THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 GIFT OF 
 
 Commodore Byron McCandless
 
 

 
 Hoitting tkt "Stars and Siripe*" on board the Crt/wer
 
 THE 
 
 AMERICAN CRUISER'S 
 
 OWN BOOK. 
 
 BY CAPT. GEO. LITTLE, 
 
 AUTHOR OF LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS BY BILLINGS. 
 
 NEW-YORK: 
 NAFIS & CORNISH. 
 ST. LOUIS, Mo. : VAN DEIN & McDONALD. 
 1849.
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 la presenting this work to the public, an apology may be 
 due to them from the Author, for intruding again so soon upon 
 their notice. There are, however, two considerations which 
 have induced him : the first is the rapid sale and extensive cir 
 culation of his "Life on the Ocean "-and the second, that he 
 believes there is no work extant which describes correctly the 
 operations, of private and armed vessels of war connected with 
 American history. The Author was personally connected with 
 many of the scenes that are herein described, and therefore can 
 .nswer for their veracity.. There is a part of them, however for 
 wh,ch he is indebted to verbal statements, and what he could 
 glean from the log book of the Cruiser. He claims no farther 
 ment for this work than that which a plain and unvarnished 
 description of nautical life and naval warfare, founded on truth 
 as deduced from real life, entitles him to. He has, however' 
 endeavored to make this work beneficial to his brother tars by 
 onveymg lessons of instruction, that they may avoid those rocks 
 1 shoals upon which so many sons of the Ocean have been 
 >cked and cast away. And now, in conclusion, the Author 
 nay be permitted to observe, that he hopes the veil of charity 
 1 be. thrown over any error* or imperfections that may occur 
 this, work, and that they will be attributed either to his pecu- 
 * affliction, or to the errors of hia hea d, and not those of his 
 heart 
 
 1 HE AUTHOR. 
 
 7
 
 7S 
 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 
 CHAP. PAGE. 
 
 1. Excitement in New- York in 1812, ... 11 
 
 2. The Two Seamen enter on Board the Privateer, for the 
 
 Cruise, etc., 20 
 
 3. The Privateer and her Crew, .... 29 
 
 4. The Supper, 39 
 
 5. The Anchor Watch, Conversation between the Two 
 
 .Seamen, . 50 
 
 6. Morning Duty, Preparations for Sea, Stations, etc., 59 
 
 7. Reflections, Getting under way, First Night out, etc., 72 
 
 8. Description of the Officers, The Force of the Cruiser, 
 
 The Chase, etc., 81 
 
 9. The Young Seaman's Narrative Commenced, All 
 
 Hands to Mischief, etc., . . . . 98 
 
 10. Chase, Engagement, Capture of a British Brig, etc., 110 
 
 11. Portuguese Brig, and Prisoners Released, . . 120 
 
 12. The Young Seaman's Narrative Continued, . 132 
 
 13. A Gale of Wind, '140 
 
 14. Saturday Night, etc., 149 
 
 15. Swedish Brig, Capture of a British Schooner and Brig, 160 
 
 16. The Squall, the Young Seaman's Narrative Continued, 167 
 
 17. Capture of a British Letter of Marque, . . 174 
 
 18. A Dash at the Fleet, 183 
 
 19. Disaffection of the Crew, Ludicrous Story from Jimmy, 195 
 
 20. Boarding at Night, 206 
 
 21. The Young Seaman's Narrative Continued, . 216 
 
 22. The Scotch Prize 227 
 
 23. The Engagement with a British Packet, . . 237
 
 Vi CONTENTS. 
 
 24. Arrival at the Cruising Ground, . 246 
 
 25. Chops of the Channel, Fog, etc. . ". . ,. ' 255 
 
 26. Young Seaman's Narrative Continued, . . .- 265 
 
 27. Important Information of the West India and Medi 
 
 terranean Fleet of Merchantmen, . . . 275 
 
 28. The Young Seaman's Narrative Concluded, .- 284 
 
 29. Capture of a British Brig in a Fog, wiih the Boats, 295 
 
 30. The Doom of the Cruiser, 305 
 
 31. Treatment of the American Prisoners, Arrival in 
 
 Plymouth, 317 
 
 32. March to Stapleton, 329 
 
 33. Description of the Prisons. French Prisoners, etc., 337 
 
 34. The Transfer to Dartmoor Prison, etc., . . 346 
 
 35. Description of Dartmoor Prison, . . . 354 
 
 36. News of the Peace, Conversation between the Boat 
 
 swain and Young Seaman, . . ' 362 
 
 37. The Massacre, Boatswain's Leg Shot off, . . 370 
 
 38. Conclusion, . . . 385
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 EXCITEMENT IN NEW YORK IN 1812. 
 
 IN the autumn of 1812 (a period that will long be 
 remembered in the annals of American history,) the 
 city of New York presented a universal scene of ex 
 citement and commotion : every square, avenue, street, 
 lane and alley, from the highest location, where may 
 yet be seen the splendid mansion of the wealthy mer 
 chant, and where the luxurious man of fortune drives 
 his liveried equipage, to the lowliest retreats of the 
 laboring citizens, gave evidence of a profound sen. 
 sation. A stranger might have seen the Park crowded 
 with anxious faces. All, men, women, and children, 
 partook of the general feeling of suspense and tumult 
 consequent upon the unusual position which the country 
 sustained. In the most degraded haunts of squalid 
 mendicity and the obscure sections where misery 
 
 11
 
 12 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 and poverty, (though less vicious,) dwell, the excite 
 ment was at its height. As you approached the 
 extreme east and north parts of the city, you might 
 have seen numerous artisans busily engaged in con 
 structing both public and private armed vessels of war, 
 and the merry and cheering sound of the axe, saw and 
 hammer, saluted the ear until its sounds died away in 
 the distance ; and then bending your way towards 
 Cherry and Water streets, you might have beheld 
 numerous crowds of seamen, while at every corner was 
 hung out the American ensign, indicating places of ren 
 dezvous, and from almost every house might be heard 
 sounds of music, the merry dance and the jovial laugh : 
 nor were the old tars alone. All then wore the costume 
 of a sailor, for the recent successes of our navy and 
 privateers on the ocean, over those who had hitherto 
 been considered invincible masters of the deep, gave a 
 brilliancy to the vocation of a sea life, in which all now 
 seemed anxious to embark, either for the purpose of 
 emolument or honor. Ranging along the course of the 
 East and North Rivers, the eye met piers and quays, 
 crowded with vessels of every description, whose high 
 masts resembled the splendid panorama of a dense 
 forest of trees; while the unruffled placidity of the 
 stream exhibited on its bosom a magnificent vessel of 
 war, or a privateer, the finest specimen of naval arch 
 itecture in the world. 
 
 It was one of those clear and bland days in Sep 
 tember, which so frequently marks an Americac 
 autumn; the sun had declined far to the west, and
 
 THE AMEKIOAN UKUISEB. 13 
 
 the clouds wore a rich drapery of brown and yellow, 
 which cast a shade of mellowed softness on the 
 heavens, reflecting on the polished surface of the 
 water a variety of images and forms which an in 
 ventive imagination might have personified into living 
 existences, the whole corresponding to the universal 
 quiet of the elements, strongly contrasting with the 
 living, moving mass of human beings which then 
 crowded the Battery. There stood a group, who by 
 their conversation appeared to be merchants of the 
 first class, discussing with great warmth the politics 
 of the day, the merits of the war, and the relative 
 strength and condition as well as the chance of suc 
 cess of the two contending parties. Another group, 
 by their looks and conversation, seemed wrought up 
 to the highest pitch of enthusiasm by a recent victory 
 of our navy ; they fearlessly avowed that no doubt 
 now remained of the Americans being able to cope 
 with the British by sea as well as on -the land. A 
 third, no less sanguine but infinitely more calculating, 
 had in prospect already swept the ocean of British 
 cruisers, annihilated their armies, taken possession of 
 Canada, and by their own valor and prowess acquired 
 a fortune. 
 
 As this conversation was being carried on by the 
 several parties mentioned, a crowd had gathered round 
 two fine-looking seamen, who stood leaning against the 
 rail or barrier of the Battery, and who had been cir 
 cumstantially detailing all the incidents connected with 
 a short but successful cruise in a privateer, while the 
 2
 
 14 ME AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 gaping multitude,* with mouth, eyes and ears opened, 
 swallowed every -word, receiving it as pure gospel 
 truth. These men of the ocean were dressed with the 
 entire costume of sailors; their whole rig wore the 
 appearance of perfect cleanliness and studied neatness, 
 the blue jacket and snow-white trousers, with plaited 
 bosom shirt contrasting with a black silk handkerchief 
 tied hi a sailor's knot, the long ends flowing loosely in 
 front, and the neat tarpaulin hat ; these, together with 
 their manly appearance and perfect sobriety, imme 
 diately inspired the belief that they were seamen of a 
 higher class. The elder of the two appeared to be 
 about thirty-five years of age, finely proportioned, 
 stout, strong, with a broad chest, brawny limbs, and a 
 face which was bronzed with the burning sun of the 
 tropics, and a frame that seemed to defy the ravages 
 of time, or the hardships and privations of an ocean 
 life. The other, a handsome young man, who appeared 
 to be about twenty-five years of age, whose high, bold 
 forehead, piercing black eyes, faultless features, and 
 manly bearing, impressed you at once with the char 
 acter of chivalry and deeds of daring. When the 
 narration was concluded, they both fixed a search 
 ing gaze upon a long, low, rakish-looking privateer, 
 which lay off in the stream. After the practised eye 
 of the two had scanned the Cruiser, from the water- 
 line to the truck, the elder seaman, addressing his 
 companion with apparent delight, observed: 
 
 " That is a noble craft ; what a run ! There is no 
 drag under that counter. What an entrance ! Look
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 17 
 
 at the luff of that bow : she breaks the water at the 
 forward part of the forechains ; what rakes she has to 
 her masts, and that fore-yard is square enough for a 
 thirty-two gun frigate ; and there is canvass sufficient 
 in that sauare-sail to dress a merchantman of her 
 size with a fufl suit. What do you think of her, 
 
 messmate ? " 
 
 " Why," replied the young seaman, "your long ex 
 perience and better judgment in the good or bad 
 qualities of any craft, is a sufficient assurance f .r me ; 
 but if I were to give an opinion of that vessel, it 
 would be that she is a perfect model, and just the 
 one for a cruiser. But what is she, what is her 
 name ? " continued the young seaman warmly. 
 
 Why, have you been in York a fortnight and have 
 not heard of that famous Cruiser, and her successful 
 cruise ! " replied the old seaman. "Why," continued 
 he, she captured a large English West Indiamau 
 and two brigs : and what is better, the ship and one 
 brig got in safe, and d'ye see, each share amounted to 
 four hundred dollars, a pretty little sum, lad, for a 
 forty days' cruise, especially as each able seaman was 
 entitled to one share and a half; and now she is fitting 
 out for another cruise. The articles are open, and, by 
 the way, as she is. off in the stream there, I suppose 
 she will soon be off into blue water, and now, messmate, 
 what do you think of a cruise in her ? " ^ 
 
 " Why," replied the other, " I like the looks of the 
 craft, and as for the name, it has something ominous 
 in it, and if she acquires half the renown of her name- 
 2'
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 sake, I should have no objection to your proposal ; and 
 I suppose there is no time to be lost : let us go to the 
 rendezvous immediately and take a look at the articles, 
 and if the officers' berths are not filled up, I have no' 
 doubt but that you might get the offer of boatswain, for 
 [ am sure there are few who are better suited to 
 discharge that duty than yourself." 
 
 This conversation being finished, they walked off at 
 a rapid pace toward the rendezvous, in Water-street 
 which they found without difficulty; for the successful 
 Bruise of. the privateer became a matter of so much 
 notoriety, that hundreds were anxiously waiting an op- 
 portumtyto sign the articles; besides many old tars 
 there were what was at that time technically called 
 highbinders, cookey boys, butcher boys, indomitable*, 
 *c. &c. & c . Those of my readers who are at all 
 acquainted with the lower class of the population of 
 few York at that period, will readily comprehend the 
 very respectable chapters of the rabble before-men- 
 ed. It was not without some difficulty that our 
 heroes forced an entrance through the crowd into the 
 bng room where there were several articles, upon the 
 fct of which was that of the Cruiser before-mentioned. 
 The appearance of the two immediately caught the eye 
 the Lieutenant, and no marvel, for among the great 
 number that were in .and out of the rendezvous,^ 
 wore so high a bearing as these two seamen. 
 
 ell, my lads," inquired the Lieutenant, do you 
 J* to take a cruise in the privateer? She if 
 * craft, sails fast, and, what eve ry sailor
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 19 
 
 she is remarkably lucky, as no doubt you have heard." 
 The elder seaman being the spokesman, after a few 
 preliminary inquiries and quaint hits, adjusting his 
 morsel of Virginia, and disposing of a liberal quantity 
 of the juice, asked the Lieutenant if there were any of 
 the petty officers' berths open; to which the officer 
 replied, that they were all filled up except the boat 
 swain's, and two applications had been made for that 
 berth ; " but," continued he, " do you wish to go in 
 that capacity ? " 
 
 He replied in the affirmative. 
 " Well," continued the Lieutenant, " I like your ap 
 pearance, and I think you have seen much service. 
 How old are you?" 
 " Thirty-five." 
 
 " How long have you been to sea ? " 
 "Twenty years," he replied rather gruffly, being 
 somewhat piqued at the last interrogatory. 
 
 "I will have some conversation with the captain 
 to-night, and to-morrow at nine o'clock will give you 
 an answer. But your young shipmate there ? Well, 
 my lad, do you want to ship ? " 
 
 " Yes," was the reply, " if my messmate enters." 
 "But you perceive," said the Lieutenant, "the 
 officers' berths are all taken." 
 
 " I do not look for any thing of the kind,'^ replied 
 the young seaman. " I shall be contented and happy 
 to go with my messmate here in any capacity." 
 
 " Then come to-morrow morning at nine, and you 
 shall not be separated."
 
 CHAPTER n. 
 
 THE TWO SEAMEN ENTER ON BOARD THE PRIVATEFR, FOR 
 THE CRUISE, ETC. 
 
 THE two seamen had returned to their lodgings, 
 (a respectable private boarding house in Cherry street,) 
 where they were quietly seated after supper, in a neat 
 and well furnished room. The young seaman was en 
 gaged in reading aloud for his 'companion, for although 
 the elder was a prune seaman, yet, unfortunately, his 
 education was exceedingly limited ; a circumstance by 
 no means strange or singular, considering the length 
 of time he had pursued a sea life, and the narrow facil 
 ities of acquiring an education in the days of his boy- 
 hood. 
 
 " Well," said the old tar, interrupting the youn* 
 
 seaman, "I think, my boy, we're fairly'm for this 
 
 muse; for although we have not clapped our flip- 
 
 ers to the articles, yet we've let slip a promise, and 
 
 a-t's all the toe, for I've a notion that a sailor's word 
 
 ought to be the same as signed, sealed, and delivered in 
 
 presence of ; but I have been overhauling my 
 
 tunking tackles, messmate, since we've had a squint 
 at them chaps there about the rendezvous, and I'll miss 
 20
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 25 
 
 
 
 ner, " You perceive," said he, " the articles are nearly 
 full, and the outfit for a three months' cruise will be com 
 pleted in two days ; you will therefore repair on board 
 with all possible despatch, and assume the duties of your 
 stations." No time was lost by the two seamen, and 
 after purchasing a boatswain's call and a suitable quan 
 tity of silver chain with some few articles of substantial 
 clothing, they hurried along to their boarding house, 
 and overhauling their chests, they selected such clothing 
 as was most appropriately suited for the cruise, all of 
 which were stowed away in canvass bags, with their 
 names on each ; these, together with their hammocks 
 and bedding, comprised the outfit. The remainder of 
 their effects were left in the care of the honest landlord, 
 with whom they had resided. 
 
 " Now," observed the old tar, " as we must be on 
 board to-morrow morning, we hav'nt much time to spare, 
 we must go and settle the matter about the prize-money, 
 that is, if we get any, and to be sure this is like count 
 ing chickens before they are hatched ; howsomever, it is 
 best to get some honest chap who will keep a look-out 
 to windward for us against these land-sharks who are 
 .always ready to filch the hard earnings of poor sailors, 
 and I tell you, messmate, if once they get their thiev- 
 ing-irons upon our prize-money, then there will be no 
 more chance of getting it, than if it went to Davy 
 Jones's locker, in the middle of the Western ocean ; 
 for somehow or other, there are some of these chaps 
 they call agents, seem to think that sailors are little 
 better than hosses, and that they are bound to serve 
 3
 
 26 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 them, and they place just as little value upon their 
 lives ; so that they consider when they get the proceeds 
 of prizes in their possession, no matter how many hard 
 knocks, and loss of life and limb, or confinement in 
 British prisons ; I say messmate, when they once get 
 grappling irons on it, then its all privateering with 
 them, and poor Jack may whistle for his share. 
 But come, let's go and find out who is the agent for 
 the Cruiser." 
 
 So saying, they immediately proceeded toward the ren 
 dezvous where they ascertained from the lieutenant that 
 by the united assent of the officers and crew, they had 
 selected a merchant of great wealth and high standing, 
 (the owner of the privateer, although a Jew,) for their 
 agent. This did not meet with the approbation of the 
 two seamen, but especially the elder, who declared that 
 the chances were nine out of ten against them, averring 
 that all Jews thought it a duty to rob a Christian, " and 
 I don't know how it is, for I have'nt got much laming 
 in the matters, that our lawmakers have so fixed it that 
 any rogue or villain can cheat an honest man out of his 
 just dues ; and I have heard," he continued, " that 
 these land-sharks or agents, whatever you may call 
 them, after fobbing the whole of the prize-money, just 
 make it over to some brother thief, and then take an 
 oath that they've not got any thing, and so get the 
 benefit of the law, cheat their creditors, and after a bit 
 you'll see these chaps living on the fat of the land, in 
 fine houses, and rolling along in carriages. Now, mess 
 mate, rhat do you think of such a law ? "
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISEK. 27 
 
 " The insolvent law," replied the young seaman, 
 " was made for the general good ; but especially to the 
 unfortunate honest man it is a blessing, as it protects 
 him against the unfeeling, and merciless creditor, who 
 would, were it not for this law, place him beyond 
 the power to pay his honest debts by confinement hi 
 prison. It is true that dishonest men take advantage 
 of this law, but then it is at the expense of their reputa 
 tion and conscience, for they violate all that is sacred 
 to the human heart, and reduce to poverty and wretch 
 edness the industrious poor, and oftentimes cause bitter 
 tears to fall from the widow and orphan through pinch 
 ing want." 
 
 " God defend me from this," replied the old tar vehe 
 mently. " I'd rather have a clean set of papers to go 
 into port at the last day, than all the kelt that is 
 brought into the United States during the whole war. 
 But," continued he, "if you have an honest friend in 
 these parts, we'll just get him to make sure work for us 
 by keeping an eye on that agent." 
 
 The two seamen proceeded forthwith to a magis 
 trate's office and had a power of attorney drawn out in 
 favor of the young seaman's uncle, to receive all prize- 
 money belonging to them, that might accrue from the 
 present cruise. This being drawn, it was enclosed in a 
 letter, and forwarded to his uncle, who then resided hi 
 Albany. 
 
 Every thing being now arranged for the cruise, 
 and as the two seamen were entire strangers in New 
 York, they concluded to return to their lodgings, and
 
 28 fflE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 spend the remaining part of the day and evening in con 
 versing of their Mends. " By the way," said the old tar, 
 " I should just like to pass this evening with my old 
 mother on the Cape ; she is now the only one that cares 
 for me, and many years have gone over her head, and I 
 suppose it will not be long before she will be moored in 
 the grave-yard. Well, I shall the-n be alone in the 
 world, and it is not much odds where away I box my 
 compass, for no one then will think of me." 
 
 " You do me injustice," replied the young seaman. 
 with great feeling ; " can one to whom I owe so much 
 friendship, and with whom I have sworn never to sep 
 arate while life lasts, can you for a moment suppose 
 that, when your mother is called away, there will ' be 
 none to think of you ? " 
 
 " Yes, you are my true-hearted messmate," replied 
 the old tar eagerly, and grasping the hand of the 
 young seaman, renewed his protestation of friendship 
 and union.
 
 CHAPTER IK. 
 
 THE PRIVATEER AND HER CREW. 
 
 THE two seamen rose early the next morning, and 
 after breakfast bade adieu to their kind host and 
 hostess, repaired on board and reported themselves to 
 the commanding officer, (the second lieutenant,) who 
 received them very graciously and congratulated them 
 on their good fortune, in making choice of so fine a 
 vessel, and especially one which had immortalized 
 herself on her last cruise in an action with a British 
 packet, and her good luck in making captures. The 
 old tar cast a keen glance over the deck of the pri 
 vateer, and asked the Lieutenant dryly, 
 
 " Were you out in her last cruise, sir ? " 
 
 The reply was in the affirmative. 
 
 He shrugged up his shoulders, turned his head 
 away, and stood gazing for a few moments at the 
 scenes which were now in operation on deck ; for if the 
 exterior, or the beautiful model of the hull, just pro 
 portion of the spars, and neatness of the rig of the 
 Cruizer, gave them so much delight, when they viewed 
 her from the Battery, their feelings now on shipboard 
 were vastly different, for every thing was in confusion 
 8* 29
 
 80 THE AMERICAN CRUISEE. 
 
 and disorder ; the whole of the deck, (except a small 
 place abaft,) was lumbered with plank, spars, old 
 junk, cordage, barrels of provisions and water-casks ; 
 on the larboard side was a pile of round shot, and 
 between the guns in promiscuous heaps were sponges, 
 rammers, gunners' handspikes, wad bags half empty, 
 and the wads strewed on every part of the deck. 
 
 The crew (for there were some thirty or forty on 
 board,) bore a strong resemblance to the gentry before 
 described as seen at the rendezvous, for their ap 
 pearance indicated that they had been gathered from 
 those sinks of vice and infamy in NCAV York, viz. : the 
 Five Points, Pawley's Hook, &c. On the deck lay 
 sprawling some two or three, dead drunk, others 
 were half and half; on the forecastle were two men 
 with their shirts off, squaring away for a fight, while 
 two parties assumed a threatening attitude, and ap 
 parently determined to see fair play. " Go it, high 
 binders," said one. "At him, cookey," said another. 
 " Fair play ! " vociferated a huge fellow, who seemed 
 qualified and determined, as he stood with two enor 
 mous fists doubled, ready to enforce the words which 
 he had uttered. The berth deck, if it might be so 
 called, for as yet it was in a perfectly chaotic state, 
 was in strict conformity with the upper deck ; the 
 water casks and provisions lay the whole length of that 
 part of the hold set apart for the accommodation of 
 the sailors. Thus far there was neither stowage of 
 water nor provisions, and the plank to form the deck 
 lay scattered here and there, while a group of men on
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 afc- 
 
 the starboard side, who had been employed in the 
 hold were now formed into a kind of ring, 
 their looks, and on every feature of their countenances, 
 were legibly depicted in characters which could not bo 
 misunderstood, infamy and fraud, for they were gam 
 bib", and had a few pieces of small money before 
 them. Another set were plotting a scheme to steal the 
 boat that night, go on shore, have a row at the I oto, 
 and finally take leave of New York, by robbing a cook, 
 shop of all its fresh grub, that they might have a blow 
 out and pay the owners of the establishment under a 
 flowing fore-topsail. 
 
 Such was the condition of the privateer and her 
 crew, at least of those which were already on board. 
 The second lieutenant, whether a smart officer or a 
 good disciplinarian, certainly at this time exercised but 
 little authority ; nor had he much assistance to enforce 
 command, although there were three prize-masters on 
 board who seemed to consider themselves as a kind of 
 supernumeraries or passengers, and as this grade o 
 officers was generally composed of persons who had 
 commanded vessels previously to the war, in many 11 
 stances were now above command, and assumed 
 fore the dignity of their former stations. Many c 
 them were of dissipated habits, in whom confidence was 
 destroyed ; consequently, for want of employment they 
 were compelled to accept the situation of prize-masters. 
 But to return. The next morning being the time 
 appointed for sailing, the green hands came off through 
 out the day, and a more ludicrous sight was never seen
 
 32 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 on shipboard ; for such at this period was the mania 
 for privateering, that tradesmen of all descriptions, 
 porters, draymen, hackmen, counting-house clerks, 
 &c., all burned with the fire of patriotism and glory, 
 and thirsted for the blood of Englishmen, or, what is 
 more probable, for the manufactures of British work 
 shops, to satisfy their cupidity, by converting them into 
 dollars and cents. Among the more singular looking 
 beings that came on board to seek their fortunes, was a 
 tall, grenadier-looking chap, who after having got on 
 board, stood for a few moments in perfect astonishment, 
 as if he were transfixed to the deck, and probably the 
 appearance of the company forward as well as the con 
 fused state which the main-deck then exhibited, not 
 suiting his taste or inclination, as well as the other 
 extreme of the Cruiser, he began to measure his steps 
 abaft, when he was saluted by a quaint old salt with a 
 tap on the shoulder, who at ,the same time bawled out 
 at the top of his voice, " Right about face, major !" 
 Perceiving his mistake, he immediately began to retrace 
 his steps, which afforded great amusement to those on 
 the main-deck, by whom he was interrogated with, 
 " How long have you been in the army ? " " What 
 regiment do you belong to ? " &c. ; all of which he 
 bore patiently, xmtil the cry was sent fore and aft, 
 " Look out for your bread-bags, there 's a marine 
 adrift." Perceiving he was the butt of merriment, he 
 could no longer preserve Ids' equanimity, and raising 
 himself to his full stature, being upwards of six feet, 
 with a heavy, muscular frame, and flourishing a pair of
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. S3 
 
 fists which hung to arms of uncommon length, ex 
 claimed in not a very pleasing tone, " Gentlemen, I 
 don't understand much about vessels, nor your lingo. I 
 don't think I have done any thing that you should make 
 fun of, or insult me for; but hark'ee, if it's fighting 
 you want, Tim Waters is your man." The determined 
 resolution in which this declaration was made, not only 
 had an immediate effect, but also made a lasting im 
 pression on the minds of many of the crew during the 
 remainder of the cruise. The jokes and merriment 
 having ended with our tall friend, they were transferred 
 over to several others, one of whom was a young man 
 of genteel appearance, who had not as yet put off his 
 long clothes, and from the delicate whiteness of his 
 hand might be supposed to have driven the quill a 
 greater part of his time. His baggage consisted of a 
 large leathern travelling trunk, with a pair of boots, 
 and an umbrella lashed on the top, with mattress, bed 
 ding, &c. The sight of the baggage, especially the 
 trunk and its appendages, was too much to preserve the 
 quiet risibilities of the reckless group who had gathered 
 round the young man, and they broke out into an im 
 moderately loud laugh ; one singing out for the waiter 
 to " Show the gentleman to his room ;" another, "How 
 long do you stay, sir ? " &c. ; all of which so com 
 pletely disconcerted the young man, that he shrunk 
 away in silence, to seek protection from the quarter 
 deck. 
 
 The game, however, was not yet over, for at this 
 moment came on board a short, thick, duck-legged
 
 84 THE AMERICAN CKUISER. 
 
 chap, with a round, chubby fat face, fiery red cheeks, 
 and small eyes, which, to use a seaman's expression, 
 " looked like two burnt holes in a blanket." The ap 
 pearance of this fellow would not impress you with tho 
 idea, that he came from the higher walks of life, but 
 rather indicated, and that very strongly too, that his 
 elevated history might have been gradually ascending 
 until he arrived to the very reputable vocation of porter 
 to a tap-room. This man certainly, from his whole 
 appearance, was irresistibly adapted to excite the mirth 
 of all who beheld him. The great length of his body, 
 his short legs, with the uncommon appearance of his 
 red face and small eyes, his great good nature and 
 drollery, (for it seemed that ha. had picked up many 
 odd sayings and anecdotes, which he related in a way 
 that would provoke mirth from the most serious,) at 
 tracted general attention. No marvel, then, if a scene 
 of uproar and merriment was created by his appear 
 ance. " Handle yourself this way, Jimmy Ducks," 
 says one. "Don't be squinting at the gentleman's 
 legs," says another. " To be sure they wo' nt be of 
 much sarvice to him in a gale of wind, for his top-works 
 are too heavy for his lower timbers, and mayhap, if a 
 sudden gust strikes him on the beam, why he '11 capsize, 
 unless them outriggers there that are shipped on to the 
 hull saves him," (meaning his arms,) which, owing to 
 his short legs, appeared to be of uncommon length. 
 How long Jimmy Ducks might have served these 
 reckless beings as a butt for their jibes and merriment 
 is unknown, if he had not have received it all in
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 85 
 
 perfect good nature, joining with them in the laugh 
 against himself, at the same time quaintly acknowl 
 edging his ignorance of all that concerned a Cruiser, 
 " but was happy," he said, " to be one of the number 
 that composed her crew, and hoped shortly to become 
 better acquainted." 
 
 The arrival of some fifteen or twenty old seamen, 
 diverted the attention of the crew from Jimmy, 
 and no doubt he was not a little satisfied to be 
 rid of their company. Now the old salts had de 
 layed coming on board until the last moment, well 
 knowing the laborious duty always necessary to bo 
 performed previously to a departure from port on a 
 cruise. The truth was, however, the duty was not 
 yet executed, for every thing thus far lay in genteel 
 confusion about decks. The most superficial observer 
 would not have been at 'a loss to discover the difference 
 between these men and a majority of the crew, for 
 although there were a few in a state called half seas 
 over, yet a greater part were perfectly sober, dressed in 
 complete seaman's rig, each having a hammock neatly 
 lashed, and a large canvass bag well stowed with dun 
 nage, with their names printed in large letters both ou 
 their hammocks and bags ; these were all quickly on 
 board, and instead of that raillery which had been so 
 freely conferred upon the others, the old sailors were 
 considered as a kind of superior beings, to whom a 
 certain deference was due by the green hands, and 
 Jack in return complimented these gentry, by allowing 
 them to swing their hammocks near the hatchway,
 
 86 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 so that they might have the benefit of the cool air, 
 taking good care, however, themselves to swing their 
 hammocks as far abaft as possible, for the twofold 
 purpose of having a skulk in their watch below at 
 night, and to keep clear of the sprays, which usually 
 pour down the gratings, the hatches being seldom on, 
 except in heavy gales of wind. Now the green hands, 
 by the proximity of their berths to the hatchway, were 
 not only exposed to all this, but much more, such as the 
 constant passing up and down, the hoisting up of pro 
 visions, &c., so that with these and the noise and con 
 fusion on deck, very little sleep could be obtained by 
 those who were near the hatchway. 
 
 It was near to the close of the day, and although 
 little had been done, comparatively, to get the Cruiser 
 in readiness for sea the next day, yet the berth-deck 
 had assumed a form and shape, for the ballast as well 
 as the water and provisions were stowed, and the planks 
 vrere seamed which formed the covering or deck. 
 Some idea may be formed of the comfort and con 
 venience of this part of the vessel, assigned for the 
 residence of about a hundred sailors and petty officers. 
 In the first place then, from the berth-deck to the upper 
 deck beams, the space was not more than four feet in 
 height, and the length might be fifty feet fore and aft. 
 An upright posture therefore it was impossible to main 
 tain, so if you succeeded in getting any distance from 
 the hatchway, it must be on all fours ; a tolerable con 
 ception can therefore be formed as to the comfort of 
 this location, when you add to the former incon-
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 87 
 
 veniences, that of the seamen's clothing and hammocks 
 were strung to the beam. Here then were crowded 
 nearly one hundred human beings of all nations, ages, 
 color, character, and perhaps we may not exceed the 
 bounds of truth, if we say there was as great a variety 
 in this crew, and as motley and unprincipled, (although 
 there were some honorable exceptions, but they were few 
 and far between,) as ever floated over the ocean in an 
 American cruiser. All the officers now came on board, 
 with the exception of the Captain, namely, the first and 
 third lieutenant, sailing master, four additional prize- 
 masters, lieutenant of marines, and captain's clerk. 
 Of the first lieutenant we have had occasion to say 
 something, having introduced him at the rendezvous, 
 but we shall speak more particularly of him as well as 
 the other officers in the subsequent part of this work. 
 
 It was soon evident from the conversation and stern 
 countenance of the first lieutenant, that he was not at 
 all satisfied or pleased with the confused state of the 
 Cruiser's deck, and the disorder of the crew ; although 
 it was necessary, in order to keep the men on board, 
 not to insist yet on a severe discipline ; yet the condition 
 of the Cruiser and crew was so entirely different from 
 what he expected when he came on board, that he hesi 
 tated not to express his dissatisfaction to the second 
 lieutenant. 
 
 "Let the boatswain and his shipmate be called," 
 demanded the first lieutenant. 
 
 The two seamen appeared immediately on the 
 quarter-deck, touching their hats respectfully, but ex- 
 4
 
 88 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 hibited great mortification and disappointment in their 
 looks and manner. 
 
 " I perceive," said the first lieutenant, addressing 
 them both, " that the condition of the Cruiser does not 
 exactly suit your views of duty and discipline ; but 
 with your cooperation, I think we shall have a different 
 state of things, before another day. But have you 
 been installed as the boatswain of the Cruiser since 
 you came on board ? " inquired the first lieutenant. 
 
 " No, sir," replied the old tar. 
 
 " Then, sir, wind that call, and summons all hands 
 on deck fore and aft." 
 
 For the first time since our two heroes came on 
 board, the shrill whistle of the boatswain's pipe was 
 heard fore and aft, and repeated three times, accom 
 panied with the stentorian lungs of the old tar, which 
 might have been heard at least a mile, with the cry of 
 " All hands ahoy ! " 
 
 As soon as all hands were mustered, and silence was 
 proclaimed, the first lieutenant, in a clear and com 
 manding voice, pointing to the old tar, and addressing 
 the officers and crew, said : 
 
 "This is the boatswain of the Cruiser; you will 
 therefore respect and obey him in the discharge of his 
 duty." 
 
 After this formal installation was over, the decks 
 being cleared, all hands were piped to supper.
 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE SUPPER. 
 
 THE sun had now sunk beneath the western horizon, 
 and many small clouds uprose, which for beauty and 
 magnificence defied the most consummate skill of the 
 artist's pencil. Ascending into the azure vault, they 
 sent forth a balmy freshness, which came stealing over 
 the waters with quietude and stillness, scarcely ruffling 
 its placid bosom. The twilight now began to cast a 
 pensive shade, while here and there a glittering star 0** 
 planet shot its brilliant light, increasing in proportion as 
 night advanced. On one side lay the city of New York. 
 A thousand lights were now seen twinkling from the nu 
 merous dwellings and shops which stretched along the 
 East River for nearly a league ; these, together with 
 many others, on the rising ground, produced a light so 
 brilliant that by its reflection numerous spires were vis 
 ible, while the noise and hum of the many carriages, 
 drays, and numerous human beings, retiring from busi 
 ness could be heard ; all of which, as seen and heard 
 from the deck of the Cruiser, almost inspired the idea 
 of enchantment. On the other side, as far as the eye 
 could trace, was the beautiful Island, which forms the 
 
 39
 
 40 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 channel called Long Island Sound. No sight can be 
 more picturesque than that which meets the eye, when 
 sailing through this sound, particularly in the summer 
 months. After passing the city of New York, the coast 
 is lined with highly cultivated farms, with here and there 
 a splendid county seat, adorned with all the variety of 
 nature and art, while flourishing towns and villages on 
 the coast of Connecticut, rise one after another to the 
 view, to the extent of one hundred and sixty miles. 
 The coast of Long Island presents, as if to relieve the 
 eye, extensive woods, tall forest trees, and here and 
 there a surface dotted with a small town or village, far 
 removed from the noise and confusion of the city, which 
 justly claims for her state the empire of America. At 
 the extreme east end of this Island is situated the town 
 of Sag Harbor, a place of some importance on account 
 of its commerce and business in the whale fishery. At 
 the extreme southwest part is situated the town of 
 Brooklyn, (now' incorporated into a city.) Here, also, 
 is an extensive Navy Yard, Arsenal, Marine Barracks, 
 &c. &c. From shipboard may be seen the Brooklyn 
 heights ; and the eye as well as the imagination can 
 trace the route of that memorable retreat of the 
 Oontinential forces across the East River to New York. 
 So profoundly secret and silent was the movement, 
 ,hat the British General, who had made his disposition 
 for the attack in the morning, was astonished and sur 
 prised at this consummate manoeuvre of the illustrious 
 American General. 
 
 The recollection of this as well as the many hardships
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 and privations endured by the patriots of the Revolution, 
 and the skill, bravery, prudence, and patience of their 
 leader the immortal Washington, and the glorious ter 
 mination of the struggle for liberty, should inspire f 
 in-s of pride and patriotism in the breast of every true 
 Amercian. Once more, then, is America in arms 
 against the parent land; already had the vaunted Mis- 
 tress of the Ocean been humbled by the naval prowess 
 of American Tars, and although the war was .in its in 
 fancy, yet the American private armed vessels were 
 swarming the ocean, crippling the enemy's commerce, 
 and making many captures, notwithstanding the great 
 naval force of the British, which floated over almost 
 every part of the Western Ocean. 
 
 The Cruiser, of which we now write, had acted her 
 part well thus far, and was now on the eve of a second 
 cruise, and as the reader has been presented with a 
 description of her, as well as the crew, we shall now 
 introduce him, according to promise, to the supper pre 
 vious to her departure on the cruise. The supper was 
 not what might have been expected by landsmen, when 
 they associate the remembrance of their own comfort 
 able board with the hard biscuit and salt beef and pork, 
 the usual fare on shipboard. For the success of the 
 last cruise had made the owners in this respect some 
 what liberal ; besides it was a main object with them to 
 allow an abundant supply of fresh provisions, tea, coffee, 
 soft bread, &c., in order to keep the old tars on board, 
 but especially to impress the belief among the green 
 horns, that such was the usual mode of living. 
 4*
 
 42 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 In the grey twilight of evening there might have 
 been seen a mass of human beings crowding the main 
 deck and forecastle, in squads of a dozen each, sur 
 rounding a huge mess-kid, resembling a small sized tub, 
 well lined with fresh beef, served up to suit the taste of 
 the company, partly boiled and partly fried, while in 
 every direction were strewed loaves of soft bread, (tack, 
 as the sailors term it,) and coffee was served up in 
 buckets, for the greater convenience of dipping out at 
 pleasure, as thirst and inclination might require. Now 
 begun the work of demolition, and it soon became evi 
 dent that the enormous appetites of the men made a 
 very sensible diminution of the beef, bread and coffee. 
 " This is not bad to take," said a tall, ill-visaged, lean 
 chap, as he was about to introduce into his mouth, 
 (/which might not be inaptly compared to that of an 
 anaconda,) a huge piece of beef. " I just thought as 
 much," said an old sailor, " when I saw you hoisting 
 in that provision and stowing it in your lower hold so 
 fast. Hark'ee," continued the old salt, " I'll sheer clear 
 of your mess anyhow, for the Lord help the chaps that's 
 got to have their grub with you ; they '11 have at least 
 two banyan days a week." From the appearance of 
 this fellow, there was a great deal of truth in the re 
 mark of the sailor, for he not only had given ocular 
 demonstration of his enormous appetite on this occasion, 
 but his whole exterior indicated in the strongest possible 
 manner, one of those loafing gentry, whose support, 
 depending on others, consequently is always precarious 
 and doubtful ; but when an opportunity presents, like

 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 45 
 
 the present splendid repast, is not slow to make up for 
 mer deficiencies. 
 
 " Avast there ! don't swallow that tin-pot," bawled 
 out another to a chap who was about draining off the 
 contents of the third tin-pot of coffee, which might hold 
 nearly a quart. " I say," continued he, " if you go on 
 at this rate, we shall have to take on board an extra 
 five hundred gallons of water, or we shall have to go 
 on short allowance before the cruise is half up." 
 
 Our tall friend before-mentioned sat quietly, though 
 industriously satisfying his appetite ; the truth was, his 
 giant form and great muscular power, together with the 
 emphatic demonstration of his readiness to resent an in 
 sult, as manifested when he came on board, had made 
 such a lasting impression on the minds of the crew, that 
 it not only elicited for him a kind of respect, or fear, if 
 you please, but he remained quite unmolested during 
 the whole of this gracious meal. Not so with the young 
 man in long clothes. Having seated himself on the ex 
 treme outside of the rest of the company, he had not 
 only to endure the jeers and scoffs of many of the crew, 
 but partook so sparingly of the supper that an attentive 
 observer might have read the workings of his mind, 
 which, if clothed into language, would probably have 
 said, "I wish I were on shore again, and far from the 
 society of such a company as compose this crew." An 
 old salt who sat by him, gazing attentively in his 
 face, and perceiving the strong emotion exhibited 
 (for the salfc*tear was standing in his eye,) and clapping 
 his hand on the shoulder of the young man, said to him,
 
 46 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 in a soothing voice, " Come, come, cheer up ; what 
 though we are not in the land of plates and knives and 
 forks, and I suppose our chaps here, and this kind of 
 sarving up grub, you are not much used to, or much to 
 your liking ; but howsomever, I'd advise you, lad, even 
 if the milk-man don't come off, to line your jacket well, 
 by stowing away a good cargo to-night ; it will do you 
 good, for hark 'ee, we'll have a change of diet when we 
 get into blue water." The kind manner in which these 
 words were spoken, made a deep impression upon the 
 youth, and it soon became evident, from the alteration 
 in his looks, and the cheerfulness with which he aug 
 mented his meal, that the current of his feelings was 
 materially changed, and also that the sailor's kindness 
 inspired him with confidence. 
 
 But of all the company that graced the festive board, 
 none certainly bore a more conspicuous part than 
 Jimmy Ducks. He was not only a mark on which 
 they expended their jokes and merriment, which by the 
 way, fell on him perfectly harmless, for his good humor 
 and quaint manner of reply often turned the tables 
 upon those who attempted to bring him into ridicule ; 
 and although Jimmy could play a very excellent game 
 at eating and drinking, yet his amazement knew no 
 bounds when he beheld the rapid decrease of the enor 
 mous quantity of provisions, which but a few moments 
 previous had been spread on the deck of the Cruiser. 
 Indeed, his astonishment was so great that he would 
 often break out with the sententious expression, " The 
 way these gentlemen eat is a caution to unbelievers."
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER 47 
 
 But as every thing has its commencement as well as its 
 finale, the truth of the moral in this instance was now 
 about to be accomplished, for kid after kid of beef, 
 bucket after bucket of coffee, and loaf after loaf of bread 
 disappeared, when three or four simultaneously bawled 
 out, " Clear away the wreck." And wreck it certainly 
 was, for nothing was left except empty kids, buckets, 
 tin-pots, spoons, &c., proving by actual demonstration 
 that there is an end to all things. 
 
 The company aft at present consisted of two separate 
 divisions, viz: the lieutenants, prize-masters, sailing- 
 master, lieutenant of marines, and surgeon. These 
 messed together in the ward-room. Forward of this the 
 petty officers, or the boatswain, gunner, carpenter, sail- 
 maker, and the young seaman, messed. This apart 
 ment was separated from the berth-deck by a bulkhead, 
 and from the ward-room by another, and the entrance to 
 it was the same as that to the ward-room. Although 
 the supper consisted of the same kind of provision as 
 that of the sailors, yet this being the region of knives 
 and forks, cups and saucers, of course it was served up 
 in better style, and exhibited that cleanliness and re 
 spect due to the officers of the private armed vessels of 
 war. This meal was not so rapidly demolished, neither 
 was there any exhibition of inordinate appetites ; yet it 
 was received with peculiar relish, and it may be ob 
 served, with a degree of refinement, good humor, and 
 blunt honesty, which ever characterizes true-hearted 
 Sons of the Ocean. Although there were two at least 
 in the ward-room that had never yet seen blue water,
 
 18 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 yet they evinced the same good feeling which prevailed 
 among the other officers. As regards the petty officers, 
 they were old seamen, and deeply experienced in their 
 profession, or as it was said of them, they were " dia 
 monds of the first water." 
 
 The supper being concluded and the cloth removed, 
 the table was soon replenished with bottles of old Ma 
 deira, and glasses to each of the company. 
 
 " Come, gentlemen," said the first lieutenant, who 
 presided at the table, " fill up your glasses." This was 
 quickly done, and he proposed a toast, which was, 
 " Success to the noble Cruiser and her brave com 
 mander." This was drank with great satisfaction by 
 all. Several other toasts were then drunk, and the 
 wine passed round rapidly, and soon began to make a 
 sensible impression on the company. Some laughed 
 immoderately, while others were discussing with great 
 vehemence the strength and good qualities of the Cruiser. 
 One swore they would make their fortune this cruise, 
 while another conceived himself to be actually boarding 
 a prize ; and, indeed, nearly the whole, with the excep 
 tion of the first lieutenant, lieutenant of marines, and 
 surgeon, boasted of their valor and prowess. 
 
 At this point the first lieutenant looked at his watch, 
 rose hastily and observed, " Come, gentlemen, it is 
 nearly eight o'clock, and as you are aware that our crew 
 are not under the best state of discipline, it will be ne 
 cessary for us to repair on deck and regulate the watch. 
 This duty must fall on us to-night, for no doubt there 
 are some of our lads that will try to give us the slip.
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 This must be prevented, if possible, by keeping a strict 
 look-out, and securing the boats to the davits." 
 
 The petty officers were called, and the watches being 
 divided into four, with four officers in each watch, they 
 all went on deck ; and after securing the boats, orders 
 were given to the crew, that they might all go below 
 and tain in, and be ready for an early turn out in the 
 morning. The greater part obeyed this order cheer- 
 fully ; there were some, however, who seemed disposed 
 to ban- back, choosing rather to take up their lodgings 
 ou thesoft side of a plank, than to be crammed into so 
 Bmall a compass with so large a number of human 
 beings. The order, however, was peremptory, and they 
 reluctantly obeyed, after which the gratings were put 
 on and secured. 
 
 5
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE ANCHOR WATCH CON VERSATION BETWEEN THE TWO 
 
 SEAMEN. 
 
 THE heavy sound of cannon from the different vessels 
 of war now lying in port, as well as from the batteries, 
 came rolling along the water, and the well-known cry 
 of "All's well," from the distinct but hoarse voice of 
 the sentinel, proclaimed the hour to be eight o'clock. 
 The night was clear and cloudless, except a few white 
 streaks, in the northeast, (known to the seamen by the 
 name of a " mackerel sky,") indicating that the wind 
 would shortly blow from that quarter. The deep sound 
 of the cannon was now lost in the distance, and as the 
 voice of the sentinel was also hushed, a universal still 
 ness prevailed ; for although not more than three quar 
 ters of an hour had elapsed since the gratings were 
 secured, yet the whole space of the berth-deck, where 
 so many human beings were incarcerated, was silent as 
 the grave. 
 
 The watch having been set, the first lieutenant man 
 aged to have the boatswain and the young man (in 
 whom he seemed to repose great confidence,) in the 
 last anchor watch that is, from two until four, A. M. 
 
 50
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 61 
 
 with orders to call all hands when the watch was out. 
 The anchor watch differs materially from the sea watch ; 
 also in point of the number contained in an anchor 
 watch, vessels of war differ from those of merchant 
 vessels, the former having by far a greater number of 
 men. When a ship or vessel leaves port, the crew are 
 equally divided into what is called " watch and watch," 
 having four hours alternately on deck and below, with 
 the exception of the watch from four to eight, P. M. 
 This is divided into two watches, denominated by the 
 seamen, " dog watches," for the purpose of giving each 
 watch eight hours below every other night. The anchor 
 watch in the present instance contained but four men, 
 for the reason before-mentioned ; this number in gen 
 eral, is sufficient, especially when a vessel is riding to 
 an anchor in a good roadstead or harbor, with but one 
 anchor down, where there is no tideway. If, however, 
 there is a strong tide, with an open roadstead or harbor, 
 then the vessel is generally moored, that is, one anchor 
 is let go, so that she may tend to the flood ; the other 
 is carried out in the launch and let go, so that she may 
 swing to the ebb-tide. This is done for the purpose of 
 keeping the ship so that she may not foul her anchor, 
 that is, get a turn with the cable round the stocks. In 
 this case, if the wind should blow hard, the anchor 
 would not be likely to hold on. Judgment and sea 
 manship are required by those who keep an anchor 
 watch in a tide-way ; for the vessel is only kept 
 clear of her anchor by some one of the sails and 
 helm.
 
 52 THE AMERICAN CEUISEB. 
 
 The night wore away without any thing material 
 transpiring, and at two, A. M., according to appoint 
 ment,, the boatswain and young seaman, with two prize- 
 masters, took their stations on deck ; the two former 
 taking the look-out forward and the others aft. The 
 two tars remained for a few moments without speaking 
 a word, steadfastly gazing on the weather ; for by this 
 time the sky was overspread with the scud, and heavy, 
 broken clouds hove up in the northeast. The boatswain 
 broke silence by observing : 
 
 " I '11 miss my reck'ning, lad, if this craft goes to 
 sea to-day. Look yonder at that dark cloud ; before 
 all hands are piped to breakfast, we '11 have a whistle 
 from that quarter. And by the way," continued he, 
 " if it should be as it was yesterday, we are in no con 
 dition to go to sea. I 've been in all kinds of craft, 
 from a line-of-battle ship down to an oyster boat. I've 
 been in all parts of the world, boxing the compass up 
 and down, fair weather and foul, with all sorts of chaps, 
 for more than twenty years ; but in all my going to sea, 
 I never met with such a craft as this, and such a set of 
 cut-throats and pirates as we have here. And between 
 you and I, messmate, I can tell a sailor as soon as I get 
 a squint at his upper works ; and let me tell you, there 
 are not above twenty on board of this craft can take 
 the helm, and as to the gentlemen aft, they may or may 
 not be good sailors or good officers, but there 's none of 
 them takes my fancy but the first lieutenant. As for 
 them prize-masters, why they '11 do to eat up the grub, 
 and stow awsty the grog ; but after they get aboard of
 
 * 
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 53 
 
 a prize they swagger, talk big, drink brandy, and so get 
 out of their reck'ning, and by their bad management, 
 are re-taken ; and so many a poor sailor will be thrown 
 into prison during the whole war. Now what is your 
 opinion ? " 
 
 " Why," observed the young seaman, " I did not 
 expect to find as good a state of discipline and order, 
 as on board of a regular man-of-war, but I assure you I 
 was wholly unprepared for such a state of things as we 
 have seen here so much insubordination, and so little 
 command, that I confess to you I have had many mis 
 givings ; for the truth is, my opinion about the gen 
 tlemen aft, agrees with your own : and if this crew is 
 brought under any tolerable state of discipline, it will 
 require great firmness to effect it. I have thought if 
 by chance we should fall in with an enemy's force, 
 equal, or perhaps inferior to our own, shortly after we 
 leave port, with the crew little better than they are, at 
 present, why then I say we should neither make a pro 
 fitable business of it nor acquire much honor to the 
 American flag." 
 
 " Come, come, messmate," replied the boatswain, 
 somewhat startled at the last observation of his com 
 panion, " we can't always tell what a chap is by his 
 looks, though for the matter of that, I am not often 
 deceived that way ; for there's that knotty, hickory- 
 faced little skipper of this craft, that we saw at the ren 
 dezvous the other day ; why he looks more like a country 
 grave-digger, than captain of a privateer ; and yet they 
 say he is all courage and will fight any thing." 
 5*
 
 AMERICAN CRUISE'K. 
 
 The young seaman replied by saying that courage 
 " was an excellent trait in the commander of a cruiser. 
 but then what is courage when judgment and prudence 
 are wanting? I do not mean that the latter should 
 be extreme, because it must always be regulated by 
 the former. When these three, therefore, are com 
 bined in the superior of an armed vessel, they will 
 greatly overbalance the incapacity of .the inferior offi 
 cers and crew. If, therefore, this should be the char 
 acter of our commander, the cruise may turn out well ; 
 and perhaps we shah 1 not have to regret having joined 
 this craft ; but," he continued, (shifting the conversa 
 tion,) " what do you think of privateering as a mode 
 of warfare ? " 
 
 " Why, I've not much opinion of war any how," re 
 plied the boatswain, " for it is chaps like us that carry 
 it on, and get all the hard knocks, and them that never 
 smell gunpowder or bang salt water, generally run away 
 with all the whack and honor, if there's any honor in 
 fighting ; but as to privateering, I think it is better 
 for chaps like us to fight in this way than in a man-of- 
 war, for d'ye see, here we get some prize-money, but in 
 a regular man-of-war, although there is more than a 
 general average in the killed and wounded among the 
 sailors, yet there is always a particular average hi shar 
 ing money among the officers of a man-of-war." 
 
 " That may be very true," replied the young seaman ; 
 " nevertheless, the more I reflect on this mode of warfare 
 the less I think of it ; and now that we are upon this 
 subject, I will give you my opinion about this matter.
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 55 
 
 War, then, is a great evil, even when it is known to be 
 most necessary. It oftentimes happens, however, that 
 nations go to war merely through pride and amhition ; 
 this is truly dreadful, when we reflect upon the results. 
 In the present war, however, America had been driven 
 to this measure, as the last hope of obtaining redress 
 for wrongs long committed on her commerce, and for 
 violations of the best rights of man, by dragging him 
 from under the protection of his own flag in despite of 
 his own nativity, as shown by passports and protection, 
 given by the constituted authorities of his own country. 
 Long has America borne with these insults ; remon 
 strance after remonstrance has failed, and now the 
 tocsin is sounded, war is proclaimed, and all my powers 
 and energies shall be employed in supporting free trade 
 and sailor's rights ; but you must pardon me, for I be 
 lieve I have got off my course. Well then, in regard 
 to privateering as a mode of warfare. In the first place, 
 regular government vessels are manned and equipped, 
 mainly, to contend with the enemy's vessels of the same 
 class ; and it rarely ever happens that a man-of-war, in 
 the time of hostilities, cruises exclusively for the pur 
 pose of capturing merchantmen. It is true, if they fall 
 in with them of course they make captures. This is gen 
 erally effected without loss of life. Now the case is en 
 tirely different with privateers. Their entire object is to 
 cruise, and capture merchant vessels, and avoid, if pos 
 sible, everything in the shape of a man-of-war, unless it 
 is a very inferior force, and you are aware that a mer 
 chant vessel, pursuing a lawful trade, with a small com-
 
 56 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 plement of men and a few guns, often defends itself to 
 the last. Here, then, is great loss of life, and not only 
 so, but after the capture is made, the desperadoes which 
 mostly compose the crews of privateers, commit scenes 
 of robbery and plunder upon the vessel and the inno 
 cent victims of their fury, the bare thought of which 
 makes the heart to sicken and bleed. Where, then, I 
 ask, is the honor connected with this mode of warfare ? 
 To be sure there are honorable exceptions in privateers, 
 and among their officers and crews ; and it is well there 
 are ; if it were not for these exceptions, their name 
 would be infamous, their character despised, and they 
 would be shunned by all good men, and become a by 
 word and reproach in every community." 
 
 " I believe you are right," replied the boatswain, 
 thoughtfully, " but if we had this bit of small talk on the 
 battery yonder, why then we should 'nt been keeping 
 this morning watch ; howsomever, we are here, that's 
 sartain, and my fashion is always to make the best of a 
 bad bargain ; any way, there's two chaps on board this 
 craft that can do their duty fair weather or foul, aye, 
 that won't dodge at a shot, and, side and side, can board 
 the enemy." 
 
 " Yes," said the young seaman, passionately inter 
 rupting him, " and after the enemy, is captured they 
 will never bring disgrace or dishonor on the name or 
 character of a seaman, by robbing and plundering a 
 conquered foe. I believe we are both somewhat disap 
 pointed," he continued ; " however, I have always no 
 ticed on board of a regular man-of-war, that when
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 57 
 
 the first lieutenant and boatswain understand them 
 selves, the ship is not only always neat and in good 
 order, but she is always under the best state of dis 
 cipline, and if that rule holds good, we shall not regret 
 having entered on board of this privateer ; but see, the 
 day is breaking, and look, the sand in the half hour 
 glass has nearly run out ; thus is human life. Yon 
 unconscious multitude that has slept serene and quiet, 
 prefiguring the image of death, will soon rise to 
 scenes of active life, and many too, like that ray of 
 light which we now behold, will spring forth into new 
 existence ; but, alas ! how strongly are we reminded 
 by this little half-hour glass, that the sand of human 
 life will soon run out, and man shall sleep the long 
 sleep of death, and like that glass will remain still." 
 
 " Well, I've a notion," replied the boatswain, " that 
 this kind of lingo and these kind of thoughts won't 
 be heard every day on board this craft ; no, no, I 
 just think that something very different will be heard 
 every day forward and aft. But how is it, lad, that 
 you have larnt how to talk in this way ? " 
 
 " Why," replied the young seaman, " the associations 
 which have been presented to my mind have forci 
 bly called up to my recollection former days, when, 
 blessed with the confidence and love of those who 
 gave me being, and wh'o bestowed on me an educa 
 tion and every enjoyment that wealth and the high 
 est principles of virtue and honor could give ; I was 
 happy then, in the rectitude of my actions ; all the 
 affections of my heart seemed to flow into a channel
 
 58 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 of love toward those dear objects, and in return they 
 lavished upon me a full share of indulgence and es 
 teem ; but," at this moment eight bells were struck 
 from the different vessels in the harbor, the heavy 
 cannon was heard, the sound of which reverberated 
 along the East River, proclaiming the well-known 
 daylight gun. The sand in the half-hour glass had 
 run out; it was four o'clock, and the boatswain wound 
 his call three tunes, with the accompaniment at each, 
 in a tremendous hoarse cry, of " All hands on deck, 
 ahoy ! " The officers were also called, the gratings 
 taken off", and in less than half an hour, the priva 
 teer's decks were crowded with a living mass of hu 
 man beings. 

 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 MORNING DUTIES, PREPARATION FOR SEA, STATIONS, ETC. 
 
 THE north-easter, according to the predictions of the 
 ooatswain, had already set in, and blew fresh ; the 
 neavens were entirely overcast, threatening a severe 
 fall of rain. The crew now presented a very different 
 appearance from what they wore on the previous day. 
 All were sober, and the presence and commanding firm 
 ness of the first lieutenant made not only a powerful 
 impression upon the crew, but seemed also to inspire 
 the officers with a confidence and energy very different 
 from that which had been exhibited by them since the 
 two seamen came on board. 
 
 The customary duties of the morning were now being 
 performed, and although it was not done with that sys 
 tem and regularity with which this duty is carried on 
 on board of a man-of-war, yet the promptness and alac 
 rity in obeying every command, called forth a word of 
 approbation from the first lieutenant. The decks un 
 derwent the process of holystoning. To make it more 
 intelligible, it may be observed that these are soft sand 
 stones, weighing about one hundred pounds each, with 
 a flat surface ; at each end is an iron ring, to which is 
 
 59
 
 60 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 attached a rope or lanyard ; two or three men take hold 
 of each rope, and by drawing them forward and aft, after 
 the deck is wet and well sprinkled with sand, they ren 
 der it as white and clean as the most fastidious lady 
 could wish her parlor. This operation continued about 
 one hour, during which every thing was moved so as to 
 give a fair opportunity of cleansing the decks tho 
 roughly. 
 
 The Lieutenant, having charge of different sectiona 
 of the deck, and of course different portions of duty, 
 it was not long before a material change was ex 
 hibited in the appearance of the deck, as well as 
 every part of the privateer, for not only was the inside 
 cleansed, but the outside also. The sails were stowed 
 into cloths, the yards were squared by the lifts and 
 braces, and every rope was hauled taut, so that at seven 
 bells the practised eye of the able seaman could not 
 detect a deficiency in the neat and ship-shape order of 
 the Cruiser. As this was the hour for breakfast, the 
 well-known sound of the boatswain's whistle proclaimed 
 it to the no small satisfaction of the crew, and while 
 this meal was being hi operation fore and aft, the petty 
 officers, among whom were the boatswain and young 
 seaman, expressed great satisfaction at the alteration 
 for the better which was made in the privateer, in so 
 short time. 
 
 " This is all owing to the first lieutenant," replied 
 the boatswain. " He has given new life and energy 
 to all on board." 
 
 " It is certainly true," replied the young seaman,
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 61 
 
 " that he is a man of firmness .and decision, and under 
 stands the duties of his station, but then he has been 
 aided in the execution of his duties this morning, and 
 my old friend and messmate will not charge me with 
 flattery, when I say that the carrying into effect of a 
 large share of that duty, devolved on his ability and 
 firmness." 
 
 " Well," replied the boatswain, " if I did not know 
 that it was not your fashion t make fun, I should think 
 you were pouring soft soap down my back. I did no 
 more than my duty, lad, and that is just what I intend 
 to carry out during this cruise." 
 
 "After what I have seen this morning," said the 
 young seaman, " I feel much better reconciled ; and if 
 our Commander proves to be the man he is represented, 
 no doubt we shall have a successful cruise." 
 
 These and other desultory matters were discussed 
 until the breakfast hour was concluded, and again all 
 hands were piped on deck. 
 
 If it was a matter of surprise to behold the material 
 change made in the privateer, in so short a space of 
 time as a morning watch, the boatswain and young 
 seaman could not but admire the ability and experience, 
 manifested by the first lieutenant, in the arrangements 
 which were made, and the orders given to get the 
 Cruiser in readiness for sea. In the first place then, 
 the hammocks were piped up, and stowed away in the 
 nettings ; captains of the hold were appointed to regu 
 late the berth-deck ; the gunner and his crew put the 
 large guns in order, and all the paraphernalia attached 
 6
 
 J2 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 to them, so that the armament in a short time tinder- 
 went a radical change, and presented as neat a little 
 battery, as any other private armed vessel. The car 
 penter and his gang overhauled boats, spars, pump- 
 gear, &c. &v,. , the sailmaker overhauled the sails, and 
 the boatswain discharged the duty assigned to him with 
 a management and ability seldom witnessed by offi 
 cers of this grade in privateers. While the petty 
 officers were discharging their several duties, others 
 were employed in stretching the boarding netting 
 around the Cruiser, and seizing them into battens pre 
 pared for that .purpose ; on each side of the trunk were 
 strongly secured two arm-chests with fifty stand of 
 muskets in each, covered with tarpaulins to prevent 
 their being injured by the rain and dashing spray ; in 
 the Captain's cabin, pistols, cutlasses, polished in the 
 highest style, were neatly arranged in circular form, 
 and presented a handsome and warlike appearance. 
 Here too was the magazine, the entrance to" which was 
 safely guarded, by covering the entire scuttle with lead, 
 and a screen was run athwart the cabin, to drop in the 
 time of action, as a preventive from fire ; many also 
 were employed in fitting preventer slings, for the yards, 
 gaffs, &c., also stoppers for the rigging; all the stud 
 ding-sail gear, yard ropes, and deck tackles were rove, 
 and the bandages or chafing gear, such as leathers, 
 mats, battens, &c., were put on the rigging to prevent 
 rubbing or chafing from the motion of the vessel, and 
 as it is well-known to every seaman, although in some 
 instances many hands make light as well as quick work,
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 63 
 
 yet here was an exception to the general rule, conse 
 quently, it took some time to accomplish the work 
 before described, nor was it effected until late in the 
 afternoon. At four, P. M., however, every thing was 
 in its place, and there was a place for every thing, 
 All were securely lashed about the upper deck, all 
 was arranged and secured on the berth-deck ; in short, 
 all was in a state of preparation, with the exception of 
 stationing the men, to proceed immediately to sea, after 
 the Commander was on board. 
 
 There is nothing that imports more pleasure to a 
 good officer, than to have a ship in fine order, and 
 although the first lieutenant did not relax in the least, 
 any of that unbending discipline which had charac 
 terized his movements in the fore part of this day, yet 
 it was evident from his looks that he felt satisfied with 
 the condition of the Cruiser, especially as this was the 
 hour appointed for the boat to be sent on shore for 
 the Commander and his luggage ; consequently prepara 
 tions were being made for his reception, as became the 
 rank and station of a captain of an armed vessel. 
 
 Perhaps no monarch is more absolute in holding the 
 reins, or dispensing the offices of government in the 
 state, than a captain of a ship is over those who compose 
 his crew. If the disposition of the potentate be ar 
 bitrary and tyrannical, his acts are in accordance, and 
 his subjects are made to feel the effects of those 
 malevolent passions ; it is just so with the captain 
 of a vessel, with this single exception, it often happens 
 that the latter is an uneducated man. Now such
 
 64 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 being clothed with supreme authority, generally exact 
 the most scrupulous, and often the most servile respect 
 from those under their command, and in default thereof 
 punishment is inflicted according to the magnitude of 
 the offence. The mode of this punishment is that 
 which a sailor calls " working up," or doing unnecessary 
 work; sometimes it consists in keeping all hands on 
 deck during the entire day, or in stopping the grog ; 
 these three are even worse to a sailor than corporeal 
 punishment. In short, it is in the power of the com 
 mander to make his crew happy or miserable. I have 
 myself been placed in both positions. I have seen 
 the crew of a ship perfectly happy, and at the same 
 time there was no relaxation of discipline, the duties of 
 the vessel were discharged promptly and energetically, 
 and every command implicitly obeyed. I have also 
 sailed with a captain altogether opposite in his char 
 acter, being an uneducated man, imperious and over 
 bearing in his disposition, and the ship was by his acts 
 made a prison, and the crew galley slaves. 
 
 The boat was now within a few yards of the Cruiser, 
 having on board the captain and his luggage ; the 
 officers assembled round the gangway, the boatswain 
 wound his call, the side-boys sprung out with the man- 
 ropes, the boat was alongside, the oars were thrown up 
 an end, and in a moment the Commander of the Cruiser 
 was on deck, receiving and returning salutations of 
 respect from all the officers, after which he proceeded 
 aft with the first lieutenant. The Commander scruti 
 nized every part of the Cruiser that was then visible to
 
 THE AMERICAN CEUISER. 65 
 
 his eye, and he appeared perfectly satisfied with her 
 condition. Some desultory conversation ensued between 
 him and the first lieutenant, and it was thought ad 
 visable to station the men and choose the watches forth 
 with, as this would be a certain method of ascertaining 
 if all hands were on board. Accordingly the men were 
 mustered, the roll was called, the watches were chosen, 
 and the men were appointed to the several stations ac 
 cording to their appropriate ability, as exhibited on the 
 shipping articles ; the able seamen were appointed t. 
 the forecastle and foretop, the ordinary seamen with 
 some green hands, to the maintop and after guard, and 
 the stout greenhorns, loafers, &c. &c., as waisters, 
 swabbers, or any other duty that did not require a 
 knowledge of seamanship. This duty being performed, 
 it was determined by the Commander to give tha lieu 
 tenant of marines an opportunity of selecting twenty 
 men to act in the capacity of marines, one of which 
 was to be dubbed sergeant, and two others were to be 
 chosen to act as drummer and fifer. But now a difficulty 
 arose, for as "they had neglected to ship a fifer, they 
 knew not whether there was any on board that could 
 perform this office. This difficulty, however, was soon 
 removed, for immediately after the question was asked 
 if there was any on board that could play on the fife, 
 Jimmy Ducks stepped forward and very modestly ob 
 served : 
 
 " Gentlemen, I should like to serve you in that way, 
 and I wouldn't mind to belong to this here company, for 
 that's iust what I'm used to. Yes, I've fifed for a 
 6*
 
 66 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 volunteer company in York, a many a long year, and if 
 you don't believe me, why let me go and get my fife 
 which I always takes with me, to drive away my 
 melancholy, for I 'm very much given to the glooms, 
 gentlemen." 
 
 Jimmy's appearance and certainly his countenance 
 did not prove the truth of the last assertion, for it was 
 uttered in a kind of smothered laugh. Jimmy soon 
 produced his fife, and was ordered to give an exhibition 
 of his musical powers. He did so, by playing the 
 double drag to the tune of " St Patrick's day in the 
 morning." The music, as well as the time, which he 
 kept with his feet by stamping on the deck at the sound 
 of each note, without the least regard to the rules of 
 music, perfectly astonished and delighted his hearers, 
 who probably were not the best judges of harmony and 
 music. After blowing some time, Jimmy stopped to 
 get breath, as well as to get his features restored to 
 their wonted placidity,' for during the time of playing 
 they were awfully distorted, especially his cheeks, which 
 were so much inflated by the wind which he endeavored 
 to blow into the fife, that they were swollen out to an 
 enormous bulk. When Jimmy had sufficient time to 
 rest, he was ordered to continue his music, and he forth 
 with struck up the old tune of Fisher's Hornpipe, to the 
 great delight of the crew, but especially of the cook's 
 mate, (a Long Island mulatto,) whose legs and feet 
 caught the inspiration, and irresistibly led him off into 
 a rapid double shuffle. The sound of the mulatto's feet 
 struck full upon the ear of the fifer, when he involun-

 
 THE AMEKICAN CRUISER. 69 
 
 tarily turned round and beheld the effects produced by 
 his fife in the concord of sweet sounds. The pipped 
 eyes, inflated nostrils, thick lips, woolly head, and flat 
 feet as well as the rapid movement of the cook's mate, 
 was too much for poor Jimmy ; his small eyes closed, 
 his large mouth opened and expanded nearly from ear 
 to ear, his whole, frame was convulsed, and dropping his 
 fife on deck, he broke out into an immoderate fit of 
 laughter, exclaiming at intervals, " This is not the first 
 time my fife has made a nigger dance." Jimmy 
 being so well satisfied with his own performance, 
 was compelled to make another of the dancing party. 
 The infection soon spread fore and aft, and the quarter 
 deck as well as the mam were now in one general burst 
 of roar and merriment, for all eyes were fixed on Jimmy 
 Ducks, or " Laughing Jimmy," as he was now called. 
 His naturally comical appearance, but especially his 
 face, was rendered doubly so by his rapid movement, 
 and immoderate laugh ; his short legs were taxed to the 
 utmost of their power in supporting an unusually long 
 body, which, by its size and great weight, irresistibly 
 compelled a kind of movement similar to that of bobbing 
 up and down. It is uncertain how long this state of 
 things would have lasted, if the sun-down gun from the 
 man of war had not been discharged, which reminded 
 the officers that the colors were not yet hauled down. 
 Silence was therefore proclaimed, the colors were 
 lowered down, and the boatswain piped to supper. 
 
 Jimmy Ducks had now become a favorite, and was 
 undoubtedly, in the estimation of the sailors, a great
 
 70 THE AMEKICAN CRUISER. 
 
 acquisition to the Cruiser ; nor was this feeling exclusive 
 to them : the officers, but especially the Commander, 
 partook largely of the same spirit, and he had good 
 reason, as will be seen hereafter. 
 
 It is said by the inspired writers, that " there is a 
 time to play, and a tune to dance ; " certainly there 
 could not have been a more appropriate or proper tune, 
 for the scene which has been described to be enacted ; 
 because, all who are acquainted with sailors, are aware 
 that those who become at all disaffected, always select 
 the last night in port, to " tip the dodge," as they term 
 it, or in other words, run away. Now the musical 
 powers and almost inimitable drollery of Jimmy had 
 inspired the crew with such a degree of contentment and 
 cheerfulness, that it not only reconciled, (at least in 
 appearance,) all who might have been discontented, but 
 it also gave life and spirit to the execution of every 
 duty on board the Cruiser. The boatswain too, was 
 among those who were highly gratified. "That's a 
 rum chap," observed he to the young seaman. " I see 
 by the cut of his jib that he 's more knave than fool ; 
 aye, aye, that whistling and grinning will get him clear 
 of many an odd job this cruise. I think he'd make a 
 good figure-head for a ship, for them short pins, and 
 long hull, with that pretty face, would look well on a 
 ship's bow, and then, lad, that pretty little opening of 
 his stretched out, would invite all the dolphins, bonetta, 
 &c., alongside, in whatever ocean she might sail." 
 
 Now the young seaman, although he had not much of 
 a taste for buffoonery, acknowledged himself gratified
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISKE. 71 
 
 that "Laughing Jimmy" was on board, because it had 
 a good effect upon the crew. 
 
 The anchor watch was set, as on the preceding night, 
 and the same precaution taken with the crew, and 
 before two bells were struck, all hands were locked in 
 sleep, (except the deck officers,) and profound silence 
 reigned throughout the Cruiser.
 
 CHAPTER TO. 
 
 REFLECTIONS, GETTING UNDER WAY, FIRST NIGHT OUT, ETC. 
 
 THE sun rose this morning in a clear and cloudless 
 sky, and the elements were propitious. The northwest 
 gale blew briskly, and every thing appeared conducive 
 to the supposition that the future would be bright and 
 fair. Indeed, such was the condition of the winds, 
 weather, the fine appearance of the Cruiser, and the 
 universal harmony that now prevailed among the crew, 
 that it roused up the latent feelings of superstition, not 
 only common among the more ignorant and unlearned 
 sailors, but also among those in the cabin ; for whatever 
 may be the education of a seaman, or his opportunities 
 for mingling in society, yet if he has followed an ocean 
 life for any length of tune, he will become more or less 
 tinctured with this belief without evidence. Thus it 
 was in the present instance, fore and aft ; for they 
 looked on the bright side, nor calculated the chances of 
 disappointment, but were most sanguine from present 
 circumstances, of a successful and brilliant cruise. 
 Even the boatswain, although of a cooler temperament, 
 expressed his hearty belief that they would have good 
 luck. 
 
 72
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 73 
 
 "Look at yon sun," observed the young seaman, 
 " and see how brightly he shines, and how rapidly he 
 ascends to the meridian ; presently he will descend, and 
 as rapidly will he sink beneath the western horizon, and 
 disappear from our view. Have you never seen a 
 morning as clear, and that sun as bright as it is now, 
 yet ere he had peformed half his daily round, was to 
 tally obscured, and the heavens overspread with black 
 ness, while howling winds spent their fury on the bark ? 
 Oh yes ! the brightest and the fairest prospects are 
 often blasted, or at best, how fleeting and transitory are 
 our highest pleasures, and even our rational gratifica 
 tions when restricted by time. Man's life too,, how 
 short, though it may be prolonged to an advanced age, 
 yet many of his years, as truly expressed by the Psalm 
 ist, are labor and sorrow, and they soon fly away. 
 See those trees yonder ; a few short months and you 
 saw them flourishing with foliage, grateful to the eye, 
 and presently the buds broke forth into a thousand va 
 riegated blossoms, while the genial heat of the summer's 
 sun, and the dews and rains of heaven's gift produced 
 abundant fruit. Where now is that fruit ? Where 
 now are those buds and blossoms, and the green foliage ? 
 They have passed away ; and see, those leaves are fall 
 ing off from the branches, and instead of the beautiful 
 green they have, for lack of strength, assumed the more 
 sickly hue of brown and yellow. Presently the 
 frosts of winter will strip those branches, and nought 
 will soon be left but the leafless tree and lifeless trunk, 
 like the silent mound in the grave-yard, that indicates 
 7
 
 74 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 the remains of one in whom life and animation once dwelt, 
 and imparted happiness to the sphere in which he 
 moved. Thus it is with man : in the spring time of life, 
 the opening bud and youthful blossom knows no care, 
 but looks forward to the summer's ripening sun for an 
 abundant crop of happiness, nor once dreams of those 
 casualties which meet us at almost every step : afflic 
 tion's withering grasp, and a thousand shocks which, 
 like the blighting mildew, blasts the fair prospects of 
 youthful hope and leaves no trace of that bliss which 
 expectation wrought in the young mind." 
 
 " Come," said the boatswain, " you know I've not 
 much laming, but I've been overhauling this talk, and 
 if I did 'nt know there was no flinch or dodge in you, I 
 should begin to think you were for backing out ; why, 
 to be sure, I suppose it is true what you say, but my 
 fashion is to take the world and things as they come ; 
 but God knows there is more of the bad than the good, 
 and hark 'ee lad, I don't want to take things that's bad 
 upon interest ; let them come, and I'll try to make the 
 best on't." 
 
 " I know not how it is,' y observed the young seaman, 
 " but I would rather see that sun this morning, entirely 
 obscured with clouds, and the heavens, which are now 
 so clear, overspread with blackness, and the howling 
 winds beating with fury upon the Cruiser, than the 
 fine circumstances with which we are now surrounded. 
 Ah yes ! these circumstances have called up associations 
 in my mind, which have led me to this train of thought 
 and reflection. Yes, from my early days to the present,
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISEK. 75 
 
 I have never formed any plan for future pleasure, nor 
 have I embarked in any enterprise with prospects fair 
 as these, especially when calculating to a moral certainty 
 that my expectations would be realized ; I say then, in 
 all these calculations I have failed to accomplish the ob 
 ject of my pursuit." 
 
 Here the conversation was broken off by a general 
 buzz among the crew, caused by the arrival of the pilot, 
 and especially by the order that was communicated to 
 the boatswain to pipe all hands to get under way ; all 
 the preparations were therefore made, such as firing the 
 signal gun, hoisting the colors, loosing the fore-topsail, 
 &c. &c. The deck tackle was then stretched fore and 
 aft, the fore-topsail was sheeted home, and hoisted to the 
 mast head, the yards were braced so as to cant the 
 Cruiser to port, and the anchor was hove up to the bow 
 in great spirit, inspired by laughing Jimmy's fife with 
 the national air of " Yankee Doodle." The Cruiser 
 was now under way, and the numerous spectators on the 
 Battery returned three times three to the hearty cheers 
 given by the crew, and soon, very soon, the sound was 
 lost by the increased distance of the Cruiser. The 
 noiseless speed with which she bounded over the waters, 
 down the bay of New York, towards Sandy Hook, under 
 the fore-topsail, jib, and mainsail, astonished and de 
 lighted all on board, but more especially the Comman 
 der, when it was reported to him that she was now going 
 at the rate of ten knots. The order was immediately 
 given to crack on all the sail she could bear, so as to as 
 certain her. greatest speed. The wind being three
 
 76 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 points on the starboard quarter, and the water perfectly 
 smooth, the order was instantly executed, and every sail 
 was set to advantage that she could bear. The addi 
 tional canvass increased the rapidity of sailing two 
 knots and a half, as she was running or rather fly 
 ing over the water twelve knots and a half. The Com 
 mander being perfectly satisfied, having ascertained the 
 Cruiser's good qualities for sailing, immediately or 
 dered the canvass to be reduced, and as she was 
 drawing up with Sandy Hook, preparations were being 
 made for discharging the pilot. 
 
 The northwest breeze continued to blow with consid 
 erable force, and it became necessary to get the pilot 
 off either abreast, or inside of the Hook on account of 
 the heavy swell, which would make it both difficult and 
 dangerous further to seaward. Accordingly when 
 abreast of the light-house, the pilot got safely on board 
 of his boat, and the Cruiser stood out to sea, with a reg 
 ular look-out at the mast-head. 
 
 It may be necessary to remark that in narrating the 
 circumstances connected with a vessel of war, they will 
 be quite different from those of a merchant vessel. In 
 the first place, the former has no certain point of destina 
 tion, unless it be some cruising ground, or some partic 
 ular latitude or longitude, which lies in the tracks of 
 vessels sailing to or from different ports ; otherwise they 
 cruise where the winds and the weather carry them, or 
 where the peculiar circumstances of the cruise, such as 
 chasing and being chased, may determine their situa 
 tion. It will of course be seen that they differ essen-
 
 t THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 77 
 
 tially in that regular system of duty always necessary to 
 be executed on board of merchant vessels, for in the latter 
 there is the departure, the log-line, the regular bourse 
 of a compass, and all advantage taken by the ships, of 
 wind, by keeping on the best tack so as to secure the 
 most favorable result for a quick passage to the destined 
 port. The Cruiser, however, especially in time of war, 
 observes nothing of the routine of duty, maintained on 
 board of the former class of vessels. There is little at 
 tention given to the log and less to the courses, and 
 they are generally under short sail, except when chasing 
 or being chased. The greatest attention, however, is 
 given to the loook-out at the mast-head, to ascertaining 
 the best trim for sailing, and disciplining the crew for ac 
 tion in different ways, such as exercising the large guns 
 and small arms, boarding and repelling boarders, and 
 working ship, &c. &c. 
 
 The Cruiser of which we now write having no certain 
 point fixed for her cruising ground, that being wholly dis 
 cretionary with the Commander, stood out to seaward 
 under short sail, with a very scrutinizing look-out, as it 
 had been reported previous to her departure from New 
 York, that there were an English seventy-four and frigate 
 cruising a short distance from the land. It was ne 
 cessary, therefore, to ascertain if anything was in sight, 
 before the night closed in, so that they might have a 
 port at command in case they should fall in with the 
 English cruisers. The day rolled away, however, with 
 out anything material occurring, and as the Cruiser 
 reached off to seaward, the swell became heavier, con-
 
 78 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 sequently the motion of the vessel was more violent, and 
 so unusual was it to the land-tacks of the green hands, 
 that many of them lost their equilibrium. This, 
 however, was a small part of the delicacy of a sea 
 life ; for the motion of the vessel, as well as 'the sea-air 
 and atmosphere, disagreed with the hitherto placid sto 
 machs of the landsmen, so that with the concussion of 
 the fall, the whole contents of many a stomach, which 
 had been well lined that day, were entirely discharged in 
 every direction about the deck. The peculiar make of 
 laughing Jimmy operated very seriously against him, for 
 his short legs obstinately refused to do their office, un 
 less it was at the expense of a contusion in his large 
 head. Jimmy, therefore, taxed his arms and hands to 
 their utmost strength, by holding on to some rope, be 
 laying pin, or any thing upon which he could fix his 
 grasp. Poor Jimmy ! he was, " indeed, an object of 
 mirth to the old salts, for his risibility now entirely for 
 sook him, as he had an unusual share of that which falls 
 to the lot of green hands, viz. sea-sickness. 
 
 " Why don't you get that squeaking whistle and 
 drive away your melancholy ? " said an old sailor. 
 " Let Jimmy alone," said another, " don't you see he's 
 just going to balance his accounts ? " " Grease your 
 pins," said a third, " it will make them supple to have 
 another jig with the cook's mate." As the last speaker 
 finished his stroke of wit, no doubt Jimmy thought of 
 the rapid double shuffle, impelled by the power of his 
 music, for his melancholy face relaxed into a broad grin, 
 but the delicate state of Jimmy's health at that moment
 
 THE AMERICAN CKUiSEIi. 79 
 
 could not withstand the muscular distortion of his risi 
 bilities ; the consequence was a severe concussion about 
 the region of the stomach, and Nature, always true, if 
 not thwarted by the will, relieved the organ by 
 emptying its contents, the greater part of which unfor 
 tunately fell upon the last-mentioned speaker. 
 
 " Avast there ! " bellowed out the old sailor in a tone 
 of fury ; " why did 'nt you give that little opening of 
 yours more rake to port ? " 
 
 The mirth which had heretofore been spent upon 
 Jimmy was now completely transferred over to the old 
 salt, who, not possessing the same equanimity as the 
 fifer, squared away for a fight. 
 
 Our tall friend, (whom we shall introduce by the ap 
 pellation of " Major," that being the name given by the 
 crew,) was also made sergeant of marines. He, too, 
 had lost much of that bold front which had characterized 
 his first appearance on board, as he now shared largely 
 in the prevailing epidemic, and his fierce countenance 
 had relapsed into the meekness and gentleness of a 
 lamb. There were none of the green hands who es 
 caped the disease of the sea to such an extent as the 
 young man who came on board in long clothes. He 
 being thin, and of a spare habit, the bracing air and vi 
 olent motion of the vessel did not take the same effect 
 upon him as on the others. The only change that he had 
 as yet made in his dress, was to substitute a round-a-bout 
 for the long coat. He therefore went by the name of 
 " pantaloon Jack." 
 
 The night had now closed in, and the northwest breeze
 
 80 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 freshened ; consequently the sea rose, increasing the 
 violent motion of the Cruiser, and although under short 
 sail, she bounded over the waves- to the eastward at 
 a rapid rate, heaving the dashing spray fore and aft. 
 And now, for the first time, the green hands, who had 
 their hammocks slung in the vicinity of the gratings, 
 found out by the current of wind that rushed down, as 
 well as the cooling spray which fell occasionally into their 
 hammocks, that the old sailors, to use their own expres 
 sion, " had their eye teeth cut ; " for they would gladly 
 have- exchanged berths, though it might be at the ex 
 pense of breathing in a confined atmosphere. 
 
 The berth-deck, as well as the main deck, now pre 
 sented a melancholy, and yet, in some respects, a truly 
 ludicrous scene. On the former, what with the bawl 
 ing of the old sailors, the sickness of the green hands, 
 and the confusion occasioned by the mess-kids, tin-pots, 
 boxes and bags of clothing rolling from side to side, 
 caused by the great motion of the Cruiser, now labor 
 ing heavily, produced an uproar almost equal to the ele 
 ments above them : while on the latter, that is, the 
 main deck, the indomitables, highbinders, and cookey- 
 boys, whose courage was now laid low, were strewed 
 in every direction about the main deck and forecastle, 
 regardless of the spray which poured over them at every 
 bound of the Cruiser. It was very justly observed 
 by the boatswain, that it would be fortunate not to fall 
 in with the enemy (considering the helpless condition of 
 . the crew,) until they got their jackets well lined with salt 
 beef and biscuit, and could manage a pair of sea-legs.
 
 CHAPTER VHI. 
 
 DESCRIPTION OF THE OFFICERS, THE FORCE OF THE CRUISER, 
 THE CHASE, ETC. 
 
 Two or three days passed away without any thing 
 material transpiring. The weather became fine, the 
 wind moderated, and the sea was comparatively smooth. 
 The Cruiser, like a bird of the ocean that had been 
 fatigued by the fury of a tempest, now resting itself on 
 the bosom of the Avave, or flying slowly above its sur 
 face, was impelled gradually along by the small quantity 
 of sail that was set. The violent motion too had 
 ceased, * circumstance not a little gratifying to all 
 those who had been visited by the sea malady, many 
 of whom now began to appear like creatures of life 
 and animation, having taken on board, (as the old 
 salts expressed it,) a good cargo of substantials, in 
 stead of the fresh grub which had all been disposed 
 of, and now that their ribs began to be well lined with 
 salt beef, pork, and biscuit, they would soon be fit for 
 duty. 
 
 It was certainly a little remarkable, that notwith 
 standing the great proportion of green hands that 
 composed this crew, and the universal prevalence of the 
 
 81
 
 82 THE AMERICAN CRUISER, 
 
 searsickness among them, in three days it almost 
 entirely disappeared, as the provisions could testify, 
 were they gifted with the powers of speech ; and 
 thjs was a source of great satisfaction, especially as 
 it became necessary to discipline them in the manage 
 ment of the large guns, small arms, repel boarders, &c. 
 It is true, when orders were given to board on the star 
 board side, they were quite likely to scamper away to 
 port, and although there was not a small number that 
 had learned the art of pugilism, or that had some expe 
 rience in this genteel avocation, yet hi the science of 
 naval combat, (as it might be expected,) they were as 
 ignorant, (to use the expression of the boatswain,) as " a* 
 squad of raw country militia." It is certain their mis 
 takes and awkwardness procured for them a very liberal 
 supply of oaftis and execrations, as well as frequent 
 repetitions of the same duty. Perhaps there was none 
 made less allowance for these raw recruits than the 
 Commander of the Cruiser. It seems that h^and the 
 present second lieutenant were all now on board, who 
 were hi her the last cruise, the present Commander 
 having been promoted for his courage and intrepidity 
 on the first cruise ; but it was very generally rumored 
 on board, that although his valor was undoubted, and 
 that he would not flinch to engage a superior force, yet 
 he manifested but little prudence, precipitation being 
 the prominent trait in his character ; and it led 
 him into many irretrievable errors. With such a 
 man, therefore, although he was actually a superior 
 officer as second in command, yet with the entire
 
 THE AMERICAN CRtTISER. 83 
 
 control, of the Cruiser, it may be supposed that 
 a profitable and successful cruise was exceedingly 
 doubtful ; nevertheless) even these unfortunate traits in 
 his character would not have been a matter of seriqus 
 moment, but he was headstrong, his actions were 
 governed by sudden impulses, and although none soli 
 cited more frequently the exercise of the judgment and 
 advice of the officers, yet not in a single instance did 
 their decision .or opinion influence him, even if in some 
 respects it coincided with his own. His character 
 had already become manifest by his impatience and 
 spleen toward the undisciplined crew ; but the first 
 lieutenant, by his long experience, was not only well 
 calculated to tram the men with a regular system of 
 discipline, but also to make those necessary allowance's 
 for inexperience, without which an officer will not com 
 mand respect and obedience. 
 
 The first lieutenant therefore, was in all respects op- - 
 posite in- his character to the Commander, possessing 
 equal bravery, yet tempered with a superior judgment 
 and a determined coolness which no circumstance, even 
 if it were full of peril and danger, could in the least 
 shake. 
 
 Of the other lieutenants it may be necessary merely 
 to state that they were good sort of fellows, without any 
 very peculiar traits in their character tp designate them 
 from seamen of their rank and station ; not so, however, 
 with the sailing master, he was one of your cool, cal 
 culating, and, I may add, close and mercenary sons of 
 the Eastern States ; it was generally said of him that he
 
 84 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 was born the other side of sunrise. Previously to the 
 war he had commanded a lumber drogher to the West 
 Indies from Kennebunk, and would often boast how 
 nmch he had made on his " venter of potatoes and 
 onions, but as the British, had cut up all that business 
 by the blasted war, (to use his own expression,) he was 
 now determined to have revenge and try a little fight 
 ing." This immortal captain, who was all for fighting, 
 but a little more for the pocket, had a wonderful curi 
 osity to get sight of a British vessel, " but then," as he 
 expressed himself, " it would be a pity to fall in with an 
 enemy well armed, for in that case the Cruiser might 
 get riddled and thus spoil the cruise." But it somehow 
 or other got afloat in the ward-room, that the sailing 
 master would rather sell venters, or raft pine lumber 
 on shore at Point Petre, than hear the whizzing of a 
 shot, or be concerned in any such a scrape. Now 
 whether there was any cause for this opinion is not 
 positively known ; at all events, an old prize-master 
 having had some previous acquaintance with him, set 
 these rumors afloat. There was another very serious 
 difficulty with the sailing master, and that was to keep 
 the exact position of the Cruiser, for as he was not a very 
 learned mathematician or navigator the extent of his 
 knowledge being confined to traverse sailing, or working 
 up a meridian altitude of the sun of course it may be 
 supposed, especially as the Cruiser was on a variety of 
 courses during the twenty-four hours, besides little at 
 tention being given to the log, that it was altogether, as 
 he frequently declared, a rather knotty subject to get
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 85 
 
 hold of. Yet he had a remarkable talent for guessing, 
 for when it blew violently or rained in torrents, he 
 would say, " I guess it blows," or " I guess it rams." 
 This propensity, (especially when the day's wock 
 had many courses and alterations in it,) led him to note 
 in the log-book in conspicuous letters the following sen 
 tence, viz. "I guess she is in the longitude of ," 
 
 and concluded by saying, " Nothing done these twenty 
 four hours." Now whatever may have been his talents 
 for a scientific navigator, he was certainly a good 
 schooner sailer, for the plain reason, that he never 
 sailed in or commanded any other class of vessels, in 
 his sojourn on the ocean. On board of this craft, he 
 observed, " I am at home, if it were not for that back- 
 breaker," (meaning the lug foresail,) to which he pro 
 posed an alteration, but was argued out of the idea by 
 the prize-masters, who contended it would make the 
 Cruiser "look like a Connecticut horse jockey." 
 
 But I shall leave the sailing-master for the present, 
 and present the reader to the lieutenant of marines. 
 This*gentleman was little known on board the Cruiser, 
 but from his deportment it was generally thought he had 
 been a country lawyer, or teacher of a seminary. Be 
 this as it may, his address was far above the common 
 herd ; he had also the gift of speech, was pretty sound 
 in argument, a talent that he used to much advantage, 
 besides he had a superior tact in making friends, which 
 he did with all the officers of the ward-room. But 
 although he had this tact, yet it was said of him, 
 (with some color of truth,) that he was neither sailor 
 8
 
 86 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 nor soldier, and as to his courage, that was yet 
 to be proved ; but as for his military tactics, he 
 might not be unaptly compared to the Captain 
 Bunker of Down East, however, in matters of drill 
 and exercise, they were generally conducted by our 
 tall friend the major, or sergeant, if you please, 
 except on some very particular occasion, such as in 
 spection day ; in that case the lieutenant went through 
 the drill, and the sergeant acted as fugleman. 
 
 The prize-masters were a set of jolly fellows, generally 
 men in middle and more advanced stages of life, with 
 but two exceptions, and these two were young, active, 
 bold seamen, in whom confidence might be reposed, and 
 to use the boatswain's opinion, " there was no backing 
 eut in them." The six former, (for there were eight 
 prize-masters in all,) generally loved a glass of grog, 
 could spin a long yarn, and sing a song occasionally, 
 that is, when they were half-seas over, (which, by the 
 way, was not unfrequent ;) and in these merry moods 
 their fortune was secured. They also considered them 
 selves to be equal in rank and station to the commander 
 of any merchant vessel, frequently averring, that they 
 would have charge of the quarter-deck and cabin, of 
 some gallant ship, before the cruise was over. It 
 must be conceded that these were old seamen, and un 
 derstood their duty, and if their conduct corresponded 
 with their profession, there would be no good reason to 
 doubt their courage. 
 
 But I pause to introduce the surgeon, or non-com 
 batant, as he was generally styled. This gentleman
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 87 
 
 had finished his study by a course of three months' 
 reading in a doctor's shop, and three months' attendance 
 to a course of lectures, in a neighboring medical col 
 lege, after which, from his most profound research and 
 giant intellect, he obtained sPdiploma, and was actually 
 installed by the learned professors with an M. D., and 
 upon these two ominous letters he set up business for 
 himself. Now it was generally thought, from his pecu 
 liar absence of mind, that he had been disappointed in 
 love, but the more thinking part of the crew attributed 
 it probably to the right cause, viz. disappointment in 
 practice, for although in his first setting out he had made 
 a very brilliant show, having no less than a half dozen 
 signs on his office, nevertheless he could not succeed in 
 obtaining business, for somehow or other it got out, that 
 he used one sovereign remedy for every disease, 
 so that the few unfortunate patients whom he had were 
 soon despatched. His merit was totally neglected, 
 and as a finish to the ill luck of this ill-fated man, in 
 performing a surgical operation, the amputation of a 
 limb, he neglected to take up several of the arteries, 
 and his patient bled to death; this was a death 
 blow to all his practice, in consequence of which 
 he had well nigh starved to death. But now as 
 the war was in operation, he said it was a grand 
 theatre for action and the exercise of merit, calculating 
 at the same time the chances of filling his pockets. 
 Being elevated by these views, he made up his mind to 
 embark in the wars, as was evident from his common 
 declaration :
 
 88 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 " I '11 to the ocean rock, 
 Make ready for the slaughter ; 
 I '11 a fortune make, 
 Or drown in salt water." 
 
 This fiery determination was put into execution, and 
 he continued to be a man of one remedy, for on 
 all occasions, and in all kind of diseases on board, 
 the universal restorative was a pint of salt water. This 
 remedy was excellent on two accounts. First, it was 
 easy of access, and secondly, it was cheap, a thing to 
 be duly considered, with so large a crew, especially if 
 the cruise should be long. Now although salt water 
 was a favorite remedy with the doctor, yet he had 
 a mortal aversion to the idea of foundering, sinking, 
 or drowning, for when these matters were discussed, 
 he was always seized with a violent excitement, 
 which very much provoked the mirth of the ward-room 
 officers, who on these occasions comforted him by saying 
 that he should not be afraid of his own medicine chest. 
 This man, or rather an apology for a man, this Doctor 
 Sangrado, may be conceived (that is, his appearance,) 
 by the reader, to be like unto the apothecary so in 
 imitably described by Shakspeare. 
 
 So much then for the description of the officers of 
 the Cruiser, of two hundred and eighty tons, schooner 
 rigged, long, low, with beautiful proportions, which 
 sailed fast, mounting twelve eighteen pound car- 
 ronades, and a long eighteen pounder on a pivot 
 amidships, with a complement of one hundred and 
 twenty men.
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 89 
 
 Several days elapsed, and nothing was seen. The 
 impatience of the Commander was manifested by many 
 outbreaks of temper, but the most perfect equanimity 
 of the first lieutenant was exhibited by his cheerfulness, 
 well knowing that as yet no time was lost, for this delay 
 was the cause of better discipline, which must, (if any 
 thing would,) ensure success in action. However they 
 were not doomed to lead this monotonous life any length 
 of time, and in truth the crew began to be wearied and 
 longed for excitement. 
 
 While all hands were at dinner, discussing heartily 
 the merits of pea soup, the exciting cry was heard from 
 the look-out aloft, of " Sail ho ! " " Where away ? " 
 said the officer of the watch. " Eight ahead," replied 
 the look-out. In a few moments all was excitement and 
 commotion. All hands being called immediately, every 
 yard of canvass was spread that could be set to advan 
 tage, and the Cruiser was hauled to, the wind being 
 from the eastward. The round grape and cannister shot, 
 in a word, every thing connected with the armament in 
 a few moments were ready for action. The gunner un 
 dressed his favorite piece, vi?. "Long Tom," for which 
 he had conceived a strong regard, and of course it was 
 kept in high order ; in truth it was a noble piece, and 
 would send a shot, if properly discharged, as far as any 
 cannon, without regard to calibre. After these prepa 
 rations were made, all hands were summoned to their 
 stations and quarters, the screens were let down, 
 fires out, gratings on, matches lit, and the car- 
 ronades secured by the tackles, and the breechings 
 8*
 
 90 THE AMERICAN CRUISES. 
 
 cast loose, to prevent any impediment in case of 
 emergency. 
 
 The second lieutenant -was now ordered aloft with the 
 glass to watch the stranger, and after a few moments' 
 inspection, reported her to be a ship standing to the 
 eastward. In a few minutes, however, he reported in a 
 hurried tone, that the stranger had hauled close up to 
 the wind on the starboard tack, and was nearing fast. 
 This was not very agreeable news, for in these perilous 
 times, it was very evident that no merchant vessel 
 would have acted in this way ; the conclusion was there 
 fore, that she must be a man-of-war ; and the Commander 
 observed, that it would not do to run until that fact was 
 ascertained to a certainty ; but as a necessary precau 
 tion the square-sail, studding-sail gear, and all the light 
 sails were immediately got in readiness, because the 
 Cruiser's best sailing was off the wind. It may be sup 
 posed that the relative distance between the two was 
 soon lessened ; in a quarter of an hour the hull of 
 the stranger was distinctly seen from the deck of the 
 Cruiser, and it became a matter of some doubt whether 
 or not the ship would not cross the bow of the Cruiser 
 to windward. The Commander, intently looking at her 
 with the glass, observed to the first lieutenant : 
 
 " She is a large ship of great length, with square 
 yards, under a press of canvass appears too 
 dark for an American, and by H ns, she is no 
 laggard ! " 
 
 This was certainly true, for although the Cruiser 
 dashed through the water at a rapid rate, she could not
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 91 
 
 possibly pass more than half gun shot to windward of 
 the ship. 
 
 " Gunner," said the Commander, " get Long Tom 
 ready, and we'll have some conversation with the 
 stranger as she passes by." 
 
 " Aye, aye," said the gunner, who seemed perfectly 
 delighted, for he was an old man-of-war' s-man, and had 
 been waiting some time for this order. The cartridges 
 for Long Tom had been made by himself, and as he had 
 tried its power, he knew to a fraction what amount of 
 powder was necessary, and he allowed no other man to 
 charge Long Tom when coming into action but himself. 
 Long Tom was therefore carefully loaded, and as the 
 ship drew up toward the beam, all doubt in reference to 
 her character was dispelled, for the bunting displaying 
 St. George's cross was run up to her peak, and simul 
 taneously her shot came whizzing through the air, and 
 passed astern of the Cruiser. The gunner now became 
 impatient, and as the ship altered her position, just so 
 he changed the position of Long Tom, that h might be 
 ready to talk when within speaking distance. 
 
 English colors were hoisted at the peak of the 
 Cruiser, but it was of no avaiL The frigate, for such 
 she was, showed her signals, which could not be an 
 swered, and as she ranged as far as the counter of the 
 'Cruiser, she hove in stays on the larboard tack, in the 
 act of which, her forward division was sent after the 
 Cruiser, to compliment her for the politeness of keeping 
 company. The shot, however, fell harmless, and as the 
 chase was astern, every shot that Was fired from the
 
 92 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 enemy increased the distance between the two. The 
 frigate of course being aware of this, kept a profound 
 silence for some time. She was now under a crowd of 
 sail, standing on the same tack, bearing about two 
 points on the Cruiser's quarter, and bounding through 
 the water like an unchecked fiery courser, goaded to 
 madness by the lash. 
 
 From the great disparity of force and the proximity 
 of the two, the safety of the Cruiser now depended 
 entirely upon her speed. Any error therefore in her 
 management would be irretrievable and ensure capture. 
 Consequently the most intense anxiety prevailed, and 
 the most scrutinizing bearings were taken. The result 
 was that the frigate rather head-reached, but the 
 Cruiser laying a point higher and holding a better wind, 
 gained to windward of the chase. The unanimous 
 opinion, therefore, was to work the Cruiser to windward 
 by short tacks, and as there was yet four hours' 
 daylight, the relative sailing of the two would be cor 
 rectly ascertained, so that if it were probable that the 
 frigate would overhaul her, then after night closed in, 
 the Cruiser might, under its cover, elude the vigilance of 
 the enemy. " We will now go about," said the Com 
 mander to the first lieutenant. The crew were immedi 
 ately at their stations, the helm was put down, and the 
 Cruiser ranged up gallantly head to wind and forged 
 ahead at least one hundred yards directly in the wind's 
 eye, without losing her way ; when all the sheets and 
 yards were hauled simultaneously, and the Cruiser 
 filled away on the starboard tack. " By H ns," said
 
 THE AMERICAN CKUISER. 95 
 
 the Commander, " she behaves nobly ; a half dozen 
 boards like this, and we shall give the Englishman a 
 description of Long Tom without danger." In a few 
 minutes the look-out at the mast-head reported that the 
 frigate was in stays. The report was unnecessary to 
 establish the fact, for a broad sheet of flame was seen 
 issuing from her starboard bow, and the shot whizzed 
 through the air some distance astern of the Cruiser. 
 
 " Well, well," said the gunner, " if Long Tom gets the 
 liberty of speech to-day, he '11 not use such high flown 
 talk. You had better save your powder and shot, for 
 it is a great thing sometimes to save money and credit 
 too. Besides, you'll want all your ammunition if you 
 fall in with Old Ironsides." 
 
 " This is a most splendid chase," said the first lieu 
 tenant, after he had been gazing steadfastly at the 
 frigate for the last ten minutes. " Yes," continued he, 
 " she moves through the water like a race-horse, and 
 my word for't, if we were now the same distance under 
 her lee, as we are to windward, our chance of escape 
 would be small indeed ; but if no shot cuts away 
 any of our sticks, and the breeze holds on until night, 
 we shall be far out of the reach of his gun. The whole 
 crew were now ordered to walk round the decks, short 
 tacks were made, and it soon became evident that the 
 Cruiser was leaving the chase astern. The. movement 
 of the crew increased her speed, and by the short tacks, 
 gained fast to windward. The frigate, seeing this, 
 opened a brisk fire, but it was too late, for the Cruiser 
 was nearly out of gun-shot.
 
 96 THE AMERICAN CRUlSEfi. 
 
 " We will now show him," said the Commander, 
 " the stars and stripes, so bend on the bunting, quarter 
 master ; and gunner," continued he, " don't you think 
 Long Tom can give that Englishman a piece of advice ? " 
 
 "Aye, aye, sir," replied the gunner; "Tom's a 
 faithful messenger, and will carry the advice as straight 
 as a loon's leg." 
 
 " Are you ready with the colors there ? " inquired 
 the Commander. The answer was in the affirmative. 
 
 " Well then, haul the British flag down, and run up 
 the Yankee bunting." 
 
 The gunner was now assiduously engaged in elevating, 
 depressing, and pointing Long Tom, sometimes aft, and 
 sometimes forward, until he obtained an exact direction, 
 then patting the gun most affectionately on its breech, 
 said in a low tone, " now Tom, do your duty this once." 
 
 " Are you ready ? " inquired the Commander. The 
 gunner took another squint, then depressed the muzzle, 
 keeping his eye on the elevation, and sung out, " All 
 ready, sir." 
 
 " Fire ! " 
 
 For a few moments the Cruiser was enveloped in 
 smoke, and the gunner, leaping on one of the carron- 
 ades, rubbed his eyes, and then directed them toward 
 the frigate. In a moment his eye brightened up, he 
 took off his cap, gave three cheers, and flung it as far 
 as he could in the direction of the enemy : " There, 
 pick that up," said he, " as you come along, and you'll 
 have a Yankee prize to pay for your jib-boom," for sure 
 enough the shot from Long Tom had cut it away. The
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 97 
 
 loss of the jib made it difficult to keep the frigate out 
 of the wind, consequently they were obliged to take in 
 the spanker. "With the diminution of these two impor 
 tant sails, especially on a wind, the frigate dropped to 
 leeward rapidly, so that by sunset she was far out of 
 gunshot. 
 
 Night closed in. The Cruiser lost sight of the frig 
 ate, the crew remained at their quarters until midnight ; 
 the guns were then secured, the watch was set, and the 
 vessel steered off to the eastward. 
 9
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE YOUNG SEAMAN'S NARRATIVE COMMENCED, ALL HANDS 
 TO MISCHIEF, ETC. 
 
 THE blue waves rolled along at a moderate height 
 after the Cruiser, as she bounded over their surface, im 
 pelled by the northern breeze that swelled the whitened 
 canvass, which gave her an air of consciousness. Light 
 ly she rose on the top of the white-crested billow, unim 
 peded, as if driven along by some power of enchantment, 
 or like an ocean bird, spreading her enormous wings, 
 with rapid flight to seek a more congenial clime. 
 
 As the shades of night disappeared, and the morning 
 light broke forth, the opening day might have roused 
 the most stoical indifference ; nought was visible to the 
 eye, upon the unbounded waste of waters, except the 
 Cruiser, which seemed like a spirit-bird, soaring o'er 
 the vast expanse in profound, unbroken silence. The 
 sun rose clear, and when half the disc appeared above 
 the horizon, a thousand variegated hues skirted the gor 
 geous clouds which rolled up, and seemed to vanish 
 away before the refulgent beams of the king of day, as 
 he majestically ascended into the azure vault to perform 
 his daily round. 
 98
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 99 
 
 It was eight o'clock, A. M. The customary duties 
 of the morning watch had been performed, the decks 
 were cleared, the canvass was trimmed to the breeze, 
 and the Cruiser was running off to the eastward, as it 
 was determined that the cruising ground should include 
 all the space between the Azores and the Madeira 
 Islands, so as to intercept the traders bound to the West 
 Indies and South America. All the officers had assem 
 bled on the quarter deck, the greater part of the 
 crew were lounging about the booms and main-deck, and 
 the countenances of all hands beamed with the highest 
 satisfaction, especially on the quarter-deck, as they con 
 versed freely in reference to the chase of the preceding 
 day. 
 
 "I never saw this craft during the whole of last 
 cruise behave so well on a wind as she did yesterday. 
 We certainly could not have had her trim, for in every 
 close chase, the object was to get her off the wind, for 
 only in this way could we depend on her sailing." 
 
 " In my opinion," replied the first lieutenant, " after 
 her performances yesterday, in any and every chase we 
 may have this cruise from men-of-war, our safest place 
 is to keep the weather-guage, and work to windward by 
 short tacks." The merits of the crew, and their good 
 conduct was next discussed. 
 
 " I believe," observed the Commander, " we shall 
 have no reason to doubt the courage of our lads ; I saw 
 little flinching, and but few pale faces ; but the cool 
 ness and general good conduct of the young friend 
 of the boatswain's, were most striking and entitled
 
 100 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 him to the respect of all the officers on hoard; for 
 it is evident that he is -worthy of a higher station, 
 than that which he now has." 
 
 " Yes sir," replied the first lieutenant, " his activity 
 and semanship, his education and gentlemanly deport 
 ment, and withal his hravery, as I have been informed by 
 his friend, the boatswain, deserve a higher rank than 
 that of a fore-mast Jack on board the Cruiser." 
 
 " If this cruise should prove successful," replied the 
 Commander, " he shall be promoted, and yet I under 
 stand he is so inseparably united to his friend, that he 
 would not accept of promotion, if it should be the cause 
 of their separation." 
 
 " No sir," said the first lieutenant ; " there must be 
 something mysterious in the history of this young man, 
 something that seems to be full of chivalry and romance, 
 and as I am informed he is the foremost to signalize 
 himself in every perilous adventure, and would not hesi 
 tate, in the most daring service, to be the first at either 
 boarding, cutting out, or in close action with the enemy. 
 He seeks not .wealth, for he estimates it as a sordid pas 
 sion ; but then there is something to which he seems 
 constantly aspiring, some object to be attained, to which 
 all his energies and powers are directed ; and in truth, 
 in my judgment, he is a valuable acquisition to this 
 cruiser, as well as his friend the boatswain, whom I con 
 sider to be the best seaman on board, and one, too, in 
 whom are combined all those noble traits of character 
 which constitute a true-hearted mariner." 
 
 The day passed off in the greatest good humor, and
 
 THE AMEBICAN CEtJISEK. 1Q1 
 
 as the crew had behaved so well on the previous day, it 
 was determined, in order to keep up the excitement, to 
 give a loose rein to discipline for two or three hours, 
 and pipe all hands to mischief. 
 
 And here it may be proper to explain the reason why 
 this is resorted to on board of men-of-war in general. 
 It is to impart relaxation, both to the mind and 
 body, from that constant severity of discipline which 
 seems to be necessary where there are so large a number 
 of men, thrown together in the small space contained in 
 a vessel of war of any description. It is neces 
 sary that discipline should be maintained for the 
 greater security of the vessel and officers, as well as 
 order and system when called into action ; on the other 
 hand, a little relaxation from this -severity is thought to 
 be necessary, to relieve the mind from that pressure 
 which often is in opposition to the will, and thus, as it 
 were, "impart a kind of freedom for a short tune at least, 
 which is the birthright of all men, and to which all men 
 are constantly aspiring. The method, then, of car 
 rying this into execution, is by giving up the main- 
 deck and forecastle to the entire control of the crew, to 
 spend three or four hours in such unbridled pleasures as 
 their ingenuity and trickery may suggest. It is doirbt- 
 ful, however, whether or not these licensed privileges 
 are advantageous, because serious difficulties have 
 arisen, and in some cases, mutiny has been the result. 
 
 Be this as it may, at 3, P. M. all hands were piped 
 to mischief, and a scene ensued which baffles descrip 
 tion. There was singing, dancing, swearing, and fight- 
 9*
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 ing. The old salts were running with bowlines, in 
 which they caught the green horns, and would trice 
 them up to the lower mast-head, to the no small 
 annoyance of the sufferer ; while others by the same pur 
 chase, drew water aloft, which was soused upon those 
 on deck. Some had a bucket of tar thrown over them ; 
 others were well greased from the slush-barrel. These 
 last tricks were borne with a very ill grace, and yet it- 
 was of little use, for in every instance it brought down 
 a double portion of suffering to any who offered resist 
 ance. This buffoonery lasted until some of the heroes 
 of the Five Points lost all their patience, and some half- 
 dozen clubbing together, assumed an attitude of defi 
 ance, and sided out for a regular knock-down. This 
 closed the scene of mischief, and never was any li 
 cense given for a similar repetition during the remainder 
 of the cruise. 
 
 Order being restored and the first dog-watch over, 
 the hour of supper was spent in unalloyed enjoyment, 
 with a regular set-to of long yarns, which was not con 
 cluded until eight bells, when the watch was set. It 
 was a fine star-light night, and the sea, although not 
 smooth, was following and regular, and as the wind was 
 inrthe quarter, the Cruiser glided over the blue billows 
 steadily, at a rapid rate. The noiseless speed of the 
 Cruiser and the peculiar stillness and beauty of the. 
 night, together with the almost profound silence of the 
 crew, (more than half of whom were lost in sleep,} 
 produced an air of solemnity, and a kind of melancholy 
 pleasure, that loves to dwell on scenes of by-gone days.

 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 105 
 
 " I have often," observed the young seaman, as he 
 and the boatswain were conversing together on the 
 main-deck, " before I embarked on an ocean life, dwelt 
 with rapture on the pleasure of beholding a scene like 
 this ; but 'now its frequency has thrown a shade over 
 its beauty ; and yet there is, even now, a kind of 
 congeniality in the scene before us and my feelings, 
 and although the past brings with it emotions of sorrow, 
 yet the present indescribable satisfaction and pleas 
 ure, (though mournful in their character,) in the reflec 
 tion, that now I have a friend whose heart will not only 
 sympathize with me, but one also in whom I can repose 
 with the greatest confidence all my sorrows, relieves the 
 load which bears so heavily upon my heart *of half 
 its weight, by the friendship that unites us together. 
 
 " My history, then," continued the young seaman, 
 " is short though eventful, and I had long since deter 
 mined to confine it to my own bosom ; but apart from 
 those deep obligations which I owe to you, there is that 
 in your character which I believed only to be found in 
 fiction. I mean disinterested friendship, actuated by 
 no sordid principle. Besides, there is a secret pleas 
 ure that with you, I shall run out the glass of life, 
 and although I am your junior in point of age, yet I 
 have a foreboding that my voyage will be short." 
 
 " Come, come," said the boatswain, " if your yarn 
 gives you so much pain to spin it out, why then just cut 
 it off" short, and we '11 be true messmates and sailors still." 
 
 " No," replied the young seaman firmly, " you shall 
 have it all."
 
 106 THE AMERICAN CRUISER, 
 
 
 
 I told 
 
 " On the morning of our departure from New York, 
 told you that my education was all that wealth 
 and indulgent affection could bestow. Alas ! those 
 revered ones which now sleep the sleep of death, 
 they were but too indulgent to their only son. I was 
 deprived of nothing that could minister to comfort and 
 pleasure ; they saw with a parent's eye ; the merit or 
 demerit of my actions was settled with a parent's fond 
 ness and prejudice ; the society in which I moved was 
 of the highest rank and fashion, and my doating father 
 and fond mother supplied all my extravagances with 
 princely munificence. I became so deeply involved 
 in dissipation and high life, that I lost all resources of 
 pleasure in myself, and even in the society of those 
 parents who would have sacrificed their lives and for 
 tunes to have promoted my happiness. They did not 
 upbraid me. They listened not to the frequent reports 
 that were made to them, of the alarming outbreaks in 
 my conduct. In vain they strove to call my attention 
 to one of the learned professions ; in vain they sought 
 by a thousand endearments to divert the current of my 
 thoughts into a proper channel. They endeavored in a 
 variety of ways to render my home the most agreeable 
 place ; the most polished company, both male and 
 female, were frequently invited to my father's mansion. 
 In this way they succeeded for a time, but alas ! that 
 which my honored parents supposed would bring about 
 a reformation, was the cause of my ruin. 
 
 " Our house was in a short time celebrated for learn 
 ing, wit, fashion, and female accomplishments, so that
 
 AMERICAN CRtnsEfc. 107 
 
 all who made any pretensions to such acquirements 
 sought eagerly for an introduction to this brilliant 
 circle. It cannot be supposed therefore, that the 
 numerous female visitors of so much beauty and 
 fashion, would pass by me unheeded ; neither can it be 
 supposed, that all the gentlemen who resorted to my 
 father's house were of the character before described. 
 No, the man of the world, the fortune hunter, the 
 disguised gambler, all were there ; unfortunately their 
 true characters were not disclosed, in time to prevent 
 the mischief this kind of society is always likely to 
 produce. 
 
 " Among those who frequented our circle, was the 
 daughter of a merchant formerly in affluent circum 
 stances ; misfortune, however, beyond his control, had 
 i educed his finances to a moderate competency. Prev 
 iously to the wreck of his fortune, he had bestowed on 
 his lovely daughter an education of the highest order. 
 To a form sufficiently tall, she combined the most exact 
 proportions of figure, with features that defied the most 
 scrupulous criticism. Her dark auburn hair played in 
 graceful ringlets over a neck of snow-white softness. 
 Her forehead was high and strongly marked with intel 
 ligence, which exhibited to great advantage her arched 
 eyebrow, and soft blue eyes. Her nose was aquiline, and 
 from between a pair of ruby lips was seen a set of 
 teeth regular and white as the most polished ivory, with 
 cheeks that blushed at the praise of their own loveli 
 ness ; but although her exterior was such as to capti 
 vate every eye, yet her mind was in perfect consonance
 
 108 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 with her person. She was fluent in all the polite lan 
 guages, conversant with their best authors, ready in his 
 torical learning ; but that in which she excelled mostly 
 was a thorough knowledge of the history of her own 
 country. She had an exquisite taste, and sound judg 
 ment, was remarkable for judicious selections, and her 
 knowledge of the fine arts, painting, poetry, and music, 
 was respectable. Indeed the tones which she produced 
 from her skill on the piano, would have thrilled even 
 the fastidious and musical ear of Paganini. Her car 
 riage was so graceful and elegant, that she compelled 
 every beholder at least to admire and respect, if not to 
 love. Was it possible, therefore, in the society of such 
 a lovely creature to be cold and indifferent ? No, no, 
 the frosts of many winters must have whitened the 
 head,. and furrowed the cheeks of that being, who would 
 look upon so much beauty and worth, and not love." 
 
 "Why, lad," said the boatswain, "while you've 
 been spinning this yarn I 've been in love with her 
 myself for more than half a glass, and I do n't much 
 wonder at such a tight chap as you are striking your 
 colors to such a handsome frigate ; but come, lad, go 
 on with your yarn, I 'd rather hear it than about the 
 Revolution, Lord North, or Captain Kidd ; for I was 
 once in pretty much such a fix, but an East India cruise 
 washed it all away." 
 
 The young seaman proceeded as follows : 
 " At first the powers of conversation, and other ele 
 gant accomplishments, produced a strong desire to be 
 frequently in her company, which I believed grew en-
 
 * 
 
 - 
 
 i- 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 tirely out of respect for her talents ; but soon, very 
 soon, I found a passion kindling in ray heart which -was 
 impossible to mistake, and before I was aware of it I 
 was deeply in love." 
 
 Just as the young seaman had rounded off the fore 
 going sentence, the helmsman sung out eight bells. 
 They were astonished when they perceived the hours 
 had passed off so rapidly. The young seaman 
 promised to conclude his history at some favorable op 
 portunity, and then turned in for the night. 
 10
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 CHASE, ENGAGEMENT, CAPTURE OP A BRITISH BRIG, ETC. 
 
 SEVERAL days elapsed and nothing transpired worthy 
 of note. A constant succession of fair winds, and a 
 press of canvass drove the Cruiser rapidly towards the 
 appointed cruising ground. She had now been cruising 
 for some time, and as yet, nothing of interest, or at 
 least of profit, had marked the cruise, and the officers 
 grew weary of the dull monotony which this loss of time 
 created, such was the enormous expenditure of provisions 
 and water, that they were fearful it might be necessary 
 to replenish before any thing was effected ; the crew com 
 plained of their ill luck, and some of the old salts affirmed 
 roundly, and with great seriousness that there must be a 
 Jonah on board. 
 
 Now as none of the crew had a very great affection 
 for the Major, (and the reason was simply that he could 
 take his own part, and did so upon all occasions,) the 
 lot fell upon him, and it was unanimously agreed, that 
 unless they fell in with something very soon, the unfortu 
 nate Major must be the cause, and therefore they treated 
 him Jonah fashion as they termed it ; this most super 
 stitious and unjust suspicion was however overruled, for 
 110
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. HI 
 
 the safety of the Major, the credit of the crew, and res 
 toration of good feeling with all on board ; for while they 
 were discussing this subject, the cry of " sail ho ! " was 
 reported from the mast-head. Fifty human beings 
 simultaneously started upon their feet, and " sail ho " 
 was repeated from almost every voice fore and aft the 
 Cruiser. After the customary inquiries from the officer 
 of the deck, the stranger was reported to be four points 
 on the lee bow, standing to the southward, and at a 
 great distance off; although the boatswain wound his 
 call to summons all hands on deck to make sail, yet this 
 order was unnecessary, for every man was excited when 
 the cry was heard, and all were straining their eyes to 
 get a look at the strange sail. In a few minutes the 
 Cruiser bore up and was under a cloud of canvass, in 
 chase of the stranger. A " stern-chase," however, always 
 appears to be a long chase ; so in this case, for it was 
 nearly an hour before the stranger could be seen from 
 the deck of the Cruiser. Now as there was but six 
 hours daylight, it became a matter of doubt whether the 
 character of the stranger could be ascertained. How 
 ever, the next hour, the Cruiser came up with the chase 
 so rapidly, that the head of the top-gallant sails were 
 seen from the deck. The stranger was scrutinized long 
 and anxiously by the Commander, after which he ob 
 served, " I believe by the appearance of those short 
 yards and taut masts, that she must be an Englishman ; 
 no doubt a running vessel bound to the Brazils, well 
 manned and armed, and she sails well." 
 
 By this time the courses of the brig were distinctly
 
 112 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 seen, but there were two hours more daylight. " She 
 is at least six miles off," said the Commander, " and we 
 must gain three miles per hour, if we overhaul her 
 hefore dark. Quarter-master, heave the log ? " This 
 order was instantly obeyed, and she was reported to 
 have run off eleven knots and a half. 
 
 " Long Tom will be in speaking distance before 
 dark," said the Commander. 
 
 " It may be," replied the first lieutenant ; " but is it 
 your intention to engage her in the night, especially 
 before we ascertain to what nation she belongs, for it is 
 certain we shall not be able to designate her colors 
 before night." 
 
 This opinion was corroborated by the remainder of 
 the officers, and after some Consultation they unani 
 mously agreed to keep the brig close aboard during the 
 night, and engage her early the next morning. Before 
 night set in, the Cruiser was about half a mile distance 
 from the brig, and it became necessary to shorten sail, 
 in order to keep astern of the chase. The opinion, of 
 the first lieutenant was correct ; for although colors 
 were seen at the brig's peak, yet it was impossible to 
 make them out. 
 
 All hands were ordered to lay at their quarters 
 during the night, and every preparation was made for 
 action in the morning. It was a clear, starlight night, 
 and the brig was under a cloud, although the Cruiser 
 kept away, with her foresails within musket shot. Not 
 a sound was heard save now and then the creaking 
 blocks from the brig as she rolled over the waves.
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 113 
 
 dashing the foam on the bows of the Cruiser. The 
 stars shone brilliantly, and reflected a variety of twink 
 ling images on the deep blue ocean. It was a splendid 
 chase. Now the Cruiser would range so close that her 
 jib-boom was almost over the taffrail of the brig ; and 
 yet the most profound silence was kept on both sides, 
 for the reasons that the officers of the Cruiser were 
 confident that their neighbor was an Englishman. 
 
 " That's a bold chap," said the boatswain to the 
 young seaman, " and if he fights that brig to-morrow, 
 as stubborn -as he has sailed her to-day, why I '11 miss 
 my reck'ning if we do n't have pretty sharp work before 
 her colors are down ; for look there, lad, she 's a long 
 craft, and to my mind she's a pretty good row of 
 teeth." 
 
 Towards morning the wind moderated, and by some 
 unaccountable negligence, the brig was suffered to 
 range two miles ahead, and when daylight appeared, 
 she bore nearly on the beam, so that it brought the 
 Cruiser close to the wind. It was not long, however, 
 before she came within gun-shot, and the stars and 
 stripes were displayed, which was immediately answered 
 by showing the British flag. At the same time she 
 took in all her light sails, hauled up her courses and 
 prepared for action. For a few moments the two vessels 
 run abeam of each other. 
 
 "Now," said the Commander of the Cruiser, " we 
 will let Long Tom carry a message to John Bull 
 Gunner, are you ready ? " 
 
 " Aye, aye, sir." 
 10*
 
 114 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 " Do n't cripple her spars, for we must send her in 
 without delay." 
 
 The order was given to fire. As soon as the smoke 
 cleared away, the brig returned this friendly salutation, 
 by pouring in a broadside from six nine pounders, which 
 did no other damage, except two of the shot passed 
 through the mainsail. Long Tom was again carefully 
 loaded, and as there was no particular order given, the 
 old gunner thought his darling Tom would be a faithful 
 messenger this time ; and so it was in fact, for the next 
 shot struck the brig amidships, wounding several men, 
 and shattered her launch. A brisk fire was kept up 
 from the brig with considerable effect. The rigging and 
 sails of the Cruiser were much damaged. The Eng 
 lishman, however, had nothing to boast of. 
 
 " We must engage him," said the Commander, " at 
 close quarters, for he will not strike that British flag 
 until the last hope fails." 
 
 The Cruiser was luffed up across the bow of the 
 enemy, perceiving which, the brig bore up for a raking 
 fire. This was an unfortunate mistake, for the Cruiser 
 had greatly the advantage of sailing, consequently she 
 soon got a weather-guage, and chose a position which 
 was used to great effect. 
 
 The action now became terrible, for the two were en 
 gaged at pistol shot distance. The carronades of the 
 Cruiser poured a most galling and murderous fire into 
 the enemy ; nor was the Englishman slack in returning 
 the compliment, for a pretty equal average was made 
 in the loss of the rigging, spars, &c., on both sides.
 
 AMERICAN CRUISER. 117 
 
 Thus far three men were killed and several wounded 
 in the Cruiser, and the remainder, wrought up to fury, 
 were clamorous to board the enemy. Long Tom was 
 put in requisition, and the practised eye of the gunner 
 directing the messenger, it cut away the Englishman's 
 foreyard. Great confusion now took place on board of 
 the brig ; the fore-topsails became useless, so that it was 
 impossible to keep her out of the wind, especially as 
 her jibstay was cut away. This brought the two nearly 
 in collision : the next minute, they were yard arm and 
 yard arm, and the two undaunted friends, viz. the boat 
 swain and young seaman, had grappled and lashed the 
 Cruiser to the forechains. It was the work of a 
 moment, yet a more fearful and determined conflict for 
 a short time was never seen. " Boarders away ! " 
 shouted the Commander of the Cruiser. Like so many 
 wild demons, fifty of the most furious and undaunted 
 men, the boatswain and young seaman being foremost, 
 leaped into the channels and clambered up the sides of 
 the enemy ; but they were received with determined 
 coolness, for the Englishman's boarding pikes made 
 fearful work with the assailants. The English captain 
 fought like a tiger. His bravery was but of little avail, 
 for by this time, although the young seaman had re 
 ceived a sabre wound in the shoulder, yet he had gained 
 the deck of the brig, and was rushing up sword in hand, 
 followed by the fearless boatswain, two lieutenants, and 
 a number of the crew. It was a moment of the wildest 
 excitement : the Englishmen fought to desperation ; the 
 young seaman, like a furious lion roused at the sight of
 
 118 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 blood, rushed aft with daring impetuosity, at the head 
 of the assailants, bearing down all opposition, until 
 momentarily checked by seven of the brig's crew, with 
 their brave captain. They had taken a position each 
 side of the wheel, and appeared determined to sacrifice 
 their lives rather than to see the British flag hauled 
 down. A stout English sailor, with tremendous mus 
 cular powers, came into collision with the young 
 seaman ; such w,as the force and dexterity with which 
 he handled the sabre, that he struck the pistol from the 
 American's hand, but while he dealt the blow, he left 
 his own breast uncovered. He saw his danger and 
 started, but it was too late : the next moment he was at 
 the young seaman's feet. For a few minutes a most 
 sanguinary and bloody contest ensued. The boatswain, 
 maddened at the sight of the wound received by his 
 young friend, dashed upon the Britons. His first onset 
 was with the captain, who weakened by the loss of blood, 
 soon fell under his powerful arm. The assailed now gave 
 way, being overpowered by numbers, and the young 
 seaman, true to the object in view, since the com 
 mencement of the action, although he was faint from 
 his wounds, staggered aft, and with his own arm hauled 
 down the British flag ; after which he sunk exhausted 
 upon its folds. 
 
 The deadly battle was now over, the brig was cap 
 tured, and the two vessels hauled off to repair damages. 
 All the wounded were taken on board the Cruiser, 
 where they received all the attention that circumstances 
 could bestow. The noble British captain and the brave
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. H9 
 
 young American seaman were subjects of admiration to 
 all on board. Their wounds being examined, were pro 
 nounced not mortal, but the loss of killed and wounded 
 on both sides was fearful. The Cruiser, however, suf 
 fered more than the brig, no doubt because of the great 
 number of the crew. 
 
 The next day the damages were all repaired. A 
 ^prize-master and crew were put aboard of the brig, 
 with orders to proceed with all possible despatch to any 
 port in the. United States she could best enter with 
 safety. The brig mounted twelve nine pounders, with 
 a complement of thirty-five men, bound to Pernambuco, 
 with a full cargo of British merchandize.
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 PORTUGUESE BRIG, AND PRISONERS RELEASED. 
 
 FOR several days after the events recorded in the 
 preceding chapter, the Cruiser was shrouded in gloom. 
 It was a melancholy sight to behold the last sad offices 
 of respect which were shown to those who had fallen in 
 battle. Every feeling, alike on both sides, was merged 
 into those of humanity and sorrow. Americans and 
 Englishmen shared the same common respect, when 
 they were deposited in their ocean grave. The same 
 feelings of sorrow were exhibited by each as they stood 
 around the gang-way, looking upon their departed ship 
 mates. 
 
 It was an hour of deeper sadness when all hands were 
 called to witness the funeral ceremonies. There stood a 
 group of old seamen, of both nations, promiscuously to 
 gether, with hard features, bronzed cheeks, and frames 
 that seemed to defy the hardships and perils of an ocean 
 life, and who had never flinched in storm or battle ; yet 
 the falling tears chased each other, in rapid succession, 
 down their weather-beaten faces, while they gave way 
 to the deepest feelings of sympathetic woe. Another 
 party, from whom might have been expected but few 
 120
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 of the finer traits of humanity, had depicted on their 
 countenances evident traces of sorrow and sadness. 
 The more youthful seamen, although they had behaved 
 gallantly during the action, now gave way to extrava 
 gant expressions of grief, especially as the bodies 
 were launched into the deep. A heavy splashing 
 sound was heard, and as the waves opened to receive 
 the mortal remains they sank beneath the surface of the 
 ocean, there to rest until the sea shall give up its dead. 
 The wounded shared alike the sympathies and atten 
 tion of all hands ; yet perhaps greater concern was man 
 ifested for the brave young American seaman ; his 
 wounds, though deep, were not mortal. Time, however, 
 and great care, were necessary to reinstate him in a 
 condition for active duty. This, together with his bold 
 intrepidity, (for he was the first man on the enemy's 
 deck, heading the boarders,) his activity and daring im 
 petuosity, which bore down all opposition, his sanguinary 
 and bloody conflict on the quarter-deck of the brig, 
 when faint and nearly exhausted from the loss of blood, 
 his high ambition and noble emulation in hauling 
 down the British flag, gained not only the admiration 
 of both officers and seamen, but also won for him an 
 unfading laurel. The undaunted boatswain had fought 
 side by side with his young friend. His powerful mus 
 cular arm not only dealt destruction to all within its 
 reach, but also parried many a deadly blow, aimed at 
 his young friend. It was not strange, therefore, that 
 their former friendship should be greatly increased from 
 the fact of their rendering service to each other in the 
 11
 
 122 THE AMERICAN CKUISER. 
 
 heat of battle. It was even so, for no circumstance 
 whatever could induce the boatswain, when off duty, to 
 be absent from the berth of his young friend in the 
 ward-room. He cheered many a lonely hour by his 
 assiduous acts of kindness, and when associations would 
 call up recollections of former days, and throw a shade 
 of gloom over the pale features of the young man, 
 then it was the boatswain would s,pin a yarn of com 
 bined fleets, forming a line, battles fought, or the indis 
 soluble friendship of true seamen; and his -manner of 
 relation was always so ingenuous and exciting, that it 
 invariably diverted the young seaman's thoughts. 
 Often at the conclusion of these yarns, the young sea 
 man would grasp the hand of the other, exclaiming, 
 " You are my true messmate, my friend, my noble 
 friend." 
 
 The Cruiser after the action, had steered away so as 
 to get into the vicinity of the Madeira Islands, a famous 
 cruising ground, although attended with some risk, be 
 cause of the men-of-war, which of course would be hov 
 ering about there. No danger, however imminent, 
 would deter the commander from carrying into execu 
 tion any plans which he formed ; he resolved to make 
 the Islands, and take a peep into Madeira. 
 
 It was a bright and beautiful morning. The sun 
 shone resplendently, the sea was smooth, and the north 
 eastern breeze blew moderately, of sufficient strength, 
 however, to keep the sails asleep. It was one of those 
 days in which the weather-beaten tar forgets the hard 
 ships and perils of an ocean life. His feelings generally
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 are in consonance with the state of the weather. Thus 
 it was on the present occasion, for the gloom had nearly 
 worn off, and the wounded, with the exception of the 
 young seaman, and the English captain, were conva 
 lescent ; the sailors, therefore, were in high spirits, 
 and partook largely of that consequent feeling induced 
 by the serenity and beauty of the weather. Nor was 
 this feeling absent from the quarter-deck ; invited by the 
 splendor of the morning, they all retreated from below, 
 to enjoy the fresh air, and beauty of the present scene. 
 
 " What distance are we from Madeira ? " inquired 
 the Commander of the sailing-master. 
 
 This was a puzzler for the Down Easter, because he 
 had not yet worked up the last twenty-four hours' log. 
 However, he was always ready in any and every emer 
 gency, for when he could not give a positive answer, he 
 invariably resorted to his favorite substitute, and there 
 fore answered the Commander by saying : 
 
 " I guess we are about seventy-five miles off that 
 island." 
 
 " We shall see the islands to-day if the breeze lasts," 
 observed the Commander, " and it is likely, we may fall 
 in with some neutral vessel, perhaps a Spanish or Por 
 tuguese trader. I am anxious that it should be so, for 
 if we should fall in with the enemy, the prisoners will 
 be a great incumbrance to us, and therefore we must 
 liberate them as soon as possible." . 
 
 " I am of the same opinion," answered the first lieu 
 tenant ; " but is it your intention to look into the har 
 bor of Madeira ? "
 
 124 THE AMERICAN . CRUISER. 
 
 The answer was in the affirmative. 
 
 " If I may venture to suggest an opinion," observed 
 the first lieutenant, " I should think the safer plan is to 
 remain near the island until we overhaul some neutral 
 trader, from whom we can ascertain how many vessels 
 there are hi port, the strength of the enemy, and when 
 they sail ; for you are aware, sir, that this is the season 
 for outward-bound East Indiamen, and of course they 
 will be strongly convoyed. If then, we get such infor 
 mation, let us keep to windward, with a good look-out, 
 and when they leave port we can make a dash at them 
 hi the night." 
 
 The Commander was silent ; but his opinion once 
 formed, could not be shaken, unless there were powerful 
 and urgent reasons. 
 
 The conversation now took an entirely different 
 range. 
 
 " I believe," observed the first lieutenant, " that it 
 will be some time before our young shipmate recovers so 
 as to be able to perform active service. He was badly 
 wounded, and I know not how he sustained himself 
 after that first cut on his shoulder. It was his valor 
 and noble spirit, sir. I saw him and his friend the 
 boatswain, with the dexterity of eagles, in the midst of 
 a galling fire, lash the two vessels together. I saw 
 them when the boarders were checked abaft, mount the 
 fore-chains ; the young seaman being the first on the 
 brig's deck, followed by the undaunted boatswain, stim 
 ulated our men, by their courage, fearlessly to imitate 
 their example. I saw that gallant young man after he
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 125 
 
 had received the wound on his shoulder, with the boat 
 swain at his side. Like two furious lions they were in 
 the midst of that sanguinary conflict. Yes, sir, they 
 are brave fellows, and would do honor to the regular 
 service." 
 
 " By our flag," said the Commander, excited with 
 the narration, " that young man shall have a berth in 
 the ward-room." 
 
 " Sir," replied the first lieutenant, " he will not 
 accept the promotion ; for the perils they mutually 
 shared in this action, but especially the powerful arm 
 of the boatswain having warded off the deadly blow 
 aimed at the life of his friend, has cemented their 
 friendship, if possible, more strongly than ever." 
 
 The conversation was broken off by the cry of " Sail 
 ho ! " The stranger was reported to be a brig standing 
 to the eastward, bearing four points on the weather 
 bow. In a few minutes the Cruiser was under a cloud 
 of sail in chase, and prepared for action. It was not 
 more than half an hour before the colors of the stranger 
 were distinctly ascertained to be Portuguese, for she 
 had hove to. The English prisoners were ordered to 
 get their dunnage ready, and in less than half an hour 
 the Cruiser's boats were employed in . transporting the 
 Englishmen and their traps on board of the brig, which 
 proved to be a Portuguese trader, from Madeira the 
 previous day, bound to Lisbon. Information was re 
 ceived that there were several East Indiamen, outward 
 bound, under convoy of a seventy-four and two frigates, 
 and were to sail in two or three days. The prisoners 
 11*
 
 126 THE AMEKICAN CKUISER. 
 
 being all deposited on board of the brig, the Cruiser 
 bore away to make the island, which was judged to be 
 fifty miles off. Some doubts were entertained as to the 
 correctness of the information received from the Portu 
 guese, especially as he was in no very good humor, not 
 caring to have so many incumbrances as were put on 
 board of his brig ; the Commander therefore resolved 
 to adhere to his first project, that of looking into the 
 harbor. 
 
 Towards sunset the Island of Madeira was seen from 
 the mast-head ; the wind moderated, and at the com 
 mencement of the first night-watch it fell away to a 
 dead calm. It was a magnificent night : the moon was 
 high in the heavens, sailing in cloudless spleudor, her 
 silvery light tipping the tops of the billows, and 
 stretching in a long line of effulgence across the 
 waters ; the waves pleasantly laved the sides of the 
 Cruiser as she rolled gently in the moderate swell ; 
 the decks were noiseless, the quiet moon seemed 
 as if by some magic spell she had hushed the deep 
 into silence ; for scarcely a sound rose up from the 
 heaving waves, which, glittering now in the wake 
 of the moon, and now sinking into sudden shadow, 
 stretched away in the distance, until they faded into 
 the dim hues of the distant sea-board. The whole 
 scene was like a vision of romance, and yet to 
 shipmen, a scene like this is more portentous than the 
 wild wind's blast. 
 
 Towards the dawn of day, a gentle north-eastern 
 breeze sprung up, and at broad daylight the Island was
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 129 
 
 twenty miles distant. Nothing was in sight, and the 
 Cruiser stood boldly in for the land, until within ten 
 miles of it, and then hove to, being to windward of the 
 harbor. She was not long, however, destined to remain 
 quiet, for while the crew were in the act of making a 
 delicious breakfast, partly made up of some fruit which 
 they had got from the Portuguese, several vessels 
 were reported to be standing out of the harbor, and 
 before a quarter of an hour had elapsed, a large ship 
 was discovered bearing on the beam, close hauled on 
 the starboard tack. The Cruiser being far to wind 
 ward, made no other disposition than to get on the same 
 tack. It was the general belief that the stranger to 
 leeward was a frigate, one of the convoy sent to look 
 after the Cruiser. All doubts on this head were dis 
 pelled in less than an hour, for the hull of the stranger 
 was distinctly seen from the deck, and after close ob 
 servation, was pronounced to be a frigate in chase, for 
 she had already tacked. " It is time for us r to show 
 our heels," said the Commander. Every yard of can 
 vass was spread to advantage by the wind ; her trim 
 was correctly ascertained, and now she waited the issue. 
 Again the exciting cry of " Sail ho ! " was reported 
 from aloft, bearing four points on the weather bow. 
 All was now excitement, for should this vessel prove to 
 be a man-of-war, the situation of the Cruiser would be 
 extremely critical. In a very short tune the alarming 
 question was decided, for the stranger to windward was 
 bearing down upon the Cruiser under a clond of sail, 
 and with such rapidity did they close together, that her
 
 130 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 character was soon made out to be a British sloop 
 of war. 
 
 " Here, then, we -are between two fires," said the 
 Commander, " and one of them we must take, or I am 
 very much mistaken. On what tack is the stranger to 
 leeward ? " 
 
 The reply was, " On the starboard tack." 
 
 The Cruiser was now kept away four points, and as 
 the wind had freshened she flew over the blue billows 
 at the rate of ten knots per hour ; and the stranger to 
 windward made no secret of his character or intentions, 
 for he displayed an English flag and sent an eighteen 
 pound shot, by way of a token of further civilities. 
 
 It now became evident, that the situation of the 
 Cruiser was exceedingly dangerous. The frigate to 
 leeward was closing in with her, and it was impossible 
 to escape the fire of the sloop of war ; but they rather 
 chose to risk that fire in preference to running down to 
 leeward^of the frigate 
 
 " We shall pay some respects to the one to wind 
 ward, so get Long Tom ready," said the Commander. 
 
 The gunnei was not a little gratified at this order, 
 and he therefore charged his favorite with the utmost 
 exactness. The most intense anxiety now prevailed. 
 All eyes were fixed to windward, nor did they heed the 
 leeward chase, until the quarter-master reported her to 
 be only two points on the lee quarter. The chase now 
 became intensely exciting. The two vessels were run 
 ning abeam of each .other, scarcely more than half a 
 gunshot distance. The Cruiser, however, had the ad-
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 131 
 
 rantage of sailing, over the windward chase ; but tho 
 frigate appeared to gain rapidly. The sloop of war 
 perceiving the superior sailing of the Cruiser, opened a 
 brisk fire, and the frigate being about gunshot off, sent 
 a messenger also. Just at this moment another sail 
 was reported from the mast-head two points on the lee 
 bow ; and at the same time a shot from the windward 
 chase cut away the lower studding-sail boom. In a few 
 minutes another boom was rigged out, and the sail set, 
 amid a shower of balls which fell around the Cruiser. 
 
 " Our chance of escape depends entirely upon crip 
 pling the windward chase," said the Commander. 
 
 Long Tom was again put into requisition ; the gunner 
 elevated it with great precision. The order was given 
 to fire. The messenger was sent in a broad sheet of 
 flame, and when the smoke cleared away, there was the 
 sloop of Avar's fore-topmast hanging over her side, and 
 almost at the same moment a shot from her passed 
 through the Cruiser's foresail. Three cheers were 
 given, and the Yankee stripes floated high in the breeze 
 of heaven. 
 
 But the play was not yet over, for the frigate held 
 good way, and the sail to leeward was standing across 
 the Cruiser's bow, but the sloop of war dropped astern, 
 and in less than twenty minutes, the Cruiser hauled 
 close by the wind, and hi four hours, by making short 
 boards, she left her unwelcome companions far to 
 leeward.
 
 CHAPTER 
 
 THE YOUNG SEAMAN'S NARRATIVE CONTINUED. 
 
 A SAILOK'S life is exciting, and one of continued pri 
 vation and exposure. It is seldom that he has a bright 
 sky, fair winds, and smooth sea. Short and interrupted 
 are his enjoyments of social life, the greater part of his 
 time being spent on the mountain-waves ; consequently 
 he contracts habits, entirely different from those of 
 landsmen. His privations and frequent wants of 
 that sustenance which is necessary to support animal 
 life, gives him a heart to feel for the distress of 
 others ; he is therefore proverbially generous, scat 
 tering his money like dust, and his hand is ever 
 open to relieve the wants and distress of the needy. 
 His constant exposure makes him a stranger to fears, 
 and he will hazard danger that would make a lands 
 man quail. The ocean being his home, and seamen his 
 companions, he is apt to think that all men are like him 
 self ; consequently he is unacquainted with the trickery 
 and ways of the world, over whose surface he is con 
 stantly floating, and therefore he becomes an easy dupe 
 to every designing knave on shore. 
 
 If a sea life is exciting on board of a merchant vessel 
 132
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 133 
 
 it is infinitely more so on board of an armed vessel or 
 cruiser, especially in time of war, for besides the usual 
 necessary duty, there is constant anxiety kept up. In 
 the first place, the great consumption of provisions and 
 water makes it necessary to touch at some neutral port 
 to replenish; this is attended with danger. Again, 
 chasing and being chased, battles, captures, risk of im 
 prisonment, all these, together with the casualties of 
 the ocean, keep the mind in the highest state of excite 
 ment. Thus it was on board of the Cruiser. Scarcely 
 had the wounds healed which were received in the 
 action with the brig, than the close chase and narrow 
 escape immediately followed. Here, then, was matter 
 of conversation, which was improved to the greatest ad 
 vantage, and which served to keep alive the excitement 
 that prevailed fore and aft. 
 
 " That was a neat chase and conducted in a seaman- 
 like manner," observed the boatswain to the young sea 
 man, for the latter had so far recovered from the effects 
 of his wounds that he was able to go on deck, but not 
 yet sufficiently strong for duty. " I think," continued 
 the boatswain, " this craft, with a fair chance, and weH 
 handled, is a match for any thing that floats, especially 
 by the wind ; but thanks to Long Tom and the gunner's 
 eye for our escape. It was a hot chase, and that sloop 
 of war threw her shot well, but Long Tom did her busi 
 ness, for I'll miss my reck'ning if the fore-top-mast had 
 not gone over the side, why then she would have crip 
 pled us, or we must have taken the frigate's fire, or 
 have run close aboard of the sloop of war to leeward ; 
 12
 
 134 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 so d'ye see, messmate, we kind of run the gauntlet, and 
 a pretty hard chase we had on't, but Long Tom got ua 
 out of the scrape." 
 
 "I should like to have witnessed it," replied the 
 young seaman, "and I shall hail with pleasure the 
 tune when I leave this ward-room for active service^ for 
 idleness hangs heavy on my mind. During such hours, 
 associations will intrude upon the thoughts and induce 
 a kind of melancholy, which I find impossible to shake 
 off." 
 
 "Well,, well," interrupted the boatswain hastily, 
 " let's get on another tack, and as we have fine weather 
 and moonlight nights, why then just spin out some of 
 your yarn, for I think when you ball it all off, your 
 mind will become easier." 
 
 The last dog-watch being over, one half of the crew, 
 according to custom, were quietly stowed away in their 
 hammocks, while tjae others were on the main-deck and 
 forecastle, spinning out ghostly yarns, and singing their 
 favorite piratical ballads, to the no small amusement 
 and gratification of the remainder of the watch. The 
 boatswain and the young seaman being seated on the 
 booms near the gangway, the latter, according to prom 
 ise, resumed his narrative as follows : 
 
 " I sought every opportunity to be in the society of 
 her whom I now felt necessary to my very existence, 
 and I had the unspeakable delight to see that my visits 
 were not only acceptable, but they appeared to produce 
 a reciprocal feeling of pleasure on her part. My 
 parents were delighted, for they saw with evident
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 135 
 
 pleasure that my passion for E - ; drew me off from 
 those haunts of dissipation, in which I had so often 
 disgraced myself, and they believed *at a , tnuor 
 Jb E _ would not only he greatly desirable, hut 
 also prove the means of my reformation. 
 
 Among the visitors at my father's house there was 
 one whose entire exterior was that of a man of foshion. 
 With a handsome person, he combined an easy and ele 
 gant address, and yet he was one of those undennable 
 characters, of which, although he moved m high style 
 no certain clue could be obtained in regard 
 definite means he possessed to keep up these > ap 
 pearances. I had met him frequently, and I blush 
 when I tell you it was in a gambling resort for in ad- 
 n to my'other excesses, I had contracted a passion 
 for gaming. At first his manners pleased me, but upo 
 LL acquaintance I perceived that although 
 sumed the air of a novice, yet he was an adept ame 
 
 her in the' society of Hastings, (for this ft. 
 name of the gamester,) enjoying a tete a tete conversa 
 tion. She received me, I thought, mth a degree of for- 
 mality quite unusual, and our convert s marked 
 with cold indifference. 
 
 In a short time I took my leave, and as I walked
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISEK. 
 
 toward the door, I cast a glance on the man whom 1 
 despised, and I saw in that face, as he directed it 
 toward me, a look of ineffable triumph and disdain. I 
 rushed out of the house, my head and heart burning 
 with jealousy and revenge, and plunged into deeper 
 excesses of riot and dissipation. My wild extravagances 
 could no longer be concealed, and they became the sub 
 ject of public notoriety. At the gaming table I met 
 with frequent losses ; I sought every opportunity to meet 
 my hated rival, that I might wreak my revenge upon 
 him. My insatiable thirst for play soon presented the 
 desired interview, and at the gaming table we met; for 
 a short time fortune favored me, and I won to a consid 
 erable amount. Flushed with victory, and believing 
 that I should now retrieve my former losses, the bets 
 were increased and doubled. My triumph was short ; 
 fortune changed, and I lost not only a heavy sum of 
 money, but my temper, which gave the despised villain 
 with whom I gamed a decided advantage, for no cir 
 cumstance could disturb the imperturbable coolness of 
 the gamester. The enormous sums which I lost became 
 fearful, and remorse, like an electric shock, suddenly 
 seized upon my whole frame, and this remorse soon 
 changed to madness and revenge, for I was now conscious 
 that I had been cheated, and was the dupe of this mis 
 creant wretch. I drew upon my honored father, and with 
 a trembling hand gave the draft to my detested rival ; he 
 recevied it with an air of exultation, and then cast upon 
 me a look of the proudest scorn. 
 
 " This was more than I could bear. Seizing him by
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 137 
 
 the throat, Villain ! I cried, and with one blow laid him 
 senseless at my feet. How I reached my lodgings I know 
 not, for I had connected to the black catalogue of my 
 baseness, that of being a stranger to my father's house. 
 " The next morning I fully expected to have received 
 a message from the gamester, but two days passed, and 
 I neither saw nor heard from him. At the expiration 
 of the second day, I received a letter from my honored 
 parent. Oh, my God ! the thought of that letter, even 
 at this distant period, distracts my brain. There was 
 no harshness, no upbraiding, no word that could be con 
 strued into a censure ; but this only wounded me yet 
 deeper, and my black ingratitude stung me to the 
 heart. The letter was short, advising me that my draft 
 was duly honored, but that he would be unable, from 
 his peculiar embarrassments, to do more ; in other 
 words, he was a ruined man, and I, villain that I was, 
 had by my prodigalities helped to do the foul deed. 
 This thought filled my soul with horror. My brain 
 turned, and my phrenzied imagination conjured up 
 a thousand frightful visions. At one time I beheld 
 my father weltering in his blood, from a wound in 
 flicted by my own hands. Again I saw my dear 
 parent penniless and starving ; while I conceived 
 
 that I was despised by E- , an outcast from society, 
 
 and an alien from my father's house. These and many 
 more, wrought me up to the highest pitch of wild ex 
 citement. My ravings brought on a high fever, reason 
 forsook her throne, and when morning broke forth, it 
 found me in a high state of delirium. 
 12*
 
 138 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 x 
 
 " How long I remained in this situation I did not as 
 certain, until after my recovery. When consciousness 
 returned, I found myself in a bed enclosed -with cur 
 tains, and in the same room which I had formerly occu 
 pied in my father's house. My mother sat at the 
 bedside, watching me with affection's tenderest soli 
 citude ; and when she saw that reason had re 
 turned, her heart was too much affected for utterance, 
 and she burst into a flood of tears. My revered father 
 was there also, and they broke forth simultaneously 
 with, 'My son, my dear son, we will live happy 
 together ; ' and then they maintained the deepest si 
 lence, making signs to me to preserve the same precau 
 tion. I lingered for some time, but by my youth and a 
 sound constitution, the unremitted and attentive nursing 
 of my mother, together with the best medical skill, in 
 the course of three weeks I became convalescent, and 
 able to walk out. During this period not a word 
 escaped from the lips of my father, in relation to the 
 bad consequences my conduct had produced. 
 
 " I resolved from this time, that I would devote 
 my whole life and energies to the support and comfort 
 of my parents, so that by any means I might smooth 
 their path in life, and cause their grey hairs to go down 
 in peace to the grave. Accordingly I went forthwith 
 to settle my father's business, and found it even worse 
 than I had anticipated, for he had sold all his bank 
 stock, and heavy mortgages were given upon all his 
 estate. When the entire settlement was made, and all 
 arranged, I found there was scarcely any thing
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 139 
 
 left, except the old family mansion. * Here then,' I 
 exclaimed, 'my follies and wild extravagances have 
 brought on this desolation.' Although my cure, and 
 return to the confidence and affection of my parents 
 had been purchased at a dear rate ; yet it was a conso 
 lation to my mind, to behold them, notwithstanding 
 their fortune *was gone, yet apparently happy." 
 
 Here the narrative was interrupted, as the order was 
 given to take in sail, for the ominous appearance of the 
 weather indicated that the next twenty-four hours would 
 not pass over quietly.
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 
 
 A GALE OF WIND. 
 
 A GALE of wind is preferable at any time, at sea, in 
 a strong vessel that is well founded, to a long duration 
 of calms. Those who have never experienced a calm at 
 sea cannot form an adequate idea of the dull monotony, 
 listlessness, and sometimes horror that is felt on ship 
 board, especially if within the tropics ; for in these 
 latitudes they are apt to continue much longer ; conse 
 quently they are often the cause of great distress and 
 want. There are not a few instances where vessels 
 have been becalmed for thirty days together, and this 
 too, under a burning sun, where the heat is intolerable 
 and thirst insupportable. Often has the author been 
 exposed to these dead calms ; the sea is like molten 
 brass ; no breath of air is stirring ; the atmosphere is 
 dry, the mouth is parched, and the heavens hang 
 over all a canopy of lurid fire, in the very centre 
 of which burns with intense fierceness the meridian sun. 
 The decks, the cabin, and the tops, are alike stifling ; 
 the awnings may indeed afford a partial shelter from the 
 vertical rays of the sun, but no breeze can be wooed 
 down the eager mainsail, and wherever a stray beam 
 
 140
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 141 
 
 steals to the deck through an opening in the canvass, 
 the turpentine oozes out, and boils in the heat, and the 
 planks become as intolerable to the tread as if a furnace 
 was beneath them. 
 
 It was one of those days as above described, except 
 that the heat was not so intense, for the latitude was 
 38 degrees north, that the Cruiser lay becalmed ; many 
 of the officers had made their escape from the dense 
 heat of the ward-room and the cabin, and had taken 
 shelter under the awnings, to enjoy, if possible, from the 
 open air, a freer respiration. In vain did they stretch 
 their utmost gaze to catch sight of a ripple or cat's paw 
 dancing over the deep ; in vain did they look for some 
 cloudy token from the azure vault that might indicate 
 relief from the dull monotony ; none was there. All 
 over the wide expanse the slumbering ocean presented a 
 surface like a polished mirror, except that its glassy 
 bosom was occasionally disturbed by some porpoises 
 which swam lazily, ever and anon showing their dark 
 figures above the surface, while the transparent waters 
 gave additional beauty to the changing colors of the 
 sporting dolphin. The keen-eyed sea-gull too, soared 
 along in lofty flight with heavy wings, while Mother 
 Carey's chickens, Avith twittering voice and elastic tread 
 upon the liquid element, as secure as though walking 
 on a solid base, had gathered round the vessel, and pro 
 duced no little speculation and prophesying among the 
 crew, for it will be understood that the gathering num 
 bers of these birds is a certain harbinger of a coming 
 tempest with sailors. Until near the close of the day,
 
 142 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 it was exceedingly hot and sultry, but as sunset drew 
 on, some clouds arose in the west, and a light breeze 
 springing up, diffused a delicious coolness throughout the 
 vessel, imparting new vigor to the panting and almost 
 exhausted men. 
 
 Invigorated by the welcome air, a group of officers 
 gathered on the weather quarter to behold the sun go 
 down ; and those who have never seen such a spectacle at 
 sea can have no conception of the vastness of the idea 
 with which it fills the mind. Slowly the broad disc 
 wheeled down toward the west, seeming to dilate as it ap 
 proached the horizon, and as its lower edge touched the 
 distant seaboard, trailing a long line of golden light 
 across the undulating surface of the deep, the scene 
 was magnificent. Pile on pile of clouds assuming every 
 fantastic shape, and varying from red to purple, and 
 from purple to gold, lay heaped around the setting god. 
 For a few moments the billows could be seen rising and 
 falling against the broad disc of the descending lumi 
 nary, while with a slow and scarcely perceptible motion, 
 he gradually slid beneath the horizon. Insensibly the 
 brilliant hues of the clouds died away, changing from 
 gorgeous crimson through almost every gradation of 
 color, until at length a faint apple-green invested the 
 whole western sky, slowly fading into a deep azure, as 
 it approached the zenith. 
 
 " That is a magnificent sight ! " exclaimed the young 
 seaman to his messmate, as they stood gazing on 
 the scene, " and well calculated to inspire the mind 
 with expansive views of the power and sublimity
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 145 
 
 of the Creator." The sun had now been hid for some 
 minutes, and the apple-green of the sky was rapidly 
 becoming darker and more and more indistinct, though 
 the edge of a solitary dark cloud, hanging a few degrees 
 above the horizon, was yet tipped with a faint crimson. 
 Meantime the stars began to appear in the opposite fir 
 mament one after another, twinkling into sight as if by 
 magic, until the whole eastern heaven was gemmed with 
 them. No 'sight that meets the eye so strongly imparts 
 the idea of immensity, and at the same time impresses 
 one with the solitude and loneliness of his situation on 
 shipboard, as when looking around the horizon, and at 
 the vast concave above ; and when over all the mighty 
 space of ocean included within its circuit, the eye rests 
 on not a solitary sail, a sensation of loneliness is 
 experienced which no pen can describe. 
 
 The breeze again died away, leaving the sails flap 
 ping to and fro as the Cruiser rocked on the swell. It 
 was now a dead calm ; no perceptible agitation could be 
 discovered on the surface of the deep, except the long 
 undulating swell, which never subsides, and which can 
 be compared to nothing but the heavy breathing of 
 some gigantic monster when lulled to repose. In less 
 than half an hour the ocean became sensibly agitated 
 by the coming breeze, and the firmament which a short 
 time before had been spangled with myriads of twink 
 ling stars and planets, was now .shrouded in gloom, 
 while a black mass of opaque clouds hove up their 
 enormous heads ; pile after pile, as if impelled by a 
 thousand furies, rose, breaking into wild scuds, and 
 13
 
 146 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 dashed away with the rapidity of lightning to the 
 eastern board. From the suddenness with which the 
 black mass of clouds had risen, they had not as yet 
 overspread the heavens with their sable curtains, and 
 here and there, as if to relieve the eye' as well as the 
 mind, a tiny azure spot appeared, exhibiting a brilliant 
 gem strongly contrasting with the heavy, sombre clouds 
 that rolled along their da*k masses ; intercepting from 
 the vision, all that could indicate to the practised eye 
 of a seaman, relief from the approaching storm. On 
 came the driving black clouds that seemed surcharged 
 with vapor, and as they reached the zenith, discharged 
 their contents in torrents of rain, which fell like a 
 mighty cataract, threatening to overwhelm the Cruiser 
 in the awful deluge ; while peal after peal of roaring 
 thunders shook the craft from the kelson to the truck, 
 and incessant flashes of lightning played round the 
 masts and rigging. 
 
 " Take in sail ! " shouted the skipper. It was high 
 time, for a huge pile of dark waters was driving towards 
 the Cruiser, impelled by a furious blast of wind ; but such 
 was now the discipline of the crew, that the work of a 
 few minutes not only reduced the little craft to bare 
 poles, but her fore-topsail and top-gallant-yard were also 
 lashed snugly on deck, the fore-yard lowered down and 
 secured, and her topmasts were housed, while she was 
 driven along before the violent gale, at the rate of 
 eleven knots. The sea now hove up in enormous piles, 
 and as the dark billows rose in spectral lights, they 
 wore an aspect so ghastly, as caused the stoutest hearts
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 to quail. The night was fearful, and the clouds seemed 
 as if bolted together, while the heavens were hung in 
 sackcloth, except now and then from the vivid flashes 
 of lightning, the whole canopy presented a livid sheet 
 of flame, and the terrific gale howled a death song, as 
 if proclaiming the funeral dirge of the frail bark, which 
 now appeared not larger than a nut-shell, driving madly 
 before the wild wind's blast. 
 
 " I like not the moanings of the wind, its sounds are 
 ominous," said the skipper to the officers of the watch 
 who had now gathered around him, " And even," he 
 continued, " should we escape being struck by this 
 terrible lightning, what can wood and iron, managed 
 with the best skill, do with this increasing gale. 
 Steady, port ! " 
 
 " Port," responded the helmsman. 
 
 Just then the little craft rose on the top of a tremen 
 dous sea. Fortunately she answered her helm quickly, 
 and took the huge monster directly aft, but its fearful, 
 craggy top broke, dashing volumes of water on the 
 Cruiser's deck. For a moment she lay entirely still, 
 pressed by the immense body of water on deck, but as 
 the ports were all triced up, she quickly shook off this 
 burden. 
 
 " She must be relieved from all the weight that is on 
 deck ; these guns must be launched overboard," said 
 the Commander. 
 
 "It is a dangerous service, sir, yet it must be exe 
 cuted," replied the first lieutenant. 
 
 The boatswain and gunner were appointed, with the
 
 148 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 most experienced seamen, to the performance of this 
 duty ; and although it was attended with much hazard 
 to the life and limb of those who were engaged in it, as 
 well as injury to the craft, yet the superior skill and 
 judgment of the boatswain and gunner managed to 
 launch overboard ten of the carronades, with all the 
 lumber, spare spars, &c., without accident or injury. 
 This last duty was effected no sooner than was abso 
 lutely necessary, for scudding now became exceedingly 
 dangerous, and the Cruiser was nearly unmanageable ; 
 for although she bounded over the waves like a race 
 horse, yet the sea was so high, that it would occasionally 
 lift her stern quite out of water, losing the action of the 
 helm. In this position she brought the wind two or 
 three points on either quarter, to the imminent danger 
 of broaching to, which would inevitably have' sealed the 
 doom of the crew and vessel. At midnight the heavy 
 black clouds lifted up in the western board, presenting 
 from the horizon a long line of azure, the dark masses 
 rolled away to the eastward, the force of the terrific 
 gale broke, and at daylight the Cruiser was scudding 
 away to the northeast, with a brisk gale and following 
 sea.
 
 CHAPTER XTV. 
 
 SATURDAY NIGHT, ETC. 
 
 SEVERAL days, after the events described in the pre 
 ceding chapter, brought the Cruiser to the vicinity of 
 the Western Islands. She had been out forty days on 
 the cruise, and as yet but one solitary prize had been 
 taken. There was another consideration of a more 
 serious character, viz. the water was getting short, and 
 it became absolutely necessary to replenish it. To effect 
 this, she must touch at one or other of the islands, or 
 run the risk of getting a supply from some vessel. The 
 latter method would be exceedingly doubtful, and the 
 former was hazardous. It was resolved, however, to 
 touch at one of the islands, if possible. Although there 
 had been no want of excitement on board of the 
 Cruiser, yet it was not of that character which produced 
 exemption from dull monotony, or that inspired any ex 
 pectation of a very brilliant cruise. 
 
 Nor were these feelings confined exclusively to the 
 main-deck and forecastle ; the quarter-deck partook 
 largely of that listlessness induced by long inactivity 
 from actual service, or what might be more properly 
 said, actual fighting, or actual captures. It would have 
 13* 149
 
 150 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 been a curious spectacle to a landsman, if he had 
 dropped on board of the Cruiser at this period. In the 
 ward-room, (with but one or two exceptions,) they re 
 sorted to every means which in their judgments could 
 procure enjoyment, or have a tendency to pass away 
 the time. Nevertheless, time hung heavily on their 
 hands, for an observer might have easily detected their 
 predominant characteristics to be impatient dissatis 
 faction and discontent, especially at their meals ; for 
 they were now reduced to the common fare of ship 
 board, the fresh stock and nick-nacks being exhausted. 
 There were, however, two leading characters among 
 them, and their peculiar tact adroitly managed to secure 
 the confidence of the others, as well as to keep down 
 the apparent outbreakings, which were not unfrequent 
 in the ward-room. 
 
 " In my opinion, gentlemen," said the lieutenant of 
 marines, " if the old adage be true, we shall yet have a 
 profitable cruise. It is true that our prize-money, thus 
 far, will not make us rich ; but then we have tested the 
 good qualities of this craft, and I believe the chances 
 are very much in our favor to make a fortune." 
 
 At the sound of the last word, the dormant feelings 
 of the Down Easter were roused, and he quaintly 
 replied, that " A bird in the hand is worth two in the 
 bush." " I guess," he continued, " it will turn out the 
 same as a voyage I once made from Kennebunk to 
 Martinique.' My own venter consisted of potatoes and 
 onions, and other notions ; just such things suited the 
 market, for I spoke a vessel right out from the island
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 151 
 
 that give me the news. Well, I was running down my 
 nestings in high spirits, and thinks I to myself I have 
 just hit it this time, any how ; and so I calculated to 
 make fifty per cent, on the outward venter, and twenty- 
 five per cent, on the molasses in Kennebunk, so with 
 that sum and what I had before, I guessed I could buy 
 a quarter of the Charming Nancy, and thus become a 
 ship-owner. Just as I was calculating all about this 
 matter," he continued, " one of my men sung out, 
 * Sail ho ! ' Well, the blamed craft, for all that I could 
 do to keep out of her way, came up hand over hand, 
 and what should she be but a French privateer, so the 
 officer came on board and cut as many salaams as a 
 coast of Guinea monkey, and after prating gibberish 
 for half an hour, the French varmint took all my 
 potatoes, onions, cheese, and apples, and left me as dry 
 as a powder horn. So after he had told me a fine 
 story about the good friendship of the two countries, he 
 commenced bowing and cutting his shines with his arms, 
 and grinning until he reached the gangway. After he 
 had got into his boat, he looked up into my face actu 
 ally laughing, and said, ' Jolie brig, jolie brig, capitaine, 
 bon viage, ban viage ! ha tresbien. Adieu ! mon capi- 
 taine' So saying, away they pulled, and the half 
 starved frog-eaters set up a roar of laughter until they 
 reached their craft, and when they got on board, they 
 immediately made sail and went off. And so I got 
 paid for my venter in bows, and scrapes, and grins ; and 
 I say it is not best to count the chickens before they're 
 hatched."
 
 152 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 At the conclusion of the sailing-master's story, the 
 officers were convulsed in a roar of laughter. 
 
 " Yes, yes," said one of the prize-masters, " I recol 
 lect, Frank, when you came home from that voyage, 
 what a deep impression that Frenchman made upon 
 your mind, as well as upon your venter ; for you net 
 only took it very hard, but in consequence I think yor 
 also took the benefit of the act, made and provided, &c." 
 
 The Down Easter did not relish this last communi 
 cation, but rallying, he once more brought his favorite 
 substitute to bear upon them, and tactly replied : 
 
 "I guess you wouldn't have done better, if you'd 
 stood in my shoes." 
 
 A sailor is literally jack of all trades, for his peculiar 
 situation, in reference to an ocean life, verifies the adage, 
 that " necessity is the mother of invention," and the 
 berth-deck at this time presented an exhibition of the 
 assertion just made. There one might have seen the 
 mechanic arts in practical operation, and although this 
 matter was not reduced to as much system as on board 
 a merchant vessel, yet tailors, shoemakers, and hatters, 
 with others, were all busily employed at their several 
 avocations. It is true there were many that no con 
 sideration would induce to work, and these might 
 easily have been selected from the others, for their 
 whole appearance indicated, that idleness and vice were 
 the predominant traits of their characters. Gambling, 
 therefore, was their ruling passion, and occupied all 
 their leisure hours, and they carried this ruling passion 
 to such an excess, that some of them were not only dis-
 
 AMERICAN CRUISER. 153 
 
 possessed of their prize tickets, but they actually lost 
 every article of their clothing ; in ^consequence of 
 which, thefts were being committed and carried on to 
 such an extent, that the more orderly part of the crew 
 resolved to put an end to this abominable practice, and 
 banish it entirely from the Cruiser. This good reso 
 lution, with the aid of the officers, was carried into exe 
 cution, and in a few days its good effects were abun 
 dantly manifested in the berth-deck. 
 
 In all the circumstances and instances of a sea life, 
 perhaps there are none that tends so greatly to har 
 monize and unite the good feelings of seamen as the 
 old custom of drinking Saturday night, as it is termed 
 by seamen. On these occasions all their differences 
 and animosity are merged into the all-absorbing custom ; 
 the hardships and perils of an ocean life are forgotten, 
 and the delightful recollections and associations, inspired 
 by the land of their birth and their homes, are 
 called up and discussed ; but that which mostly delights 
 a sailor, is to descant upon the beauty and merit of his 
 fair one, whether she be a wife or sweetheart, and there 
 is no class of men that more truly love and respect 
 a virtuous female than seamen. Thus then the 
 highest state of enjoyment at sea is when the flowing 
 can is pushed about, and the old rapturous toast of 
 " Sweethearts and wives," is being drunk. 
 
 This day being Saturday, and now drawing to a 
 close, preparations were made for a regular set-to 
 on the berth-deck ; accordingly the hammocks were 
 triced up, so as to afford as much room as possible.
 
 154 THE AMERICAN CRUISER.^ 
 
 The first dog-watch being out, supper finished, and the 
 wreck cleared away, the customary Saturday night's 
 allowance was served out and brought forward, to the 
 no small gratification of all hands, who expected at least 
 two hours of unalloyed enjoyment, each mess having 
 sided off} to have that enjoyment in their own peculiar 
 way. 
 
 " Come, messmates," said an old salt, after he had 
 poured out his allowance in a tumbler made of bullock'a 
 horn, " here she goes to wives and sweethearts ! " 
 
 This was echoed by all the mess, after which the sen 
 timent was general throughout the berth-deck ; a few, 
 however, bawling out in return, 
 
 " Here she goes," said one, " to- my box of 
 diamonds 1 " 
 
 " Here she goes," cried another, " to my tight little 
 cutter Nancy ! " 
 
 " Here she goes," bawled out a third, with stentorian 
 longs, " to Poll and the babies ! " 
 
 This l*t sentimental effusion created a general laugh 
 at the expense of the old sailor, who received it all in 
 good part, and after hemming several times to clear his 
 throat, he opened the " door of this office of deposite," 
 this being the appellation given to his mouth, and struck 
 up the famous ballad of Lord North and the Revolution. 
 Perhaps it may be unknown to the reader that this bal 
 lad contains thirty-six verses. When the vocalist had 
 got half way through, a hoarse voice cried out from 
 another mess, " Avast there, Tom, just take a round 
 turn with that, and let's hear this yarn-" T^m clapped
 
 AMERICAN CRUISER. 155 
 
 a stopper on his ditty, and hauled alongside the other 
 mess to listen. A phrenologist would have immediately 
 pronounced the narrator of the following yarn to be 
 strongly marked with credulity. The old salt had spent 
 nearly all his life on the ocean ; he had served many 
 years on board of a man-of-war, consequently he had 
 imbibed all those superstitious notions so common among 
 sailors. He knew no fear, except it was by ghosts or 
 apparitions, and of these unearthly figures and sights he 
 had an abundant stock of yarns laid up ; so after shifting 
 his morsel of Virginia, and disposing of a liberal quan 
 tity of the juice, he began his ghostly tale as follows : 
 
 " I onc%,shipped on board of an English East India- 
 man, to go on a bit of a cruise to Canton. Well, there 
 was eight ships in the fleet, convoyed by two seventy- 
 fours, which had about four hundred raw recruits on 
 board, going out to fill up the ranks in the army, and 
 after that to make grub for the long land-crabs and 
 alligators. So after we had been out a week, we got 
 separated from the fleet by a gale of wind. ' Well, this 
 is unlucky, but what's the odds,' said the skipper ; ' we 
 shall fall in together at Madeira.' So one night it was 
 blowing stiff, and a heavy lump of sea on, in the middle 
 of the watch ; lay aloft to double reef the topsails ; 
 just as we got the reef points tied, the officer of the 
 watch bawled out like thunder tq the helmsman, * hard 
 a-port ! lay down off the yard for your lives, cherrily 
 men.' I just got on deck in about a pig's whisper, and 
 the officer looking just as pale as a ghost himself, and 
 the skipper screaming as if he was getting murdered in
 
 156 THE AMERICAN CRUISER? 
 
 his state-room ; why, my own phis began to shake, es 
 pecially when the officer of the deck said to me, 'Do 
 you see that craft right ahead ? ' I just took a squint 
 forward, and sure enough, there she was, close under our 
 bows ? standing right athwart the hawse ; ' Luff! ' said the 
 officer to the helmsman ; our ship came up to the wind, 
 but there was the stranger in the same position. ' Keep 
 her away ! ' bawled out the officer ; again our craft fell 
 off four points, but 'twas no use ; there lay the craft 
 just the same way, and she did 'nt seem to move ; so 
 we kept backing and filling in this way, sometimes 
 hailing the stranger, but we could 'nt get out of her way, 
 nor get a word out of her ; and what made all hands 
 think there was foul play, our skipper was all this time 
 just for all the world like a crazy man, screaming and 
 kicking up such a noise, just as if some one was going 
 to cut his throat. Well, you may be sure we did 'nt 
 much like it, for some how or other, we could 'nt get it 
 out of our noddles that no good would come out of this ; 
 so there was six of us just agreed on the spot to tip the 
 double, and give leg bail for security after we got into 
 Madeira, but just as we were making up this, the day 
 broke, and in less tune than you can say Jack Robinson, 
 the stranger was out of sight, and although all hands 
 wore looking at her, yet none of us could tell whether 
 she sunk or went up in the air, and just as soon as the 
 ship was out of sight, our skipper stopped his pipes, and 
 all was quiet again. Well, the next day, in the fore 
 noon watch, our skipper and all the officers were on the 
 quarter-deck ; so, d'ye see, it was my trick at the helm.
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISEB. 157 
 
 and I heard the officers chatting in low voices about the 
 stranger ship, and the noises in the state-room ; but the 
 skipper did'nt say a word. He did'nt seem to be very 
 easy in his mind, and looked for all the world as if he 
 was frightened by a spirit. Well, we had good weather 
 and a short run over to Madeira, and all the fleet got 
 in the same day, but we could not get any chance to 
 slip off, and in two days the whole fleet went to sea 
 again. Well, we had a good chance across the trade 
 winds, and so we clapped our heads together to find out 
 something about that strange ship and the skipper. It 
 was not long before we found out the secret, for the 
 Captain's steward was a pretty knowing chap, and some 
 how or other, he got the whole story, and when I heard 
 it, thinks I to myself, this ship is too small to carry me 
 back to England." 
 
 " Here Tom," cried out a half dozen voices, " wet 
 your whistle, and give us the balance of that yarn." 
 Tom, not at all displeased, tossed off a glass of grog with 
 a relish peculiar to sailors, and after replacing his mor 
 sel of Virginia, he continued his yarn as follows : 
 
 " Well then, the last voyage our skipper made, was 
 to the East Indies, and as the saying goes, he was a 
 hard horse, and made every man toe the mark. Well, 
 the first officer was a chap that could do his duty, but 
 he did'nt like this knocking down and dragging out, 
 and kicking up shindies with the men ; so he made bold 
 one day to tell the skipper on't. Now the skipper 
 did 'nt relish it much, so after this they had many high 
 words and quarrels, until one morning watch, the mate 
 14
 
 158 THE AMERICAN CEUISEE. 
 
 was found dead in his berth, and the news went fore 
 and aft that he died hi a fit. Some of our chaps 
 hoisted it all in, but the others could not swallow it, for 
 they said he was a hearty fellow, and not given to such 
 kind of mishaps. Well, a rumor soon got out that he was 
 poisoned, as our skipper looked very queer and melan 
 choly, and used to jump out of his berth, screaming 
 for help ; knotting these altogether, they made up 
 their minds that the skipper gave him a dose that 
 sent him to " kingdom come," and they did 'nt have any 
 doubt about it, for the ship never had any luck after 
 wards ; what with carrying away topmasts, losing men 
 overboard, splitting sails, until at last she foundered in 
 the Bay of Bengal." 
 
 Up to this period they listened in breathless silence, 
 but now one of them inquired about the strange ship. 
 
 "Aye, aye," said Tom, "I'd like to forgot that. 
 Well, the steward said that night he heard the skipper 
 say in his ravings, ' I'll never look on that ship ; she is 
 always in my way, always athwart my hawse.' " Here 
 the narrator paused, but the astonished listeners, eager 
 to know the fate of the ship that Tom was in, pressed 
 him to go on. 
 
 " Well then," said Tom, " to make a long story 
 short, we got into the China Sea, and for a few days 
 we had 'nt as much wind as would fill an old woman's 
 night cap, but one night it came on, and took us nap 
 ping ; it was what they^ call a taffoon, and before we 
 could get the sail in, the topsails blew away. The wild 
 hurricane increased, and at midnight that awful ship
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 159 
 
 was again athwart our hawse, upright as a dish, our 
 skipper roared, and down went our ship nearly on 
 her beam ends ; all three sticks were cut away, and 
 she righted up. At day break the gale moderated, 
 and our solemn visitor vanished away ; two of the ships 
 towed us into Canton, and you may be sure, messmates, 
 I made a slip-bend there." 
 
 When Tom concluded his ghostly yarn, they called 
 on Jimmy Ducks for a song, so the little musician com 
 plied with the request by singing, " Dear Tom, this ere 
 grog," &c. Just as he concluded his ditty, the hoarse 
 voice of the boatswain's mate, bawled out, " Larbowlines 
 ahoy ! " and the Saturday night's glee was at once 
 ended. 
 

 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 SWEDISH BRIG, CAPTURE OF A BRITISH SCHOONER AND BRIO 
 
 GREAT anxiety now prevailed on board of the Cruiser 
 in reference to the low state of the water, for even 
 should she succeed to enter the harhor of either of the 
 Islands without molestation, she must then run the haz 
 ard of being blockaded, and probably ruin the cruise. 
 After much consultation, she was kept away for the 
 Island of Terceira, one of the Azores ; this Island not 
 being of so much importance, either as to size or com 
 merce, as the Island of Fayal, it was not very 
 likely that she would fall in with the enemy. 
 
 The Island appeared at 10, A. M., and at the sanje 
 time a brig was seen standing to the westward. All sail 
 was made in chase, and as the stranger did not appear 
 to be in a hurry, in a short time the Cruiser came up 
 with her, and she proved to be a Swedish vessel from 
 England via Fayal, bound to St. Thomas. Information 
 was received from the captain that two British frigates 
 were on this station, and that they were now at anchor 
 in the harbor of Fayal, but, no doubt, they would be out 
 shortly. Here, then, was another obstacle in the way 
 to entering the port of Terceira. Now as she was a 
 160
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 161 
 
 neutral vessel, and a neutral port was under her lee, 
 where she might obtain water without any risk, and as 
 necessity very often knows no law, it was deter 
 mined to give the Swedish captain a reasonable compen 
 sation for his detention and water, and if he refused, to 
 take it by force. Fortunately he was very friendly, 
 and cheerfully complied with the request by delivering 
 fourteen puncheons of water, for which he was liberally 
 paid in a draft on the United States. This was a most 
 happy relief to the Cruiser, for although the quantity 
 was comparatively small, yet even this was sufficient 
 to extend the cruise. 
 
 Shortly after parting company with the brig, another 
 sail was descried, standing to the eastward. All was 
 now excitement, in view of the information just received 
 of the two British frigates. However, the stranger in 
 question appeared to be too small for a man-of-war, and 
 after a chase of two hours she was. overhauled, and 
 proved to be a British schooner in ballast, from Ter- 
 ceira, bound to England. This vessel was not actually 
 worth manning, and as self-preservation is the first law 
 of nature, so in this case it was resolved to take out the 
 provisions and water, with the prisoners, and then scut 
 tle the schooner, so as to prevent information being 
 given to the enemy of the proximity of the Cruiser. 
 
 This was indeed a hard case, as the captain was part 
 owner of the schooner, and in losing her he lost his all. 
 He plead manfully for a release, and under other cir 
 cumstances this request would have been granted ; but 
 the critical position of the Crusier, at this time, made 
 14*
 
 162 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 it highly necessary to take every precaution for her 
 safety and success. The Commander was inexorable, 
 so the fate of the schooner was sealed, and after taking 
 all her moveable spars, sails and rigging, she was scuttled 
 and sunk. 
 
 Important information was received from the captain, 
 viz. that the combined fleet of merchantmen, for Lisbon 
 and the Mediterranean, were at rendezvous in Cork, 
 waiting convoy, and probably would be ready to sail 
 about this time. This was cheering news to all hands, 
 and the Cruiser was now under a cloud of sail, steering 
 away for the Capes of Lisbon, as they fully expected to 
 fall in with the fleet, and in that event, capture as many 
 as could be manned, and thus terminate the cruise. 
 
 The young seaman had now entirely recovered from 
 his wounds, and was on duty. No argument or solicita 
 tion could induce him to accept promotion, for he 
 greatly preferred the society of his friend, the boat 
 swain ; and although it might be considered a lack of 
 ambition, yet the course he pursued commanded respect 
 fore and aft, for he was kind and obliging to those who 
 occupied the same station with himself; always the 
 first at duty, yet he never mingled so far with the 
 sailors as to enter into their follies and dissipations. To 
 the officers he was obedient without servility ; although 
 his education was superior to any of the quarter-deck 
 officers, yet in the boatswain he had found a true and 
 honest he-art, one that was above guile, whose attach 
 ment and friendship were unwavering, and although his 
 intelligence was far below that of the young seaman,
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 163 
 
 yet his intrinsic "worth made his society to the young 
 seaman a source of greater happiness than that of any 
 officer on board. 
 
 " I felt bad enough for the skipper of that schooner 
 the other day," observed the boatswain ; " why when 
 the little craft went down, he looked for all the world 
 as if he was putting his wife or child under hatches, and 
 I'll tell you what, messmate, I don't mind a bit of a 
 dust with Frenchmen, or Spaniards, or any of them out 
 landish chaps, but when it comes to fighting, sinking, 
 and burning with them that talks the same lingo, why 
 d'ye see, lad, I don't much like it ; howsomever, we've 
 had cause enough for this war." 
 
 " That is very true" replied the young seaman, "but 
 this affair of sinking the schooner is one of the evils 
 connected with war. It often happens that not only in 
 war, but also in the operations of society, the innocent 
 suffer for the guilty ; yet the sinking of that schooner 
 was a matter of necessity for self-preservation; never 
 theless, I would gladly give up one half of my prize- 
 money, if it would compensate the captain for the loss 
 of his property ; and if I am not deceived," he con 
 tinued, "our Commander and first lieutenant would 
 have given the schooner up, had it not been for the in 
 formation received from the Swedish brig ; and now I 
 sincerely hope we may speedily fall in with the British 
 fleet of merchantmen and finish this cruise, for I assure 
 you I am heartily tired of this mode of warfare." 
 
 "And no wonder," replied the boatswain, "for 
 you've had pretty rough usage, lad, and hark'ee, if
 
 164 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 you don't hold back a little in another such a brush as 
 we had with that. brig, why then you'll lose the num 
 ber of your mess, that's all, 'for I don't want to sew 
 your hammock up, and launch you overboard this 
 cruise. No, no! don't go ahead of your messmates; 
 let's fight side by side, and the blow that is aimed at 
 your breast shall pass through this carcass of mine first, 
 for we 've been true messmates together, and we '11 be 
 so when we slip our moorings." 
 
 The young seaman grasped the hand of the 
 boatswain, passionately exclaiming, " You are my supe 
 rior every way ; twice have you interposed your arm 
 and saved my life ; you have nursed me, bound up my 
 wounds, soothed my sorrows, sympathized with my 
 weakness, and now to fill the list of obligations, I have 
 the assurance of your honest heart that you wtil sacri 
 fice your life for one so undeserving as myself." 
 The conversation was now interrupted by the cry of 
 " Sail ho ! " which had just been discovered from the 
 top-gallant yard. The stranger was at a great distance 
 off, and as it was late in the afternoon, there was not 
 the smallest probability either of overhauling her, or of 
 ascertaining her character befor.e dark"; the object, how 
 ever, was to get sufficiently near to keep her in 
 sight with the eye-glass. Every yard of canvass was 
 spread in chase, and every necessary precaution was 
 made for action, but. when night set in, it was just dis 
 coverable from the top-gallant yard, that the stranger 
 was steering to the southward. After some consulta 
 tion, it was concluded that- the chances were so small of
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 the sail being in sight the next morning, that it was 
 scarcely worth while to run so great a distance (as they 
 must necessarily Tiave done if they continued the chase) 
 from their intended cruising ground. This opinion was 
 overruled by the Commander, and it was settled to keep 
 on until midnight ; then, if the stranger was not in sight 
 with the night glass, to haul up by the wind. Nothing 
 was seen of the chase, but at daylight either her or 
 another sail was seen about two miles off. Not more than 
 one hour transpired before Long Tom was in speaking 
 distance, and his conversation was so effectual, and so 
 much to the purpose that she hove to, and displayed 
 a large British ensign, without showing any disposition 
 for defence ; she was boarded by two boats from the 
 Cruiser, and proved to be a British brig from Dublin, 
 bound up the Mediterranean with a rich and most valu 
 able cargo. It was not surprising that she made no re 
 sistance, because she was not armed, as she intended to 
 sail with the fleet under convoy, but as they had ex 
 tended the time of sailing to a much greater length than 
 was at first contemplated, the captain chose to run the 
 hazard without convoy, but he paid dear for his 
 temerity. Since leaving the United States, no fa 
 vorable opportunity had occurred for the majority of the 
 crew to give proof of their disposition to plunder. 
 The action with the first brig was so obstinately 
 contested, and there was so many killed and 
 wounded, that their attention was drawn off, and prob 
 ably gave place to a refinement unusual to them. In 
 regard to the schooner, there was little upon which they
 
 166 THE AMERICAN 
 
 could lay their hands, and their condition excited so 
 much commiseration, that no attempt was made to ex 
 ecute their miserable propensity. But. in the present 
 instance, it required all the firmness and courage of the 
 officers, as well as the better disposed part of the crew, 
 to prevent a scene of robbery and plunder, which would 
 have been disgraceful to the American flag, especially 
 in the present case, where no resistance was made. 
 The highest credit was due to the Commander and 
 officers for the decided stand they took to put an effec 
 tual stop to these lawless outbreaks.
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 THE SCIUALL, THE YOUNG SEAMAN'S NARRATIVE CONTINTTED 
 
 A FEW days after the capture of the brig, the 
 Cruiser was off the Capes of Lisbon, in the direct 
 track of the outward-bound British fleet of merchant 
 men, and it was the sanguine expectation of both 
 officers and crew, that if they should have the good 
 fortune to fall in with this fleet, they would speedily 
 finish the cruise. November had set in, with all that 
 cheerless gloom, which is so frequent on the British 
 coast, and which extends more or less along the 
 southern coast of Europe to the south point of the 
 Mediterranean ; dense fogs, frequent rains, and dark, 
 cloudy weather, a greater part of the tune, made it im 
 possible to see any distance off, and when blue sky ap 
 peared, it was a source of rejoicing to all hands. Ten 
 days passed away, and nothing transpired to break the 
 dull monotony which had gathered on the crew, and 
 made them long for excitement to change the scene. 
 
 It was after a day of gloom, occasioned by a heavy 
 fog and rain, that just at sunset the wind shifted, the 
 fog dispersed, the rain ceased to fall, and after night 
 the heavens were dressed with numerous glittering 
 
 167
 
 168 THE AMERICAN CRUISEft. 
 
 stars. The change of weather produced a consequent 
 change of feeling, which, burst forth in songs and mer 
 riment, while Jimmy's musical powers were again 
 brought into requisition, and the merry dance con 
 tinued until two bells, when the watch was ordered 
 below. But they were not long destined to enjoy their 
 silent repose : just as six bells struck, the shrill 
 whistle and hoarse voice of the boatswain summoned all 
 hands, "Take in sail, ahoy ! " The watch came tum 
 bling up, and there was yet a few twinkling stars to be 
 seen in the zenith, although there was a heavy bank of 
 mist close aboard on the weather bow, driving rapidly 
 for the Cruiser, and covering sea and sky in that 
 quarter with a shadowy veil. The men were already at 
 their stations, and as they came up from below, each 
 man sprung to aid his messmate, so that in less time 
 than I have taken to describe it, the light sails were all 
 taken in, and she was kept away a few points, so as to 
 be ready to let every sail go by the run, if necessary, 
 should the squall strike her ; nor did she wait long for 
 the unwelcome visitor, for scarcely had the Cruiser been 
 made snug, before the squall burst on her, in a whirl 
 wind of rain and wind, against the fury of which it was 
 impossible to stand for a moment. As the squall struck, 
 she keeled over, until the decks were fearfully inclined, 
 while the tall masts bent like rushes in the tempest, the 
 spars strained and cracked as if they were unequal to 
 the torture. For a few moments the officers and crew 
 stood aghast, and thought it was now all over, and some 
 clutched ropes, so as to be prepared to lash themselves
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 169 
 
 to her sides, should she capsize ; but after a second of 
 breathless uncertainty, she slightly recovered herself 
 and dashed forward as if she had been an arrow shot 
 from the bow ; her whole forward part buried in the 
 foam that -boiled around her bows, and flew high up the 
 mast in showers. All this time the wind was shrieking 
 through the hamper with an intonation like that of a 
 tortured fiend, so that it became next to impossible to 
 get the foresail and mainsail reefed. At length, how 
 ever, she was stripped to the fight, when she rose until 
 nearly level, bearing gallantly up against the gale. 
 
 " Wheugh ! what a flurry ! Old Davy himself has 
 laid hold of the bellows to-night," said the captain of 
 the starboard watch, stooping before the gale, and 
 turning his back to windward. " Why it blows as if it 
 would whiff our little craft away before it. By the 
 gods ! but that bucket-full of rani that has just fell on 
 my shoulders, was enough to have pinned any man to 
 the decks." 
 
 " How long was the squall coming up ? " said the 
 Commander, as soon as the roar of the elements suffered 
 him to speak, for it was only in the occasional pauses 
 of the gale that he could be heard. 
 
 " It came up like a pet in a woman," said an old 
 prize-master, who was in the watch on deck, "one 
 moment her face is all smiles, the next black as a 
 thunder-cloud. When five bells struck, the sky was as 
 clear as a kitten's eye, and now you can't see a fathom 
 over the starboard bow ; while we are driving along 
 here like a chip in a mill race, or a land bird caught by 
 15
 
 170 THE AMEBICAN CRUISER. 
 
 a northeaster. "Whistle, whistle, howl, howl ; why it 
 blows as if Satan himself was working the bellows up 
 to windward." 
 
 Heavy peals of thunder were succeeded by sharp 
 flashes of lightning, and for a moment the gale lulled, 
 but to increase in violence, shifting four points to the 
 eastward, and spent its fury for an hour, during which 
 time the Cruiser flew over the billows, with the rapidity 
 of a northeast scud ; after which, the clouds lifted to 
 the eastward, the rain ceased, and the remainder of the 
 night the weather was moderate and clear. 
 
 The following morning exhibited a very different 
 scene from the preceding night, for it could scarcely be 
 realized, when viewing the present bright and bland 
 aspect of nature, together with the smooth sea which had 
 been levelled by the deluge of rain that had fallen in tor 
 rents during the squall, that a few short hours only had 
 passed away since the elements presented a scene so 
 terrific as made the stoutest hearts quail with horror. 
 
 " That was a bit of a whiffle we had last night," 
 said the boatswain to the young seaman, " it put me in 
 mind of ' Jack Northwester ' on the coast of Yankee- 
 land. Howsomever, she 's a noble craft, and bears her 
 canvass like a frigate. Well, well, I like a bit of a 
 flurry sometimes, just by way of keeping my hand in ; 
 and hark 'ee, messmate, I 've cruised over this ground 
 before, and had hard knocks and tough sarvice, and 
 I'll miss my reck'ning if we don't have some fun 
 before we leave it. How is it ? you look for all the 
 world as if it was banyan day, or as if yon was going
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 171 
 
 to be flogged through a fleet. Not mueh like the chap 
 you was last night in the bunt of the fore-topsail, -when 
 old Davy blowed his blast ; or like the lad that passed 
 the plait on the clew of the foresail, now and then taking 
 a bit of a swim in the lee-scuppers, when this craft was 
 diving and coming up, and shaking herself like a swan 
 in a snow-storm." 
 
 " Any duty that is hazardous," replied the young 
 seaman, " suits my present feelings, for I assure you I 
 am quite weary of the dullness which steals over 
 me, in spite of all my exertions to shake it off, for 
 I had rather engage an enemy of double force, than 
 fritter away my hours in idleness or inglorious ease. 
 Yes, my friend," continued he, " if this craft were in 
 the regular service, I should prefer an honorable death, 
 in endeavoring to maintain my country's honor, than to 
 be possessed of all the prize-money that is made by us 
 during this cruise." 
 
 " I believe you," said the boatswain, " for I never 
 saw a chap in my life that liked to fight an Englishman 
 better than yourself. But come, messmate, before we 
 have another dust with ' John Bull,' just spin out some 
 more of your yarn." 
 
 The young seaman complied with the request, and 
 proceeded, as follows : 
 
 " I applied myself diligently to business, and ob 
 tained a competency for our support. All my leisure 
 hours were spent in my parents' society, " and by the 
 most assiduous attention to their comfort, their time 
 passed away cheerfully and happily. Two months rolled
 
 172 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 on, and such was the entire change hi my character 
 and habits, as well as the most untiring devotion to my 
 honored parents, that the confidence and respect which 
 I had forfeited by wild, dissolute habits, gradually 
 became restored, and once more the feelings that 
 led me to believe that I was an outcast in society, 
 gave way to self-respect, induced by the reflection, that 
 I was endeavoring to discharge my duty to those whom 
 I had so deeply injured. 
 
 " During the whole of this period I neither saw nor 
 heard from the detested gamester. I learned, however, 
 that immediately after the fatal night that swept away 
 the balance of my father's fortune by the villany of 
 
 that infamous wretch, he went off to B , where he 
 
 passed for a gentleman of fortune. My passion for 
 
 E , though less ardent, was perhaps more refined ; 
 
 but I dared not hope that she yet retained the 
 smallest attachment for one who had rendered himself 
 unworthy of her confidence and esteem. I resolved, 
 however, to obtain an interview, if possible, and 
 learn my fate from her own lips, whether for weal 
 or woe. After a lapse of some days, the desired 
 interview was obtained. It was a meeting, however, 
 hi all respects like unto that of friends who had 
 been separated for a season, and not at all with the 
 ardor and warm aspirations of lovers. The interview, 
 however, was agreeable, and afforded me great pleasure ; 
 and although there was an air of reserve on her part, 
 yet when my eye met hers, that organ spoke volumes 
 to my heart, for I was not deceived it actually
 
 AMERICAN CRUISER. 173 
 
 beamed with delight. Time flew swiftly on, and to my 
 great astonishment I had already been two hours in the 
 company of E , but as yet had not ascertained any 
 thing in reference to my future prospects, neither had I 
 the courage to make known to her the object of my 
 visit ; for I was not now the -heir to a fortune, neither 
 was my reputation as spotless as I could desire, because 
 my former habits had thrown around it a shade which 
 had not been entirely dispelled, and time Avas necessary 
 to redeem a character sullied by wild and dissipated 
 conduct. I neither had the courage to solicit another 
 interview, nor did I obtain a knowledge from her 
 personally of my fate ; nevertheless, her manner con 
 vinced me, that I was not the object of her hatred 
 and scorn. 
 
 " This meeting, although not marked with that de 
 gree of warmth and ardor congenial to youthful hearts, 
 yet appeared to me highly consistent in my present 
 'situation ; for past experience had taught me to curb 
 my naturally sanguine temperament. Hitherto I had 
 been the victim of sudden impulses ; consequently 
 the result of my conduct threw me into difficulties of an 
 unpleasant nature. I resolved, therefore, that my 
 future course should atone for the many errors of 
 which I had been guilty, and I did not despair 
 of regaining the affections of her on whom I now felt 
 depended my future happiness." 
 
 The hour of supper having arrived, the young 
 seaman closed his narrative for the present, with the 
 promise of continuing it at some future time. 
 15*
 
 CHAPTER XVn. 
 
 CAPTURE OP A BRITISH LETTER OP MARQUE. 
 
 THE watch had been roused from their lazy retreat, 
 after a hard sleep of two hours, on the soft side of a 
 plank. The customary duties of the morning watch 
 were being commenced, and the look-out was sent aloft. 
 After the seaman had reached his post in the cross- 
 trees, he quietly seated himself, supporting his back 
 against the head of the mast ; then his strengthened 
 eye swept around a clear, unbroken horizon, until 
 it stopped in the direction of one point abaft the 
 beam, and after a long and attentive gaze he sung 
 out at the top of his hoarse voice, " Sail ho ! " 
 For a few minutes all was excitement, but as it was now 
 a dead calm, and very little appearance of wind, the 
 chance was small to get within speaking distance 
 shortly. 
 
 The duties of the morning watch, and breakfast being 
 finished, the Cruiser was got into complete readiness for 
 action. The great probability was, that the strange 
 sail was a man-of-war, as it was not a position for mer 
 chant vessels to be in without convoy. It was a matter 
 of little import to the officers or men, whether the stran- 
 174
 
 THE ^AMERICAN CRUISER. 175 
 
 ger was a man-of-war or merchant vessel, for having so 
 little to do in the last fifteen days, they were eager to 
 wet their palates, and cared not whether it was a chase, 
 or an action. 
 
 Hour after hour passed away, and no ripple or cat's- 
 paw was seen on the surface of the ocean, neither was 
 the bearing or distance of the two vessels altered. Tw* 
 bells was struck, and not a change, the same intermin 
 able calm prevailed ; but the young seaman who had 
 the look-out aloft, reported that the stranger was a ship, 
 having a breeze from the eastward and bearing down 
 upon the Cruiser, her top-gallant-sails being lifted. The 
 cat's-paw and over-falls came dancing over the deep, 
 and before a half hour passed, the breeze was 
 settled and steady. 
 
 " I hope the stranger will keep in the same mind as 
 she is now," observed the Commander, " and we shall 
 be better acquainted before dark." 
 
 Every yard was now trimmed to the breeze on the 
 larboard tack, and a few minutes brought the stranger 
 in sight from the deck, but as soon as 'her hull was 
 lifted, she suddenly hauled close to the wind, on the 
 same tack with the Cruiser. 
 
 " He has the weather-guage of us," continued the 
 Commander, " and until we know something more about 
 him, I should like to change positions." 
 
 " I am of the same opinion," -replied the first lieu 
 tenant ; " but that movement tells me that he is some 
 fat merchantman, or letter of marque, perhaps, and calcu 
 lated when he first saw us that he would make a prize."
 
 176 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 Innumerable were the conjectures in relation to the 
 character of our neighbor. Again and again were the 
 glasses put in requisition to. see if any thing could be 
 discovered to decide conflicting opinions. The stranger 
 had taken in studding-sails and was close by the wind, 
 bearing directly abeam of the Cruiser. All doubts 
 that had been entertained of her character were now 
 dispelled } she was certainly not a man-of-war, and even 
 if she were an armed vessel, it was now apparent that 
 she did not admire the looks of the Cruiser. 
 
 " That craft to windward," said the skipper, " does 
 not appear like a sleepy merchantman ; she carries a 
 stout sail, square yards, and shows us as bold a side as 
 a frigate, for she is as upright as a dish, and were it 
 not for this move, and I believe it is only a manoeuvre, 
 I should decide that she was a man-of-war. However, 
 we will swagger up to her, and if my conjecture is 
 right, we shall have use for all our muslin shortly." 
 
 All the light sails were therefore got in readiness, and 
 Long Tom was prepared to enter into conversation with 
 the stranger, if required. The northeastern breeze fresh 
 ened and blew briskly. It was now a fair trial of speed 
 between the two vessels, but the Cruiser had the advan 
 tage, for she not only lay a point nearer to the wind, 
 but actually head-reached quite as fast, so that by 
 sunset the relative distance between the two was very 
 much lessened, not being more than a half mile apart, 
 and it became evident that the stranger was an English 
 man, and would not risk an action if it could possibly 
 be avoided. After night had set in, the Cruiser
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 177 
 
 shortened sail to drop in the wake of the ship, so as to 
 keep her close aboard, during the night. This man 
 oeuvre was effected, and by eight o'clock the Cruiser 
 was about musket shot distant from the ship. 
 
 The night was clear, and the moon had risen and was 
 calmly sailing on, far up in the blue ether, silvering the 
 deep with her gentle radiance, and showering a flood of 
 sparkles on every billowy crest, that rolled up and 
 shivered in her light. Every where objects were 
 discernible with as much distinctness as under the 
 noonday sun. The breeze sang through the rigging 
 with a joyous sound, singularly pleasing, after the si 
 lence and monotony of the fore part of the day ; and 
 the waves that parted beneath the cutwater, rolled glit 
 tering astern along the sides, while ever and anon, some 
 billow larger than its fellows broke over the bow, 
 sending its foam crackling back to the foremast. 
 Around the deck the men were gathered each one 
 beside his allotted gun, silently awaiting the moment of 
 attack. The cutlasses had been served out, the board 
 ing pikes and muskets were convenient for use ; the 
 balls had already been on deck, and the Cruiser only 
 Avaited for some demonstration on the part of the foe 
 to open the magazine, *and commence the combat in 
 earnest ; but no manifestation was made, for she kept 
 on her way under a cloud of sail, in profound silence, 
 evidently wishing to avoid the combat altogether, or 
 defer it until morning. 
 
 The morning dawn broke forth, and the first demon 
 stration of attack on the part of the foe was given.
 
 178 THE AMEKICAN CRUISER. 
 
 The ports were thrown up and displayed eight pieces 
 of cannon, and the English bunting removed all doubts 
 respecting her character, which could not be misunder 
 stood, for her broadside was poured into the Cruiser 
 without further ceremony. The enemy's shot produced 
 very little effect upon the Cruiser, only cutting away 
 some ropes, and a few air-holes through the sails. 
 
 " You had better elevate the muzzle of your gun," 
 said the old gunner, " and then mayhap you will cut 
 away our trucks. Long Tom will pepper you after a 
 different fashion, when it comes to his turn to speak." 
 As soon as the enemy had delivered her broadside, 
 she bore away, and the contest became a running fight, 
 the ship delivering her stern chasers in fine style, with 
 *some effect, but the Cruiser had not as yet fired a shot. 
 Nevertheless, as she was superior in point of sailing, she 
 closed in rapidly with the enemy, and took her position 
 on the starboard quarter of the ship. 
 
 " It is a pity to wing that craft," said the gunner, as 
 he stood by Long Tom, impatiently waiting the com 
 mand to fire, " so I'll send a decent messenger to that 
 quarter-deck." 
 
 The fire from the enemy did considerable execution, 
 and the crew, impatient of restraint, and exasperated at 
 the sight of blood, were eager to lay along side, and 
 they did not hesitate to speak their minds to that effect. 
 " Very well," said the Commander, evidently pleased 
 at the impetuosity of the men, " in twenty minutes we 
 shall be alongside of that ship, and I expect every man 
 will do his duty. Prepare, then, for boarding."
 

 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 181 
 
 \ 
 
 Just then a shot from the enemy cut away the 
 Cruiser's main-topmast. 
 
 " Is Long Tom ready ? " shouted the skipper. 
 
 " Aye, aye, sir," was the response. 
 
 " Fire ! " 
 
 A loud cracking was heard immediately after the 
 discharge of Long Tom, and when the smoke cleared 
 away, the enemy's quarter-boardrail and taffrail were 
 out away. The compliment was immediately repeated 
 by Long Tom with great effect, and the two eighteen 
 wund carronades, filled with grape and langrage shot, 
 >vere delivered in a manner that drove the Englishmen 
 from their quarters, after which the Cruiser shot along 
 side and grappled the mizzen-chains of the ship. 
 
 " Boarders away ! " shouted the skipper. 
 
 The assailants, with the young seaman and boatswain 
 at their head, boarded on the starboard quarter, rushing 
 tvith an impetuosity that drove the Englishmen as far as 
 the main-mast. Here they once more rallied, and the 
 conflict on the part of the foe, exasperated as they were 
 at the prospects of losing their ship, was so furious, that 
 for a moment 'the assailants retreated ; but the brave 
 young seaman and the boatswain, perceiving the check 
 of their shipmates, threw themselves into the hottest of 
 the fight, and with voices that reverberated far away 
 on the ocean, shouted, "Follow us, shipmates, she is 
 ours ! " 
 
 The dexterous arm of the young seaman and the 
 science of the boatswain, dealt out destruction to all who 
 had the temerity to oppose them, while the undaunted 
 16
 
 182 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 first lieutenant drove the Englishmen on the starboard 
 side. For a short time the wild uproar of the fight, the 
 groans of the wounded and dying, baffles all description. 
 The conflict, however, was soon decided, for the crew 
 of the ship, consisting of mongrel Frenchmen and Eng 
 lishmen together, were driven by the furious Yankees 
 as far as the fore-mast, and then sung, out for quarter. 
 At the same moment the English bunting was hauled 
 down, and the contest was at an end. This beautiful 
 prize-ship was a Gurnsey letter of marque, mounting 
 sixteen guns, with a complement of fifty men. This 
 ship, with two heavy British brigs of the same character, 
 had captured an American merchantman. The captain, 
 a first ofiicer, and three men, were now prisoners on 
 board. The high excitement of the battle, the despe 
 rate resistance of the ship's crew, together with the 
 sight of their wounded, produced a savage ferocity 
 among the Yankee tars, that no power or exertion on 
 the part of the officers could restrain, and it broke out 
 in a scene of indiscriminate robbery and plunder, which 
 could not be suppressed until the old seamen united 
 with the officers, and only then by force of arms, an 
 effectual check was made to these outrages.
 
 CHAPTER 
 
 A DASH AT THE FLEET. 
 
 THE scenes of excitement being over, and the 
 prize being ordered to the United States, it became a 
 matter of necessity to make some disposition of the pris 
 oners, for they were not only an encumbrance, but the 
 safety of the Cruiser demanded their release. It was a 
 deplorable sight to behold the prisoners stripped of all 
 their dunnage. The author being now identified as one 
 of the number composing the officers of the Cruiser, 
 suffered also in the general pillage of the ship ; but to 
 the honor of the Commander and officers be it spoken, 
 they instituted a plan of search, which proved entirely 
 effectual to the restoration of every article of clothing 
 to their respective owners, and thus, at least, some of 
 the miseries of their situation were alleviated. 
 
 In a few days we fell in with a Portuguese schooner, 
 bound to the Western Islands. This being a favorable 
 opportunity for releasing the prisoners, they were all 
 put on board with the exception of a few, who joined the 
 Cruiser. 
 
 We were now clear of our encumbrance. But the 
 manning of several prizes, besides the loss of life in the 
 
 183
 
 184 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 serious actions, reduced the number of the crew to about 
 sixty souls, and the greater part of these were any thing 
 but seamen, yet they were capable of the most daring 
 acts of desperation ; for when no other opportunity pre 
 sented to exhibit their villanous propensitiy, they would 
 rob each other. This was carried on to such an extent, 
 that the shirts of those who were sleeping in their ham 
 mocks were cut off from their backs. A circumstance of 
 this character was perpetrated on the person of one of 
 the re-captured American seamen. This poor fellow had 
 six doubloons sewed up in a flannel shirt, which he wore 
 next to his skin, and as this matter was kept a profound 
 secret, he was under the impression that it was known 
 only to himself. One night, however, after he had been 
 quietly stowed away in his hammock for about four 
 hours, he was astonished and mortified beyond measure, 
 when he turned out, to find himself minus shirt and 
 doubloons. He kept quiet until the next morning, when 
 he related to me the circumstance of the robbery, which 
 was immediately communicated to the Commander, and 
 the following plan was instituted to recover the lost 
 treasure. 
 
 All hands were piped to quarters, the muster roll 
 was then called, and when it was ascertained that all 
 were on deck, the object of this manoeuvre was made 
 known to them ; the gratings were then fastened down, 
 and all hands quietly submitted to a personal search ; 
 this being done without any discovery, the petty officers 
 were sent to overhaul the berth-deck. After a long 
 and diligent search, the stolen money was found,
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 185 
 
 stowed away in the fore-peak, very carefully concealed 
 in a box containing balls of thread and twine. The 
 recovery of the money in the box was the means of find 
 ing out the miserable culprit, upon whom was inflicted 
 a severe punishment, after which this wretched practice 
 was measurably suppressed. 
 
 A few days after the events related in the preceding 
 chapter, I was roused up in the morning watch, by the 
 exciting cry of " The fleet, the fleet ! " This was the 
 long looked for, and much desired object for which the 
 Cruiser had been furrowing these seas, to the imminent 
 hazard of being taken. 
 
 It was a clear, bland morning ; the eastern breeze 
 blew gently, the sea was perfectly smooth, and a de 
 nned horizon stretched far away in a long, unbroken 
 line to the south-west. The sun already measured 
 twenty degrees altitude, and was ascending rapidly, 
 while his brilliant rays reflected on the ocean a light so 
 intense that no eye, however strong, could steadfastly 
 gaze thereon. Myriads of silvery images shot forth 
 from the crested billows, as they rolled along and 
 broke from the impetus of the wind. It was a day 
 when objects on the surface of the ocean could be 
 seen at the greatest distance, and the situation and 
 bearings of the fleet were most favorable, being at least 
 ten miles to the leeward of the Cruiser. 
 
 "We've got the weather-guage of them chaps," ob 
 served the boatswain to the young seaman, " and if our 
 skipper holds this advantage till dark, why then I'll 
 miss my reck'ning, but we '11 have some of them fat 
 16*
 
 186 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 merchantmen before morning ; just enough to finish our 
 cruise, and be off with flying colors to Yankee land." 
 
 " It is true, our prospects are fair this morning," re 
 plied the young seaman, " and I sincerely hope that no 
 dark cloud may obscure them. For my own part, 
 however, disappointments have so often fallen to my 
 lot, that they have changed the temperament of my 
 mind. I have closely observed the conduct of our 
 Commander, ever since the affair off Madeira, and his 
 rashness is the most prominent trait of his character, and 
 I fear, may yet lead to disastrous consequences. We 
 are now too near that fleet, and you are well aware that 
 one false movement may involve the fate of the 
 Cruiser, with the loss of life, and the incarceration of 
 the crew in a British prison during the remainder of the 
 war, and thus the advantages we now have, would be 
 forever cut off; while, on the other hand, a little pru 
 dence and judgment would ensure a profitable cruise, 
 and thus we might return to America with good for 
 tune." 
 
 " Why it is true what you say, messmate," replied 
 the boatswain, " for I've just been hauling my thinking 
 tacks aboard, and says I to myself, if John Bull gets a 
 squint at us", why then, d'ye see, the jig 's up, for the 
 convoy will chase us away from the fleet yonder, so that 
 it will take this craft, clean heels as she's got," to fetch 
 up to that fleet in a week, and in my way of thinking, 
 instead of edging off, I'd just bear to windward." 
 
 As the young seaman was about to reply, orders were 
 issued to the boatswain to pipe all hands to quarters.
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. J.87 
 
 " Whew ! " said the boatswain, " what's in the wind 
 now ? are we going to capture the whole of that fleet, 
 convoy and all ? " 
 
 All hands were soon on deck, and every preparation 
 was made for action. A consultation was now held on 
 the quarter-deck, the purport of which was, that any 
 nearer proximity to the fleet during the day, would be 
 hazardous ; opinions were given, until at length the Com 
 mander decided to bear up, and run down to the fleet 
 immediately. The first lieutenant remonstrated against 
 this proceeding, and the remainder of the officers were 
 unanimous in their dissent to the measure, and hesitated 
 not to express their entire disapprobation to such a rash 
 act. It was not long before the intention of the Com 
 mander was known fore and aft. Many of the crew 
 said they would do no duty ; others were for packing 
 up their dunnage ; in short, the greater part of the crew 
 and officers made no other calculation but to be cap 
 tured. Every manoeuvre and remonstrance was, how 
 ever, in vain, for the Commander, after settling a plan 
 for action, could not be moved, either by remonstrance 
 or otherwise. The light sails were therefore got in 
 readiness, and the order was given to bear away four 
 points ; two prize-masters were sent aloft for the look 
 out, and the Cruiser, with slackened sheets, moved 
 noiselessly through the water at the rate of seven knots. 
 The relative distance between the fleet and the Cruiser 
 lessened every minute, and scarcely had an hour 
 elapsed, when by the proximity, the hulks of this nume 
 rous fleet were seen above the surface of the ocean.
 
 188 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 No sight could be more magnificent and noble than this 
 fleet presented. Upwards of four hundred sail of large 
 ships and brigs, with a fair wind, under a cloud of can 
 vass, were rolling majestically on the great deep, and 
 from the position of the Cruiser, they appeared to form 
 regular lines. Such a sight under other circumstances, 
 would have created universal delight ; but the Crui 
 ser was incurring great hazard without any positive 
 object in view, and without the least probability of 
 making any captures; on the contrary, the chances 
 were three to one against her. All these circumstances 
 threw a deep shade of gloom -among the crew and offi 
 cers, and quite banished from the mind the beauty of 
 a scene which would have attracted the intense gaze 
 and wonder of a stoic. The Cruiser had now reached 
 within a mile of the fleet, and it was reported from the 
 mast-head that the several ships and brigs were signal 
 izing ; this report was corroborated by the first lieuten 
 ant, who had the spy-glass in requisition for the last 
 half hour, gazing intently npon the enemy. 
 
 " They have discovered our character," replied he 
 to the Commander, " which has thrown them into great 
 excitement, for you perceive the extreme right of the 
 line has bore up, while the van are all hove to, and the 
 rear are crowding every stitch of canvass to close hi 
 with the convoy ; and now may I ask," he continued 
 to the Commander, " what plan of operation do you in 
 tend to pursue next ? " 
 
 The Commander paused for a moment, and appeared 
 to have no definite plan matured, but recovering him-
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER- 189 
 
 self immediately, promptly replied, "We will speak 
 with that ship you see there, about two points on the 
 larboard bow." 
 
 The Cruiser was hauled up immediately and Long 
 Tom was got in readiness, and the old gunner gruffly 
 observed that his friend was going to hold a very un 
 becoming conversation, and one from which he would 
 gain no credit. 
 
 The Cruiser now ranged up boldly towards the ship, 
 and although the enemy was under a press of canvass, 
 the former overhauled her hand over hand, and when 
 in speaking distance the Englishman was ordered to 
 heave to. He however with undaunted firmness heed 
 ed not the threats, but kept steadily on his course, un 
 til the patience of the Commander became exhausted, 
 and he madly ordered the gunner to let Long Tom 
 speak to him between wind and water. 
 
 The officers again remonstrated by saying that the 
 report would bring the convoy upon their heels imme 
 diately, and then the chances of escape would be ex 
 tremely doubtful. But they might as well have held 
 their breath, for the order was given to fire ; but in 
 stead of the shot passing between wind and water, the 
 mizen-mast was cut away. 
 
 At this moment the mast-head-man reported that a 
 frigate and sloop-of-war was bearing down under press 
 of canvass towards the Cruiser. The ship although 
 in much confusion, did not Heave to, while a general 
 anxiety prevailed on board the Cruiser for their own 
 safety, as the hulls of the men-of-war became plainly
 
 190 THE AMERICAS CRUISER. 
 
 visible from the deck. Long Tom was re-charged and 
 the Cruiser was hauled off from the ship, while every 
 sail was set, and she boldly ran through the fleet, 
 Long Tom paying his compliments to ah 1 within speak 
 ing distance, cutting away the spars of some and hull 
 ing others, while she bounded through the water like a 
 dolphin, and the fleet scampered away like so many 
 deer with hounds on their trail ; but what with luifing 
 and bearing away the sloop of war had gained rapidly 
 on the chase, and it became necessary to take every 
 advantage in flight. The Cruiser was therefore kept 
 away out of the fleet, and it soon became evident that 
 the chase was no laggard^ for although the Cruiser was 
 favored with her best chances of sailing, yet the sloop 
 of war perceptibly gained on the chase, but the frigate 
 dropped astern. 
 
 " We are likely to have a pretty day's work on't," 
 said the boatswain to the young seaman, " and that 
 madcap skipper of ours, although he has had some fun 
 with the Englishmen, yet I'll miss my reck'ning if that 
 chap astarn won't have the best conversation after all, 
 if our old plan of trimming ship don't succeed, for you 
 see messmate she is overhauling us. Now I don't mind 
 having a bit of dust with an equal chance, but that 
 twenty gun brig opposite is great odds against this 
 Cruiser and our crew." 
 
 The sloop of war was now within gun shot, and her 
 bow-chasers were sent after the Cruiser in rapid suc 
 cession, but without effect. The old expedient of trim 
 ming was now resorted to, and the good effects were
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 191 
 
 plainly perceived. In less than half an hour from this 
 time it was evident the Cruiser gained upon the chase, 
 for every shot fell short, and in an hour and a half the 
 Cruiser luffed up, while Long Tom occasionally paid his 
 compliments to the. sloop of war. The chase was con 
 tinued for about four hours, during which time the 
 Cruiser gained half a league on the chase, and the 
 Englishman no doubt believing that the Cruiser was 
 sufficiently far to leeward of the fleet, and it would be 
 impossible for her to overhaul them during the night, 
 gave up the chase and hauled upon a wind. 
 
 'From this time, the confidence which ought to rest in 
 the Commander by the officers and crew, was gradually 
 withdrawn. The events of this day had proved him to 
 be entirely incapable of the management of a private 
 armed vessel, for this mad freak had not only destroyed 
 the object of the cruise, but it had also uselessly put in 
 jeopardy the lives of the crew, and had well nigh sealed 
 the fate of the Cruiser ; it was the means, also of pro 
 longing the cruise, and blasted the prospects which bid 
 so fair in the morning of that day to end in brilliant suc 
 cess. Notwithstanding great chagrin reigned among 
 ihe officers and crew, yet after all this headstrong and 
 daring act, and the management of the Cruiser in the 
 chase, in some degree, at least, atoned for the rashness 
 and impetuosity of the Commander. 
 
 " The events of this day have concluded like many of 
 my history," observed the young seaman to the boat- 
 swam, " and when the sun rose with all its splen 
 dor this morning, and when, too, the hopes of.
 
 192 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 the crew were wrought up to the greatest pitch at 
 the fair prospect, not only of gain, but also of ending 
 our cruise, even then you are aware, my friend, that my 
 hopes were far from sanguine that this day would end 
 pleasantly and profitably, and I cannot help the presen 
 timent, that although sunshine, and fair weather, and 
 fair prospects marked the commencement of this cruise, 
 yet to me, dark clouds will rise, and misfortunes fall 
 around this vessel. Yes, my friend," he con 
 tinued, " whether it may be by the tornado, or the 
 hurricane, or by the enemy's shot, yet I fear this craft 
 will lay her timbers beneath the billows of the ocean." 
 
 " Why, messmate," replied the boatswain, " I just 
 had some misgivings of that sort myself; but what's the 
 odds, if a sailor does his duty, whether he is sent under 
 hatches by a blast of wind, or by a streak of lightning, 
 or by the enemy's shot making daylight through him ? I 
 say, what's the odds, if he goes to kingdom come with a 
 clean set of papers, won't he be ready to answer to his 
 name cheerfully when the muster-roll is called at the 
 last day ? " 
 
 " It is true," replied the young seaman mournfully; 
 " but then something more is necessary than the mere 
 discharge of our duty to our fellow-men, in order to en 
 sure a peaceful end and eternal happiness in the other 
 world. Yes, my friend, although we are true mess 
 mates and friends, and although so far as our duty is 
 concerned toward our fellow-men, we have endeavored 
 to discharge it faithfully, yet, we are both of us exceed 
 ingly deficient in the discharge of our duty toward
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISES,. 193 
 
 God in order to obtain a passport for another and a 
 better world." 
 
 " Well, messmate," replied the boatswain, " since we 
 are upon that tack, and you're high larnt, I'd just like to 
 know how a chap 's to square away by the lifts and bra 
 ces, and trim his sails, and get safe into the good 
 Port?" 
 
 " The Bible is the word of God," observed the young 
 seaman, " and may be properly compared to a chart. 
 On this chart, then, the latitude and longitude of the 
 good Port is correctly laid down ; here, every rock, 
 shoal, quicksand and breaker, is faithfully and clearly 
 .pointed out. The true course is also laid down, and what 
 is of still greater advantage to poor sailors, the track is 
 marked off on this chart from this world to the broad 
 Bay of Heaven, so that we may correctly learn our 
 position each day, for there can be no mistakes in this 
 log-book. There is one thing more that is necessary to 
 ensure a safe passage, and happy entrance into Port, 
 and that is, we must take on board the Heavenly Pilot. 
 Now this Pilot is not only an able seaman, but a most 
 skillful navigator ; he has never lost a ship, neither has 
 he run any on shore, or carried away a spar or rope- 
 yarn ; but then it is necessary that the strictest attention 
 should be given to all his orders ; if we fail to do this, 
 he will leave the ship, and then there are nine chances 
 out of ten that she will become a perfect wreck on the 
 shoals of Destruction. There is one thing more ; when 
 you take this Pilot on board, you must not doubt his 
 ability and power to get you safe into Port ; if you do, 
 17
 
 194 THE AMERICAN CKUISER. 
 
 you will be likely either to disobey his commands, or 
 there will be an indifference on your part to obey 
 them promptly ; and thus you may weary his patience, 
 so that he may leave you to the mercy of the winds and 
 the waves." 
 
 Here the conversation closed for the present, with the 
 request on the part of the boatswain to the young sea 
 man, that he would point out the way in which he should 
 get this Pilot on board. The young seaman promised to 
 do so at some future opportunity, and as the first watch 
 was at an end, they both turned in for the night.
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 DISAFFECTION OF THE CREW, LUDICROUS STORY FROM JIMMY 
 
 EVERY day brought with it fresh proofs of the gene 
 ral disaffection of the crew and officers, and a with 
 drawal of that confidence from the Commander which 
 is at all times necessary to ensure a good state of dis 
 cipline, as well as the success of the cruise. Nor was 
 this disaffection kept silent, for they hesitated not to 
 declare their sentiments aloud ; and although the Com 
 mander affected to turn a deaf ear, yet he plainly saw 
 that it was necessary to have some counteracting re 
 source in order that this general disorder might not 
 break out into an open mutiny. He saw evidently that 
 his own imprudence and rashness had brought about 
 this state of dislike, and also was the means of prolong 
 ing the cruise. The chances also of falling in with 
 British merchantmen were now comparatively small, 
 and even if they did so, of course they would be run 
 ning ships well manned and armed, prepared for des 
 perate resistance. All these circumstances combined 
 made it necessary to attempt some daring exploit, 
 speedy capture, or some other resource to draw off 
 the minds of the crew and officers, in order that he 
 
 195
 
 
 196 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 might regain their confidence ; as to the- two former of 
 these expedients nothing as yet had transpired to effect 
 his plan. There was a resource, however, always at 
 hand, and this was no other than the musical powers of 
 Jimmy. lie had gradually ingratiated himself into the 
 good graces of the officers, and was now more than ever 
 a favorite with the crew. In their estimation his fife 
 discoursed eloquent music, so that with the concord 
 of sweet sounds, and his irresistible tact in relating 
 quaint stories, he was at this time, especially, a most 
 important character. The little musician, therefore, em 
 ployed all his skill in both branches : that is, when his 
 fife was silent, the other member, namely his tongue, 
 made up the deficiency, so that between one and the 
 other, Jimmy's powers, (though unconsciously,) effected 
 for the Commander that which his rashness had in some 
 degree lost ; at any rate it served for the time being to 
 keep down the spirit of insubordination, which if carried 
 out, would have proved disastrous, and put an end to the 
 cruise. 
 
 It was at the conclusion of one of those days of mer 
 riment and glee, inspired by the musical powers of Jim 
 my, after four hours of hard fifing, that you might have 
 seen him in the midst of a large group of seamen, qui 
 etly seated on the main-deck, preparing to spin out a 
 long yarn, to the no small gratification of the listeners, 
 who were ready with mouths, eyes and ears open to 
 swallow every word that proceeded from the mouth of 
 their favorite, while Jimmy, coiling up his short legs, 
 twisted his mouth, and threw his small eyes over
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 197 
 
 the company with such an expression of comic hu 
 mor, that they simultaneously broke out into an immod 
 erate fit of laughter. After the uproar had ceased, 
 there was a profound silence, and Jimmy, with his fife 
 in one hand, and with the two fingers of the other, as 
 his custom was, thrust into his hreeches pocket, gave 
 two or three loud hems, and began his yarn as follows : 
 " Gentlemen," said Jimmy, " I thought as how when 
 there would be a good time, I'd give you a story about 
 myself; and as we havn't much to do about these parts, 
 why it's just about the right time to come at it at once. 
 Well, though I can't boast of being kin to any high 
 bred folks, and as I don't exactly remember who my 
 parents were, only by hearsay ; yet if they was not high 
 bred, nor high larnt, they were high metal ; for as I 
 was told, my father was the bully of the high-binders, 
 and my mother used to go by the name, down to the 
 Hook, of fighting Nance. How this was I can't tell, for 
 all I remember of her is a sound drubbing "that I had 
 from her ; and I afterwards larnt, she filled up her 
 days in the respectable condition of a house servant at 
 the Hook, and my father was clapped in the peniten 
 tiary just for knocking a man down, and making off with 
 his pocket-book, where he finished his days, and I was 
 left upon the wide world to make my fortune. As good 
 luck would have it, gentlemen, you see I had a kind of 
 a notion in them young days of mine about singfcg and 
 music, and so after I had lost my parents, (which by 
 the way didn't care much about me,) why then I was 
 thrown upon the wide world, to get my living the best 
 17*
 
 198 THE AMERICAN CBUISER. 
 
 way I could. Sometimes I slept in the cellar, and 
 sometimes in the garret, when any one was kind enough 
 to take me in. Well, hi the day time I used to stroll 
 about the streets of York, and beg what I could to live 
 on, and then I would go about and listen to the music. 
 But what most of all delighted me was, to stand by the 
 place where they listed sogers ; the rattle of the drums 
 made me jump for joy : but when the fifer played on 
 his instrument, (here Jimmy brandished his fife three 
 or four times over his head in great triumph,) I used to 
 laugh, and cry all in the same breath, and so I thought 
 I'd try to beg money enough to buy a fife and larn to 
 play myself. Well, it was n6t long before I got to 
 gether enough, and away I goes to a music shop, and 
 got the fife, aye, and paid the money down for it too ; 
 so I spent many long days and nights before I could 
 larn to play one tune, but perseverance and hard trying 
 made me, as near as I can tell, not only a pretty good 
 fife-player when I was about fifteen years old, but I 
 could sing a pretty good song and tell a pretty funny 
 story too, so that I used to go by the name of the little 
 fifer. Well, one day, as I was trying my best to play 
 the President's March, close by a beer shop, the sound 
 of my fife got a considerable crowd around me ; so after 
 I had finished playing, 
 
 " ' That's not bad,' says one. 
 
 " ' Where did you larn to play the fife ? ' says 
 another. 
 
 " Why,' says a third, he'll do to fife for the York 
 Volunteers.'
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 19y 
 
 " At the sound of these last words, I pricked up my 
 ears, and was just about to ask a question, when a short, 
 thick, red-faced man came up and inquired where I 
 lived. ' Why, may 't please your honor,' says I, ' I've 
 got no father nor mother, no home ; and if I must tell 
 the truth, I live in the streets, only when some good 
 person lets me sleep in his cellar, garret, or stable.' 
 
 " ' Well,' says he to me, ' how would you like to 
 come and live with me ; I'll put you into a genteel way 
 of getting along, and if you mind your eye, it would 
 make a man of you.' 
 
 "I couldn't help making a baby of myself at this 
 offer, for somehow or other I felt queer, and so I 
 thanked him, and told Mm I was ready to sarve him 
 in any way ; so I thrust my fife into my bosom, and 
 walked off with this same man, until we came to a 
 small house, with a sign before the door of a large bell ; 
 so we went into this house, and there was a good many 
 people setting round different tables, with mugs, and 
 glasses, and pipes, and tobacco, while some was drink 
 ing, some was swearing, and many was smoking, and 
 the room nearly choked me, for it was in a cloud of 
 smoke. After I had got my breath, I looked up at one 
 end of the room, and it seemed to be all closed in from 
 the other part, and there was barrels and kegs, and 
 great pots, and pint pots, and half-pint pots, and when 
 they wanted to put these out of sight, they had a red 
 curtain which they drawed right across that part of the 
 room. While I stood looking on, the gentleman called, 
 
 " ' Here, my man,' says he, ' what's your name ? '
 
 200 THE AMERICAN CRUISES. 
 
 " ' That's just what I can't tell you,' says I, for my 
 father went by the name of the bully, and my mother 
 by the name of fighting Nance ; so between them both, 
 it was hard to tell which name to go by ; and then I 
 had no name at all from them, but after I turned out to 
 make my own living, I always went by the name of 
 Pimple with those that knew me, because they said my 
 head was so small." Here Jimmy's mouth expanded, his 
 nostrils dilated, and his little eyes beamed with a quaint 
 expression, and simultaneously the little musician and 
 the whole company broke out into an immoderate fit of 
 laughter ; for it will be recollected that Jimmy had the 
 largest head of any man on board. , 
 
 After the excitement produced by this last sally was 
 over, the little musician proceeded : 
 
 " ' Pimple,' said the gentleman, ' that's an odd name 
 anyhow, but howsomever, we'll just take off the two last 
 letters, by way of short'ning it, and now you understand 
 you're to go by the name of Pimp. And now Mr. 
 Pimp, said the landlord,' for I found out it was no other 
 than himself who kept this house, ' if you will exert 
 yourself and sarve my interest, why then you shall have 
 the best of good living with the servants, and sixpence 
 a week for pocket money.' 
 
 " I thanked him, and asked him what I should go 
 about. 
 
 " ' Why,' says he, * you must be a kind of porter to 
 this bar-room.' 
 
 " ' And what's that ? ' says I. 
 
 " * Why,' says he, ' first and foremost, you must lam
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 201 
 
 to sing well, for that will fetch in the customers ; and 
 then you must clean boots, scrub the floor, tend the tap 
 room, and every thing else that's wanting ; and hark 'ee, 
 Mr. Pimp, if you are a good boy, your wages shall be 
 raised very soon.' 
 
 " I thanked him kindly, but I didn't much like the 
 last work he spoke of, for I thought to do every thing 
 that was wanting was a little more than I could do ; 
 howsomever, I didn't much care, so long as I had my 
 fife, and had time to sing songs ; so I went on cheer 
 fully to my new business, and it was not long before I 
 got into the good graces of the landlord and his custom 
 ers, for my fife and my songs brought many a one of 
 them to the house ; and this was a good thing for me, 
 as well as the landlord, for many a sixpence and 
 shilling I -used to get when I pleased them with, 
 my songs. 
 
 " Well, things went on in this way, until I became a 
 man of big importance, for I sarved the landlord's inte 
 rest, and he, to make it up, gave me all his old clothes 
 to wear out, and raised my wages, and got me a place, 
 sure enough, to fife for the York Volunteers. But as 
 the saying is, there's an end of all things ; so my good 
 fortune was not to last for ever. So you see, gentlemen, 
 I was one day at dinner, cutting off the leavings of a 
 leg of mutton with the cook, and she was a short, thick, 
 squabby, red-faced, one-eyed Irish gal. 
 
 " Says she to me, ' Sure Misther Pimple, I've been. 
 -just Sf thinking we were made for each other.' 
 
 "'Why?' says I.
 
 202 THE AMERICAN CRUISER, 
 
 " * Why,' says she, ' aren't we enuff alike to be moth* 
 er's son and darter.' 
 
 " ' Why that may be,' says I. 
 
 " ' And isn't it I,' says she, ' that saw the likeness 
 the moment I clapped my fut in these doors.' 
 
 " * Well,' says I, ' we may be something alike, ex 
 cept,' and then I put my finger on one eye, ' you 
 know what I mean,' says I. 
 
 " ' Mane ! that I do ; heaven be praised, I got one 
 lift; and sure, Misther Pimple, aren't three eyes be- 
 twane two of us better nor none at all ? ' 
 
 " ' That's very true,' says I, ' but what has your one 
 eye to do with my two eyes ? ' 
 
 " * Sure,' says she, ' won't you be afther making me 
 spake out.' 
 
 " ' 0, yes,' says I, ' I'd like to hear it alL' 
 
 " ' Well then,' says she, ' if I must, I must ; and to 
 tell ye the thruth, ever since the first time I darkened 
 these doors, and heard the sound of your whistle, didn't 
 it go to my heart, and when ye was blowing the swate 
 tune of Erin-go-bragh, didn't it put me in mind of the 
 soil where I was bred and born.' 
 
 " ' Did it though,' says I ; ' that's not the first ' time 
 that the sound of my fife has made a gal's heart jump, 
 aye, and her heels too, for the matter of that.' 
 
 "'Sure, Misther Pimp,' says she, 'but you're a 
 coaxer,' and here Katy, for that was her name, begun to 
 be very melancholy. 
 
 " ' Och ! sure Misther Pimp, isn't it I that's getting 
 tired of this kind of life, and isn't it you that takes up
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 208 
 
 my thoughts, to change the way of getting my bread.' 
 
 " ' Well, Katy,' says I, ' what kind of a change would 
 you like ? ' 
 
 " ' That's just what I'll be afther telling you ; isn't it 
 I that's been thinking that a nate little room would be 
 a snug way of getting our bread together ;. and is n't it 
 we that looks like two pase, that it's a God's pity to sep 
 arate us ? ' 
 
 " ' Oh ho ! Katy,' says I, * are you there? but how 
 shall we fix it ? ' 
 
 " * God's blessing be upon you, Misther Pimp ; but 
 is'nt it I that's been thinking about my confession, and 
 won't we go together, and afther Father O'Connor, God 
 bless his sow], lias pardoned my sins, won't we just be 
 afther asking him to marry us.' Here Katy simpered 
 and laughed, and dropped a tear out of one eye, while 
 the other was as dry as a powder horn, as she stam 
 mered out, ' What's your mind to that, Misther Pimp ?' 
 
 " * Why,' says I ' that would be a change of life, sure 
 enough, and I don't think it would be a very bad one ; 
 so Katy laughed, and I sung, ' Come haste to the wed 
 ding ; ' and so after we fixed the night for confession, we 
 both parted very happy. 
 
 " Well, things went on swimmingly from this time, 
 but somehow or other I got jealous of Katy, for the sound 
 of my fife brought the grenadier Irish sodger man to the 
 tap-room, and so he scraped 'quaintance with Katy. I 
 could see it, for she didn't talk much after this about 
 the ' nate little room.' Well, the night came on that 
 we fixed for confession, and so I puts my best clothes on,
 
 204 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 and goes down to the kitchen for Katy. When I got 
 in, ' Are you there, Misther Pimp ? ' says she ; ' better 
 late nor never.' 
 
 "Just as I was going to say something to her, in 
 walks the Irish sodger man. 
 
 " ' Good avening, Misthress O'Flagherty.' 
 " ' Good avening to ye, Misther O'Donegan.' 
 " ' How is it wid yer health this avening? ' said he. 
 " ' Never was better, be God's blessing,' says she. 
 " ' Sure,' says he, ' don't you look for all the world 
 like Pegg Me Grath, that used to set the buther-milk 
 and petates before me, afther a hard day's drill in Kill- 
 kenny.' 
 
 " ' Isn't it I,' says Katy, ' that's been thinking about 
 swate Ireland ever since the first night we had our chat 
 together.' 
 
 " Well," said the little musician, " they went on, 
 talking about swate Ireland, 'till I thought it was time 
 to go to confession ; then says I, ' Katy, have you for 
 got your promise ? ' 
 
 " ' Promise ! ' says she, in a very loud voice, ' is it 
 
 you that would be afther insulting a vartuous 'oman, 
 
 when she's talking wid a gintleman about her counthry ?' 
 
 " ' Oh no ! ' says I, ' but then this is the night you 
 
 promised to go to confession.' 
 
 " ' Och ! botheration, not a word of it, you spalpeen.' 
 " * Yes,' says I, ' but Katy remember' 
 " ' Remember what ? ' she bawled out, ' do ye mane 
 to say and tell this gintleman here that I am not a var 
 tuous 'oman, ye duck-legged, pigeon-toed,' here she
 
 THE AMEKICAN CRUISER. 205 
 
 was going on with a long string of names, and I looked 
 round and saw the tall grenadier sodger on his feet, 
 coming toward me with a fierce look in his face ; so as 
 the door was very near and the time for confession was 
 now too late, I just thought I would back out, and leave 
 the sodger and Katy to spend' the evening together." 
 
 The listeners to Jimmy's story could hold in no lon 
 ger ; and when he had finished the last sentence, they 
 broke out into a roar of laughter. When silence was 
 restored, they questioned Jimmy as to his future opera 
 tions. 
 
 " Well," continued the little musician, " it was not 
 long after this that Katy and the grenadier sodger 
 went to confession, and Father O'Conher made them 
 man and wife ; so after this, I got somewhat mel 
 ancholy, and thinks I to myself, this is not the place for 
 me, so I'll get as far off from it as I can ; so, gentle 
 men, as the war made a great talk, and as I couldn't 
 think of remaining longer with my old master, I thought 
 I'd try my luck in the wars, and as I heard great talk 
 about this vessel, you see, gentlemen, I went directly 
 and put my name down on the articles." 
 
 When the little musician had finished his narrative, a 
 score of voices bawled out for a song. Jimmy complied 
 with the request, and as former associations were called 
 up, to use his own language, he observed he would sing 
 to drive away his melancholy, and forthwith struck up 
 the famous song of " Hard, hard is my fate." 
 18
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 BOARDING AT NIGHT. 
 
 THERE is no service connected with naval warfare 
 that is attended with so much peril and hazard as two 
 vessels- in collision, boarding ; but when this service is 
 executed in the night, it is infinitely more hazardous, 
 because the assailed has the ad vantage of concealment ; 
 and further, if the actual force of the enemy is not 
 correctly ascertained, it is always considered rashness 
 to attempt it unless the assailants consist of a much 
 greater force than the repellants. Many instances 
 during the war will serve to illustrate the position here 
 advanced. The following is one instance among many 
 others. It will be recollected that the privateer Prince 
 de Neufchatel, Captain Oudinot, was chased into 
 Nantucket Roads by the British frigate Endymion. 
 As it fell calm, the privateer, by the aid of the sweeps, 
 pulled into the Roads beyond the frigate's guns ; she 
 determined, however, to carry the privateer by board 
 ing. Perceiving the disposition of the frigate, Captain 
 Oudinot made every preparation for a determined 
 and spirited resistance, and although there were but 
 twenty men on board of the privateer, (as they had 
 206
 
 !tHB AMERICAN CRUISER. 207 
 
 sent them off to man the different prizes,) yet the un 
 daunted courage of Captain Oudinot and his men did 
 not quail at the very superior force of the enemy. 
 Seven boats from the frigate, including the launch, 
 were manned with one hundred and fifty of their 
 choicest seamen, and despatched for the awful conflict. 
 Captain Oudinot took the precaution to have the priva 
 teer well greased all round, his boarding nettings 
 triced up, and every port closed in; he then cut 
 holes sufficiently large through the ports, to point a 
 musket at the assailant. A match was then lighted, 
 and it was unanimously agreed to blow up the privateer, 
 rather than to let her fall into the hands of the 
 Englishmen. 
 
 The boats of the frigate came boldly up to the con 
 flict, receiving a heavy fire of round, grape, and lan- 
 grage from the privateer's guns, which completely dis 
 abled two boats with the loss of many lives. Not in 
 the least daunted by this severe check, and now 
 reduced to five boats, they pulled gallantly alongside of 
 the privateer, when a most desperate and sanguinary 
 strife ensued. The Englishmen fought to desperation, 
 but every attempt to gain the deck was met and. 
 repelled with great loss on the part of the British, 
 while the assailed were comparatively secure under 
 the shelter of the bulwarks, which were impervious 
 to the musket balls and pikes of the assailants; 
 many of them were shot down through the holes made 
 in the ports, and others, in attempting to climb up the 
 sides, were either piked, or from their inability to hold 

 
 208 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 on, (from the quantity of grease on the sides,) met 
 their fate by drowning. I had this report from a 
 seaman composing one of the crew of the privateer, 
 who assured me that he shot and piked seven English 
 men from the hawse-hole of the privateer. This bloody 
 battle lasted nearly two hours, and with the exception 
 of two boats belonging to the English frigate, which 
 made their way back, all were literally cut to pieces, 
 and the loss of life on the part of the British was 
 fearful, while that of the Americans was comparatively 
 small. 
 
 Since the dash at the fleet, nothing transpired tc 
 arouse excitement, or to drive away those feelings of 
 uneasiness which had gathered around the officers in 
 the wardroom. They were not long destined, however, 
 to remain in this state of inactivity, for just at the con 
 clusion of one of those meals, the coarseness of which 
 generally brought on some angry debate, the exciting 
 cry of " S-a-i-1 h-o ! " was heard from the mast-head, 
 and soon the boatswain's pipe sounded " A-l-1 h-a-n-d-s 
 m-a-k-e s-a-i-1 a-h-o-y ! " In a very short time the 
 Cruiser was under a cloud of canvass, and her course 
 on the trail of the stranger. !Fhe necessary inquiries 
 were now made, such as, " How far is she off? " " What 
 does she look like?" &c., to all of which interroga 
 tories the masthead-man replied, viz. " that she was 
 scarcely discernible from the topgallant-yard, and as to 
 her character or her course, he could give no definite 
 answer." As the day had now advanced, and as the 
 hour was one o'clock, P. M., it was a matter of great
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 209 
 
 uncertainty, unless there was great disparity in the 
 sailing of the two vessels, whether they could overhaul 
 her before night. 
 
 The greatest anxiety prevailed throughout the 
 Cruiser, for an hour had passed away, and no percep 
 tible difference was discovered in the relative distance 
 of the chase, and hope, which had animated the coun 
 tenances of the crew, now settled into a kind of des 
 pondency, for the most sanguine on board well knew 
 that it would be impossible to ascertain her character 
 before night, consequently fears were entertained 
 she would elude the vigilance of the Cruiser under its 
 cover. Add to this, the wind now blew stiffly at 
 W. S. W., and the weather wore- a very threatening 
 aspect ; heavy clouds rose up in enormous piles in the 
 western board, and the scud was driven rapidly to the 
 eastward by the increasing gale, while the mist and 
 rain, were driven along by fitful gusts, which ever and 
 anon blew with violence. The sea, which until this 
 time had been comparatively smooth, rose to a con 
 siderable height, heaving up heavy black masses of 
 water, while the crested billows on the top broke, and 
 the dashing foam, with silvery light, sparkled amid the 
 angry element. The light sails were all taken in, and 
 the Cruiser bounded over the waves, with the rapidity 
 of a fiery courser that had been urged to his utmost 
 speed, and the spars groaned and bent, as if unequal 
 to the torture of bearing the immense press of canvass, 
 and threatened every moment by their overburdened 
 weight, either to capsize the Cruiser, or go by the board. 
 18*
 
 210 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 The mist had by this time enveloped the Cruiser, and 
 the violence of the wind had driven it far to leeward, 
 so that the stranger could not be seen. Sail after sail 
 was taken in, as the gale increased in violence, and all 
 hopes were now at an end of overhauling the chase, as it 
 became a matter of necessity to get the Cruiser away 
 before night, and even should it clear away, it would 
 be impossible to range alongside of the stranger, as the 
 collision would endanger both the vessels and the lives 
 of the crews. Hour after hour rolled away, while the 
 tempest increased in fury, the rain fell in torrents, 
 and the vision was entirely obscured by the heavy 
 mist which had now completely surrounded the vast 
 expanse of waters and the whole horizon. After the 
 canvass had been reduced, and the light spars sent 
 down from aloft, and the Cruiser nearly stripped of her 
 dress to bear up under the contending elements, a con 
 sultation was held by the Commander and first lieu 
 tenant in regard to the best method of proceeding, so 
 as to keep (if possible,) within sight of the stranger, 
 and be prepared, should the mist clear away, and the 
 gale break, to renew the chase, and ascertain her char 
 acter. As the Cruiser was that day hi the latitude of 
 the Capes of Lisbon, and as the stranger was steering 
 away to the eastward, it was thought by the Com 
 mander, that she might be a licensed vessel bound to 
 the south of Europe with supplies for the troops on the 
 Peninsula. His counsel, therefore, was to keep the 
 Cruiser on the same course that she was steering when 
 she lost sight of the stranger. The first lieutenant dis-
 
 AMERICAN CRUISER. 211 
 
 sented from this opinion, intimating that she must b,e 
 some running ship, well manned and armed, and the 
 truth of this position, he affirmed, was scarcely to be 
 doubted, from the fact of her superior sailing. 
 
 After various opinions had been given, it was re 
 solved to steer away to the eastward, keeping as near 
 as possible on the same course, as when the stranger 
 was last seen. Night now came on, and brought with 
 it no cessation of the tempest ; the wind blew in strong 
 gusts, and with frightful intonations that shrieked 
 through the blocks and rigging, as if proclaiming the 
 funeral dirge of the Cruiser and her crew. It was 
 just as eight bells were struck, before the com 
 mencement of the first watch at night, that the wind 
 shifted suddenly to the northwest, and blew with re 
 doubled violence. The cross sea occasioned by this 
 sudden interruption of the southwester, had well nigh 
 proved fatal to the Cruiser. As it was, the reefed sail, 
 (which was the only sail set,) was blown away from the 
 bolt-rope, and the craft was kept before the wind to the 
 southeast, while the dashing foam,. from the effect of 
 both winds, broke with a violent concussion over the 
 Cruiser's decks, and she scud away four hours before 
 the fury of the tempest, at the rate of twelve knots. 
 The hopes that were entertained a few hours before the 
 commencement of this gale of taking a fat prize, were 
 now entirely banished from every mind, and unless the 
 stranger had taken the same squall in the same way, 
 and its violence obliged her to keep before the wind, 
 there did not seem to be any probability that the
 
 212 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 Cruiser would fall in with her again. As soon as the 
 violence of the northwester had abated, and a new fore 
 sail bent, the Cruiser was hauled up again to the east 
 ward. The heavy cloud, which until this time had risen 
 up in the western board, now lifted from the horizon, 
 and a long line of blue sky stretched far away, and the 
 northwestern scud rolled along rapidly, settling away to 
 the eastward. At midnight the wind lessened to a 
 moderate gale, the sky was perfectly clear and cloud 
 less, and the heavens were dressed with innumerable 
 glittering stars and planets, while the whole scene pre 
 sented a widely different aspect, from the former part 
 of the night. 
 
 At daybreak in the morning, the sea was compara 
 tively smooth, although the wind still blew stiffly from 
 the northwest. As soon as the mist cleared away, and 
 the horizon well-defined, the look-out at the mast-head 
 sung out, " S-a-i-1 h-o ! far away on the starboard 
 beam." Whether this was the same vessel or not 
 which was seen the previous day, could not be deter 
 mined from the immense distance that she was off. 
 The Cruiser, however, was immediately hauled on the 
 wind in chase, and sail after sail was packed on, and 
 such was the rapidity with which she flew over the bil 
 lows, that in less than an hour, it w#s clearly ascer 
 tained that the stranger was a ship standing to the 
 eastward. Nothing could exceed the joy and excite 
 ment of the crew, for although the stranger forereached 
 rapidly, yet from her appearance and manoeuvres, the 
 practised eye of a seaman could not be mistaken as to
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 213 
 
 her character. The appearance of her canvass, how 
 ever, did not indicate her to be an Englishman, and the 
 general opinion was the same as that expressed by the 
 Commander on the previous day, viz. that she was a 
 licensed vessel bound to the South of Europe. At 
 meridian, although the relative distance of the two 
 vessels was somewhat lessened, yet it was not sufficient 
 to warrant the belief or hope that she could be either 
 overhauled, or so near a proximity as to ascertain 
 her character. This opinion was corroborated at sun 
 set, as she was then judged to be five miles distant. 
 Before darkness had overspread the hemisphere, the 
 bearings of the stranger were correctly taken, and the 
 night being perfectly deaf .and cloudless, and the 
 horizon being well defined, objects could be seen at 
 considerable distance, especially with the aid of a night 
 glass, and they did not fail to put this in requisition. 
 At ten, P. M., the indefatigable gaze was rewarded 
 by the sight of the stranger holding on her course to 
 the eastward. As the wind had now fallen off to a 
 moderate breeze, and the sea was smooth, it was deter 
 mined by unanimous consent, to risk an action, or board 
 her in the night, lest under its cover she might again 
 take advantage and slip out of their hands. Every 
 preparation therefore was made for action, and all 
 were resolutely determined to capture this ship, if she 
 proved to be an Englishman. 
 
 A stern chase is a long chase, and it was not until 
 after midnight that the Cruiser was in speaking distance 
 with Long Tom. This message had the desired effect,
 
 214 THE AMERICAN CRUISEB. 
 
 for she immediately rounded to, with her topsail to the 
 mast. The Cruiser ranged up boldly, (her topsails and 
 top-gallantsails being furled, and the yards braced fore 
 and aft, so that they might not lock in with the yards 
 of the ship,) under the lee of the vessel, which was im 
 mediately grappled* After hailing, and receiving an 
 indistinct answer, the Commander of the Cruiser shouted 
 
 " Boarders, away ! " 
 
 Again the young seaman, with his faithful friend, 
 the boatswain, led on, followed by thirty desperate men. 
 They were, however, much astonished to find them 
 selves on the deck of an unarmed vessel, without encoun 
 tering any opposition, and this astonishment was in 
 creased, when they learned*that it was an American 
 ship, bound, as was conjectured previously, to the south 
 of Europe. The crew were immediately remanded on 
 board of the Cruiser, with the exception of the second 
 lieutenant and a few men, who were ordered to remain 
 on board during the night, and keep within hail of the 
 Cruiser. 
 
 It may not be amiss to state here, that during the 
 war with England, the Peninsula or the south of 
 Europe, was the great theatre of war, between the 
 French and the allied armies of England, Portugal and 
 Spain. The loss of the great resources of supplies 
 from America, from the fact that the two powers 
 were in collision, was severely felt, and in conse 
 quence, the British Government issued licenses to 
 American vessels, for the purpose not only of re 
 ceiving supplies of provisions, but also to protect them
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 215 
 
 from capture by their own men-of-war. Now as this li 
 censed trade on the part of the British was not recog 
 nized by the American Government to be lawful, 
 all such vessels were good prizes in the event of 
 its being ascertained that they sailed under the Brit 
 ish license. 
 
 Now this ship was strongly suspected by the Com 
 mander of the Cruiser to be of this character, although 
 the captain roundly affirmed that no such license was on 
 board, and that his merchants chose to incur this great 
 risk. In the examination of the ship's papers every 
 thing appeared to be correct as the captain had stated, 
 but the Commander of the Cruiser was not satisfied, and 
 immediately instituted a diligent search for the license. 
 After a long and most tedious investigation of some 
 hours in every part of the ship that was -comeatable, it 
 was at length found concealed between the upper and 
 lower parts of the anchor-stock. Every doubt, therefore, 
 was now dispelled as to her true character, and of course 
 she was taken possession of, manned, and ordered to the 
 United States. The capture of this ship, the indefati 
 gable, long chase, the daring act of boarding in the 
 night, but especially the correct opinion of the Comman 
 der in regard to the character of the ship, and whence 
 she was bound, all conspired to induce a respect 
 for the opinion of the Commander, as well as to reinstate 
 him in a great degree to the confidence of the officers 
 and crew.
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 THE YOUNG SEAMAN'S NARRATIVE CONTINUED. 
 
 IF a spectator could have stood on some high pin 
 nacle, and observed the movements of the Cruiser, he 
 would immediately have pronounced that she had no 
 positive or certain destination, for she presented a very 
 different appearance at this tune from what she had 
 the day previous, when she was completely dressed in 
 a cloud of canvass, bounding over the billows like an 
 ocean bird, or like a race-horse at his full speed, in chase 
 of the enemy. The low canvass with which she was 
 now dressed was scarcely sufficient to keep her steady, 
 and prevent her from rolling to windward. The un 
 mindful helmsman, careless of the course, while the 
 officer of the deck was discoursing upon the events of 
 the past day, took little notice of the craft as she fell off 
 and came to alternately, with a sweep that would have 
 encircled nearly half the compass. 
 
 It Avas a matter now of great curiosity and specula 
 tion what plan of operations the skipper would next pur 
 sue. Several rumors were afloat, one of which was that 
 the present cruising ground did not warrant a farther 
 delay, and that a position at the entrance of the Irish 
 216
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 217 
 
 Channel was intended for future operations. Another 
 rumor reported that she -was forthwith to run hi for the 
 land, to the northward of the Capes of Lisbon. They 
 were not, however, to remain long in doubt, for the 
 morning after the events recorded in the preceding 
 chapter, the Cruiser was kept away to make the land, 
 and before night the southern coast of Europe was seen 
 at the distance of twelve leagues. At sunset her head 
 was laid off shore under easy sail. 
 
 It was one of those peculiarly bland nights, which not 
 only invites every seaman on deck, but also conspires to 
 banish from his thoughts, (at least for the time being,) 
 past events, or the hardships and perils of an ocean life. 
 The decks presented an unusual exhibition of cheerful 
 ness, and with present feelings, the past was merged 
 and forgotten. 
 
 " HOAV light and buoyant are the hearts of these reck 
 less beings," observed the young seaman to the boat 
 swain ; "the smallest excitement would immediately 
 change this state of feeling, and then you would behold 
 the wild propensities so often shown by them in this 
 craft." 
 
 "Why as for the matter of that," replied the boat 
 swain, " I've sailed in all kinds of crafts, but in all my 
 going to sea I never was cooped up with such a set of 
 soldiers as we have on board of this craft ; and I'll tell 
 you what, messmate, between you and I, I don't care 
 how quick this cruise is up, for what with our skipper, 
 and this crew, I don't think much good '11 come on't at 
 last. But come, you havn't finished that yarn of 
 19
 
 218 "TOE AMERICAN CBUISEK. 
 
 yours, and I'd just like to know how you come on with 
 your box of diamonds ; so as we 've got four hours OL 
 deck, just spin out some of that yarn." 
 The young seaman complied with the request of the 
 boatswain as follows : 
 
 " Every day brought with it renewed proofs of the 
 affection of my parents, and I strove with the most anx 
 ious solicitude not only to cultivate those good feel 
 ings toward me, but also by attentions to their com 
 fort, to banish from their minds the melancholy reflec 
 tions of the past. Alas! although my father had 
 striven to bear with fortitude the wreck of his fallen for 
 tune, and although he exerted himself to appear cheer 
 ful and happy, yet being naturally of a delicate constitu 
 tion, the blow he had received was too much, and in 
 spite of all his endeavors at concealment, it soon became 
 apparent that there was a worm at the root of the 
 gourd, preying rapidly upon his vitals ; the hectic flush, 
 cough, short breath, and decaying frame, were symp 
 toms that could not be mistaken. Week after week 
 rolled away, and those indications of pulmonary con 
 sumption now settled into a fixed reality. The trem 
 bling frame of my father, and his great weakness, 
 obliged him to confine himself to the bed. My dear 
 mother seldom left his room, and I watched over him 
 with feelings that can be more easily imagined than 
 described. The best medical aid was procured, but the 
 physicians soon pronounced his case to be hopeless. 
 When their decisions were communicated to my mother, 
 it had well nigh proved fatal ; as it was, the shock took
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 So deep a root, that it gradually preyed upon her con 
 stitution, and she never recovered. 
 
 " Our mansion at this time presented a scene of with 
 ering gloom, and when busy reflection stole over 
 my mind, like a guilty culprit I stood condemned 
 as being the author of all these woes. My father 
 lingered for two months, retaining all his faculties, and 
 when sufficiently strong, he conversed freely. The uni 
 form tendency of his conversation was his perfect recon 
 ciliation to me, and resignation to his approaching 
 death. At length nature gave way, and after a 
 few days of intense suffering, during which I never left 
 his bed-side, just before the hour of midnight, with a 
 strong effort and my assistance, he was raised on the 
 pillow, and placing his hand upon my head, he pro 
 nounced the blessing of a dying father ^to his only son, 
 and immediately expired without a groan. The scene 
 which now took place was too much for the fortitude of 
 my mother or myself; she was carried out of the room 
 in a situation that nearly deprived her of her senses ; 
 and even when the paroxysms of grief had subsided, a 
 settled despondency made hef almost insensible to this 
 severe trial. 
 
 " After two days, the remains of my father were placed 
 in his last silent retreat, and it now became necessary 
 to watch with tender care over the declining health of 
 my only remaining parent. Oh ! my friend, when I 
 look back upon those times, when I contemplate the 
 latter days and settled melancholy of my mother, and 
 the old family mansion shrouded in gloom, when reflec-
 
 220 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 tions of this ' nature stamp me as being the authoi 
 of those scenes of ruin and death, my thoughts quite 
 overpower me, although years have passed away since 
 they took place." 
 
 " Come, come," said the boatswain, " if you keep on 
 with this kind of a yarn much longer, my head-pumps 
 will give way." 
 
 " You shall hear it all," observed the young seaman 
 mournfully, " and then my poor heart will be relieved. 
 The gloom and despondency which had gathered round 
 my mother, brought with it a gradual decay ; and al 
 though there Avas no disease, yet it was evident that 
 nature could not bear up under the severe shock she 
 had received. Why should I multiply words upon these 
 mournful events ? Know then, my friend, that three 
 months after the death of my father, I followed the 
 remains of my honored mother to the silent tomb. 
 Every scene and circumstance which was presented to 
 me, called up associations of the most painful and 
 melancholy kind, and I resolved to settle the affairs of 
 my father, and bid adieu for ever to the place of my 
 nativity. 
 
 " Although I became nearly indifferent to every thing 
 connected with the place of my birth, yet there was one 
 object that hung about my heart, and which even 
 my indifference could not shake off. This was no 
 
 other than E ; and as parental ties were now 
 
 severed, I soon found that my passion for her became 
 stronger and more intense. I resolved, therefore, to 
 obtain another interview, and learn from her own de-
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 cision, whether she would at some future period unite 
 her happiness and fortune with one who had rendered 
 himself unworthy of her esteem. In a few days this 
 meeting took place, and although I did not receive fror 
 her own lips the undisguised sentiments of love, yet the 
 assent to my proposition was not entirely withheld. In 
 short, she nattered my hopes with expressions of kind 
 ness, which my fond heart construed favorably, 
 mentioned to her my intentions of quitting W - 
 for ever ; that the grave contained all that coul< 
 bind me to the place where every spot would call 
 forth remembrances of my past follies; adding, that 
 on the broad theatre of the world, I would seek in a 
 distant land some honorable employment, and not only 
 wipe away the blot that had stained my reputation- 
 At this point of the conversation E- - suddenly ex 
 claimed, 
 
 ' And are there no objects sufficiently attractive 
 induce you to have one lingering wish or desire I 
 
 remain.' 
 
 ' Oh yes ! ' I replied passionately, ' but I dare 
 hope even for pity, much less affection ; and yet were I 
 now assured that I might hope that the sentiments of 
 my heart were returned, even then I would tear myseU 
 away, painful as the struggle might be, until 
 raised my character to the point from which it has 
 fallen. Never, never ! ' I continued, will I harbor 
 the unjust thought, wish, or desire, that a fair fame 
 and unsullied reputation should unite with the fortunes 
 of one at whom the finger of scorn-and contumely ii 
 19-
 
 222 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 pointed. Only then let me hear from your own lips> 
 that when oceans shall roll between us, an obscure wan 
 derer may have a place in your thoughts. I would have 
 asked a larger boon, and yet I dare not. Tell me then 
 
 ere we part, dearest E , that you do not hate me, 
 
 and this, even this, will cause my heart to beat with 
 
 jy-' 
 
 " I had now disclosed not only my resolution, but 
 
 also my passion for E , when she falteringly re- 
 
 plied that the friendship which had so long existed be 
 tween us should not cease so long as so high and hon 
 orable a decision was manifested on my part. This de 
 claration was expressed with much -warmth, and placing 
 my hand in hers without being repulsed, I ventured 
 for the first time to place it on my heart. For a few 
 moments not a word was spoken by either of us, but it 
 was a silence that spoke more eloquently than the 
 warmest words of the fondest lovers. It was a moment 
 in which my future hopes were decided. 
 
 " ' Promise me,' she passionately exclaimed, ' an 
 other interview, and take back the word forever, which 
 still painfully grates on my ear/ 
 
 " My former resolutions, at this request, were imme 
 diately shaken, and I gave the promise. Three days 
 intervened, at the expiration of which I found myself 
 
 enjoying the delightful interview requested by E ; 
 
 and unlike the former part of the last meeting, (which 
 was marked with a degree of reserve and restraint,) 
 our sentiments mutually expressed the ardor of that love 
 which was founded on friendship and esteem. It was
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 223 
 
 then and there that we plighted ojpr mutual vows of 
 constancy, for she did not solicit a change of the 
 former part of my resolution. 
 
 " Oh ! my friend, how uncertain are all things 
 on earth. How little did I then suppose that this 
 would be our last meeting. Oh ! let me banish for 
 ever the thought, that we shall never meet again. Yes, 
 thou dear departed saint of virtue, pure love, and con 
 stancy, thou art happy in that bright world, where the 
 blighting mildew of sorrow can never wither or in 
 terrupt the joys of eternal felicity. But my feelings 
 have been quite in advance of my history." 
 
 " Aye, aye," replied the boatswain, " and my feel 
 ings, d' ye see, have got the better of my manhood, and 
 I just find myself blubbering as if I had lost my 
 senses. Come, come, messmate, I don't much wonder 
 that you buy trouble ahead, for I think you 've had a 
 pretty good share of it any how, but we 've got an hour 
 yet before eight bells, so get on with your yarn, for 
 somehow or other I want to hear t!he end on't." 
 
 " This meeting," continued the young seaman, " was 
 all that the purest affection, and love, could have 
 desired. Our separation can be more easily conceived 
 than described. Suffice it .to say, we exchanged 
 the parting adieu. The struggle was now over, 
 and I hastened to my lodgings, with a resolution 
 to make all possible despatch 'for my departure. It did 
 not require much time, for all my affairs were settled, 
 and I found myself, after paying all the claims 
 of my father's affairs, reduced to very straitened cir-
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 cumstances, homeless, and about to become a wanderer 
 without any clear destination. The next morning, I 
 
 bade adieu to W , and soon arrived at B , one 
 
 of the great seaports of our country. Here I deter 
 mined to embrace the first honorable calling that pre 
 sented. With these resolutions I made diligent enquiry, 
 and for some tune was baifled in my pursuit. At 
 length, however, when every effort failed to procure 
 employment on shore, I resolved to try my fortune on 
 the great deep. On this theatre I hoped (from my 
 education and a determination to excel in the pro 
 fession,) soon to acquire a sufficient knowledge of sea 
 manship and navigation, and a reputation also, that 
 would ensure confidence, and of course would lead both 
 to profit and honor. Very soon there was an oppor 
 tunity afforded to put this resolution into practice, and 
 I shipped before the mast on board of an East Indiainan 
 bound to China. It will be needless, my friend, to 
 enter into all the details connected with the duty of a 
 green hand, or of the circumstances of the voyage. It 
 will be sufficient to say, that I entered upon the duties 
 of my station, with the determined ambition and perse 
 verance of one whose only motive is to excel ; and al 
 though there were many sacrifices which often mortified 
 my pride, yet the powerful stimulus always before me, 
 made every sacrifice a pleasure, sweetened every toil, 
 and when danger or peril was to be surmounted, my 
 pride and ambition prompted me on in the foremost 
 rank. It is true that I claim no merit, for I was 
 urged by a motive that would have roused the
 
 THE AMERICAN CRtlSER. 225 
 
 most indifferent ; and unfortunately, though innocently, 
 I became the victim of jealousy in my honest endeavors 
 to excel, for by the time we arrived in Canton, I had 
 acquired a pretty good knowledge of seamanship, so far 
 as the practical duties of a ship are concerned. This, 
 and unremitted attention to every command, obtained 
 for me the esteem and approbation of the officers. Here 
 too a further opportunity presented itself of attaining 
 to that degree of seamanship which is necessary to 
 command. The ship was here stripped to a girtline, 
 every yard and spar was also overhauled, as well as the 
 standing rigging. This was of great service to me, for 
 I learned more of seamanship on this voyage, than 
 half a dozen European voyages could have afforded 
 me ; so that when it was concluded, (although it 
 took but twelve months for its completion,) I was con 
 sidered competent to fill an officer's berth ; but as yet I 
 regarded my own deficiencies too great, and resolved to 
 make another voyage to India before I assumed any 
 command. 
 
 " On my return to the United States, I wrote imme 
 diately to her who had now become dear as life itself to 
 me, and received an answer such as may be imagined 
 and desired by those who have been placed under 
 similar circumstances. In this letter (which I have 
 now in my possession,) there is a repetition of that 
 pledge of love and constancy which we mutually 
 plighted at our last meeting. In it there are the 
 warmest breathings of refined and virtuous affection, as 
 well as frequent cautions that my zeal and ambition
 
 
 226 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 should not exceed the bounds of prudence and dis 
 cretion ; aye, and these were solicited not only for 
 mine, but also her own happiness." 
 
 When the young seaman had reached this part of his 
 narrative, eight bells were struck, and the watch was* 
 piped below. 

 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 THE SCOTCH PRIZE. 
 
 DURING the whole night the Cruiser stood off shore 
 under easy sail, and it was confidently expected that 
 by her proximity to the land, she would fall in with 
 vessels bound to the westward or to the northward. At 
 daybreak the look-outs were at their stations at the 
 mast-head. It was one of those clear days which sel 
 dom appears on the southern coast of Europe, in the 
 month of November. The sun rose from beneath a 
 well defined horizon, and as it ascended into the azure 
 vault, its bright rays reflecting on the clouds, exhibited 
 a rich drapery in every variety of color, such as the 
 pencilings of no human skill could imitate. The wind 
 was light, the sea smooth, and in short, it was not only 
 one of those mornings which are so grateful to a seaman, 
 but also from its peculiar mildness and clearness, objects 
 might be seen at their greatest distance by the sail 
 or's strengthened vision. In vain, however, did the 
 practised eye of the look-out scrutinize the whole hori 
 zon ; in vain did he try to fix his intent gaze upon any 
 definite object, for the land was now beyond the reach 
 of his keen glance, and no sail appeared in sight to stimu. 
 
 227
 
 > A 
 
 228 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 late and excite the keen appetites of the expectant but 
 now disappointed officers and crew. 
 
 " Mast head, there ! " bellowed out the officer of the 
 watch, " is there nothing in sight ? " 
 
 The reply was in the negative, and the officer mut 
 tered out something about having wool in his eyes, and 
 then ordered an old quarter-master, who had served 
 long on board of a man-of-war, to go aloft and take a 
 thorough look-out. The old seaman went aloft, but his 
 observation resulted with no better success, for his an 
 swer to the interrogatory of the officer was, that it was 
 as clear as a kitten's eye, and that nothing was in sight. 
 By this time the officers and crew were on deck, and 
 their chagrin was so great that they swore at this rate 
 they would all starve to death, if they kept dodging 
 about on this cruising ground any longer. 
 
 The Cruiser was still kept with her head off shore, 
 under easy sail, and the calculation by the intelligent 
 sailing-master, (for it will be remembered that all his 
 calculations were made by guessing,) was, that the land 
 was fifty miles distant that morning, for as he affirmed 
 that he had not worked up the log, he guessed he was 
 pretty near right. The down-easter, although having 
 had considerable experience in navigation, did not un 
 derstand the more correct way of ascertaining a vessel's 
 position, viz. by lunar observation, for he roundly af 
 firmed that there were more vessels lost by these new 
 inventions than by the old way of navigating, for the 
 plain reason that not more than one in twenty knew any 
 thing about them. It was true that the down-easter, so
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 far from having any knowledge of lunars, did not know 
 how to correct the sun's declension, for he invariably 
 worked up a meridian altitude without addition or sub 
 traction, just as it was laid down in Bowditch's Naviga 
 tion. But he was always on the safe side in regard to 
 navigation, for no one on board ever heard him assert 
 positively the situation of the Cruiser, and the log-book, 
 if examined, would prove the truth of this assertion. 
 
 Toward meridian the breeze freshened, and the wind 
 hauled to the westward ; dark clouds hove up in that 
 quarter, indicating strong breezes and squally weather ; 
 it was not long after dinner before the exciting cry of 
 " Sail ho ! " was heard from the "mast-head. In a 
 few moments all were in excitement, and when the 
 boatswain's whistle piped all hands " make sail, a-hoy," 
 every seaman sprang to the aid of his messmate, and the 
 Cruiser was dressed with all the canvass she could 
 carry upon the wind for the chase. 
 
 The stranger in question bore directly in the wind's 
 eye, distant at least from twelve to fifteen miles. The 
 correct bearings of the stranger were taken, and no per 
 ceptible difference or alteration was manifest in the 
 speed of the two vessels, except that the Cruiser, hold 
 ing a better wind, and laying nearer to it, gained rap 
 idly to windward, so that by two o'clock the hull of the 
 stranger was lifted from the deck of the Cruiser. 
 
 Every glass was now put in requisition, and serious 
 opinions were expressed in relation to the character of 
 their neighbor. The second lieutenant from the mast 
 head reported her to be a long ship with bright sides, 
 20
 
 230 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 very square yards, having her fore and mizen top-gal 
 lant-masts sent down, with her main top-gallant-sail set, 
 and her main-course hauled up ; and he also affirmed 
 that she had bales of cotton slung over her quarter. 
 
 The Commander observed that she could not be an 
 American vessel from the appearance of her canvass, 
 and further, he observed that he did not know where a 
 vessel could be bound, steering as she was in this "lati 
 tude and longitude. The second lieutenant observed, 
 that from her great length, square yards, &c., he 
 thought her to be a man-of-war in disguise. This opin 
 ion was immediately rejected by the Commander, for he 
 averred that no man-of-war could be so perfectly meta 
 morphosed as that ship to windward. 
 
 " In my judgment," replied the first lieutenant, 
 " before one hour passes away you will see as great a 
 transformation in that ship, which you now look upon as 
 a merchantman, for by that tune all doubts will be 
 solved in reference to her true character." 
 
 "I sincerely hope so," observed the Commander, 
 " for by that tune I trust we shall be in possession of a 
 good fat prize. Nevertheless, we must be in readiness 
 to bear away, should we be deceived." 
 
 The report from the mast-head rather corroborated 
 the opinion of the first lieutenant, for the stranger by 
 this time had his fore and mizen top-gallant-masts on end, 
 the sails also were set, and the main-tack hauled aboard, 
 and it was now clearly perceived that she fore-reached 
 upon the Cruiser. Again and again the mast-head was 
 hailed, and as often the report confirmed the opinion of
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER, 231 
 
 the first lieutenant, as the proximity of the two vessels 
 enabled them to see distinctly that the stranger had 
 four reefs in her topsails, a reef in her top-gallant-sails, 
 and that every sail was sheeted close home, and every 
 yard swayed up taut to the mast-head. 
 
 The opinion of the Commander was now entirely 
 shaken, and orders were given in quick succession to rig 
 out the studding-sail hooms, and to get the square-sail 
 yard ropes bent on, ready to set the sail. Nor were 
 these orders out of place, for by this time the two ves 
 sels were not more than a league apart, and further, the 
 mast-head now reported that the ship was swaying up her 
 royal-mast, and rigging- out her flying jib-boom. From 
 all these preparations very little doubt remained in re 
 ference to her true character. 
 
 The greatest anxiety now prevailed, as the distance 
 between the two was lessening every moment, for al 
 ready they were nearly within point-blank shot of 
 each other. The crew were posted at their different 
 stations, and every sail was ready to be set, when 
 orders were given to bear away. The mast-head 
 now reported in a hurried manner that the ship had 
 kept away and was under a cloud of canvass, bearing 
 down upon the Cruiser. Orders were now rapidly 
 given to bear away and make sail, so that in a few 
 minutes every yard of canvass was spread to the breeze, 
 and every sail was trimmed with seaman-like precision, 
 while the Cruiser bounded over the waves with the ra 
 pidity of an ocean bird. In a short time, however, it 
 was perceptible that her antagonist was no laggard, for
 
 232 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 when the relative bearing of the two vessels was taken, 
 it was evident that the frigate gained upon the Cruiser, 
 and so confident was the enemy of his victim, that he 
 sent- messenger after messenger from his bow-chasers, 
 which, however, fell without doing any .execution. 
 The wind now freshened, with squalls of rain, which 
 ever and anon excluded the frigate from the sight of the 
 Cruiser, but as often as the mist drove away to leeward, 
 the frigate sent her compliments in the shape of a 
 thirty two pound shot. The general impression now 
 was that it would be impossible to get away from the 
 frigate, for every yard of canvass was set, and she was 
 now running at her greatest speed ; the squall, too, had 
 increased in violence, and the masts and spars, groaning 
 under the weight of canvass, seemed to be unequal to 
 the torture. 
 
 At this crisis a consultation was held on the quarter 
 deck, and the opinion of the Commander was, that the 
 Cruiser should be hauled close by the wind, taking ad 
 vantage of a squall, which would of course close her in 
 from the view of the frigate, and thus enable her to get 
 the weather-guage. " For it is very evident," he con 
 tinued, " that we cannot keep out of his way more than 
 three hours, and should a chance shot cripple any of 
 our spars, why then the fate of the Cruiser will be 
 sealed." 
 
 At this moment the mast-head reported that the land 
 was in sight, stretching north and south as far as the 
 eye could reach. 
 
 "Now gentlemen," resumed the Commander, " you
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 233 
 
 perceive that we have but one alternative left us, for at 
 the rate we are now running, the bones of this craft 
 will shortly be lying on the beach yonder." 
 
 "In my judgment," replied the first lieutenant, "as 
 the night is rapidly advancing, and the weather threat 
 ening, and as it indicates a strong breeze with heavy 
 squalls during the night, it will be impossible to elude the 
 vigilance of that frigate, so long as daylight lasts ; and 
 as the enemy cannot overhaul us in less than two hours, 
 why then in my judgment our safest plan will be, to run 
 on until night shuts in, and under its cover, in one of 
 those heavy squalls we may with some security haul by 
 the wind, take every sail in and lay under our poles 
 until the frigate shall get to leeward." 
 
 The Commander did not entirely assent to this 
 opinion, but as past experience convinced him, that in 
 more than one instance his judgment and opinion had 
 proved erroneous, he reluctantly consented that the 
 Cruiser should still be kept before the wind. 
 
 " Well, I have just been thinking," observed the 
 boatswain to the young seaman, " unless we have the 
 devil's luck and our own too, that the bones of this 
 craft will be bleaching on them rocks under the lee 
 before midnight, or that you and I will have a snug 
 berth in the cable tier of that frigate yonder ! Why 
 look 'ee, messmate, she's coming up hand over hand, 
 and at the rate we are now going, in less than two 
 hours we shall hear the roar of the breakers. Now 
 what 's your opinion of it, messmate ? " 
 
 " It is true," replied the young seaman, " that the 
 20'
 
 284 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 nearness of the frigate augurs very unfavorably of our 
 escape, and, the land not being far distant, presents an 
 appalling danger, but then if my feelings do not de 
 ceive me, this craft will be reserved for another fate." 
 The boatswain expressed some astonishment at this 
 declaration, but as he had many proofs of the prophet 
 ical truth of the young seaman's decision, he subscribed 
 to this without hesitation, averring at the same time, 
 " that it would be little less than a miracle if the Cruiser 
 should get safe out of two fires." 
 
 Night now began rapidly to close in, and squall after 
 squall, with increased fury and more frequent repe- 
 tition > drove the Cruiser furiously on toward the lee- 
 shore, and when the last glimpse of the frigate was 
 seen, she was not more than half gun shot distant. She 
 had ceased firing, for the reason that her shot were sent 
 at random. 
 
 The darkness had now shrouded the whole hem 
 isphere with an impenetrable gloom, so profound that 
 objects could not be seen twenty yards distant. The 
 men were now ordered to lay aloft, to be in readiness to 
 take in all light sail, every halyard fore and aft was or 
 dered to be clear for running, and every man was at his 
 station, while a death-like silence prevailed. The lights 
 were all extinguished, and nothing was heard but the 
 roar of the elements, and the dashing spray at the 
 Cruiser's bow. The interval for the next squall was 
 marked with the deepest anxiety; not a word was 
 spoken forward or aft ; the wind whistled through the 
 rigging and blocks with an intonation so melancholy,
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 235 
 
 that the superstitious seamen swore that it was ominous 
 of the disaster that would befall them that night. 
 
 " Silence ! fore and aft. Hark ! " 
 
 A death-like stillness immediately prevailed. 
 
 " What noise is that I hear ? " echoed the Com 
 mander in rather a subdued tone. 
 
 In a few moments a roar like distant thunder fell 
 upon the ear of every man on board. The sound was 
 appalling, for the truth flashed upon every mind : it 
 was the roar of the dashing breakers upon the rocks ! 
 No time^ was now to be lost. The squall which had 
 risen in the western board came driving furiously on, 
 sending before it a huge mass of black waters, which 
 threatened to deluge the Cruiser with instant destruc 
 tion ! 
 
 " Are you ready fore and aft ? " 
 
 The reply was in the affirmative. 
 
 " Hark ! " again echoed the Commander. 
 
 The tolling bell from the frigate was distinctly heard. 
 Orders were now rapidly given, and the light sails, to 
 gether with the jibs and mainsail, were taken in and 
 secured, in less tune than I have taken to describe it. 
 The helm was put to starboard, and in the same 
 moment the heavy squall struck the Cruiser, but she 
 was stripped for the fight, rounding to gallantly by the 
 wind, forging ahead at least a quarter of a mile. In a 
 few minutes the frigate came driving on, and was dis 
 tinctly marked by her battle lanterns until she was far 
 to leeward. The Cruiser's sails were now reefed dowr 
 and set, and although the night was threatening, and
 
 236 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 the western gale blew briskly, with heavy squalls ; yet 
 the Cruiser, under a press of canvass, stood off on a 
 wind to the westward. At daylight in the morning, 
 nothing was seen of the enemy, and it was now deter 
 mined to shift the cruising ground.
 
 CHAPTER XXm. 
 
 AN ENGAGEMENT WITH A BRITISH PACKET. 
 
 THE general topic of conversation on board of the 
 Cruiser, related especially to the events recorded in the 
 preceding chapter. It is true the Commander deserved 
 great praise for carrying into execution the masterly 
 manoeuvre which saved the Cruiser from capture ; 
 nevertheless the greater deference and respect for the 
 opinion of the first lieutenant was elicited from the 
 officers and crew, for the success which had resulted 
 from his plan of escape suggested on the previous day. 
 It may be easily conceived, therefore, that the confi 
 dence naturally reposed in the Commander, was gradu 
 ally diminished, and transferred to the first lieutenant. 
 Subsequent to this, and during the remainder of the 
 cruise, his judgment and opinion secured for him the 
 most unbounded confidence and respect, and when it 
 was ascertained that the next plan of operations would 
 be to cruise off the chops of the Irish Channel, there 
 was a general demur; but when the first lieutenant 
 urged the propriety of this measure, as being the best 
 plan to finish the cruise, not a murmur was heard 
 from any quarter. 
 
 237
 
 238 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 After breakfast in the morning of the following day 
 which had marked the successful escape of the Cruiser 
 from the British frigate, orders were given to pipe all 
 hands on deck. As soon as the crew had mustered up, 
 the Commander, after passing a eulogium on their good 
 conduct and bravery, addressed them as follows : 
 
 " Our cruise has been protracted, unavoidably, longer 
 than I expected at its commencement. Nevertheless, we 
 have no reason to complain, although we have had some 
 hard fighting, and hard chases, and the chances of war, 
 and other casualties of the sea, have cut off some of our 
 shipmates. This, however, was to be expected, and con 
 sidering the great hazard we have had to encounter, the 
 ratio of deaths has been very inconsiderable to the pro 
 portion of the men composing the crew of this Cruiser. 
 We have been on this cruising ground for a con 
 siderable length of time, and it has been owing to your 
 intrepidity and activity, that this craft is not in the pos 
 session of the British. To remain here any longer, 
 would be attended with great hazard, and endanger our 
 safety, as it must be pretty well known, that we have 
 been cruising on this ground for some time past. I 
 have therefore determined to change our position, and 
 cruise off* the chops of the Irish Channel for a short 
 time, and although it will be attended with much risk, 
 yet we shall be more likely to fall in with merchant 
 vessels, which will enable us speedily to finish this 
 cruise. Our success, however, still depends upon your 
 good conduct. I hope, therefore, as you have heretofore 
 behaved gallantly, I shall have no reason in the future
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 239 
 
 to change my opinion, and I trust we shall ultimately 
 be rewarded for all our dangers and toils." 
 
 At the conclusion of this harangue, there was a low, 
 buzzing murmur of disapprobation among some of the 
 men, for they swore that but for the skipper the cruise 
 might have been finished long ago ; while the others 
 proposed to give three cheers, which was done, yet so 
 faintly, that it rather expressed a kind of disrespect 
 than esteem for the judgment and opinion of the Com 
 mander. The Cruiser was noyi bending her course 
 under a press of sail toward the chops of the Irish 
 Channel, and the only thing which reconciled the crew 
 and officers to this measure, was the probability that the 
 cruise would soon be terminated. 
 
 " I 've been thinking," observed the boatswain to the 
 young seaman, " since the skipper gave us that bit of 
 small talk, that he do n't feel quite so easy in his mind, 
 for he knows pretty well that this craft will have to run 
 the gauntlet off the Channel there, and to my mind, 
 tvhy d' ye see, it would be much better to have run his 
 <5raft down towards the West India Islands, for then we 
 hould have a little pleasant weather, and our chance 
 would be as good to fall in with vessels, and what 's 
 more, we should be likely to keep out of the way of 
 Engh'sh men-of-war, and have a short run to Yankee 
 land. What 's your opinion of it, messmate ? " 
 
 " The opinion you have advanced," replied the young 
 seaman, " is correct, and such would have been the 
 proper course ; but there seems to me to be a strange 
 kind of fatality hanging over this Cruiser, and although
 
 240 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 I have endeavored to shake off this feeling, yet in spite 
 of all my efforts to the contrary, I cannot help thinking 
 but that this craft is preserved for some melancholy dis 
 aster ; and this opinion is founded upon the observation 
 and experience of the past. For you are aware," he con 
 tinued, "that the recklessness and impetuosity of our 
 Commander, has not only lengthened out the cruise, but 
 also in more than one instance the safety of the Cruiser 
 has been jeopardized, as well as the lives of the crew ; 
 and therefore I should not be surprised, that instead of 
 cruising off the chops, he would run this craft up Chan 
 nel, and thereby finish the cruise with her capture, and 
 our incarceration in a British prison during the war." 
 
 " Well, as I 've had pretty good reason for believing 
 your word, and besides this is about my way of thinking, 
 why then, messmate, we '11 make the best on 't ; but 
 some how or other I should just like to have that first 
 lieutenant take charge of this craft, especially now as 
 we are about to have some hard knocks or hard chases, 
 for to my mind he can bring this craft into action, aye, 
 and get her out of it too, in a more seaman-like manner 
 than our skipper, and as~ to the matter of judgment, 
 why d'ye see, messmate, the skipper can't hold a candle 
 to him." 
 
 The conversation was suddenly interrupted by a 
 report from the mast-head, that there was a sail in sight, 
 bearing on the starboard beam, and apparently standing 
 to the southward. The usual interrogatories were made, 
 to all of which an indefinite answer was returned. The 
 second lieutenant went aloft, and in a few minutes re-
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 241 
 
 ported confidently that the stranger was standing to the 
 southward. The Cruiser immediately wore round, and 
 made all sail in chase. The excitement of the previous 
 day had scarcely subsided, when in, less than twenty- 
 four hours there was sufficient material to keep alive the 
 exciting flame. This proved to be of great importance 
 to the Commander, for the respect due to him as such, 
 was declining day by day. It is true, he merited 
 great commendation for his coolness and intrepidity 
 on the previous day ; but even this was overbalanced 
 in the opinion of the crew, from the fact, that he 
 only executed the judgment and opinion of the first 
 lieutenant ; he resolved, therefore, that whenever a 
 favorable opportunity presented, to strike a blow that 
 would at once reinstate him in the confidence and 
 esteem of the officers and crew. 
 
 The stranger in question was at length ascertained to 
 be a brig, and the report from the mast-head was, that 
 she had greatly forereached, and was now bearing two 
 points on the larboard bow. This was easily accounted 
 for, from the fact that the Cruiser was kept nearly 
 before the wind, while the stranger had the wind abeam, 
 and of course every sail would draw to advantage and 
 increase her speed. The Cruiser had now dropt in the 
 wake of her neighbor, so that in a very short time it 
 would be manifest which of the two had the advantage 
 in sailing. In less than an hour every c[oubt was re 
 moved, for at her' mast-head the topsails were raised, 
 and scarcely had another hour passed away, before she 
 was seen from the Cruiser's deck. Every preparation 
 21
 
 242 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 was now made for action, for although the stranger had 
 not altered her course, from the time she was first dis 
 covered, yet from the tautness of her rig, her square 
 yards, and the cut and set of her sails, all went to con 
 firm the opinion, that she was either a sloop-of-war, or 
 packet ; consequently, they would have sufficient work, 
 in either case. 
 
 The superior speed of the Cruiser enabled her to 
 gain rapidly on the chase, and a close proximity of 
 the two vessels, served to confirm the opinion already 
 entertained of the stranger. It was a matter of 
 some astonishment, when she was clearly distinguished 
 with the glass, that she had no studding-sails set. 
 This could be accounted for only on the supposition 
 of decoy, for confident in her own strength, she used 
 but little effort to avoid an action. Great caution and 
 prudence were now necessary, and indeed, having been 
 taught a severe lesson on the preceding day, the Com 
 mander was more than usually cautious, for he fre 
 quently consulted the first lieutenant as to the best plan 
 of operations. 
 
 " From the manoeuvres of that craft," observed the 
 Commander, " and at the rate we are now overhauling 
 her, we shall bring her to an action before sunset, and 
 my plan would be, to lay this craft alongside, and en 
 deavor to carry her by boarding. What is your opin 
 ion, sir," he observed to the first lieutenant. 
 
 " It is evident," he replied, " that unless she has 
 used some stratagem to decoy us, we have the advan 
 tage of speed, and can therefore change our position. 

 
 THE AMERICAN CKtJISER. 243 
 
 In my judgment, then, as our battery is small, and we 
 have only Long Tom to depend upon, it will be better 
 to engage him at long shot ; this I believe to be the 
 most prudent course ; for should she prove to be a man- 
 of-war, notwithstanding we have the advantage in sail 
 ing, by engaging her at close quarters, she might 
 cripple our spars, and thus prevent the possibility of 
 escape ; and even should she turn out to be a packet, 
 which I am inclined to believe, my plan is still more 
 feasible, because in point of armament and men, they 
 are nearly equal to a man-of-war, and commanded by a 
 naval officer. 
 
 The strong sense and force of the suggestions were 
 very apparent to the Commander and officers, and it 
 was decided to engage the enemy on the plan proposed 
 by the first lieutenant. It was half an hour of sunset 
 before Long Tom was in speaking distance, at which 
 time the Cruiser yawed, and sent her compliments to 
 the stranger, and the stars and stripes were run up to 
 the peak, and the enemy, (for she now displayed the 
 bunting having St. George's cross on it,) returned the 
 compliment in the shape of a twelve pound shot. As 
 the antagonists were now at short point-blank shot dis 
 tance of each other, the Cruiser took in sail, so as to 
 avoid a closer proximity to the enemy. This was no 
 sooner discovered by the Englishman than he hauled 
 close upon a wind on the starboard tack, when she im 
 mediately furled all her light sails, hauled down the jib, 
 and hauled up her courses. By this time the strife had 
 fairly commenced at long shot, without much execution
 
 244 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 on either side. The Cruiser having, as had been sug 
 gested by the first lieutenant, the advantage in sailing, 
 chose a position on the starboard-quarter of the enemy, 
 and being to windward, could maintain that, or any 
 other position she chose. A brisk fire was now kept up 
 on both sides, which did no other damage than to cut 
 away some of the rigging, and some of the shot passing 
 through the sails. Thus far there was a pretty general 
 average of loss in the rigging and sails on both sides, 
 when the Commander's impetuosity ordered the helm 
 to be put up, and run down, so as to engage the enemy 
 at close quarters. 
 
 Night was coming on, and from the manner in which 
 the brig was brought into action, and the determined 
 resistance and courage which had already been mani 
 fested, it was very evident, that she was strongly 
 manned and armed, and that it would not be so easy a 
 matter to capture her as it was at first contemplated. 
 As soon as the Cruiser had approached to within half 
 gunshot, a sheet of flame issued from the whole broad 
 side of the enemy. This was a severe check to the 
 Cruiser, for it cut away her midship bulwarks, and fore 
 gaff, wounding several of the crew, but Long Tom 
 amply repaid this unwelcome salutation, by cutting 
 away the jib-boom and starboard night-head of the 
 enemy. Darkness was now rapidly approaching, and a 
 heavy fire was kept up on both sides ; the Englishmen 
 fought like bloodhounds, and with so much impetuosity 
 and courage, that the Cruiser was severely handled, 
 her rigging, spars, and sails being so much cut to pieces
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 245 
 
 that it became necessary to haul off and repair damages. 
 The strife, however, was not yet over, for the Com 
 mander of the Cruiser signified his intention to the first 
 lieutenant, that he would board the enemy. This in 
 tention was immediately made known to the crew, and 
 the Cruiser was kept away, and run down, receiving at 
 the same time the heavy fire of the Englishmen with 
 tremendous effect ; nor was Long Tom slow to speak 
 for himself, for he dealt out death and destruction when 
 ever his voice was heard. The conflict now was terrific 
 and bloody, the Englishman working and fighting his 
 craft at the same time, with so much courage and in 
 such a seaman-like manner, that three attempts by the 
 Cruiser to board was as repeatedly repulsed, and so 
 desperate was this combat on both sides, during the 
 subsequent half hour, that many lay wounded on the 
 deck of the Cruiser, and it was supposed that the 
 carnage on board of the enemy was equally as great, 
 as the close proximity of the two exhibited much less in 
 the Englishman's spars, rigging, and sails ; indeed each 
 of them fought with such desperation, that before an 
 hour rolled away, they were glad to haul off from each 
 other and repair damages. 
 21*
 
 CHAPTER XXIV* 
 
 ARRIVAL AT THE CRUISING GROUND 
 
 DURING the preceding night, the watch was em 
 ployed as far as practicable, in repairing the severe 
 damages which the Cruiser sustained, in the awful con 
 flict with the supposed British packet, and so great were 
 the damages, that many of the sails were unfit for 
 service, consequently they were replaced by others ; in 
 short, four days were necessary to reinstate the 
 Cruiser's condition, as it had been previously to the 
 action, and it was a matter of surprise, that considering 
 the desperation in which this terrific action was fought, 
 there were none killed on board the Cruiser, although 
 many were wounded, among whom was one of our 
 heroes, the intrepid boatswain. 
 
 The crew, in consequence of this action, became 
 much weakened, and it was necessary not to be hasty 
 in approaching the contemplated cruising ground, but 
 rather afford the wounded a sufficient opportunity that 
 they might recover strength, and be in a fit condition 
 for actual service when those, services were required. 
 The wound which the boatswain had received was 
 neither mortal nor very severe, being occasioned by a 
 246
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 47 
 
 splinter, which had struck him, making a large con 
 tusion on the thigh. The young seaman had now an 
 opportunity not only of showing his gratitude, but also 
 of returning the favors he himself had received from 
 the boatswain, when the former was in a similar condi 
 tion. He was therefore unremitting in attention to his 
 friend, beguiling many tedious hours of confinement, 
 which would otherwise have been almost past en 
 durance. As the young seaman was aware, that 
 the hour of sickness and confinement was peculiarly 
 applicable to make an impression with serious con 
 versation, he took occasion to enlarge qn the subject 
 of man's duty toward the Supreme Being, in order 
 to get a regular set of papers and a clean pass 
 port for a happy admission into the other world. 
 "Every hour," observed the young seaman to his 
 friend, " brings with it renewed obligations on our part, 
 from him whom we derive every blessing that we enjoy, 
 and I have often thought," he continued, " if we ap 
 preciated those blessings as we should, they would not 
 only inspire our hearts with gratitude, but stimulate us 
 also, to devote our lives and services to that Being from 
 whom alone we derive consolation and support here, and 
 eternal happiness in the world to come." 
 
 " Well, well," replied the boatswain, " I 'm glad 
 you 've got on that tack, so now, messmate, as we was 
 chatting on that before we had the dust with the 
 Englishmen, suppose you overhaul your knowledge 
 box, and just tell me how to get that good Pilot on 
 board."
 
 248 THE AMERICAN CUUISSB. 
 
 The young seaman, with all seriousness, complied as 
 follows : 
 
 " It is a source of great pleasure to me, my friend," 
 he observed, " that I can in any way relieve your hours 
 of pain and confinement, and if I know my own heart, 
 there is no one in this world for whom I would more 
 willingly and cheerfully exert my utmost endeavors. 
 This world to me," he continued mournfully, " would 
 be a mere blank, unless I had one in whom I could 
 repose all my sorrows. For such a one I long 
 sought in vain, until an all-wise Providence brought 
 us together pardon me, my friend, for this di 
 gression well then," he continued, "to secure the 
 faror as well as the assistance of this Pilot on board 
 of your vessel, you must attend strictly to his written 
 instructions." 
 
 " What are they ? " enquired the boatswain. 
 
 " First, you are to relinquish every evil practice, and 
 especially those to which sailors are so much accus 
 tomed. I do not say that you are in the habit of com 
 mitting many transgressions and sins, but then you will 
 soon discover by reading those instructions, that there 
 is one clause which reads thus, ' He that offendeth in 
 one, is guilty of all ; ' that is, you can never get this 
 good Pilot on board, so long as you voluntarily disobey 
 the least part of these instructions. But again, after 
 there is a full obedience to this part of the instructions, 
 then you must heave in stays, and get on the other tack, 
 for as you have been on the wrong course all your life, 
 and could never receive the favor or service of the Pilot
 
 - THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 249 
 
 on that tack, so now you must get on the true course, 
 where you will be sure not only to fall in with this good 
 Pilot, but he will then most cheerfully come on board, 
 by your request and permission." 
 
 " Well," interrupted the boatswain hastily, " I don't 
 exactly understand, although I've been boxing the 
 compass for many years, and can work a ship, in all 
 kinds of weather, and under any sail, yet I say, mess 
 mate, I do n't exactly know how to get this old hulk of 
 mine about on the other tack." 
 
 " Why as to that," replied the young seaman, " this 
 knowledge is only to be obtained by the written in 
 structions." 
 
 "Aye, aye," answered the boatswain, "but then 
 what 's a chap to do that can't read a word in the 
 book ? tell me that, messmate." 
 
 " I will inform you according to the best of my 
 knowledge in these matters," replied the young seaman, 
 " what I mean by your having steered the wrong course 
 all your life, and getting on the other tack, is this : 
 you and I have been committing sin, and have lived all 
 our days in open violation of the commandments of 
 God ; this is the wrong course. Now what I mean by 
 heaving in stays, is, to be sorry for having pursued this 
 course, and then by sincere and unfeigned repentance, 
 to fill away on the other tack. Again, what I mean by 
 steering on the true and the right course is, by making 
 prayer to God, and an implicit reliance upon the ability 
 and willingness of this good Pilot to save your old 
 weather-beaten hulk, and bring her safely into port.
 
 250 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 Then, and not until then, will this Pilot take possession 
 of your ship, and so long as you keep him on board 
 you are safe. Aye, although there are sunken rocks, 
 shoals, and quicksands, and although there may be 
 Storms, and the foaming billows may sometimes dash 
 their crested tops over your bark, and although the 
 thunders may roll, and the lightnings flash, nevertheless, 
 if you keep this Pilot on board, attend to his orders, 
 and keep a good look-out ahead by faith and prayer, he 
 will get your weather-beaten bark safely into the port 
 of eternal rest." 
 
 At this point of the conversation, the boatswain 
 passionately grasped the hand of the young seaman, 
 and exclaimed : 
 
 " But for you, messmate, I should long ago been 
 stranded on the sunken rocks, and this hulk would have 
 been carried down by the whirlpool, into which so many 
 poor sailors are lost ; but while' you was marking off 
 the course, messmate, I boused my thinking tacks 
 aboard, and says I to myself, what shall I do when I 
 get on shore ? how shall I sheer off from all these 
 matters that draw sailors away to destruction ? " 
 
 " The best course to pursue," replied the young 
 seaman, " is to steer clear of all those haunts of dissi 
 pation which allure seamen, and the first of those that I 
 would name, are those resorts which drown the sensi 
 bilities by partaking of the intoxicating bowl, which 
 reduces the man to a level with the brute. In short, it 
 is this which leads to every species of dissipation and 
 folly which marks the general conduct of seamer
 
 THB AMERICAN CRUISER. 2&1 
 
 when on shore ; it is this that makes him shunned 
 by all respectable society, and looked upon as a kind of 
 outcast, and draws the line which divides the sailor 
 and landsman. It is not," he continued, " the dress, 
 sea technicalities, or manners, as some have vainly sup 
 posed, that causes this distinction. If seamen would 
 conduct themselves as other men, they would be equally 
 respected, nay, I believe more, for a little reflection 
 will convince every man that they are a most useful 
 class of society." 
 
 "It is very true," answered the boatswain, "but 
 then do you think Jack is to blame for all his bad eon- 
 duct when on shore ? " 
 
 " Why as to that," replied the young seaman, " there 
 may be some palliation ; for when it is taken into con 
 sideration how many privations they are obliged to 
 endure, such as almost a total absence of domes 
 tic comforts, as well as the intercourse with society, 
 and then to look at his peculiar mode of life when at 
 sea, often compelled to live on the hardest fare, and 
 at the same time to the treatment which he endures, to 
 which no landsman would submit, when all this is taken 
 into consideration, it is no wonder that sailors are com 
 pared to wild animals when they are on shore, especially 
 when there are numbers who are always on the watch 
 to decoy them, and by seeming acts of friendship entice 
 him to quaff the intoxicating bowl, and then strip his 
 pockets of his hard earnings ; and it is certainly true 
 that landsmen will have much to answer for in this 
 respect."
 
 252 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 " I believe," replied the boatswain " that sailors are 
 not quite so bad as they were when I first went to sea." 
 
 "It is owing principally, if not entirely," observed 
 the young seaman, " to the great efforts exerted by re 
 ligious and philanthropic men for their reformation." 
 
 " Well, well," answered the boatswain, " I'm glad 
 that poor Jack has not all the blame to carry off on his 
 shoulders ; and I'll tell you what, messmate, it is a long 
 time since I've had a bit of small talk like this, and if 
 every sailor had a good messmate, just to put him in the 
 right way, as you've done to me, why then d'ye see, we 
 should 'nt have so much drinking, and frolicking, and 
 fighting among us blue jackets." 
 
 " There is no want of instruction, if seamen will re 
 ceive it ; for in all our seaports there are men who are 
 appointed for that especial purpose, viz. to distribute 
 Bibles, tracts, and other good books, and impart such 
 advice, to which if seamen will only adhere and follow, 
 as will make them better men, and what is infinitely 
 more important, it will make them wise unto salvation." 
 
 This grave and serious conversation made a deep im 
 pression on the boatswain, so that during his confine 
 ment, which was not of long duration, he frequently in 
 terrogated the young seaman, in regard to these, and 
 other subjects of a similar nature. 
 
 While the two friends were happy in the society of 
 each other, their time passing not only pleasantly but 
 profitably together, it was not so in the ward-room, or 
 among the crew, for the events which have been re 
 corded resulting in such an unfavorable issue, caused a
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 general dissatisfaction, especially the unlucky movement 
 of the Commander during the action, (in opposition to 
 the judgment of the first lieutenant,) which had ena 
 bled the enemy to make her escape, and which had 
 proved so disastrous to the Cruiser; all these fell 
 heavily upon the Commander, who now, in the judgment 
 of all on board, was not only instrumental in their dis 
 asters, and in prolonging the cruise, but it was universally 
 believed that, by his mad acts, he would run them into 
 further difficulty. 
 
 " I wish I were well out of this craft," said an old 
 prize-master, Avho had been retained on board, fearing 
 if he were put on board of a prize, his old habits would 
 return, and thus jeopardize the safety of the vessel, and 
 the liberty of the prize-crew. 
 
 " For the matter of that," replied the Down Easter, 
 " I don't think it will be long before you will have your 
 wish accomplished, and I don't much care myself, for 
 I don't think there is much fun in scampering away 
 like a race-horse, and that too, with rocks and breakers 
 a-head, and John Bull close under your stern, throwing 
 his shot like peppercorns ; no, no ; I don't see the use 
 of dodging about here, first running, then fighting, and 
 getting cut all to pieces when there's no prize-money in 
 the way." 
 
 " Yes, yes," ejaculated the prize-master, " we shall 
 have a few more chases and hard knocks, through the 
 rashness of the skipper, and then we shall spend some 
 time on shore, in a British prison." 
 
 " That would not be quite as acceptable to my mind," 
 22
 
 264 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 replied the Down Easter, " and although I can't say I 
 like dodging about in this craft, yet I should greatly pre 
 fer a birth in this ward-room, to being locked up in the 
 narrow compass of the prison and prison yard." 
 
 " If I'm any judge of men," observed the prize-mas 
 ter, " this mad-cap skipper of ours will make a bold 
 dash up the Channel, and 1 should 'nt wonder if he de 
 clared the whole British coast in a state of blockade." 
 
 " As to that," replied the Down Easter, " it will not 
 be of so much consequence if he does not madly rush into 
 danger, without a probability of escape ; but at all 
 events, it is more than likely that you would be on board 
 of some prize, as there are but two of you left." 
 
 How long this interesting conversation might have 
 lasted is not exactly known, but it was suddenly inter 
 rupted by a report from the mast head that a sail was 
 in sight.
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 CHOPS OF THE CHANNEL, FOG, ETC. 
 
 THE events of the last week having terminated so 
 unfavorably, especially the action with the British 
 Packet, wrought an entire change in the tempera 
 ment and actions of the Commander. The impet 
 uosity and rashness, which had marked his course during 
 the former part of the cruise, entirely forsook him, and 
 the opposite extreme of indecision and apathetic indiffer 
 ence took its place. The fact of a sail being in sight, 
 which, in any former part of the cruise, would have 
 roused him to the highest pitch of excitement, was now 
 nearly disregarded, so much so that he scarcely e^j|ib- 
 ited sufficient interest to look at her with the glass. 
 There were several causes which might have produced 
 this alteration ; first, he well knew that his own rash 
 ness had not only blasted the prospects of a brilliant 
 "cruise, and his false judgment in many instances jeop 
 ardized the lives of the crew, but his ambition also 
 received a deep cut, for that respect which was due to 
 him as the Commander, was now transferred to the first 
 lieutenant. 
 
 Disappointment and chagrin had also brought on a 
 
 255
 
 256 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 state of despondency among the officers and crew. No 
 interest, no speculation, no excitement was seen or ap 
 peared to be felt by them, although, like the Com 
 mander, they would have been all excitement under the 
 same circumstances previous to this period. With the 
 exception of the first lieutenant's, not a glass was in re 
 quisition. He alone, among the officers and crew, 
 maintained a high and manly bearing, coolness, and 
 intrepidity, a sound judgment, and the most perfect 
 equanimity, which no reverse of fortune, or change of 
 circumstances, or peril, or danger could shake, or alter 
 for a moment his steady and unwavering purpose. He 
 descended into the captain's cabin, where he found him 
 sitting with his elbow on the table, and his head reclined 
 on his hand, as if he were in a deep reverie. 
 
 "Is it your intention, sir," inquired the lieutenant, 
 " to look after the stranger ? She is plainly visible, 
 and her courses are already raised from the deck ; she 
 is close hauled, standing on the starboard tack, and I 
 judge from the appearance of her canvass, square yards, 
 and taut rig, that she is a British frigate." 
 
 The last word was scarcely finished when the Com 
 mander roused from his seat, his eyes flashing, when he 
 immediately sprang on deck, and seizing a spy-glass, he 
 fixed a long and searching gaze at the stranger, at the 
 same time repeatedly hailing the look-out aloft. The 
 result of this inspection corroborated the opinion of the 
 first lieutenant, for he quickly observed, 
 
 " I believe she is a man-of-war ; however, we shall 
 know by and by, for when she gets in our wake, if my
 
 
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 25V 
 
 opinion is correct, she will tack after us, and give us 
 chase." 
 
 The hands were now turned up, and every prepara 
 tion was made to dress the Cruiser with all the canvass 
 that could be set close-hauled. In less than half an hour 
 the stranger had ranged up into the wake, and there 
 was no mistake at this time in the opinion of the Com 
 mander, for the look-out reported that the ship astern 
 was now in stays. The distance between the two ves 
 sels was judged to be two and a half leagues. Every 
 yard of canvass was spread that could be set to advan 
 tage upon a wind, and very shortly the speed of the 
 Cruiser was greatly increased. The chase was kept up 
 during the remainder of the day, and there was no per- 
 ceptible gain on either side. Night closed in, and of 
 course with it the chase was lost sight of. During the 
 whole night, a heavy press of sail was carried on, and 
 toward morning, the wind hauled to the S. W., with 
 thick cloudy weather, and at daylight the ship was out 
 of sight. 
 
 The wounded men were now recovering rapidly/ 
 some of them were already convalescent, and the boat 
 swain, whose wound was slight, once more resumed his 
 station on deck for actual service. The crew, however, 
 were yet in a weakened condition, consequently there 
 was but little disposition manifested to push the Cruiser 
 on to her intended destination. 
 
 The state of things which now existed was truly de 
 plorable. Indecision on the part of the Commander, 
 arid the despondency of the crew, rendered the Cruiser, 
 22*
 
 258 THE AMERICAS CRUISER. 
 
 at this time, unlit for any rencontre with the enemy, and 
 indeed, it would have been infinitely better to have 
 shaped a course for the United States, and made an end 
 of the cruise, than to have run into peril and danger, in 
 the present state of the Cruiser and her crew. No de 
 finite action, however, was taken either way, and the 
 Cruiser was suffered to jog on her course, without any 
 apparent decision in regard to her next operations. 
 
 Day after day passed away, and nothing transpired 
 to change or alter the state of feeling, or to rouse the 
 crew from the dull monotony which had gathered over 
 them. At length, however, the lead being cast, and 
 soundings struck in the Chops ef the Irish Channel, it 
 produced an excitement, from the fact that every mo 
 ment they were in constant expectation of falling in 
 with men-of-war, as well as merchant vessels ; it was 
 also the season for heavy mists and fogs, which are so 
 prevalent on the British coast. This was an additional 
 danger, which could not be controlled by human pru 
 dence or foresight, and therefore rendered the situation of 
 the Cruiser more perilous than she otherwise could have 
 been. This combination, however, produced a happy 
 change among the officers and crew, for the salvation of 
 the Cruiser, and the ultimate and speedy conclusion 
 of the cruise, as well as their own freedom and liberty, 
 now depended on their good conduct and bravery ; they 
 were well convinced of this, and it had the effect of pro 
 ducing a reaction upon all their subsequent movements. 
 The manly bearing of the first lieutenant, his evenness 
 of mind, which no circumstance elated or depressed, had
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 also inspired the Commander at least with a degree of 
 the same feeling. Thus, then, we have endeavored to 
 describe the condition of the Cruiser and her crew on 
 her arrival at the cruising ground. 
 
 It was after one of those long nights in the month of 
 December, nearly in the parallel of 50 deg. north, the 
 wind blowing at the same time from the south-west, that 
 the crew, when daylight broke, were almost transfixed 
 to the deck with a sight so appalling that it made the 
 stoutest hearts to quail. The whole hemisphere in that 
 region from whence the wind came, appeared like a 
 moving mass, as if the whole Island of Britain had its 
 foundation unloosed, and was driven along by the wind. 
 As the morning light advanced, and the south-west wind 
 increased, it had the appearance of a terrific white 
 squall, driving furiously toward the Cruiser. In ad 
 vance of this apparent phenomena, there appeared to be 
 a huge mass of black water, piled in heaps, and from 
 its immense height and apparent velocity, threatened 
 to engulph the Cruiser in immediate destruction. She 
 was instantaneously stripped of every yard of canvass, 
 and made ready for the awful conflict, which was every 
 moment expected to ensue. After a few moments of 
 suspense, in which neither the Isle of the Ocean, nor 
 the white squall came into collision with the Cruiser, the 
 truth of this marvellous appearance flashed upon every 
 mind, for it was nothing more nor less than a dense mist 
 which had risen in the distant seaboard, and which had 
 shrouded the whole of that quarter in obscurity, and had 
 assumed the appearances which had BO terrified and
 
 260 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 affrighted the crew. The sea of fog, that lay above the 
 watery sea, was about seventy feet in height, and 
 seemed to be moving towards the Cruiser, before the 
 south-westerly wind, Avhich wafted the vessel on. Its 
 surface, as viewed from the deck, was undulating and 
 restless, like the billowy ocean, now curling upward in 
 fantastic wreaths like smoke, now tossing and eddying in 
 feathery streamers, as the fickle wind sported with it 
 at its will. Sometimes masses of the misty vapor would 
 heave themselves into the air above the general surface, 
 in cloudy pinnacles, till the breeze would break and 
 scatter them, dissolving in air as they flew. In a 
 short time, as the Cruiser was under easy sail, the 
 whole mass moved along with the breeze, and presently 
 she was enveloped in $ dense and impenetrable fog. 
 
 This was a more fearful situation, than a hard chase, 
 or severe action, from the fact that there could be no 
 means of escape, in the event of falling in with an 
 enemy of superior force, and the dense mist would also 
 prevent the possibility of making any Captures, unless 
 mere chance would throw them into collision or contact. 
 There was, however, from the height of the fog, a pos 
 sibility to get sight of the mast-head of any taut-rigged 
 vessel that might not be too far distant. Again, there 
 was a bare possibility to discover a sail, if the sight was 
 fixed near the surface of the water, for it will be recol 
 lected by all those -who have knowledge and experience 
 in these matters, that there is a short space between 
 the surface of the water and the lower edges of a dense 
 fog. These, then, were all the chances at present for
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 the discovery of vessels, upon which the safety of the 
 Cruiser measurably depended ; and these were improved 
 to the best advantage, for it became a matter of great 
 uncertainty, as the wind had died away, when this thick 
 fog would be dispelled. 
 
 " I believe," observed the Commander to the first 
 lieutenant, " that these fogs sometimes last for days, 
 especially when the wind is light at S. W., as is the 
 case at present. The fogs on the British coast are fre 
 quent, and sometimes of long duration, and are" often 
 very disastrous to vessels in the Channels, and it often 
 becomes necessary to keep up a constant firing of can 
 non, or tolling of the ship's bells, in order to avoid col 
 lision with vessels on opposite courses or different tacks." 
 
 " The perils of war, however," replied the first lieu 
 tenant, " prevent us from taking advantage of this 
 method, for it would endanger our safety yet more than 
 it is at present, so that in my judgment the most pro 
 found silence should be maintained (during the preva 
 lence of this mist,) not only among the crew, but I 
 should think that every block, spar, yard, with all the 
 rigging, should be secured and put in such a manner, 
 that the least possible noise might be heard from them. 
 This I would recommend as a matter of security, for I 
 have often been in a light wind, and the fog so dense, 
 that it was impossible to discover any object one yard 
 ahead of the vessel, and at the same time I have heard 
 the creaking of blocks, or spars, or the flapping of can 
 vass, when the vessel has been at least three or four 
 hundred vards distant.'*
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISES. 
 
 " It is very true," observed the Commander, " I like 
 your suggestion, and we will endeavor to use every 
 precaution, so let all the sails be lowered and stopped, 
 as well as the other means applied to prevent noise and 
 surprise." 
 
 It was not long before the first lieutenant, by his 
 promptness in having the orders of the Commander 
 executed, had the Cruiser as noiseless as an albatross 
 that floats on the top of a mountain billow, sleeping 
 with its head under the wing. 
 
 These preparations were scarcely finished, when the 
 look-out from the top-gallant-yard reported that the 
 mast-heads of a vessel were in sight on the larboard 
 quarter. This was all that could be ascertained, but as 
 it was a leading breeze to that point where the strange 
 sail was discovered, it was determined to proceed with 
 great caution, and if possible ascertain her character. 
 Although this movement would be attended with some 
 hazard, yet as there was now a unity of feeling and 
 action among the officers and crew, and as the Cruiser 
 had decidedly the advantage of being undiscovered, and 
 again, as they were all deeply anxious to bring this pro 
 tracted cruise to a termination, they resolved to run the 
 hazard. As the head of the Cruiser was put in the di 
 rection of the strange sail, of course the deepest anxiety 
 prevailed, and she proceeded with a silence so profound, 
 that if she had been fallen in with during the night, she 
 might well have been taken for a haunted vessel. Even 
 the reports from the masthead were conveyed in silence 
 by a second person, who alternately went up and down.
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 263 
 
 It was very soon reported that the dense fog had risen, 
 and that the mast-heads of the stranger were no longer 
 to be seen. A long and scrutinizing gaze was now 
 made from the boat, (which had been hoisted out for 
 that purpose,) near the surface of the water, but in 
 vain ; no trace of the stranger was seen from below, or 
 aloft. The Cruiser held on her course in the direction 
 that the stranger was first seen, for nearly two hours, 
 when it was judged, that unless she was steering the 
 same course, she must by this time be up with her, or 
 had run past her. 
 
 " In my opinion," observed the Commander to the 
 first lieutenant, " we had better take in sail, for it 13 
 perfectly useless to dodge about in this way on wild 
 goose chase." 
 
 " Hist, silence ! what noise is that I hear ? " said the 
 first lieutenant in a hurried tone. 
 
 The next minute there was death-like silence, and the 
 creaking of blocks, and a noise as if from the flapping 
 of sails, was distinctly heard on the larboard beam. 
 From the distinctness and clearness with which these 
 sounds were heard, the strange sail could not be more 
 than two or three hundred yards distant. From the 
 proximity of the two, the greatest precaution was neces 
 sary. To close with the stranger without having some 
 knowledge of her, would be madness, and to remain 
 stationary, would (if the fog continued,) preclude the 
 possibility of ascertaining whether the strange sail was 
 a man-of-war or not. They were, however, not long in 
 suspense, for the look-out at the surface of the water
 
 264 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 reported that he could see the lower part of the hull of 
 a vessel of great length, and that her head was to the 
 eastward. 
 
 " The stranger has seen us, I believe," observed the 
 Commander, " for it is evident from his bearings, that 
 she could not be in that position with her head to the 
 eastward, if she had been steering that course from the 
 time we first saw her, and should this fog suddenly 
 clear away, and my conjectures are right, without doubt 
 she is a man-of-war, I say then, if this fog should clear 
 away, our capture would be inevitable." 
 
 The boat was hoisted in as noiselessly as possible, all 
 sail was then set, and the Cruiser's head was put to the 
 westward. At sunset the fog had cleared away, so 
 that the whole eastern hemisphere presented a clear 
 blue expanse of waters, and a well-defined horizon, with 
 a sail far away in the distant eastern board.
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 THE YOUNG SEAMAN'S NARRATIVE CONTINUED. 
 
 IF the day had been obscured by the dense gloom of 
 an impenetrable fog, the night, as if to return good for 
 evil, was entirely the reverse : the moon rose in ma 
 jestic splendor, scattering her golden rays, and tinging 
 the clouds, which when reflected on the deep blue sea, 
 presented to a fervid imagination a thousand beautiful 
 images, that might have been personified into real life. 
 As she ascended into the azure vault, the clouds which 
 had been beautified by her rays, now disappeared, 
 and the twinkling stars, as if ashamed of their dim 
 inutive light, receded before the broad blaze of the 
 nightly luminary, leaving here and there only a bright 
 planet, or star of the first magnitude. As she sailed 
 along high in the heavens, the brightness of her light, 
 which had partially obscured the distant horizon, was 
 so universally diffused around the hemisphere, that 
 an unobscured and well-defined horizon might be seen 
 wherever the sky seemed to meet and kiss the fathom 
 less deep. Her shining light falling on the broad ex 
 panse, shadowed forth a long line of intense brightness, 
 and the rippling sea, as it rose from the agitation of the 
 23 265
 
 266 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 wind, ever and anon sent forth innumerable sparkling 
 gems, which might be traced far away in the distant 
 seaboard. The western breeze blew gently, and the 
 Bruiser being under short sail, was slowly impelled, 
 with a noiselessness so profound, that not even the 
 breaking of the water at her bows was heard. 
 
 The high excitement of the day had now produced a 
 severe reaction, and the officers and crew, as if by 
 common consent, had (except a few of the watch, the 
 Commander, helmsman, and officer of the deck,) fallen 
 into a sound sleep ; naught was heard except the flap 
 ping of the low sail as she rolled to windward, or the 
 creaking of the yards ; and a contemplative mind, in a 
 scene like this, might have subsisted on its sublimity for 
 hours. 
 
 " How different is this scene," observed the young 
 seaman to the boatswain, as they were walking the 
 main-deck together, " to that of the day which is now 
 past. How often have I, in such a night as this, when 
 the gallant ship has been impelled through the water by 
 the steady trade wind ; how often, in pacing the 
 deck during my watch, has my mind dwelt with rapture 
 on future scenes of happiness, which, alas ! had their 
 only existence in my poor heart, and were never, never 
 destined to have a brighter reality. Ah ! my friend," he 
 continued, " our day dreams and night visions of hap 
 piness have their greatest enjoyment in the anticipation ; 
 for behold, how few realize what they have in prospect, 
 and when the chances of reality accumulate, and hope's 
 expectations are wrought to the highest point, at the
 
 THB AMERICAN CRUISER. 267 
 
 moment, when we are just about to seize the prize, 
 it eludes our grasp, and vanishes away, leaving not 
 a wreck behind. Now I would not disturb your 
 feelings, that have been induced by the calm serenity 
 of this night, yet, my friend, the day past, which has 
 been shrouded in gloom and obscurity, together with the 
 dangers we have escaped, was more congenial to my 
 feelings, than this night which is marked with so much 
 beauty and magnificence. I know not how it is, but 
 as this cruise winds along to its termination, thoughts 
 crowd over my mind, of a dark and foreboding nature. 
 It is true we have made many narrow escapes, and you 
 and I have neither lost life nor limb ; yet mark the 
 condition of this Cruiser and her crew, weakened as she 
 is in her complement of men, and even those who are 
 now on board, not capable of actual service. Mark 
 again, the alteration in the temper of our Commander, 
 and then you will agree with me that we are not in a fit 
 condition to remain on this cruising ground, and further, 
 if my judgment does not deceive me, such is the peculiar 
 state of the skipper, that it would not cost him many 
 hours of sorrow, if this craft fell into the hands of the 
 British. I do not mean that he would not gal 
 lantly defend her, so far as his courage is concerned, 
 yet if she is captured by a superior force, mark what I 
 now say : the stars and stripes will not be hauled down, 
 until this craft is literally cut to pieces." 
 
 " Well,well," replied the boatswain, " I don't think 
 you 're the chap to flinch, but I do n't see that there 's 
 any fun in fighting a frigate or a line-of-battle ship, if
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 we get under their shooting irons, nor do I see any use 
 in nailing the colors to the mast-head, to be shot at like 
 a parcel of dogs, when the fortune of war chanced to 
 throw us in the power of the enemy. I'll tell you 
 what, messmate," he continued, " this craft has been 
 poorly managed, and I begin to think like yourself, that 
 it '11 wind up at last with some rash act, that will put 
 her in the possession of the British, and you and I (if 
 we do n't lose the number of our mess,) will have a 
 place where the dogs won't bark at us. I 've been 
 thinking," he continued, " that this cruise will soon 
 come to an end one way or the other, and now, mess 
 mate, if we should be taken, why d' ye see, we may be 
 parted for a long time, or p'erhaps we may never meet 
 again. Now if it should please God that I should slip 
 my moorings first, why then all that I 've got in this 
 world, (and that 's not much, excepting my prize-money 
 in this craft, and a few shiners in the Savings' Bank hi 
 York,) I say all I 've got is yours. Only just give me 
 your word, that if I'm popped off the hooks by a 
 chance shot from the enemy, your own hands will lash 
 the hammock that contains my mortal body, and you 
 will see me decently buried in the blue ocean. Promise 
 me this, and then your old messmate, whenever the 
 order comes, I trust will be ready to heave up his 
 anchor, and make sail for the good port. I '11 tell you 
 what, messmate, since we had that bit of small talk the 
 other day, I 've been overhauling my reck'nmgs, and it 
 just puts me in mind of what old marm used to say, 
 when I 'd slip home after a long cruise at sea ; but then
 
 THE AMERICAN CRDISEU, 269 
 
 I was a wild, rattlebrain, harum scarum kind of a chap, 
 and did n't much care about .such things ; but, 
 messmate, since I've been hi your company, and 
 tracked your course all along, and see that you 're not 
 the chap to flinch when danger comes, or dodge at a 
 shot, or hang back when the boarders are called, I say 
 I 've looked at all these matters, at the same time you 
 do n't drink grog, nor rip out oaths, and you 're good 
 and kind to all hands, obedient to every order, and re 
 spected by every man fore and aft. I say, thinks I to 
 myself, I '11 just try to get on the same tack, and steer 
 the same course, with my messmate, so as to get the 
 good Pilot on board." 
 
 The young seaman grasped the hand of his friend 
 passionately, exclaiming : 
 
 " Nature has made you my superior. I would now 
 in return get the same promise from you, should it 
 please God to call me away first, that your own hand 
 should pay the last sad office to my mortal re 
 mains, whether on the ocean or on the land ; and to 
 you, my friend, do I give most cheerfully all that I 
 have in this world ; nay, it belongs to you and more, 
 even my life itself, for you have saved it more than once 
 at the risk of your own." 
 
 The two friends were now so completely overpowered 
 by their emotions, that they remained for some time 
 in deep silence, until the boatswain broke the spell, 
 by inquiring of the young seaman when he would 
 finish his yarn. 
 
 " As we have yet two hours on deck," he replied, 
 
 23*
 
 270 IHB AMERICAS CRUISES, 
 
 " and perhaps shall never have a better opportunity, 
 and as my feelings are suited fo its melancholy conclu 
 sion, I will endeavor to proceed. 
 
 " Again I embarked on a second voyage to the East 
 Indies, and such was my application to obtain a 
 thorough knowledge of seamanship and navigation, that 
 at the expiration of the passage, I felt that I was com 
 petent to discharge the duty of an officer, and deter 
 mined not to hesitate, if an offer were made. It was 
 not long before an opportunity presented, for the second 
 officer's berth on board of our ship ; for the person who 
 had filled that station on the passage, was discharged 
 for disobedience of orders, and drunkenness. It is true, 
 it was rather an unpleasant matter to sustain this rela 
 tion, with the same crew, and on board of the same 
 ship, in which I had been before the mast ; for you 
 know, messmate, that a second officer is something be 
 tween an officer and seaman in a merchant ship, and is 
 also a kind of servant for both sides. I accepted the 
 berth, however, and although there were many jeerings, 
 such as, ' our second dickey,' and ' you won't speak to a 
 chap, now you 've got a handle to your name ; ' these, 
 and many other strokes of sailor's wit, were thrown at 
 me, all of which I regarded not, but persevered dili 
 gently in the discharge of my duty, during the re 
 mainder of the voyage, at the conclusion of which I had 
 the satisfaction of not only meeting with the appro 
 bation of my superiors, but was also offered a chief 
 mate's berth in an Indiaman belonging to the same 
 employ.
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 271 
 
 " After our arrival I lost no time in writing to her 
 who now held my future destiny. Our correspondence 
 was marked with the purest strains of virtuous love. 
 Often when I received her letters, and after perusing 
 the warm breathings of a heart so devoted, and so con 
 stant to one that was every way unworthy of her love, 
 I resolved to break my promise and see her again, and 
 throw myself in the embraces of her who was now more 
 than all the world or even life itself to me ; but then re 
 flection taught me, if I sacrificed my honor to this 
 passion, she would then have cause to withdraw her con 
 fidence, which would be worse than death. My mind was 
 so entirely engrossed, and the ardor of my affection so 
 strong, that I was compelled to fly from myself, and 
 seek in the gayety and bustle of the city other objects 
 on which the current of my thoughts and . reflections 
 might change their course. With this determination T 
 sallied forth, without any definite end in view, until I 
 found myself walking. at a rapid pace, down a narrow 
 street which led to the more frequented and gayer 
 scenes of the city. When I had nearly reached the 
 end of this street, I encountered a man who waa 
 walking in the opposite direction. The moment we 
 came in contact, I raised my eyes, fixing them on the 
 person before me, and suddenly starting back, recog 
 nized the infamous wretch who had been the author of 
 all my woes. He spoke not a word, yet he cast upon 
 me a look of the proudest disdain and triumph. * You 
 are a villain ! ' I pronounced in an audible voice. His 
 dark countenance changed into a savage ferocity, and
 
 272 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 his eyes flashed the fire of rage, yet not a word escaped 
 his lips, and he passed on. 
 
 " With hurried steps I regained my lodgings, scarcely 
 knowing what step to pursue, for this encounter had 
 called up all the melancholy associations of my past 
 life. I had once more met the author of my ruin, the 
 ruin of my father's house, and one who had been instru- 
 mentally the cause of hurrying my -honored parents to 
 the grave. Yes, I had encountered the man who, 
 under the garb of friendship, robbed me of my fortune, 
 reputation, and honor, and but for him I should have 
 been in the possession of all that could render life 
 happy ; and to make up the catalogue of woes, he too 
 was the cause of banishment from my home, and sent 
 me forth as a wanderer, to acquire a reputation which 
 had been wrested from me by his repeated acts of vil- 
 lany and fraud. These associations, one after another, 
 crowded upon my mind, and so entirely occupied my 
 thoughts and feelings, that madness and revenge got 
 the complete ascendency, and my uncurbed and un 
 bridled passion, being wrought up nearly to phrenzy, I 
 swore in that moment to have redress for all my wrongs. 
 I neither saw nor heard from the detestable villain the 
 whole of the day, during which a thousand plans were 
 suggested by my bewildered brain, to execute that deep 
 revenge which had now gotten entire possession of me. 
 Sometimes I determined to call him out, and settle the 
 affair, in the way the world falsely denominates honor ; 
 that is, by exchanging shots with pistols at the distance 
 of ten paces. Again, I determined to reek my ven-
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 273 
 
 geance by giving him a severe castigation with a horse 
 whip in some public place. These thoughts occupied my 
 mind until a late hour at night, and I still found myself 
 without any fixed purpose of action. Nearly bewildered 
 in mind, and all the bad passions working upon wild and 
 heated imagination, my brain whirled, and I threw 
 myself on the bed, to seek that repose which my 
 tumultuous passions had so greatly disturbed. 
 
 " Broken slumbers soon took possession of my frame. 
 I dreamed that the gamester and myself had a meeting, 
 and that we had exchanged three shots, mine having 
 taken effect the second time, as the ball passed through 
 his heart, and he instantly expired. This awful dream 
 of my slumbers continued to harass my mind almost 
 beyond endurance, for I dreamed that I looked upon 
 his blood, his wound and ghastly remains, with a mali 
 cious pleasure that completely satiated my revenge. 
 Then again, as if the mighty phantom sought to harrow 
 up my soul, I dreamed that I was a murderer, that I 
 was guilty in the sight of a just and holy Being, that I 
 had offended against the law, that I must now seek 
 refuge from its penalty, and become an outcast in so 
 ciety. Then, as if to cap the climax, I dreamed of 
 
 E , her constancy and love remained unshaken, 
 
 until ^he received the dreadful intelligence of my ren 
 contre with the gamester, which fell upon her ear and 
 her heart as the death-knell of those in whom all our 
 hopes of happiness centre in this world. The voice, 
 look, and figure of her, who now lay prostrate in a 
 swoon at the receipt of this intelligence, all, all were
 
 274 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 before me in my slumbering imagination. It was too 
 much. I started from my couch, and when I was 
 entirely conscious of being awake, the subject of my 
 visions floated across my brain, as matters of real ex 
 istence. With hurried steps I paced my chamber, and 
 it was long ere my disturbed imagination was sufficiently 
 composed to recognize that the dreams of the past few 
 hours had no existence except in the slumbering phan 
 toms of the brain. 
 
 " At ten o'clock the following morning, I was startled 
 by a rap at my door. The servant entered, and an 
 nounced that a gentleman was in waiting to see me on 
 particular business. I immediately descended into the 
 parlor, and beheld an exceedingly well-dressed, gentle 
 manly looking man, who politely accosted me, and after 
 the customary morning salutation, handed me a note, 
 the seal of which I broke, and read as follows : 
 
 "'Sir: On a former occasion, I received a gross 
 insult from you, which my pity for your youth in 
 duced me to overlook at the time, but you have seen 
 proper to add insult to injury upon an unoffending man, 
 and as I can no longer brook this contumely, I re 
 quest that you will meet me on , and at , 
 
 to settle this affair, with such weapons as the laws 
 
 of honor dictate. The bearer, Mr. S , who is my 
 
 friend, will make all the requisite arrangements for this 
 meeting. Signed H .' " 
 
 At this moment, the watch being relieved, the two 
 friends -separated for the night.
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 IMPORTANT INFORMATION OP THE WEST INDIA AND MEDITER 
 RANEAN FLEET OP MERCHANTMEN. 
 
 As the termination of this cruise depended for its 
 success, on the prudence, management, and good judg 
 ment of him who had the control of it, and as the tem 
 perament of that person had undergone a manifest al 
 teration, and as he was not blind in regard to the impor 
 tance of the first lieutenant's judgment and opinion, 
 so now upon all occasions, he endeavored to ohtain 
 those opinions before he would act in any matter of 
 great importance. In short, his general deportment, 
 stability, equanimity, and unwavering courage, had se 
 cured for him the esteem and confidence, not only of his 
 brother officers and the crew, but also of the Com 
 mander. 
 
 The terms of intimacy which now existed between the 
 first lieutenant and the Commander, had a very salutary 
 influence upon the officers and crew ; but it was feared 
 among the more sagacious that this compliance on the 
 part of the skipper was only a feint, to call back or se 
 cure once more that confidence and respect which was 
 transferred to the first lieutenant, and that it was only 
 
 275
 
 276 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 requisite to present some circumstance or temptation be 
 fore him, in order to rouse into action that impetuosity 
 and rashness which had marked his conduct previously, 
 and had proved so detrimental to the interest of the 
 cruise. Be this as it may, there was at present an air 
 of good feeling existing throughout the Cruiser, so much 
 so, that no action of importance was executed without a 
 general consultation with all the officers. Even the 
 ward room, which had, for a long time, been the scene 
 of discontent and dissatisfaction, now assumed a cheer 
 fulness that was quite unusual to its inmates. 
 
 " I begin to think," said the old prize-master, " that 
 we shall make a good cruise of it, and come off with 
 flying colors, after all." 
 
 " Well," returned the other, " it won't be in a fog, 
 any how, nor it won't be dodging about here, for in my 
 way of thinking, evejy craft we see about these parts 
 will be a man-of-war ; so, then, if we make a good 
 cruise according to your notion, we'll have to get 
 another cruising ground." 
 
 " Why I don't know," replied the prize-master, " but 
 that you're half right ; but what do you think of shoving 
 this craft a little further up the Channel ? " 
 
 " And what do you think," returned the Down Easter, 
 " of a snug berth in a British prison ? I think we are 
 just near enough to that Island, and as I never had 
 much liking for an Englishman, and particularly for 
 long confinement, and as I think prudence and discre 
 tion are the better parts of honor as well as valor, why 
 then, rather than to run up Channel, I'd sooner see the
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 277 
 
 head of this craft put to the westward, steering off for 
 Yankee land." 
 
 " Well, I don't believe the skipper will have much 
 respect for your feelings," grunted out the old prize- 
 master, " and in my way of thinking we shall finish this 
 cruise before many days roll over our heads." 
 
 " What do you mean by that ? " inquired the Down 
 Easter. 
 
 " Mean," returned the other, " why I mean just this, 
 that in my opinion, we are going up Channel, and that's 
 all one, you know, as running the gauntlet ; so when 
 we get up yonder, we shall not be long before we have 
 plenty of work one way or the other, that is, we shall 
 fall in with plenty of vessels, and they will either be 
 men-of-war or merchantmen. Now if they are men-of- 
 war, why then the game is up with us, for we shall be 
 sure to be taken, and then the cruise is finished. Now 
 if we should happen to fall in with merchant vessels, 
 and make two or three prizes, why then, in that case, we 
 shall square away for the United States ; but mind 
 what I say, if we should take any prizes in this region, 
 it would be little less than a miracle, if they are not re 
 captured." 
 
 During this conversation, to which the officers of the 
 ward-room were attentively listening, the doctor inquired 
 very gravely, in reference to the capture of erasing 
 vessels by the enemy, what disposition was made of the 
 surgeon. 
 
 " I have heard," he continued, that they are consid 
 ered as non-combatants, consequently they are not put 
 24
 
 278 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 under close confinement, but are entitled, with the cap 
 tain and first lieutenant, to their parole." 
 
 " A very wise consideration," replied the old soaking 
 prize-master, " on the part of the British, for the Lord 
 himself knows that they could have afiixed a more ap 
 propriate name to these gentry, except that some credit 
 may be given to them for the shedding of blood." 
 
 ' That may be true with many of them," observed 
 the Down Easter, " but our surgeon will never have 
 that sin to answer for, that is, I mean on board of this 
 craft. Now what he may have done on shore in the 
 way of taking off arms and legs, and shedding blood in 
 this way, is not for me to say ; " the Down Easter 
 would have proceeded farther, but was suddenly inter 
 rupted by the non-combatant, who remarked, that if 
 the patient, upon whom he had performed the operation 
 of amputating the leg, bled to death, it was not his fault, 
 because the operation was perforned according to the 
 laws of science and medical practice. 
 
 " That may be, but the Lord help me," said the 
 Down Easter, " if a man is to bleed to death according 
 to the laws of science, and that science to be exhibited 
 by such practitioners, who don't know how to take up 
 the arteries, and save a man's life ; why then I say, the 
 Lord defend me from such, for I had rather the ball 
 would pass through my body and do the work genteelly, 
 than to come under the cutting and slashing of many 
 of those who are dubbed with the title of M. D." 
 
 As this conversation no doubt was intended for the 
 doctor, and as it applied to him in truth, he said but
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 279 
 
 little in his own defence, and after a confirmation of his 
 suggestion, in regard to the parole of surgeons, he 
 shrunk back into one corner of the ward-room, well 
 satisfied that in any event his condition would not be as 
 bad as that of any other part of the crew. 
 
 Morning brought with it one of those beautiful and 
 bland days, which are so rare on the coast of England 
 at this season of the year. The wind was light, the sea 
 smooth, and the horizon clearly defined ; the look-out 
 was at his station aloft before the sun made his appear 
 ance, while the practised eye of the seaman (which had 
 been strengthened by long use,) ranged the_ whole . 
 circumference of the horizon by a long and searching 
 gaze ; his silence proclaimed the intelligence that there 
 were not any vessels in sight. The customary 
 duties of the morning watch were being performed, 
 and when finished, seven bells denoted the welcome 
 news for the hour of breakfast. This necessary duty 
 being performed, and the watch on deck at their 
 accustomed duties, the officers of the ward-room were 
 all summoned on deck, after which a consultation 
 began as follows : 
 
 " Gentlemen," observed the Commander, " I have 
 thought proper to call upon you, in order that each may 
 give his opinion in regard to the general interest of thia 
 cruise, as well as the interest of each one of us in par 
 ticular. You are all aware that on this cruising ground 
 we run much hazard, and in this particular season of 
 the year, dense mists and fogs are exceedingly preva 
 lent. The experience of one day alone has shown us
 
 280 THE AMERICAN CRUISER, 
 
 that little can be done with any degree of security in 
 such weather. Again, should any vessels heave in sight, 
 they are more likely to be men-of- war than merchantmen, 
 for the plain reason that few vessels, (except those that 
 are well manned and armed,) will venture out without 
 convoy. To remain here, therefore, of course must be 
 attended with danger, and without the chance of suc 
 cess. I have weighed this matter, and think the better 
 plan to adopt is, to run well up Channel. It is true we 
 shall be likely to fall in with men-of-war, but we shall be 
 much more likely to fall in with merchantmen there, 
 than on this cruising ground. I am aware that we shall 
 increase the hazard of being captured, but then it is 
 necessary to our success, that we risk the chances of 
 war, for unless we do so, we may as well give up the 
 interest of the cruise, and steer immediately away for 
 the United States." * 
 
 The Commander paused a moment, and then re 
 quested the first lieutenant to give his opinion freely, 
 without bias, or with any reference to that which he had 
 just advanced. 
 
 " In my judgment," observed the first lieutenant, 
 " to remain any longer on this ground would only be a 
 consumption of tune, and a waste of provisions and 
 water; for we have the most positive demonstration, by 
 the small amount of provisions and water, that in any 
 case it cannot be long before we must go into port. I 
 therefore coincide with your opinion, sir, to leave this 
 ground as quick as possible, and run up Channel. It is 
 true we shall incur some risk, but I trust with caution
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 281 
 
 and a good look-out, we shall ultimately finish the cruise 
 with honor and profit." 
 
 After the first lieutenant had given his opinion, each 
 of the officers were interrogated in their turn ; some of 
 whom coincided with the first lieutenant, hut the greater 
 part of them were decidedly opposed in getting so close 
 to " John Bull's dominion," as they termed it. While 
 this consultation Avas being carried on, and many con 
 flicting opinions advanced, it was suddenly interrupted 
 by a report from the look-out at the mast-head, that a 
 sail was in sight to the westward. In a very short time 
 the Cruiser was under a press of sail, with her head on 
 the trail of the stranger. The state of feeling which 
 now existed on hoard of the Cruiser was indeed very 
 different from that high excitement which was mani 
 fested on such occasions on the former part of the 
 cruise ; whether this was owing to the perilous location 
 of the cruising ground, or the prospect of running up 
 Channel and thus increase the risk of being captured, 
 or whether it was owing to a want of that confidence 
 which they ought to have, in the ability of the Com 
 mander, or whether the combination of these circum 
 stances together, had not their united influence to 
 produce this apparent listlessness, is a matter I shall 
 leave to the opinion of the reader. It is true 
 every preparation was made for action, but then even a 
 casual observer would not be at a loss to discover, that 
 there was but little desire to encounter the enemy. 
 
 There was now every prospect that the Cruiser would 
 overhaul the chase before night, as two hours had 
 24*
 
 282 THE AMERICAN CRtllSBR. 
 
 scarcely passed since the stranger was first made, and 
 her courses were already raised from the deck, and 
 further, it was yet early in the day. So rapidly did 
 the Cruiser come up with the chase, that before two 
 o'clock her character was ascertained to be a brig 
 standing to the westward, and her whole appearance 
 was that of a merchant vessel. At five o'clock the 
 stranger was in reach of Long Tom, and after the first 
 salutation she rdunded to, and displayed the Dutch flag 
 at her peak. In thirty minutes the boats of the Cruiser 
 might have been seen boarding the Dutchman, from 
 whom they not only received some supplies of pro 
 visions and water, but also important information. This 
 brig was from Liverpool, bound to Surinam, the captain 
 of which informed the Commander of the Cruiser, that 
 the combined Mediterranean and West India fleet of 
 merchantmen were now at their rendezvous in Cork, 
 and would sail in a very few days under a strong 
 convoy. The Dutch skipper was remunerated liberally 
 for his provisions and water, and after expressing many 
 thanks to him, for his kindness and the information he 
 had given, he stood on his course to the southward and 
 westward. On the receipt of this important intelli 
 gence, as might have been supposed, it produced a uni 
 versal burst of feeling and excitement ; for it was con 
 fidently believed, that the Commander's experience had 
 taught him a salutary lesson, so that in the event of 
 falling in with this fleet, he would not rashly or impru 
 dently jeopardize the Cruiser or the lives of the crew, 
 and throw away the chances of completing the cruise ;
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 283 
 
 nevertheless they relied more implicitly on the judgment 
 and coolness of the first lieutenant, and as the Com 
 mander had manifested a disposition to act measurably 
 in concert with the judgment of his officers, it recon 
 ciled them to the perilous undertaking of cruising up 
 Channel, so that they might fall in with the fleet. The 
 Cruiser's head was now put to the eastward, and as 
 they were in hourly expectation of hard chasing or hard 
 fighting, they embraced the present favorable oppor 
 tunity to ascertain with the greatest precision her best 
 trim for sailing, and her best rates. After repeated 
 trials, it was decided that her greatest proportional 
 speed was before the wind, although she was no laggard 
 close hauled. Being now satisfied in regard to her 
 sailing, every preparation was made for action, such as 
 fitting preventer slings for the yards and gaffs, stoppers 
 for the rigging, tomkins for shot-holes, &c., the arma 
 ment was also put in the best order, and additional am 
 munition was being made ready with cartridge and ball ; 
 in short, the Cruiser was now in the best possible pre 
 paration, according to her strength, either for the fight 
 or chase.
 
 CHAPTER XXVIH. 
 
 THE YOUNG SEAMAN'S NARRATIVE CONCLUDED. 
 
 THE following morning, after having received the im 
 portant intelligence from the Dutch brig, the Cruiser 
 might have been seen, steering gallantly up the Irish 
 Channel. Her snow-white canvass, which was now 
 spread on every yard and spar, looked at a small dis 
 tance, like a white cloud, and formed a striking con 
 trast to the dark, heavy appearance, that marked 
 in these days the distinction between the American 
 and British cruiser. She glided along over the sur 
 face of the smooth sea, as a creature of life and 
 reason, obedient to every impulse, and increasing her 
 speed as sail after sail was spread. Like an ocean- 
 bird that floats on its native element, so the Cruiser, 
 with buoyant wings, was driven forward, over the 
 swelling flood, toward her intended place of destination 
 and probable conflict. 
 
 Every heart (excepting those of the more reflecting,) 
 was light and merry, nor dreamed of any reverse of 
 circumstances. To this enjoyment the musical powers 
 of Jimmy contributed not a little, and although the 
 main-deck and forecastle presented the bright gleams of 
 284
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 285 
 
 sunshine, yet there were those on the quarter-deck and 
 ward-room whose whole exterior depicted the lowering 
 cloud of foreboding evil ; yet no traces of fear or cow 
 ardice could be discovered, and if every heart could 
 have been laid open for inspection, the result would 
 have been that no quailing or flinching would be mani 
 fested in the hottest battle or the hardest chase. 
 
 " Well, messmate," observed the boatswain to the 
 young seaman, " I believe we are now in the Channel, 
 and it won't be long with this fine weather, before some 
 thing heaves in sight to make work for us. Now 
 whether it will be good work or bad work, is not for me 
 to say ; but there is one thing I will say, and that is, 
 that this craft was never in a better condition to fight 
 or run (except that we 've not got men enough,) than 
 she is now, and I should n't mind having a bit of a dust, 
 with an equal chance, especially if our first lieutenant 
 has his way in the matter ; but just so sure as that 
 madcap skipper of ours takes to his old follies again, 
 and we should get jammed up this Channel, why then 
 the jig's up with us, and there 's an end on't." 
 
 " We have been messmates together," replied the 
 young seaman, " upwards of three years, and I know 
 not how it is, yet there is something in my heart which 
 tells me, that one of us will never reach the United 
 States again. How often, my friend, have I told you 
 In regard to my own history, that the brightest pros 
 pects have terminated with evil. And what is 
 our condition at the present moment ? Almost every 
 heart seems to bound with joy, nay, even the condition
 
 286 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 of this craft, and the bright and beautiful weather, and 
 the glorious sun, that sends forth its refulgent rays, 
 giving light and heat to creation, all seem to inspire 
 the heart with feelings of happiness and ultimate 
 success; yet the very reverse has taken entire pos 
 session of my feelings. Yes, there is a dark cloud of 
 foreboding evil, which has gathered around me, and 
 although I fear not to face the enemy or death if need 
 be, yet I cannot say that this pulse of mine moves 
 quite as regularly, when I contemplate the hour that I 
 shall be called to separate from you." 
 
 This prophetical declaration, made a very serious im 
 pression upon the boatswain. 
 
 " Well, well," the old tar replied, " I can't help be 
 lieving what you say, and I know you 're not the lad to 
 flinch ; but what 's the use of taking all this melancholy 
 upon interest ? Come, come, messmate, cheer up, and 
 let 'P take things as they come, for d 'ye see, I believe 
 you and I will have some bright days together after all. 
 It 's very true, by the way, that your prophesying gen 
 erally comes out like a good lunar observation." 
 
 " What do you mean by that ? " observed the young 
 seaman. 
 
 " Why just this," replied the boatswain. " When the 
 distance is worked up, you '11 know exactly where the 
 ship is ; but if what you say should turn out to be so, 
 and as we have a bit of time in our watch below, why 
 I 'd like to hear the balance of your yarn." 
 
 The young seaman complied as follows : 
 
 " I accepted without hesitation, aye, and without re-
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 287 
 
 flection too, the challenge which I had received, and 
 after addressing a note to this effect to the gamester, I 
 delivered it to his friend. We arranged the usual 
 matters, such as the weapons, distance, time, place, &c. 
 Nothing was now left for me to do except to procure 
 a friend, who should act as my second ; this was easily 
 effected, in the person of one with whom I was very 
 intimate, and in whom I had confided all my past his 
 tory. Would you believe it, my friend ? my whole soul 
 was so filled with the thoughts of revenge on the mis 
 creant wretch, that I scarcely thought of my fair 
 
 E , nor the dreadful crime which I was about to 
 
 commit, nor the offence against the laws. All these 
 were foreign to my thoughts and feelings, yet I 
 had made the necessary arrangements to elude the arm 
 of the law and make my escape, should my antagonist 
 fall in this contest. When, however, the excitement of 
 the day passed off, and cool reflection assumed its 
 empire, then I shuddered at the prospect before me. It 
 is true, I was about to raise my arm against the life of 
 a fellow creature. But then, did he not deserve pun 
 ishment ? Was not his heart as black as his life was in 
 famous ? Had he not been guilty of the basest crimes of 
 robbery and murder ? Was he not too the author of all 
 my sorrows and woes ? These questions could be an 
 swered affirmatively, yet they could not, and did not- 
 quiet my conscience. 0, no! there is an hour of 
 retributive justice rolling on, when the murderer's doom 
 shall be irrevocably fixed, and shall I by this act place 
 myself among that number, and be instrumental in
 
 288 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 hurrying a wretch to his final doom ? These reflections 
 nearly overpowered my senses. I shuddered in wild 
 amazement, and would have retraced my steps, but 
 alas ! I had gone too far, and if I now retracted, I 
 should be branded with the epithet of coward. I 
 could not bear it, and the laws of honor (falsely so 
 called,) forbade retraction. I thought of my fair 
 
 E ; her love and constancy were more virtuous 
 
 and true, than romance has ever delineated. Alas ! 
 would she not despise the hand that could imbrue 
 itself in human blood ? And would she unite a heart 
 pure and spotless to one that had been guilty of the 
 foul deed of murder ? 0, no ! she could not, she 
 would not ; the lovely and beauteous flower would 
 be nipped by the withering blasts of sorrow, until 
 death should transplant it to a purer and fairer 
 clime. My friend, I would have given worlds to 
 have recalled one short day. It was not yet too late, 
 but alas ! I had not moral courage to stop, but rushing 
 madly on, I sought to drown my feelings in the fashion 
 able amusements of the day. But these afforded no 
 relief. 
 
 " The appointed tune of meeting drew near. I wrote 
 to E , with renewed protestations of love and con 
 stancy, with my determination of making another 
 voyage to the East Indies, and then throw myself at 
 her feet. This letter was written with a trembling 
 hand, hastily sealed, and sent off; after which I pre 
 pared myself for the conflict. The day and hour had 
 now arrived. We met with our seconds according to
 
 TI1E AA1EIUCAN CRUISEE. . 289 
 
 appointment, and as tlie laws of duelling gave me the 
 choice of weapons and distance, I selected pistols, and 
 the distance to be. twelve paces. I fixed a keen glance 
 upon my antagonist,, and saw that he was pale and hag 
 gard, his whole frame shaking violently, and it was 
 evident to the most superficial observer, that his courage 
 had failed. Unwilling to take the advantage of him, I 
 sought a reconciliation, through the medium of my 
 friend ; but his friend declined any compromise, except 
 by exchange of shots. The distance was measured, 
 and by lot he had the first shot. He fired, and the ball 
 grazed the back of my neck, merely breaking the skin. 
 It now came to my turn, and I discharged my pistol in 
 tne air, and still asked for a compromise. His friend 
 and himself were inexorable, and apparently elated in 
 having another chance, and, as I supposed, thirsting for 
 my blood, he fired again without any effect. As it was 
 '.mpossible to come to any terms of reconciliation, I de 
 termined, if possible, to avoid killing him, but at the 
 same time to inflict such a wound as would place him 
 beyond the power of renewing the attack. I dis 
 charged my pistol, and he fell. 
 
 " I saw no more. My friend hurried me away from 
 the ground to a place of concealment, in order that I 
 might avoid the infliction of the law, until the ship was 
 ready to sail for the East Indies. The deepest suspense 
 hung over the next twenty-four hours ; all was dark, 
 gloomy, and foreboding. I had now shed human blood, 
 and whether the subject of my wrongs had received a 
 mortal wound or not, was a matter that involved my 
 25
 
 290 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 peace of mind forever. The mental sufferings of a few 
 short hours nearly deprived me of existence. At 
 length, however, I was relieved from this state of 
 insufferable anguish ; my friend informed me that he 
 had ascertained that the wound was not mortal, the 
 ball having entered above the shoulder blade, had been 
 extracted, and that his confinement would be of short 
 duration. In a few days the ship was ready for sea. 
 
 Again I wrote to my dearest E , and gave her 
 
 an account of all that had passed, imploring her forgive 
 ness and the continuance of her unabated love. Once 
 more, then, I found myself measurably free, and as the 
 ship was to sail immediately, I left my place of conceal 
 ment, embarked on -board, and was soon installed with 
 the first officer's berth. "We got under way immediate 
 ly, and with a leading breeze and flowing sheet, in a few 
 hours I bade adieu to the place of my sufferings, and to 
 the home that contained all that was dear to me on 
 earth. 
 
 " Rumor, with her busy tongue, and with much ex 
 aggeration, had detailed the account of my unhappy 
 meeting with the gamester ; but then it operated great 
 ly to my advantage on board, for I was extolled as a 
 courageous chap that would not dodge at a shot, but 
 also that my conduct in the whole affair was honorable, 
 and that my antagonist richly merited punishment at 
 my hands. Nor was this all ; this affair procured for me 
 a degree of respect and awe from my superior, as well as 
 the crew, to which perhaps I was not entitled. I will 
 not enter into a detail of this voyage, suffice it to say
 
 AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 that nothing transpired of particular import. I believe 
 that I discharged the duties of my station to the entire 
 satisfaction of the Commander. 
 
 " We arrived in the United States after a year's ab 
 sence, and as I had distinguished myself, and my con 
 duct was much approved, I was offered an excellent 
 command. 
 
 " Now then my friend, you perceive that I had re-es 
 tablished my reputation, and could honorably claim my 
 prize, having fulfilled my pledge. The sun shone 
 brilliantly upon my prospects, although dark clouds 
 would occasionally flit across my mind and obscure the 
 future. Nevertheless the buoyancy of youth, and the 
 bright and cheering path that lay before" me, and above 
 
 all, that my dearest E would soon be mine, by 
 
 virtue of all that was sacred and honorable all these 
 considerations conspired to make me happy, and drive 
 far away every unwelcome anxiety. 
 
 " Alas ! this was the happiness of anticipation, des 
 tined never to have an existence in reality. It was the 
 morning of brightness, that exhibited the cloudless sky 
 and brilliant orb of day, which, ere he had performed 
 half his destined round, was shrouded in gloom, and 
 storms and tempests closed the mournful scene. I 
 had scarcely reached the place of my nativity, 
 when my ear was saluted with the overwhelming and 
 dreadful intelligence, that she for whom I had 
 braved every danger who had been the stimulus of 
 all my acts that she whose love never diminished, and 
 whose constancy for me had never shaken, and whose
 
 292 THE AMERICAN CRUISER, 
 
 last words were an invocation that Heaven would grant 
 a meeting of our two spirits in that bright world where the 
 alighting sorrows of earth are unknown that this dearest 
 jbject of all my affection and love, was no more. Over 
 whelmed with the dreadful shock, my firmness entirety 
 forsook me, and it was many days before I recovered suffi 
 cient composure of mind, to listen to the details of her ill 
 ness and subsequent death. Exaggerated accounts of 
 my unhappy rencontre with the gamester, reached her 
 through the medium of the newspapers, in which it was 
 stated that a bloody affair had taken place, in which I 
 had killed my antagonist, and that I was obliged to 
 leave my country forever. This account was never con 
 tradicted, and* although she had received my letter, 
 which detailed the account of the whole affair, yet it 
 was so entirely different from that in the newspaper, 
 that she knew not on which to rely. Numerous vague 
 reports, some of which were not very favorable to my 
 character as a duellist, were freely circulated, and 
 which made such a melancholy impression upon her 
 mind, that her health gradually declined, and her deli 
 cate frame sunk under the violence of the shock it had 
 received. Yet the pure breathings of her love for me, 
 were poured forth in her greatest bodily and mental af 
 fliction ; and never for a moment did she doubt my 
 honor, or by any word or action cast a shade of reproach 
 upon my integrity. 
 
 " Notwithstanding the predictions of physicians and 
 friends, her father could not realize that her end was 
 near. He still dreamed that she might be raised again
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 to comparative health, and be spared a while longer ; 
 and to her earnest and solemn predictions that the part 
 ing hour was near, he still replied in the language of 
 hope and assurance. The pure spirit that still inhabited 
 the tenement of clay, notwithstanding the assurance 
 of her father, was rapidly passing to mingle in ce 
 lestial joy with bright seraphs above, while expressions 
 of holy trust, showed that the spirit felt its affinity to 
 the world of purity and peace she was approaching. 
 She died praying for me. 
 
 " Time's withering hand can never, my friend, 
 efface the sad remembrance of those days. Solitary 
 and alone I struck the pathway that led to the noise 
 and bustle of the seaport, and notwithstanding the tu 
 multuous confusion and hurry which in every street 
 crowded upon me, yet more and more the loneliness of 
 my condition, gathered around my poor heart, and the 
 gay and busy world afforded me no consolation, for I 
 looked upon it all as one vast channel house. In short, 
 my mind became so much depressed, that I was com 
 pelled, if I may thus speak, to fly from myself. I wan 
 dered up and down, not having any definite object in 
 view, except that a vague thought would sometimes 
 cross my mind, that if I could find one in whom I could 
 confide, and to whom I could unburthen my soul, and 
 pour forth the sorrow of my heart, I should then be 
 relieved. 
 
 " My messmate you know the rest. In you I have found 
 a faithful friend, and to you have I poured forth the 
 sorrows of my aching spirit. I look only to death for 
 25*
 
 294 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 comfort. Then I shall be ready to enter into the enjoy 
 ment of peace and happiness, to which I have been a 
 stranger on earth." 
 
 Overcome by this sad and melancholy recital, the 
 tears fell from the young seaman's eyes, and he sunk 
 back, and strove to hide his anguish from his sympa 
 thizing friend.
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 CAPTURE OP A BRITISH BRIO IN A FOG, WITH THE BOAT9 
 
 THE wind blew briskly from the south-west, with 
 thick foggy weather, as the Cruiser dashed along over 
 the rough sea under short sail ; from the observation of 
 the previous day, she was now judged to be off the old 
 Head Kinsale ; consequently the deepest anxiety pre 
 vailed, for the information received from the Dutch 
 brig was correct. It was now time for the fleet to be 
 under way. But in this state of weather she would 
 be as likely to pounce alongside of a man-of-war, as a 
 merchantman; and although on the one hand they 
 might consider the dense mist as a friend, yet on 
 the other, the chances were two to one against 
 them. However, nothing daunted, they dashed along, 
 being determined to risk all the chances against them 
 in reference to the weather, and improve all the favor 
 able circumstances which were afforded to them by the 
 dense fog which now prevailed. 
 
 The wind freshened, and ever and anon blew in fitful 
 gusts, driving the mist before it, so that now and then 
 objects might be seen at a half a mile distance ; but soon 
 the fog again shut in, and objects could not be seen the 
 
 295
 
 296 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 length of the vessel. This, indeed, was highly favor 
 able to the Cruiser ; for if perchance she got into the 
 fleet, she would of course have the advantage of select 
 ing out a merchant vessel, at the same time the fog 
 would enable her to keep clear of the convoy. The 
 morning watch passed away with the same state of wea 
 ther, and nothing was seen by the look out aloft ; but 
 they were not long destined to remain inactive, or with 
 out some source of excitement ; for before two hours had 
 passed away in the forenoon watch, the fog raised up 
 from the surface of the water, and discovered the 
 Cruiser to be in the midst of the fleet. Scarcely had 
 they time to take the bearing of a large merchant brig, 
 that was about an eighth of a mile distant, ere the 
 whole fleet was again shrouded from the view by the 
 dense and impenetrable fog. The greatest caution and 
 prudence was now necessary. At first it was thought 
 best to run the Cruiser alongside the brig, and carry her 
 by boarding. This plan, however, was overruled by the 
 first lieutenant, because, as he affirmed, should the fog 
 clear up when the two vessels were in contact, and 
 should they be seen by the convoy, of course it would 
 create suspicion, and the Cruiser would be taken and 
 the prize re-captured. 
 
 " In my judgment," observed the first lieutenant to 
 the Commander, " our best plan is, to endeavor to take 
 that brig with our boats,- and if we succeed, of course 
 we shall avoid alarming the convoy, and we may then 
 put prize-master and crew on board of her, with orders
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 297 
 
 to keep with the fleet until night, and then make the 
 best of her way to the United States." 
 
 The proposition of the lieutenant was so plausible, that 
 it met with the entire approbation of the Commander. 
 But now a dangerous service was to be performed, and 
 it required stout hearts to carry it into execution. Vol 
 unteers were called for, when the boatswain and the 
 young seaman were in the foremost rank. The com 
 plement, however, was soon completed, and twenty men 
 were despatched in the two boats, the one commanded 
 by the second lieutenant, and the other by a prize- 
 master with our two heroes. 
 
 Now the danger of this service was not confined ex 
 clusively to the boarding of the brig, but the peril was 
 increased from the fact that one of the boats was small, 
 and it would require great management and ability to 
 keep her afloat in the heavy sea which was now run 
 ning ; but she was ably manned, and if courage and 
 skill could execute this enterprise, they were not want 
 ing in these two boats. They were, however, ordered 
 to keep alongside until the fog should clear away, so 
 that the bearings of the brig could be correctly taken. 
 The wind now increased, and the fog, which had not 
 lifted for the last hour, seemed to increase in density. 
 In a moment of the deepest anxiety the shadow of the 
 brig, which was now close on board, shot through the 
 almost impenetrable gloom, and in the next minute she 
 was lost sight of in the fog. 
 
 " B-o-a-r-d-e-r-s a-w-a-y ! '.' shouted the Commander. 
 
 The fasts were cast off, and during the next minute,
 
 298- THE AMERICAN CRWSEH. 
 
 the boats were seen pulling on the top of the 
 and then disappearing in the impenetrable mist. 
 
 For several minutes, the Cruiser stood on the same 
 tack as that on which the brig was steering, and in the 
 same direction which the boats had given way. Ten 
 minutes twenty minutes ! the Cruiser stood on, yet 
 nothing was seen of the brig or the boats. But if they 
 were perplexed and anxious in the Cruiser, they were 
 much more so> and indeed had much greater cause to 
 be perplexed and anxious in the boats ; for it not only 
 required all their skill, but also excessive labor to keep 
 them above water. Add to this the deep state of uncer 
 tainty in regard to the position and course of the brig. 
 Now they might be seen struggling with almost super 
 natural strength at the oars, endeavoring to impel their 
 frail barks against the heavy sea. Then again they 
 might have been seen driving away with incredible 
 rapidity before the wind, and the roaring sea with 
 crested tops breaking over them, while the dashing 
 spray in heavy showers came tumbling in the boats. 
 The weight and pressure of this body of water, had 
 nearly swamped them. 
 
 The perplexity of their situation now gave way to a 
 very different feeling, for until the last ten minutes the 
 boats had managed to keep in sight of each other, but 
 now they were separated, and chance alone would again 
 throw them together. For the next ten minutes it re 
 quired all the exertions of the lesser boat's crew (which 
 was commanded by the prize-master) to keep her afloat, 
 for a squall had rendered her nearly unmanageable ;
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 and they were obliged to let her drive before the wind 
 and sea, which poured in on either side, so that it re 
 quired more than human exertions to keep her from 
 sinking. After the strength of the squall -had passed 
 over, and the bow of the boat was laid head to sea, the 
 prize-master inquired of the boatswain, what course he 
 thought most likely would bring them in sight of the 
 brig or the boat. 
 
 " Why, as to the matter of that,',' replied the old tar, 
 " one way is about as good as another, but in my way 
 of thinking, if we keep our bow head to this cockling 
 sea, we may fall in with our shipmates." 
 
 " What's that," inquired the young seaman hastily, 
 as a dark shadow shot across his vision. 
 
 The next moment two or three voices exclaimed, 
 " The boat the boat," 
 
 The surprise and satisfaction was so great at this un 
 expected but much desired meeting, that for a few- 
 minutes the object of this perilous enterprise was mea 
 surably forgotten. 
 
 At length, however, a plan was concerted, so that if 
 possible they might not again separate ; for the chances 
 were indeed very limited to fall in with the brig, and it 
 would require all their care and management to keep 
 the small boat from sinking, as she had strained and 
 worked hard, and her gun-wales were carried away by 
 the violence of the waves. It therefore became abso 
 lutely necessary that the larger boat should be near to 
 save the crew of the other, in the event of her foun 
 dering.
 
 $60 THTi AMERICAN CEtJISER. 
 
 These arrangements being all made, again they tug 
 ged at the oars for the next half hour, and with in 
 credible labor they managed to keep head on to the sea. 
 But the fatigue occasioned by these great exertions 
 nearly exhausted their strength, and they had nearly 
 come to the conclusion to give over the chase, when a 
 sail was discovered not more than thirty yards to wind 
 ward. 
 
 " The Cruiser the Cruiser !" was the cry of mauv 
 voices. 
 
 And they were not deceived, for the next moment sli 
 darted past the boats like an arrow, without perceiving 
 them, close-hauled on the larboard tack. 
 
 The chagrin and mortification of the boats' crews 
 may be more easily imagined than described, because it 
 was highly probable that the Cruiser had seen the Eng 
 lishman, and was now steering on the same course, so 
 as to protect the boats. It was agreed, therefore, to 
 keep after the Cruiser, as the safest plan for their own 
 security, and also to fall in with the brig. 
 
 Again the bows of the boats were directed on the 
 track hi which the Cruiser was last seen, and it required 
 all their remaining strength and skill to keep them in 
 that position. The mist had become if possible more 
 dense, and of course it increased more and more their 
 difficulty. They toiled incessantly ; pulling, and baling 
 the water from the boats for three quarters of an hour. 
 Faint and weary with extreme exhaustion, they were 
 about to lay their oars in and let the boat drive along 
 at the mercy of the wind and waves ; but just at that
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 801 
 
 critical moment (when both the mind and the body 
 were completely worn out with fatigue, and which had 
 brought on a kind of apathetic listlessness,) the brig 
 was seen close under the lee. She was discovered si 
 multaneously by the two boats. 
 
 " Give way, my lads !" shouted the prize-master and 
 the second lieutenant at the same instant. 
 
 The order was unnecessary, for the men sprung to 
 the oars like so many lions, and in the course of the 
 next ten minutes, the two boats were grappled to the 
 Englishman's main chains, on the lee side. 
 
 " Keep in your boats," shouted the English skipper, 
 " or I will sink you." 
 
 The discharge of a brace of pistols by the young sea 
 man, obliged John Bull to retreat from his position. 
 Taking advantage of the temporary absence, the crew 
 of the small boat, with the prize-master, boatswain, and 
 the young seaman, at their head, sprang up the side 
 and gained the deck before the English Captain had 
 time to rally. 
 
 It was in vain for him now to contend against ten 
 resolute, determined, well-armed men; for although 
 some resistance was made, yet they were soon over 
 powered by the courage and impetuosity of the Yankee 
 tars, and in less than fifteen minutes after they had 
 gained the deck, the British brig was a prize to the 
 Americans. 
 
 According to the previous arrangement, the prize- 
 master and crew, (that had composed the crew of the 
 larger boat,) now took possession of the brig, and to the 
 26
 
 302 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 great joy and satisfaction of the Americans, this ar 
 rangement had scarcely been finished when the Cruiser 
 hove in sight, about forty yards to windward. She im 
 mediately bore down, and very soon learned that her 
 boats had captured the brig. 
 
 The Americans, all except the prize crew, again took 
 to their boats. The Captain of the brig, with one half 
 the crew, were also taken on board the Cruiser. But 
 although she had run to leeward of the prize, yet it was 
 not without the greatest difficulty and exertion that the 
 small boat was kept afloat, for when within about ten 
 yards of the Cruiser, she went down, and the crew 
 narrowly escaped with their lives, being saved by the 
 other boat. The joy and satisfaction of all on board, 
 at the capture of the brig, and especially the praise that 
 was bestowed on the prize-master, boatswain, young 
 seaman, and crew of the small boat, knew no bounds. 
 Indeed, the perilous situation of the Cruiser and her 
 prize was almost lost sight of, from the fact that 
 the brig was richly laden, and if she reached the 
 United States in safety, the proceeds of her sale 
 would nett at least five hundred dollars per share. The 
 joy and transport of the crew may therefore be imagin 
 ed, and it was not till the fog had once more lifted 
 (which presented several vessels close by) that this 
 feeling merged into another source of high excitement ; 
 for the expectations of the crew were now wrought up 
 to the highest point, from the fact that the bearings of 
 a splendid looking merchant ship were taken, and so 
 confident were they of capturing this vessel, that the
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 303 
 
 prize-master and crew were selected to, take possession 
 of her. Their excitement was also kept up by the 
 assurance that had heen given by the Commander, that 
 after the capture of one more prize, they would return 
 directly to the United States. Gratified beyond mea 
 sure at the speedy prospect of their return, as well as 
 highly elated at the almost certainty of capturing an 
 other prize, every command was obeyed with the utmost 
 cheerfulness, nor did they for once dream of any thing 
 but home, a large amount of prize-money, and the con 
 sequent jovial sprees when on shore. 
 
 The interminable fog had again settled, and so thick 
 and dense, that objects could not be seen the length of 
 the vessel. The Cruiser was now close hauled on the 
 larboard tack, and the ship when last seen, was on the 
 same tack, under a press of sail. The next minute, no 
 trace could be seen of her through the impenetrable 
 mist, and the exultation and excitement were measur 
 ably lost, for every moment the perilous situation of the 
 Cruiser increased, as she had been standing on that 
 tack for nearly four hours ; consequently it was judged 
 they were in the vicinity of the convoy* 
 
 " What is your opinion," observed the Commander 
 to the first lieutenant, " in regard to the sailing of that 
 ship whose bearings were taken." 
 
 " It is impossible to answer that question," replied 
 the lieutenant, " as we have no opportunity of ascer 
 taining her speed." 
 
 " Where away do you think she may be now ?" again 
 observed the Commander.
 
 804 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 "In my judgment," replied the first lieutenant, " we 
 cannot be a great distance apart, and I sincerely hope 
 that it may not be long before this fog clears away suf 
 ficiently, so that we may get sight of her, for the risk 
 of falling in with the convoy increases upon us every 
 moment." 
 
 The Commander was silent and thoughtful, and after 
 a few moments changed the conversation, and remarked 
 that they would be amply compensated, if the brig 
 which they had just taken arrived safe into the United 
 States. At that moment, the mist was driven away be 
 fore the south-west gale, when not only the ship, their 
 intended victim, but several other vessels, among which 
 the prize brig was seen. The brig, however, was 
 dodging about as if she had neither helm, pilot, or com 
 mander. This was not a matter of much surprise, for 
 the old soaking prize-master had charge of her, and it 
 was supposed that the brandy bottle had charge of him ; 
 in the next five minutes all again was lost sight of in 
 the mist.
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 THE DOOM OP THE CRUISER. 
 
 PERHAPS there is no situation more perilous in time 
 of war than to be on the enemy's coast, in the midst of 
 a fleet under strong convoy, and, at the same time, im 
 mersed in an impenetrable mist. This, then, was the 
 situation and condition of the Cruiser. It is true there 
 were some advantages ; but even when the dense fog 
 would settle or lift up from the surface of the ocean, the 
 interim was so limited between that and the profound 
 gloom that obscured every object from the vision, that 
 it was impossible to designate the peaceful merchant 
 vessel from a man-of-war. No mistake, however, could 
 possibly have been made in regard to the ship which 
 had been selected for. the next prize ; the only difficulty 
 that could now occur arose from the circumstance that 
 as the mist was clearing on" to windward, it would bring 
 the Cruiser in sight of the convoy before she could pos 
 sibly make the second capture. 
 
 The ship was again seen directly ahead, at not more 
 
 than the distance of a musket shot off. It had been 
 
 determined to run the Cruiser alongside and carry her 
 
 by boarding ; and so confident were they that the ship 
 
 26*
 
 306 THE AMERICAN CRUISEK. 
 
 would be in possession of the Cruiser, that the baggage 
 and trunks of the prize-master and crew were at the 
 gangway to be in readiness to throw on board of the 
 prize. Every moment their expectations increased, as 
 the Cruiser was overhauling her rapidly. 
 
 " Sail ho !" shouted the look out from the mast head, 
 " three points on the starboard bow, and standing on 
 the starboard tack ; she is close aboard, sir, and looks 
 like a frigate." 
 
 The fog was now driven away to leeward by the 
 wind, and in a few minutes the frigate shot out of the 
 mist not more than five hundred yards distant from the 
 Cruiser. The enemy being under her topsails and fore- 
 topsail stay-sail, immediately crowded on her canvass, 
 and stood on until she had reached the Cruiser's quar 
 ter, then tacked and discharged her forward division, or 
 battery, at the Cruiser, which however did no other 
 damage than to cut away two of her lee main shrouds, 
 which were quickly secured with stoppers. The Cruiser 
 was hauled close by the wind, and, as it blew stiffly, it be 
 came a fair trial of speed between the two vessels. In 
 less than thirty minutes it was abundantly evident that 
 the Cruiser not only held a better wind, but consider 
 ably fore-reached the enemy. If this advantage, there 
 fore, had continued, the Cruiser could have escaped with 
 out much difficulty ; but a perplexing circumstance now 
 arose, from the fact that the prize brig was but a short 
 distance off, and from her manoeuvres the least saga 
 cious seaman would immediately discover that something 
 was wrong.
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. SO* 
 
 Now, as the Cruiser was in the midst of the fleet, 
 the strong presumption among all the officers was that 
 the frigate would come at the truth, or that her officers 
 would immediately know that she was a captured 
 vessel. 
 
 As this, then, was the undivided opinion on the quar 
 ter deck of the Cruiser, and, as no doubt remained of 
 the superiority of her sailing upon a wind, it was there 
 fore thought advisable by the Commander to bear up 
 before the wind ; expressing his belief that the Cruiser 
 would greatly outsail the frigate, and by this manoeuvre 
 they would save the prize brig, as the frigate no doubt 
 would continue the chase after the Cruiser. The first 
 lieutenant immediately remonstrated against this mea 
 sure. 
 
 " Observe," he continued, " is she not more than one 
 ' ' 
 
 point under our lee quarter, and scarcely a gun shot 
 distance from us ; now if this craft is kept before the 
 wind, in less than five minutes the enemy will have the 
 weather guage ; besides, we shall be closing in with 
 the frigate, so that her whole broadside will bear 
 upon us." 
 
 The opinion of every officer on board was now taken, 
 and all coincided with the first lieutenant, that the 
 only plan to secure the safety of the Cruiser was still 
 to keep her close by the wind under a press of sail. 
 The Commander, however, obstinately persisted in his 
 own opinion, and ordered all the light sails to be got in 
 readiness for the contemplated movement. 
 
 " A pretty decent kind of business this," observed
 
 308 THE AMERICAS CPvUISER. 
 
 the boatswain to the young seaman ; " in my way of 
 thinking we shall make a sorry afternoon's work on 't. 
 Well, well, I thought just as much, for when our skip 
 per takes his own head for it, why then there's always 
 some mishap." 
 
 " See all clear there forward, to set the square-sail 
 and studding-sail ! Port your helm, and run out the 
 canvass !" shouted the officer of the deck, having previ 
 ously received these orders from the Commander. 
 
 The next minute the Cruiser was running before the 
 wind under a crowd of sail. 
 
 " We'll have a short jig on 't this time," said the 
 boatswain to his young friend, " or I'll miss my 
 reck'ning." 
 
 Just at that moment the frigate yawed off, and dis 
 charged her forward battery with tremendous effect ; 
 cutting away the fore gaff, fore yard, and shivering the 
 lee bulwarks into a hundred fragments. 
 
 The Commander now saw his error, but it was too 
 late. * 
 
 " Luff!" he shouted, " haul aft the sheets, and take 
 in all the light sails." 
 
 Every man sprung to his duty, but the principal 
 sail for the Cruiser was now rendered useless from the 
 fact that the gaff was cut away. This, however, was 
 remedied in fifteen minutes ; all the light sails were 
 taken in, and once more the Cruiser was close-hauled 
 by the wind. But the error was now irretrievable, for 
 the frigate had not only gained upon the Cruiser, but 
 she had also the weather guage. She kept up a heavy
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 309 
 
 and constant fire, which was occasionally returned by 
 Long Tom with some execution. The enemy being to 
 windward, came down rapidly on the Cruiser with flow 
 ing sheets, and the next discharge from her battery 
 sealed the fate of the Cruiser, for her main-topping-lifts 
 were cut away ; so that what, with the heavy seas and 
 the immense weight of the boom, the main sheet was 
 immediately parted, causing the heavy spar to take 
 possession of the quarter-deck, smashing and tearing 
 away the bulwarks on either side into a thousand 
 pieces, until the Cruiser was relieved from this addi 
 tional enemy by the dexterity of the carpenter's axe, 
 who cut away the spar amid a shower of bullets from 
 the enemy. There was now another misfortune the en 
 sign halliards had been rove to the main-topping-lift ; 
 these were also cut away, and the stars and stripes 
 wound their folds around the lifts, and could not be 
 hauled down. The frigate now came up hand over 
 hand, and took about a musket shot off on the weather 
 quarter of the Cruiser, keeping up a most deadly and 
 murderous fire, and the^ little craft lay like a log upon 
 the water nearly unmanageable. The enemy ceased 
 firing with her large guns, after which she took her po 
 sition abeam of the Cruiser, and then opened a most 
 galling fire with the musketry of the marines. During 
 the whole of this fire the Commander of the Cruiser 
 stood on the trunk in full uniform ; a musket ball passed 
 through his hat, and another through his coat. Many 
 of the crew by this time lay wounded upon the deck,
 
 310 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 but a greater part went below, by order of the first 
 lieutenant. 
 
 Every yard of canvass spread on the Cruiser was rent 
 by the shot of the enemy ; her fore top-mast, fore yard, 
 jib-boom, and head of the main-mast were cut away, 
 and she was now totally unmanageable. There was a 
 moment of awful suspense ; the marines ceased firing, 
 and immediately a sheet of flame issued from six thirty- 
 two pound carronades ; every shot did execution, and 
 the little craft was ripped up fore and aft ; her decks 
 were literally cut to pieces ; both arm-chests, which 
 were lashed on the trunk, were shivered into a hundred 
 fragments ; in short, she was now in a sinking condition, 
 and the prevalent opinion among the few officers that 
 remained on deck was that the enemy did not intend to 
 show any quarter. It is true the American ensign was 
 still aloft, but that too was cut to pieces, and it was im 
 possible to cut it away. It was highly probable, there 
 fore, that John Bull was greatly incensed from the fact 
 of the Cruis^B having made some resistance ; and see 
 ing the colors still were aloft, and not knowing the cause 
 of it, it is possible this might have been the reason of 
 his long continued and murderous fire. 
 
 The mystery, however, was in a few minutes solved ; 
 for, as the frigate dropped down close to the wreck, she 
 discovered the reason why the stars and stripes were 
 still aloft, and immediately ceased her fire. Several 
 boats from the frigate were now despatched to the 
 Cruiser, to take possession, and convey the prisoners 
 on board. In a few minutes the Cruiser's decks were
 
 THE AMERICAS CfctlSER. 31, 
 
 Covered with Englishmen, and the Commander, after 
 some formalities, delivered up his sword to the English 
 lieutenant ; but now a great difficulty arose with tne 
 Englishmen, for their prize was nearly unmanageable, 
 and she was also supposed to be in a sinking condition, 
 and they were totally unacquainted with the manage 
 ment of these kind of craft. Notwithstanding they 
 allowed but a short time to the prisoners to get ready 
 to go on board of the frigate, yet they were exceedingly 
 desirous that one of the officers and a half a dozen of 
 the men should remain, in order that they might show 
 them how they might work the craft, as they were ex 
 tremely anxious to get her into port. This, however, 
 the Yankees absolutely and promptly refused, " pre* 
 ferring," they said, " to go on board of the frigate, than 
 to go to Davy Jones's locker," which they affirmed the 
 Cruiser would do in less than two hours. 
 
 Notwithstanding the excessive toil, the deep suspense 
 and anxiety, the high excitement in the boats, and 
 capture in the brig the chase, action s^ft subsequent 
 capture of the Cruiser, not an expression of fear, nufc- 
 fortune, or mean submission, could be seen in the ap 
 pearance or general deportment, among the officers or 
 crew ; no, not even in Jimmy Ducks, the non-combatant, 
 or the Down Easter. Every man on board of that craft 
 had discharged his duty faithfully, defended her gal 
 lantly, and had not flinched from his post, in the 
 hottest of the action, and amid the most galling and 
 murderous fire of the enemy ; yet, a casual observe** 
 might have traced on every countenance the deepest 
 27
 
 314 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 chagrin and mortification. The more reckless part of 
 them did not hesitate to vent their spleen and anger 
 upon the now subdued Commander, and epithets, such 
 as " Madman, fool, if you did n't know how to work 
 the craft, why did n't you give her up to the first lieu 
 tenant ? " were often heard. Their mortification did 
 not arise so much from the fact of their being prisoners 
 of war, but it referred to the foolish manner in which 
 the Cruiser had been taken ; for none were so blind or 
 so ignorant, as not to perceive that the whole of their 
 misfortunes were entirely owing to the obstinancy, mis 
 management, and false judgment of the Commander. 
 
 But of all that crew fore and aft, none wore so high 
 and manly a bearing as our two heroes, the boatswain 
 and young seaman. Their undaunted courage, for they 
 had never left the deck of the Cruiser, and had per 
 formed the most dangerous and difficult services, amid 
 a shower of the enemy's bullets, but above all, their 
 skill in the management of the boat, as well as their 
 coolness anfj^ilaring intrepidity in the capture of the 
 English brig7 had won for them the esteem and admi 
 ration of every man on board ; and when the pri 
 soners were ordered in the boats, the Commander 
 solicited for them the same berth and treatment 
 that would be conferred upon his officers ; but they 
 firmly refused to accept of any favor, other than that 
 to which they were entitled, according to the usage of 
 civilized nations in time of war. Shortly after the 
 murderous and galling fire from the six thirty-two 
 pounders from the frigate's quarter-deck, it was per-
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 815 
 
 ceived that the Cruiser was gradually settling down into 
 the water ; for one of the shot had entered a little below 
 her waist, forward of the gangway, which started 
 several of the butts near the water-line. Through 
 these apertures, the water had gradually pressed in, 
 until she had settled sufficiently deep to bring them 
 under water, from which time she settled rapidly, and 
 there was scarcely sufficient time (although all the 
 frigate's boats were employed,) to transport the pri 
 soners and their baggage on board of the frigate, and 
 many were the strokes of wit from the Yankee tars, as 
 they tumbled into the boats. 
 
 " By all that 's lovely," said an old quarter-master, 
 " she is not struck yet, and she 's going to pay her 
 respects to Davy Jones, with her stars and stripes 
 flying," for the colors were still wound round the top 
 ping-lift. 
 
 " Well, well," said the old gunner, " I should just 
 like to have Long Tom pay his compliments to the 
 frigate by way of politeness, before he takes his long 
 journey." 
 
 " Come, come ! " bawled out several voices, "Jimmy, 
 let 's have a bit of a ditty, to drive away our melan 
 choly. Where 's your whistle, lad ? " 
 
 At the sound of the whistle Jimmy's face relaxed 
 into a broad grin, and as he had his constant companion 
 and his " disperser of melancholy," as he called it, 
 always about him, he drew it forth, and would actually 
 have given them some sweet sounds, but the officers of 
 the boat ordered him to put up his fife. The Cruiser
 
 316 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 had already settled so rapidly, that the after part of 
 her main-chains was in the water. No time was now to 
 be lost ; the last boat, with the American prisoners, had 
 pulled off from the sinking Cruiser ; none now remained 
 on board, except the English lieutenant and a few men. 
 For these there was a boat despatched from the frigate, 
 and before they left her, she had settled nearly to the 
 decks. It was a melancholy, yet a grand spectacle ; 
 for just as the sun was setting beneath the western 
 horizon, the American Cruiser sunk beneath the blue 
 billows, and disappeared from the sight for ever.
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 TREATMENT OF THE AMERICAN PRISONERS ARRIVAL IM 
 PLYMOUTH. 
 
 THE reception of the American prisoners on board of 
 
 his Britannic Majesty's frigate L "was not of the 
 
 most agreeable and delicate nature. Whether this was 
 owing to the loss of the prize, or to the trouble they had 
 in her capture, or to the audacity which the Cruiser 
 had manifested in daring to fire a shot at his Britannic 
 Majesty's frigate L , or to all of these circum 
 stances combined, the reason or reasons of the polite 
 reception of the crew, we may leave the reader to 
 judge. However, as they each came over the gang 
 way, they were strictly searched and examined, after 
 which a genteel epithet was bestowed, such as " pi 
 ratical villain," &c., and then, they were driven down 
 into the cable tier, in charge of a marine. All under 
 went the same scrutinizing and rigid search, with some 
 few exceptions, for a few of the seamen were selected 
 out as Englishmen, who were threatened by the indo 
 mitable first lieutenant to be hung up at the yard arm, 
 for being found fighting against their country. Nor did 
 the officers meet with a much better reception, except 
 27* 317
 
 318 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 that the location assigned to them was a little more 
 in consonance with their rank, although they, in 
 common with the seamen, were looked upon as so 
 many pirates ; but they condescended, nevertheless, to 
 stow them against the ward-room bulkhead, and their 
 sleeping place (if they chose to enjoy it,) was the soft 
 side of a plank, for they were not allowed mattrass or 
 bedding of any description. This was truly a deplorable 
 state of things, but it would have been infinitely worse, 
 if their frames had not been relieved from the prac 
 tical demonstration of the hard location on which they 
 were destined to repose. 
 
 Although much could not be said in favor of the 
 warm feelings and sensibilities of the captain and first 
 lieutenant of the frigate, nevertheless there were some 
 honorable exceptions among the subordinate officers. 
 From these, especially the junior lieutenants, masters, 
 mates and midshipmen, the officers received as much 
 kind treatment as they could bestow ; for it may be 
 remarked, that the first lieutenant was not slow or 
 backward in -censuring all those whom he saw well 
 disposed, or who kindly treated the American pri 
 soners. The captain and first lieutenant of the Cruiser 
 messed in the ward-room with the lieutenants ; the other 
 officers, six in number, messed alternately with the 
 masters, mates and midshipmen, from whom they re 
 ceived a part of their own bedding, which made them 
 tolerably comfortable. The crew, however, fared badly, 
 for they were all stowed away in the cable tiers, nearly 
 suffocated for want of air, and almost choked with the
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 319 
 
 stench of the villanous compound of smells of a ship's 
 hold. This, then, was the location assigned them for 
 their nightly repose ; they were, however, somewhat 
 relieved in the day time, being permitted to range the 
 spar and gun decks, from the waist forwards, and were 
 unmolested in their loungings and spreeings about, to 
 satisfy the various curiosities possessed by the crew, 
 who in appearance, speech, and deportment, were dif 
 ferent from the frigate's orderly and well-dressed sea 
 men. The privilege, however, of ranging the gun deck 
 was soon cut off, for the frigate's crew having much 
 more of the milk of human kindness than the first 
 lieutenant, not only shared their grub, and bedding, but 
 seemed disposed in their way to alleviate their situation 
 as prisoners of war. For this mortal offence the pri 
 soners were not only deprived of the liberty to range the 
 spar and gun deck, but many of the frigate's crew were 
 severely reprimanded, while others were taken to the 
 gangway, for disobedience of orders, and were com 
 manded not to have any intercourse with the Yankee 
 pirates. 
 
 But all this was not to be compared to their living ; 
 for the most rigid orders were now issued to the frigate's 
 crew, that if they were found conveying provisions or 
 sharing their own allowance with the prisoners, for 
 every such offence they should be flogged at the gang- 
 Avay. This was a severe interdiction for the Yankees, 
 especially as their allowance -was what is called " six 
 upon four," that is, six men are obliged to subsist on 
 the same amount of provisions which is usually allowed
 
 820 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 to four men. Add to this, the provisions were of the 
 very worst kind, viz. lean salt beef, which sailors 
 usually denominate soldier's beef, because they affirm 
 that it might be carried a whole campaign in the knap 
 sack, without any danger of its being greased. The 
 bread was of the very coarsest and blackest kind, and 
 so old, that instead of presenting the natural qualities 
 of its material, it seemed like a living, moving mass ; 
 for instead of the real staff of life, the greater part of 
 it was living animals. At their breakfast and supper, 
 they were allowed shells, this is what sailors call an 
 apology for cocoa. Even this, however, would have 
 been a great treat, if they could have had a sufficient 
 supply of the beverage ; nor was this all, for the inter 
 course between the officers and seamen of the Cruiser, 
 was entirely cut off. The officers were not allowed to 
 go on the quarter-deck, but the condition of the seamen 
 was infinitely worse, being confined night and day to 
 the lower hold two only being permitted to go on deck 
 at the same time, in charge of a marine with a loaded 
 musket ; in short, nothing was left undone that could 
 mortify the officers, and render the miseries of war 
 more intolerable, than they ought to be, at least, among 
 civilized nations. 
 
 Fortunately, however, for the American prisoners, 
 this state of things was not destined to be of long dura 
 tion. It seems the frigate was not attached to the 
 fleet as one of the convoy, as she had been on the 
 Channel station for some time previously, and as her 
 cruise was nearly up, and having a number of prison-
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 821 
 
 ers on board, it was. determined immediately after the 
 capture of the Cruiser to go into Plymouth in order to 
 get rid of her incumbrances. As soon, therefore, as 
 she had taken the Cruiser, she stood down Channel, in 
 order to get round the Land's End of Plymouth. 
 
 It was nearly fifty-six hours before the famous chalky 
 cliffs of England were in sight, which appeared more 
 and more cheerful to the eye of the beholder as the fri 
 gate neared it. The frigate soon entered the famous 
 naval depot, the port of Plymouth, and anchored far up 
 in the harbor, having passed numerous vessels, while 
 running in, of every fashion and rig, as well as mam 
 forts and views which are not only picturesque but ex 
 tremely interesting to all who had not seen the entrance 
 to this romantic harbor. It was a matter of great sur 
 prise and astonishment to behold the sudden and great 
 number of boats, which were waiting for the frigate to 
 anchor, loaded to their gunwales with eatables and gew 
 gaws of every description, to entice the hard-earned 
 money from the pockets of the sailors. Many of these 
 boats were occupied by those who were prepared to 
 A raffic : long-bearded Jews, woolly-mouthed Christians, 
 blarney-primed Irish, burly-bellied English, and skip 
 jack, grinning Frenchmen, were all eager to show off' 
 the good qualities of their merchandise, and depreciate 
 that of their neighbor, each with an earnestness, dia 
 lect, and grimace peculiar to himself. But the greater 
 portion of the boats contained the wives and children of 
 the seamen, who came off to welcome again their hus 
 bands and fathers to their homes. There was but little
 
 322 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 restriction, and people flocked off in great numbers, all 
 claiming relatives on board, which procured them per 
 mission to enter with freedom. And it would almost 
 seem, that half the people of England had the largest 
 share of their relatives in this vessel, so numerously 
 they appeared, and so constantly were they coming and 
 going the entire day on which the frigate arrived. 
 There was one man belonging to the frigate much 
 esteemed by his siifpmates, and was a general favorite 
 among those who came off from the shore ; for there 
 was scarcely a boat that had not a wife, a sister, or 
 mother of his on board, of all ages, from the gay, 
 laughter-loving lass of sixteen, to the staid matron of 
 fifty. Nay, some were entirely peopled with those per 
 taining to his family. Had he but the least portion of 
 these motley and bedizened families to provide for, his 
 chance was small of becoming rich from the savings of 
 his monthly pay, or paying the debt of his nation, 
 should he wish to be handed down to posterity as a 
 public benefactor. However, this man knew how to 
 keep on the fair-weather side of those who rioted in 
 abundance, if the privilege of opinion is allowed, by the 
 store of eatables each brought off for the regaling of 
 themselves whilst visiting the ship, and the carte-blanche 
 for free quarters he enjoyed with the whole troop, day 
 and night. It is said that sailors have a wife in each 
 port they touch at, but this addition of numbers was 
 rather out of character. But were all wives to provide 
 as liberally as these, it certainly is not so uncomfortable 
 to have them in abundance. The number of females
 
 A 
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 825 
 
 that flock on board of these men-of-war is incredible, 
 especially those which come into port after a long cruise 
 saj from five to seven hundred. 
 
 On the morning following the arrival of the frigate, 
 the prisoners were piped up with the command, from 
 the deep growl of the boatswain, to bear a hand, and go 
 on board of the prison-ship. " Ah ! " said one, " we 
 have found favor and will make a visit to his Britannic 
 Majesty's ship, so as to be back time enough for dinner." 
 
 " I would sooner take the dinner without the visit, 
 if it 's all the same , to iihe skipper ; for I am sharp set 
 enough now to eat the head from a nine inch bolt, 
 without spice or salt," said another. "For one, my 
 appetite is sufficiently sharp, and do n't need any whet 
 ting up by this visit." 
 
 " And so is mine," cried another ; " for since yes 
 terday I have tasted nothing but a thimble full of pea 
 soup, not enough to say whether it was victuals or 
 physic." 
 
 " Physic me into a figure-head, to lap cold spray, but 
 I would rather go on board of the prison-ship, than to 
 stay here in this dog's hole we are forced to sleep in." 
 
 " Aye, and that would I too, Jack ; for here one 
 breaks his fast less often than he does one of the ten 
 commandments, and at this rate, when shall we receive 
 absolution ? " 
 
 " If fasting brings holiness., I have been free from 
 sin, since twelve of yesterday, for since then I have not 
 broken it ; but it 's a severe way of proving one's re 
 formation." 
 
 28
 
 326 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 " Yes, I 'm blessed if it is n't, for I have tried it, 
 and find the cure worse than the ailment." 
 
 "And," said one who had not before spoken, "if I 
 am not blessedly mistaken, you will not break your fast 
 again, unless you take a slice from your shoe heel ; for 
 depend upon it, this early going on board of the prison- 
 ship, before breakfast, means nothing more nor less, 
 than to content yourself until the grub is served out for 
 dinner." 
 
 So it proved ; for in less than thirty minutes after 
 they were called, the prisoners were tumbling over the 
 side of the ship, bag and baggage, into a launch pre 
 pared for the purpose. Each sixth man, as he passed 
 the gangway, had thrust into his hands or pockets the 
 mess rations for the day, of hard biscuit and raw salt 
 beef, dripping from the briny tub, out of which it was 
 but just taken, and transferred to the crew, who could 
 make no use of it. 
 
 The distance from the frigate to the prison-ship was 
 about two miles, and while rowing up the harbor, Ply 
 mouth and its environs, with an immense number of 
 men-of-war of every description, presented to the eye 
 as well as to the mind, a most delightful contrast, 
 when compared to the miserable treatment and confine 
 ment of the frigate. The boats passed close under the 
 stern of Lord Nelson's one hundred and ten gun ship, 
 Victory, on the deck of which he received his mortal 
 wound during the battle of Trafalgar. There were also 
 many others, whose names had become renowned in the 
 history of naval warfare. It was not difficult to per-
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 827 
 
 ceive the ships or hulks that were appropriated for the 
 reception of prisoners of Avar. Several of these were at 
 a distance from the ships in commission, and could 
 easily be designated from the rest, as they were entirely 
 dismantled, being without spars, armament, &c., and 
 fitted up as temporary residences, for the incarceration 
 of prisoners. The one in which these were destined to 
 enter could not be mistaken, from the fact that num 
 bers of American prisoners were crowded on her upper 
 deck, ready to receive the 'unfortunate beings who had 
 fallen into British captivity ; but, in confirmation of the 
 old adage, " misery loves company," they were wel 
 comed on board with many smiles and greetings, the 
 whole of them being under the firmest conviction that 
 they would soon be exchanged, and their durance vile 
 be of short duration. , 
 
 The reception of the prisoners on board of this hulk, 
 which had formerly been a line of battle ship, and one 
 which had composed a part of St. Vincent's fleet, 
 and from her great age had been long out of com 
 mission, was marked with much show, in order to 
 impress the prisoners with the great precaution they 
 would observe, to secure these victims in their 
 future confinement. Files of soldiers were placed at 
 each side of the gangway, and as each man passed up, 
 he was critically examined by several naval officers, 
 in order to ascertain if there were Englishmen among 
 them. Several were scrutinized with the utmost rigor, 
 among whom were our two heroes, the boatswain and 
 young seaman. They were^ftecidedly the best looking
 
 328 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 men among the whole crew ; their whole exterior com 
 manded the admiration and respect, even of the naval 
 examiners ; but they were so well secured by their Am 
 erican passports and protections, that although unwil 
 lingly, yet they were compelled to let them pass on. 
 The name of each man was taken, and recorded in a 
 book, and it Avas said that the number of prisoners on 
 board, now amounted to nearly five hundred. 

 
 CHAPTER XXXH. 
 
 MARCH TO STAPLETON, &c. 
 
 THREE weeks had scarcely elapsed since the confine 
 ment of the crew, when the captured American prison 
 ers poured in in such great numbers, that it was impos 
 sible for them to remain at Plymouth on board of these 
 hulks. Orders were therefore issued to send four 
 drafts, of a hundred men each, to the depot for prison 
 ers at Stapleton, near Bristol. The prisoners received 
 this intelligence with a degree of satisfaction, because 
 of their uncomfortable situation, being crowded in such 
 great numbers on board of this ship. This feeling, 
 however, was mixed up with much gloom and despond 
 ency, because they began to suspect that the prospect of 
 exchange was less probable than if they were to remain 
 at Plymouth ; nor were their fears exaggerated, for 
 there were at this time many American seamen who 
 had given themselves up from British men-of-war. Of 
 course these would 'be exchanged before others who 
 had been captured in battle. Add to this that there 
 was but little care taken of British subjects by the 
 American government when captured by American 
 
 28* 829
 
 330 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 cruisers, so that there would be but few comparatively 
 to exchange. 
 
 The time having arrived, the first draft, in which was 
 contained the whole of the seamen and petty officers of 
 the Cruiser, was landed at Plymouth Dock, where 
 there was an escort consisting of one hundred soldiers 
 of the infantry and fifty mounted dragoons ; the latter 
 were a part of that nolle regiment of Scotch Greys, 
 which subsequently so highly distinguished itself in the 
 war of the Peninsula. 
 
 The commander of this escort, a man of about five 
 and thirty. Avas of noble birth, and had been promoted 
 to the rank of colonel for his bravery, of which he bore 
 honorable marks, having many wounds, some of which 
 were visible. This officer was in every respect opposite 
 in his character to the Captain and first lieutenant of 
 the frigate. He was manly, generous, and humane, 
 and sought by every means in his power, (so far 
 as his duty and obligation permitted), to alleviate 
 the miseries and sufferings of the prisoners ; of this, 
 however, we shall have occasion presently to -speak 
 more fully. 
 
 The troops were drawn up in quadrangular form, the 
 American prisoners were in the centre, the infantry 
 forming the line on each side, while the dragoons were 
 in the van and rear, and the whole train of baggage 
 wagons followed at a distance of 'not more than three 
 hundred yards. 
 
 In one hour from the time of landing, the escort moved 
 slowly on, being scarcely able to make any way through
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 331 
 
 the thronging multitude some of whom were lavish 
 in their execration, others exulted, while not a few ex 
 hibited signs of the greatest surprise and astonishment, 
 when they saw that the American prisoners were like 
 civilized beings or Christian men, for they supposed that 
 all Americans were like wild Indians. There were 
 many, however, who expressed much sympathy, by 
 giving utterance to their feelings in lamentations and 
 cries. 
 
 "Ah!" says an old woman, " but it's a pity that 
 the likes o' ye, such brave lads, should be driven along 
 like a parcel o' cattle by these murthering solgers." 
 
 " Look there !" cries another, " isn't it the same 
 lingo that we spake ?" 
 
 " And ar'nt they the same as us, sure ? " says an 
 Irishman ; " it is not Patrick O'Rourke that would be 
 after meddling wid such a dirty business as this." 
 
 "Here, God bless ye," cried an old woman, (as she 
 approached the young seaman endeavoring to force a 
 shilling into his hand) " ye put me in mind of my own 
 dear son, the Lord love him, for ye are enough alike to 
 be own dear brothers." 
 
 These and many other sallies from the multitude, 
 gave a strong expression of feeling and sympathy, and 
 in short the escort were so much thronged, that the 
 commanding officer was obliged to give orders for the 
 multitude to retire far in the rear of the American pri 
 soners. 
 
 Seamen of all men are less able to perform the labor 
 of a long march ; the reason assigned for this may be
 
 532 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 that their peculiar vocation demands less of this exer 
 cise, than that of any other pursuit ; indeed they have 
 little or no opportunity for this kind of exertion, for the 
 greater part of their life is spent on the ocean, 
 and their rambles are qpnfined to an exceedingly 
 narrow space, say the length and breadth of a ship's 
 main-deck and forecastle, which ordinarily does not 
 exceed eighty by thirty feet ; and although the frames 
 of many seamen are almost impervious to the hardships 
 and privations of a sea life, yet they are capable of less 
 endurance on the march than almost the weakest lands 
 man. 
 
 The escort had scarcely reached the distance of two 
 leagues, when some of the prisoners began to show signs 
 of fatigue ; and before they had accomplished an addi 
 tional league, many of them, from their great fatigue 
 and soreness of feet, actually broke down and could go 
 no farther. The Commander, with that humanity which 
 characterized his noble spirit, ordered all such as had 
 given out to be placed in the baggage wagons ; and 
 the dragoons he obliged to dismount and walk, and allow 
 the officers who were in the least tired, to take 
 their places in their saddles. In this way then 
 they proceeded on the first day's march. No circum 
 stance that could mitigate in the least the unfortunate 
 condition of the prisoners, was omitted by this humane 
 and generous officer. A few miles previous to the in 
 tended halt for the night, the Commander sent for all 
 the officers among the American prisoners, arid it may 
 be well to add that the boatswain and young seaman
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 833 
 
 were of that number. After they had all collected 
 together, he addressed them to the following effect : 
 
 " I have sent for you," said the gentleman, " wish 
 ing to make your time while under my command as 
 pleasant as the nature of the circumstances will ad 
 mit. Now if you will each pledge me your word, that 
 during this march you will not make your escape, or 
 endeavor to do so, then I will promise you on my part 
 that you shall at my expense, not only live upon the 
 best the country affords, but every one of you shall 
 have comfortable bed and lodging provided, at the con 
 clusion of each day's march." 
 
 This request appeared so- reasonable, and for the 
 faithful performance of it so much was implied, that 
 without the least hesitation, the required promise was 
 unanimously given ; and thus the officers had now 
 bound themselves by their word of honor not to make any 
 effort to escape which by the way was a very short 
 sighted movement on their part, especially as so many 
 opportunities were presented before their arrival at 
 Stapleton prison, to make their escape. The com 
 pact on the part of the Commander was- faithfully per 
 formed, for immediately after the arrangement, he 
 despatched a dragoon to the town at which they intend 
 ed to remain for the night. In this place every thing 
 wa* secured necessary for the comfort of the prisoners, 
 and after a weary and tiresome march of six leagues, 
 they arrived at the halting place, at four o'clock in the 
 afternoon. The officers were then called by name, and 
 introduced to a fine hotel, where they found a sumptu-
 
 834 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 oug repast in readiness for their reception, the Com 
 mander himself making one of the company, avowing 
 his determination to do the honors of the table. We 
 shall leave this company for the present to discuss the 
 merits of the dinner and wine, and look after the re 
 mainder of the prisoners. 
 
 In the first place, a large and spacious barn, well 
 filled with straw, was taken for their accommodations 
 for the night ; after which a plentiful and solid dinner 
 of beef, soup, and vegetables, was provided, to their no 
 small gratification ; and if the little musician was aston 
 ished and confounded at the rapid demolition of the 
 eatables at the supper previous to the departure of the 
 Cruiser, he had abundantly more reason on this occa 
 sion, for the appetites of the seamen had not been en 
 tirely satisfied since their capture until now, and as a 
 matter of course they felt but little delicacy in making up 
 for fprmer deficiencies. Now the admirable tack of the 
 Commander in reconciling the prisoners to their situa 
 tion, had not only driven all thoughts from their minds 
 to desert, but they actually exhibited a degree of cheer 
 fulness which had been quite unusual since their con 
 finement. And as Jimmy had always his resources at 
 hand to drive away melancholy, he on this occasion 
 fifed and sung to the great amusement and gratifica 
 tion of the company, till, tired and worn out with the 
 fatigues of the day, by unanimous consent, they fell 
 into a deep and sound repose. Not so with the officers 
 and the Commander of the escort at the hotel ; for they 
 not only enjoyed a sumptuous meal, but had also
 
 THE AMERICAN CKUISEB. 885 
 
 partaken liberally of the wine, and its effects were 
 abundantly manifest by the uproar of songs, toasts, and 
 frequent sallies of wit and merriment ; and the Brit 
 ish Commander was not only more frequent in his pota 
 tions, but in the whole affair he bore a most con 
 spicuous part. It may then be seen with what 
 facility the American officers could have effect 
 ed their liberty. Here lay the commanding officer, 
 his senses entirely stupefied with the intoxicating 
 draught, and one solitary sentinel guarding the door ; 
 but he had drunk so largely of the same spirit with 
 his master, that neither of them presented the least 
 resistance ; and yet the sacredness of the pledge of the 
 American prisoners was more formidable on this occa 
 sion than bolts, bars, locks, and even military force, for 
 not one of that party made any effort to get free from 
 this bondage. This day, then, may be considered a fair 
 specimen of the usuage and treatment of the succeed 
 ing six days' march, except that in each day the dis 
 tance was increased. 
 
 On the seventh day, the whole escort reached the 
 famous city of Bristol. This being one of the larger 
 seaports of Great Britain, there had been much inter 
 course with the Americans previous to the war, so that 
 the appearance of American prisoners did not create so 
 much wonder and astonishment as had been expressed 
 by the people in the various towns through which they 
 had passed ; indeed, through whatever streets the escort 
 had occasion to pass, there was a universal burst of 
 sympathetic feeling, pity, and commiseration ; and no
 
 386 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 f 
 
 wonder, for the jaded appearance of the prisoners after 
 this long and fatiguing march, presented a most melan 
 choly picture of the calamity of war, especially between 
 two nations that bear so close an affinity to each other 
 in language and habits. The town of Stapleton lies 
 north-east of Bristol, about seven miles distant. The 
 depot, or prisons, are situated at its outer edge, and 
 half a league apart from its inhabitants ; thither the 
 whole escort bent their way, followed by a number of 
 the inhabitants, each eager to bestow some little act of 
 kindness to commiserate the condition or situation of 
 the prisoners. 
 
 Toward the close of the day, the long-looked-for and 
 now desirable place of rest, the prisons, hove in sight. 
 And as the sun was setting, the Americans entered the 
 depot at Stapleton, amid the greetings and acclama 
 tions of three thousand French prisoners ; and as they 
 had information previous to their arrival, each man had 
 assigned to him a berth to mess in, as well as a situa 
 tion to swing his hammock.
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 
 DESCRIPTION OP TF1E PRISONS, FRENCH PRISONERS, &<5. 
 
 THE morning after the arrival of the prisoners, 
 was one of those clear, bland days, which are frequent 
 in the Island of Great Britain, at this season of the 
 year. The moderate elevation of the prisons, com 
 manded a most delightful view of the country for 
 many miles around. In a direct line fronting upon the 
 wes^side, was situated the magnificent and vast palace 
 and grounds of the Duke of Devonshire. Here the eye 
 may range over the vast fields and lawns, which are 
 laid out in all the beauty and variety of the most con 
 summate skill and taste. On the one side, in the back 
 ground, is an extensive park, in which there are nu 
 merous deer, and on the other an extensive pond or lake 
 of water, each of which is calculated to afford amuse 
 ment and pleasure, for the hunter, or for those who are 
 more gratified with fishing. In short, with the beau 
 tiful prospect over which the eye might feast and range 
 on all sides of this depot, the mind could often be re 
 lieved from that apathetic dulness, the result of long 
 confinement, and the absence of intercourse with the 
 world without. This depot was formed into a square, 
 
 337
 
 
 338 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 surrounded on all sides with a wall ten feet in height, 
 the summit of which was sufficiently broad to plant 
 cannon at convenient distances, so as to command every 
 pi-ison ; on the top of these walls were sentinels, and on 
 the outside there was a ditch about fifteen or twenty 
 feet broad ; in the centre were three prisons, the 
 west ends of which all verged to a compass of about a 
 hundred feet, facing the buildings on the outside, which 
 were appropriated for the hospital, marine barracks, 
 officers' dwellings, and turnkeys' residences. The 
 prisons were about a hundred and fifty feet in length, 
 two stories high, and strongly built of stone, in which 
 were windows secured with heavy iron gratings. 
 
 The interior of these prisons, above and below, was 
 divided on either side by a space of ten feet each, in 
 the centre of which, there was a space or aisle, wjjich 
 might be six feet wide, and this extended through the 
 whole length of the prison. On either side of these 
 spaces, at convenient distances, were firmly secured 
 perpendicularly, heavy pieces of scantling, on the top of 
 which, parallel to the whole extent of the prison, were 
 pieces of the same, morticed, which formed a strong 
 frame appropriated for the prisoners, on which to swing 
 their hammocks. A heavy flight of rudely cut stone 
 steps, led up into the second apartment, which was in 
 all respects similar to the one below ; above this, the 
 French prisoners had managed to form another floor, 
 and had divided it off into different apartments, appro 
 priating them to the different branches of the me 
 chanical arts.
 
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISEB. 339 
 
 The prison yard was one thousand feet in length, and 
 from three to four hundred in breadth. Here were 
 small buildings interspersed in every section of the 
 yard, among which were seven billiard tables neatly 
 secured from the weather ; the prisons were also well 
 supplied with an abundance of pure fresh water, and 
 the country around afforded every thing to satisfy the 
 appetite and gratify the taste, provided one had the 
 needful with which to purchase ; for the French prison 
 ers had obtained the privilege of two market days in 
 each week, on which occasions the country people 
 flock in great numbers, in order to buy, sell and ex 
 change their commodities with the prisoners ; in short, 
 every facility was given for the comfort and happiness 
 of this community, so far as they could enjoy it, stripped, 
 as they were, of their liberty and freedom. The contrast 
 of dispositions between the American and French pri 
 soners, was truly surprising, for the Americans were 
 ever restless, ever planning means for their escape, and, 
 as a matter of course, they spent what little means they 
 had in possession, and not being able or willing to settle 
 upon any employment, they soon became miserably 
 poor, usually resorting to the gambling table, to procure, 
 if possible, a relief from their distresses ; and this un 
 fortunately was the case with a great majority of the 
 Americans. It is true, for some time after their incar 
 ceration, they expected to be exchanged ; but as soon as 
 this hope was cut off, instead of applying themselves to 
 smne pursuit, which would afford them at least a suffi 
 ciency with their prison allowance to live upon, they
 
 340 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 gave themselves up to habits of the basest indolence 
 and recklessness, consequently they were discarded by 
 those Frenchmen, who would have gladly taught them in 
 a branch of business adequate for their support. 
 
 Not so, however, with the French prisoners, for long 
 confinement, with their peculiar temperament, had re 
 conciled them to their lot ; so that the whole interior as 
 well as exterior of the prisons, and prison-yards, and its 
 inmates, presented a most thriving and flourishing com 
 munity. Every thing was reduced to system : here 
 was a constitution, laws, penalties, regular courts of 
 judicature, judges, lawyers, inferior officers, &c. ; the 
 laws were duly respected, and every breach and viola 
 tion of the same, was adjudged and punished according 
 to its flagrancy ; the rights of property and the social 
 compact were rigidly observed ; in short, whatever 
 would promote the well being, security and happiness 
 of this community, in regard to the wholesome laws 
 and the manner of their being carried into effect, 
 seemed an imperious obligation, to which all strenuously 
 adhered. 
 
 But there was another point, which added much io 
 the comfort and happiness of this society. Perhaps 
 in the same amount of population, in any other section 
 of the community, on the Island of Great Britain, there 
 could not be found the same number of men without 
 having paupers among them ; here, however, was an 
 exception, and this was the more surprising, because no 
 coercion compelled them to labor ; however, the larger 
 majority would on no account support any one in idle-
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 841 
 
 ness, and therefore industry became a matter of neces 
 sity as well as obligation ; for the declaration of the 
 Apostle was here literally fulfilled, "He that will 
 not work shall not eat." Perhaps there could not 
 have been found in any community of the same amount 
 of population, a greater number of the different branches 
 of mechanics, or a greater display of ingenuity, than 
 among this people ; indeed there was as much regularity 
 and system, with the mechanics and the various branches 
 of manufactures and trade, as can well be imagined ; 
 and in their sales and purchases, they not only had an 
 eye to the present means of subsistence, but it seemed 
 to be one object among them generally, to lay up in 
 store, or in common parlance, to hoard up money. 
 This may appear strange ; nevertheless, they are facts 
 which cannot be disproved, for when peace took place 
 between France and England, and the French prisoners 
 were sent home, there were not a few of them who had 
 accumulated from five hundred to two thousand guineas 
 in cash, which they actually had made by their in 
 dustry, while in prison, and carried it away to France. 
 The general mode of operations in these prisons was, by 
 a unanimous law among themselves, to rise at a certain 
 hour, very early, in the morning, and as they were 
 divided into messes of six, each mess cleansed and 
 purified its own location, as well as lashed up 
 the bedding in the hammocks. They had also a 
 certain time for breakfast, an arrangement with which 
 the keepers of the prison never meddled or interfered. 
 Immediately after this operation, the hammocks and 
 29*
 
 342 THE AMERICAN CKUISEK. 
 
 bedding were all taken out of the prisons, and stowed 
 away in a small building in the yard appropriated for 
 that purpose. The prisoners were then obliged to leave 
 the prison, after which they were inspected by the 
 officers who had the management of them ; this opera 
 tion was performed in a very short time, after which the 
 prisons were thrown open, and every man entered upon 
 his peculiar avocation, with as much regularity as might 
 be witnessed in the world without. Different locations 
 were assigned for the different branches of mechanics ; 
 in one part of the prison you might have seen from 
 thirty to fifty sail-makers, all employed ; in another as 
 many shoemakers ; here, also, might be seen different 
 branches of manufactures, such as lace, straw, musical 
 instruments, many specimens of the most beautiful work 
 manufactured from the bones of the beef which was 
 there consumed, such as vessels of every description, 
 toys, and many curious imitations of fairs, so constructed 
 by machinery, that every thing connected with them had 
 its own peculiar movement, so that all were hfoperation 
 at the same time. Here also were schools, in which 
 were taught all the different branches of education, as 
 well as the polite accomplishments, such as music, 
 dancing, fencing, &c. In the various buildings that 
 were interspersed in every part of the prison-yard, the 
 heavier branches of mechanics were carried on, such as, 
 carpenters, blacksmiths, coopers, hatters, &c. Some of 
 these were used for hotels, coffee shops, eating houses, 
 in short, not only the more substantial eatables, but
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 343 
 
 also all the luxuries of life, could here be obtained, pro 
 vided the needful was forthcoming. 
 
 Every species of amusement, for recreation to the 
 mind, as well as to the body, might here be enjoyed, 
 and oftentimes proved a source of relief, driving away 
 those feelings of sorrow and melancholy induced by long 
 confinement. There were not a few of these French 
 men, whose bondage had already extended from five 
 to ten years, and many of them had become so com 
 pletely reconciled and satisfied with their lot, that 
 when peace was proclaimed, they would have preferred 
 to remain at Stapleton, rather than go home to France. 
 This, however, was not a matter of astonishment, be 
 cause many of them had been captured when quite 
 young, consequently all their associations were formed 
 within the walls of the prison, and they were entirely 
 ignorant of the ways of the world without : there were 
 not a few of them, whose recollections in regard to their 
 own country had become nearly obliterated; add to 
 this, they were homeless, and friendless, consequently 
 when they had their freedom, as a matter of necessity 
 they would be obliged to form other associations, and 
 commence the world entirely anew. 
 
 While therefore their hours of confinement passed 
 away, I may almost say happily, they never thought of 
 concerting any plans for their escape ; and so well sa 
 tisfied were the British officers of the depot in regard 
 to the general deportment and behavior of the French 
 men, that every privilege was granted them that could 
 in any way ameliorate their captivity.
 
 844 THE AMERICAN CRUISEK. 
 
 Not so, however, with the American prisoners ; for 
 they were debarred many privileges, in consequence 
 of their recklessness and the almost constant state of 
 restlessness manifested in their conduct, which caused 
 much trouble, in the prisons among themselves, and 
 with the French prisoners ; while also their untiring 
 efforts to escape procured for them, not only the dis 
 pleasure of the British officers, but also, frequently, 
 severe punishment. It is true they could not be 
 blamed for making the strongest efforts to regain their 
 freedom, but this was often attempted without the 
 least shadow of success ; consequently these attempts 
 had the effect of riveting the chains of bondage more 
 securely, and it became next to impossible, after a lapse 
 of two or three months, to escape, because of the 
 redoubled vigilance of the guard. The amount of suf 
 fering endured by the Americans was almost incredible. 
 Such was their improvidence, indolence, and other bad 
 habits (for many of these men were picked up from the 
 most wretched haunts of misery and dissipation) that 
 when cold weather set in (for it will be recollected that 
 the whiter of 1818 in England was exceedingly severe, 
 insomuch that the river Thames was frozen so thick 
 that heavy burdens were driven over it,) they present 
 ed a most melancholy picture of poverty, distress, and 
 want ; for they had neither money nor clothing, and the 
 prison allowance of food was not sufficient to subsist 
 upon. In this state of things many of them sickened, 
 and were thrown into the hospital, where they ended 
 their bondage and suffering. It must not be under-
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISEK. 345 
 
 stood, however, that this state of things was universal 
 among the American prisoners ; there were many hon 
 orable exceptions, and many who would have been re 
 spected in any society or community ; and but for the 
 example and influence of these, the condition of the 
 remainder would have been infinitely worse. The 
 length of the captivity, however, in some measure cured 
 the great evil consequent upon the bad habits of the 
 Americans ; for when they became in want of food for 
 their subsistence, and found they could not obtain it, 
 then, and not until then, they went to work at some 
 employment or business. In this way, without any 
 material difference, the French and American prisoners 
 continued to pass their time during a course of nine 
 months, at the expiration of which hostilities ceased 
 between France and England, and the French prisoners 
 were sent home.
 
 CHAPTER XXXIV. 
 
 THE TRANSFER TO DARTMOOR PRISON. 
 
 AFTER the French prisoners had all been released 
 and sent to France, the British Government not being 
 willing, as was supposed, to keep up the expense of this 
 depot, determined to concentrate all the American pri 
 soners that were in England, at Dartmoor ; so that very 
 shortly after the release of the Frenchmen, orders were 
 issued to the Americans to hold themselves in readiness 
 for a march to that place ; this intelligence was hailed 
 with much delight by many who had determined to es 
 cape at the risk of their lives ; while others received it 
 not so pleasantly as might hare been expected. How 
 ever, they were aware of the great difference between 
 the two" locations ; at Stapleton every facility could be 
 had for comfort so far as could be expected in captivity, 
 and at the same time it was perhaps the most healthy 
 spot in England. Now, 'on the other hand, Dartmoor 
 was exactly opposite in every particular ; nevertheless, 
 a change seemed to afford the prisoners some satisfac 
 tion, although they were confident it would be for the 
 worse. 
 
 346
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 347 
 
 The time now arrived when the first draft was called 
 out to take up the line of march ; and the escort was in 
 all respects, in point of strength and number, the same 
 as that described from Stapleton, with the same number 
 of prisoners. They were also transferred m the same 
 order the draft which arrived first at Stapleton was 
 the first sent to Dartmoor, which consequently' brought 
 together the seamen and officers of the Cruiser. The 
 march, however, was materially different from the for 
 mer, for the commander of the escort was a full-blcc-ded 
 Englishman in all his notions, feelings, and prejudices ; 
 and as a matter of course, was not very well disposed 
 towards the Yankees. With this man there were no 
 distinctions, for the officers and sailors fared equally 
 alike ; the milk of human kindness formed no part of his 
 composition ; in fact every thing that was manly, noble, 
 generous, and humane, were wanting. The absence of 
 these, however, was abundantly supplied by the oppo 
 site qualities, which were exercised upon all occasions. 
 Of course this march was attended with great hardship 
 and suffering, for every privilege was cut off, even that 
 of purchasing food, and the allowance was not at all 
 sufficient to sustain men on a fatiguing march. 
 
 On the third day the whole escort was thrown into 
 the greatest confusion, from the circumstance of 
 three prisoners having deserted from a barn where they 
 had been confined the previous night ; nothing could ex 
 ceed the exasperation of the Commander on this occa 
 sion. A strong guard of soldiers was remanded back 
 to the town, where unfortunately they succeeded, in
 
 848 THE AMJ::UCAX CKCJISER. 
 
 taking one of the prisoners, the other two having made 
 their escape. After this an increased vigilance was 
 kept up, and every indignity was heaped upon the pri 
 soners until their arrival at Dartmoor. 
 
 The thoughts of going to a prison, especially such an 
 one as that to which they were now destined, could not 
 be agreeable under any circumstances, yet such were the 
 sufferings and misery which this draft had to endure, 
 under their inhuman and despotic leaders, that even 
 Dartmoor, with all its horrors, was preferable to the en 
 durance of such treatment ; and it was with no little joy 
 and satisfaction that these wretched beings came in 
 sight of this depot. 
 
 It was early in the afternoon, on the eighth day, 
 when the massive bolts, bars, and locks of the 
 neavy iron gates were thrown open by the turnkeys, and 
 the prisoners in single file entered, and the ponderous 
 door of bars and rivets was slammed in their rear with 
 a hollow sepulchral sound, that was only equalled in 
 dolefulness by the harsh grating of the keys and the 
 snapping of the bolts as they shot into their deep sunken 
 sockets in the granite jams. 
 
 As soon as the prisoners had entered the first gate, 
 the clerk was in readiness, and proceeded to record the 
 names, ages, height, complexion, trades or employments, 
 and birth places, which were noted down opposite to their 
 names. After each had thus been registered, a ham 
 mock-bed and blanket were given to them, to be re 
 turned when released. 
 
 The prisoners now took up their line of march for
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 349 
 
 their several locations in the prisons ; but on their en 
 trance to the prison yard, they came to a sudden halt, 
 being struck with amazement and wonder at what they 
 now saw and heard. Here was a group of human be 
 ings, fantastically dressed, and at a short distance was 
 another engaged in every species of gambling, while 
 another party, more numerous than the rest, were amus 
 ing themselves in the polite accomplishment of pugil 
 ism ; in short, they were all so much engaged, that they 
 took but little notice of the strangers who had just en 
 tered, and who were destined to become members of 
 this respectable community. 
 
 The prisoners moved on toward one of these respect 
 able habitations, and upon entering the first floor they 
 stood at the upper end of the building, which was all 
 thrown into one apartment of not less than two hundred 
 and fifty feet in length by sixty in breadth, each part 
 thickly peopled with human beings of every possible 
 shape, dress and occupation. Some were cooking, 
 some were reading, some were walking, dancing, 'sing 
 ing, fiddling, and fifing ; but more were gambling, or 
 clustering around tables on which were piled heaps of 
 all colors and value. There they stood, and knew not 
 which way to go, as all places seemed alike occupied and 
 even closely jammed,- 5 no one portion of the room offer 
 ing space for the stowage of their bodies or bedding. 
 But they were soon relieved from this awkward dilemma, 
 for information was received from one of the older inha 
 bitants that there was plenty of spare room in number 
 seven prison. Upon receiving this welcome intelligence, 
 30
 
 350 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 they quickly transferred themselves and dunnage to 
 their new residence, and found no difficulty in obtaining 
 berths, for more than one half of this building was yet 
 unoccupied. 
 
 In contemplating the miseries of war, and especially 
 the sufferings and privations of those who are brought 
 under captivity, one would naturally expect to see noth 
 ing but misery and wo from the time of entering the 
 prison till liberated therefrom. It might be fairly in 
 ferred, then, by those who are unacquainted, that hun 
 ger and crime stalked uncontrolled, that the weak were 
 at the mercy of the strong, or that nought was here but 
 weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth. None, or but 
 few, appeared cast down ; and while one seemed to 
 strive how he could show more mirth than those around 
 him who were listening to his nonsense, another was at 
 his books, music, mending his garments, or making a 
 party of cards, draughts, or other games of amuse 
 ment ; a third was at his stall with his scanty stock of 
 goods, busily waiting on his customers. At eight 
 o'clock the next morning, after the entrance of the 
 draft, the prisoners were notified to be in readiness to 
 count out in messes. As each number of six were 
 allowed their choice of companions, they then passed 
 out by a door left open for the purpose, and to every 
 sixth man was given a numbered ticket, indicative of 
 the number of his mess. Of course each party of six 
 were in close connection, and before being counted out, 
 had formed the association. There were many who 
 would not become members of any mess voluntarily, on
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 351 
 
 account of their ill-conduct and rowdyism ; and when 
 all others had passed out, it mattered little to them 
 who were their companions ; they went out indiscrimi 
 nately till the whole were ticketed. These latter were 
 denominated " Rough Allies." If any through careless 
 ness, contrariness, or any other cause, remained inside 
 till the " messing out " was finished, he received no 
 rations, only as a pauper, or by a friend sharing with 
 him till the next counting out, which was as often as 
 any new prisoner came in, or any number went to, 
 or returned from the hospital. The oftener the " mess 
 ing out" was orde&d, the greater harmony there was 
 with the whole ; for whoever became unruly, filthy in 
 person, or any wise obnoxious, was thrust out, and 
 could mess with none others but his like the " Rough 
 Allies." 
 
 Directly after the whole had received their tickets, 
 the cook's horn gave notice that the bread was in rea 
 diness to be served out ; when the one from each mess 
 who received the ticket at the door, being dubbed cook 
 for the day, proceeded to the cook house, and there 
 waited till his number was called. The calling began at 
 the low numbers, and proceeded in regular rotation to 
 the highest ; the cook received the ticket as he deli 
 vered the bread to the holder, strung it upon a wire, 
 and so on in succession until all were gone through. 
 At the next serving out of either bread or soup, the 
 cook of the mess received his ticket, together with the 
 provisions for the day, the numbers being now called 
 from the highest to the lowest. Each member of the
 
 352 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 different messes took his regular day as its cook, as 
 often as it fell to his turn. 
 
 The condition of the American prisoners in Dart 
 moor, at the time of which we now write, was in many 
 respects truly deplorable ; a large majority of them had 
 been gathered from the vilest haunts of dissipation and 
 vice, from perhaps all the seaports in the United States. 
 They were uneducated, and their habits of the worst 
 character ; they had no just or proper conception of the 
 rights of their fellow men, and their actions were in ac 
 cordance with these views ; and they vainly supposed, 
 because forsooth they were on an equality as prisoners 
 of war, that this state of things should be carried out in 
 every particular. Improvident and idle, without any 
 resources in themselves, they had constant recourse to 
 the gaming table, for the two-fold purpose of gain 
 and whiling away the time. They were, however, 
 sadly mistaken in the former ; for their passion for this 
 execrable vice became so strong that they lost all their 
 means, clothing, &c., and many of them were classed 
 under the genteel appellation of " Rough Allies," and 
 were reduced to the lowest state of degradation and 
 want. Indeed, it was a melancholy sight, to behold 
 these men gathering from the piles of offal and dirt, cab 
 bage stumps, potato and turnip skins, which they de 
 voured with the greediness of a vulture, to satisfy their 
 craving appetites, and to prevent starvation ; for it will be 
 remembered that up to this time the American Govern 
 ment had made no provision for the American prisoners 
 in England ; and the food allowed by the British Gov-
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 353 
 
 eminent was not sufficient for the subsistence of men 
 in health. The result was, therefore, that many of 
 them either starved to death or died by gorging them 
 selves with unwholesome food. But the worst con 
 sequences resulting to the better class of the prisoners 
 were these : a large body of these miserable men 
 usually banded together, and if they had a pique 
 against any of the more orderly, it was their custom to 
 drag them up to the whipping post and scourge their 
 backs most unmercifully; this was invariably done to 
 all such officers as had been good disciplinarians on 
 board their vessels. This course of proceeding at 
 length became so outrageous and intolerable, that the 
 captain of the depot had frequently to send in a guard 
 of soldiers and rescue the unfortunate victims of their 
 vengeance from their brutality and oppression. It was 
 forttuiate, however, that this state of things was soon 
 effectually stopped, for about this time six drafts of 
 American seamen, who had given themselves up from 
 British men-of-war, were transferred from Chatham to 
 this depot. These were a fine set of orderly, well- 
 behaved men, and would have been a credit to any 
 nation. After they arrived, the more respectable por 
 tion of the prisoners, and these, united together and in 
 stituted many wholesome regulations, which not only 
 checked these outrages, but also established law and 
 order throughout the community within the walls of the 
 prison. 
 
 30*
 
 CHAPTER XXXT. 
 
 DESCRIPTION OP DARTMOOR PRISON. 
 
 IN attempting to give a description of this depot, I 
 have been mainly guided, not only by my own recollec 
 tion (which may be fallacious) but also from what I 
 have gleaned from a work which I conceive to be near 
 the truth, and more correct than either my own views 
 or numerous other descriptions which have come under 
 my notice. In regard to myself, I had no other oppor 
 tunity of ascertaining distances but by stepping off, nor 
 any other mode of fixing heights or measurements ex 
 cept by comparison. All summings up from such 
 sources and materials, must unavoidably be defective. 
 Yet I trust the following is not so far from correct as 
 not to answer the purpose for which it is intended, and 
 probably as near the truth as the generality of topogra 
 phical descriptions that are set down as accurately 
 drawn. Dartmoor, when applied to the prisons, is 
 erroneous, for it is the name of the district in which 
 the prisons are situated. " The Heaths of Dartmoor" 
 are the plains that surround the buildings of the depot 
 to a great distance. As well might one in writing of 
 the Capitol at Washington, call it Washington, or the 
 354
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 355 
 
 District of Columbia, and be no further incorrect than 
 when calling these prisons Dartmoor. 
 
 A traveller may visit Dartmoor, and yet not go with 
 in ten or twelve miles of the depot where the Americans 
 were confined during the latter part of the last war. 
 All letters which came to the prisoners, were directed 
 to the depot at " Dartmoor," as were the numerous 
 blanks at the clerks' and doctors' offices, headed in the 
 same manner. . The wagons, carts, and other property 
 belonging to this station, were branded as above. None 
 of the inhabitants of the surrounding district spoke of* 
 the prisons except as " the Depot." 
 
 The view from the prisons was uninterrupted in every 
 direction except the south ; here it was broken by a 
 high hill, from which, it was said, the numerous streams 
 of water took their rise, which supplied the depot so 
 plentifully at all seasons of the year. This water, which 
 was soft and agreeable to the taste, had a slight reddish , 
 tinge, caused by having passed through veins of copper 
 ore imbedded near its source, and had the reputation of 
 being insalubrious to th'ose unaccustomed to its use ; 
 but afterwards none complained of its baneful effects. 
 There is one account which says, " the water is brought 
 from a great distance and at great expense, to the De 
 pot," but does not say from whence it was brought, but 
 evidently it is meant from beyond this hill, as it 
 lies but a short way off, and the ground is at a gen 
 tle declivity and favorably situated to convey water at 
 but little expense, the whole distance to the depot. 
 
 All the buildings of the depot, prisons, barracks, hos-
 
 356 THE AMERICAN CRtJlSER. 
 
 pital, store houses, dwellings, and out-houses, were alike 
 surrounded by two circular walls, one within the other, 
 of stone masonry, of from -fifteen to eighteen feet in 
 height. These were distant from each other about 
 twenty-five feet, and the space between the two was 
 used as a military walk, and likewise served as a place 
 from which the prisoners could be watched without 
 seeing who were their observers. Inside the wall was 
 an iron picket carried around the circle, which stood 
 ^about thirty feet apart from the wall. The space 
 between the two was well sodded, and as the spring 
 advanced, a luxuriant covering of green sprung up, 
 which added much life to the scene, and threw a cheer 
 ing aspect on the surrounding sombreness, besides form 
 ing a lively contrast to the monotonous, dull, and heavy 
 appearance of the stone buildings. The outer wall 
 measured a full mile in its circular stretch around the 
 enclosure. This circle was cut by a cross wall of the 
 same height and material as the two outside ones, 
 which gave one half of the sjoace for the use of the 
 prison buildings, while the other half was occupied by 
 the barracks, hospital, store houses, and dwellings for 
 the keepers ; all, however, surrounded by the same 
 strong barriers as were those which the Americans 
 occupied ; and when the gates were closed the whole 
 population within the walls were alike prisoners, or ra 
 ther those whose duty it was to prevent the captives 
 from escaping would find it as difficult to gain their 
 liberty, if the attempt was made, without the consent
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 867 
 
 of him who had charge of the main gate, as would 
 the prisoners. 
 
 The prisons were seven in all, diverging from a 
 common centre, known by the numbers beginning at 
 the left, from the entrance at the main gate, with 
 No. 1, and ending at the right with No. 7, the two 
 extremities being parallel with the cross wall, and the 
 whole radiating like the spokes from, the hub of a 
 wheel, their extremities forming a half circle. The 
 centre of the seven, No. 4, was walled off from the 
 others, thus making in all three yards distinct from 
 each other, known as yard No. 1, containing prisons 
 No. 1, 2, and 3 ; yard No. 4, by itself, containing pri 
 son No. 4 ; and yard No. 7, containing Nos. 5, 6, and 
 7. The communication was kept up between these 
 yards, by a passage at the centre of the circle, of 
 thirty feet in width by one hundred and fifty in length, 
 covered, and the top made use of as a military walk ; 
 from which the movements of those within the enclo 
 sure could be seen, not only the prisoners, but all 
 who were inside the circular wall, whether in the 
 hospital yard, that occupied by the barracks, store 
 houses, or market, the whole could be seen at a single 
 turn from this platform. 
 
 In the front of this platform was the market square, 
 which was separated from the broad passage beneath it 
 by a tremendous strong wrought iron railing, of about 
 twelve feet in height, supported at proper distances 
 from each other by granite posts of more than two feet 
 square, firmly planted in the ground.
 
 358 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 The communication from yard to yard and from 
 prison to prison, was free and uninterrupted during the 
 day ; but at sunset, the prisoners were notified by the. 
 blowing of the turnkey's horn from the top of the mili 
 tary walk, that they must withdraw from the yards, and 
 retire to their respective numbers, therein to remain till 
 sunrise the following morning, when the doors were 
 again thrown open, as were the different gates which 
 "had been closed during the night, for the inmates to 
 range the yards or buildings to their liking. The yards 
 were well paved, lighted at night, swept and scraped as 
 often as was necessary for either health or appearance ; 
 and they were likewise well supplied with water, by 
 each having two handsomely stoned canals, of about 
 three feet in width, and the same in depth, carried 
 through them, both running with a never failing supply, 
 the one carrying off the filth of the sewers, by its rapid 
 current, while the other served for washing and culinary. 
 This latter emptied into a stone basin of twentyby forty 
 feet, of an elliptic form, which could be filled at any 
 time, and was of sufficient depth for bathing. The 
 prison buildings varied in nothing except their size ; 
 Nos. 1, 4, and 7, were the largest ; Nos. 3 and 5, the 
 next in size, and Nos. 2 and 6, (unoccupied,) the 
 smallest. The walls were built of irregular shaped, un- 
 hammered stone, and were more than two feet in thick 
 ness ; the buildings were two stories in height, with a 
 cock-loft or attic. No. 5 was above two hundred and 
 fifty or sixty feet in length, by sixty or sixty-five in 
 breadth. Each story was without any partitions, but
 
 THE AMERICAN CKUISER. 359 
 
 had two alleys, twelve feet in width, running the whole 
 length, with upright stanchions, eighteen or twenty 
 inches apart, to separate them from the berth places of 
 the men. The floors were paved throughout with com 
 mon flag, or rubble stone. Each building was well ven 
 tilated by windows, heavily grated with iron bars. 
 
 The communication from story to story was by a 
 double flight of broad stairs of hewn stone, at both ends 
 of each apartment. There were no chimneys in any of 
 the prisons, nor fires, except for private use ; and these 
 belonged to those who could afford a small stove, run 
 ning the pipe out of the many windows in the side 
 walls. The owners of these stoves carried on some 
 business which required the use of fire ; and they were 
 much more numerous than agreeable to those who dis 
 liked the gas arising from burning the bituminous coal 
 necessary to keep them in operation. Each prison had 
 its own cook-house, of the same material that the build 
 ings were built of, and joined the end pointing to the 
 common centre of the circle in which they stood. 
 
 The Heaths of Dartmoor are situated at a consider 
 able elevation, but at what height, is not known ; how 
 ever, the great height in which the district is elevated, 
 is alone the cause of the almost uninterrupted continu 
 ance of those dense and heavy fogs, with which it is 
 enveloped from November till May. To the same reason 
 must be attributed the coldness of the atmosphere ; for 
 in the summer months when the sun is at its altitude, 
 its warming rays are infinitely more to be desired than 
 its shade. These heaths, which surround the depot to
 
 360 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 a great distance, are barren, cheerless, and dreary to 
 behold, even during the most luxuriant portion of the 
 year ; but when all was blasted with hoar frost, and 
 deadened by the stern hand of winter, they were doubly 
 drear. For days, even in summer, nothing could be 
 seen, except occasionally a single horseman threading 
 one of the crooked by-paths of the plains, or a flock of 
 sheep vainly endeavoring to nip a scanty meal from the 
 surface of a barren soil that grew nothing except a 
 coarser bramble than they could relish. For full half 
 . around the horizon, there was not an object for the eye 
 to rest upon as a landmark not a fence, a stream, a 
 hillock, nor a tree was between the observer and the 
 distant blue risings which ended his view. 
 
 By the small irregular mounds and ridges of raised 
 earth, that were here and there discovered scattered 
 over the plains, with evident signs of great antiquity, it 
 is thought that battles must have been fought on these 
 heaths in ancient times. And so fully were the coun 
 try people's minds convinced that the departed dead 
 were yet restless, that it was difficult for those rustics 
 to bring their minds to pass this extensive waste" after 
 night-fall. Half a mile to the east was the little village 
 of Princeton, composed of ten or fifteen buildings, with 
 a stone Gothic church standing midway between the 
 town and the prisons. This building was put up by the 
 French during the time of their captivity, who after 
 working through the day, returned at dusk to pass the 
 night within the walls. 
 
 A little to the left of this village was a small winding
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 861 
 
 stream, over which was a stone bridge, where the road 
 crossed that led to the interior. These were the only 
 objects the eye could rest upon, when turned from with 
 in the prison enclosure, if we except the smooth surface 
 of rising ground, a short distance to the left of Prince 
 ton, which was used as the parade ground for the troops 
 that were doing duty at the depot. It was not un- 
 frequent for a couple of regiments to close their two 
 hours' drill with a sham fight ; when as many of the 
 prisoners as could clamber to the roofs of the buildings, 
 enjoyed a fair sight of this harmless but highly pic 
 turesque battle, often raging fiercely between the red- 
 coated soldiery, whose gaudily bedizened trappings 
 glittered in the sun's rays, as seen when half en 
 veloped in the smoke of the battalion fire. 
 
 These prisons were a complete epitome of an over 
 crowded city. Here were trades and occupations of 
 every kind carried on a mixed population, made up 
 from all nations of the earth and every grade of 
 society as distinctly marked, as in towns and 
 cities. Finally, though it may be considered unchari 
 table, we do not hesitate to say, that the British govern 
 ment selected out this spot for its dreariness, desolation, 
 and insalubrity of climate, on which to erect a depot for 
 prisoners of war, as a civilized and legal method of 
 putting them out of the way ; for I believe it is reduced 
 to a certainty, that there is not another location on the 
 Island of Great Britain, that can equal this in regard 
 to the qualities we have named. 
 31
 
 CHAPTER XXXVI. 
 
 NEWS OF THE PEACE CON VERSATION BETWEEN THE 
 BO ATS WAIN AND YOUNG SEAMEN. 
 
 PERHAPS if the -whole mass of American prisoners 
 had been examined by impartial judges, they would 
 have decided, that for correct general deportment, and 
 manly excellence, there were none that surpassed the 
 boatswain and young seaman, of the Cruiser. As they 
 were inseparable friends on the cruise, so they remained 
 since their capture, and during their long captivity. In 
 the long and fatiguing marches, side by side, they were 
 never seen to quail or falter. The iron frame of the 
 boatswain seemed to defy the excessive labor of the 
 march ; while the youth and vigor of the young seaman, 
 stimulated by the example of his friend and messmate, 
 was never seen to hang on the trail of the escort. They 
 were both among that number that passed their word to 
 the generous British, that they would not attempt to 
 escape; nor did they, for they were among the unfor 
 tunate men that suffered a long and dreary bondage ; 
 and yet, the' gloom of many of these lonely hours, was 
 mitigated by the mutual efforts of each, according to 
 their peculiar ability and tact. They messed together, 
 362
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 363 
 
 and swung their hammocks side by side ; they labored 
 and united their scanty earnings, for the mutual com 
 fort and subsistence of each other ; and when the dark 
 hours of melancholy associations would sometimes cast a 
 deep shade of sorrow over the manly brow of the young 
 seaman, the boatswain would recount some touching 
 incident of his own thrilling history, which would in 
 variably dissipate the cloud, by the interest he felt, in 
 all that concerned his friend ; and although, from the 
 peculiar temperament of the boatswain, it would peem 
 that no misfortune or distress could shake his iron 
 nerves, yet from this long and dreary captivity, an at 
 tentive observer might trace the lines of despondency 
 on his face-, in spite of all his efforts to the contrary. 
 
 It was in the month of March, the season of the 
 year, of all others the most gloomy in this district ; the 
 barren heath, as well as the spot on which the prisons 
 stood, was shrouded in an almost impenetrable mist ; 
 the falling rain splashed heavily on the tops of the 
 prisons, and prison-yard, and the wild wind blew in 
 fitful gusts, with a sound so melancholy, that it 
 seemed to be the harbinger of some dreadful intelli 
 gence. The atmosphere was dense and cold, and the 
 prisoners sought shelter within the walls of their habita 
 tions, from the ruthless storm. Now and then a loud 
 poal of thunder would seem to shake the massive walls 
 of the prison, while ever and anon, a livid flash of 
 lightning shot through the iron grates of the windows, 
 which for a moment made the stoutest hearts to quail ; 
 the pelting storm raged for an hour, with unabating vio-
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 lence, and when it ceased its fury, there might have 
 been seen here and tEere a countenance lighted up with 
 a smile, yet the majority of them, seemed to partake 
 of the gloom that now covered this dreary moor. After 
 the storm had abated, and the minds of the prisoners 
 had become somewhat tranquillized, there might have 
 been seen two men, sitting composedly in one of the 
 mess berths, deeply interested in a book, which the 
 younger of the two was reading aloud, to his most 
 attentive listener ; they were so much absorbed, that 
 for some moments they took no notice of the loud and 
 extravagant expressions of joy, which rang throughout 
 the prisons, and all over the prison-yard ; nor were they 
 entirely aroused until a loud peal resounded through the 
 air like rolling thunder, in three cheers, from more than 
 three thousand human beings, immediately after which 
 one of the piisoners entered with a newspaper, and read 
 with stentorian lungs, the overwhelming and joyful in 
 telligence, that, " Peace was proclaimed between Am 
 erica and England." Nothing could now exceed the. 
 manifestations of joy and transport, exhibited among the 
 prisoners ; it is in vain to attempt an expression of the 
 deep and powerful feelings of men, some of whom 
 had been incarcerated in a British prison for more than 
 two years, the greater part of them for at least one 
 year. Some danced, while others sung ; many of them 
 broke out into extravagant bursts of laughter, while 
 others actually wept for joy ; and there were not a few, 
 that night, that drained the intoxicating bowl of its very 
 dregs.
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 " How is it lad," observed the boatswain to the 
 .young seaman, " that you don't seem to be much re 
 joiced at the news of the peace, and what's better, the 
 prospect of your liberty ; why I 'd just rather bang salt 
 water all my days on board of a line of battle ship, and 
 mess on salt grub and pea soup, than to be couped up 
 in such a place as this, where the curse of God seems 
 to be on the very ground, for d' ye see nature won't do 
 any of her work here ; and besides, to be shut out like 
 heathens from the sight of any Christian woman, and 
 never hear the sound of a chaplain's voice to say a 
 prayer for the good of a chap's soul, though for the 
 matter of that we Ve prayers enough here, but they are 
 not to my liking ; no, no, lad, I do n't relish this com 
 pany, and if I once get clear of them, as I hope to be 
 forgiven they '11 never catch me again." 
 
 " I appreciate my liberty," replied the young sea 
 man, as much as you can do, and I hope much more 
 rationally than those who give such wild proofs of 
 their feelings, but as I have often told you, past 
 occurrences in my history have taught me to control 
 my feelings." 
 
 " Well, well," replied the boatswain, " I believe you 
 are half right, and now that it is peace, these chaps 
 here are beginning to kick up a row, and I '11 miss my 
 reck'ning, if some of them do n't lose the number of 
 their mess yet ; but come, messmate, as there 's some 
 little prospect of getting out of this, before a great 
 while, how do you mean to shape your course ?" 
 
 " We have been together three years," replied the 
 31*
 
 366 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 young seaman, " and I have had no reason thus far to. 
 wish for a separation." 
 
 "That's just my own mind," observed the other, 
 " but then, d' ye see, I've got no laming, and in my 
 way of thinking, I shall never get higher than serving 
 out the blocks, and spunyarn, and wind a call ; but 
 then, lad, you 're cut out for something higher, and as I 
 was overhauling my thinking tacks the other day, says 
 I to myself, it 's a pity such a tight chap should be 
 boxing about the main-deck and forecastle all his days, 
 when he can handle a ship, aye, and handle a trumpet 
 toe, as well as the best on 'em; and then thinks I that 
 you 'd do credit to the regular sarvice. Aye, aye, lad, 
 God knows it would go hard with me to part with you, 
 yet this must be done some time or other, and Tom is 
 not the lad to heave a straw in the way of his mess 
 mate." 
 
 " I have been thinking myself," replied the young 
 seaman, " that the regular service will be the best field 
 for us both, for there it is likely we may continue to be 
 shipmates, if not messmates ; but in regard to that, as 
 I am now solitary and alone in the world, I have de 
 termined to devote the remainder of my days to the 
 service of my country." 
 
 " Come, come," said the boatswain, " do n't get on 
 that tack, for the Lord knows you've had mishaps 
 enough, and if you rake 'em up again, why I shall 
 begin to think about holding on to you, but that won't 
 do ; so cheer up, and when we must part, if head winds 
 and foul weather cross your hawse, why then your old
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 867 
 
 messmate is not the chap to desert his friends, or fill 
 away his maintopsail in the hour of distress, for d' ye 
 see, I've got a few shiners laid up in the Savings, and 
 if we get bamboozled out of our prize-money, which by 
 the way is not unlikely, why then, lad, we '11 just share 
 it together." 
 
 The young seaman was nearly overwhelmed with this 
 additional expression of friendship, which unsettled his 
 resolution to separate from his friend, and grasping the 
 hand of the boatswain, he replied : 
 
 " "We must not separate ; the deep wounds that 
 sorrow and affliction haVe made upon my mind are be 
 ginning to heal, and it is owing to the balm of friend 
 ship which you have from time to time administered ; 
 separate us then, and they will bleed afresh. No! 
 long did I seek for one, in whom I could repose ; 
 in you . I have found such a one, and have tested the 
 worth and value of your friendship. What then would 
 this world be to me apart from that boon which you 
 have bestowed. Yes, I should be a solitary wanderer 
 upon the sea of life ; cheerless and comfortless indeed 
 would be its last hours, were it not for the consoling 
 reflection, that when death shall wind up the history of 
 my woes, I have at least one friend, who will drop a. 
 tear to the memory of him whose path in life was 
 strewed with sorrow," 
 
 " Come, come," said the boatswain, " the more we 
 chat about these things, the farther off we get about 
 parting, and it 's better to cut off this yarn, for I just 
 feel as if my head pumps were going to work ; now, in
 
 368 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 my way of thinking, if we are to stick together, why 
 then d' ye see there's one aloft that knows all about it 
 better than we do, and I say if we do sail together, 
 lie '11 make the way for it." 
 
 " That is the very best conclusion," observed the 
 young seaman, " and here we will let it rest." 
 
 The conversation now assumed a different turn. 
 
 "I don't understand how it is," observed the boat- 
 swam, " that we are kept in prison here on short allow 
 ance, and under the domineering sway of that broken 
 down post-captain, Shortland. I '11 miss my reck'ning, 
 if that chap has n't been genteelly banished from the 
 sarvice for his tyranny ; aye, aye. he 's just such a chap 
 as the British .government well knew would treat the 
 Yankee prisoners as bd as they did them outlandish 
 Frenchmen ; but hark 'ee, lad, these English chaps have 
 not got Frenchmen to deal with, for the Yankees some 
 how or other have humbled their pride on the salt 
 water, as well as on the land." 
 
 " The English government," replied the young sea 
 man, " are bound to detain the American prisoners, 
 until they are demanded by our agent. It is true that 
 he is very slow in making the necessary provisions 
 for cartels, to convey the prisoners to the United States ; 
 but this is in accordance with all his acts, in 
 the agency, for which he is employed by the United 
 States government in reference to the prisoners of war 
 in England. I have understood that in all his opera 
 tions he is connected with a Jew, and that at this very 
 time, instead of procuring ships, to release the unfortu-
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 869 
 
 nate prisoners with as much despatch as possible, they 
 are making it a matter of gain to themselves, when they 
 ought faithfully to attend to the comfort of those men, 
 who have suffered so long in this prison. 
 
 " Thus it was when the prisoners were suffering from 
 the scanty allowance of food received from the British 
 government. Letter after letter was sent to him, to 
 make application to our government for an additional 
 supply of provisions, or a monthly stipend, so as to save 
 them from actual starvation ; instead, however, of 
 attending to this immediately, as it ought to have been 
 done, it was delayed for months, and the consequence 
 was, as you know, great suffering among the prisoners ; 
 and you recollect, they were so much exasperated, that 
 
 when Mr. B came down from London, to inform 
 
 the prisoners that our government had made arrange 
 ments to allow each man seven and sixpence per month, 
 that he dare not come into the prison-yard."
 
 CHAPTER XXXVII. 
 
 THE MASSACRE BOATSWAIN'S LEG SHOT OFF. 
 
 IT now becomes the painful duty of the writer of 
 these pages to record -that which he would have wil 
 lingly been spared, and which calls up associations of 
 the most melancholy nature. The many who have read 
 the history of those times, know there was a massacre 
 of the American prisoners in confinement at Dartmoor ; 
 but beyond this, little is known ; all is in apparent 
 darkness, without the seeming possibility of the circum 
 stances attending this fatal event, being ever cleared 
 of the obscurity with which they are so mysteriously 
 enshrouded ; or, that a full and satisfactory explanation 
 can be given to the public, why these captive Americans 
 were murdered in cold blood. If it is asked why the 
 prisoners at Dartmoor were fired upon ? the common 
 answer is, " The^were digging out," and the garrison 
 were forced to fire upon them, being justified for the 
 measure by military usage. In my endeavors to bring 
 this horrible affair before the reader, let it not be sup 
 posed that I shall entirely clear up that mystery after 
 thirty years. It is presumed that at the time the in 
 vestigation was going on, and the inquiries were making, 
 3TO
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 371 
 
 from the military platform, facing prison-yard No. 7, too 
 little credit was given to what the prisoners said in evi 
 dence. It is a fact that cannot he contradicted, the 
 strongest testimony which could be brought forward by 
 the aggrieved, met with as little respect as circumstan 
 tial evidence, and far less than the hap-hazard asser 
 tions from the side of the aggressors. The prisoners 
 were looked upon, not only by the British officers who 
 were carrying on the investigation, but (with a single 
 exception,) by those who, if possessing any national 
 feelings in common with their countrymen, might be 
 supposed to hear alike both sides, as felons too low in 
 the scale of society to be entitled to the least credit ; 
 whether on oath or not, they were all discredited, or 
 heard but not listened to. Surely out of six thousand 
 men, there must have been some who held an oath in 
 reverence ; all were not cut-throats and robbers, 
 ready to swear away the life of a fellow mortal, or use 
 the more summary process of the knife. The affidavits 
 on the part of the prisoners went positively to show 
 that Shortland did give the word to fire ; while the 
 strongest evidence on the other side only said, " They 
 did not hear him order the soldiers to fire, although the 
 word was given by some one." Who, in a well-regu 
 lated corps, would dare give any word of command, 
 except the one that commanded? Yet the official 
 report, which exonerates Shortland from any blame, ia 
 based upon the sentence, " No evidence is shown that 
 he gave the word to fire." The circumstances, how 
 ever, which led to this cruel and bloody outrage may bo
 
 $72 THE AMERICAN CRUISEK. 
 
 attributed to the malevolent passions and bitter feelings 
 which Shortland had toward the American prisoners j 
 and the following incident afforded him ample scope to 
 wreak i his vengeance, and which finally terminated hi 
 the massacre. 
 
 It appears that an American privateer had captured 
 a British merchant schooner, on board of which she put 
 four men as a crew to work her into port ; she was 
 afterwards fallen in with, and captured by a British 
 frigate, who put on board of her a prize-master and 
 crew, and took the Americans on board of the frigate. 
 Shortly after the Englishmen had possession of the 
 schooner, they discovered fire in the hold, when they 
 immediately hailed the frigate, alleging that the 
 Yankees had placed matches among some kegs of 
 powder, with the intention of blowing up the schooner 
 and all on board. The Americans, four in number, the 
 names of whom are as follows, Simeon Hays, of Balti 
 more, John Miller, Englishman, James Ricker, and 
 Elisha Whitten, of Massachusetts, were immediately 
 put into irons, and under short allowance of provisions, 
 carried into England, when the British authorities or 
 dered them to be kept in confinement during, the war. 
 They were sent to the prisons at Dartmoor, with in 
 structions to the commandant of the depot, Shortland, 
 to see that the sentence was fully carried into effect. 
 During their confinement, much sympathy was mani 
 fested for their sufferings, by those at large in the 
 prisons, and relief given by subscriptions, which was 
 conveyed to them clandestinely, through the agency of
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 878 
 
 their kind and generous hearted jailor, Carley, an Irish 
 man, with Irish warmth of feelings for those in distress, 
 who never let an opportunity slip without administering 
 to their comfort, when it was possible to avoid the lynx 
 eyes of his superior, the Commandant, who was deter 
 mined to carry his orders to the utmost extent of 
 severity. For the first four months they never had a 
 light ; but afterwards this man smuggled to them candles 
 regularly, although the detection deprived him of his 
 office. After these men had suffered solitary confine 
 ment six months, their sentence was so far mitigated, as 
 to allow them to walk for half an hour each day, by the 
 side of the sentries. Whilst walking, much curiosity 
 was manifested by the other prisoners to see them, 
 which generally called to the gratings, opposite to where 
 the men were walking, a crowd of some two or three 
 hundred. The cachet being situated in the space be 
 tween the circular picket grating and the inner wall, 
 means were found to communicate with these unfortu 
 nates, (for they were allowed conversation with none,) 
 and a plan adopted for one or more of them to escape to 
 the prisons, within the picket fence. But they reso 
 lutely refused to come into measures that could in any 
 wise compromise their philanthropic jailor. Sunday, 
 however, he would be absent, as he was a strict church 
 man, and never missed his hour at the morning service. 
 The four men were permitted to walk as heretofore, but 
 they were more closely watched than usual, till their 
 time had nearly expired, when Simeon Hays, after fol 
 lowing closely in the footsteps of one of the four sen- 
 
 82
 
 374 THU AMERICAN CRUISEK. 
 
 tries, till the others turned to retrace their steps, in 
 their to and fro marchings, (with their faces opposite to 
 the prisoner,) jumped to the gratings, nimbly reached 
 the top, and threw himself headlong amidst the gath 
 ered crowd on the opposite side, escaping the shot with 
 which the sentry from the wall saluted him, as he was 
 making his daring pitch. This occurred the last of 
 February, or the first week in March. The escaped 
 repaired to No. 1 prison ; but as means were .immedi 
 ately adopted to have him ferreted out, he was trans 
 ferred to No. 4, and metamorphosed into a darkey, to 
 correspond with his associate mess. Next morning the 
 doors were all kept closed till the inmates were counted 
 out singly, with the jailor in attendance to identify his 
 lost bird ; but none could he see, who at all corres 
 ponded with the one he had waited on for the last nine 
 months. After counting out the men singly, perambu 
 lating the prisons and yards continually, for some days, 
 'and every other means had failed of identifying the 
 man, an order came from the Commandant, peremp 
 torily demanding the prisoners to give up Hays, with a 
 threat that the market should be stopped for the space 
 of ten days. The crier paraded the buildings, begin 
 ning with No. 1, and going through them all in regular 
 succession, saying, " Shall the prisoner, Simeon Hays, 
 be given up, to be again sent to the cachet ? aye or 
 no!" "No, no! never!" resounded from every 
 quarter ; not a voice among the six thousand was heard 
 to respond " Aye." 
 
 The threat of Shortland was carried into effect, and
 
 THE AMERICAN CRU1SEJI. 375 
 
 the market suddenly closed. Thus all within the pri- 
 sous were deprived of every thing but their bare allow 
 ance. In the mean time the jailor was busily peram 
 bulating the yards and searching the prisons, doing his 
 best to gain his lost reputation, by securing the man 
 who had escaped from his charge, while he was away 
 from his post. The hour he was spending in devotional 
 piety was no excuse in the eyes of Captain Shortland 
 for what occurred during Ms absence. From a cause 
 .not known, but it was supposed some one had given the 
 information witk the hope of gaining the offered reward, 
 (had the informant been found out, his expected reward 
 would have done him but little good,) the fugitive was 
 traced to No. 5, whose numbers were again counted 
 out, with as little effect towards his recognition as when 
 he was under the covering of the cook's smut in No. 
 4. Here he passed all the grades of coloring from that 
 of his own skin to the tanny red of the Indian, which, 
 under the atmosphere of the dangerous territories he 
 was in, was soon again darkened to the blackamoor 
 of the African wilds. His dress was, also, as change- 
 able as his skin ; for what was becoming as a morning 
 suit, was not 'fashionable for a dinner full dress, and 
 that again had to give place to the fanciful rug suit of 
 some waggish handicraftsman, making the wearer 
 a very scaramouch, beyond the penetrating eyes of the 
 jailor or his hard hearted senior in command, (who, in 
 their passage, were often jostled by the acting clown, 
 with a facetious salutation peculiar to his nature,) even
 
 376 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 should the latter begin with his scrutiny before his after 
 dinner libations made him less sharp. 
 
 Affairs appeared to be rapidly approximating towards 
 a conflict in No. 5, by the prisoners refusing to go out 
 when ordered, for the purpose of a more thorough 
 search ; and the fear of the more orderly portion were 
 nowise lessened, when a body of fifty or sixty soldiers 
 were marched in, with commands to drive all out to a 
 man, at the point of the bayonet. An order easily 
 issued, but difficult to be carried into execution ; for 
 wherever a squad of men could be s^en together, a 
 push was made at them by the soldiers, who followed 
 them through the long allies, up one flight of stairs, 
 only to drive down the other, till the squad dwindled 
 into nothingness, after many had displayed their agility 
 in the chase, before the soldiers' front, by throwing 
 somersets, aping the frog in his graceful leaps, or using 
 his companion's shoulders as a vehicle to help him for 
 ward in his race, having ample time to cheer on the 
 others, between thumping the ribs of his Rozinante, and 
 daiing the soldier officer to bet who would first tire, the 
 rider, the ridden, or those in chase. But while this 
 crowd was dispersing, a much larger had -formed in the 
 soldiers' rear, which proved far more annoying, by their 
 whooping, yelling, bleating, and cutting every ridiculous 
 figure devils in human shape could imagine. Instead 
 of the soldiers' work being done after dispersing the 
 first body, they had now to change fronts, and retrace 
 the same ground their victory had so lately brought 
 them over, and with the like success. This racing back
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 377 
 
 and forth, up and down, to and fro, the turnkey foresaw 
 would end where it began, only that the soldiers would 
 become too much blown to stand guard the coming 
 night, and forthwith sounded a parley. He stated to 
 Capt. Shortland, that the prisoners were mostly seamen, 
 with seamen's propensities and prejudices, who would 
 not be driven by soldiers ; but if he were permitted to 
 take the usual course of clearing the prison, he would 
 answer for it that they should go out quietly. Short- 
 land withdrew his red-coats, the turnkey blew his horn, 
 told the prisoners his wishes, and in twenty minutes not 
 a man could be seen within the building. Had a 
 certain stone been raised, the lost would have been dis 
 covered, coiled hi a space that would not hold a tithe 
 of the now well-fed proportions of mine host of the Bal 
 timore House. No sooner did Shortland see that the 
 prisoners paid more respect to the turnkey's requests, 
 than they had to his threats and commands, backed by 
 his company of red-coats, than he furiously .swore that 
 they should return to the inside of the building, therein 
 be locked close, and kept without water, till they con 
 sented to give the man up. To do without water the 
 prisoners knew was impossible ; to give up the man was 
 not only backing out, but it would be breaking a pledge 
 revolting to their feelings ; and to avoid the disagree 
 able result of the captain's threatenings, wa9 only for 
 them to remain outside where the water was, and let 
 the choleric captain find and take his man when and 
 where he could. 
 
 As the crowd wheeled round at a rapid pace, to pass 
 
 sr
 
 878 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 between buildings Nos. 5 and 6, the prisoners being in 
 a solid body of from one to two thousand, and not more 
 than ten paces in advance of the presented muskets of 
 the soldiers, a boy caught up a stone, turned, and threw 
 it directly at Shortland's head, with all the force his 
 young strength could give it. The stone passed as 
 near the cheek of Shortland as possible without grazing 
 it. He halted his men instanter, and quick as thought 
 gave the word to fire, as distinctly as the extremely agi 
 tated state of his mind would admit. There stood 
 within twelve paces, the whole of that solid body, which 
 the soldiers were trying to scatter, and who now were 
 faced about, looking unconcernedly upon the presented 
 muskets of those that had the word to fire. The officer 
 in command of the company stepped forward, as soon 
 as he heard the word given out, waved the muskets up 
 with his unsheathed sword, with as much military 
 suavity of deportment and coolness of action, as 
 though he was on drill duty under the eye of the 
 Prince Regent. Shortland threw up his extended 
 arm and cane, to give greater force to the command, 
 and said as loud as he could screech, " Fire ! 
 you rascals ! " The officer again threw himself immedi 
 ately before his line, who had dropped their muskets 
 once more to the level of their cheeks, 'and with the 
 . authoritative^ " As you were ! " prevented the effusion 
 of blood, that must have followed the carnage of so 
 deadly an aim, at so near a compact body, as was 
 standing in their front. Shortland saw that his orders 
 were not obeyed, turned his eyes an instant to the
 
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER* 879 
 
 ground, said not a word, but left the yard alone, and 
 was shortly afterwards followed by the company of sol 
 diers, without being at all molested by the crowd ; nor 
 did the latter display any noisy mirth, or show the least 
 disrespect at the former, within hearing, while passing 
 out. Had the command to fire been obeyed, it must 
 have killed hundreds, yet there would have been 
 enough remaining to have riven the hearts from their 
 murderers, before reloading, if no better weapons 
 offered than the teeth of the aggrieved. 
 
 There was not the least doubt, but from Shortland's 
 manner at the above scene in the yard, that his mind 
 was made up to be revenged upon the prisoners at the 
 first opportunity, and at the slightest infringement of 
 the prison regulations ; and that period, those of more 
 reflective minds saw, could not be far distant, with the 
 present excitement the prisoners were laboring under, 
 which was brought about by various causes. The prin 
 cipal of these Avere the withholding of tobacco money, 
 the men being retained in prison after peace was pro 
 claimed, the stoppage of the market, and the harsh 
 treatment of being driven about like condemned crimi 
 nals, at the point of the bayonet, when they would and 
 did willingly submit to such restrictive regulations as the 
 civil authorities prescribed. A few days after these 
 events, the friends of Hays met to commemorate the 
 successful manner they had frustrated the intentions of 
 Shortland of securing his stray prisoner. After the 
 toasts had all been expended, the escaped, thinking still 
 his disguise was sufficient to deceive the jailor's" scrutiny,
 
 380 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 became daring, ventured into the yard, was recognized 
 and apprehended. He was sent back to the cachet, but 
 Buffered a nominal punishment of only ten days' confine* 
 ment ; after which he was liberated, and soon left the 
 prisons. 
 
 From this time, eight or ten days previous to the 
 massacre, the prisoners were not interfered with or 
 molested, but were allowed to pursue their own course, 
 which made many believe that those who had the com 
 mand were afraid to carry any harsh measure into ef 
 fect. This caused the unruly to be more arrogant, and 
 they showed less willingness to submit to the rules 
 under which they were to be governed, than before any 
 misunderstanding had taken place between themselves 
 and the authorities of the depot. With one of better 
 temper than Shortland, all collision might easily have 
 been avoided, without endangering his standing as a 
 military jailor, or lessening his renown, by not shedding 
 the blood of unarmed prisoners of war. 
 
 Notice came on the third of April, that, in future, 
 half the quantity of hard biscuit would be given to the 
 prisoners in lieu of the hard bread they had been re 
 ceiving. The prisoners were asked in the usual way 
 by the crier, whether they were willing to receive three 
 fourths of a pound of hard stale biscuit, instead of the 
 pound and a half of fresh bread they had been accus 
 tomed to receive, merely to enable the contractor to be 
 rid of an unsaleable article. The answer Avas unani 
 mously, " No ! no ! never !" Orders were given to the 
 cooks to demand such bread as they had always receiv- 
 
 V tf
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 381 
 
 ed, on the following morning, and refuse the biscuit. 
 This was strictly adhered to. Many of the prisoners 
 showed symptoms of riot, especially those who had only 
 their rations to subsist on, and their numbers increased 
 as the day advanced, which the officer on duty saw, as 
 was evident by his doubling the guard in the market 
 square, Ihe principal scene of noise and disorder during 
 market hours. At eight o'clock at night, the Rough 
 Allies had congregated about the market to the number 
 of hundreds, when they, at their watchword, " kews," 
 by their united strength levelled the gate to the ground, 
 leaving a free passage through the square to the store 
 house above. Their cry was, " bread ! bread ! give us 
 our bread !" The garrison were alarmed, the officers 
 came out, begged them to be peaceable, that they 
 should have their bread as soon as it could be obtained, 
 and if possible during the night. The prisoners saw 
 the advantage they had gained (by those in command 
 exhibiting a fear or panic beyond their control) and 
 would not leave the square, but remained for the most 
 part quiet, with the exception of an occasional whoop, 
 yell, or other noisy vociferation, as ever emanates from 
 a disorderly crowd which has in any way gained its 
 point. 
 
 At ten o'clock the bread was given to the cooks as 
 usual, from them distributed to the different messes 
 throughout the prisons, and all retired quietly to rest, 
 after being locked up as heretofore. Had the officer in 
 command ordered his men to keep back the rioters at all 
 hazard, as they were forcing their way through the gate,
 
 382 THE 'AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 he would have been perfectly justified, for it lay within 
 the bounds of his duty ; but he relied upon the strength 
 of those ponderous barriers, which gave way ere he sup 
 posed an effort was in agitation to remove them, and 
 before he could rally the soldiers, the square was filled 
 with a half-famished, angry, overwhelming crowd, which 
 it would have been dangerous in him to attempt to 
 drive back with the force at hand, although amply suffi 
 cient to hold in check, before gaining the square. The 
 sixth of April was unusually pleasant, a circumstance 
 so seldom that most of the prisoners were enjoying 
 themselves out of doors ; as best they could ; a number 
 were playing ball against the cross wall, dividing the 
 barrack yard from that of No. 7. Among this party 
 were four who had been captured when on boat duty, 
 and belonging to Commodore. Chauncey's ship Superior, 
 on Lake Ontario. They were no ways riotous, but were 
 known throughout the prison for being, in seamen's 
 phrase, " ready dogs and ripe for fun." In the course 
 of the play, the ball was often thrown by accident over 
 the wall, in the barrack yard, and for some time was as 
 often thrown back by the sentry on the other side, till 
 he through sulkiness refused to toss it again to the 
 players. They tried to persuade him to give it to them, 
 as it was the only one they had, it affording them 
 amusement and recreation, arid lessened the tediousness 
 of their captivity. The only answer they could get 
 from the sulky sentinel, was to " Come and take it." 
 This they considered as daring them to do it ; and 
 " Chauncey's Tigers never took a stump ; " at it they
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 383 
 
 Went, without implements, of^any thing except what 
 they could pick up in the yard, and in full view of the 
 sentries upon the walls near by. No notice of these 
 doings was apparently taken by the officers of the gar 
 rison ; but individuals from the prison of No. 5 begged 
 them to desist, saying they were bringing not only 
 themselves but others into trouble ; as the innocent 
 must suffer, if a conflict was brought on, by their in 
 dulging in this fool-hardy frolic. Those engaged at the 
 mischief, thought it too good a joke to leave unfinished, 
 and kept busily at their digging, till the hole was suffi 
 ciently large to allow a man -to pass through. The 
 firing now commenced in the market square from a 
 body of soldiers headed by Shortland in person, several 
 rods from the place where the hole was made, and not 
 the least endangering those who were the alleged cause 
 of the massacre, nor was any one hurt within the range 
 of the wall that was picked. An increased number of 
 soldiers now first showed themselves upon the walls, 
 overlooking the whole, formed into squads, who kept up 
 a constant firing, began the moment the reports were 
 heard from the square, and continued as long as any 
 prisoners were in sight. When the gate opened at the 
 upper end of the market, to allow the soldiers to enter, 
 the prisoners at the opposite end supposed them to be 
 none but the relief, having nothing in their appearance 
 to indicate any other object, except being in greater 
 numbers than usual, making their appearance the 
 moment the alarm bell was rung, and accompanied by 
 Shortland. Neither were the prisoners undeceived in
 
 884 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 the character or meanin^f this body, until they formed 
 a close front, and while at a double quick step, came to 
 a charge at so close a proximity, that those in front 
 found it impossible to retreat sufficiently rapid, to keep 
 clear of the bayonets, by the others in the rear stand 
 ing their ground, not seeing the manoeuvre of the sol 
 diers, and consequently knew of no approaching danger, 
 till Shortland gave the word to fire. So little did this 
 body of prisoners suppose they were in peril, that one 
 of the heroes of this narrative, the noble boatswain, was 
 carelessly looking through the gratings, a little apart 
 from the main body, nor dreamed his person was in 
 jeopardy, till the squad of soldiers approached, one 
 pointed his musket downwards, within a foot of his 
 knee, and blew all below to a jelly, splintering and mang 
 ling the thigh above in a horrible manner, almost beyond 
 the hope of cure, till the third amputation alone staid 
 mortification. 
 
 The whole number injured never can be ascertained, 
 as the report came from the hospital, immediately under 
 the direction of Shortland ; according to the report 
 which was made out, there were five killed, and thirty- 
 nine wounded two dying before or immediately after 
 their dressings, while the' one that came from the com 
 mittee of the prisoners, since published, made the killed 
 seven, and the wounded fifty-six. Thus ended one of 
 the most disgraceful and inhuman massacres, that was 
 ever perpetrated by any civilized nation, and will for 
 ever remain an eternal blot on the escutcheon of British 
 history.
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIH. 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 MORE than thirty years have elapsed since the scenes 
 recorded in the preceding chapter were enacted. After 
 so great a lapse of time, it must occur to every one 
 that it is impossible, in view of the many changes, to 
 give a detailed history of any of its actors ; but as the 
 reader perhaps may be curious to know what became 
 of the two messmates, that curiosity shall be gratified 
 so far as the author is able, premising, however, that 
 in regard to the young seaman, he cannot undertake to 
 vouch, because his information was received from ver 
 bal statements ; but in reference to the boatswain his 
 knowledge is personal. 
 
 About seventy miles northward of the third principal 
 seaport in the United States, there is a beautiful nour 
 ishing town, in the state of New Hampshire. Its 
 population at the time of which we write, was about ten 
 thousand. Its importance may be seen from the fact 
 that it has a court house, jail, &c., and all the business 
 of the county, in this department, is here transacted. 
 Through this place lies the direct reute from all the 
 upper part of the State, as well as that of Vermont, and 
 33 385
 
 80 THE AMERICAN 
 
 that portion of Canada which borders on the last men 
 tioned State. It is a place of considerable business, 
 and is brisk and lively during every part of the year, 
 but more especially in the winter months, or during 
 " sleighing." In the eastern part of this beautiful 
 place, at the precincts, may be seen a lot of ground 
 perfectly level, nearly enclosed with iron railings ; it is 
 of a quadrangular form, and surrounded with trees, 
 which presents to the eye an air of simplicity and beau 
 ty, and inspires the heart with a solemnity bordering 
 upon melancholy, not unusual, however, when we be 
 hold the place appropriated for the repository of the 
 dead. Nearly in the centre of this silent retreat may 
 be seen two mounds or graves, with plain white marble 
 slabs at the extreme end of each, both of which are 
 enclosed with a plain white railing. They are over 
 spread with flowers. Here may be seen the damask 
 rose sending forth its fragrance, while the snow white 
 and deep red vied with each other in brilliancy and 
 odor, as if to relieve the mind from the melancholy 
 which is induced by the sight of the bending bougha 
 and branches of the weeping willow, which nearly sur 
 rounds the graves. 
 
 Beneath one of the enclosed mounds lies the remains 
 of the young seaman ; and that by his side is the young 
 lady to whom he was under promise of marriage, and 
 whose melancholy decease we have recorded. About 
 three months after the calamitous events which took 
 place at Dartmoor prison, the two messmates were sent 
 home in a cartel to the United States. The younger
 
 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 387 
 
 was indefatigable in his attentions and kindness to the 
 boatswain, during his confinement in the hospital with his 
 amputated leg ; nor were their reciprocal kindnesses les 
 sened during their passage ; upon their arrival, however, 
 the maimed condition of the boatswain excluded him 
 from following an ocean life for a maintenance. Al 
 though their friendship was unabated, yet of necessity 
 theyhad to separate, and indeed it seemed providential, 
 as it is highly probable, from the strength of their 
 mutual attachment, had it not been for the boatswain's 
 misfortune, they would have continued to sail together, 
 in the same relations as heretofore. 
 
 Shortly after peace, in accordance with the opinion 
 suggested by the boatswain, he entered into the naval 
 service of the United States ; here was a theatre in 
 which he was destined by his seamanship and talents 
 soon to become an honor to the service ; and no doubt if 
 he had not become a martyr to that incurable disease, 
 pulmonary consumption, his name and character would 
 by this time have stood high on the naval list. In a few 
 years, however, his services in the navy were termi 
 nated ; his high, chivalrous bearing, and gentlemanly 
 deportment, commanded the respect and esteem of all 
 with whom he was associated, and when compelled to 
 abandon his profession by disease, it was a source of 
 deep regret to all who knew him. It may be supposed 
 that fce sorrowful associations connected with his native 
 town, would have induced him to seek some other spot, 
 in which to pass away the last hours of his life ; it was 
 not so, however. Immediately after he was compelled
 
 888 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 to return, he bent his way to the place of his nativity, 
 and there lingered a few short months, when his eventful 
 and sorrowful life was terminated. 
 
 After the separation of the two friends, the old tar 
 was for some time located in the famous sailors' retreat, 
 a place well known as appropriated for invalided sea 
 men ; his active spirit, however, could not remain in 
 idleness. He soon left this asylum and went to the city 
 of New York ; unfortunately, however, he was now 
 without the example and guidance of his faithful young 
 messmate ; their separation also had a very great effect 
 upon his mind, which was not the strongest, and al 
 though he was naturally of a noble and generous dis 
 position, yet for the want of a good star to direct him, 
 as well as a better education, he ultimately fell a victim 
 to pernicious example, and at length became a slave to 
 the intoxicating bowl. 
 
 In one of our southern seaports may be seen located, 
 on a beautiful rising ground, a large and splendid 
 building, designed and appropriated as an infirmary for 
 sick and disabled seamen. Strangers and visitors view 
 ing this building are introduced to a large and spacious 
 room ; this is the sick seamen's ward, and although it is 
 not very pleasant to behold so many human beings, suf 
 fering from various diseases, yet the neatness and clean 
 liness, as well as the comfort which appears to reign 
 throughout this apartment, very much alleviates the 
 painful feelings occasioned by the visit, when it is recol 
 lected that the inmates are the weather-beaten sons of 
 the ocean. There is another room on the south side of
 
 THE AMERICAS CRUISER. 389 
 
 this building, which is appropriated for seamen who 
 have lost any of their limbs, and are unequal to the 
 task of procuring their own support, and also for those 
 who are laboring under mental aberration ; here, or in 
 some part of the extensive ground connected with the 
 building, may be seen, walking with a stick, to support 
 a frame that has but one leg, a venerable seaman, whose 
 hoary hairs indicate that the frosts of many winters had 
 passed over his head, while a casual observer would im 
 mediately discover that reason was dethroned, and that 
 the unfortunate being who stood before him was in a 
 state of idiocy. This man had possessed for many 
 years a strong and vigorous constitution, and although 
 he had been intemperate, yet his iron, nerves for a long 
 time resisted the baneful effects of alcohol ; at length, 
 however, nature gave way, and he was seized not only 
 with delirium tremens, but also with a violent nervous 
 fever. In this condition he lingered for months ; and 
 when he so far recovered as to be able to walk, you 
 might have seen the harmless idiot, in the person of the 
 once noble and generous boatswain, the friend and mess* 
 mate of the manly and chivalrous young seaman. 
 
 The author has now finished his narrative, and if the 
 object which has induced him, (at least in part,) to 
 write these pages, shall be accomplished, it will afford 
 him a high degree of gratification. It may be asked, 
 however, by some, if there were any other motives 
 except to serve his pecuniary interest : in regard to that 
 question, he is not disposed to disguise the truth ; but 
 83*
 
 890 THE AMERICAN CRUISER. 
 
 there is another object, which the reflecting reader, after 
 he carefully peruses these pages, will not be at a loss to 
 discover. He will perceive first, that too much indul 
 gence on the part of parents to their offspring, is a 
 weakness, and that so far from making them wise or 
 happy, it generally leads to an opposite result. He will 
 also learn that even wealth, with all the advantages of 
 a good education, unless they are turned into the 
 channel of virtue and obedience, will procure during a 
 whole life, a train of unhappiness and sorrow ; thus it 
 was in the case of the young seaman. His dereliction 
 from the path of rectitude, when he first set out in the 
 world, the loss of his reputation, his dissipation and 
 gaming, which ultimately were the cause of the prema 
 ture death of his honored parents, and ruined him at last, 
 was not all, for the associations of the past produced 
 unfeigned sorrow and regret, consequently he was 
 obliged to leave the place of his nativity, to regain if 
 possible a ruined character ; and although his general 
 deportment after this was above reproach, yet one more 
 false step plunged him into the deepest sorrow, and 
 blasted his happiness for ever. 
 
 In regard to the boatswain, although naturally pos 
 sessed of a noble and generous but uncultivated mind, 
 he too is a fearful monument of the effects of the demon 
 intemperance ; and if perchance any son of the ocean 
 should read this narrative, he may be taught a lesson, 
 by the melancholy condition of the boatswain, to avoid 
 the rock on which so many weather beaten sons of the 
 sea have been cast away.
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 
 
 Los Angeles 
 This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. 
 
 SECT) 
 
 lAYt 
 MAY 3 
 
 LDURC 
 
 Form L9-32m-8,'57(.C8680s4)444
 
 >S Little - 
 
 2248 The American 
 l/727a- ftnrisftr's own 
 
 book 
 
 PS 
 
 224S 
 
 L?2?a 
 
 3 1158 00978 7911 
 
 UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 
 
 AA 000033158 7