le, an American vessel, the "Henry" of Salem,
entered the harbor of Halifax, under cover of a flag of truce, and
took on board the bodies of Lawrence and Ludlow. They were conveyed
first to Salem and later to New York, where they now lie under a
massive monument of sandstone, in a corner of Trinity churchyard. A
few feet away, the ceaseless tide of human life rolls on its course up
and down Broadway; few of the busy men and women pausing to remember
that in the ancient churchyard lies the body of the man whose dying
words, "Don't give up the ship," were for years the watchword and
motto of the United States navy.

CHAPTER X.

CRUISE OF THE "ESSEX." -- A RICH PRIZE. -- THE MYSTERIOUS
LETTER. -- CAPE HORN ROUNDED. -- CAPTURE OF A PERUVIAN
PRIVATEER. -- AMONG THE BRITISH WHALERS. -- PORTER IN
COMMAND OF A SQUADRON. -- A BOY COMMANDER. -- THE SQUADRON
LAYS UP AT NOOKAHEEVAH.

While the events related in the two preceding chapters were occurring
along the American coast, a few gallant vessels were upholding the
honor of the stars and stripes in far distant lands. To cruise in
waters frequented by an enemy's merchantmen, and capture, burn, sink,
and destroy, is always a legitimate occupation for the navy of a
belligerent nation. Yet the nation suffering at the hands of the
cruisers invariably raises the cry of "wanton vandalism and cruelty,"
and brands the officers to whom falls so unpleasant a duty with the
name of pirates. Such was the outcry raised against Paul Jones in the
Revolutionary war; so it was the British described the brilliant
service of the little brig "Argus" in 1813; and so the people of the
North regarded the career of the "Alabama" and other Confederate
cruisers in the great war for the Union. But perhaps no ship had
ever a more adventurous career, or wrought more damage to the enemy's
commerce, than the United States frigate "Essex," under the command of
the able officer David Porter.

Of the circumstances which led to the famous cruise of the "Essex,"
some account has already been given. With a full crew, and stores
enough to enable her to keep the sea for some months, the ship set
sail from the Delaware in the autumn of 1812, and headed to the
southward with the intention of joining the "Constitution" and
"Hornet" at some point in the tropics. Her first point of call was at
Porto Praya, a harbor in the Cape Verd Islands. To the captain's
disappointment, he could lea