up under her lee quarters, and range alongside of her. The order
was promptly executed. The two vessels were laid side by side, within
pistol shot of each other. While the 'Thorn' was getting into
position, the enemy fired a full broadside at her which did but little
damage. As soon as she was brought completely alongside her adversary,
Tucker thundered out to his men to fire, and a tremendous discharge
followed; and, as good aim had been taken, a dreadful carnage was seen
in that ill-fated vessel. It was rapidly succeeded by a fresh volley
of artillery, and in twenty-seven minutes a piercing cry was heard
from the English vessel: 'Quarters, for God's sake! Our ship is
sinking. Our men are dying of their wounds.'

"To this heart-rending appeal Capt. Tucker exclaimed,--

"'How can you expect quarters while that British flag is flying?'

"The sad answer came back, 'Our halliards are shot away.'

"'Then cut away your ensign staff, or ye'll all be dead men.'

"It was done immediately. Down came the colors, the din of cannonading
ceased, and only the groans of the wounded and dying were heard.

"Fifteen men, with carpenters, surgeon, and their leader, were quickly
on the deck of the prize. Thirty-four of her crew, with her captain,
were either killed or wounded. Her decks were besmeared with blood,
and in some places it stood in clotted masses to the tops of the
sailors' slippers. The gloomy but needful work of amputating limbs,
and laying out the dead, was begun; and every effort was made to
render the wounded prisoners as comfortable as possible."

Here we must take leave of Commodore Tucker and his exploits. As a
privateersman, he continued to do daring work to the end of the war.
He fought at least one more bloody action. He was captured once and
escaped. But the recountal of his romantic career must now yield to
our chronological survey of the lesser naval events of the Revolution.

CHAPTER XI.

HOSTILITIES IN 1777. -- AMERICAN REVERSES. -- THE BRITISH IN
PHILADELPHIA. -- THE ATTACK UPON FORT MIFFLIN. -- CRUISE OF
THE "RALEIGH" AND THE "ALFRED." -- TORPEDO WARFARE. -- THE
BATTLE OF THE KEGS.

We have now heard of the exploits of some of the chief naval leaders
of the war of the Revolution. But there were many dashing engagements
in which the great commanders took no part, and many important
captures made by vessels sailing under the flags of the individual
colonies, which deserve a