ad thrown
overboard when the _Nimrod_ chased her.

"Will you oblige me by a relation of the circumstance?" said our skipper
to Whiley, who commanded the cutter. "It happened in the following manner:
I had information of this Charlestown vessel before I left Port Royal, and
I was determined to look keenly after her. I had been off the Mosquito
shore, where I understood she was bound with gunpowder and small arms. At
length I fell in with her, but could not find any other papers than those
which were regular, nor any powder or firearms; but as I had good
information respecting her, I was determined to detain her, even if I
burnt my fingers by so doing. The morning after I sent her for Jamaica I
fell in with Lieutenant Fitton, who hailed me, and begged me to go on
board him. When I got on the quarter-deck of the tender I saw several
large sheets of paper spread out on the companion.

"'Hulloa!' said I; 'Fitton, what have you here?' 'Why,' said he, 'I have a
very curious story to relate; for that reason I wished you to come on
board me. This morning we caught a shark, and, singular to tell you, on
cutting him up we found those papers (which you see drying) in his maw. He
must have been preciously hard set, poor fellow. I have examined them, and
find they belong to the _Nancy_, of Charlestown.' 'The _Nancy_, of
Charlestown,' said I. 'That is the very brig I have sent to Jamaica.'
'Well, then,' said Fitton, 'they are yours, and I congratulate you on the
discovery and your good fortune.'" "This is singularly remarkable," said
our captain; "I hope you have taken care of the jaw of the shark. It must
be sent to the Vice-Court of Admiralty at Jamaica as a memento of the
fact, and a remembrancer to all Yankee captains who are inclined to be
dishonest." "A good hint," said Fitton; "it shall be done, sir." And it
was done, as I well recollect its being suspended over where the American
masters of detained vessels stood when they desired to make oath.

In the evening these gentlemen, after having dined on board us, repaired
to their respective vessels, and we soon after parted company. The
following day we anchored off the Isle de Vache, near Port au Paix, St.
Domingo, and sent the two cutters in shore on a cruise of speculation,
under my orders. On quitting the ship we all blacked our faces with burnt
cork and tied coloured handkerchiefs round our heads, in order to deceive
the fishing canoes. On nearing the shore we discovered a s