essel. The ensign of the _Kearsarge_ had been stopped (rolled up and
tied with a piece of twine) and, as a shell crashed through her
rigging, a piece hit the flag-halyards--parted them--and unstopped the
flag. It unfurled itself gallantly in the breeze, and, as its
beautiful striping waved aloft, the sailors upon the deck gave a loud
cheer, for this was the omen of Victory.

At this moment, two of the junior officers upon the _Alabama_ swore
that they would never surrender, and, in a spirit of mutiny, rushed to
the two port guns and opened fire upon the Union vessel.

"He is playing us a trick!" shouted Winslow. "Give him another
broadside!"

Again the shot and shell went crashing through the sides of the
Confederate cruiser. The _Kearsarge_ was laid across her bows for
raking, and, in a position to use grape and canister.

A white flag was then shown over the stern of the _Alabama_ and her
ensign was half-masted; Union down.

"Cease firing!" shouted Captain Winslow.

The great fight was over. It had lasted one hour and two minutes.

_Chugety, plug, splash!_ The boats were lowered from the _Alabama_,
and her Master's mate rowed to the _Kearsarge_, with a few of his
wounded.

"We are sinking," said he. "You must come and help us!"

"Does Captain Semmes surrender his ship?" asked Winslow.

"Yes!"

"All right. Then I'll help you!"

Fullam grinned.

"May I return with this boat and crew in order to rescue the
drowning?" he asked. "I pledge you my word of honor that I will then
come on board and surrender."

Captain Winslow granted his request.

With less generosity, the victorious Commander could have detained the
officers and men, supplied their places with his own sailors, and
offered equal aid to the distressed. His generosity was abused. Fullam
pulled to the midst of the drowning; rescued several officers; went to
the yacht _Deerhound_, and cast his boat adrift; leaving a number of
men struggling in the water.

The _Alabama_ was settling fast.

"All hands overboard!" cried Mr. Kell. "Let every man grab a
life-preserver, or a spar."

As the sailors plunged into the sea, Captain Semmes dropped his sword
into the waves and leaped outward, with a life-preserver around his
waist. Kell followed, while the _Alabama_ launched her bows high in
the air, and--graceful, even in her death throes--plunged
stern-foremost into the deep. A sucking eddy of foam, spars, and
wreckage marked where once had floated t