d they saw no reason for her liberation.
"Why, lads," said the officer, "it would cost just as much to get this
poor fellow's wood-schooner condemned as it would a large ship. As for
the prize-money, it would not make a penny apiece." So, tumbling into
their boat, the jackies pulled away; shouting to the captain of the
"Sally" to stow his cargo again, or his old tub would capsize. Capt.
Fernald took their jeers good-naturedly, for he was the victor in that
encounter.

The occurrence had been observed from the shore; and, when the British
sailors were seen swarming over the side of the "Sally," a horse-man
set off for Portsmouth to notify Commodore Hull that the schooner was
captured. It was a sore blow; for the guns and powder were thought to
be lost, and munitions of war were hard to be had at that time. But
Hull soon threw aside the disappointment, and was busily engaged with
plans for the vessels then building, when a sentry came in, and
reported the "Sally" in sight. Hull rushed to the water-side. Sure
enough, there came the battered old schooner, butting her way through
the waves of the channel; and, before long, the two cannon were safe
in the storehouses, while Capt. Fernald found himself vested with a
reputation for almost superhuman sagacity and luck.

Not all the encounters between the blockaders and the blockade-runners
terminated so happily for the Americans. Many a coasting-vessel was
sent to Halifax to swell the coffers of the British prize-courts, or,
after being set on fire, was left to lie charred and ruined upon the
rocky shore, as a warning to all who violated the blockade.

The capture of one United States war-vessel graced the English naval
annals of January, 1813; for the little brig "Viper," carrying twelve
guns, fell in the way of the British, thirty-two, "Narcissus," and
straightway surrendered to the overwhelming force of her enemy.

Among the United States war-vessels caught and held in port by the
blockade was the frigate "Constellation." She was at the opening of
the war the favorite ship of the American navy; her exploits in the
war with France having endeared her to the American people, and won
for her among Frenchmen the name of "the Yankee race-horse."
Notwithstanding her reputation for speed, she is said to have been
very crank, and had an awkward way of getting on her beam-ends without
much provocation. An almost incredible tale is told of her getting
"knocked down" by a squall whi