pt. Tucker chose a course which he hoped would enable him to
steer clear of the horde of British men-of-war which then infested
the American coast. But in so doing he fell in with a natural enemy,
which came near proving fatal. A terrific thunderstorm, gradually
growing into a tornado, crossed the path of the ship. The ocean was
lashed into waves mountain high. The crash of the thunder rent the
sky. A stroke of lightning struck the main-mast, and ripped up the
deck, narrowly missing the magazine. The ship sprung a leak; and the
grewsome sound of the pumps mingled with the roar of the waves, and
the shrieking of the winds. For several days the stormy weather
continued. Then followed a period of calm, which the captain well
employed in repairing the rigging, and exercising the men with the
guns and small-arms. Many ships had been sighted, and some, evidently
men-of-war, had given chase; but the "Boston" succeeded in showing
them all a clean pair of heels.

"What would you do," said Mr. Adams one day, as he stood with the
captain watching three ships that were making desperate efforts to
overhaul the "Boston," "if you could not escape, and they should
attack you?"

"As the first is far in advance of the others, I should carry her by
boarding, leading the boarders myself," was the response. "I should
take her; for no doubt a majority of her crew, being pressed men,
would turn to and join me. Having taken her, I should be matched, and
could fight the other two."

Such language as this coming from many men would be considered mere
foolhardy boasting. But Tucker was a man not given to brag. Indeed, he
was apt to be very laconic in speaking of his exploits. A short time
after his escape from the three ships, he fell in with an English
armed vessel of no small force, and captured her. His only comment on
the action in his journal reads, "I fired a gun, and they returned
three; and down went the colors."

John Adams, however, told a more graphic story of this capture.
Tucker, as soon as he saw an armed vessel in his path, hastily called
his crew to order, and bore down upon her. When the roll of the drum,
calling the people to quarters, resounded through the ship, Mr. Adams
seized a musket, and took his stand with the marines. Capt. Tucker,
seeing him there, requested him to go below, and upon his desire being
disregarded, put his hand upon the envoy's shoulder, and in a tone of
authority said,--

"Mr. Adams, I am commande