cene of
bloodshed before him. He had left a ship on which were two dead and
six wounded men. He had come to a ship on which were forty men either
dead or seriously wounded. Two dismounted cannon lay across the deck,
one resting on the shattered and bleeding fragments of a man, torn to
pieces by a heavy shot. The deck was slippery with blood. The cock-pit
was not large enough to hold all the wounded; and many sufferers lay
on the deck crying piteously for aid, and surrounded by the mangled
bodies of their dead comrades. The body of the captain, who had died
of his wound, lay on the deserted quarter-deck.

Hastily the American officer noted the condition of the prize, and
returned to his own ship for aid. All the boats of the "Ranger" were
then lowered, and in the growing darkness the work of taking
possession of the prize began. Most of the prisoners were transferred
to the "Ranger." The dead were thrown overboard without burial service
or ceremony of any kind, such is the grim earnestness of war. Such of
the wounded as could not be taken care of in the sick-bay of the
"Drake" were transferred to the "Ranger." The decks were scrubbed,
holystoned, and sprinkled with hot vinegar to take away the smell of
the blood-soaked planks. Cordage was spliced, sails mended, shot-holes
plugged up; and, by the time morning came, the two ships were
sufficiently repaired to be ready to leave the bay.

But, before leaving, Capt. Jones set at liberty two fishermen, whom he
had captured several days before, and held prisoners lest they should
spread the news of his presence in those parts. While the fishermen
had been taken on board the "Ranger," and treated with the utmost
kindness, their boat had been made fast alongside. Unluckily, however,
the stormy weather had torn the boat from its fastenings; and it
foundered before the eyes of its luckless owners, who bitterly
bewailed their hard fate as they saw their craft disappear. But, when
they came to leave the "Ranger," their sorrow was turned to joy; for
Jones gave them money enough to buy for them a new boat and outfit,--a
bit of liberality very characteristic of the man.

When the "Drake" was in condition to sail, Jones put her in command of
Lieut. Simpson, and the two vessels left the bay. This choice of
commander proved to be an unfortunate one. Simpson was in many ways a
most eccentric officer. He was a violent advocate of equal rights of
all men, and even went so far as to disbeli