ently
she was a lawful prize to the Federal Government, but that he might take
a passage on board her to Philadelphia. He replied that his cargo was
not saltpetre, that his ship was British property, and that he could not
acknowledge her a lawful prize.

On returning to his ship in about an hour, he found that all his crew
had been taken away except the cook and steward, and that a fresh ship's
company had been placed on board, consisting of Lieutenant Stone, a
master's mate, twelve men, and an engineer, a passenger, fifteen in all.
Having weighed anchor, they proceeded to sea. Captain Wilson felt
confident of the illegality of the capture, and that if he could regain
possession of his ship, he was justified in making the attempt. He had
studied the characters of his cook and steward, and knew that he could
trust them. He waited his opportunity. There was, however, not much
time to spare. The 21st of March arrived. The commanding officer,
Lieutenant Stone, had the watch on deck. It was about half-past four,
and still dark, when Captain Wilson called his steward and cook into his
state-room, and told them that he was resolved to regain his ship or
lose his life. He asked their assistance, which they at once promised
to afford. He then gave them each a pair of irons, which he had
secured, and a sheet, and told them to follow him, as the moment for
action had arrived. The master's mate was asleep in his berth. Captain
Wilson opened the door, and walked in. After handing out his revolver
and sword, he grasped the mate's hands. In an instant the gag was in
his mouth, and the irons were fixed. The brave captain, with his two
followers, then went to the passenger's cabin, and having taken the arms
from his berth, secured him in the way they had the mate. The most
difficult part of the undertaking was now to overcome the commanding
officer, who, unsuspicious of danger, was walking the deck of his prize.
However, retaining wonderful coolness, and undaunted by the hazard he
ran, Captain Wilson went on deck, as if he had just turned out, and
joined Lieutenant Stone in his walk, making some remarks as to the state
of the weather. After walking for about ten minutes, he induced him to
go down into the cabin to look at the chart which he had himself been
examining, taking up on his way, as he followed, a belaying-pin. Now
was the critical moment--the cook and steward stood in ambush behind the
door. They reached th