Evelyn knew she 
 was loved ; that made all the difference in the 
 world. She was such a splendid girl, and so beau 
 tiful, how was it that Blakely had not fallen in love 
 with her? There came a piteous tug at the poor 
 little heartstrings. Perhaps he had! 
 
 She heaved a long sigh, and her eyes suffused 
 with tears. At this moment a particularly vicious 
 twinge caused the colonel to raise his eyes from his 
 book. Something in the despondent attitude of the 
 limp little figure before him attracted his attention. 
 
 "Da confound this infernal foot," he broke out. 
 "What's the matter with you, Margaret? You
 
 A LETTER AND ITS ANSWER 
 
 look as if you had lost your last friend ; and what is 
 that little leather box which I see in your hand so 
 much, any way? It seems to me " 
 
 But the colonel never finished the sentence. He 
 was interrupted ; there was a strange sound outside 
 upon the porch, a sound as of some one crawling 
 and dragging something. During a brief pause in the 
 rain-storm they heard, quite plainly, a feeble voice 
 crying, 
 
 "Ahoy the house! Ahoy! Help! Help!" 
 
 "Some one in trouble, I suppose," said Margaret, 
 as she sprang to her feet. * 
 
 "Those confounded British again," exclaimed the 
 colonel, wrathfully. " I suppose it will be our turn 
 now since Sir James Heathcote has gone. They 
 have ravaged every other plantation on the bay long 
 since. Pull the bell yonder, daughter. " 
 
 As the old negro house-servant made his appear 
 ance in answer to the summons, a feeble knock, 
 which seemed to come from the floor in front of the 
 'hall door, was heard, followed by the sound of a 
 sudden collapse against it. 
 
 "Go to the door, Cicero, there's some one out 
 there," commanded the colonel. 
 
 The negro, who, with others of his class, lived in 
 a constant state of apprehension on account of the 
 danger they were in from British marauding parties, 
 hesitated a moment; his face showed his fear, but 
 the habit of obedience was still strong upon him, 
 and he turned to comply with the directions he had 
 received. Margaret, who had observed his terror, 
 reassured him by following him out into the hall, 
 saying, 
 
 155
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 "Don't be alarmed, Uncle Cis. I will take care 
 of you. " 
 
 When the door was thrown open, Cicero, in spite 
 of his powerful ally, jumped back in consternation, 
 as a wet, bedraggled form, which had been propped 
 against the door, fell prone at his feet. 
 
 " Good Gord, wha wha wha 's dat ? It's a daid 
 man," he added, after a pause, his teeth chattering 
 with terror, as he started back. 
 
 " It 's only a man, anyway, Cicero, what are you 
 afraid of?" replied Margaret, calmly; "drag him 
 into the hall and close the door. He is dead, or, 
 possibly, he has only fainted." 
 
 Obeying his mistress' command, the man was 
 soon laid upon the floor of the hall. The reassured 
 Cicero knelt down by him, and laid his ear near his 
 heart, which was feebly beating. 
 
 "He ain't daid yit, Miss Margit." 
 
 " What is it, Margaret ? " called out the colonel's 
 voice. 
 
 " It 's a man, father. He seems to have fainted." 
 
 "Bring him in here, Cicero. Call Tullius to 
 help you." 
 
 "Yas, suh. You, Tullius, come heah." 
 
 The colonel was a classic scholar, and the great 
 Roman orator was one of his favorites; therefore his 
 valet was called Marcus, and his butler and footman 
 rejoiced, severally, under the remaining portions of 
 the name. 
 
 " Lay him down upon the rug before the fire. 
 Here 's the key to the sideboard. Tell Marcus to 
 bring me that bottle of old French cognac, quick! 
 Now, Margaret, give him this," added the colonel, 
 
 156
 
 A LETTER AND ITS ANSWER 
 
 as his commands were obeyed, pouring a draught 
 from the bottle handed to him by the servant. 
 
 It was quite evident, from his dress, that the man 
 lying on the floor was a seafaring man. He wore 
 broad, long-flowing trousers, a loose blue shirt with 
 wide collar open at the throat, a short jacket, and a 
 belt with the cutlass and pistol still attached. His 
 face was scratched and torn, as if from contact with 
 bushes, his clothing soaked, and his hands and face 
 covered with mud. As Margaret poured the fiery 
 stimulant down his throat, he opened his eyes, and 
 with the true instinct of a sailor, Ss he tasted the 
 burning liquor, the like of which for quality had 
 probably never before touched his lips, he gave vent 
 to one expressive word, 
 
 " More ! " 
 
 "Give him another," said the colonel. When he 
 had received it, with a sigh of blissful content he 
 lifted himself, slowly, to a sitting position, and, 
 supporting himself on his hands, blinked curiously 
 about him. He then attempted to draw up his 
 legs, preparatory to getting upon his feet. As he 
 did so, his face whitened with pain, and he sank 
 back upon the floor, while a muttered oath escaped 
 his clenched teeth. 
 
 "What's the matter with you," said the colonel, 
 smiling, with evident sympathy, "have you the 
 gout also? " 
 
 "Gout, sir? No, sir, but a shot from them 
 British, sir, carried away my left leg. It 's broke 
 short off at the cat-harpins, an' I can't carry sail on 
 it no more but beggin' your pardin, sir, I 've got 
 to go on. I 've got to find Colonel Barrett, a railing-
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 tary gent what lives in these parts. Can ye give 
 me his bearin's, sir?" 
 
 As Margaret started, the colonel silenced her by 
 a wave of the hand. He would inquire further of 
 this seafaring person before he disclosed himself in 
 these uncertain times. 
 
 " What do you want him for? " 
 
 " I 've got a message for him but beggin' your 
 pardon, sir, I must heave ahead. I 'm too late as it 
 is now, but with this da da askin' your pardon 
 again, sir an' the young lady's this consarned 
 leg draggin' astern of me, I don't know how I 'm 
 ever to find him." 
 
 " What is your name, my man ? " 
 
 " George Spicer, sir, captain of the foretop on the 
 frigate Narragansett, Cap'n Fairford leastways, I 
 will be, after we cut her out to-night," he added. 
 
 "Father," cried Margaret, in great excitement, 
 "it is a messenger from Blakely. He intends to 
 capture that ship anchored in the bay to-night. 
 Don't you see? " 
 
 " Lord love ye, miss, so he is. However did you 
 find it out?" said the astonished sailor. 
 
 " We thought he was in Maine, but he must have 
 come down here, father. Is he well? Where is he 
 now, Mr. Spicer?" continued the girl. 
 
 "Don't call me mister, lady. I ain't no mister. 
 Just plain George Spicer; I am " 
 
 "My man," said the colonel, impatiently, "if you 
 have any message, out with it. I am Colonel 
 Barrett." 
 
 " Lord, now, be ye ? " said Master Spicer, in 
 great surprise; "then I've got something mor 'n a 
 
 158
 
 A LETTER AND ITS ANSWER 
 
 message for ye," he added, pulling from the bosom 
 of his frock a letter enclosed in an oilskin packet, 
 which Tullius handed to the colonel. Tearing open 
 the oilskin and the envelope, after first identifying 
 Fairford's well-known seal on the outside, the 
 Colonel handed it to his daughter. 
 
 "Read it, Margaret; it must be of importance." 
 As Margaret recognized the familiar handwriting, 
 her heart gave a great bound. A wave of joy had 
 overwhelmed her when the realization of her lover's 
 nearness had been brought home to her, from which 
 she was still trembling; but as she read on the 
 color faded out of her cheeks, and when she had 
 finished the brief note she laid it upon the table 
 with a long sigh of terror. 
 
 "Read it aloud," said the colonel, impatiently; 
 and, as she obeyed him, this is what the letter 
 said : 
 
 My dear Colonel, / am engaged in a very des 
 perate and secret undertaking to-night for our beloved 
 country. You may -depend upon George Spicer, the 
 man who brings you this, as a trusty and faithful fellow. 
 I ask you to give him a horse, and a good one, though 
 you may never see it again, and a guide as well, for a 
 purpose which he will explain to you. 
 
 For God 's sake, as you love our cause, give him this 
 assistance at whatever cost. Though this last is a 
 small matter, I will add that my life and liberty as 
 well, probably depend upon your action. My love and 
 duty to Margaret. No more. 
 
 In haste, your affectionate kinsman, 
 
 Blakely Fitzhugh Fairford* 
 159
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 "Oho!" said the colonel, his face lightening as a 
 soldier's might before a coming battle, "some 
 thing's up. Well, what is it, my man?" 
 
 "Why, sir, Cap'n Fairford is goin' to cut out the 
 Narragansett where she rides at her anchors below 
 here, to-night. He told me to tell you he was goin' 
 to get away about six bells eleven o'clock, if he 
 succeeds. " 
 
 " It 's half after that now," ejaculated the colonel, 
 looking at the clock. "Go on." 
 
 "Then he's goin' to head down the bay for them 
 three three dash it all, beggin' your pardon, sir, 
 I forgit the name." 
 
 "Three Moaning Sisters' Islands," suggested 
 Margaret. "Go on." 
 
 "Thankee, miss, that's it; them 's the place, an' 
 he thinks he'll reach there by three bells in the 
 mid watch " 
 
 "Half -past one o'clock," said the colonel; "go 
 on, go on." 
 
 " He wants to run in through the passage between 
 them islands an' the main shore, so 's the British 
 ships which '11 be comin' after him will slip by him, 
 while he lays snug under the lee of the land, an' 
 then in the mornin' he'll run on down the bay an' 
 out to sea. It 's the only way he can escape bein' 
 took agin." 
 
 "Splendid!" cried the colonel. "Capital! But 
 what does he wish us to do?" 
 
 " He says he can't git in that there passage unless 
 there's a light on the little p'int opposite them 
 female islands, an' I 'm to git a horse an' a lantern, 
 an' ride down there and watch the bay, aa' when I 
 
 1 60
 
 A LETTER AND ITS ANSWER 
 
 see two lights, a white one an' a red one, with the 
 red above, I'm to light the lantern an' swing it 
 three times athwart ships, an' three times alow an' 
 aloft, an' then hold it steady till he comes in abaft 
 the island, an' then I 'm to wait until he sends a 
 boat off for me." 
 
 "I see," said the colonel, eagerly; "go on, 
 Spicer." 
 
 "Yes, sir, that's all. Now will you give me a 
 light an' a horse? I should have been here an hour 
 ago; but when I was passin* a little camp of them 
 bloody landsharks aft there, one of 'em fired at me 
 an' bowled me over, as I said. I had the good luck 
 to roll down into a little shallow creek, an' I lay 
 hid under some overhangin' trees until they hauled 
 their wind an' give up the chase, sayin' they guessed 
 they'd made a mistake; an' then I crawled out of 
 the creek on my hands an' knees, a draggin' the 
 other leg behind me like a sea anchor; an' as I 
 come rollin' over the fields before the wind, I raised 
 the light from your windows an 1 beat up to the door, 
 an' here I am, sir, an' awful dry my throat is now," 
 said the seaman, exhausted by the pain from his 
 broken leg and the blood he had lost, and by the 
 long speech he had made. 
 
 " Give him another nip, Marcus. Well, sir, you 
 can't ride a horse or do anything else with that leg 
 of yours," said the colonel. 
 
 "For God's sake, sir," returned the unconscious 
 hero, " I 've got to do it. The cap'n, he told me 
 the safety of the ship depended on me. Leg or no 
 leg, that there light has got to be lighted. It 's 
 orders." 
 
 ii 161
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 "Then I '11 have to send a man, myself, to do it. 
 You have done nobly, already, my man, and what 
 you need now is a bed and a doctor. Cicero, sup 
 pose you get ready and do this errand." 
 
 "Me, suh? Foh de lub of hebin, Mars Kunnel, 
 doan sen" me, suh. I 's too ole, suh, an' too hebby; 
 yais, suh. My, hit's hit's fifteen miles, suh, up 
 de road ter dat p'int, an' dere's less 'en two 'ouahs 
 foh ter do hit in, suh; please, suh, sen' one ob de 
 young boys, suh." 
 
 "Yes," said the colonel, reflectively, "you are 
 rather too fat for fast riding, I fear. Tullius, you, 
 then." 
 
 "Oh, suh, Mars Bah'et, you wouldn't go foh ter 
 sen' a po' ole niggah laik me, wid my roomastick 
 back, out in de rain laik dis, suh? Oh, Mars, I 
 got dat plumbago agin, now, suh," said the man, 
 laying a hand upon his back, and groaning and 
 writhing in well-simulated anguish. 
 
 "Shut up, you old fraud," said the colonel, 
 "you, Marcus? You're young enough and light 
 enough, too." 
 
 "Mars Kunnel," said the terrified valet, falling 
 on his knees, " I rudder be whupped daid, suh, dan 
 tek dat ride. Wid dem 'rauders a layin' foh ter 
 captuh we-uns evywha, an' den de ghoses of dem 
 wimmen on dat island deed, suh, dey ain't none 
 ob de boys on de plantation gwine go, deed dey 
 ain't, suh " 
 
 "You miserable cowards," said the colonel, "I 
 knew it, of course. " 
 
 He looked helplessly from the wounded sailor to 
 the cowering, shivering, terrified negroes.
 
 A LETTER AND ITS ANSWER 
 
 "You see, I'll have to go, sir," said the sailor; 
 "it's reachin' on to eight bells now; for God's 
 sake, bear a hand with the horse." 
 
 "Nonsense, you cannot; I '11 go myself," said the 
 colonel, momentarily oblivious, leaping to his feet, 
 whence he immediately sank back upon his chair, 
 groaning in agony. 
 
 "A little sprung in the partners yourself, I see, 
 your honor. Lord love you," said the sailor, 
 "gimme the horse." 
 
 "Father, I will go," said Margaret, boldly; 
 "there is no one else. I know the way, and I have 
 fully two hours to do it." 
 
 "Ridiculous! Absurd!" said the colonel. "What! 
 trust you alone, with the wood full of marauding 
 parties, and all the loose characters of the district 
 come to the surface, and at this hour, are you 
 crazy ? " 
 
 "No," said Margaret, bravely, though she shud 
 dered at the possible terrors indicated by her father; 
 "but some one must go. None of the slaves will, 
 or, if they would, they would be so frightened when 
 they got there, they would be of no use. You can 
 not go, this sailor cannot go, we have no time to 
 send for any one else I must go. I will ride my 
 beauty, Clifford there 's nothing on this side of the 
 bay can catch him I know the road perfectly ; I 
 could follow it blindfold." 
 
 "I tell you, you shall not go." 
 
 "Father, I must. It's for the sake of our 
 country, and for Blake's sake as well," she added, 
 at the dictation of her heart, in which the order of 
 reasons was reversed. " If he is to save his cap- 
 
 163
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 tured ship, he must have that light to guide him in. 
 You know in what sore straits the country is now, 
 and how rejoiced the land will be if they escape 
 with the ship. If anything does happen to me, I 
 will only be giving what hundreds of others have 
 given, my life for my country " and my love, 
 prompted her heart, but she did not speak the words 
 aloud. "You are a soldier, and I am a soldier's 
 daughter. Say that I may go. You must say it, 
 father." 
 
 The colonel wavered, but there was evidently no 
 alternative. 
 
 "It 's awful to think of it," he said, finally, "but 
 I suppose you must." His reluctant assent being 
 given, he became all business at once. "Tullius, 
 go and have Clifford saddled and brought around to 
 the front door, quick ! Cicero, fetch me the silver- 
 mounted flask from the sideboard. You, Marcus, 
 get my pistols from the case in my chamber. Run 
 quickly, daughter, and change your clothing. Put 
 on a heavy suit,' and take that military cape of 
 mine, wear your heavy riding-boots as well; and, 
 without fail, take my flint and steel also, else you 
 might arrive at the end of your journey and not be 
 able to strike a light. I will have one of the men 
 prepare a lantern for you, which you can hang to 
 your saddle bow in an oilskin bag. Hasten; you 
 have but a little time left in which to make the 
 distance, and, at best, must ride fast and hard. I 
 can't bear to see her go," he added, as she ran from 
 the room. Spicer groaned with disappointment. 
 
 "Curse this leg of mine," he growled; "it should 
 have been better stayed." 
 
 '164
 
 A LETTER AND ITS ANSWER 
 
 In a short time the girl returned, attired in a. 
 rather short-skirted riding-habit, and booted and 
 spurred for her journey. Her dainty form was 
 enveloped in her father's long military coat; on her 
 head she had a little cocked hat, tightly tied by 
 a handkerchief under her chin; her cheeks were 
 flushed, her eyes shining, her mouth resolutely 
 closed. She had slipped the little packet of letters 
 and the other contents of her box inside the bosom 
 of her dress; the flask of brandy went into the 
 pocket of her coat; she tucked the precious flint and 
 steel inside of her dress, near the letters, so that by 
 no possibility could they be lost. The hmtern, 
 carefully encased in the waterproof bag, stood on 
 the table. Margaret came in and knelt at the side 
 of her father's chair; the old man laid his hands 
 upon her cheeks, and looked into her upturned 
 face. 
 
 " May God guard you, daughter ! " he said, 
 solemnly. " May He help you to discharge your 
 errand, and bring you safe back to me. Would that 
 I had a son, to spare you this," he added, as she 
 rose to her feet. 
 
 " I will do the best I can to take his place, 
 father," answered Margaret, simply. 
 
 " I know that, my brave daughter ; no woman 
 could do more." 
 
 She stooped and kissed him, and turned away, 
 resolutely choking down a sob. 
 
 "Missy," said Spicer, who had watched the scene 
 respectfully, catching her gown as she passed, "when 
 you see the men on the boat the cap'n promised to 
 send for me after the ship got under the lee of the 
 
 '65
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 shore, won't you tell 'em to tell him that I done my 
 duty?" 
 
 "I will, surely," promised Margaret; and, not 
 trusting herself to look at her father again, she 
 hurried out of the room. 
 
 166
 
 CHAPTER XXV 
 Into the Midnight 
 
 /'""CLIFFORD, held by the negro groom, was stand- 
 \~s ing at the foot of the steps, restlessly pawing 
 the muddy roadway. He was a graceful, beautiful 
 animal, with long, clean-cut slender limbs, thin 
 withers and flanks, and an easy action, bespeaking 
 speed. His deep barrel-like chest gave evidence of 
 his ability to breathe when breath came hard, and 
 his heart was breaking in some wild gallop. His 
 back slightly curved, and with a springing arch 
 over the loins covering the powerful muscles of his 
 quarters, told the story of a rare strength and 
 endurance. 
 
 His small, full-brained head, with its thin ears, 
 full soft eyes, fine muzzle, dilating nostrils, and wide 
 lower jaw, spoke of intelligence and feeling; and a 
 slight concavity of the frontal bone added a hall 
 mark of good breeding to his other excellencies. 
 In color he was a glossy-coated chestnut sorrel, with 
 a white blaze upon his forehead; in disposition he 
 was spirited and strong, yet gentle as a woman and 
 playful as a child ; in lineage he was as high-bred as 
 a noble, and, withal, responsively devoted to his 
 young mistress, who loved him as the proverbial 
 Arab loves his steed. 
 
 167
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 No one had ever ridden him but she, and he 
 was her own exclusive property. The girl and 
 the horse had been familiar companions in many 
 delightful rides over the hills and far away, but 
 they had never undertaken such a journey as that 
 upon which they were about entering this night. 
 The horse was prancing and curvetting, arching 
 his neck, and pawing the ground in impatient pro 
 test at being called out at this untoward hour, and 
 in irritation at the beating of the rain, which had 
 commenced again, harder than before, upon his del 
 icate skin. 
 
 "Clifford," said Margaret, stepping to his head, 
 as he brought his wet muzzle down against her 
 dainty cheek, " I hate to take you out. I am afraid 
 as death to go myself, but it has to be done. We 
 are riding for life and country and love, this time, 
 and you must bear me safe," she whispered. 
 
 "All ready now, Miss Margit," said the groom, 
 who had been fastening to the saddle the bag con 
 taining the lantern. 
 
 "Miss Margit," called out Marcus, from the door, 
 "Mars Kunnel, he say luk ter de saddle girt, 
 yo'sef, missy, an' de bridle, an' de hoss, too, so's 
 ter mek shuah, an' he say ef you meet de enemy in 
 de paf de bes' way is ter ride him down, an' he say 
 Gord bress you again." 
 
 "Tell him I shall be all right," returned Mar 
 garet. The girl followed out the practical sug 
 gestions of her soldier father, looked carefully to 
 the saddle girths, tested the stirrups as well, then 
 fingered the buckles and straps of the bridle to 
 see all secure, examined the lashings which held 
 
 1 68
 
 INTO THE MIDNIGHT 
 
 the lantern to the saddle, and finally thrust the 
 colonel's pistols into the holsters, in accordance 
 with his directions. 
 
 "Everything is all right, Sam," she said to the 
 groom; then, stepping on the horse-block, and lift 
 ing her foot into his massive hand, she swung her 
 small self into the saddle, gathered up the reins in 
 her firm little hands, and spoke a word to Clifford, 
 who bounded forward into the night. 
 
 "D n this gout," said the colonel, wiping his 
 eyes; "it makes me cry like a baby." 
 
 "Yes, sir," said Master Spicer, sympathetically 
 eying him, "I understand, sir." 
 
 Margaret wa*s too good a horsewoman to exhaust 
 the capabilities of her steed in the first period of 
 her journey, so she restrained his ardent desire to 
 go on, with a firm hand upon the controlling bridle, 
 and rapidly cantered up the road which ran parallel 
 to the shore of the bay for a short distance before it 
 turned inward, and cut off, like a bow-string, the 
 long, out-springing curve made by the jutting-out 
 shore of the bay. It was plain and easy going 
 within the familiar and sheltered limits of their 
 own plantation; and when she reached the great 
 gateway which opened upon the road, she drew rein 
 a moment, and looked back toward the house. 
 
 The light from the window of the little room she 
 had just left, the shutters of which had been thrown 
 open, streamed out into the night; the old colonel 
 had risen to his feet in spite of the pain, and, lean 
 ing upon the supporting shoulder of Marcus, with 
 lifted hand shading his eyes, was looking vainly 
 out into the darkness, in the direction in which he 
 
 169
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 knew she must have gone. A great sob rose in her 
 throat at the sight of her old father, and her own 
 tears mingled with the rain-drops which beat upon 
 her cheek. 
 
 "This will never do; we lose time," she said at 
 length. Then, nervously lifting the reins from the 
 neck of the impatient horse, and turning away her 
 head, she added, " Come, Clifford, we must get on. 
 We have work to do." 
 
 She started slowly this time; but the canter of 
 the horse grew more and more rapid, until, in a 
 short time, he broke into a gallop. Throwing up 
 his head, and shaking it, from time to time, impa 
 tiently, he gave such evidence as a dumb horse 
 could, of his wish for a relaxation of the tight grasp 
 of the restraining little hand upon the reins; until, 
 presently, receiving the desired response to his 
 mute appeal, he went flying through the night, in a 
 long swinging gallop, which carried her over the 
 ground at a great pace. 
 
 The road was a familiar one to Margaret, although 
 she had never before seen it Under such circum 
 stances, and she gave the horse his way without hesi 
 tation. She was alone at midnight, in the dense 
 wood on either hand alone but for the companion 
 ship of her horse. It was pitch dark; the world 
 was only a blur to her, except when the lightning 
 flashed; she felt like an isolated point in a sea of 
 blackness; but, aided by her vivid imagination, the 
 familiar objects of daylight began to come to life 
 and take strange shapes and mysterious forms in the 
 shrouding darkness. The trees, showing only as 
 black blurs, raced beside her as if instinct with 
 
 170
 
 INTO THE MIDNIGHT 
 
 infernal life; the dark sky seemed to bend low over 
 the road ; and from either side there stretched out 
 long waving arms, as if to clasp her in some ghost 
 like embrace. The inhuman silence, which was 
 broken only by the muttered thunder and the splash 
 ing of the hoofs of the horse in the wet road, rilled 
 her with terror. The beating of her own heart, the 
 sharp catch of her nervous breathing, overwhelmed 
 her. 
 
 She trembled with fear and dread of the unseen 
 and unfamiliar. Black shapes seemed to rise in 
 front of her # and stand menacing. Shutting her 
 eyes when these things oppressed her, she rode 
 recklessly into them. The swift disclosures of 
 the lightning were scarcely less startling than the 
 shapes of night. As she 'rode wildly forward the 
 rain beat upon her in driving sheets ; low branches 
 stripped her hat from her head ; others struck her 
 in the face or about the body, though she bent low 
 in the saddle to avoid them. Once something 
 caught in her coat and jerked it from her shoulders, 
 nearly tearing her from the saddle before the loop 
 gave way, while she screamed aloud. By and by 
 her long hair became unfastened, and streamed out 
 behind her. She shivered with cold and terror, but 
 still she drove ahead on the forest road. 
 
 The road was a straight one she could not mis 
 take it but she lost all sense of location or dis 
 tance. In all her terrors, however, she held herself 
 steady, with the mechanical skill of the practised 
 horsewoman, and did not relax her hold on the 
 reins, nor lose control of the horse. 
 
 Once, when he slipped in a pool of water that lay 
 171
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 in the road, she lifted him up with all the strength 
 of her young arms ; once, when he shied, and 
 stopped before something lying strangely ominous 
 before him in the roadway, she patted him, and told 
 him that he could not be as terrified as she was, 
 urging him on, giving him courage out of and in 
 spite of her own weakness, until the lightning flash 
 disclosed a fallen tree which had blocked the way, 
 and he leaped it, and resumed the journey. 
 
 The loneliness oppressed her frightfully, and 
 finally took such a hold upon her that she leaned 
 forward and patted the neck of the horse, and lav 
 ished caresses and endearing words upon him he, 
 at least, was living, and tangible, and real. Pres 
 ently they came to the bank of a turbid stream ; 
 ordinarily the horse could have leaped it with a 
 single bound; it was now become a raging torrent, 
 swollen by the heavy rain; the horse hesitated in 
 the darkness. 
 
 "Into it, into it, Clifford," she cried; "we can 
 not be any wetter than we are." So encouraged, 
 he plunged in boldly, and reached the other shore 
 in safety. Margaret gave him a moment's respite 
 here, and he stood trembling and panting upon the 
 bank; but the eagerness of her own desire had at 
 last been communicated to her horse by the same 
 subtle and mysterious process by which ideas are 
 transmitted from man to man, and of his own voli 
 tion he started forward, and broke into the long 
 swinging gallop once more. 
 
 Faster now, and faster he ran. On and on they 
 sped, buffeting away the darkness on either side, 
 as a ship the water of the sea. In a wild chase aftei 
 
 172
 
 INTO THE MIDNIGHT 
 
 love and safety, Clifford and Margaret flew through 
 the midnight together. The thought of her lover, 
 and the service she was to do him the ship she 
 was to save for her sorely pressed country which 
 she loved with all the strength and enthusiastic 
 devotion of her young heart nerved her courage as 
 the terrible moments wore away. Once the thought 
 came to her that she might be too late, and, uncon 
 sciously, she struck the horse fiercely with the 
 reins, until he bounded forward under the unex 
 pected blow, nearly upsetting her by the swinging 
 movement. 
 
 Fairford might be dead killed in the attack 
 perhaps; for a moment she forgot her own terror in 
 the thought. 
 
 After a long time she began to look carefully 
 about her, checking her horse the while; they must 
 be, they were, nearing the end of the journey now, 
 yes this was Briar Creek Hill. She recognized it 
 only a few miles farther now, she thought, as she 
 again urged the horse up the hill, and so on and on. 
 At the top of the hill she reined him in abruptly. 
 The hill sank down to a valley on the other side. 
 Through the valley there flowed a wide and deep 
 creek, almost a river at this short distance from its 
 mouth, which emptied into the bay. 
 
 The road crossed the creek on a stone bridge with 
 a stone parapet, and the creek was not fordable. 
 As she stopped at the top of the hill, she saw, in 
 the lee of the parapet of the bridge, a fire burning, 
 with some dark figures grouped around it; others 
 were walking to an fro across the bridge, securely 
 blocking her way. The thick underbrush and the 
 
 '73
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 low-lying trees would prevent her from getting off 
 the road; there was no cross road or short cut 
 available she had either to go forward or go back. 
 What should she do? She stopped, and thought 
 deeply.
 
 CHAPTER XXVI 
 If an Enemy Opposes, Ride him Down 
 
 TO that question there was but one answer. Of 
 the alternatives, she must needs go forward. 
 There was not a moment of hesitation in arriving at 
 that conclusion. Her only indecision had been as 
 to how she was to pass the little outpost or foraging 
 party whose members held the bridge. Singularly 
 enough, in the presence of this real and palpable 
 emergency, the nervousness and timidity, amount 
 ing to a frantic fear of the unknown and mysterious 
 the weird about her which had made her ride 
 a long dream of terror, left her at once, and she 
 became as cool as the rain upon her face. 
 
 Her heart, which had been throbbing wildly, 
 though it still continued to beat more quickly than 
 usual, steadied and went more slowly, and if her 
 hand and foot trembled now, it was only because of 
 the cold and wet. It was not for nothing that she 
 was the daughter of a line of soldiers; weak and 
 feeble as she was, nervous as she had been, she yet 
 possessed the courage of her ancestry. Beyond that 
 formidable barrier lay the welfare of her lover, the 
 safety of the ship, glory for her country ; upon her 
 actions, and upon Clifford's, these things depended. 
 
 As these thoughts flashed through her mind she re 
 solved, in her soul, that no human barrier should with-
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 stand her. Her spirits rose; it was not humanity 
 she feared, but the eerie creatures of her imagi 
 nation. In a moment she formed her plan. Lean 
 ing forward again, she patted, caressingly, the neck 
 of the horse which had carried her so gallantly 
 during the night, thus giving outward expression to 
 him, her only hope, of the affectionate gratitude 
 which filled her heart. 
 
 "It all depends on you now, Clifford," she said 
 aloud ; " if you only do what I tell you, we shall get 
 through safely; and oh, Clifford, if you love me, 
 make no noise until the tirrie comes!" 
 
 The pleased horse arched his neck under her 
 gloved hand, and nodded his head as if he thor 
 oughly understood. He had been much refreshed 
 and rested by this brief breathing space at the top 
 of the hill, and wanted to be off again the instant 
 the signal was given, but the girl kept him well in 
 hand with tight rein, and quietly cantered down the 
 slope. As she drew near the bridge, she was able 
 to make out the details of the party. Whether they 
 were British foragers, or certain loose characters of 
 the baser sort of her own land, who had taken advan 
 tage of the general disorder to do a little private 
 warring for their personal benefit, she could not 
 tell ; in either instance, the case would be very bad 
 for her if she were halted and captured; and no 
 matter what happened, her journey would be a fruit 
 less one if she were even temporarily detained, 
 which was, after all, the paramount consideration. 
 
 She counted five or six figures huddled together 
 in the lee of the parapet, near the fire, vainly seek 
 ing shelter from the rain. One man stood squarely 
 
 176
 
 IF AN ENEMY OPPOSES, RIDE HIM DOWN 
 
 in the centre of the roadway, a rifle in his hand, 
 evidently keeping watch. One or two others, also 
 armed, lounged back and forth, or, indifferent to 
 the storm, leaned upon the parapet on the other 
 side. As she presently drew still nearer the party, 
 she laid the reins upon Clifford's neck, and by a 
 gentle pressure turned him out of the highway, and 
 made him come down to a walk upon the grassy 
 roadside, where his footfalls made no noise. She 
 remembered* the splendid advice of that bold old 
 soldier and dashing cavalryman of the Revolution, 
 her father : 
 
 "If an enemy bar your way, ride him down." 
 The noise of the rain and the blackness of the 
 night permitted her to approach the bridge near by 
 without being seen or heard. A few steps farther, 
 however, would bring her within the faint circle of 
 the illumination of the fire. The time for action 
 had come. Her heart was beating madly again, 
 her body tingled with excitement. Had the sentry 
 standing before her been able to see the proud, bold 
 smile upon her lips, the look of tense resolution in 
 her face, he would have hesitated ere he stood in 
 her path. She forgot she was a woman as she 
 quickly drew the colonel's pistol from the holster 
 and cocked it. Then she quietly wheeled Clifford 
 out into the roadway. Settling herself well in the 
 saddle, getting a firm grip of the reins again, she 
 bent her head low over the horse's neck. 
 
 " Now /" she called in a loud, shrill voice for 
 
 the life of her she could not restrain that exultant 
 
 cry which was heard far above the noise of the 
 
 tempest. At the same instant she drove home into 
 
 12 I77
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 Clifford's delicate flank the spur as she had never 
 done before. 
 
 "Clifford, on!" 
 
 With the swiftness of an arrow but new released 
 from a bow by a mighty-armed archer, the aston 
 ished and affrighted horse gave a great bound, and 
 sprang toward the bridge that spur to him had 
 been like a blow in the face from a lover's hand. 
 
 " What 's that? " sharply cried the man on watch 
 in the middle of the road. "Hello! Who comes " 
 
 He never finished the sentence. A great black 
 shape sprang upon him out of the darkness, like an 
 apparition ; two great fiery eyes looked into his own ; 
 he caught a fleeting glimpse of blood-red nostrils 
 wide distended. Above the horse's head a white 
 face shone in the firelight, teeth set, eyes shining, 
 and then something huge and tremendous struck 
 him in the breast like an avalanche. As he fell 
 back upon the bridge with a shriek of terror, under 
 the mighty impact, an iron hoof struck him in the 
 head with terrific force and beat out his brains. 
 
 At the wild cry of the sentinel, the others had 
 leaped to their feet, and the two already standing 
 sprang back upon the road in futile attempt to 
 bar the way and check her progress. As well 
 attempt to stop the thunderbolt. They saw the 
 flash of a pistol, heard its quick, sharp crack. One 
 of them fell back against the parapet groaning and 
 cursing, a bullet in his shoulder. The great bulk 
 of the horse struck the other upon the shoulder, as 
 he caught at the bridle, and brushed him aside like 
 a leaf in the storm. There was a thunder of hoofs 
 upon the bridge, a spark struck off by the iron shoes 
 
 178
 
 IF AN ENEMY OPPOSES, RIDE HIM DOWN 
 
 of the horse, and a moment after a rifle shot rang 
 out in the night. At the same moment Clifford 
 leaped into the air like a bird, bounded forward, and 
 they disappeared in the darkness. 
 
 They were over; they had broken away. In her 
 mad excitement Margaret struck, him, and spurred 
 him again and again. Pursuit would have been 
 futile, in any event; and since there were no horses 
 with the party on the bridge it was not even 
 attempted. She never thought of it, however, as she 
 swept through the air like a swallow. By and by 
 her senses returned to her in a measure; but now 
 she found she had entirely lost control of her horse. 
 She might as well have tugged at an iron bar as to- 
 attempt to restrain him with the reins. For the 
 first time in his life he failed to respond to her 
 voice. He ran forward, forward, madly; flakes of 
 foam from his mouth, tossed up by his head and- 
 blown back by his wild racing, clung to her habit 
 as they tore through the night. 
 
 A wild exultation took possession of her; the- 
 blood burned in her face, the mad joy of the hunter 
 filled her veins. He would have his way; well, 
 she would let him go. She even found herself urg 
 ing the horse onward, recklessly; forward, ever for 
 ward, on and on they flew. Her heart sang the song 
 of triumph, her soul knew no fear; in wonder she 
 found herself crying aloud, incoherently. But such 
 a pace could not last ; besides, they must be nearing, 
 the end of their journey now. 
 
 She remembered that there was a great rock by 
 the side of the road, and beyond that opened a. 
 footpath which led through the wood and underbrush* 
 
 179
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 :a half mile or more to the water's edge, where she 
 was to display the light. Suddenly a great black 
 monolith loomed up beside her. She tried to turn 
 in, but in vain ; they passed it in a flash. She 
 must stop now, if for no other reason than that she 
 was killing the horse. She tried to check him with 
 the reins and with her voice, but, as before, in vain. 
 He had been running at full speed, but now she 
 noticed that his speed was gradually diminishing, 
 though he still held straight on, and, absolutely 
 uncontrolled, would not be swerved from his course. 
 
 She could hear his deep panting breath coming 
 from him like a human sob. She tried to check 
 him again and again, to bring him to a stop; but, as 
 if moved by some blind instinct of ambition, or, as 
 if the accumulative intensity of the two hours' wild 
 -advance had impressed itself upon his personality, 
 he continued straight ahead, and straight ahead he 
 would go till he died. Wonder at the actions of 
 the horse, for the moment, supplanted other emo 
 tions in her. 
 
 His pace was slower now slower slower 
 .almost a walk. She had ceased her pull at the 
 reins, and laid her hand tenderly upon his drooping 
 neck. He staggered now, staggered again, and fell 
 forward. What was the matter? Ah, she knew. 
 Realizing the inevitable, she quickly disengaged her 
 foot from the stirrup, and, as he slowly sank, pant 
 ing and gasping, to the ground, she stood beside 
 him. 
 
 She was a woman again. A great sob rose in her 
 throat. The random rifle shot at the bridge had 
 struck the horse. He had bled to death; the wild 
 
 180
 
 IF AN ENEMY OPPOSES, RIDE HIM DOWN 
 
 ride had used his vitality up the sooner, and her 
 hand had urged him on. They would ride no more 
 together. He had done his splendid part to bring 
 her to the haven where she would be. He had done 
 his duty, and had borne himself nobly and well, 
 though he was only a horse, dying, in the effort, 
 with all the gallantry and resolution of the most 
 distinguished of his kind. 
 
 With nervous trembling fingers she detached the 
 lantern from the saddle bow, and then knelt down, 
 and for a moment laid her cheek against that of the 
 dying horse. She left a kiss upon his wet face, a 
 kiss for the like of which many men would have- 
 died ; but she had no time to mourn further, then. 
 
 "Goodbye, Clifford," she sobbed. Then, rising 
 to her feet, she picked up her skirts and ran baclc 
 along the road. 
 
 181
 
 CHAPTER XXVII 
 
 A Light in the Darkness 
 
 T TNDER the lee of the great stone she found the 
 LJ pathway, and plunged boldly into the forest. 
 Strange sounds met her ear again. The weird 
 shapes which had so alarmed her at the beginning 
 of her journey were nearer to her now. Each* blur 
 of darkness seemed pregnant with a danger seek 
 ing instant deliverance. The underbrush impeded 
 her way, brambles caught her garments, checking 
 her progress. Her long wet skirts clung to her 
 and retarded her steps, but she drew them up and 
 pressed on. Once a shadowy arm reached out and 
 laid a hand upon her head ; she felt a sudden pull 
 upon her flying hair, and would have shrieked and 
 fainted but for her unfulfilled errand; so she reached 
 back a trembling hand and disengaged her tresses 
 from the tree bough and pressed on again. 
 
 Now she could hear the splash of the waves upon 
 the shore. The wind had been roaring through the 
 tree-tops above her, and as she came out upon the 
 open rock in front of the islands she was almost 
 swept from her feet by the force of the gale. Here 
 was the spot. Long familiarity easily enabled her 
 to reach the point of vantage from which she was to 
 swing the light. Was she too late? Her eyes 
 
 182
 
 A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS 
 
 eagerly swept the bay for the signal. There was 
 not a light to be seen. He had not come, or else 
 he had gone by. She would wait. She would wait 
 until the morning if necessary, so she sank down 
 upon the rocky point, keeping her eyes upon the 
 bay. 
 
 She first made sure that the lantern was safe 
 under j;he oilskin; then her hand we'nt to the bosom 
 of her dress. Yes, there was the flint and steel ; 
 there, too, was the little leather packet. She did 
 not dare to make a light to see where she was, or 
 what time it was. She did not know but that the 
 wood might be filled with enemies, real and unreal, 
 to whom the spark struck by the steel would betray 
 her. Her salvation was to sit still, and this was 
 the hardest of her trials. 
 
 Shivering with cold, a chill as of death upon her, 
 she was desperately weary. She missed the com 
 panionship I had almost said the sympathy of 
 her noble horse; she lacked the freedom given by 
 his rapid motion, the feeling of power and mastery 
 which she had when she rode him. In the face of 
 the intangible and unreal her terrors came back again 
 with increasing force. 
 
 Hark ! What was that sound she heard above the 
 breaking of the waves, the roar of the wind, the beat 
 of the rain, the crash of a thunder-clap? a low 
 moaning sound, oft repeated, a deep mournful 
 note like the wail of a lost spirit crushed with 
 despair, the cry of abandoned hope. The weird 
 sound came from the Three Moaning Sisters, on 
 the other side of the narrow pass. She knew the 
 tradition of the three maidens who had gone out for 
 
 183
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 a row one evening, early in the century which had 
 passed, and whose boat had been driven by a sudden 
 squall of the wind upon the three jagged rocks on 
 the point of the island beyond which her lover 
 sought safety, and where the poor girls had been 
 drowned. It was told in every negro hut, and whis 
 pered in every cabin, that the spirits of the three un 
 fortunate women had hung about these perilous reefs 
 since that day, and there was death before those who 
 heard their warning voices. 
 
 She had often laughed at the absurd superstition 
 mocked at the foolish legend as an old wife's 
 tale. Were those voices of the dead calling to her? 
 Whose death did they betoken? Not Fairford's 
 pitying Saviour not his. Again and again she 
 heard the weird cry. She could have shrieked 
 aloud in terror. What was the hour? Was it 
 to-day or yesterday that she had set forth upon her 
 mad ride? For what had she come here to this 
 lonely, desolate, blasted spot ? 
 
 Ah! Up the bay, there, a light, shining like a 
 single star in the blackness of the night, a white 
 light, and above it, at a moment later, there gleamed 
 balefully another light of red ! It was the signal. 
 Her heart bounded once more, her fears vanished 
 again. Thank God, she was in time. Nervously 
 she tore open the bosom of her dress. Seizing the 
 flint and steel, and turning her back to the wind and 
 rain, after repeated failures, she finally succeeded 
 in igniting the wick of the lantern. The lights 
 were nearer now much nearer ; they were making 
 toward her with the swiftness of the storm itself. 
 Throwing aside the oilskin cover, she rose to her
 
 A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS 
 
 feet with the light in her hand. What were the 
 directions which, had been given to the sailor? 
 
 Out in the bay, Fairford and Ludlow were stand 
 ing together on the deck of the frigate. Old 
 Rhodes was stationed near the wheel, which was in 
 charge of two skilful and trusty seamen. The 
 others of the crew were disposed at points of need, 
 all eagerly watching. The flying moments were 
 filled with deep anxiety. 
 
 "I hope to God Spicer met with no mishap," 
 said the captain. " I would not dare to take the 
 ship in past the rocks on Three Sisters Island with 
 out that light, and unless we get in there, with 
 those two vessels behind us, and the British ships 
 before, we'll be hemmed in, surrounded, and have 
 absolutely no chance of escape. If we do get in 
 there, however, and lie to for a few hours, until the 
 morning, they will probably pass on, and not seeing 
 us at the mouth of the bay in the morning may 
 imagine that we have gone to sea. At any rate, 
 we '11 have all our foes before us in that event, and 
 that will give us a fighting chance." 
 
 "Have we nearly reached the point, think you?" 
 asked Ludlow, " whence we should bear up for the 
 Island pass? " 
 
 "Almost, I think," said Fairford, anxiously; "as 
 near as this black night will enable me to judge. 
 It 's about sixteen knots from where we cut her out 
 to the pass, and as the road cuts off the big bend of 
 the bay, it is only fifteen miles from Colonel Bar 
 rett's to the point. Margaret and I have often 
 ridden it together." 
 
 185
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 "I took the ride once with Miss Heathcote my 
 self," said Ludlow, sighing. 
 
 "Yes," said Fairford; "how embarrassing it is 
 that she and Sir James are aboard. Ships of war 
 are no place for women. What to do with them I 
 know not, I cannot spare the time nor men to set 
 them ashore. They'll even have to go with us, I 
 suppose. " 
 
 "I suppose so," replied Ludlow, his heart bound 
 ing at the thought of the privileges the companion 
 ship would give him with Evelyn, whom he still 
 loved. 
 
 " Better show the lights now, I think. Forward, 
 there ! Hang up those lights on the foreshrouds 
 the red one above the white one," said the captain. 
 "You stay aft, Ludlow. I'll take my station on 
 the forecastle to con her in. Do you see anything 
 of the other ships? " 
 
 "No, sir," replied the latter, sweeping the sea 
 behind him. 
 
 " That 's well. Stand by for orders, and see 
 they are obeyed promptly, for all our sakes. " 
 
 "Ay, ay, sir," said the young officer, saluting. 
 
 When Fairford reached the forecastle, the lights 
 had been displayed. Eagerly he searched the black 
 blur of the shore toward which he was sailing as 
 nearly as he dared go. In order to get a better view, 
 he sprang into the foreshrouds, and stood upon the 
 sheer-poles, and, taking hold of the forward swifter, 
 he leaned far out into the night. There was no evi 
 dence, whatever, that his signal had been seen; no 
 response to it was made. He was in a perfect agony 
 of suspense. The ship was sweeping through the 
 
 186
 
 A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS 
 
 water at a tremendous rate; it would soon be too 
 late; once past the point, he would have to go on, 
 he could never beat back to the pass. 
 
 "I should have sent two messengers three " 
 he muttered, " to provide for accident. It was too 
 great a task for one man. I dare not take the ship 
 in without that light." Ah! What was that ahead 
 there, that glow in the darkness? Fairford's heart 
 stood still, as the light ahead of him moved three 
 times from side to side, then thrice up and down. 
 The signal! the signal! They were safe! He 
 fixed his eye upon it as it stood steady now the 
 faint beacon which meant salvation. 
 
 " Starboard the helm ! Man the weather braces !" 
 His voice rang through the ship like a cry of 
 triumph, telling, in its vibrations, the story of 
 success. 
 
 "I '11 make a boatswain's mate of that man," he 
 said to himself, as, in obedience to his orders, the 
 ship swung in toward the shore, and with the wind 
 on her quarter rushed for the wished-for pass. 
 
 Out on the jutting point a woman stood, holding 
 in her trembling hands the light which lighted her 
 lover's path, the light which showed her country's 
 way. The red and white lights before her were 
 suddenly extinguished; but that gave her no uneasi 
 ness. She knew why; she divined the reason, 
 that it was to prevent the other ships from observing 
 the motions of the chase. Exultation was in her 
 heart again. She had lighted the beacon, so she 
 waited in a fever of excitement. By and by, a great 
 black cloud drew into the pass out of the bay. She 
 
 187
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 heard the groaning of the spars and the straining 
 sails. Aided by a lightning flash, she even detected 
 the white waves in the darkness boiling and foam 
 ing about the bows. The ship was safe. 
 
 As the vessel glided by the point, the moaning of 
 the weird sisters of the storm broke upon her ears. 
 She heard the splash of the falling anchor in the 
 still water beneath the point, the flap of the heavy 
 canvas, the creaking of the blocks, sharp words of 
 command, the rush of the cable through the hawse 
 pipes. Her work was over, her task had bee per 
 formed; like Spicer, she had done her duty. The 
 lamp fell from her nervous hand to her feet, reac 
 tion came, and she sank down beside it, feeble, 
 exhausted, fevered, delirious what happened to 
 her now mattered not; her lover was saved. 
 
 The rain beat upon her. In her ear she heard the 
 wild cry of the sisters of the wind. Was it her 
 death those cries had betokened? She drowsed 
 wearily, and thence knew no more. 
 
 188
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII 
 A Theological Discussion 
 
 OUT on the ship hard work was going on, and 
 the eager men worked with speed. The boats 
 had been called away, and the English prisoners 
 were being set upon the shore of the three islands. 
 Inasmuch as they outnumbered his own crew, Fair- 
 ford felt that there was no security for the captured 
 ship until he had got rid of them. He explained to 
 the senior English officer left, who had demurred 
 greatly, that the islands were in full sight of the 
 English ships, which were constantly passing up 
 and down the bay, and their rescue from them would 
 be a matter of scarcely a day. 
 
 At any rate, rescue or no rescue, he was com 
 pelled to dispose of them, and boats were imme 
 diately called away, and the work of landing them 
 at once began; they were disarmed, brought on 
 decks in small groups, and securely guarded until 
 they were put on shore. After discharging the first 
 load of prisoners upon the island, the first boat, 
 instead of immediately returning to the ship as the 
 others did, for another cargo of captured humanity, 
 made its way to the point on the mainland where 
 the light had been shown, to pick up Spicer, as 
 Fairford had promised. 
 
 189
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 "He should be cruisin' around hereabouts," said 
 old Joe, who was in command, as he beached the 
 boat on the shingle, "if he's got any sense o' 
 bein' where he ought to be Spicer!" he called 
 loudly, "ahoy, mate! Dash it all," he said, as no 
 response was made to the hail which he several 
 times repeated; "I suppose I 've got to work up to 
 that there p'int and carry him down, he seems to 
 have got so bashful like. Come along, Thompson. 
 The rest of you stay here. Gimme that lantern. 
 Have you got your cutlass, Bill?" he continued,, 
 leaping on shore. 
 
 "Ay," responded the seaman, laconically, rising 
 from the thwart, where he had pulled stroke oar, 
 and following the older man. The two made their 
 way to the rocky headland whence the light had 
 been seen. 
 
 " Spicer George where are ye, man ? Why 
 don't you answer; are you deaf?" he called anx 
 iously. " D' ye see him, mate ? " 
 
 "Blast this rain; can't hear nor see nothin'," re 
 plied Thompson, while the two old men went waver 
 ing blindly about over the little uneven plateau. 
 Suddenly Rhodes' foot struck something. 
 
 "Hello!" he said, "I've struck a reef. Is this 
 you, Spicer? If it is, you blank fool, why don't 
 you pipe up? Show a light, Bill. Sink me!" he 
 exclaimed in astonishment when the lantern was 
 brought forward, "if it ain't a female!" 
 
 " Female wot ? " asked the matter-of-fact Thomp- 
 ;son. 
 
 " Female woman who d' ye think it was, an 
 elephant? " 
 
 190
 
 A THEOLOGICAL DISCUSSION 
 
 " Is she dead ? " said the man, ignoring the last 
 bit of sea sarcasm. 
 
 "No, she aint," replied the old seaman, kneeling 
 down, and tenderly laying a hand upon her. 
 
 " Here 's a doused light she must a' showed it 
 herself God! Wot a night for a woman to be' 
 adrift in wonder who 'tis?" said Bill. 
 
 "Well, it's not Spicer, that's one thing cer 
 tain," answered Rhodes, confidently. 
 
 " Wot '11 you do with her ? " said Thompson. 
 
 "I guess we 'd better take her aboard," said the 
 boatswain's mate, dubiously; "we can't leave her 
 out here to die, though wot the cap'n'll say to 
 me for bringin' another female critter on the ship 
 I can't say." 
 
 "I don't like it myself. Wimmen are reg'lar 
 wot 's that Bible feller's name wot got swallered by 
 a whale? Jones, ain't it? Yes, reg'lar Jonses on 
 a man-o'-war," said Thompson, gloomily. "I 
 never did swaller that yarn nohow; aint never seen 
 no right whale with a throat big enough to take in 
 a Jones, an' I 've struck a harpoon into some whales 
 in my day, too," he continued, sceptically. 
 
 "Wich his name ain't Jones, but Jonah; an' I 
 want to tell you, Bill Thompson, that as for me, I 
 believe every word in the Bible, an' you better da 
 it, too, if you want a safe anchorage in Davy Jones' 
 locker by an' by; wich I say, meanin' no disre 
 spect to God, far from it. Besides, sperm whales 
 kin swaller anything. Now if that there Bible whale 
 had as big a mouth for men as you 've got for grog, 
 he'd 'a' took in a whole family of Joneses you 
 better dewelop a taste for swallerin' yarns instid of 
 
 IQI
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 whisky, as the chaplain used to say, fer ye'r soul's 
 health, if ye 've got any soul, blast ye," responded 
 old Rhodes, severely, checking any further theo 
 logical discussion by resting his case, as many 
 better men have done, on his individual authority as 
 a boatswain's mate as distinguished from that of a 
 mere able seaman. "An" I don't want to stand 
 here gabblin' with you all night, nuther. It 's plain 
 to ye that this yere woman is not the man we want. 
 Howsomever, he told us to get Spicer; an' as he's 
 not here, we '11 do the next best thing." 
 
 "Wonder where Spicer is, anyhow?" said the 
 abashed William, trying to ingratiate himself with 
 the superior Rhodes again. " The ' old man ' told 
 him he was goin' to make him a bosun's mate, 
 if he done the job seamanlike. Wonder if he'll 
 make this yere female one," continued Thompson, 
 laughing hoarsely. 
 
 "Don't you be fool twicest in the same night, 
 Thompson; your head 's gittin' that soft, mate, I '11 
 make a rope fender o;ut of it when we git back. You 
 ketch her aft and I '11 take her forward here. Easy 
 now easy. " 
 
 The two men lifted up their precious burden, one 
 at the shoulders and one at the feet, and tenderly 
 carried it down the hill, and deposited it carefully 
 in the boat, amid the wondering comments of the 
 crew. 
 
 " Is that Spicer, mate ? " inquired one. 
 
 "Wot have ye got there, Joe? " asked another. 
 
 " Lord, if it ain't a woman ! " said a third. 
 
 "Belay your jaw tackle, all hands- of ye," said 
 the old man, sternly. " Bill, you take the helium, 
 
 192
 
 A THEOLOGICAL DISCUSSION 
 
 an* make for the ship; I 've got to hold the female. 
 Shove off, out oars, give way." 
 
 "Lord, I wisht I was Joe, with that female 
 woman," said the stroke oar, meditatively survey 
 ing that veteran seaman, holding the slender girl as 
 gingerly as if she had been a baby. 
 
 "Shut up, blast ye," responded that individual, 
 irately; "I'll break the head of the first man that 
 says another word. This yere 's no woman, she 's a 
 lady, .you swabs, an' she saved the ship which she 
 would n't 'a' done, if she 'd 'a' knowed you as long 
 as I 've done, you worthless haymakers." 
 
 " What have you got there ? " asked Fairford, as 
 Rhodes, assisted by the others, dragged his precious 
 burden up through the gangway. "It isn't Spicer, 
 is it? By heavens another woman! It's too 
 much ; d' ye want to turn the ship into a nunnery ? " 
 
 "Well, your honor," said Rhodes, dubiously, 
 "Spicer, he weren't on the p'int, an' there want 
 nobody there but this yere female pussen, an' I 
 guessed I 'd better bring it off. Seemed a pity to 
 let it be dyin' there, and then well " he went 
 on, boldly, "she lighted the lantern for us an' 
 there weren't nobody else there, an' I couldn't 
 leave her alone." 
 
 "Show the light here," said Fairford, quickly, as 
 the truth began to dawn upon him. " Good heavens ! 
 It's Margaret," he exclaimed in terror, as the light 
 fell upon her drawn white face, with its closed eyes 
 and open lips, as she lay back in the boatswain's 
 arms, her matted hair falling back over his shoulder. 
 "Is she dead? Give her to me," he cried, fiercely, 
 every fibre in his body throbbing responsive to her 
 13 193
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 presence as he picked her up in his arms as if she 
 had been a child, and bore her quickly to the cabin. 
 Evelyn was standing there, packing up, preparatory 
 to going ashore with the rest, Sir James preferring 
 that contingency to a further cruise under the 
 American flag. Fairford carried his dripping burdert 
 into the room, and laid it down upon one of the 
 lockers. 
 
 " Why, it is Margaret ! " exclaimed Evelyn, in 
 terrified surprise, rushing up to her. " Captain 
 Fairford, how came she here?" 
 
 "She must have lighted the beacon that got us 
 into this haven," said Fairford, solemnly. "Think 
 of it; that awful ride, this awful night where can 
 Spicer be ? " 
 
 "Shall we take her back to the shore with us?" 
 queried Sir James, anxiously. 
 
 "I fear not," answered the young captain, in great 
 anxiety; "I do not think she could possibly ven 
 ture ; a further exposure in this wild weather would 
 kill her." 
 
 " Certainly she cannot be taken away in this 
 state," said Evelyn; "she must be attended to 
 here, and at once. See how wretched she looks I 
 You need not pack up any more for me, Sir James,. 
 I shall stay with her; I cannot leave her alone; I 
 love her, the poor darling." 
 
 "Of course if you stay, I must stay, too," said 
 Sir James, ruefully; but, giving up to her, as usual, 
 "Don't you think that after awhile " 
 
 " No," answered Evelyn, promptly, " we must stay." 
 
 "May heaven reward you for this, Miss Evelyn. 
 For God's sake take care of her. I " Fairford 
 
 194
 
 stopped abruptly, and, in anguish of soul, looked 
 down upon the white face of the girl he loved. His 
 whole adventure was nothing, his triumph was turned 
 to bitterness unless she recovered. 
 
 "I understand all about it," said Evelyn, impa 
 tiently; "now leave us alone. Hand me my medi 
 cine chest, Sir James, if you please." 
 
 After Fairford had reluctantly left the cabin, 
 Evelyn knelt down beside her friend, and forced a 
 restorative between her closed lips; in a little while 
 she stirred uneasily, and muttered something, open 
 ing her eyes widely. 
 
 " The light the light I did it won't you take 
 the rose now, Blake ? " said the feeble voice. 
 
 Up on the deck Fairford communicated the news 
 of Margaret's wonderful heroism to Ludlow, in the 
 pauses permitted by their arduous duties, even as 
 Rhodes had told the story to the crew. The twa 
 officers marvelled over it. That one feeble woman 
 had made the terrible journey alone seemed almost 
 incredible. Fairford readily surmised that some 
 thing had happened to Spicer, and that Margaret 
 had taken his place, though he wondered why the 
 colonel had not done it himself. 
 
 To his love, therefore, the love which he had 
 endeavored to repress so sternly, and which had 
 only grown greater under his insistence, was 
 added a boundless gratitude. Whatever of reward 
 came to him, personally, whatever service he w.ould 
 be able to render his country, would be due to her. 
 He had thought that three men had not been enough 
 for the task which had been accomplished by one 
 woman.
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 How small, and weak, and helpless she had 
 looked as she lay in his arms, her glorious hair un 
 bound, matted and tangled, her dress soaking with 
 water, rent and torn, the bosom torn open, the 
 glove gone from one little hand. His heart yearned 
 toward her as a mother's heart turns to her weaned 
 child. There was protection as well as adoration in 
 his soul. 
 
 O God ! he prayed, if she could only be spared ; 
 if she should take no harm from this wild ride. 
 
 At every possible moment he inquired for her, 
 until Evelyn forbade him the cabin; and so, in 
 piteous anxiety and dreadful foreboding, the long 
 night wore away for him. 
 
 And yet there was a joy in the very presence, 
 upon his own ship, of the maiden he loved. He 
 could sympathize with his friend, and understand 
 the glad light in his face, and the joyful thrill in 
 his voice, when he spoke of Evelyn remaining with 
 them. The two men were like boys in their buoy 
 ant happiness, and in longing for the morrow 
 thought nothing of the dangers and difficulties 
 entailed upon them by the presence of women on a 
 ship whose sole mission was to fight, whose only 
 end and aim was bloodshed and destruction. 
 
 196
 
 CHAPTER XXIX 
 
 New Duties for William Cotton 
 
 IT was near daybreak before they succeeded in 
 getting the last of the prisoners upon the shore. 
 The rain had ceased for some time, and the wind 
 had gradually abated, though it was still a fine 
 steady breeze. As soon as the day broke, and 
 enough light was afforded the men on the ship to 
 see properly, the body of the unfortunate Badely, 
 which had hitherto been unnoticed, owing to the 
 darkness and hurry, was discovered by the horrified 
 crew. It was at once lowered to the deck, and then 
 sewed up in a weighted hammock, and dropped into 
 the sea, Fairford himself, in default of a chaplain, 
 reading the service. 
 
 The man had never been popular with those mem 
 bers of the crew of the Narragansett, who had 
 known him as a deserter upon the Constitution; 
 they never forgot that he was an Englishman, who 
 had fought against his flag, though, on account of 
 the circumstances attending his case, they had par 
 tially condoned his fault. Nevertheless, a certain 
 pity for his untimely and disgraceful end filled the 
 hearts of the men. Some of them remembered the 
 burden of his complaint, that he had been kidnapped 
 by a press gang on his wedding day, "An" Polly 
 lyin' swoondin' on the beach." She had waited and 
 
 197
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 watched for him a long time, and now he could 
 never go back to her. 
 
 Below, in the sick bay, young Martin was found. 
 He had always been popular among all who knew 
 him, on account of his cheerful, pleasant ways. As 
 the rugged seamen looked at him as he lay on his 
 face in a hammock though his back was not an 
 unusual sight tears of pity and bitterness welled 
 up in many an eye, and anger and determination 
 filled every heart. Beside the hammock in which 
 the hapless man lay moaning they made new resolu 
 tions or sternly renewed old vows, in a way which 
 boded ill for those sailing under the English flag 
 who crossed their pathway. When, later on, they 
 learned of old Martin's fate, the name of that martyr 
 became a watchword, and the favorite war-cry of 
 the men was " Remember Martin ! " 
 
 As soon as the sun was fairly risen, Fairford 
 directed that the anchor be weighed, and the ship 
 was soon sailing through the channel between the 
 island and the shore, passing the sullen Englishmen 
 clustered upon the rocks, regarding them, and finally, 
 through the wide mouth at the other end of the 
 channel, coming out into the broad expanse of 
 the great bay. Eagerly the two officers swept the 
 horizon. There was not a sail in sight. So far 
 their venture had been a wonderful success. 
 
 The wind was now scarcely more than a whole 
 sail breeze, and the ship was soon covered with 
 clouds of new and snowy canvas by the eager men. 
 Everything from the main royal down was rap full, 
 and doing its work. The speed of the vessel was 
 marvellous; and when she felt the full effect of the 
 
 198
 
 NEW DUTIES FOR WILLIAM COTTON 
 
 breeze, she heeled over and took a bone in her 
 teeth, fairly flying through the water. 
 
 " Whip along, you old bucket. Heave ahead, ye 
 water witch, that 's a pace for ye," said old Rhodes, 
 leaning over the lee cathead, and looking down at 
 the boiling smother of foam tossed aside by the 
 sharp cutwater, and thrown up by the spring of the 
 bow. "It'll have to be a good one that you can't 
 overhaul at this pace." 
 
 " What 's she makin', d' ye think, Joe ? " asked one 
 of the forecastle men, " eleven ? " 
 
 "Twelve, mate, twelve knots an' more, if she's 
 makin' one," said the old seaman, looking critically 
 at the whirling green water rushing alongside. 
 
 "She's a flyer, an' no mistake," said one. 
 
 "Ay," said another, "she'll have to be a good 
 one that will ketch us." 
 
 "'T ain't that way I 'd put it," answered Rhodes; 
 "it'll have to be a good one that we can't ketch. 
 We're out here to run after, not from, things, in 
 this old hooker." 
 
 "Do you think we'll get any prize money this 
 cruise, Mister Rhodes?" piped little William 
 Cotton, late of the Constitution, who, with his 
 usual precociousness, had intruded himself into the 
 centre of a group of veterans, a thing no other boy 
 on the ship dared to do. 
 
 "Prize money, you young swab, you," Rhodes 
 said, grimly, lifting him by the back of his jacket. 
 "If you ain't the most mer mer what is the 
 word, shipmates?" 
 
 " Mercenarious, ain't it?" said the literary light 
 of the forecastle. 
 
 199
 
 "Ay, that 's it. Thankee, mate. If you ain't the 
 most mercenarious little cuss I ever did see. Can't 
 you fight for nothin' but money? Wot did ye do 
 with your last prize money you got on the Constitu 
 tion? spent it all in foolishness, I '11 bet." 
 
 "I guv it to my mother, sir. Did you give yours 
 any you got? " said the boy, boldly. 
 
 "Lord, now did ye," said old Rhodes, laying his 
 big hand protectingly on the boy's head; "that was 
 nice on you. I ain't had no mother since I was 
 born. Folks as knows me told me I had one then, 
 an' I guess 'twas true but it was a long time ago, 
 an' I 'm not rightly sure of it, though. Not many 
 sailor men thinks much about their mothers, any 
 way, I 'm afeard." 
 
 "Billy, ye 're wanted aft," said one of the sea 
 men, springing up on the forecastle; "cap'n wants 
 to see ye." 
 
 "Come this way, youngster," said Fairford, smil 
 ing kindly as the boy stopped before him and ner 
 vously saluted. " How old are you ? " 
 
 " Fourteen, sir." 
 
 "Do you think you could wait on the two ladies 
 in the cabin while they are on the ship? " 
 
 "I guess so, sir," said the boy; "I never did 
 none of it, but I 'm willin' to try if they 're willin' to 
 have me, an' if it don't prevent me from fightin', an' 
 if I git my prize money reg'lar just the same, sir." 
 
 " Come along, then. You may fight and get your 
 prize money too," said the captain, laughing; and, 
 descending the ladder, followed by the boy, he 
 knocked softly at the door of the cabin, his own 
 cabin now, by the way. 
 
 200
 
 NEW DUTIES FOR WILLIAM COTTON 
 
 Sir James opened it cautiously. 
 
 " How is she ? " said Fairford, in deep agitation, 
 it being perhaps two hours since he had dared to 
 ask, after Evelyn's last order. 
 
 "Sh " said Evelyn, just behind Sir James, and 
 laying her finger upon her lips, " I told you not to 
 come here and disturb us; a nice example of obedi 
 ence you set your officers; don't speak so loud, she 
 might hear you. She is asleep now. The fever 
 has gone down. When she wakes, I think she will 
 be all right again, save for her weariness. I don't 
 believe she will even have a cold." 
 
 " Evelyn, who is most proficient in nursing, has 
 taken excellent care of her," said Sir James. 
 
 " Did she did she know you before she went 
 to sleep?" asked Fairford. 
 
 "Not at first, but afterward, yes," answered 
 Evelyn. 
 
 "What did she say? Did she mention me?" he 
 questioned, blushing furiously. 
 
 " To tell you that would be betraying confidence, 
 I think," replied the English girl, gravely; "she 
 may tell you herself, later," she added, smiling. In 
 which assurance he got what consolation he could. 
 
 "Well, this," said Fairford, after a moment's 
 hesitation, hauling the boy into view, "is Master 
 William Cotton, commonly called Billy. I have 
 detailed him to wait upon you so long, as you are our 
 guests. " 
 
 "All right," said Evelyn, looking kindly at the 
 agitated boy, "I am sure he will do very nicely." 
 Whereupon he became her devoted slave forever. 
 
 " I hope, Fairford, that you can see some way of 
 201
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 putting us ashore or transshipping us. I confess I 
 have no wish to make a cruise under the American 
 flag, meaning no disrespect to it, of course." 
 
 "I understand you, Sir James. I will certainly 
 do what I can, though what that will be I hardly 
 foresee; but don't worry, you may get on an Eng 
 lish ship before we leave the bay," he added gravely; 
 "we are by no means escaped yet." 
 
 "Not that way, I hope/' said Evelyn, impulsively, 
 observing his deep anxiety, and losing sight of her 
 country in her friendship. 
 
 Fairford thanked her with a grateful glance, and 
 turned away, saying: 
 
 "I must go on deck again, and relieve Ludlow. 
 The weather bids fair to be lovely, and you and 
 Miss Heathcote must come out on deck, Sir James, 
 after breakfast, which Billy will bring you; we'll 
 do our best for you in that line, but just at first that 
 won't be much. Do you suppose that Margaret 
 would come too, later on, if she is able?" 
 
 "She will be," said Evelyn, promptly, "and then 
 we can all enjoy this glorious morning while we 
 have the chance." 
 
 202
 
 CHAPTER XXX 
 Safe at Sea 
 
 TOWARD evening the ship neared the mouth of 
 the bay. She had been hugging the east 
 shore closely, and when she finally shot fairly out 
 into the bay to weather Cape Charles, Fairford and 
 Ludlow swept the open with their glasses. Over in 
 Lynn Haven Bay, far to the south of them, a num 
 ber of ships were lying at anchor in a little cluster; 
 one of them evidently the man-of-war brig which 
 had pursued them was hove to. A small frigate 
 was getting under way. Far out to sea the sails of 
 two ships were barely visible, the ships being hull 
 down beneath the horizon. 
 
 On the side of the bay nearest to which they 
 were, and where Fairford proposed to pass, was a 
 small schooner, a patrol boat, evidently, flying the 
 English flag. The carelessness which had pervaded 
 the anchor watches had extended to the fleet. The 
 English commanders had no suspicion but that the 
 Narragansett had already got to sea. The two 
 cruisers in the offing had been despatched in pur 
 suit, and therefore but two of the ships in the bay 
 were ready for action, and they only by chance. 
 
 The hour which was to determine the final suc 
 cess of their bold adventure had now arrived.
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 All of the little party were on deck. Margaret, 
 pale and languid after her night's experience, 
 though already beginning to recover from it, with 
 the recuperative elasticity of youth, was sitting in 
 a chair which had been provided by the already 
 devoted William. Evelyn and Sir James walked 
 the deck at her side. The low afternoon sun shone 
 across the broad expanse of water, crowning, with a 
 crest of sparkling silver, each whitecapped wave, 
 as far as eye could see. The new vessel was like 
 an exquisite picture, and the off-shore breeze sang 
 merrily through the rigging as the ship bowed and 
 curtsied beneath its mighty caress; but the hearts 
 of the two women were filled with sadness. 
 
 Whenever Evelyn closed her eyes, she could see 
 the disordered cabin, the dead body of the English 
 lieutenant, with whom she had laughed and jested, 
 lying at her feet. The frightful experiences of the 
 morning had shocked her greatly, for a thin bulk 
 head was all that had separated her, a pitying 
 woman, from the horrors of Martin's punishment 
 and Cunningham's death. She had been as close to 
 these agonies as comedy is to tragedy, as purity to 
 shame, in life. It was only by force that Sir James 
 had kept her from rushing out and interfering. All 
 these things had unnerved her, and robbed her 
 rounded cheek of some of its usual bloom. Alas ! 
 she thought, that people who read the same Bible, 
 sing the same songs, laugh at the same jests, and in 
 their hours of agony call upon the same God, should 
 have recourse to barbarous, brutal war to settle 
 differences which should have never arisen. Al 
 though in commission but a few days, upon the 
 
 204
 
 SAFE AT SEA 
 
 decks of the frigate had already been poured liba 
 tions of blood. 
 
 Margaret's griefs were so tempered with joy that 
 at times she forgot them. Her chief cause of 
 anxiety lay in her vivid appreciation of the suspense 
 under which her father would be until she could get 
 word of her safety to him. When that might be no 
 one could tell. Tears sprang to her eyes from time 
 to time, as she thought of her old playfellow, the 
 gallant Clifford ; but in the safety of the ship, in 
 the presence of her lover, she found compensation 
 for these. 
 
 She eagerly watched him walking to and fro, con 
 sulting with Ludlow, or giving directions about the 
 movements of the ship so proud, so strong, so 
 masterful; the very sight of him was as a tonic to 
 her. She luxuriated in the thought that she had 
 saved him he was hers now. She speedily rallied 
 from the consequences of her last night's experi 
 ences, and the color began to steal back to her cheek 
 again. Evelyn's wardrobe, which had been cheer 
 fully offered, had been levied upon to enable Mar 
 garet to discard her bedraggled apparel, and the deft 
 fingers of the two girls had easily adapted the 
 articles selected to the use required. 
 
 Fairford and Ludlow were earnestly talking 
 together as the ship came out in the open. 
 
 " I shall hug the shore to port here as closely as 
 I dare, on account of the shoal water," said Fair- 
 ford. " We can't pay much attention to the schooner 
 on the port bow. " 
 
 "Certainly not," replied Ludlow; "none of the 
 ships over there will be able to get under way quick
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 enough to overhaul us, except that small frigate up 
 toward the river. If she gets within range, she may 
 cripple us and enable the other ships to close." 
 
 "Ay," agreed Fairford, "and the brig we may 
 also leave out of our calculations; she's slow, 
 probably, like most of those war brigs, and would 
 not dare come near us unless we are crippled." 
 
 " What about those two out there ? " asked Lud- 
 low, pointing to the offing. 
 
 "Let us once get clear of this end of the tangle, 
 and I think we can manage that one all right. 
 Besides, they are so far away it would be nightfall 
 before they could possibly get in range. I suspect 
 one of them is our pursuer of last night; but she '11 
 have to go faster than she did then to catch this 
 bark. Get the men at the braces, Mr. Ludlow," 
 continued the captain, resuming his quarter-deck 
 manner; "station some of the oldest and trustiest at 
 the wheel. Better assign some of the best to the 
 guns temporarily as well. It 's a pity we have only 
 enough for the long twenty-fours at present. Then 
 take your station on the forecastle, and give me a 
 sharp word about everything which you observe." 
 
 While these commands were being obeyed, the 
 Narragansett had been sighted, and the surprised 
 English ships had suddenly awakened to life. Over 
 across the bay the frigate had filled away at once, 
 come by the wind, and was beating up toward them, 
 followed by the brig. Signals were flying on the 
 flagship, a huge liner, and what they had lost by 
 negligence the English bade fair to recover by their 
 prompt manoeuvring. Some of the other ships 
 were evidently weighing anchor in obedience to the 
 
 206
 
 SAFE AT SEA 
 
 signal, and their yards were soon covered with can 
 vas as they got under way gradually, and followed 
 the other two vessels. 
 
 The lieutenant commanding the patrol boat also 
 awakened to action promptly, and the smart schooner, 
 handily sailed, was headed across the supposed path 
 of the American ship. A seaman had been sta 
 tioned in the main chains of the Narragansett as 
 soon as the water began to shoal, and was heaving 
 lead. Whirling the heavy piece of metal on the end 
 of the leadline around his head in great vertical 
 circles with all the force of his arm, he threw it 
 upward and forward through the air, in a graceful 
 curve, until it struck the water, and sank rapidly to 
 the bottom. As the speedy ship drew past the up 
 and down line, the leadsman announced the depth 
 of the water, which was shoaling rapidly. 
 
 The Narragansett, deeply laden for a long cruise, 
 drew about sixteen feet of water forward ; she was a 
 rather large frigate for her class, being of about 
 eleven hundred tons burden. Fairford was sailing 
 over one of the great banks of sand that have been 
 the terror of mariners in these waters from time 
 immemorial. The ordinary ship-channel was far 
 over to starboard ; but Fairford, not daring to 
 change the direction of his ship for fear of falling 
 into the open arms of the English fleet, steadily 
 held his course. Salvation or freedom were that 
 way or not at all ; and a wrecked ship were far 
 better than a recaptured one. Meanwhile, every 
 expedient that could be thought of to increase the 
 speed of the ship had been tried. Tackles had been 
 clapped on the running gear, the sheets had been 
 
 207
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 hauled home, and the yards mastheaded to the 
 extremest limit, until the sails set like boards. 
 Whips had been rigged, and every sail was kept 
 well wetted down so as to lose not even a capful of 
 \vind. 
 
 "If I can only get clear of that frigate," said 
 Fairford to himself, "before she gets within range, 
 or drive her off before she can do any damage after 
 she does, I shall have a chance. Thank goodness, 
 we 're the heavier ship. Those fellows over in the 
 bay there are out of the game, and with the whole 
 sea to manoeuvre in, and night coming on,- we can 
 manage to escape those two yonder, I think." 
 
 The two ships at sea, previously uncertain as to 
 his movements, were now attempting to close in 
 upon him, but they were still hull down beneath 
 the horizon. 
 
 " What are you afraid of, Blake ? " asked Mar 
 garet, looking up at him as he happened to turn 
 and face her. 
 
 "Of nothing. That is, nothing for myself - 
 unless it 's you." 
 
 " Never mind me what do you anticipate, I 
 mean ? Shall we be able to get away from those 
 ships?" 
 
 "I hope not," interrupted Sir James, ungra 
 ciously; "this cruise cannot end any too soon for 
 me." 
 
 "Why," said Fairford, "if that frigate out yonder 
 succeeds in getting near enough to us to damage a 
 spar or carry away a mast, she can hold us in play, 
 and we will be delayed until the others come up and 
 capture us." 
 
 208
 
 SAFE AT SEA 
 
 "Can't you drive off that smaller ship with this 
 larger one ? " 
 
 "Certainly," replied Fairford, smiling; "but you 
 must remember that one little wounded spar might 
 cause our capture by the others." 
 
 "I see," murmured Margaret, thoughtfully. 
 
 "And this one over here, to the left?" queried 
 Evelyn. 
 
 " Well, we have not worried about her heretofore, 
 though she does appear to loom up rather pluckily. 
 I hardly think she can do much damage, though 
 but now I must go to my duties. Sir James, you 
 will surely take the two ladies below if the bullets 
 begin to fly? " 
 
 "All right, I '11 take care of them; but if you will 
 surrender this ship to me now, as His Majesty's 
 representative, you can hardly escape, you know, 
 I will insure your good treatment on parole and 
 speedy return home by exchange." 
 
 "Sir," replied Fairford, turning proudly away, 
 "we did not cut out this ship for the purpose of 
 surrendering her, and we are by no means captured 
 yet." 
 
 The schooner was nearing them rapidly. Sud 
 denly her commander threw her up into the wind, 
 'and hove to, instead of crossing the bows of the 
 onrushing frigate, as he had intended, judging that 
 the shoal water into which she was running would 
 cause Fairford to shift his helm in order to head 
 toward the open sea. The American vessel would 
 therefore necessarily pass within a short distance of 
 him; and though her broadside would probably sink 
 him, yet he was willing to sacrifice himself in the 
 J 4 209
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 hope that a lucky shot might cripple his huge 
 antagonist, and so throw her into the arms of the 
 squadron. It was a bold, a desperate manoeuvre, 
 and it was met with an equally bold reply. The 
 Narragansett rapidly drew up as if to pass the 
 schooner. 
 
 "Shall I send the men to the port battery, sir," 
 called Ludlow, uneasily. 
 
 "Never mind the battery, sir. We won't use it 
 on this little fellow," answered Fairford, leaning 
 over the break of the poop, and looking ahead. 
 
 The captain then directed the quartermaster at 
 the wheel to cross his order, and shift the helm in 
 the direction opposite to the command which would 
 be given ; that is, if the helm were ordered to star 
 board it was to be put to port, or vice versa. The 
 Narragansett was very near the schooner now. The 
 men on the latter could be seen plainly upon her 
 flush deck, with its low rail. They were clustered 
 about the six-pounders and the long twelve on a 
 pivot forward, with which she was armed. What 
 was the frigate about to do? Why didn't the 
 Yankee change his course, thought the Englishman. 
 
 "Ah ! now is the time," he ejaculated, as he heard 
 the expected order given loudly. 
 
 "Port! Hard a port!" 
 
 Anticipating that the Narragansett would turn 
 away and bring her broadside to bear upon him, he 
 had instructed his men to aim high and try to cut a 
 spar. 
 
 "Standby!" he shouted. 
 
 To his astonishment, the unexpected suddenly 
 happened. Instead of swinging to starboard in 
 
 2IO
 
 SAFE AT SEA 
 
 accordance with the order he had heard, and heading 
 out for the bay, the great bows of the frigate turned 
 swiftly, and came rushing down at full speed upon 
 him. 
 
 There was a moment of intense confusion on 
 board the English schooner at this desperate move. 
 The captain himself sprang to the wheel, shouting 
 orders; the booms of the schooner were swung out; 
 but she hung in the wind, and gathered headway so 
 slowly that the Narragansett, going at full speed, 
 crashed irresistibly into her. An opportune wave at 
 the moment of impact lifted the frigate's bow, and 
 her sharp cut-water drove through the frail schooner 
 like a knife. The startled English crew, dazed by 
 the suddenness of the manoeuvre, and the contra 
 dictory orders they had received, had neglected 
 their opportunity; and the only gun fired was the 
 long Tom, the shot from which carried away one of 
 the quarter-boats of the frigate, but did no other 
 damage. 
 
 The English captain, filled with rage and despair 
 at this bitter ending of his fruitless sacrifice, snapped 
 a pistol at the head of a man leaning out over the 
 taffrail aft, as the Narragansett, forging ahead, first 
 clove asunder, and then ran completely over the 
 little schooner, driving the shattered halves away on 
 either side. The bullet struck Sir James full in 
 the face. He pitched forward, dead, without a 
 word, and fell from the ship down upon the shattered 
 piece of wreckage in the water, upon which the 
 English captain had stood. Evelyn and Margaret 
 screamed wildly. 
 
 "Sir James, Sir James!" cried the former; "he
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 has fallen into the sea! Stop the ship! Lower a 
 boat ! " But Fairford, who had been standing near 
 enough to see that the bullet had struck Sir James, 
 knew that his cruise, under any flag, was ended for 
 ever, and shook his head in denial. Had there been 
 a thousand men struggling in the water at the 
 moment, he would have paid no heed. 
 
 The Narragansett, although she had sustained 
 some damage forward, was still rushing ahead. 
 The other frigate, a rapid sailer, was coming down 
 upon them with tremendous speed. To stop or to 
 change the course would be to invite an open con 
 flict and certain recapture. How far the shoals 
 extended out across his path he did not know, 
 though it was evident that he would soon ascertain. 
 He sprang back to the weather side again, paying 
 no heed to the trembling women, whose very exist 
 ence he seemed to forget. Every instinct of the 
 sailor was now roused in him. He jumped up on 
 the rail, and then stepped upon the sheer ratlines 
 again, and leaned far out to watch the sea. The 
 lead whirled in dangerous proximity to his head, 
 but he heeded it not. The monotonous song of the 
 man in the chains heaving it rang in his ear 
 menacingly. 
 
 " By the mark five, by the deep four, and a 
 quarter less four, and a half three, by the mark 
 three." That meant but a few inches of clear 
 water, a few inches between life and death, safety 
 and destruction, beneath the keel ; but he could not 
 change the course, whatever the depth of water; he 
 must hold on as he was; the lead was useless to 
 him.
 
 THE ENGLISH CAPTAIN, FILLED WITH RAGE AND DESPAIR, 
 
 SNAPPED HIS PISTOL. Page 212.

 
 SAFE AT SEA 
 
 "Forward, there; take that man out of the 
 chains," he shouted. "He only intimidates me 
 with his soundings." 
 
 The shallow water was now boiling and foaming 
 about the bows of the ship. 
 
 "She shoals, she shoals," shouted Ludlow, fran 
 tically, from the forecastle. " Port the helm 
 hard-a-port ! " 
 
 "Avast!" cried Fairford, promptly ; "steady with 
 the helm ! Keep her as she is." 
 
 At this moment a low shudder ran through the 
 ship, followed by a violent shock. 
 
 "She strikes, she strikes," screamed the men 
 forward. Then the foretop-gallant mast carried 
 away with a mighty crash. 
 
 "Aloft, some of you, and clear away the wreck," 
 shouted Fairford, promptly, but making no other 
 sign. 
 
 Her speed at once diminished; slower and slower 
 she went. The other stays and masts creaked and 
 groaned under the terrific straining; but being 
 new and strong, all the rest held so far. She had 
 taken ground, but had not yet completely lost her 
 way. 
 
 "It's all over with us," thought Fairford, in 
 despair, as he saw his gallant attempt apparently 
 coming to nought. But no, not yet she was mov 
 ing still. In agonized suspense he hung over the 
 side, looking at the foaming green water, discolored 
 by the mud and sand she was raising. Would she 
 come to rest, or would she go on? The seconds 
 were long. Over in the bay to starboard, the frigate 
 was coming down like a storm upon the Narragan- 
 
 213
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 sett, the other ships following hard upon her heels, 
 or stretching out across the entrance to spread a 
 broad clew and enclose the prey in the net. With a 
 sick heart, and full of anxiety, Fairford watched the 
 sea. 
 
 Was she going over the shoals ? Was there deep 
 water beyond? The motion increased, at first 
 slowly, then faster and faster. Thank God ! she 
 was certainly going ahead. With a quiver of dis 
 gust at her contact with the bottom, she finally 
 slid into deep water again. Ludlow and the 
 man who had been watching with him broke into 
 cheers. Hurrah ! There was still a chance for 
 freedom. 
 
 The oncoming frigate was now in range of the 
 guns on the main deck. He would try a shot from 
 the long twenty-fours in the battery. Old Bill 
 Thompson, the best shot of the crew, took long and 
 careful aim before he fired. When the smoke 
 cleared away there was a rent in the foresail of the 
 pursuer. The men cheered loudly, and the Eng 
 lishman closed in steadily, his eighteens not yet 
 within range. The next shot passed across his 
 bows, cutting the forestay ; he was nearer now, and 
 pluckily holding on. The third shot carried away 
 the foretop-gallant mast. 
 
 By this time a half-dozen guns in the battery had 
 been manned by the improvised crews, and a perfect 
 rain of solid shot, which was poured upon her, and 
 to which she could not respond, carried away more 
 head sail, and finally put the little frigate, which 
 had been so gallantly handled, hopelessly out of the 
 running. Falling off, she drifted away, firing harm- 
 
 214
 
 SAFE AT SEA 
 
 less broadsides the while from her smaller guns. 
 The way to the sea was open. The Narragansett 
 was soon rolling in the deep swell of the ocean. 
 There was nothing afloat that could catch her. 
 At last they were free !
 
 V 
 
 THE CRUISE OF THE NARRAGAN- 
 SETT 
 
 217
 
 CHAPTER XXXI 
 Fairford Picks up a Crew 
 
 BY the time the Narragansett got well clear of the 
 Capes from which she took her departure, the 
 night had fallen. As soon as it became entirely dark, 
 she bore up to the northeast on the port tack, hop 
 ing to elude the British ships from Lynn Haven Bay 
 which had stretched out in determined pursuit, and 
 the ships at sea, which had been closing in as well. 
 The wrecked foretop-gallant mast had been previ 
 ously replaced, and the ship was doing everything 
 that humanity could ask of wood and canvas. She 
 slipped through the water with the grace of a swan 
 and the speed of a swallow. 
 
 As the night wore away, one by one the lights on 
 the pursuing ships gradually receded and disappeared 
 in the moonless darkness about the horizon. Fairford 
 and Ludlow both remained on the deck constantly, 
 neglecting no precaution which their skill and experi 
 ence could dictate to ensure the escape of the frigate, 
 which delighted them with the revelation she was 
 making of her marvellous speed and seaworthy quali 
 ties. In spite of the tremendous pace, as Rhodes the 
 theological expert said, her decks were " as dry as a 
 church floor or a parson's sermon." During the night 
 the tired crew slept where they could about the decks, 
 but responded to every demand made upon them by 
 their officers with cheerful alacrity. 
 
 219
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 It was Fairford's present purpose boldly to en 
 deavor to pass the blockading ships before the port, 
 and enter Boston harbor, where he hoped to complete 
 his crew and then get to sea again. His situation was 
 still somewhat precarious. To properly man her the 
 Narragansett required a crew of over three hundred, 
 with officers corresponding; he had less than a hun 
 dred and Ludlow was his only officer. It is true the 
 latter was a host alone, but the work which would be 
 devolved upon the two of them would be excessive 
 and difficult, almost to a prohibitive degree. He had 
 no watch and division officers, no sailing-master, no 
 midshipmen, no marines, no surgeon, and not even a 
 surgeon's mate. 
 
 He was embarrassed further by the presence of the 
 two women, and was of course in no condition what 
 ever to meet an enemy. For the rest, after a hasty 
 examination, he found, as he had heard, that the Nar 
 ragansett was amply provisioned for a long cruise; 
 the water casks were filled, the magazines thoroughly 
 provided, and but for the other deficiencies enumer 
 ated, he would have struck boldly out into the ocean 
 on a cruise. 
 
 When the morning broke, the two haggard officers, 
 worn out by the two sleepless nights full of wear and 
 strain through which they had passed, intently sur 
 veyed the ocean. In the direction whence they had 
 come there was not a sail in sight, they had abso 
 lutely run away from them all ; but forward the ris 
 ing sun was reflected from the sails of a large ship, 
 which looked like an armed merchantman or priva 
 teer to the officers who eagerly scanned her through 
 their glasses. Whatever she was, she had detected 
 
 220
 
 FAIRFORD PICKS UP A CREW 
 
 the Narragansett as soon as she had been seen, and 
 her course was suddenly changed with an obvious 
 and most pressing desire to get away. 
 
 Now it was no part of Fairford's plans to pursue 
 strange sails at that time, and strict prudence would 
 have dictated that he neglect the ship which had 
 been sighted and continue upon his course. But the 
 prospect was too inviting to one of his daring nature, 
 and even with the disadvantages enumerated, he felt 
 able to cope with the force of the fleeting stranger, 
 which, it was seen in a very short time, was no match 
 for his ship ; so he squared away boldly in pursuit. 
 About eight bells in the early morning watch, there 
 fore, he came within gunshot of the chase, which had 
 been rapidly overhauled. A shot in front of her 
 bows, immediately followed by one close across them, 
 brought to the stranger. Ludlow boarded her, and in 
 a short time returned in high glee with great news. 
 
 " She is an English ship," he reported, " with a 
 hundred and fifty American prisoners on board of 
 her, bound for England. Most of them are captured 
 privateersmen." 
 
 Fairford jumped at the possibilities of the situation 
 at once. Here was an opportunity for recruiting his 
 crew which perhaps might obviate the necessity of 
 making a harbor with the consequent risk of capture 
 and with the further risk of a prolonged blockade. 
 He went over to the captured ship herself, had the 
 prisoners brought on deck and addressed them 
 briefly, reciting the stirring events of the past two 
 days to stimulate their imagination and enkindle 
 their patriotism, and closed with a ringing appeal to 
 them to ship with him for the cruise.
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 The larger proportion of the delighted men re 
 sponded immediately, and eagerly pressed forward, 
 offering to sign the muster roll at once. Among 
 them were the captain and two lieutenants of a cap 
 tured privateer capable men apparently who 
 agreed to serve as watch and division officers, to the 
 great relief of the young captain. Placing the prize, 
 the British crew having replaced their former captives 
 under hatches, in charge of the mate of a merchant 
 vessel who had been among the prisoners and pre 
 ferred to return home, with, instructions to make 
 Boston and report if possible, Fairford trans-shipped 
 the new men to the Narragansett, and then filled 
 away to the eastward. 
 
 Providence had been kind to him; although still 
 somewhat short handed the number he lacked was 
 not great and he now had a sufficient crew to work 
 the ship efficiently and man the guns; and three ad 
 ditional officers as well, who would require but little 
 training by Ludlow and himself to enable them to 
 perform the duties of their new stations most accept 
 ably. This profitable morning's work had been a 
 great relief to him, and if he could only find a surgeon 
 in the flotsam and jetsam of the sea, his conscience 
 and his course would be perfectly clear. 
 
 It was true the Americans had not hitherto required 
 much from the surgeons on their ships after their 
 actions with the enemy, but one never knew what 
 might happen, and a doctor appeared to be an abso 
 lute necessity. Nevertheless, he abandoned his for 
 mer intention, and decided not to attempt to make a 
 harbor, but to sweep the sea for the English. When 
 he reached his ship, the two girls had come up on
 
 FAIRFORD PICKS UP A CREW 
 
 deck and were surveying the prize with deep interest. 
 She had also filled away and started back for Boston. 
 Ludlow had told them of the circumstances of the 
 capture and the probable outcome of it, and Fairford 
 completed their information. 
 
 " Where is that ship going? " was the first question 
 Margaret asked. 
 
 " Back to Boston if she can get there, which is 
 doubtful." 
 
 "Oh, why did n't you send us back in her?" ex 
 claimed both girls in concert. 
 
 " I deemed it unsafe to allow you to go on that un 
 armed prize; she will probably be captured before 
 she makes the harbor." 
 
 " At least you might have allowed me to send a 
 letter to relieve father," replied Margaret. 
 
 " And I should like to have forwarded one to Sir 
 James, Captain Fairford, if by any chance he survived 
 his fall, as I sincerely hope." 
 
 Fairford knew of course that Sir James had been 
 killed, but he had mercifully spared Evelyn and al 
 lowed her to remain under the impression that he had 
 merely fallen overboard, and possibly had been 
 picked up from the floating piece of wreck. 
 
 " It 's not too late," he responded promptly, and 
 the Narragansett, in obedience to his orders, was soon 
 rushing after the prize again. Ludlow, with masterly 
 seamanship, brought her alongside, and both vessels 
 hove to once more. The young girls descended to 
 the cabin to write their letters and Fairford availed 
 himself of the opportunity to compile a brief report 
 of his actions for the Navy Department. The letters 
 were soon ready, and after they had been delivered 
 
 223
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 to the new master of the prize, the two ships separ 
 ated again and each resumed her course. The prize 
 was subsequently recaptured, however, and of course 
 the letters and report were not delivered. 
 
 There was now much for the two officers to do, and 
 little opportunity was afforded them for the present 
 for conversation with the two girls, who indeed found 
 ample occupation in overhauling Evelyn's wardrobe, 
 and altering some of her clothing to fit the smaller 
 figure of Margaret. Fairford and Ludlow, with the 
 assistance of the three officers mentioned, divided 
 the crew, now numbering nearly two hundred and 
 fifty men, into the two watches, and rated and sta 
 tioned the men at quarters and for the ordinary rou 
 tine work of the ship. Muster-rolls were prepared 
 and signed, and storerooms ransacked for clothing 
 and uniforms and the magazines and provision rooms 
 more carefully inspected than before. 
 
 The dolphin striker, martingales, bobstays, and one 
 of the whisker booms and the broken cutwater, which 
 had been carried away and smashed in the collision 
 with the English schooner the night before, were re 
 placed and repaired, the damage not being serious. 
 When the night came again and the watches were set 
 for the first time since the capture, everybody felt that 
 great things had been accomplished toward getting 
 the men on the ship in the necessary trim for the 
 proper service of a man-of-war. 
 
 Leaving the deck in charge of Berry, the former 
 captain of a privateer, a gallant young sailor of good 
 birth and breeding, who had been rated as acting 
 second lieutenant, and of whose qualifications for his 
 office Fairford had been able to satisfy himself from 
 
 224
 
 FAIRFORD PICKS UP A CREW 
 
 the observation he had been able to make of his work 
 during the day, the two officers after a brief " good 
 night" sought their cabins for a much needed rest. 
 The original crew which had cut out the Narragan- 
 sett, also enjoyed the luxury of a night in, as by 
 Fairford's direction they kept no watch until the 
 morning. The prisoners from which the crew had 
 been so opportunely recruited proved themselves a 
 willing, hardy set of men, who easily adapted them 
 selves to their situation. The good fortune which 
 had smiled upon them hitherto had not yet deserted 
 them, and even had other things in store for them. 
 
 225
 
 CHAPTER XXXII 
 An Old Friend Again 
 
 IT was morning again on this ship of surprises. 
 Refreshed by their undisturbed night, after 
 breakfast the old Narragansetts and the new men 
 from the prize, who had scarcely recovered from their 
 feelings of joy over their recapture and release from 
 confinement, were mustered in the gangway. The 
 Articles of War were read to them, the oaths were 
 administered, the muster-roll was signed, and they 
 were regularly entered upon the ship's papers. 
 
 Grog was served, and immediately after Fairford 
 beat to quarters and for several hours the crew were 
 exercised at the guns, the drill culminating in a 
 short target practice in which some excellent shooting 
 was displayed. The men were then divided into 
 squads, and practice with small arms and further drill 
 was had. Similar exercises, varied with drill in mak 
 ing and taking sail, sending down and crossing light 
 yards, etc., filled in a large part of the afternoon. 
 
 Though some of the new-comers, especially those 
 used to the greater freedom of the privateer as com 
 pared to a man-of-war, sailor-like, grumbled some 
 what at the hard work, the example of the older men, 
 who could well appreciate the necessity and value of 
 this labor, and finally their own better sense as well, 
 enabled them all to enter upon their duties with a 
 
 226
 
 AN OLD FRIEND AGAIN 
 
 will. The new officers, who were of course familiar 
 with the service of the guns, and thorough seamen as 
 well, acceptably filled their new stations, striving to 
 act in accordance with the minutiae of regulation and 
 long established naval practice as it was explained to 
 them, with a zeal which greatly delighted the captain. 
 
 " I tell you what, Ludlow," said the latter to his 
 first lieutenant, during a pause in the drill on the fol 
 lowing morning, " I 'm delighted with those fellows. 
 The officers are doing extremely well and the crew 
 are following their lead in first-class style. Let us 
 have a week to round them out in, and I think we 
 can safely tackle anything of our own size." 
 
 " I agree with you, captain, they are a likely lot 
 and will soon be in shape; but have you given up all 
 thought of going into Boston?" 
 
 " Yes. The chances of our getting out are too- 
 much against us, and 'twould be no easy matter to 
 get in. If I could only pick up a doctor somewhere 
 about here I should be perfectly satisfied." 
 
 "What would your course be then?" said Ludlow,. 
 an unusual question from a lieutenant to a captain 
 perhaps, but in private conversation like this, the 
 difference in station between the two friends and 
 there is a vast difference in degree though only one 
 in rank, between the commander of a vessel and his 
 executive officer was largely forgotten. 
 
 " I think in that case I would square away before 
 the northeast trades and make for the Indian Ocean 
 around Cape Good Hope. Perhaps once there we 
 could repeat Porter's lucky experience on this side of 
 the South Pacific. There are lots of English mer 
 chant ships thereabouts and some few frigates as wells. 
 
 227
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 I fancy, which have not had the opportunity the 
 others have enjoyed for distinguishing themselves, 
 and we might pick up a rich prize or two and then 
 have a chance to show that this frigate was up to the 
 mark set by Hull, Decatur, and the rest." 
 
 " I think that would be an excellent plan," re 
 sponded Ludlow. " Very few, if any, of our war 
 vessels have ever been in those waters, at least not 
 since the war began." 
 
 " Sail ho ! " shouted the man at the masthead. 
 
 " Now it would be beyond belief, Bob," said Fair- 
 ford, smiling, " if that were our doctor." 
 
 " It would be lucky, Blake, but not beyond belief, 
 either. I am ready to believe anything of this ship 
 when I look back on the past three days." 
 
 The officer of the deck had made the usual inquir 
 ies of the lookout, and by Fairford's direction, the 
 course of the Narragansett had been at once changed 
 so that she would approach the stranger. Trusting 
 in his known speed, the captain felt it safe to take a 
 nearer look at her. The men who had been at 
 quarters, returned to the guns, after handling the 
 braces, though Fairford, who had no mind to risk a 
 serious engagement with his green crew at this junc 
 ture, was more prepared to run than to fight as the 
 case might suggest. The reported sail had also 
 changed her course, evidently having sighted the 
 Narragansett, and the two ships were sailing as 
 directly toward each other as the wind permitted. 
 
 Ludlow, glass in hand, had gone up to the cross- 
 trees, and had made careful inspection of the stranger 
 rapidly nearing them. It was evident to him that 
 she was a heavy warship, much heavier than the 
 
 228
 
 AN OLD FRIEND AGAIN 
 
 Narragansett. Fairford had about made up his mind 
 under the circumstances to show her his heels, and 
 was only waiting Ludlow's report before executing 
 the necessary manoeuvres. When that officer reached 
 the deck therefore, he questioned him eagerly. 
 
 " She 's a large ship, sir," Ludlow reported, " a 
 man-of war, possibly a fifty gun frigate or a razee. 
 She has no colors flying that I can see " 
 
 " Yes, yes, we can see that much from the deck. 
 What do you think she is? " 
 
 " Well, sir," said Ludlow, hesitating, " it 's hardly 
 possible, but I believe she's an American, and what's 
 more " He stopped, not liking to make a prophecy 
 whose non-fulfilment would make him ridiculous. 
 " I believe it would be well for you to take a look at 
 her yourself, Captain Fairford," he continued finally. 
 
 " Take the deck," said Fairford quickly, handing 
 him the trumpet, " and give me the glass." 
 
 He promptly sprang in the rigging and was soon 
 standing on the cross-trees. The ship was nearer 
 now, and after a long, careful inspection, he closed 
 the glass, and said to himself with a satisfied smile, 
 *' We won't take any harm from that ship." He 
 descended to the deck at once and looked at Ludlow 
 and nodded. 
 
 " Gentlemen," said he to the other officers who- 
 had assembled about him, " we '11 stand on as we are, 
 I think we need fear nothing from the stranger." 
 
 44 What is that, Blake? " asked Margaret, who was 
 standing aft with Evelyn, as the captain turned 
 around and glanced at them. 
 
 44 A ship, Margaret," answered Fairford, smiling. 
 
 44 1 see that, of course," she said with much disdain, 
 229
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 *' but what are you about to do ? Will we have 
 another dreadful battle?" 
 
 " Not this time, I think. We are merely going to 
 pick up a doctor." 
 
 " Are doctors picked up in mid-ocean in this way ? " 
 said Evelyn, haughtily, the two girls imagining them 
 selves the subjects of a jest on the part of the captain. 
 
 " Sometimes, Miss Heathcote," replied Fairford, 
 smiling. 
 
 " Well, since you get such wonderful things from 
 the ocean, sir," said Margaret, " could n't you pick 
 up a lady's maid or two and some more clothing for 
 us?" 
 
 " We certainly do need some more bonnets," added 
 Evelyn, gravely. 
 
 " It is not impossible," answered the captain. " I 
 shall certainly place at your disposal the first I can 
 find," he added, as he bowed and turned away. 
 
 " How hateful men can be," remarked Margaret, 
 before he had escaped out of earshot. 
 
 "Yes, especially when they are in command," 
 added Evelyn. 
 
 The easy indifference of the captain at the approach 
 of the strange sail which, it was now evident even to 
 the men upon the decks, was a much heavier frigate 
 than their own, excited a great deal of attention. 
 They knew their ship was in no condition to engage 
 in so unequal a combat, and they wondered why the 
 captain did not cut and run. They hardly knew 
 what to make of it. The old Narragan setts, however, 
 had every confidence not only in the courage and 
 ability of their captain, but in his common sense as 
 well, and like trusting children, as sailors are, they 
 
 230
 
 AN OLD FRIEND AGAIN 
 
 told themselves that " the old man " knew what he 
 was doing, and therefore reassured the others. 
 
 The American flag had been flying from the gaff 
 for some time, and as they looked upon the stranger, 
 the stars and stripes broke out from her gaff as well. 
 This meant nothing, however ; it was a custom, 
 perfectly allowable, to sail under any colors, though 
 a necessity to fight under your own. Two ships 
 manoeuvring for position prior to a combat, fre 
 quently displayed all sorts of colors before beginning 
 the engagement. 
 
 Fairford leaned over the break of the poop, looking 
 at the approaching stranger. He was perfectly 
 satisfied now. At the same time, old Rhodes, who 
 had been critically examining the frigate through the 
 gangway, turned and walked aft, muttering to 
 himself, 
 
 " Douse my toplights, if that there ain't the old " 
 
 " Rhodes ! " said the captain, sharply, overhearing 
 him, " keep your reflections and discoveries to your 
 self for a few moments." 
 
 ' Ay, ay, sir," responded the veteran, grinning. 
 
 As the two ships neared each other, it was seen 
 that the men of the larger one were at quarters, and 
 her decks were crowded with a brilliant group of 
 officers in blue uniforms. Fairford held on fearlessly 
 and steadily. Suddenly the stranger swept up into 
 the wind gracefully, and backed her main topsail; 
 Fairford did the same with his ship, and the two ships 
 were thus hove to within hailing distance of each 
 other, the stranger having the weather-gage. 
 
 " Ahoy the ship ! What ship is that? " came down 
 the breeze from the larger frigate. 
 
 231
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 "The United States Ship Narragansett, Captain 
 Blakely Fairford," responded the latter, springing 
 upon the rail. " What ship is that? " 
 
 " The United States Ship Constitution, Commodore 
 Charles Stewart." 
 
 " Three cheers for the old Constitution ! " cried 
 Fairford, waving his hand. In obedience to the 
 signal, all the Narragansetts sprang upon the bul 
 warks and into the rigging, and cheered again and 
 again ; her flag was dipped at the same time. Court 
 eously acknowledging the salute by raising his hat 
 and waving it, and causing his own colors to be 
 dipped, Commodore Stewart hailed once more. 
 
 "Where from and whither bound?" 
 
 " From the Chesapeake Bay, where we cut out this 
 ship from the British, and bound east on a cruise." 
 The ships had drawn nearer now, and conversation 
 was not difficult. 
 
 " Do I understand you to say that you cut out 
 your ship from the British ; that she is a prize ? I 
 thought she was an American ship," said Stewart 
 
 " She was," answered Fairford, " but she was 
 taken when Washington was captured by the enemy. 
 We cut her out three days ago." 
 
 It was the Constitution's turn now. Such a roar of 
 exultation and delight came from the throats of the 
 four hundred men who made up her crew, that you 
 could have heard it if you had been hull down on 
 the horizon. 
 
 " Did you say the Capital had been captured, 
 sir?" 
 
 " Yes, sir, and burned, though the British retreated 
 almost immediately. Can you spare me a doctor, 
 
 232
 
 AN OLD FRIEND AGAIN 
 
 one or two lieutenants and some marines and a few 
 midshipmen, sir?" 
 
 " Is there anything else you would like to have? " 
 was the reply, while a gigantic laugh came from the 
 Constitution. " But come aboard and we will talk it 
 over. Meantime, I think you had better fill away 
 again and get a little farther off, Captain Fairford," 
 said the older man ; " we don't want you to cut out 
 the old Constitution as well, by way of keeping your 
 hand in." 
 
 After obeying the order of his superior, Fairford, 
 accompanied by Ludlow, entered a boat and was 
 rowed over to the noble old frigate. Their hearts 
 went out to her as she lay gently rising and falling 
 on the waves ; a battle-scarred veteran now, with such 
 a record of successful victory as made her, to her 
 enemies, the terror of the sea. 
 
 233
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII 
 No Ladies' Maids on the Constitution 
 
 WHEN the news spread, as it did with surprising 
 swiftness at the beginning of each one of her 
 successful cruises, that the old Constitution had got 
 to sea again, the British public waited with bated 
 breath for news of the mighty blow she was sure to 
 strike ; and captains of frigates equally with privateers 
 and skippers of merchant ships, drew their breaths 
 uneasily until, having accomplished some mighty 
 feat of arms, she was safely ensconced in a harbor 
 again. 
 
 She had laughed at blockades, disdained pursuits, 
 defied squadrons ; and under the successive command 
 of three great captains, Hull, Bainbridge and Stewart, 
 had never failed to return from a cruise without the 
 laurels of victory wreathed about her mastheads. 
 The flags of the Guerriere, the Java, the Cyane and 
 the Levant, she brought home as trophies to her 
 country. During the two years and a half of war, she 
 captured three frigates and a heavy sloop-of-war (actu 
 ally destroying the two largest frigates), carrying a 
 total of over one hundred and fifty-four guns. She 
 killed and wounded over three hundred and twenty- 
 five men upon their decks, taking nearly one thousand 
 prisoners; and on two separate occasions escaped, 
 
 234
 
 NO LADIES' MAIDS ON THE CONSTITUTION 
 
 by the exercise of the highest seamanship and skill 
 on the part of her officers and crews, from two 
 large British squadrons after a long and hard 
 pursuit. 
 
 In addition to all this, she captured property to the 
 amount of nearly two millions of dollars, an immense 
 sum for her day, and all this, with the loss in per 
 sonnel of only nineteen killed and forty-five wounded, 
 and in material, of a few spars and some rigging, 
 easily replaced. Within an hour after any of her 
 fights, she was perfectly capable of engaging on 
 equal terms another enemy similar to the one just 
 captured. The last order of the British Admiralty 
 concerning her had been to the effect that English 
 ships were to hunt her in couples ! Not a very effec 
 tive device, as it proved, since she was at this moment 
 fresh from her last victory, and in some respects her 
 most remarkable and brilliant action, the twin capture 
 of one of the pairs aforesaid, the frigate Cyane and 
 the sloop Levant ! 
 
 As soon as the exigency had been made plain to 
 him, Stewart, who was bound home, generously 
 allowed Fairford to take such of his officers as he 
 could spare who were willing to go with him. The 
 young captain therefore secured the services of a 
 surgeon and a surgeon's mate, two more young lieu 
 tenants, several midshipmen, with a marine lieutenant, 
 a sergeant and sixteen men. He also borrowed 
 uniforms for himself and Ludlow, and coats at least 
 for the volunteer officers he had on his ship. 
 
 " Would you like to have anything else, my young 
 friend?" said Commodore Stewart, after all these 
 requests had been cheerfully complied with. 
 
 235
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 " Well, yes, sir. There are two other things that 
 \ve would like to have if you can spare them," 
 continued Fairford. 
 
 " What are they, my lad ? Do not let the remark 
 able modesty that you have exhibited hitherto 
 restrain you at this stage," answered Stewart, smiling 
 jovially. 
 
 " Well, sir, we would like a couple of ladies' maids." 
 
 " A couple of what ! " 
 
 " Ladies' maids, commodore, if you please." 
 
 " Ladies' maids ! Women ! Good heavens, sir, do 
 you think this ship is a female seminary? You '11 be 
 asking for millinery next." 
 
 " Yes, sir, we '11 take all that you have on board in 
 the way of women gearing." 
 
 Stewart sank back in his chair aghast, 
 
 " What do you mean, sir; are you trifling with me, 
 or have you lost your senses? " he cried sternly, look 
 ing into Fairford's grave face. 
 
 " Neither, sir, but we have two ladies on board, and 
 as I have been so successful in picking up a crew and 
 officers in the ocean, they suggested that I might 
 somewhere find those things." 
 
 " Well, may I be dashed ! " exclaimed the commo 
 dore, recovering himself, while Fairford explained the 
 presence of the two women to him. " So you cut 
 out ships and women as well. No, I cannot help 
 you to the maids and the millinery, but would n't 
 you like me to take the ladies back with me to the 
 United States?" 
 
 "Yes, sir," said Fairford, reluctantly, yet his heart 
 sank as had Ludlow's sometime previously, at the 
 thought of being separated from his sweetheart, just 
 
 236
 
 NO LADIES' MAIDS ON THE CONSTITUTION 
 
 as he was enjoying the pleasure of her society. The 
 old commodore laughed again. 
 
 " I see how it is," he said. " Well, if they wish to 
 go back with us, sing out and I '11 send a boat over 
 for them. Meantime, keep the Narragansett well 
 away from me. I hardly feel safe as it is with such a 
 desperate crowd so near by." 
 
 The two officers with a curious mixture of joy and 
 relief at their good luck, and sadness over the expected 
 parting, soon reached their ship, whither the other 
 officers who were to sail with them had preceded them. 
 Fairford and Ludlow walked up to the two girls. 
 
 " Margaret," said the former, " Commodore Stewart 
 expects to get back to the United States in a few 
 weeks, after doing a little more cruising, and he says 
 he will take you and Miss Heathcote up to Boston 
 with him if you wish to go." 
 
 Both girls started eagerly, and then noted the utter 
 dejection in the attitudes of the two men before them. 
 They really were enjoying the cruise, and the spirit 
 of adventure got hold of them, not to speak of other 
 circumstances. Boston, for instance, was a long way 
 from Virginia. There was no reason why Evelyn 
 should go back, and she therefore nodded in response 
 to the mute interrogation of Margaret's glance. 
 
 " I feel it my duty," said Fairford, painfully, " to 
 say that you ought to go with him." 
 
 " Most certainly, most certainly," responded Lud 
 low, gloomily. 
 
 "Oh, you wish to be rid of us, do you?" said 
 Margaret, decisively ; " well, then, we '11 stay where 
 we are. I presume your ship will be returning home 
 sometime or other." 
 
 237
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 For the life of them, the two men could not 
 restrain their delight. Old Rhodes, who was always 
 opportunely around when anything was going on, 
 had pretended to busy himself over a rope while he 
 listened to the conversation. The whole crew of the 
 Narragansett of course knew of Margaret's gallant 
 ride to save the ship; it was a never ending topic of 
 discussion among the men. They knew she had 
 taken Spicer's place, and that Spicer had been 
 promised the rating of a boatswain's mate if he 
 succeeded in his adventure; they understood per 
 fectly, therefore, when old Rhodes daringly lifted his 
 hand and called out, 
 
 " Lads ! Hurrah for the little bosun's mate ! 
 She stays with us, and we 've good luck aboard." 
 In the cheers which succeeded, Margaret was re 
 named, and " the little bosun's mate " she con 
 tinued to be thereafter. 
 
 " I shall have to suppress that old man," said Fair- 
 ford to himself, looking at Margaret the while to see 
 if she were annoyed ; but when he found that her eyes 
 were shining with merriment and pleasure, he said 
 nothing. At this moment Commodore Stewart, 
 tired of waiting, hailed: "Well, sir, have you any 
 passengers for us?" 
 
 " No, sir," answered Fairford, his delight pervading 
 his voice. 
 
 " Good-bye," cried Stewart, laughing and waving 
 his hand, " a lucky cruise to you, and I hope you 
 will pick up those maids somewhere." 
 
 So with mingled cheers, the two ships filled away 
 and parted. 
 
 238
 
 CHAPTER XXXIV 
 Yarning on the Forecastle 
 
 SEVERAL weeks had elapsed during which the. 
 Narragansett, favored by the northeast trades, 
 had been steadily running to the southward. For 
 days it had not been necessary to touch a rope or a 
 brace, though of course exercise with sails and spars 
 had been a part of the daily drill. Fairford had been 
 brought up in too thorough a school not to realize- 
 the absolute necessity of habitual practice to render 
 the men able to get the best results from the delicate, 
 deadly instrument committed to their charge. 
 
 To a landsman, the word delicate as applied to the 
 enormous mass of wood and iron and rope which 
 made up the ship, might appear incongruous. Yet 
 it was the delicate touch of the designer which gave 
 the fine lined hull its capacity for speed without the 
 sacrifice of strength and stability. It was the nice 
 calculation of the shipbuilder which determined the 
 proportions of the lofty spars and the broad yard- 
 arms. It was the accurate care of those who loaded 
 her which determined her set upon the waves. Above 
 all, it was the nice discrimination, the truly delicate 
 perception amounting to intuition^ which enabled 
 those who commanded her to get from her the 
 greatest amount of speed of which she was capa 
 ble with the minimum of wear and tear. 
 
 2 39
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 Born sailors like Hull, or Stewart, or Fairford soon 
 became thoroughly en rapport with the ships they 
 commanded, and after a preliminary testing of qual 
 ities and a little deft experimenting, their vessels 
 actually seemed to represent their moods. Nothing 
 manufactured gets so near to a man's inner con 
 sciousness as does his ship. There is such a sense 
 of mutual dependence between them ; the possibilities 
 of action, though of course dependent upon the wind, 
 are so unlimited, that the ship becomes as it were a 
 responsive personality. 
 
 A fort or a field is but a piece of ground, chosen 
 for certain advantages it presents, and rarely unique 
 in the possession of them. A ship to a sailor is the 
 world itself. If it go down, he goes with it; the wide 
 circle of the horizon shows him no haven but his 
 own deck. If the fort become untenable or the army 
 be outflanked, the position may be abandoned, and 
 another one chosen. When the ship goes, all is lost, 
 the only alternative being another ship ; and so it is 
 that the sea warrior loves his habitation as no soldier 
 does his post. 
 
 And yet, strangely enough, nowhere is there so 
 much grumbling and vocal discontent at present con 
 ditions as one finds in a ship full of men. Possibly 
 it may arise from the fact that there is- an entire 
 absence of that favorite receptacle for masculine 
 discontent, that channel of marital dissatisfaction, 
 women and wives, from the ship's deck; but be 
 that as it may, the fact remains that it is not the 
 present ship to which the sailor's vocal approbation 
 is usually given, but the one in which he sailed last, 
 of which he talks and to which he refers as a marvel 
 
 240
 
 YARNING ON THE FORECASTLE 
 
 of efficiency and a paradise afloat. To her officers 
 and crew his meed of praise is given, and in her 
 favor disadvantageous comparisons are drawn with 
 the present. In times of stress, orstrain, or danger, 
 however, real things come to the surface at sea and 
 elsewhere, and then it is the deck upon which he 
 stands to which he openly gives his heart. 
 
 The excellent material of the Narragansett's crew 
 had responded in a measure exceeding his highest 
 hopes to the constant and fatiguing drill which Fair- 
 ford had called upon them to undergo, and the results 
 went far beyond his expectations. 
 
 " Except on the old Constitution," the captain was 
 wont to say to Ludlow (he had the common failing, 
 you see), " I don't believe a better or more efficient 
 set of men ever stepped a deck." But in his secret 
 heart he made no reservations. As usual, a great 
 emphasis had been laid upon target practice, and in 
 rough weather as well as fair, the men had been 
 trained to shoot deliberately at a mark. They had 
 long passed the equator now, and had lost the trades. 
 It was blowing fresh, however, and the ship was 
 booming along on the port tack, lying as close to the 
 wind as possible to keep her, the weather leeches of 
 the topsails lifting and the bowlines hauled out as 
 taut as human hands could stretch them. 
 
 Five bells had just struck in the second dog watch. 
 Supper was over for both watches, and the decks 
 forward were filled with men enjoying themselves in 
 their own way before the night watches were called. 
 Forward on the weather side of the forecastle, a place 
 by the way particularly reserved for the petty officers 
 and veteran seamen by tacit consent among the crew, 
 
 16 
 
 241
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 a little group of worthies surrounded Master Joseph- 
 Rhodes. Smoking a short black pipe, he lay exten 
 ded upon the deck, his can of grog by his side, his head 
 resting against the anchor flukes. Around him the 
 men sat or sprawled in accordance with their fancy. 
 
 " Talkin' about gales," said an old shellback, with 
 great deliberation, " one of the wust gales I ever seen 
 was in the Indian Ocean . . ." 
 
 " Mates, d' ye remember that 'ere song about the 
 Indian Ocean?" interrupted another man, and giv 
 ing the first seaman no time to answer, he trolled out 
 the following : 
 
 "'Twas the good ship Gnyascutis, 
 
 Jist from the Chiney Sea, 
 With the wind a-lee, an' the capstan free 
 To ketch the summer breeze. 
 
 " *Twas in the hidian Ocean, 
 
 Jist as the bell struck three, 
 We spied the great sea sarpint, 
 Lyin" 1 pensive on the sea. 
 
 " We passed his tail at noon-day, 
 
 I was a heavirf of the lead, 
 'Twas three bells in the dog watch* 
 Before we passed his head." 
 
 " What was you a heavin' of the lead fer way out 
 in the Indian Ocean, I'd like to know?" queried an 
 auditor. 
 
 "Just fer to exercise my arms," answered the man, 
 promptly. 
 
 "Yer jaws don't need no exercisin'," said the first 
 speaker, severely. " As I was a sayin' when inter 
 rupted by this yere ribald song cuttin' athwart my 
 hawse, the wust gale I ever saw was in the Indian 
 
 242
 
 YARNING ON THE FORECASTLE 
 
 Ocean, which I ain't never seen no sea sarpint in> 
 nuther. Why, it blowed so hard, mates, an' the ship 
 heeled over so far, that whenever we wanted to 
 take a bath, we jist run out on the lee foreyard-arm 
 an" wropped our legs aroun' the lifts an' leaned over". 
 At one time we sent a man aloft, an' he was blowed 
 that flat agin' the weather shrouds, that he couldn't 
 git up nor down, so 's we had to rig a tackle to him 
 and haul him down slidin' like." 
 
 " Wot I 'd like to know," said the man who had 
 sung, seeing a chance to make a hit which was most 
 unprofessional, it being considered a point of honor 
 to cast no doubts upon a shipmate's yarn, " how you 
 could ha' got that tackle rigged to him if nobody 
 could go aloft." 
 
 "Blast my eyes," said the seaman, "wot fer do- 
 you go to spile a sailor man's yarn by askin' them 
 irreverent questions?" 
 
 " That was a pretty bad gale, mates," said old Joe 
 promptly, to prevent a disagreeable argument, " but- 
 I know a wuss one than that. We was down in the 
 Pacific once, an' a gale come down on us sudden like, 
 an' one of the men which got ketched in the foretop, 
 slung his legs over the rim of the top to climb down 
 the futtock shrouds, an' the wind was so strong that 
 it jist ravelled his legs out an' left them whippin' 
 aroun' like a lot o' rope yarns. We hauled him back 
 to the top, then . . ." 
 
 " Was he dead ? " said old Thompson. 
 
 " Not much. You see his heart was all right, an' a 
 man's heart ain't connected with his legs, leastaways 
 this'n's wasn't. When the squall broke, we lowered 
 him to the deck with a gantlin'. An' when the cap- 
 
 243
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 ttain saw him he said he want goin' to have no idlers 
 on his ship ; if a man shipped to do some work, he 
 had to make hisself useful somehow, even if his legs 
 was all ravelled out. So he made us put a stop aroun' 
 his waist, to keep him from ravellin' further, an' we 
 used him for a deck swab, which was mighty incon 
 venient, too, because he was so heavy. Before we 
 got to port, we clean wore out his ravelled legs. 
 He's in a ... a ... Amusum now, I think ye call 
 it, an' don't have nothin' to do to make money, but 
 jist exhibits hisself. People actually pays to see him." 
 
 " If you believes that there yarn o' yourn yourself, 
 Rhodes," said Thompson, reverting to the mooted 
 -point between them, " I can easy understan' how you 
 -can swaller that there Jonah story all right. I believe 
 you could swaller the whale itself." 
 
 " Why can't we have another song, now? " said one 
 of the men. " Pipe up somebody as can sing." 
 
 " I will give you one myself, mates," said Rhodes, 
 gladly, ignoring the inconvenient argument-seeking 
 Thompson, a thing which always exasperated him. 
 "What '11 it be?" 
 
 " Give us the ' Yankee man-of-war,' mate," was 
 the reply, and the old man at once began trolling 
 out in his rich voice the favorite song of the Ameri 
 can Navy in those days. His voice was a deep bass, 
 roughened and hoarsened by the continual calling of 
 commands, but he sang with a rude grace and stir 
 ring emphasis the ringing words of what was perhaps 
 the best sea song ever written. 
 
 " 'Tis of a gallant Yankee ship that flew the stripes and stars, 
 -A nd the whistling -wind from the ivest-nor'-west blew through 
 the pitch-pine spars. 
 
 244
 
 YARNING ON THE FORECASTLE 
 
 With her starboard tacks aboard, my boys, she hung upon th&- 
 
 gale, 
 On an autumn night we raised the light on the old head of 
 
 Kinsale. 
 
 " // ivas a clear and cloudless night, and the -wind blew steady 
 
 and strong, 
 
 As gayly over the sparkling deep oiir good ship bowled along ; 
 With the foaming seas beneath her bow the fiery waves she 
 
 spread, 
 And bending low her bosom of snow, she buried her lee cathead. 
 
 " There was no talk of shortening sail by him who walked the" 
 poop, 
 
 And under the press of her pondering jib the boom bent like a- 
 hoop, 
 
 And the groaning water-ways told the strain that held her 
 stotit main tack. 
 
 But he only laughed as he glanced abaft at a white and silvery- 
 track. 
 
 " The mid-tide meets in the channel waves that flow from shore 
 
 to shore, 
 And the mist hung heavy upon the land from Featherstone tO' 
 
 Dunmore ; 
 And that sterling light on Tusker rock, where the old bell tolls 
 
 the hour, 
 And the beacon light that shone so bright was quenched on 
 
 Waterford tower. 
 
 " The nightly robes our good ship wore were her three topsails set, 
 The spanker and her standing jib, the spanker being fast. 
 ' Now, lay aloft, my heroes bold, let not a moment pass /' 
 And royals and topgallant sails were quickly on each mast. 
 
 " What looms upon the starboard bow ? What hangs upon the 
 
 breeze ? 
 
 *Tis time our good ship hauled her wind abreast the old Saltees j. 
 For by her ponderous press of sail and by her consorts four 
 We saw our morning visitor was a British man-of-war. 
 
 245
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 *" Up spoke our noble captain then, as a shot ahead of us passed 
 '' Haul snug your flowing courses, lay your topsail to the mast ! ' 
 The Englishmen gave three loud hurrahs from the deck of their 
 
 covered ark, 
 And we answered back by a solid broadside from the decks of 
 
 our patriot bark. 
 
 " ' Out, booms ! Out, booms ! ' our skipper cried, ' Out, booms, 
 and give her sheet ! ' 
 
 And the swiftest keel that ever was launched shot ahead of the 
 British fleet. 
 
 And amidst a thundering shower of shot, with stunsails hoist 
 ing away, 
 
 -Down the North Channel Pazil Jones did steer, just at the break 
 of day." 
 
 " That 's a good song," said the learned man of the 
 forecastle, looking up from his book. " I 've always 
 thought I 'd like to write a song myself. There was 
 a man once that I heard about, that said he 'd rather 
 have writ a piece o' poetry, an' it was poetry about 
 a graveyard too, than cut out a town, which he was 
 tryin' to take by boardin'." 
 
 "A queer fish of a sailor man he must ha' been," 
 commented one old tarry breeches. 
 
 " Was n't a sailor man at all," answered the learned 
 man, " he was a soldier." 
 
 " Well, that explains it ; ye never can count on what 
 a soldier '11 do," said the Benedick, with the hearty 
 contempt of a sailor for his brother of the other ser 
 vice. "Though my wife says she sets great store by 
 some soldiers an' marines she 's know'd in her day." 
 
 " Ay," answered the gunner's mate, " ye can 't count 
 on wimmen any mor'n ye can on marines." 
 
 " I never read much any more," said Rhodes to 
 -the learned man, " 'cept'n' the Bible when I can git 
 
 246
 
 YARNING ON THE FORECASTLE 
 
 one with big print in it, but I want to know how you 
 come to git so much larnin' an' still be in a fok's'l." 
 
 " I'll tell ye how it was," replied the learned man ; 
 <( when I was a lad my father he says to me, says he, 
 ' I want you to be a priest when you grow up,' and I 
 says, ' No, I don 't want to be no priest,' and when 
 I told him that, I can remember well what he said. 
 ' You young fool,' he said, grabbin' me by the ear, 
 4 when you grow up, you '11 find out what a good 
 thing I had in store for you, and then it'll be too 
 late ; but I did n't see it in that way, and here I am, 
 a Jackie in the forecastle. He made me learn a lot 
 of things before I decided not to be a Holy Joe 
 though, not referring to you, Rhodes, which your 
 name is Joe, though you ain't holy." 
 
 " Well, I guess I 'm as holy as anybody else on 
 this ship, barrin' the cap'n an' the wimmen, which 
 he is perfessionally, an' them naturally so," com 
 placently said old Joe, who never allowed his moral 
 status or his religious views to be impugned. 
 
 "That's so," remarked one of the boatswain's 
 mates, " you 're about as good as the best of us 
 aboard so long 's there 's no Sky Pilot, of course, 
 which they are perfessionally holy sure." 
 
 " Chaplains is all right too," said old Joe ; " you all 
 want 'em when you 're dead, but let 's get off this 
 subject, shipmates, or we '11 have that 'ere infiddle 
 Thompson expressin' his views, an' I don't want any 
 o' you youngsters to hear him, bein' a man o' strong 
 religious persuadin's myself. Stop swearin', Thomp 
 son," he added, as that old seaman vocally resented 
 the remarks. " Damn your eyes, I don't allow no 
 body to swear in this fok's'l but myself, since I was 
 
 247
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 converted by that Methody parson last year. You 
 won't stop, eh? Well, then, I'll make ye, an' ye 
 know the Lord '11 be on the side of the believer in 
 Jonah, rather than agin' him," said the old man, pre 
 paring to rise. 
 
 "He'll stop . . . he'll stop, lay down agin','' 
 cried the captain of the foretop, acting the peace 
 maker's part. 
 
 " That 's all right, Rhodes," said another, " but wot 
 we want to know is why you don't stop swearin' 
 yourself, if you don't let nobody else do it." 
 
 "Because I'm an old man," said Rhodes, "an' I 
 can't unlarn the bad habit of fifty years; but 
 Thompson he's younger 'n me. . . ." 
 
 " Not much I ain't, I 'm forty nine an' a half, an' I 
 can't stop it no more 'n you can, an' I don't want to 
 nuther, an' I won't," replied Thompson, stubbornly. 
 
 " You 've got to do it, matey," said Rhodes, calmly, 
 "besides, we've got ladies on board this ship, an' 
 one o' them saved the ship for us. The little bosun's 
 mate don't do no swearin' at her end o' the ship, 
 leastaways I ain't never heerd her, an' I Ve been 
 aroun' her considerable, an' the big one is goin' to 
 stop it at this end." 
 
 " I never did have no use for wimmen," said the 
 learned man of the forecastle, " perhaps from some 
 idees I got drove into me when my father was 
 thinkin' o' makin' a priest o' me, but that there girl is 
 about half a man anyways. Where 'd we be if it 
 hadn't been for her lightin' the light? We'd never 
 have got in." 
 
 " William Cotton says," remarked the old carpen 
 ter's mate, " that all the officers is in love with one 
 
 248
 
 YARNING ON THE FORECASTLE 
 
 or t'other o' the young wimmen from the cap'n 
 down." 
 
 " Yes," said that melancholy misogynist, the un- 
 suppressed Thompson, " an' they could have the pick 
 of the fok's'l too, 'ceptin' me." 
 
 " Go along, Thompson," interjected a quarter 
 master, " you 've got no more heart in ye than a 
 scuttle-but." 
 
 " Now somebody give us another song," said old 
 Rhodes, who did n't care to have any one else 
 abuse his old friend. " You, Thompson, you 
 doubtin' Jonah," he continued with a mixture of 
 Biblical characters, " you 've been a whaler in your 
 day, can't ye let us have a chantey? " 
 
 " I don't feel like singin' to-night," said Thompson, 
 with the affectation of a bashful girl, " I Ve got a 
 cold." 
 
 "Never mind that," said the mate of the hold, 
 "you couldn't be any hoarser than you are ordi 
 nary, old man, so heave ahead." 
 
 " Pipe up, Thompson." 
 
 " Give us a good one, can't ye, with a chorus," 
 came from different members of the group. 
 
 Thus adjured, after a few preliminary throat clear 
 ings, old Thompson began : 
 
 " Come, all ye bold sailors, who sail 'round Cape Horn, 
 Come, all the bold whalers, who cruise 'round for sperm. 
 The captain has told us, and I hope V will prove true 
 That there 's plenty of sperm whales off the coast of Peru. 
 
 " Now, shipmates," he said, as he finished the first, 
 verse, " all hands in the chorus. 
 
 " Off the coast of Peru, 
 Off the coast of Peru, 
 249
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 That there V plenty of sperm whales 
 Off the coast of Peru. 
 
 " The first whale we saw near the close of the day. 
 
 Our captain came on deck, and thus he did say .* 
 ' Now all my bold sailors, pray be of good glee, 
 
 For we '// see him in the morning, p'raps under our lee. 1 
 
 "It was early next morning, just as the sun rose, 
 
 The man at the mast-head called out, ' There she blows I ' 
 ' IVhereaway ? ' cried our captain, as he sprang up aloft. 
 1 Three points on our lee bow, and scarce two miles off. ' 
 
 tlt Now trace up your yards, boys, we * II fasten anear. 
 Get your lines in your boats, see your box lines all clear; 
 Haul back the mainyard, boys, stand by, each boafs crew, 
 Lower away, lower away, my brave fellows, do. 
 
 '"Now, bend to your oars, boys, just make the boat fly, 
 But whatever you do, boys, keep clear from his eye.'' 
 The first mate soon struck, and the whale he went down, 
 While the old man pulled up, and stood by to bend on. 
 
 " But the whale soon arose; to the windward he lay. 
 We hauled up Alongside, and he showed us fair play. 
 We caused him to vomit, thick blood for to spout, 
 And in less than ten minutes we rolled him 'fin out? 
 
 " We towed him alongside with many a shout, 
 That day cut him in, and began to boil out. 
 Oh, now he 'j all boiled out and stowed down below, 
 We Vvr waiting to hear ''em sing out, ' There she blows / ' ' 
 
 The deep voices of the men caught up the familiar 
 refrain, and the chorus ending in a long drawn roar 
 ing note was carried aft by the wind, with which it 
 blended in a way mournfully poetic. 
 
 250
 
 CHAPTER XXXV 
 Whaliri 's the Game 
 
 " A Y, that 's r. good song, Bill," said another sailor, 
 /JL a veteran harpooner, to the old whaler. 
 " Lord bless ye, mates, that 's the sport of the sea. 
 If you want life, whalin' 's the game. When ye see 
 them black backs tumblin' out o' the water, man up 
 aloft in the crow's nest yellin' like he was crazy, 
 ' there she blows . . . blows,' an' it 's hurry and rush 
 a gittin' the boats over an' down in the water, an' the 
 long heart-breakin' pull at racin' speed to see who 
 gits the iron in first. Then you come up quiet like, 
 a stealin' alongside o' him an' drive home the har 
 poon into his fat back, an' then it 's up tail an' down 
 he goes into the deep, an' the whale line a sizzlin' an' 
 a smokin' out o' the tub, an' the boat dancin' an' 
 jerkin' on top o' the waves, an' you wonder all the 
 time whether you '11 go down with him or not. By 
 an' by, the line slacks up, an' you haul in, an' up 
 he comes once more, bleedin' and blowin', an' then 
 goin' racin' long like mad an' towin' the boat along, 
 all hands lyin' low an' clingin' to the gunnels, until 
 he gits tired an' heaves to for wind ; an' then you 
 creeps up to him agin with your boat, an* gives him 
 a lance hard an' deep in the vitals. Then it 's ' starn 
 all for your lives,' boys, while he gits into his flurry 
 
 251
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 an' beats the water into foam with his fins an' slaps it 
 with his tail, churnin' it up with a sound like thunder, 
 an' by an' by he rolls over an' lays still, an' you 've 
 got him ! It's like killin' a king, mates." 
 
 " None of us ain't killed no kings," said another. 
 
 "No, we ain't," said old Rhodes, meditatively, " we 
 ain't got none to kill in America. If we had, I guess 
 we 'd kill 'em right enough, though most of us is out 
 o' practice in that job, but I understand wot he means 
 all right. I 've killed 'em myself, which I means 
 whales not kings." 
 
 " Tryin' out ile 's a nasty job, though," said 
 another. 
 
 " T is indeed, mate," replied the old whaler, " but 
 then you know every barrel of ile we git, means so 
 much for all hands." 
 
 " Whalin' 's fine," said a third, " it 's much the same 
 as fightin', takes men to do both on 'em." 
 
 " Ay," said another, " an' they 're alike in another 
 way, too, all hands shares in the capture, prize money, 
 an' barrel money, jist the same." 
 
 " Yes, and in pretty much the same way," said the 
 learned man again; "you throw the prize money at a 
 ladder, and wot sticks to the rounds goes to the crew, 
 and the cap'n and the officers takes the balance, and 
 you put the barrel money in coins in an ile cask and 
 the crew gits wots floats on top." 
 
 "Talkin' about prize money," said old Rhodes, 
 who had observed a small form stealing up toward 
 him under the lee of the rail, " I guess little Willie 
 Cotton won't git no more prize money now that he 's 
 servin' females an' gone to nussin' them wimmen 
 aft." 
 
 252
 
 WHALIN"S THE GAME 
 
 " Yes, I do, beggin' your pardon, sir, an* the little 
 bosun's mate she says t* I can have her share too." 
 
 " Good for her," cried one of the seamen, enthusi 
 astically, " an' if she don't git none no other way, she 
 can have part o' my pile." 
 
 " An' mine." 
 
 " An' mine." 
 
 " Well, if it had n't a been for that there ride o' 
 her 'n an' the lightin' of the beacon, we would n't any 
 of us had any prize money," said another. 
 
 "We ain't got any at all yet, remember," said 
 Thompson, " unless we git it for cuttin' out this 
 ship." 
 
 " Don't spend your prize money, lads, till you git 
 it," said Rhodes, wisely. "Oncest I was comin' down 
 the Pacific on a stout old whaler bound home after a 
 three years' cruise. We was chuck full o' ile, we even 
 had some o' the water casks full, an' a deck load o' 
 all the casks we could beg, or borry, or steal, from 
 any other whaler we come across; never did have 
 such a lucky cruise, an' all hands was feelin' fine at 
 the thought of how they 'd spend their money when 
 they got back to New Bedford. When we got down 
 off Cape Horn it begun to blow, an' blow, an' it blew 
 a steady gale for ten days (like that Indian Ocean 
 yarn o' yourn, Jack), an' we was a beatin', an' a 
 beatin', an' a beatin', tryin' to git around the Horn, 
 the cap'n cursin' an' svvearin' terrible, an' all hands 
 mourniul an' worked to death. Ship was a strainin' 
 till the ile casks begun to leak, an' then right in the 
 thick of it all, she drifted onto a reef thereabouts an' 
 tore the whole bottom out of her. 
 
 " When she struck I fell down the after hatch an* 
 253
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 broke a leg, the rest of the crew they took to the 
 boats an' drove off before the wind an' foundered, 
 leavin' me behind. Presently I come to, an' crawled 
 up on deck, an' I found I was alone, masts all gone, 
 deck load washed away 'ceptin' one plank jammed 
 between the galley an' the try-pots. I hung onto 
 that plank, an' presently the waves swept the old 
 barky off, an' down she went. About this time a 
 queer thing happened. The whale ile from the busted 
 casks got spread out over the ocean, an' the waves 
 calmed down, jist rollin' like, an' there I was a layin' 
 on that plank with my broken leg danglin' in the 
 water, an' all of a sudden it was thunderin' an' 
 lightnin' awful the lightnin' struck that plank an' 
 lit both ends of it, jumped over me, though it kind 
 o' stunned me, an' when I come to, there I was a 
 layin' on that burnin' plank in the middle o' the sea 
 with a broken leg. The fire was a blazin' at both 
 ends of the timber an' the water bein' so iley I dasent 
 use it fer to put out the flames. I never was in such 
 a fix before, an' I never want to be in another like it 
 agin," said the old man, emptying his pipe and tap 
 ping the bowl on the fluke of the anchor. " I did n't 
 get no prize money nuther, when I got back." 
 
 Fortunately for Rhodes, at this juncture the mellow 
 tones of the bell forward striking eight times here in 
 terrupted the conversation, to the deep disappoint 
 ment of the audience. The boatswain's mate aft on 
 watch piped shrilly, crying a moment after in a deep 
 hoarse voice in long drawn tones, 
 
 "A ... all, the port watch." 
 
 At this call, the lounging men sprang to their feet, 
 those in the starboard watch immediately going be- 
 
 254
 
 WHALIN"S THE GAME 
 
 low to their hammocks to get the four hours of 
 allotted rest, preparatory to their tour of duty, which 
 began at midnight. The port watch, who were all on 
 deck, stepped to their various stations and stood at 
 attention answering their names as the roll was called 
 by the midshipmen. The wheel and lookouts were 
 relieved as soon as the watch was set. Among those 
 to go below was old Rhodes, who belonged to the 
 starboard watch. As he put his foot upon the ladder, 
 his young friend William Cotton grasped him by the 
 arm. 
 
 " You did n't tell us how you got away from that 
 burnin' plank with your broken leg, Mister Rhodes. 
 How was it, sir?" 
 
 " Too late to finish that yarn to-night, my boy ; you 
 must learn that a sailor's first duty when he 's got a 
 watch below at night is to turn in an' enjoy it; so 
 pipe yourself down, youngster, an' follow my exam 
 ple." All of which was very unsatisfactory indeed. 
 
 255
 
 CHAPTER XXXVI 
 
 Why They Fought 
 
 \ FT on the quarter-deck, the two girls were stand- 
 f*- ing, surrounded by a group of officers. The 
 heat of the day was now tempered by the cool 
 breezes of the evening. The full moon was shining 
 mystically over the long stretch of water, and in 
 front of them, low in the heavens, hung the resplen 
 dent beauty of the Southern Cross, as the pitch of 
 the ship from time to time brought it into view from 
 aft. 
 
 The moonlight's magic touch heightened the beauty 
 of the ship, the sails upon which it fell gleamed like 
 frosted silver, though they cast black shadows across 
 the white decks. The two girls had hitherto enjoyed 
 the cruise extremely. They who speak of 'the monot 
 ony of a cruise have no eye for the ever varying 
 food for the imagination presented by the changing 
 sea. Margaret and Evelyn were both good sailors, 
 and the pure air, unrestrained life, and regular hours 
 had brought them both into perfect health. The 
 gallant attentions of the young officers and the un 
 usual situation in which they found themselves did 
 not allow the minutes to hang heavily on their 
 hands. 
 
 In the day time the rustle of silk and satin or the 
 wave of the cool dainty muslins which Evelyn's 
 
 v 256
 
 WHY THEY FOUGHT 
 
 generously shared and most complete wardrobe gave 
 them, seemed strangely incongruous as they brushed 
 the massive guns, or were outlined against the black 
 and rigid shrouds and stays; but when Night laid 
 her soft hand upon the ship, the two women and 
 their filmy draperies became fit and appropriate 
 parts of the picture. Sometimes, as was the case 
 this evening, they made a grand toilet, and appeared 
 radiantly arrayed " to dazzle when the sun is down 
 and rob the world of rest." Most of the officers who 
 were umnarried, were frankly in love with one or the 
 other of the two girls. 
 
 The recollection of the past upon Fairford's part, 
 and his natural modesty and timidity with women, 
 still kept up the bars between him and Margaret, 
 indeed, that young lady made no effort to let them 
 down. Now that they were together and there was 
 no possibility of separation, she temporized with 
 happiness, and day by day held off at arm's length 
 the favorite of her heart; all of which was not dis 
 couraging to those who would fain break a lance in 
 her behalf. 
 
 Those of the officers who were captivated by Eve 
 lyn's charming personality had become aware of her 
 engagement to her kinsman, but that only added a zest 
 to their endeavors, and they were by no means averse 
 to cutting out the fair maiden in the nautical sense, and 
 cutting out the English officer in a colloquial sense, 
 if that were possible. Ludlow, the most seriously 
 affected of them all, who had by no means given up 
 his long love chase, had no advantage over the others, 
 save that conferred by his previous acquaintance 
 with the object of his adoration. 
 17 , 257
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 The officer of the deck was standing at the break 
 of the poop carefully watching the ship, for Fairford 
 allowed no negligence in attention to duties when he 
 was aboard, no matter how pleasant the weather nor 
 what assurance of safety it might give. The two 
 girls and the others were standing as far aft as pos 
 sible on the weather side of the poop. Fairford, in. 
 lonely magnificence, was pacing the lee side of the 
 deck. The conversation had turned, as it frequently 
 and naturally did, upon the war. 
 
 " I confess," said Evelyn, " that I never dreamed 
 what a frightful thing war was until I came on this 
 ship, and yet I cannot explain my ignorance." 
 
 " We are all equally blind to its dreadful reality 
 till something brings it home to us, I think," said 
 Margaret. 
 
 "Yes, I suppose so, but when I stood in the cabin 
 below, the other day, and heard the sickening fall of 
 that hateful whip on those poor men's shoulders, 
 such a horror of it . . ." 
 
 " That was n't war," interrupted Ludlow, impetu 
 ously, " that was murder." 
 
 " Whatever it was," responded Evelyn, meaningly, 
 flushing at his ungracious remark, " I am not responsi 
 ble for it, and had it been possible, I would have 
 stopped it at any cost." 
 
 " Forgive me," said Ludlow, contritely, " I spoke 
 in haste, unthinkingly, as I should not have done." 
 
 " Women," continued Evelyn, "know nothing about 
 these things, and indeed I think but few men realize 
 them, else they would be more chary of entering 
 upon combats themselves, or of forcing their coun 
 tries into war." 
 
 258
 
 WHY THEY FOUGHT 
 
 " True," said Berry, the ex-captain of the privateer, 
 " I have often observed that it is not the experienced 
 soldier or sailor who brings nations into conflicts as 
 a rule." 
 
 " Certainly not," said the junior lieutenant from the 
 Constitution, "people who fight know what it is. It 
 is the statesmen or the women who make the 
 quarrels." 
 
 " Have you had much experience of it, Mr. 
 Harris?" asked Margaret, looking into his youthful 
 face. 
 
 " Not much, Miss Barrett ; two frigate actions, a 
 cutting out expedition, and some other little affairs." 
 
 " Mercy on me, and I took you for a baby ! " she 
 cried in surprise. 
 
 " I shall be most happy to have you take me on 
 any terms," he said smiling, then added, " it is the 
 statesmen or the women who make the quarrels." 
 
 " Not altogether," said Evelyn ; " sometimes 
 nations force them upon other nations." 
 
 " True in this instance, Evelyn," said Margaret. 
 
 " You know we had to fight or stand dishonored 
 and discredited before humanity," said Ludlow. 
 " Nations exist for the protection of their citizens, 
 and the flag that flies up there at the gaff in the day 
 time, which stands for our sovereignty, must protect 
 us. You disregarded it, hence we fight." 
 
 " And can you find nothing to say for England, 
 Mr. Ludlow, gentlemen ? " cried Evelyn, standing 
 her ground undaunted. " Here she has been fight 
 ing the battles of liberty for you and all mankind 
 against the odious Buonaparte and all that he repre 
 sents, and the country which should be her ally above
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 all others in her desperate straits comes down upon 
 her back." 
 
 "If you had only asked of us our assistance," said 
 Berry, " instead of demanding and enforcing your 
 demands in the ruthless way you have done, disre 
 garding the liberties of the individual so entirely, I 
 am sure you might have had it." 
 
 "You have not learned in England that we are 
 men of like passions here in America . . " cried 
 Harris. 
 
 "You mean here on this ship, don't you?" said 
 Evelyn. 
 
 " That is one of the points of issue between us. 
 This ship is America . . . whatever carries the flag 
 is our country, and your people will have to learn 
 that we can no more endure oppression than they 
 can." 
 
 " You take a rude way of teaching us the lesson," 
 said Evelyn, smiling. 
 
 "We do as we are done by, 'tis the law of the 
 world," said Berry again. 
 
 " But not God's law. I am sure that is something 
 quite different," said the girl, gently. 
 
 " Granted, Miss Heathcote ; but your country is the 
 mother country. What kind of an example does she 
 set her daughter? " 
 
 " Ay, Berry is right," said Egbert, the surgeon, 
 " we are children of the same ideas and principles, 
 heirs of the same heritage of free thought and 
 free speech, and coercion is as great a failure with 
 us as it has been with you, and so may it ever 
 be." 
 
 " I admit all that," said Evelyn, reluctantly. 
 260
 
 WHY THEY FOUGHT 
 
 " That 's because you have been with us, and know 
 us better than the rest of your countrymen," said 
 Ludlow. 
 
 " Do you justify the awful methods of punishment 
 of which you have been a witness, Miss Heathcote?" 
 asked Dr. Egbert. 
 
 " No woman could," answered Evelyn, promptly, 
 " though the men who have charge of our affairs 
 seem to think otherwise. Ah, gentlemen, I am only 
 a woman, and I cannot argue with you, but I am an 
 English woman, and glad am I to say it, and the flag 
 you love is not my flag, the cause you espouse is not 
 my cause, the hopes you cherish are far from mine. 
 My country may be wrong, but it is my country 
 still." 
 
 " Nobly said ! Well done, Evelyn," cried Margaret, 
 enthusiastically. " What think you of that, gentle 
 men all?" 
 
 " I grant that you have had some measure of 
 success in your naval battles heretofore," continued 
 Evelyn, smiling gratefully at Margaret, " and on this 
 cruise as well ; but, do you know I have my convic 
 tions, and one of them is that I shall end this cruise 
 under the English flag." 
 
 She said it with such assurance, standing so proudly 
 erect, her handsome head thrown back, that she 
 looked the very image of Britannia herself, and the 
 whole assemblage applauded. 
 
 " We are all captives of your prowess now, Miss 
 Heathcote," said Berry. 
 
 " Almost you make me wish that I had been born 
 an Englishman," said Ludlow. 
 
 " You will see, gentlemen, you will see, I feel it, 
 261
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 something tells me that I shall end this cruise as I 
 say, under the English flag." 
 
 " I wonder what the captain would say to that," 
 cried Margaret. " Blake," she called out imperiously, 
 then realizing that this was not the way in which to 
 address, in the hearing of his officers and men, the 
 commander of the ship, who was pacing the deck in 
 solitary grandeur wrapped in his own thoughts, she 
 modulated her tone, saying, 
 
 " Captain Fairford, come here, if you please, sir." 
 
 "At the service of the little boatswain's mate," 
 answered Fairford, stepping across the deck and 
 bowing low before her. " Ever since I was a boy 
 I seem to have been under the dominion of old 
 Rhodes, and I suppose that I shall continue to be 
 subordinate to my petty officers until the end of my 
 cruising." 
 
 " Do you call me a petty officer, Captain Fair- 
 ford?" said Margaret, flushing. 
 
 " Did I say petty? I lost a letter, I meant a pretty 
 officer." 
 
 " Did you make old Rhodes a boatswain's mate 
 for his beauty then?" asked Margaret, pertly. 
 
 " Not I, he has n't enough for a Jack-of-the-dust. 
 I gave him his position on account of his merits 
 alone. If I were to rate you in accordance with the 
 results of your ride and your heroic actions, Miss 
 Barrett, you would be captain and I your lieutenant," 
 he replied. 
 
 " We all waive any claims we may have to rank, if 
 the ladies will take command," said Ludlow. 
 
 " Ay," said the surgeon, " let Miss Barrett be 
 captain." 
 
 262
 
 WHY THEY FOUGHT 
 
 " Not I," said Margaret, " I am satisfied with my 
 present station. The boatswain's mate is the most 
 important man on the ship ! " 
 
 " He thinks so at any rate," said the captain. 
 
 " Miss Heathcote, won't you take command then ? " 
 asked Berry. 
 
 " Gladly," answered Evelyn, promptly. " Mr. 
 Officer of the deck, hoist my flag to the masthead, 
 and sail this ship for England." The officer of the 
 deck looked aft in surprise. 
 
 " We do not hoist a flag after dark ; it 's not regula 
 tion," said Fairford, smiling, " and unfortunately the 
 wind strictly prohibits our sailing for England at this 
 time." 
 
 " Never mind," said Evelyn, laughing, " you will 
 hoist it before you get through, or some one else 
 will, and you will go to England too." 
 
 "Will you take us along in your train?" asked 
 Harris. " Have pity on the poor prisoners of war? " 
 
 " Think what an imposing spectacle you would 
 make with half a dozen prizes towing in your wake 
 wherever you cruised on shore," said Ludlow. 
 
 " It would be stunning. I promise you I will do 
 everything possible to lighten the tedium of your 
 captivity." 
 
 " Only let us see you once a day, and we shall all 
 be happy," said Berry. 
 
 " I certainly will, for you have all been so ex 
 tremely kind to me that I scarcely know that I am a 
 prisoner." 
 
 " You a prisoner ! " cried Ludlow, and upon his 
 setting the example, the whole group, except Marga 
 ret, bowed low before her. 
 
 263
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 " Behold us all captives to your bow and spear,'* 
 said another. 
 
 " Ah, gentlemen, the bow and spear are obsolete 
 weapons, and you are not as much my captives as I 
 am yours." 
 
 " Would that you were ours ! " said Fairford, gal 
 lantly, Margaret shooting a suspicious glance in his 
 direction the while. 
 
 " What, captain, belong to all of you ! " cried 
 Evelyn, laughing. 
 
 " I called you over here," said Margaret, severely, 
 to the captain, " to hear Evelyn's sentiments and 
 anticipations and hopes, not to present to her a slave 
 in chief, sir." 
 
 " Of course," said Fairford, abashed at this re 
 proof, " all things are possible, especially on the 
 sea; those hopes may be realized, but it will not be 
 without a mighty struggle, I think, if I know the 
 temper of the men of this ship as well as I do my 
 own," he added. 
 
 " What are the men in such a particular temper 
 about? " asked Evelyn. 
 
 " Madam," answered Fairford, gravely, " when we 
 came aboard this ship, there was a dead body hang 
 ing at the yard-arm there ; in a hammock in the sick 
 bay, there was lying a thing I cannot call it a man 
 with the mind and spirit beaten out of it. There 
 he is now," he continued, as he recognized a hesitat 
 ing figure slinking along the rail on the deck below 
 him, for the poor sailor had been assigned to no duty 
 and was practically allowed the run of the ship, 
 forward. 
 
 " That man's back is a horror to look at," said Dr. 
 264
 
 WHY THEY FOUGHT 
 
 Egbert, quietly, " though it is now healed, and it will 
 be so until a merciful God calls him away." 
 
 " Martin," called out the captain, " come up here." 
 
 The young man came up on the quarter-deck with 
 halting step, and took off his hat, and stood before 
 the group, nervously cringing and fawning. 
 
 "How do you feel to-night, my lad?" asked the 
 captain, kindly. 
 
 " Very well, sir, thankee kindly," returned the 
 poor demented man, starting back at the same 
 moment as if to avoid a blow, and looking timidly 
 at the captain. " The British were very kind to me,, 
 sir. I only got one hundred and fifty lashes and 
 poor father got three hundred. I don't see him, 
 about here anywhere, sir. Is he with you, sir?" 
 
 " Would n't you like to fight the British for whip 
 ping you so? " asked Fairford. 
 
 "Fight 'em, sir? No, sir, they'd lash me again," 
 he cried in terror, dropping on his knees. " Oh, 
 don't let 'em have me any more, sir ! For God's sake 
 keep me away from 'em. Don't let 'em take me 
 again. Where 's my father?" 
 
 ' But would n't you like to fight those who struck 
 you?" said Fairford, insistently. At this question, 
 his mood changing, the boy sprang to his feet and 
 broke into wild laughter. 
 
 " They did n't strike me hard, sir, they only 
 gave me one hundred and fifty lashes. Mercy, that 's 
 what they called it, mercy ! God have mercy ! Does 
 He have that kind, sir? No, I couldn't fight 'em." 
 He turned and darted down ; the ladder and ran 
 forward, laughing wildly. 
 
 "That was a man once," said Fairford, quietly. 
 265
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 "The men knew him, they knew his father; that 
 explains their temper. That 's why we fight." 
 
 " I must go to my cabin," said Evelyn, faintly, 
 after a dreadful pause which no one broke. " I am 
 but a woman, I cannot understand these things 
 poor man, poor man ! " She turned to the ladder, 
 attended by some of the officers. Margaret sprang 
 to her side. 
 
 " Dearest, it was horrible," she said ; " you are not 
 responsible, we all know that." 
 
 " Good-night, Captain Fairford, good-night, gentle 
 men," said Evelyn to the officers. " Are you coming 
 now, Margaret? " 
 
 266
 
 CHAPTER XXXVII 
 Love on the Quarter-Deck 
 
 "TDRESENTLY," said Margaret. " I wish to speak 
 
 -L to Captain Fairford a moment." 
 
 The other officers at once stepped down upon the 
 deck below, some of them going to their quarters, so 
 that the after part of the ship was left to Margaret 
 and the captain, with of course the officer of the 
 watch forward out of earshot at the break of the poop 
 to windward. 
 
 " Blake," she said sternly, " I wish to talk with 
 you. How could you do such a dreadful thing? It 
 was a shame to bring that man before her. She 
 did n't whip him. She could n't help it. Oh ! I 
 hate war," she cried, throwing up her little hands as if 
 to avert a blow, " when I think of the horror of it, the 
 blood shed, the anguish and destruction, I " 
 
 " Forget that you come of a race of soldiers, I pre 
 sume," said Fairford, inwardly chafing under the 
 censure, which he certainly deserved. " I am sorry 
 I called him up, it was not premeditated, and I will tell 
 your friend so to-morrow. But I confess when I look 
 at that man, and think of other instances I have 
 known, I almost lose control of myself." 
 
 " And that 's why I hate war, it makes men so ruth 
 less and untender. I hate it, I do truly. What 's the 
 good of it? At home we see only the glory of it, 
 
 267
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 the pomp and circumstance and all that. Only the 
 men who are unharmed come back, and their bravery 
 and the story of the fight is so fascinating, that the 
 people with their shouts of victory drown the feeble 
 cries of the wives and mothers and children of those 
 who have not come back." 
 
 " In my heart of hearts, I hate it as much as you 
 do, Margaret," he said gravely. " There is, of course, 
 in every true man's heart the desire to bear himself 
 bravely in the contest, to fight and win the battle, to 
 uphold the cause to which his sense of duty pledges 
 him ; and at the actual moment of conflict I will con 
 fess that there is a mad joy in the mere fighting which 
 takes possession of the souls of all men who are not 
 cowards; but otherwise I detest it. I have stood 
 upon too many blood-stained decks, I have had to 
 tell too many wretched women that those for whom 
 they were asking me would never return to them 
 again, not to be willing to sacrifice everything but 
 honor for peace, and yet war is my trade," he said, 
 smiling sadly. After a brief pause he continued, ' 
 
 " Somewhere on this wide ocean probably there is a 
 ship commanded by my brother; he may be seeking 
 me with deadly purpose, as I would assuredly have to 
 seek him did I know of his whereabouts. When I 
 was last at home, you remember hearing Bishop 
 Meade preach a sermon on that Sunday we went to 
 Church together, about the brotherhood of man, but 
 it does not seem as if men could realize any general 
 relationship between themselves unless the ties are 
 actually those of blood. And yet I confess," he 
 added, his face flashing with light, " as I have said, 
 in the actual combat, these ethical considerations are 
 
 268
 
 LOVE ON THE QUARTER-DECK 
 
 lost sight of. I fight from the sheer love of fighting, 
 and strike because it is in me. Moments of repen 
 tance come after. You are a woman, and know 
 not " 
 
 "I can I do," she interrupted, full of pride in 
 her splendid lover; "that night I rode to the point, 
 when I came to the bridge and saw those men and 
 drove the spurs into Clifford, I forgot for the moment 
 that I was a woman. I felt as we dashed upon the 
 bridge that if the whole world stood in front of me I 
 
 o 
 
 would have swept it aside, though now when I think 
 of it, think that I " her voice sank to an awe-struck 
 whisper, " that I may have killed one of them, that 
 that grief may have invaded some humble home with 
 me for its source I cannot bear to think of it." 
 Her eyes filled with tears, and she put her hands up 
 to her face. Fairford ventured to lay his hand gently 
 upon her shoulder. 
 
 "Weep not, Margaret," he said tenderly, "it was 
 for our country, for our cause you did it." 
 
 " I did not," she said sobbing, taken off her guard 
 somewhat, " I did it for 
 
 "For what, Margaret?" he asked, bending eagerly 
 forward. 
 
 " For fun," she answered lamely. She had almost 
 betrayed herself. With quick alarm she hastened to 
 recover her lost ground, and with a thrill almost of 
 terror, she tried to hold back a renewal of the appeal 
 which she saw was trembling on his lips. 
 
 " Oh, Margaret," he said, " can it be that you rode 
 for us for me ? " 
 
 " Not at all, certainly not," she answered promptly. 
 *' I went because father said I might, and I wished to 
 
 269
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 take a ride, and then Clifford had not been out for so 
 long" 
 
 "A ride that black night! Margaret . . . Margaret," 
 he said, smiling joyously. 
 
 " Why not, sir? I like to ride in the night," she 
 answered boldly and ingenuously. 
 
 " That 's nonsense, my dear. Admit that you did 
 it for . . ." 
 
 " Nonsense, is it? I was just about to . . . oh, you 
 can be so hateful, I 'd never do it again, never ! I 
 would not ride across the street for you at noon-day 
 now," she answered crossly. 
 
 " Tell me, Margaret," he said, seizing her hand and 
 dropping the unprofitable subject, the practically 
 admitted cause of the ride setting his pulses bound 
 ing, " are you did you did you ever love 
 Dick?" 
 
 " Love him? Certainly I did." 
 
 He dropped her hand as if it had stung him, his 
 feelings tumbling toward the zero mark at the same 
 time. But he was so madly in love with the small 
 bundle of contradictions and inconsistencies standing 
 so imperiously before him, that he could contain him 
 self no longer. He must have it out again. 
 
 " You were not engaged to him, were you ? " 
 
 " No, I was not," she answered ; " he " speaking 
 reluctantly, " was engaged to Evelyn . . ." 
 
 With a sigh of relief, Fairford ejaculated, 
 
 " Oh, you loved him as a sister then? " 
 
 " Not at all, sir. I love you as a sister, and it s not 
 the same thing, I assure you." She was bent oa 
 humiliating him then she always was, he thought 
 well, he would show her the victim was ready. 
 
 270
 
 LOVE ON THE QUARTER-DECK 
 
 " Is n't it? I am glad of it. I want to be loved in 
 a unique way, not as other men are, or not at all." 
 
 " Well, you are then, or rather you are not loved 
 at all, so you have your desire," she replied most un 
 truthfully, making a move to leave him ; but he would 
 not be denied, so he made the plunge. 
 
 " Only hear me a moment before you go, I beg of 
 you. The pent up feelings of the years which have 
 passed since I saw you overwhelm me. Though my 
 fate tremble upon your answer, I needs must have 
 it. Nay, only listen, there is stimulus enough in your 
 very presence. As you stand there beautiful in the 
 moonlight, so you have stood by me in many a night 
 watch, so you have visited me in dreams of hope and 
 happiness and love. 
 
 " No needle ever turned to its pole with the fidelity 
 and persistency with which my heart fixes itself upon 
 you. And when I see you after all you have done 
 for us, for the ship, for me . . . why, this ship is 
 yours by right of conquest, as we are yours as well, 
 when I think that the airy substance of my vision is 
 here embodied before me, that I have but to take a 
 step forward to touch you ..." 
 
 He suited his actions to the words of his low impas 
 sioned whisper, he seized her trembling hands; they 
 stood in the deep shadow of the sail, his arm stole 
 around her waist. He was so strong and so hand 
 some towering there above her, his voice was vibrant 
 with his feelings, she could almost hear his heart beat 
 as he drew her to him. Where was her reserve, her 
 maidenly hesitation? like a charmed bird she found 
 herself inadequate for resistance. The gentle pitch 
 of the ship swinging to and fro, the soft sigh of the 
 
 271
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 breeze, the splash of breaking waves about the bow, 
 his words with their thrilling passionate cadence all 
 added to the glamour of the moment. Another 
 moment, and it would all be over. Terrified at his 
 own daring, he hesitated -it was fatal to his hopes. 
 Why did n't he go on, how could he be so foolish as 
 to stop then? she thought. It is not only the woman 
 who hesitates who is lost. 
 
 " Margaret," he whispered, " dearest, speak to me." 
 
 She did not wish to speak herself, but rather to 
 hear his own voice telling the delicious tale again, 
 and so she lingered in expectant silence, making 
 no answer. Suddenly he dropped her hand, and 
 released her waist. 
 
 " Very well, then. I understand your silence," he 
 said sadly, having missed his fate because he had 
 failed to put it to the final touch. 
 
 She actually laughed at him. There was bitterness 
 and scorn in that musical laugh, but he did not read 
 it. 
 
 " When you next cut out a ship, or a woman, 
 Blake, do it more boldly," she said. 
 
 " Margaret, do you mean ..." 
 
 " I mean nothing more, the hour is late, I must go. 
 Meanwhile consult some of your officers and learn of 
 them how ..." 
 
 " Margaret, I wish," he said, " that you had some 
 flowers now, that I might beg again for the rose of 
 reconciliation which I refused. What a fool I was." 
 
 " You would n't get it," answered Margaret, proudly, 
 though at that very moment folded in the least 
 brotherly of his letters, it lay against her heart. " I 
 do not proffer my favors a second time to any one, 
 
 272
 
 LOVE ON THE QUARTER-DECK 
 
 sir. Dick would have taken it, I am sure, though he 
 already had one I gave him." Her answer stung 
 him. 
 
 " Possibly Evelyn would have given one to me if I 
 had asked her," he said with rising spirit. 
 
 " No doubt," said Margaret ; " you would better go 
 below and ask her now. It will be a good thing for 
 you, Captain Fairford, to have a friend at court when 
 your old ship is captured, as she says it will be. I 
 wish I had never lighted that light, and lost poor 
 Clifford. He never crossed me nor flirted with any 
 one else, he always loved me, and I liked him better 
 than the whole ship and you too," she went on 
 viciously. " No, don't touch me. I am going to my 
 cabin, sir." 
 
 He still detained her, determined not to lose his 
 rare opportunity. 
 
 " Margaret, don't speak so to me. You must know 
 how devotedly I love you. You simply drive me 
 mad flirting so outrageously with those young 
 dandies ..." 
 
 " Is this the discourteous manner in which you 
 refer to the officers you have the honor to command, 
 sir?" 
 
 " Oh, they are good enough as officers ..." 
 1 " They are excellent as lovers as well," answered 
 Margaret. " I am quite satisfied with them, and I 
 can speak with authority, I assure you, sir." 
 
 "Will you never hear reason? ..." 
 
 " Is it speaking to me now? " 
 
 "How ridiculous," he went on, "to be thus 
 thwarted upon my own quarter-deck by such a chit of 
 a girl." 
 
 18 273
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 " Chit of a girl ! " said Margaret, opening her eyes 
 to their fullest extent, and stamping her foot in anger, 
 " I 'd have you to know, Captain Fairford . . . stand 
 aside, sir," and she swept past him head in air, and 
 descended to her cabin. Oh, Margaret, Margaret, 
 rare, pale Margaret, what a different story could your 
 little throbbing heart have told had it spoken truly 1 
 
 274
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIII 
 His BrotJier's Ship 
 
 * I "'HE squall on the quarter-deck of the evening. 
 X before was but a precursor of bad weather out 
 side, for the next morning the Narragansett ran into- 
 a succession of heavy easterly gales, which severely 
 tried the endurance of the new and unsettled ship. 
 She was carefully watched, however, by the officers, 
 and everything having been made snug and secure, 
 she labored and pitched along toward the soutb 
 under her three topsails close reefed and the forestay- 
 sail. 
 
 It was a dreary, miserable period for the two girls, 
 who passed most of their time shut up in their cabins^ 
 The driving rain and the sheets of spray cut up by 
 the wind, rendered it very unpleasant for them to 
 stay on deck, and the pitching and rolling of the 
 ship made it impossible for them to keep their foot 
 ing when they did go there. The possible contin 
 gencies which might arise, and the arduous duties and 
 increased watchfulness demanded by the situation, 
 kept all the officers, from the captain down, fully 
 occupied, and in a state of extreme tension. 
 
 The gale, instead of abating, after two days blew so 
 hard that the limited canvas was further reduced, and 
 under a close reefed maintopsail and storm staysail, 
 the good ship plunged along to the southward. If 
 
 275
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 it blew any stronger, they would be compelled to lie 
 to, and wait until the storm broke. 
 
 Since the day of the last quarrel, Fairford's inter 
 course with Margaret had been of the most formal 
 and ceremonious character. When the two girls and 
 he met together in his cabin, naturally he devoted 
 himself more particularly to Evelyn than to Margaret, 
 and although the latter was perfectly aware that she 
 possessed all of Fairford's heart, with a delightful in 
 consistency she resented even his passing attentions 
 to her English friend ; attentions, by the way, which 
 filled Ludlow with jealousy and anxiety, and caused 
 that erstwhile cheerful and gallant young officer to 
 look upon life from a very gloomy point of view. 
 Evelyn had no intention whatever of rewarding in 
 any way the obstinate desire of Ludlow; au fond, her 
 heart was true to Heathcote, but Heathcote was far 
 away, and she had become habituated to the atten 
 tions of Ludlow, and looking upon him as her exclu 
 sive property, had unconsciously given him ground 
 for hope. 
 
 Had Heathcote been out of the running, Ludlow 
 would undoubtedly have captured the prize. He 
 realized this acutely, and hoping something would 
 turn up in his favor, continued the pursuit and chafed 
 bitterly at his captain's devotion to Evelyn. Ludlow's 
 attention was so humble and so persistent, and in 
 spite of the constant rebuffs which he received, he 
 was so cheerful and jolly and appeared so confident 
 of ultimate success generally, that Evelyn was quite 
 willing to receive Fairford's attentions, to show Master 
 Ludlow that she was by no means his captive. She 
 was devoted to Margaret, but it was not in human 
 
 276
 
 HIS BROTHER'S SHIP 
 
 nature not to enjoy the situation, so the little party 
 played at cross purposes again, with everybody des 
 perately unhappy except Evelyn. 
 
 On the morning of the third day after the storm 
 began, the wind shifted and gradually fell during the 
 night, and the weather moderated sufficiently to allow 
 the ship to be laid on her course again on the star 
 board tack. It was still blowing a heavy gale but the 
 fiercest period of the storm was over. The two girls, 
 after a cold breakfast had been served them, it having 
 been impossible to light the galley fires, had taken 
 advantage of the slight lull to come up on deck. 
 Wrapped in stout boat cloaks with snug hoods upon 
 their heads, they were safely ensconced in a sheltered 
 nook in the lee of the bulwarks on the quarter-deck, 
 and in front of the break of the poop. 
 
 Happiness was in Ludlow's heart, for he stood near 
 Evelyn. The frightful pitching of the ship rendered 
 locomotion difficult to anyone, and to the inexperi 
 enced impossible, so she was forced to remain where 
 he placed her, and from time to time to cling to him 
 for support, to prevent being rolled headlong upon 
 the deck, or pitched into the sea, which meant certain 
 death. Margaret, in default of the captain, who was 
 gloomily regarding the ocean from the weather side 
 of the poop above them, was forced to put up with 
 the attention of Mr. Berry, finding that gallant gentle 
 man a very poor substitute indeed for her lover. She 
 was thoroughly repentant now for her treatment of 
 him a few days since, and longed to hear again his 
 impassioned protestations. She had made several 
 timid overtures which had met with no response from, 
 the incensed captain. 
 
 277
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 That very morning, as they had come through the 
 cabin door, she had looked up at him looking down 
 upon them from above, and by a glance and a gesture 
 had invited him to become her protector in the storm, 
 an invitation which had been promptly refused on the 
 plea of the exigency of duties connected with the 
 ship. She did not like to be crossed in her wishes 
 any more than any other woman would, and her 
 present feelings were divided between a burning in 
 dignation at his rather curt refusal to pay any atten 
 tion whatever to her suggestion, and a longing desire, 
 as she phrased it in her mind, to be friends again 
 though friends was hardly the proper term. 
 
 The rain had ceased, but the day had broken 
 gloomy and foreboding. Gray, heavy-laden clouds 
 hung low over the heavens, while beneath them, 
 lighter mists went scurrying along in ghostlike masses 
 under the drive of the fierce wind. They were far 
 south of the tropics now, and had been driven far 
 to the westward of their course by the storm they 
 had encountered, and as it was the month of Novem 
 ber the damp weather had a chill bite to it which de 
 fied their heaviest wrappings. 
 
 No lookouts were aloft in such weather, and there 
 fore an approaching sail was not detected as soon as 
 it would have been under ordinary circumstances, and 
 no notice was taken of it until it was sighted simul 
 taneously by half a dozen men upon deck in differ 
 ent parts of the ship. The cry " Sail ho ! " mingled 
 with the screaming wind apparently from every 
 direction. When it was borne into the minds of the 
 two maidens on the quarter-deck that a sail had been 
 sighted, nothing would do but that they must be 
 
 278
 
 HIS BROTHER'S SHIP 
 
 taken to the poop-deck, which was higher and not 
 surrounded by immense bulwarks which towered 
 above their heads in their present position, shutting 
 off all observation. 
 
 Not a sail had been seen for weeks, and they had 
 been sailing for many days through a lonely and 
 unfrequented part of the ocean, through which, by 
 the way, one of the most memorable cruises of all 
 history had been made, the desperate voyage of 
 Vespucci and his companions three hundred years 
 before to the desolate island of South Georgia. 
 When they struggled up the ladders, assisted by 
 the officers, and reached the open deck, they were 
 almost swept from their feet by the unbroken force 
 of the cold and cutting wind. 
 
 A place to stand, of course unsheltered, was soon 
 found for them on the weather side of the deck, and 
 a few turns of a rope cast off from the pin rail, 
 secured them tightly to the mizzen shrouds standing 
 out rigid and taut like great iron bars under the tre 
 mendous pressure of the wind upon the topsail. Fair- 
 ford had slowly and carefully mounted to the rail 
 and stood with his arm clasped around the shrouds, 
 looking out at the sail to leeward. Ludlow and Berry 
 were still attendant upon the two girls. 
 
 " I see her now," suddenly cried Margaret, blink 
 ing in the wind and clinging to Berry in spite of the 
 lashing. " What a little ship ! " 
 
 " Where? " asked Evelyn. 
 
 " Off here." 
 
 "Oh, of course, I see it now. Is n't it tiny?" 
 
 " That 's a great ship, Miss Heathcote," said Lud 
 low, still holding her firmly by the arm. 
 
 279
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 " Yes," added Berry, " a very heavy frigate I should 
 say." The conversation was carried on under diffi 
 culties; they were almost required to shout at each 
 other on account of the noise of the storm. 
 
 "A ship-of-the-line," roared Fairford, bending 
 down toward them, after taking a long look through 
 the glass. In a short time it was seen that the cap 
 tain's surmise was correct. The approaching vessel 
 was a very large ship with the same sail set as their 
 own, and with the wind on the quarter going free. 
 She was followed at different intervals by a second, 
 then a third ship, and then as the day wore on, the 
 Narragansett sailing parallel to, 'though in a different 
 direction from the other ships, brought into view in 
 succession a small fleet or squadron of seven heavy 
 ships-of-the-line, three frigates and a brig. When 
 she came abreast of the rear of the line the van was 
 far ahead. 
 
 The ships were beautifully handled, and in spite of 
 the severe weather had kept their places with re 
 markable accuracy. The tall sides of the great 
 fabrics which showed the glistening copper with 
 which their bottoms were sheathed every time they 
 rolled, the muzzles of the heavy guns which pro 
 truded from the tightly closed ports in long menac 
 ing rows, the lofty sweeping spars, the wide-reaching 
 yard-arms, the water which broke and bubbled and 
 seethed about their bluff bows, as they smashed into 
 the waves, or the glint of the light upon the foamy 
 crests, as they rushed through them, followed by the 
 smaller frigates and the little brig which rode buoy 
 antly in the rear of the fleet, and to leeward of the 
 last and heaviest battleship, made a sea picture of 
 
 280
 
 
 A SHIP-OF-THE-LINE," ROATiED FAIRFORD, TAKING A LOOK 
 
 THKOUGH THE GLASS. Page 280.
 
 HIS BROTHER'S SHIP 
 
 impressiveness and power only surpassed by the con 
 sciousness on the part of the observant Americans, 
 that after all these huge constructions of men pass 
 ing by them in this great ocean review, were but 
 playthings in the hand of the wind and sea. 
 
 The Narragansett, changing her course slightly 
 after having brought the leading ships well astern, 
 was slowly swinging in toward the rear of the fleet 
 Fairford had of course seen the futility of sending 
 the crew to quarters and the ship presented her 
 usual appearance save that everybody was on deck. 
 The forecastle was crowded with observers, and every 
 point of vantage occupied by the eager watchers. 
 
 "What ships are those?" screamed Evelyn in 
 Ludlow's attentive ear. 
 
 " An English fleet, probably homeward bound from 
 the Cape of Good Hope, and blown far out of their 
 course by the easterly gales," answered Ludlow. 
 
 " How splendid is the sight," cried Evelyn, 
 triumphantly. " You will of course surrender now. 
 What can this puny ship do against yon mighty fleet? 
 I shall go back home under the English flag." 
 
 " Blake, do you hear that? " cried Margaret, fiercely, 
 as he sprang down upon the deck beside her, " why 
 do you not send the men to the guns? Are you 
 going to be taken without a shot?" She stamped 
 her foot with all the pride of race and nation. 
 
 " Resistance would be futile if it were possible," 
 cried Fairford, "but under these circumstances, force 
 is not necessary. No battle can be fought in such a 
 sea. The only gun which could reach us would be 
 from the main deck battery of the liners, and to open 
 a port now upon one of those ships would be to sink
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 her. The little passions of man must be held in 
 abeyance on the great deep this morning ; a Higher 
 Power rules." 
 
 The little party had drifted over to the lee side, 
 the other ships now being in plain view from any 
 point, and conversation was not so difficult. 
 
 " They are too far away for the carronades to be 
 of any value, and musket and rifle shots would be 
 useless and wanton. If they killed any one I would 
 call it murder," said Ludlow. 
 
 " I shall be very much mistaken, however, if we do 
 not get a fight out of some one of them in the end, 
 when the storm has somewhat abated," said Berry, 
 eagerly. 
 
 " At any rate it won't be because I did not give 
 them an opportunity," cried Fairford. "What a 
 splendid picture of power they make, not a single 
 flag flying either. Quarter-master," he continued, 
 " show a flag aloft there." 
 
 In obedience to his orders, a small storm flag was 
 soon whipping and flapping from the gaff end, which 
 was immediately responded to by the red flag of 
 England from a similar spar upon the last and larg 
 est ship-of-the-line. Simultaneously, the three frigates 
 to leeward hoisted their colors. The Narragansett 
 was not more than a thousand yards distant from the 
 nearest English ship, the officers upon her quarter 
 deck being plainly visible through the glass. 
 
 Among the belongings of Captain Cunningham 
 when the Narragansett was cut out, had been the 
 official British signal book and Navy list, with the 
 numbers of the different ships, each one being dis 
 tinguished by her own allotted number. As soon as 
 
 282
 
 HIS BROTHER'S SHIP 
 
 they had flown their flags each one of the three fri 
 gates hoisted a set of signals. Sending a midship 
 man below to his cabin for the signal book, Fair- 
 ford easily made the numbers, seven ninety three. 
 Turning to the book, "The enemy," he read aloud 
 to the interested group on the deck, " may I 
 pursue? " 
 
 " Ah, they are signalling for permission to chase," 
 said Ludlow to those at his side. 
 
 " They will find that we are not very good at run 
 ning away, sir," replied Berry, confidently, " unless the 
 whole fleet takes a hand in the pursuit." 
 
 " Quite so," said Ludlow, " though I am afraid 
 when we get the captured English officers on board, 
 Miss Heathcote will forget us." 
 
 " I would n't worry about that just at present, if I 
 were you," said Evelyn. " I see no prospect of your 
 getting away though." 
 
 " If you get captured, Blake," said Margaret, " I '11 
 never . . ." 
 
 "Never what?" 
 
 " I '11 never save another ship for you," she replied. 
 
 "This one is enough, thank you, but nobody is 
 captured yet or likely to be to-day at any rate. Ah, 
 there go the answering signals from the flagship. 
 Let me see, the distinguishing pennant and some 
 more numbers. That'll be a ship's number, we'll 
 see who is to chase us now. Two fifty four. We '11 
 have a fight surely. The flagship has signalled one 
 of the frigates to chase us." 
 
 "Which one?" cried Margaret, impulsively. 
 
 " I am looking for it now in the list . . . ah, here 
 it is now. ... I have it ... two "fifty two, three, 
 
 283
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 no, the next page." As he turned the leaf, the book 
 fell from his hand when he read the name of the 
 ship that was to pursue him, for after the number 
 was printed the name of the frigate Undaunted, 36, 
 Captain Richard Heathcote. 
 
 284
 
 CHAPTER XXXIX 
 Off Tristan da Cimha 
 
 THE broad expanse of the Atlantic Ocean on the 
 thirty-seventh parallel of South latitude, from 
 the point where its eastern waves roll over Africa's 
 burning sands or lie tangent to the Cape of Good 
 Hope, to that far quarter of the globe where its 
 western surf beats on Patagonia's desolate shore, is 
 broken in but one solitary point. In latitude 37 31' 
 South, longitude 12 18' West, the Island of Tristan 
 da Cunha, with its two small companions, boldly 
 thrusts its rocky head out of the foaming surge, eight 
 thousand feet in the air. 
 
 The great waves of the mighty deep strike madly 
 upon the sub-oceanic mountain range of which the 
 island is a crest, and after a thousand leagues of con 
 quest, dash themselves into mist and foam in eternal 
 onset upon its shores. The osprey, the wild sea- 
 bird, alone of things that have life, builds a nest upon 
 its rocky crags, and its grim recesses re-echo to no 
 living voice but the wild cries of these denizens of 
 the air. 
 
 Lonely and forbidding, and in those days uninhab 
 ited, the bleaching bones of many a tall ship told the 
 tale of those dangerous needles of the sea. Under the 
 lee of the tremendous cliffs of the island, two brave 
 ships, small in comparison to its huge bulk, were 
 
 285
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 about to engage in mortal combat. For two days 
 these two vessels had been sailing southward side by 
 side, their crews impatiently waiting for the hand of 
 God to stay the fury of the storm, that they might 
 give vent to the pent up passions within their bosoms. 
 
 The shifting wind had given to the vessel which 
 flew the starry flag, the advantage of the weather- 
 gage. Each ship had reduced its canvas to the 
 three topsails and jib, and this was the sail they had 
 elected to fight under. The sea was still so high 
 that the muzzles of the guns in the main batteries of 
 the two frigates dipped in the water with every roll. 
 It had been dangerous to have opened the closed 
 ports, but here in the lee of the island, somewhat 
 sheltered from the brunt of the wind's attack, the 
 ships were much more steady, indeed, for this reason 
 alone the two naval commanders had welcomed 
 their dangerous proximity to the bold shore, and 
 since early morning revealed the island before them, 
 had been rushing headlong for their present position. 
 
 Two days had given ample time to make every 
 provision dictated by skill and experience for the 
 coming conflict, and the ships had been deliberately 
 stripped and prepared for action, and all were eagerly 
 waiting the expected shock of battle. Fairford 
 had been filled with gloomy sadness and fore 
 boding at the thought of the cruel fate which com 
 pelled him to engage with his brother's ship, though 
 he neglected no necessary precaution upon that ac 
 count; indeed, knowing the quality of the man with 
 whom he had to deal, rather the reverse. Evelyn, 
 while confident of the success of the English ship 
 under her lover's command in the approaching con- 
 
 286
 
 OFF TRISTAN DA CUNHA 
 
 flict, was yet unable entirely to control her anxiety lest 
 some mishap should bring death upon him. Marga 
 ret prayed constantly for Fairford's safety, and went 
 about softly, timidly seeking reconciliation, but in 
 vain, Ludlow was consumed with jealousy at the 
 near presence of his real rival, and highly resolved 
 that no one should be before him in case the two 
 ships came together and gave opportunity for board 
 ing. The spirit of the crew was excellent. 
 
 Not less prepared and ready was the Undaunted, 
 not less sanguine and confident her officers, not less 
 willing and impatient her crew, Heathcote had 
 indeed taken a leaf out of America's book, and care 
 in selection and persistency in drill had given him a 
 body of men to command inferior to none on the 
 ocean. He would show the enemy that his ship was 
 not the Guerriere, nor the Java, nor the Macedonian ; 
 he would duplicate, nay surpass, the work of the bold 
 Shannon, when she captured the unlucky Chesapeake. 
 
 So the captain of one ship grimly trained hjs guns 
 upon his brother, and the captain of the other pre 
 pared to pour his torrent of destruction upon his 
 love, all unwitting. What justification under the 
 gray angry heaven was there for a situation like to 
 this? Duty, Honor, Country are they but catch 
 words after all, which we invoke when blind Fate 
 arrays the one man against the other for her own 
 amusement and then calls the game she plays with 
 Death with feeble fatuous men for counters, war? 
 Or do they have a meaning before which even love 
 itself must bow? 
 
 In running for the island, the Narragansett, on, 
 account of her superior speed, gained a slight advan- 
 
 287
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 tage over her rival and was somewhat in the lead of 
 the Undaunted. Both vessels were of the same size 
 and armament, the English having a slightly larger 
 crew. Each was armed with long eighteens and 
 thirty-two pound carronades. Suddenly, as they 
 came under the lee of the cliffs, the Englishman set 
 his foresail in order to close upon the American 
 holding steadily ahead of him, and at the same 
 instant, a long tongue of flame shot out from the 
 bow-chaser on the English ship and a heavy shot 
 rushed through the air from the Undaunted toward 
 its mark. 
 
 As the smoke cleared away, a cloud of splinters 
 flying on the Narragansett showed that the well-aimed 
 shot had reached its destination. Captain Fairford, 
 who, in his eagerness to reach comparatively smooth 
 water for the action, had run too close to the shore in 
 these unknown waters, unfortunately found himself in 
 a sort of channel or pass, and not liking the look of 
 the water foaming over a possible reef off to port, 
 was forced to hold on as he was for a short period, 
 until he reached a position in a small bay where he 
 could safely clear the reef abreast of him and wear 
 ship off shore. 
 
 He had not a single gun with which to reply, and 
 bore the attack in grim silence. 
 
 Six times the long gun forward on the English 
 ship sent its deadly messenger of destruction into the 
 American ship. The gun practice, contrary to cus 
 tom of the English, was excellent, the after part of 
 the hull had been severely pounded and a half 
 dozen men at least had been killed or wounded. 
 Controlling his own impatience, and restraining and 
 
 288
 
 OFF TRISTAN DA CUNHA 
 
 calming the crew, he waited until his ship at last 
 cleared the threatening reefs. Then he put his helm 
 hard up and ran off before the wind, and the gallant 
 Englishman, who had not yet reached the reef, imme 
 diately did the same, to prevent being raked. 
 
 As the two ships, beautifully handled, came around 
 smartly together and ran off side by side and close 
 to each other, they began firing again, and soon all 
 hands were smartly engaged. The deep roar of the 
 great guns mingled with the sharper detonation of 
 the heavy carronades, as they screamed to and fro 
 upon their slides. The rolling and pitching of the 
 ships would have made accurate aim impossible with 
 a less trained crew, but the drill by which each had 
 developed his men showed its value now. 
 
 Great rapidity of action being impossible, they 
 fired coolly and with the utmost deliberation. In 
 accordance with Fairford's direction, his men waited 
 upon the crest of a wave until their ship began to roll 
 toward the opposing ship before they delivered their 
 fire upon the foeman, whom they soon found to be 
 in every way worthy of their steel. They had been 
 trained in as good a school as their American breth 
 ren, and their firing was equally as deliberate and as 
 accurate, but the two commanders had chosen dif 
 ferent tactics, the English firing from the crest of the 
 wave like the others but as their vessel was rolling 
 away from their enemy. 
 
 It was a decision which finally cost Heathcote his 
 life and his ship, though the startling effects of this 
 upward tendency in his fire were at once apparent, 
 for most of the shrouds, braces and ropes on the en 
 gaged side of the Narragansett were cut to pieces ; 
 19 289
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 the mizzentopmast crashed over forward and to star, 
 board and fell upon the starboard bulwarks, dismant 
 ling some of the guns in the starboard battery, and 
 killing some of the men before it could be cut adrift. 
 A half an hour after the first exchange of broadsides, 
 the lee maintopsail sheet was also cut by a shot and 
 the sail went adrift, and aided by several rents, tore 
 itself from the bolt ropes and flapped to pieces in the 
 fierce gale. Deprived of all her after sail, the Nar- 
 ragansett slowly swung off toward her antagonist. 
 
 The two ships had drifted very near to each other 
 prior to this moment, and the watchful Americans 
 were painfully impressed by the fact that to outward 
 appearances the English ship seemed to be practi 
 cally unharmed. Aloft, all her spars were still stand 
 ing and no sail lost with the exception of the jib, the 
 stay of which had been cut by a shot ; the jib halyards 
 also had been carried away, and the sail dragged in 
 the water ahead ; this was a serious matter, however, 
 as the wind on the after sails forced the Undaunted's 
 bow up toward the American, and the two ships 
 came together with a terrific crash, the broadside 
 of the Narragansett lying square across the bow of 
 the English ship with every gun bearing. 
 
 Eager hands had thrown the grapnels and lashed 
 the two ships tightly together. A raking broadside 
 delivered at this short range, the two vessels being in 
 actual contact, had literally torn the insides out of the 
 English ship. Fortunately for the English, just be 
 fore the moment of impact, seeing a collision inevi 
 table, Heathcote had called all hands to the forecastle 
 to board, and as his lower decks had been somewhat 
 cleared, the result of the frightful raking at short 
 
 290
 
 OFF TRISTAN DA CUNHA 
 
 range had not been as severe as the situation war 
 ranted. 
 
 But his ship was in a dreadful condition, the su 
 periority of Fairford's tactics being now apparent. 
 Neglecting the upper works, which still showed fair, 
 his batteries had devoted themselves strictly to the 
 hull of the doomed frigate. Her decks were covered 
 with dead and dying men, her guns were dismounted 
 and dismantled on every side ; wounded in her very 
 vitals, the ship was making water fast. The fore- 
 topmast of the Englishman at this moment came 
 down with a mighty crash. Falling forward and to 
 starboard, and striking the American ship on the 
 quarter, for the two ships had swung sidewise near 
 together again, it made an effective bridge from one 
 to the other. Additional lashings at once bound 
 them more closely to each other, and they lay rolling 
 and crashing and grinding against each other like 
 two mighty wrestlers in some death grapple on the 
 deep. 
 
 Fortunately for this development of the contest, 
 the loss among the Americans had not been as severe 
 heretofore as among the English, though still serious, 
 most of the Undaunted's shots taking effect in the 
 "gging as had been intended. Heathcote had fought 
 his ship with the utmost gallantry and resolution, and 
 had reduced the upper works of the American until 
 he was almost a perfect wreck aloft, but the terrific 
 pounding he had received in his own hull had dimin 
 ished further his power of defence, although with the 
 exception of the lost foretopmast, the jib and some 
 other slight injuries aloft, his own ship seemed to be 
 in much the better condition. 
 
 291
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 The condition of his ship resolved him to risk all 
 in a desperate attempt to carry the Narragansett by 
 boarding, a favorite and usually successful attempt 
 on the part of English ships. When the foremast of 
 the Undaunted fell over, bridging the distance be 
 tween the two ships, all hands on the Narragansett 
 were called away to repel boarders, first having 
 got in a second raking broadside to which no reply 
 was made, and which absolutely let the daylight 
 through the English ship and completed her destruc 
 tion below. 
 
 As the men came swarming up from below on the 
 Narragansett, rushing aft to the quarter-deck and the 
 lee gangway, the rail of the English ship was suddenly 
 covered with men handling their cutlasses and pikes 
 and firing their pistols. A tall slender figure sprang 
 upon the wrecked foremast, cheering his men and 
 waving his sword. At this instant, a volley from the 
 marines who had been crouching behind the rail and 
 holding their fire, swept away the British who had 
 sprung toward them. The youthful figure upon the 
 heel of the foremast wavered in the air and stag 
 gered, clapped his hand to his breast and fell back 
 upon his own deck, but not before Fairford, with a 
 thrill of horror lost in an instant in the stress of the 
 conflict, had recognized his brother. 
 
 " Stand by ! " he shouted from the poop-deck in a 
 voice of thunder. 
 
 The. Narragansett's men instinctively tightened their 
 grasp upon their swords or their pistols, or shortened 
 their hold on the pikes in their hands in preparation 
 for close action. 
 
 "Board! " he cried, and leaping upon the English- 
 292
 
 OFF TRISTAN DA CUNHA 
 
 man's prostrate foremast, followed by the seamen, 
 ran rapidly across the bridge so formed, in spile of 
 a wavering discharge of small arms which struck 
 down the man behind him. Meanwhile from the 
 gangway, old Rhodes made a leap for the bow of the 
 English ship towering above him. Catching the rail 
 with his hands he drew himself slowly up, when he was 
 violently pulled down from behind. He struggled a 
 moment vainly, lost his balance and fell back upon 
 the deck, cursing and swearing profanely the while 
 and narrowly avoiding crushing to death Master Wil 
 liam Cotton. That ambitious youth, despairing of 
 any other way oi boarding the enemy, had endeav 
 ored to swarm up the leg of the boatswain's mate by 
 clinging to him in this unceremonious manner. Leap 
 ing to his feet at once, and promising Master William 
 a rope's ending later, the old man, as there was no 
 time for argument, seized the boy, who was armed 
 with an enormous cutlass many sizes too big for 
 him, by the jacket, pitched him up on the rail, 
 and with another spring landed on the forecastle 
 himself. 
 
 At the beginning of the fight young Martin at the 
 sound of the first gun had come on deck in great 
 excitement, and at the moment of impact seized the 
 cutlass of a dead sailor and springing on the bowsprit 
 of the Undaunted, projecting over the deck, had fol 
 lowed Ludlow and Berry and other officers and men, 
 and charged boldly down upon ihe dauntless English 
 men on the forecastle with a courage and desperation 
 which betokened a returning intelligence and a rec 
 ollection of his wrongs. These overwhelming attacks, 
 so gallantly made, were as gallantly met, though on 
 
 293
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 account of their losses the English were fewer in 
 number than their assailants. 
 
 The English captain, gasping from a bullet wound 
 in the breast, lay in a pool of blood on the forecastle, 
 propped up against the heel of the bowsprit, both 
 his legs having been broken by a grape shot. In 
 his hands were his pistols, and three or four more 
 which had been hastily collected lay by his side. 
 With superhuman resolution, he still cheered on his 
 brave men in the hand-to-hand conflict ensuing. A 
 gigantic Englishman with a swinging stroke of his cut 
 lass cut down old Bill Thompson as he came spring 
 ing along the mast, and he was in turn instantly 
 impaled upon Fairford's sword. A bullet from Heath- 
 cote's pistol struck the unfortunate Ludlow fairly in 
 the heart and he instantly pitched forward head fore 
 most and fell dead upon the deck of his mortal enemy. 
 Then the rest of that party, now led by Berry, struck 
 the English crowded on the forecastle and fighting 
 desperately at the foretopmast, in the flank, and they 
 were forced to give back a little. 
 
 There was no space for pistol shooting now, and 
 the men in the tops could not fire into the tangled 
 mass on the forecastle of the Undaunted, so cutlass 
 gritted against cutlass, and steel rained blows upon 
 steel. The men fought without cheering, deep breath 
 ings and groanings and muttered oaths taking the 
 place, with now and then a shriek of agony. Old 
 Rhodes soon cleared a space in front of him by the 
 skilful use of his cutlass and the powerful sweep of 
 his mighty arm. Into this space little Cotton rashly 
 darted, and followed impetuously by young Martin, 
 leaped toward Heathcote. The two men between 
 
 294
 
 OFF TRISTAN DA CUNHA 
 
 Heathcote and the approaching Americans were cut 
 down by Berry and Rhodes respectively, but not 
 until one of them had nicked the life out of the small 
 William with his cutlass. Samuel Martin, though 
 wounded by a stray bullet, sprang over the little 
 boy's body into the open space and raised his cutlass 
 to drive it through the body of the prostrate English 
 captain. The last bullet from Heathcote's last pistol 
 sent the young man to join his father. As Rhodes 
 leaped toward the Englishman with lifted cutlass, 
 with a feeble voice he said faintly, 
 
 " Drive it home, my man, I 'm done for." 
 
 295
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 United and Divided 
 
 THE English, fewer in numbers than the Ameri 
 cans, had been forced to retreat in every direc 
 tion. They had no thought of surrendering, however, 
 and, disdaining quarter, they were gradually driven up 
 against the lee rail, where they fought until they were 
 cut down to a man. Fairford, powder stained and 
 dirty, with torn clothing and with blood streaming 
 down his face from a wound which had cut his fore 
 head so that a piece of skin fell down over his eye, 
 nearly blinding him, staggered over to where Heath- 
 cote lay dying, his head supported by one of the 
 American sailors by Rhodes's direction. 
 
 " Great God ! Blake, was it your ship ? " murmured 
 the astonished and dying Englishman, " I might have 
 suspected from the fight you were putting up that it 
 was one of the family. You have won again . . . 
 too bad . . . but you are a wreck aloft as I am 
 below," he said feebly. 
 
 " Run over to the Narragansett for a surgeon's 
 mate, some one. Bear a hand for God's sake," cried 
 Fairford, in great agony of mind. 
 
 " Never mind the doctor, Blake. I Ve got it in 
 both legs, and I Ve got it in the breast. Tell Evelyn 
 . . ." he murmured. 
 
 2Q6
 
 UNITED AND DIVIDED 
 
 "Can nothing be done, Dick?" said Fairford",, 
 sweeping the blood from his face with his hands and 
 tying a handkerchief about his head. 
 
 " Nothing," said the latter, opening his eyes wear 
 ily. " I am gone . . . good-bye, Blake . . . the game 
 is up ... you have won . . . where 's mother . . . 
 tell Eve . . . What's that, a vision?" he almost 
 shrieked, with a sudden accession of strength, lifting 
 his head from the Narragansett man's arms, as a 
 woman stepped upon the deck of the Undaunted, 
 looking wildly about her. Her glance fell first upon 
 the body of a man lying face upward at her feet, his- 
 left hand pressed upon his heart, his right hand still 
 holding his sword. It was Ludlow. He had met 
 death as he had faced life . . . with a smiling face. 
 A wave of pity swept over her as she realized who- 
 lay before her, and then her searching eye fell upon, 
 the little group forward. With a wild scream she 
 sprang toward them. 
 
 " Is it a vision? " asked Heathcote, faintly. 
 
 " No, it is I, in flesh'and blood, come to save you,, 
 my love, my king," she whispered, falling upon her 
 knees and relieving the sailor holding her lover's 
 head. "Where are you wounded? Where do you 
 suffer?" 
 
 "Nowhere, since you are here, sweetheart," he 
 whispered, smiling. 
 
 " A surgeon," she cried to Fairford, as she noticed 
 Heathcote's deadly pallor, " for God's sake, quick !" 
 
 " I will see to it at once," answered the American, 
 weakly, rising to his feet and staggering back toward 
 his own ship, faint from loss of blood. 
 
 In the forecastle of the Narragansett, whither he 
 297
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 been carried by his shipmates, lay old Bill Thomp 
 son, dying. Master Joseph Rhodes, his whilom antago 
 nist and devoted friend, who had come unharmed 
 through the fight, was kneeling beside him. In his 
 last moments he opened his eyes slowly and recog 
 nized the boatswain's mate. His lips moved, and the 
 old seaman bent down to listen. 
 
 " I guess," said the dying sailor, feebly, " that maybe 
 I 'd 'a' done better ... if I 'd 'a' believed that there 
 yarn . . . about Jones," and then the voice of the 
 poor sceptic was stilled forever. To believe or not 
 to believe in Jonah, that was his theology. 
 
 "I wonder if that confession come too late?" mut 
 tered old Rhodes, brushing away a rare tear with the 
 back of his hard hand. 
 
 The English ship, which was clear above, was a 
 wreck below. When the men on the forecastle had 
 been beaten by the Americans, opposition had ceased 
 because there were none left to carry it on. A grim 
 blood-stained veteran stood alone at the wheel, one 
 or two others still unwounded had thrown down their 
 arms. The marines and others in the tops had of 
 course surrendered. 
 
 The broken and battered deck and hull in which 
 apparently every shot from the Narragansett's heavy 
 batteries had taken effect, looked like a slaughter 
 house. Below in the cockpit, the surgeon killed by 
 a stray shot in one of the rakings had fallen dead 
 upon the body of the man upon whom he had been 
 operating, who had quietly bled to death under his 
 dead hand. The ship had been literally beaten to 
 pieces. At the close range, the shot from the car- 
 ronades went smashing through her, fairly crushing 
 
 298
 
 UNITED AND DIVIDED 
 
 everything before them. Grape from the long guns 
 and solid shot as well, and the two raking broadsides 
 she had received had demolished everything between 
 decks. Everything was wet with blood, cumbered 
 with dead and wounded of both crews, from the hand- 
 to-hand righting. All were shrieking, praying, curs 
 ing or groaning, as they rolled to and fro on the 
 unsteady ship. 
 
 A few seconds after Fairford had dropped back 
 upon his own deck, followed by most of his men, 
 the lashings, already strained, carried away suddenly, 
 under the rolling of the two ships in the tremendous 
 seas, and the inert English vessel drifted heavily away. 
 Before Fairford could summon his own surgeon the 
 two ships had parted. His wound dazed him some 
 what, and as he stood stupidly looking at the English 
 ship drifting away and plainly sinking, he forgot for 
 the moment his errand. A cry of anguish close be 
 side him recalled him to himself. 
 
 " Blake, Blake," shrieked a terrified voice at his 
 elbow at the sight of his blood-stained, powder-black 
 ened face, " you are wounded . . . killed . . . God 
 have mercy ! " 
 
 It was Margaret, who had come below when Eve 
 lyn, wild with anxiety, had done so as the roar of the 
 cannonade had died away. The two girls had learned 
 from the wounded and captured English seamen when 
 they reached the deck, that the prize really was the 
 Undaunted, commanded by Heathcote, confirming 
 their fears. Evelyn had torn herself from Margaret's 
 restraining hand, and had leaped aboard. Margaret 
 was at the moment endeavoring to follow her, when 
 she was confronted by her lover. 
 
 299
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 "He's gone," said Fairford, wildly, putting his 
 hand to his head; "it's Dick's ship I have captured, 
 and we have killed him. Poor mother," he muttered, 
 leaning against the main fife-rail. 
 
 " Yes, yes, of course," said Margaret, eagerly, " but 
 you, Blake, tell me of yourself, you are wounded?" 
 At this moment Fairford came to himself again. In 
 that scene of blood, of death, of ruin, of despair, he 
 saw only this woman. 
 
 " Do you care if I live or die?" he cried, turning 
 to her. 
 
 "Care?" she cried, fearlessly looking him in the 
 face, " oh, blind and foolish, do you not see that I 
 love you ? " 
 
 " Thank God ! " he sobbed, impulsively catching 
 her hand, careless of who might see. "It's the sec 
 ond victory of the morning, and the better." 
 
 " Look to the English ship, sir," said Rhodes at 
 this moment, " she 's sinking, and there 's a woman on 
 board her." 
 
 " Good God ! " said Fairford, while Margaret 
 screamed, 
 
 " Evelyn, Evelyn. You must get her off." 
 
 " Mr. Berry," said the captain to that officer, " I do 
 not see Mr. Ludlow. Make what sail you can and 
 close with the prize. Quick, for your lives, men. 
 There's a woman on board her." 
 
 As the unwounded seamen of the Narragansett 
 sprang into the remnants of the rigging, the helm 
 was shifted and the vessel slowly started toward her 
 beaten antagonist. In the first of the hurry and con 
 fusion after the battle, though the ship had been sur 
 rendered, the English flag had not been hauled down, 
 
 300
 
 UNITED AND DIVIDED 
 
 and afterward Fairford commanded that it be allowed 
 to remain flying. The seamen had hardly gained the 
 futtock shrouds when the cry, " Sail ho ! " rang 
 through the ship from half a dozen affrighted voices. 
 
 "Where away?" cried Berry. 
 
 " Right astern, sir, a large ship coming around the 
 island, making up fast." 
 
 In the stress of the battle, no one had noticed the 
 near approach of a heavy ship-of-the-line. 
 
 "What now, sir?" cried Berry, promptly. 
 
 " We must get away from that one if we can," an 
 swered Fairford, without a moment of hesitation. 
 
 "And leave Evelyn? " cried Margaret, frantically, 
 "you cannot mean to abandon her on that sinking 
 ship?" 
 
 Fairford sternly shook his head. 
 
 " If you love me," cried Margaret. 
 
 " I cannot," said Fairford, brokenly. " Duty ... I 
 must look first of all to my ship. Square away ! '* 
 The helm was put up, and such sail as could be 
 spread upon the Narragansett immediately gave her 
 way through the water. 
 
 " Pray God," said Fairford, " that the spars hold, 
 else we are lost. The English may delay by the 
 prize and give us a chance to escape." 
 
 Even under the reduced sail which the weakened 
 spars and the heavy wind permitted her to carry, the 
 Narragansett showed her marvellous speed. They 
 might still get away. After a time the pursuing ship 
 overhauled the sinking frigate. As Fairford thought, 
 the English ship hove to abreast of the wreck. She 
 might yet be in time to rescue Evelyn and the rest. 
 Fairford and Margaret and all the others with strain- 
 
 301
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 ing eyes watched her lower a boat in the heavy sea; 
 but alas, before it reached the Undaunted, that gal 
 lant vessel, her colors still flying from the mast-head, 
 plunged beneath the waves, and disappeared in its 
 depths. 
 
 " See ! She 's gone," cried Fairford, in a hollow 
 voice to the fainting girl at his side. 
 
 The gallant Ludlow with his smiling face, upon 
 whom even in the midst of her despair Evelyn had 
 found time to bestow a touch of pity he had loved 
 her ; the little boy whose prize-money would go no 
 more to his mother; the hundreds of other officers 
 and men of both ships ; the dead Heathcote himself, 
 over whose head still fluttered the flag he had fought 
 for, whose lips were still wet with the long kiss of 
 farewell of the woman he had loved ; that woman 
 herself, standing erect to meet death by her lover's 
 side, between the bodies of the dead, ringed about by 
 the wounded, who stifled their groans as they looked 
 upon her, undaunted and matchless, all were gone ! 
 Friend and foe, gallant enemy, youthful lovers, sank 
 in peace together into the deep. So it was over. 
 The prophecy of her lighter moments had proven 
 true, and Evelyn had ended her cruise under the 
 British flag. 
 
 In the vast vortex made by the sinking ship, a few 
 heads were seen and some men were picked up by 
 the boat-party on the water. Of all the splendid 
 fabric which had gone into action so magnificently 
 that morning, of the heroic crew who had displayed 
 all the gallantry of their nation, there were left only a 
 few floating spars upon the ocean. There were one 
 or two men in the English boat, and one or two upon 
 
 302
 
 UNITED AND DIVIDED 
 
 the Narragansett's deck as that ship desperately made 
 her way northward. The cutter was soon hauled to 
 the davits on the line-of-battle-ship and the latter 
 filled away in pursuit again. Slowly she began to 
 overhaul the hapless American with her load of dead 
 and dying upon her deck. The pursuing Englishman 
 set his foresail and main top-gallant sail at the same 
 moment that the maintopmast of the Narragansett 
 finally succumbed to the strain upon it. Then the 
 liner ranged ahead across the pathway of the ship. 
 
 A broken thirty-six after the desperate victory 
 already won that morning, could make no fight 
 against a new ninety gun ship-of-the-line ; with his 
 own hand, to save any one else the humiliation, 
 Fairford slowly lowered his flag. As the colors struck 
 the deck, old Rhodes with a deep groan snapped his ; 
 cutlass across his knee and threw the pieces over 
 board. Another boat from the liner was brought 
 alongside after successful though difficult manoeuvring 
 in the heavy sea, and several men clambered aboard. 
 
 "What ship is this?" said the officer at the head, 
 advancing toward Fairford, and at once removing his 
 hat at the sight of Margaret clinging to her lover's 
 arm. 
 
 "The United States Ship Narragansett, which I 
 have the honor to command. What ship is that 
 one?" 
 
 " His Britannic Majesty's Ship Poictiers, Captain 
 Edward Lascelles, flying the flag of Vice Admiral 
 Hardy. Thinking you might need them, we have 
 brought two surgeons and a surgeon's mate with us 
 to help you. Heavens ! how cut up you are ! What 
 ship was that you fought with? Both men we got 
 
 33
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 in the water were too badly wounded to give any 
 -coherent account of themselves." 
 
 " That was formerly His Britannic Majestyls Ship 
 Undaunted, prize to this ship when you came up," 
 said Fairford, proudly. 
 
 " Prize, sir? We noticed that she went down with 
 her colors flying." 
 
 "Ay, sir, she was allowed to fly them by my 
 direction." 
 
 "Why that, sir?" 
 
 " Because," answered Fairford, slowly, " her captain 
 \vas my brother." 
 
 " Your brother ! Then you are . . ." 
 
 " Captain Blakely Fairford, at your service." 
 
 " Great God ! only to think of it ! " said the ap 
 palled lieutenant. 
 
 " Did you pick up a woman with your little boat, 
 sir?" said Margaret, faintly. 
 
 " No, madam," said the officer, in great surprise, 
 " was there a woman on board? " 
 
 The limp figure which sank to the deck at his feet 
 told Fairford that the strain had at last proved too 
 much for Margaret. When they had succeeded in 
 reviving her, he carried her down into the English 
 man's boat and they were rowed to the Poictiers. 
 The gallant old admiral refused to take his sword, 
 and showed to him and the rest of the crew the same 
 attentions which under similar circumstances had been 
 -so thoughtfully bestowed by the Americans upon the 
 English whom they had captured. 
 
 As Fairford and Margaret stepped upon the deck 
 of the Poictiers the young captain turned and looked 
 >ack upon his ship. As he gazed upon her, the stops 
 
 304
 
 UNITED AND DIVIDED 
 
 of a ball of bunting which had been slowly hoisted 
 to the gaff were broken, and there above his beautiful 
 frigate fluttered the English flag. As far as they 
 were concerned, the cruise of the Narragansett was 
 over. 
 
 20
 
 CHAPTER XLI 
 A Companion of Nelson 
 
 THE great English admiral treated the captives 
 with the utmost consideration. He set apart a 
 stateroom in his own cabin for the use of Margaret, 
 and another was allotted to Fairford, who was im 
 mediately placed under the care of a surgeon, and it 
 was not until the following day that he was permitted 
 to rise from his berth. During the rest of the day 
 and the night following, the Poictiers stood by the 
 prize, which was found to be practically unharmed 
 in the hull, though frightfully cut up aloft, until the 
 jury masts had been rigged, rigging spliced, and other 
 preparations made for the long voyage to England. 
 Throwing a heavy prize crew on board of her, the 
 line-of-battle-ship squared away for home, the next 
 morning, leaving the captured frigate to make the 
 best of her way there alone under the small sail 
 which she could now carry, which by the way she 
 did in safety. That night the admiral, the captain 
 of the ship, Fairford, and Margaret dined together in 
 the great cabin, when the eventful story of the cruise 
 was told. 
 
 " I understood you to say," said the admiral, 
 " that you had captured your ship from the English, 
 yet as I observed her closely, I could have sworn her 
 lines were American rather than English." 
 
 306
 
 A COMPANION OF NELSON 
 
 " So they are, sir," said Fairford, smiling. " The 
 fact is, we built her at Washington, launched her and 
 rigged her and then provisioned her for a long cruise, 
 for which she was all ready with the exception of a 
 crew, when Ross and Cockburn with your men came 
 along and captured Washington. . . ." 
 
 " Ah ! " said the admiral, " that's a piece of news 
 that we have not heard." 
 
 " And burnt it as well." 
 
 "Burnt it?" 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 " Vandalism, vandalism ! I am surprised," muttered 
 the admiral. 
 
 " An action like that is very bad policy," said the 
 captain. " It serves no other purpose than to exasper 
 ate the people. They can easily build a new capital, 
 but it takes blood to wipe out the shame and insult." 
 
 " Quite so," replied Fairford. " Well, at any rate, 
 the Narragansett was captured and dropped down 
 the Potomac to the Chesapeake under the command 
 of a Captain Cunningham." 
 
 "Oh," said the admiral, "Henry Cunningham, a 
 hard man, I know him slightly. How is it with 
 him?" 
 
 " He is dead, sir," answered Fairford. 
 
 "Was he killed in the recapture?" 
 
 " No, sir. Three deserters from your Navy were 
 on board the Narragansett when she was recaptured ; 
 one of them was an Englishman, he was hung. We 
 found him swinging at the yard-arm the morning 
 after we cut her out. The other two, a father and his 
 son ..." Fairford hesitated, not liking to offend 
 the generous old admiral. 
 
 37
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 " Out with it, lad ; speak the truth without fear or 
 favor, and never mind me." 
 
 " Well, sir, they were Americans, and they were 
 sentenced to three hundred and one hundred and 
 fifty lashes respectively. When he was released from 
 the gratings, the old man, who had been punished 
 first, seized Cunningham before any one could stop 
 him and went overboard with him in his arms. 
 Neither of them ever rose to the surface." 
 
 " Great Powers ! " said the admiral, staring, " you 
 don't mean to tell me that?" 
 
 "Yes, sir, just that. Evelyn Heathcotewas aboard 
 that ship at the time and heard it all," said Margaret. 
 
 " Pray'i Miss Barrett, who is Evelyn Heathcote?" 
 said Captain Lascelles. 
 
 " She was a distant relative and the betrothed of 
 Captain Heathcote of the Undaunted. She who 
 \vent down with the ship," answered Margaret, her 
 eyes filling with tears. 
 
 " They were aboard the Narragansett when our 
 boat party cut her out the night following the death 
 of Captain Cunningham," explained Fairford. 
 
 " I am not a believer," said Admiral Hardy, " in 
 flogging except in very extreme cases. The great 
 Lord Nelson ... we '11 drink to him, Captain Fair- 
 ford, if you have no objections ..." 
 
 " Ay, sir," said Fairford, promptly, " with the 
 greatest pleasure*. Nowhere is the great seaman 
 admired more than with us." 
 
 " Ay, he was a royal man," said old Hardy, sipping 
 his glass thoughtfully; " we were shipmates on many 
 a cruise, and stood shoulder to shoulder in many a 
 desperate battle. He once saved me from a Spanish 
 
 308
 
 A COMPANION OF NELSON 
 
 prison at the risk of his ship, as possibly you may 
 have heard. He had his faults, perhaps I should say,, 
 his one fault, but in spite of that, I humbly trust I 
 do no wrong in hoping that I may be found fit 
 to stand beside him again when I have slipped my 
 cable for the eternal cruise beyond. He did not 
 approve of flogging except in the extremest cases, 
 and I learned my seamanship and discipline in his 
 school." 
 
 Margaret, who was sitting next to the admiral, im 
 pulsively caught his hand, which was lying upon the 
 table, and pressed it with both her own. 
 
 "Ah, Miss Barrett, that pleases you, I see." 
 
 " It pleases every one, sir," said Fairford. 
 
 " I hope to see the day," said the admiral, " when 
 it will be abolished in every service. Pray proceed 
 with your narrative, Captain Fairford." 
 
 " Well, sir, about sixteen knots below where we 
 cut her out, lay a cluster of islands behind which I 
 determined to seek shelter for a few hours in order 
 to discharge my prisoners, and let the two pursuing 
 ships get on ahead of me, so that when I ran down 
 for the ocean in the morning, I could have all my 
 foes in front." 
 
 " That 's a desire of the Anglo-Saxon, I believe," 
 remarked the captain. 
 
 " In order to bring my ship safely through the pass 
 between the islands and the mainland, it was necessary 
 to have a light on a certain point on the mainland. I 
 had sent a messenger on to Colonel Barrett, the 
 father of Miss Barrett here, to get a horse and ride 
 through the woods and display the beacon. The 
 man met with some accident ..." 
 
 309
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 " He was shot," said Margaret, " by a British 
 picket." 
 
 " But he managed to crawl up to the house and 
 tell the story," said Fairford ; " the colonel was ill, the 
 man had been delayed, the hour was late, and there 
 was no one to go but his daughter . . . " 
 
 "What!" cried the admiral, in astonishment. 
 
 " Impossible ! " ejaculated the captain. 
 
 " Yes, gentlemen, this young lady. She rode that 
 fifteen miles in a terrific storm entirely unaccompanied, 
 breaking through a picket party at the bridge, losing 
 her horse from a chance shot from them, and ran on 
 alone and lighted the beacon. The men I sent ashore 
 found her senseless on the rock and brought her 
 aboard. We succeeded in breaking through the 
 ships at the mouth of the bay by running over a 
 picket boat, got to sea, and picked up a crew from a 
 captured prize. We got some officers from the Con 
 stitution, with which we were fortunate enough to fall 
 in, headed for the southward, and did n't sight a sail 
 until we passed by an English fleet several days 
 since." 
 
 "Yes," said the admiral, "my fleet. I sent them 
 on ahead, being detained at Cape Town myself." 
 
 " When we flew our colors in passing them, the 
 three frigates all signalled the flagship for leave 
 to pursue, and the Undaunted received the desired 
 permission. We ran along side by side to the south 
 ward for two days, until the storm abated sufficiently, 
 and then rounded to under the lee of Tristan da 
 Cunha and had it out." 
 
 " Did you know it was your brother's ship?" 
 
 " I did, sir. You know I had your signal book 
 310
 
 A COMPANION OF NELSON 
 
 and your Navy list as well. I would have preferred 
 any other ship," said Fairford, " to that, but my duty, 
 sir , . ." 
 
 " I know, I know," said the admiral, mournfully, 
 " duty has no respect for family relationships." 
 
 " When we had captured the Undaunted, after a 
 desperate hand-to-hand fight on her own decks, prior 
 to which my brother had been mortally wounded 
 while attempting to board us, Miss Heathcote learned 
 that my brother, to whom she was betrothed, was in 
 command and wounded, whereupon she immediately 
 came aboard. When I returned to my own ship, 
 intending to make arrangements for the transfer of 
 the wounded, she remained with her lover. You 
 were sighted immediately, and I felt it my duty to 
 attempt to preserve my ship, so we sailed away and 
 left them, and they went down together." 
 
 " Gentlemen," said the admiral, solemnly rising, 
 " I wish to give you a toast. Drink with me to the 
 two bravest women I know of. To the eternal 
 memory of Mistress Evelyn Heathcote, who chose to 
 go down with her lover in his ruined ship rather than 
 live without him, and the living presence of Mistress 
 Margaret Barrett, for whose courage and hardihood 
 in taking that ride her country should be ever grate 
 ful. God bless me, my little miss," said the admiral, 
 with moist eyes, and laying his hand upon her 
 shoulder, " you are worthy to have been the bride of 
 a" Nelson." 
 
 " Instead of which, admiral," said Fairford, quietly, 
 " she has agreed to try to be content with me." 
 
 " Sir, you are a lucky sailor, but, Miss Barrett, you 
 will not find it a difficult task, I am sure, for your hus- 
 
 3"
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 band will certainly take his place among the great 
 captains of your country, Hull, Decatur, and Bain- 
 bridge, and the others whom this war has introduced 
 to us. What are your purposes for England, Captain 
 Fairford?" 
 
 " They depend largely upon your pleasure, sir." 
 
 " My pleasure is to have you paroled at once, and 
 left at liberty until you are properly exchanged; and 
 if Mistress Barrett will be graciously pleased to accept 
 the hospitality of Lady Hardy and myself in the 
 mean time, and you also, we shall indeed feel honored. 
 In any event pray make use of my purse as your 
 own," said the kind and generous admiral. 
 
 " In that case, sir, I shall feel it my duty to visit 
 my mother at once. You know how I came to be 
 related to Richard Heathcote, sir?" 
 
 " Yes," said the admiral, " I have heard the story. 
 It is known all through the service that poor Heath- 
 cote has an American brother in your Navy." 
 
 " I have not seen her for many years, and I feel 
 that the awful duty of telling her of the death of her 
 husband and son has devolved upon me. I shrink 
 from it, but it must be done." 
 
 " I would rather fight a battle than do it myself," 
 said Hardy, thoughtfully, " but duty, you know, my 
 lad . . ." 
 
 Ah, duty, how many sacrifices are exacted from us 
 in thy inexorable name.
 
 SSoofc VI 
 
 THE PRIDE OF THE FITZHUGHS 
 IS BROKEN 
 
 3*3
 
 CHAPTER XLII 
 Their Wedding Journey 
 
 IT had been snowing for several days previously, 
 and as far as the eye could see on this Christmas 
 morning, the earth was enwrapped in its mantle of 
 white. A chaise and pair coming along the old road 
 found progression difficult indeed, and it was with a 
 great sigh of relief that the post boy drew rein before 
 the door of the inn. The little village of Heathcote, 
 nestling snugly in the valley, consisted of one long 
 street with the inn at one end, and the Church at the 
 other. Upon a gentle hill overlooking the hamlet 
 and the valley as well, rose the gray weather-darkened 
 towers of Heathcote Hall, showing plainly through 
 the snow-laden branches of the mighty beech-trees 
 which surrounded it. The villagers were already at 
 work clearing the paths in front of their doors in the 
 early morning, when the chaise drew up before the 
 inn. 
 
 A tall handsome man of military bearing, though 
 clad in civilian dress and wrapped in a long paletot, 
 sprang to the ground, and stretching out his arms 
 tenderly lifted from the vehicle a slender little figure 
 wrapped in bundles of fur. He did not deposit her 
 upon the snow-covered earth, but carried her past 
 the astonished hostler, who had come bustling forth 
 in obedience to the post boy's signal, and who was 
 
 3*5
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 rewarded by a glimpse of a ravishingly beautiful face 
 from beneath the large bonnet which she wore, and 
 stood her down within the doorway of the inn. He 
 seized a kiss while he held her, like Mahomet's coffin, 
 suspended in the air 'twixt heaven and earth, before 
 he allowed her dainty feet to touch the floor. 
 
 " Up in the air like that, Blake, I must admit that 
 you are master, I feel so little and helpless when you 
 take me up in that way; but when I am on terra 
 firma again, conditions are reversed, sir. Don't dare 
 to kiss me again without my permission. That's 
 the five hundredth time this morning." 
 
 " Did n't you promise to obey me the other day 
 in the chapel at Admiral Hardy's house when we 
 were married, dearest?" 
 
 " Did I ? " said Margaret, in great surprise. " The 
 fact is I was so agitated then that I scarce recall what 
 I said." 
 
 " At any rate, do you mean to tell me that you 
 will not obey any command that I might give you, 
 instanter?" 
 
 " Of course I will not. You are to obey me, abso 
 lutely, entirely, unquestionably . . ." cried Margaret. 
 
 "Can I furnish you with an adverb, madam, to 
 help you out? " cried Fairford, bending forward again, 
 when he was interrupted by the belated landlord, 
 who, through a singular remissness on the part of 
 the household, had not been notified of their advent 
 until this moment. He came forward zealously in 
 tent upon repairing his lack of welcome, with 
 loquacity, if nothing else. 
 
 " Good morning to your honor," he said, rubbing 
 his hands and bowing obsequiously, " and the young 
 
 316
 
 THEIR WEDDING JOURNEY 
 
 lady as well, sir. I hope I see you both well, sir, 
 though there's no need to ask such a fine looking 
 couple that question. Step this way into the parlor 
 where there 's a fire, and a Merry Christmas to you 
 both, sir, being it 's Christmas morning." 
 
 " Thank you, my good man," returned Fairford, 
 as, preceded by his wife, he stepped into a cosy low- 
 ceiled parlor, fitted with comfortable old fashioned 
 furniture, and with a bright wood fire blazing and 
 crackling upon the hearth. " We have been travel 
 ling since very early this morning from the last 
 posting station, in order to get here in time for 
 Christmas service. I suppose there will be one at 
 the Church I saw yonder? " 
 
 " Yes, sir, oh certainly, sir, at half past ten o'clock. 
 Lady Anne 's most particular about it, and the vicar 
 too," replied the man. 
 
 " That 's well. Meanwhile, my wife has had 
 nothing to eat, nothing but a cup of tea that is, and 
 we would like some breakfast at once. Can you 
 serve us something here?" 
 
 " Of course, sir, anything your honor pleases." 
 
 " Well, bring us something good and substantial,' 
 said Margaret, smiling, " and good master landlord, 
 do bring it quickly, please, my husband and I are 
 famishing." 
 
 " Oh, never mind on my account, landlord, but 
 my wife must have something at once." 
 
 " I think you will find that my husband will eat 
 his share," returned Margaret at once. The way 
 they lingered upon the two hymeneal titles inevitably 
 betrayed them. 
 
 " Lord bless you, sir, and the young lady too, I
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 will have you something good here in the twinkling 
 of an eye, enough for a dozen of you, and my wife's 
 the best cook in these parts of Surrey if I do say so 
 myself," replied the landlord, beaming complacently 
 on the two a moment, and then bowing himself out 
 of the room. 
 
 " Maria," said he to his wife, " hurry and set out 
 the best breakfast you can for them two young things 
 in the best parlor. They 're mortal cold, and hungry 
 as hunters. They have n't had no breakfast this 
 morning. They're bride and groom, I think. It's 
 ' husband ' and ' wife ' 'twixt them with every other 
 word." 
 
 Left alone, Fairford hastily threw aside his own 
 heavy cloak, then fumbled among the buttons and 
 bundles and straps of his wife's bonnet and cloak 
 with blundering masculine fingers she could have 
 doffed it herself in half the time, but she waited 
 patiently for him, it was such a pleasure to both of 
 them until he gently lifted it from her shoulders ; 
 then he knelt down before her and drew the warm 
 fur boots from her daintily shod little feet, upon which 
 he pressed a kiss before he released them, and finally 
 sat down on the great settle near the fire and drew 
 his small wife upon his knee. 
 
 " This is delicious, Blake," she said, as she dropped 
 her head upon his shoulder, and nestled close to 
 him. " We have been married five days now, and 
 it 's nicer every day. I wonder if it 's going to be 
 like this after five whole years, and grow nicer all the 
 time. I shall not be able to stand it if it does, I am 
 sure. No, not again," she said firmly, as he put his 
 hand beneath her chin and lifted her face up to his.
 
 THEIR WEDDING JOURNEY 
 
 " there 's a limit to everything, enough is enough. 
 . . . Oh, you inexorable sailor," she murmured, kick 
 ing him with her little heels after the performance 
 was over, " you really are incorrigible. If you do 
 it again, I shall certainly get down." 
 
 " Margaret," he said, " I feel as if I could never 
 let you out of my arms now that I have at last got 
 you there. No, there is no use of your struggling. 
 That 's not the way to rule, my lady ; but if you only 
 look at me seriously with your great big gray eyes, I 
 am your slave. When I look back on the cruise," 
 he continued, playing with her slender fingers, which 
 lay confidingly in his hand, " and the horror of it, 
 the loss of the ship, the death of Ludlow and Dick 
 and Evelyn, and all the rest, things seem to fade 
 away, and I see only you before me. It seems as 
 if all my striving had been for you anyway. Did I 
 ever have any other aspiration, I wonder? You are 
 the end of my desire and the object of my ambition, 
 and to be able to call you wife, in spite of whatever 
 else may happen, satisfies me with life." 
 
 " What a little thing satisfies you then, Blake," she 
 answered demurely. " Look at me. You don't know 
 how small I used to feel on the ship when I saw you 
 so big and masterful and handsome, standing in the 
 rigging an d giving orders and directing your men. 
 Do you remember the day you ran the schooner 
 down, when our lives were in your hand . . . and you 
 in God's?" she added solemnly. 
 
 "Of course, did you love me then? When did 
 you begin to love me?" he asked for the thousandth 
 time. 
 
 " Blake, I have told you that every day over and
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 over again since I married you. What a wretched 
 memory you have, poor boy ! I don't know when 
 I began, but I realized it fully the night you told 
 me you loved me in the summer house at home." 
 
 " Ah, yes," he said smiling, " the night you be 
 haved so badly." 
 
 " Now, Blake, dear, I always behaved beautifully, 
 didn't I?" she asked in sweet appeal, taking his face 
 between her hands and looking at him with her great 
 gray eyes, violet black this morning. 
 
 "Of course, of course, you always did," he an 
 swered, rapturously thrilling under her unwonted 
 caress. 
 
 " Very well," she cried triumphantly, not with 
 holding his reward for complaisance. " Now tell me 
 when did you begin to love me, sir?" 
 
 " When was I born," he answered promptly. 
 
 " But that was several years before I was, Blake," 
 she answered in dismay. 
 
 " Well, I loved you as an ideal then." 
 
 "A baby's ideal ! " she said laughing. 
 
 " A baby's, a youth's, a man's, a life's ideal, Mar 
 garet," he said, lifting her hand to his lips with the 
 reverence of an ancient cavalier, while she sprang to 
 her feet at the sound of footsteps, followed by a most 
 discreet knock upon the hall door. 
 
 After a reasonable interval, the door was opened 
 and gave entrance to the experienced landlord 
 catch him breaking in upon a bride and groom, he 
 knew his business, yes, sir his wife and a maid, 
 with the breakfast, which was soon laid upon the 
 snowy cloth which had been drawn over a table 
 placed before the cheerful fire. After serving them, 
 
 320
 
 THEIR WEDDING JOURNEY 
 
 the landlord and his wife discreetly withdrew and 
 they were left alone again. They were very much 
 in love with each other, but they were at the same 
 time young, and their morning ride had given them 
 a keen appetite, on account of which the generous 
 provision of the English inn suffered severely. 
 
 " How good it is to see you eat, dearest," said 
 Fairford, fatuously. 
 
 " Well, I was so hungry. It is not at all romantic, 
 I know, but I was almost starved. But you are not 
 eating anything yourself, Blake." 
 
 " I cannot, I have not had time, been so busy 
 helping you, you see." 
 
 " Nonsense," she cried, " if you don't begin at 
 once, I shall stop immediately and starve myself to 
 death. What are you going to do after breakfast? " 
 
 " It will be nearly Church time then, and I believe 
 that I should like to go to Church as we had planned. 
 It's Christmas Day, you know, and we can take 
 Communion for the first time as man and wife, to 
 gether, you know." 
 
 "That will be sweet and right," said Margaret, 
 gravely. 
 
 " And then I shall probably have an opportunity 
 of seeing Lady Anne, my mother, that is, before we 
 call at the Hall later on." 
 
 " How strange it sounds to hear you speak of your 
 mother," said Margaret. "You know I have never 
 had one either. My mother died when I was a little 
 baby." 
 
 " Yes, I know, and I do not feel as if I had one, 
 much more of a one than you have, dearest, because 
 I have not seen Lady Anne since I was a little boy."
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 " Why do you call her Lady Anne in that formal 
 manner, Blake?" 
 
 " I do not know why ; nervousness, or timidity, or 
 unfamiliarity, I cannot tell. I have always called her 
 mother in my heart, you know. I have always cher 
 ished and loved the idea I have formed of her from 
 her picture and my few boyish recollections ; I have 
 been wild to see her, and yet, now that I am here I 
 shrink from meeting her, not only on account of the 
 dreadful tidings of which I am the bearer her hus 
 band and son both dead, and in a measure through me 
 but you know how one feels when confronted with 
 the reality which he has idealized." 
 
 "Did you idealize me, dear?" said Margaret, 
 wistfully. 
 
 " Yes," he answered promptly, " of course." 
 
 " And when you realized me " 
 
 " Found you far beyond my fondest dreams even." 
 
 "Well, perhaps it will be that way with your 
 mother, Blake." 
 
 " I fear not," he said sadly ; " things like that do 
 not come twice in a lifetime to the same man." 
 
 "Well, whatever happens," said Margaret, "you 
 will have me." 
 
 " Yes," said Fairford, " and that more than con 
 tents me." 
 
 322
 
 CHAPTER XLIII 
 Passed by, as the Idle Wind 
 
 THE sun was shining brilliantly over the snowy 
 world, and its dazzling light was reflected from 
 every fantastic crystal lying undisturbed in the still 
 air of the winter morning. The Lady Anne she 
 would not permit any one to call her Lady Heath- 
 cote, which savored too much of lost individuality 
 to please her took great pride in never neglecting 
 her religious duties under any circumstances, as she 
 took pride in everything else which she did. As the 
 bells were carolling their sweet invitation for service, 
 she descended the stairs in the wide old hall, in 
 great state and passed through the formal line of 
 servants, escorted by the deferential steward, who 
 managed her affairs (under her directions, be it 
 noted) in the absence of her husband and son. 
 
 She stepped out into the air and down the broad 
 steps of the terrace, which had been swept clean of 
 its load of snow by her dependent vassals, deposited 
 her regal self alone in her carriage, and majestically 
 drove down the hill to participate in the worship 
 of God, in the village Church of which she was at 
 once the stay and patron. 
 
 Something of the pride of that aristocratic gentle 
 man of France who remarked that, " God would 
 certainly think twice before damning a gentleman 
 
 3 2 3
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 of his quality," frequently formed a portion of the 
 burden of Lady Anne's thoughts; although for the 
 sake of example, noblesse oblige, and from a deep 
 sense of what was due from her to the small world 
 over which she ruled in the way of inspiration, she 
 neglected nothing that could impress weaker and 
 more necessitous humanity with the propriety of 
 being respectably religious. 
 
 As she descended from the carriage which drew 
 up before the lych-gate of the Church, among the 
 crowd of humble dependants clustered about she 
 noticed two strangers coming toward her from the di 
 rection of the village street: a gentleman, and the 
 person clinging to his arm, a lady, of that there was 
 no doubt in her mind. Visitors of that stamp and 
 at that season were unusual in the village, to say the 
 least, and if vulgar curiosity had ever a lodgment in 
 so stately a bosom as Lady Anne's it might have 
 found an opening then. With the condescension 
 which the lord of the manor might have bestowed 
 upon a faithful retainer in the days of the lamented 
 past, she slightly inclined her head toward them ; to 
 which gracious salutation the gentleman responded 
 by removing his hat with a deep bow, the lady at 
 the same time dropping his arm and making a pro 
 found courtesy. 
 
 " I feel like an outcast," whispered Fairford, bit 
 terly to his wife. 
 
 " And I like a frightened child," said Margaret, as 
 her ladyship passed on, followed by the waiting 
 villagers. 
 
 " Very proper manners," thought Lady Anne, as 
 she preceded them majestically through the gate and
 
 PASSED BY, AS THE IDLE WIND 
 
 up toward the Church. " A most personable young 
 man and quite a pretty young girl. They look like 
 people I have known somewhere, who can they be ? " 
 she thought vaguely. 
 
 It might have seemed strange that Lady Anne did 
 not recognize her son, but the mental demands of 
 her station were so great, she was so self centred, 
 and her eyes, except in the case of one person, were 
 turned so continually inward, that no one in the out 
 side world made a very deep impression upon her 
 personality, with the exception noted, no one in any 
 world in fact, unless it was herself. 
 
 She would have known herself could she have 
 been projected before her own vision, instantly, at 
 least she thought so, and for Lady Anne to think a 
 thing invariably established a fact. Besides, it was 
 twenty years and more since she had seen her son, 
 her elder son that is, and she had meanwhile received 
 no picture of him. His father, the son of the 
 tradesman aforesaid, had entirely faded out of her 
 recollection. 
 
 Still there was something, an instinct maternal 
 perhaps, a feeling which gave her inexplicable unea 
 siness and unrest at the mere thought of the presence 
 of the strangers. She found it difficult to fix her atten 
 tion upon the service, which the simple village choir 
 rendered with a fervor and sweetness suited to the 
 day and hour, until the good old vicar gave out his 
 text : " For unto you is born this day in the city of 
 David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." 
 
 As the good old minister went on to describe the 
 simplicity of that mighty birth; as he told of the 
 arrival in the crowded village of the two humble 
 
 3 2 5
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 descendants of King David ; of their forced recourse 
 for an abiding place to one of the caves in the hill 
 back of the inn, sometimes used for a granary, some 
 times for the stabling of cattle ; as he spoke of the 
 bundles of straw and the sacks of grain lying on the 
 floor ; of the walls cut in rude mangers, low enough 
 for the sheep to eat from, he attracted her attention. 
 
 " There," said he, " is the place of the Incarnation. 
 There that night in the still darkness, in that rude 
 place of shelter, with those meagre, humble appoint 
 ments, think of it, women of to-day, the climax in 
 the life of that woman, of every woman is reached, 
 she becomes a mother. With all the prophesied 
 anguish, with all the exquisite pain which only woman 
 hood may feel, a child is born. There is a great, 
 white, radiant star in the heavens, and I think the 
 day must be breaking when Christ is born." 
 
 The birth of the Son ! What must it have been 
 to that mother, what is it to every mother, she 
 thought. As the preacher's words fell upon her ear, 
 she seized his present thought and heeded not the 
 rest of the sermon. She remembered her own son 
 alas, even in this hour, she recalled but one 
 that gallant boy, that bold sailor so far away on his 
 ship, well named because it was like its master, Un 
 daunted. 'She sat through the rest of the service as 
 in a dream, her mind and her heart far away upon 
 the sea, that great ocean not deeper than her love, 
 with the child of her old age, as is the wont of 
 mothers. 
 
 And back in the corner of the Church, Fairford 
 eagerly watched the white-headed old woman, this 
 mother who had passed him by unheeding, with a 
 
 326
 
 PASSED BY, AS THE IDLE WIND 
 
 strange hunger and sadness of the heart which not 
 even the tender sympathy of his wife, who divined all 
 that was passing in his soul, could alleviate or assuage. 
 He had dreamed of this meeting during many a night 
 watch, all the years of his youth even, and lo, now 
 that he had seen her at last, he was to her as a 
 stranger and she knew him not. He could not 
 understand it. 
 
 How could a mother forget the child she had 
 borne, that had lain in her bosom, that had tugged at 
 her breast, around whose neck had been clasped the 
 baby hands? Ah, Lady Anne, Lady Anne, how 
 could you so fail to remember? Was there no charm 
 in the very presence of your son which could recall 
 the past, the days of youth and life in that far land 
 where first you saw the light? 
 
 Fairford knelt between the two women he loved 
 his wife and his mother at the communion rail, and 
 his mother made no sign. He stood in the Church 
 porch as she passed by, looking eagerly, wistfully 
 upon her, and no voice from heaven whispered to 
 her proud old heart, 
 
 " This is indeed thy son ! " 
 
 3 2 7
 
 CHAPTER XLIV 
 " Woman, behold thy Son!" 
 
 LADY ANNE did not have a very pleasant journey 
 from the Church to the Hall. Her mind re 
 verted to and still dwelt upon her absent son, with a 
 side thought or two for Sir James, whom she regarded 
 somewhat in the light of a necessary domestic ap 
 panage, and from whom she had not heard for nearly 
 a year ; but in her various cogitations, the face of the 
 stranger of the morning would obtrude itself. It was 
 most provoking. 
 
 She felt that her life had become suddenly, to her 
 great discomfort, intertwined with him in some mys 
 terious way, and it was with a very decided feeling of 
 uneasiness that she entered her home. Divesting 
 herself of her winter wrappings, she sat down in the 
 library while waiting for dinner, to consider the situa 
 tion over a biscuit and a glass of wine. A sense of 
 dependence was both unusual and annoying to Lady 
 Anne, and she scarcely knew how adequately to 
 grapple with it. 
 
 The advent of a servant who brought a message, 
 " a lady and gentleman from America to see your 
 ladyship," filled her with a deep sense of relief. She 
 hated mysteries, and the solution of the mysterious 
 and puzzling personality of the stranger would proba 
 bly now be given her. 
 
 328
 
 "WOMAN, BEHOLD THY SON!" 
 
 " Show them up, James," she said condescendingly,, 
 condescension being her favorite attitude toward hu 
 manity in general whether of high or low degree. 
 
 Margaret and Fairford had walked up to the Hall 
 after service. Fairford had formed no plan as to 
 how he was to communicate his sad tidings and his 
 identity to his mother, and trusted to the inspiration 
 of the coming moment to direct him in the best way. 
 When the door of the library was thrown open, and 
 the footman announced the advent of the " gentleman 
 and lady from America," his first impulse, which had 
 been to run toward her, was checked by the cere 
 monious dignity with which she rose from her chair. 
 
 " Sir and madam," she said in her stateliest manner, 
 " whom have I the privilege of welcoming to Heath- 
 cote?" 
 
 " My name is is Johnson, madam," replied Fair- 
 ford, " and this lady is my wife" for the life of him 
 he could not tell her who he was then ; " we are 
 from Virginia." 
 
 "Ah, are you one of the Annandale Johnstones, 
 sir?" asked Lady Anne, with rising interest. Perhaps 
 she had seen these persons years ago in Virginia, 
 her mind reverting to a certain family which had 
 attained nearly to the exalted attitude of the Fitzhugh 
 dignity, and with members of which she had been 
 intimate in her girlhood. 
 
 " Unfortunately, no, madam," replied Fairford, 
 at which her evanescent interest in that direction 
 vanished again, " but we have business with your 
 ladyship. In short, I am a messenger." 
 
 " Pray be seated, sir, and your wife also ; she looks 
 tired. Let me hand you a glass of wine, madam." 
 
 3 2 9
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 " Thank you, ma'am," said Margaret, promptly, not 
 desirous of accepting any hospitality in the present 
 indeterminate condition of affairs, " but just now I 
 need nothing." 
 
 As the three sat down, the Lady Anne's face hap 
 pened to be in the full light from the window, while 
 Fairford unconsciously had turned his back to them 
 and was in the deep shadow with Margaret by his 
 side. Lady Anne was fighting down an inward feeling 
 of perturbation and anxiety. Nature and pride were 
 beginning a battle royal within her bosom. 
 
 " What and from whom is your message, sir? " she 
 said. 
 
 " I regret, madam, that the news I bring is not 
 good," he replied evasively, at which she started. 
 
 "You come from Sir James, I presume. I trust 
 he is well. You saw him lately? " 
 
 " About three months since, madam." 
 
 "And did he send the message? " 
 
 " Sir James, I fear " 
 
 "What is it, sir? Speak," she cried imperiously. 
 
 " He will send you no more messages, Lady 
 Anne," answered Fairford, gently. 
 
 The proud old face turned a shade whiter and the 
 small, graceful hands tightly closed themselves around 
 the arms of the great chair in which she sat ; she 
 looked steadfastly out through the uncurtained win 
 dow across the white fields of the ancient heritage 
 of the Heathcotes, which from to-day would bow 
 before a younger master. 
 
 Sir James was gone, the gentle husband of her by 
 gone years. She loved him in her strange way, she 
 had not understood how much, until this blasting 
 
 33
 
 "WOMAN, BEHOLD THY SON!" 
 
 shock had come upon her. How had it happened, 
 how could it be? With a sense of having been 
 slighted by fate, she dropped her head upon her 
 hands and moaned softly. 
 
 She felt the shock keenly, but age, his absence, 
 her pride, and the whole engrossing thought of her 
 heart came to her rescue ; she had ever repressed 
 her feelings, it had been the pride of her house to 
 be stricken and not cry out, to die and make no 
 sign, and she finally faced her son again with the 
 calmness of an ancient Roman. 
 
 " How was it, sir? " she questioned softly. 
 
 Briefly he recounted the circumstances of her hus 
 band's death. 
 
 " How do you know this, sir? " she asked. 
 
 " Madam, I am an officer in the American Navy, I 
 commanded the ship." 
 
 " I have a son who is a naval officer," she resumed, 
 in great agitation ; " he was at the Cape of Good Hope 
 when I last heard from him, in command of the frigate 
 Undaunted ; he loved his father dearly, and now he 
 will be Sir Richard, poor boy. And Evelyn Heath- 
 cote, Sir James' young kinswoman, what of her? I 
 trust she is well." 
 
 " Alas, no, madam," replied Fairford, bitterly, the 
 evidence of her own lips that she had apparently for 
 gotten him, that she did not recall that she had two 
 sons in the naval service, rankling in his soul, " she 
 too " 
 
 " What, sir," cried the old woman, trembling in 
 spite of her efforts at repression at this new shock, 
 " Was she killed at the same time?" 
 
 " No, madam, she was unharmed at that period of 
 33 1
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 the cruise, but later on the ship which I commanded 
 fell in with an English frigate off the Island of Tristan 
 da Cunha " 
 
 "Pray, where may that be, sir?" she interrupted 
 him, striving to gain time. 
 
 " On the way from Virginia to the Cape of Good 
 Hope, madam." 
 
 " Yes, yes, go on," said Lady Anne, a vague ter 
 ror clutching at her heart at this ominous suggestion, 
 though she gave no other sign of her inward suspense 
 than was afforded by the trembling, which she vainly 
 endeavored to suppress, as before. Fairford's heart 
 went out to her in pity. He would have given all 
 he possessed, except Margaret, to have been the 
 bearer of happier tidings. 
 
 " Well, madam, in the action which ensued with the 
 English ship, Miss Heathcote " 
 
 " I understand you, sir, she was killed. Poor girl, 
 poor girl, she was a good child, and a beautiful one ; 
 poor Sir James was very fond of her, and I as well, 
 and Richard too. I sometimes thought he loved her ; 
 it will be an added shock to him. She was almost 
 like a daughter to me, although, of course, not a 
 Fitzhugh. What was the manner of her death, pray 
 tell me, sir?" The old eyes were full of tears now. 
 
 Rapidly Fairford told the story of the battle, -the 
 coming together of the two ships, the fierce melee on 
 the forecastle, the capture of the ship, the wounded 
 and dying English captain. 
 
 " Miss Heathcote, who had been below with my 
 wife during the combat, had learned accidentally 
 that the English ship had been commanded by 
 by an acquaintance of hers." 
 
 33 2
 
 "WOMAN, BEHOLD THY SON!" 
 
 Lady Anne sprang to her feet, her hands clasped 
 over her heart, wild interrogation in her eyes. Fair- 
 ford had spoken hurriedly as if to postpone the inevi 
 table question. 
 
 " She came over to the captured and sinking 
 ship and recognized her friend, who was severely 
 wounded, dying in fact; the ships parted in the 
 heavy sea, we were driven away by the approach 
 of a large English ship of war, and subsequently 
 captured ; meanwhile the frigate with which we 
 had fought sank with Evelyn and the captain, and 
 they with all on board of her were lost." 
 
 As Lady Anne sprang to her feet, Fairford and 
 Margaret had risen also. There was dead silence 
 in the room. Nature and pride were fighting a 
 desperate battle in the breast of this Fitzhugh, 
 and this time the struggle was one which transcended 
 all her experience. , 
 
 " You are keeping something back. What was the 
 name of the English ship ? Who was her captain ? " 
 she cried hoarsely. 
 
 Margaret sprang to her side, but the indomitable 
 old woman waved her away. 
 
 " I need no support, madam, the Fitzhughs have 
 ever stood alone. The name, sir? For God's sake, 
 the name?" Her tense voice was fraught with 
 terror and despair. 
 
 " The frigate Undaunted," answered Fairford, 
 hoarsely, " Captain Richard Heathcote." 
 
 The Lady Anne, as if stricken dead, stared straight 
 before her, out across the white fields again, and 
 they were not whiter than her face, those ancient 
 lands of the Heathcotes which would know still 
 
 333
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 another master. She grew suddenly old before their 
 watching eyes. Presently a frightful smile wreathed 
 her thin lips. Her hands tightened fiercely about 
 her stricken heart. 
 
 " My boy, my boy ! " she murmured softly, and 
 then with a little sigh, she sank forward into the 
 arms of her unknown son. Placing her upon the 
 low chair, Margaret chafed her hands, while Fairford 
 rang the bell furiously. Restoratives were brought, 
 and presently she opened her eyes with returning 
 consciousness. When her glance comprehended the 
 people in the room, she dismissed the servants, and 
 sitting up turned to Fairford again. 
 
 " I believe I must have fainted," she said with 
 faltering voice, " though it is not my habit to do so. 
 You must excuse the unwonted weakness ; my race 
 was ever strong. You had news for me, sir. You 
 were telling me aboift my son, I think. He . . . O 
 God, my son ! I have no son." 
 
 Fairford stayed the words that were breaking from 
 Margaret's lips, with a quick glance not yet, a 
 little longer. Lady Anne continued to speak in 
 a low repressed tone, almost a whisper, terrible to 
 hear. 
 
 " He is gone, killed in this cruel war, sunk beneath 
 the depths of the sea. May the curse of God fall 
 upon all who brought it about ! It was your ship, 
 sir, you told me, that struck him down. How dared 
 you come here with this message? Dead, and I not 
 there. Gone without a word, a touch. Childless, 
 childless ! Oh, my God, hear me ! May you live, 
 sir, to feel the heartbreak you have caused a broken 
 mother, who had but one dream in life . . . her 
 
 3:4
 
 "WOMAN, BEHOLD THY SON!" 
 
 child. May you die in battle alone, craving a wife's 
 kiss ... a mother's love ! How could you do it, 
 how could you do it, ruthless, murderous ! . . ." 
 
 She could not see in the wild blindness of her 
 agony that Fairford's face was even whiter than her 
 cwn. His lips trembled, great beads of sweat be 
 dewed his forehead, as she turned upon him in her 
 passion. 
 
 " May you lack in your dying day a mother's- 
 blessing, as now I give you a mother's . . ." 
 
 He lifted his hand as if to ward off a blow. 
 
 " Stop," cried Margaret. " This is also your son."' 
 
 A wild cry rang through the room. 
 
 " Fairford . . . Blakely ! It 's true. How was I 
 so blinded?" 
 
 " My mother," cried Fairford, piteously, stepping 
 toward her and reaching out his arms again, but she 
 shrank from him, averting her head. 
 
 " Your brother's blood is on your hands," she 
 cried, shuddering. Fairford dropped his arms and 
 turned away in helpless despair. 
 
 " Hush, Oh cruel mother," cried Margaret, all afire 
 to defend her stricken husband. " Do you realize 
 what you say? It was in honorable warfare, in open 
 battle, in the pursuance of duty stern and inexorable, 
 that this awful thing occurred. Once in my father's 
 house the son who stands before you held his brother 
 in deadly conflict unarmed and defenceless before 
 him, and because he looked at him with his mother's 
 eyes, he stayed his hand and spared his life. In that 
 very battle in which you lost a son, and we a friend 
 and brother, he would have given anything to save 
 him. . . ." 
 
 335
 
 FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA 
 
 "Yes, yes, all I possessed to spare you this," 
 groaned Fairford. 
 
 " He loved his brother as he loved you. If there 
 be a God in Heaven, unsay your awful words. Look ! 
 This is the son who has been deprived of his mother's 
 care, and his mother's presence, and his mother's 
 love since he was a child ; this was a boy who 
 dreamed about a gracious lady who left him ; who 
 .built for himself an ideal out of his childhood's mem 
 ory and pictured faces ; who dreamed of a mother 
 before whom he poured all the love of his heart; 
 and as the years glided by, the love grew stronger 
 and the dream deeper, until it is to-day shattered and 
 broken, and by you, cruel woman that you are. 
 . . . Look upon him, look upon him. I say, you 
 .shall, you must," said Margaret, strong in her reso 
 lution as she seized Lady Anne and insistently turned 
 her head to look at Fairford, crying at the same 
 time with an unconscious memory of another awful 
 moment, 
 
 " Woman, behold thy son ! " 
 
 Fairford sprang forward and fell at Lady Anne's 
 feet, catching her dress in his hand. 
 
 " My mother, my mother," he sobbed, " have you 
 no room in your heart for me ? " There was a little 
 silence. She forced herself to look upon him ; days 
 of youth came back to her, about her wretched heart 
 another memory was twining. Slowly he made a 
 way into her affection as she gazed upon him. He 
 found, in a measure, the long craved place in her 
 heart at last, and, with a cry, she bent toward 
 Jiim. 
 
 " My son, my son . . . you are indeed my son 
 336
 
 "WOMAN, BEHOLD THY SON!" 
 
 ... I am an old and broken woman . . . forgive 
 me," she murmured, as he clasped her to his heart. 
 Margaret turned and walked toward the window. 
 They were alone together. And the pride of the 
 Fitzhughs was broken at last. 
 
 22 
 
 337
 
 EPILOGUE 
 
 O HORTLY after the meeting between mother and 
 O son, when the news of the signing of the Treaty 
 of Peace between the contending nations was declared, 
 Fairford and his wife bade good-bye to their new 
 friend, the kind old Admiral Hardy, and, accom 
 panied by one Joseph Rhodes, an ancient mariner, 
 who thereafter until he ended his days considered 
 himself permanently attached to their household as 
 chief boatswain's mate thereof, took Lady Anne, a 
 feeble heart-broken old woman, across the sea with 
 them to end her few remaining days in her native land 
 of Virginia. 
 
 Things had gone on as of yore on Colonel Barrett's 
 plantation, since Margaret rode out into the darkness 
 that night and came not back ; but that brave old 
 soldier did not long survive the shock of Margaret's 
 supposed death, and although the joy of her return 
 gave him an evanescent strength, it was only a little 
 while until he stood at attention one morning and 
 answered " Present" to the final roll call of his Eternal 
 Captain. Neither was Lady Anne called upon to 
 mourn her misfortunes long. When she died, she left 
 everything of which she was possessed to Margaret. 
 There was one significant clause in her will, a direc 
 tion which Fairford scrupulously carried out. She 
 would be buried upon a high hill with her face 
 
 338
 
 EPILOGUE 
 
 tov/ard the lonely island where her best beloved slept 
 beneath the sea. 
 
 Honors and rewards had been heaped upon Fair- 
 ford, and prize money distributed to the surviving 
 officers and crew of the Narragansett by a grateful 
 country which rang with their heroic exploits. In 
 the days of peace he saw much service with Captain 
 Hull and his old companions in arms, commanding 
 at one time the great Constitution, and at another 
 being the commodore on the European station. 
 Children clustered about his knee, and in twilight 
 hours clamored for stories as children will. There 
 was one tale of which they never tired, and that was 
 the story of their mother's ride and their father's 
 cruise, when, in the brave old days, they both fought 
 
 " FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA ! " 
 
 339
 
 A GREAT AMERICAN NOVEL 
 
 8 4 th THO US AND 
 
 A Chronicle of Reconstruction 
 
 Ey THOMAS NELSON PAGE 
 
 AUTHOR OF " IN OLD VIRGINIA," " SANTA CLAUS'S PARTNER," 
 MARSE CHAN," ETC. 
 
 Beautifully illustrated by B. West Clinedinst 
 I2mo, $1.50 
 
 ( 4 ''THE interest never flags , from the first page to the last the 
 reader finds bis attention absorbed. It is one of the most 
 fascinating novels that have appeared in a long time." 
 
 Brooklyn Eagle. 
 
 IN ENGLAND IN AMERICA 
 
 C4TN 'Red Rock' we have, CCV\7" HEN one has finished 
 possibly, the best story it, he finds in his mind a 
 dealing with the American civil living community of acting, breath- 
 war and the history of the South ing, and vital men and women, and 
 subsequent to that great struggle that is saying that ' Red Rock ' is 
 that has yet been published. Mr. the work of a man of genuine artistic 
 Page knows his subject thor- power. It is a contribution to our 
 oughly, and he has dealt with literature because it is real, be 
 lt in a masterly manner. It is cause it deals with a very dramatic 
 altogether a notable book." period hi American history." 
 The Speaker (London). The Outlook. 
 
 CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS 
 
 Publishers New Tork
 
 Mrs. BURNETT'S GREATEST NOVEL 
 
 45 th THOUSAND 
 
 In Connection With 
 
 TheDeWilloughby 
 Claim 
 
 By FRANCES HODGSON BURNETT 
 
 45 tb THOUSAND. i2mo, $1.50 
 
 IN LONDON IN SAN FRANCISCO 
 
 CCiyTRS. BURNETT has 4CHPHE great feature of the 
 never written better book is the central figure 
 than in this story. She has never in it 'big Tom' DeWilloughby, 
 delineated character more deli- a character so life-like that un- 
 cately, more sympathetically, her consciously we add him to the 
 pathos has never been truer, her famous personages of fiction. The 
 manner more engaging. The book reader's only regret is that he will 
 gives one the impression of having see no more of Tom De Willough- 
 been written with great and worthy by, one of the most lovable char- 
 care."- The Daily Chronicle. acters in fiction. " The Chronicle. 
 
 IN BOSTON 
 
 ( TT is typically an American novel, which, in its subtle, tragic 
 performance, lays a tremendous hold upon the reader's 
 sympathies. . . . The striking originality of the plot, the intensely 
 dramatic climaxes and the low, sweet thrills of happiness which are in 
 such direct contrast, give the book a weirdness and a fascination that 
 are hard to shake off." Boston Herald. 
 
 CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS 
 
 Publishers New Tork
 
 NOW IN ITS 4ist THOUSAND 
 
 WILD ANIMALS 
 I HAVE KNOWN 
 
 By ERNEST SETON-THOMPSON 
 
 AUTHOR OF "THE TRAIL OF THE SANDHILL STAG," ETC. 
 
 With 200 illustrations by the author 
 Square 1 2mo, $2.00 
 
 Containing the Personal Histories of Lobo the 
 Wolf, Silver spot the Crow, Raggylug the Rabbit, 
 Bingo my Dog, The Springfield Fox, The Pacing 
 Mustang, Wully the Taller Dog, and Redrujf the 
 Partridge. 
 
 CC A N American Jungle Book." New York Times. 
 
 <C I HERE is nothing in modern story-telling which equals the 
 tale of the capture of the pacing mustang. ... In 
 depicting animal life and character, Mr. Thompson has probably no 
 peer in this country, and this delightful volume shows us that his pen 
 is as mighty as his marvelous brush." New York Mail and Express. 
 
 C 4 I HE originality and freshness of these stories is irresistible. 
 . . . In everything he does, Mr. Thompson has a way 
 peculiarly his own. . . . Even if -naked and unadorned, the facts 
 he tells us would be very interesting ; but when we have the facts and 
 the factors fairly dancing before us, clothed in all the quaint quips 
 and droll persiflage of an accomplished humorist and born story-teller, 
 they are as I have said irresistible." Mr. William T. Hornaday, 
 Director N. Y. Zoological Park, in Recreation. 
 
 CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS 
 
 Publishers New York
 
 A NEW NOVEL OF AMERICAN LIFE 
 By ROBERT GRANT 
 
 AUTHOR OF "REFLECTIONS OF A MARRIED MAN," "SEARCH-LIGHT 
 LETTERS," " THE ART OF LIVING," ETC. 
 
 UNLEAVENED 
 BREAD 
 
 I. THE EMANCIPATION 
 II. THE STRUGGLE 
 III. THE SUCCESS 
 
 THIS novel, now first published in any 
 form, is the most ambitious work that 
 Mr. Grant has produced. It deals 
 frankly and fearlessly with modern social 
 conditions and their effect upon the char 
 acter of the heroine in town, city and 
 metropolitan life, in a vein at once serious 
 and satirical. It is a story of absorbing 
 interest and will provoke wide discussion. 
 
 1 2 mo, $1.50 
 
 CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS 
 
 Publishers New Tork
 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 
 
 Los Angeles 
 This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. 
 
 Form L9-32m-8,'57(.C8680s4)444
 
 UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 
 
 A 001 372 322 6 
 
 PS 
 1120