calling for a candle,
he held the letter above its flame, and saw, under the influence of
the heat, words and sentences appearing where before all was blank
paper.

"I am bound off St. Salvador," it read; "thence off Cape Frio, where I
intend to cruise until the 1st of January. Go off Cape Frio to the
northward of Rio, and keep a lookout for me."

That afternoon the governor of the island, looking out toward the
harbor, was surprised to see the "Fanny" standing out under a full
spread of canvas. Porter had gained all the information that he
wished, and was off in search of his consorts. This search he
continued until the 20th of January, cruising up and down off the
Brazilian coast, and taking one or two small prizes. In this
unprofitable service the ship's stores were being rapidly consumed.
Among other things, the supply of rum began to run short; and in
connection with this occurred a curious incident, that well
illustrates the character of sailors. The daily rations of bread were
reduced one-half, and the rations of salt meat one-third, without a
word of remonstrance from the patient crew. Next the discovery was
made that the rum was giving out, and a proportional reduction in the
rations of grog was duly ordered. The jackies put in a vigorous and
immediate protest. They were prepared, they said, to go without grog,
should the supply of rum be unhappily exhausted; but so long as any of
the precious fluid remained, their rations of grog should not be
curtailed. But to this Porter would not accede, fearing that, should
the men be altogether deprived of their grog, the health of the crew
might suffer. Accordingly, when the crew were piped to "splice the
main brace" the next day, they were told that half rations only would
be issued; and, if the grog was not taken up in fifteen minutes, the
tub would be overturned, and the rum spilled into the sea. So dire a
threat was too much for the rebellious seamen: they sprang into line,
with their tin cups, and drew their curtailed rations without more
ado.

Some days after this occurrence, the "Essex" overhauled a Portuguese
vessel, from the captain of which Porter learned that an American
frigate had shortly before fought and sunk an English frigate off the
coast of Brazil; also, that it was rumored that an American corvette
of twenty-two guns had been brought into Rio, a prize to a British
seventy-four. This intelligence placed Capt. Porter in some
perplexity. He felt con