oes and prizes by auction. And the most respectable
inhabitants of the State were accustomed to journey there in order to
purchase the goods which the _Barratarians_ had to offer. They would
smile, and say,

"We are going to get some of the treasure of Captain Kidd."

But the Government of the United States did not take so kindly to the
idea of a privateer and pirate colony within its borders. And--with
malice aforethought--one Commodore Patterson was sent to disperse
these marauders at Barrataria, who, confident of their strength and
fighting ability, defiantly flaunted their flag in the faces of the
officers of the Government. "We can lick the whole earth," chuckled
the piratical followers of Lafitte.

Patterson was a good fighter. On June the eleventh he departed from
New Orleans with seventy members of the 44th regiment of infantry. On
the sixteenth he made for the Island of Barrataria, with some six
gun-boats, a launch mounting one twelve pound carronade; the _Sea
Horse_ (a tender carrying one six-pounder) and the schooner
_Carolina_.

"We must fight, Boys," cried Lafitte to his ill-assorted mates. "Come,
take to our schooners and show these officers that the followers of
Lafitte can battle like Trojans."

A cheer greeted these noble sentiments.

"Lead on!" yelled his cut-throats. "Lead on and we'll sink these cocky
soldiers as we've done to many an East Indiaman!"

So, about two o'clock in the afternoon, the privateers and pirates
formed their vessels, ten in number (including their prizes) near the
entrance of the harbor.

_Crash!_

A shell from the forward gun of the leading gun-boat spun across the
bows of Lafitte's flagship and buried itself in the gray water with a
dull sob.

Up went a huge white flag upon the foremost mast-head of the king
pirate and these words could be plainly seen:

"Pardon for all Deserters."

"Ah, ha," chuckled Patterson. "The arch ruffian has heard that some of
my men are ashore and this is the way he would hire them."

_Crash!_

Another shell ricochetted across the still surface of the harbor and
sunk itself in the side of a piratical brig.

"Hello!" cried a Lieutenant, running up to the United States
Commander. "They're giving up already. See! The beggars are hastening
ashore in order to skip into the woods."

"I'm afraid so," answered the disappointed Commodore. "All my pains
for nothing. The fellows are getting away."

Sure enough--afraid to remain and fight