th, and make no attempt to regain possession of the ship.

To this Lieutenant Stone consented, and dined at table every day under
guard, while the crew were supplied with an ample allowance of bread,
beef, and water. Four of their number, after some consideration,
volunteered, rather than remain prisoners, to lend a hand in working the
ship; but as they were landsmen, they were of no use aloft. It seems
surprising that Captain Wilson should have trusted them; but undoubtedly
his bravery must have inspired them with such awe that they dared not
prove treacherous.

But few days had passed after he had commenced his homeward passage,
with his crew of six landsmen, than it came on to blow so hard that he
had to close reef the topsails. Placing his cook and steward at the
helm, he made the other men take reef tackles to the capstern, while he
went alone aloft, lay out on the yard, passed the earings, and tied the
reef-points, keeping an eye all the time at the helm, and directing his
two faithful men by signs how to steer. The wind increased till it blew
a heavy gale, and the sea getting up, the tiller by a sudden jerk was
carried away. He now began for the first time, perhaps, to have fears
that he might not after all make his passage; but undaunted, he set to
work to repair the mischief as well as he was able. His strength and
energies, as well as those of his brave companions, were tried to the
utmost. They had both to navigate the ship, to watch the four men who
had been liberated, and to feed and attend to their prisoners.

Providence favoured them; the weather moderated, the wind was fair, and
without accident Captain Wilson brought the _Emily Saint Pierre_ into
the Mersey thirty days after he had retaken her, having accomplished a
passage of nearly 3000 miles. As an act of individual courage,
forethought, coolness, nerve, and the highest seaman-like qualities, the
recapture of the _Emily Saint Pierre_ stands unsurpassed by any
performed by a sailor of any period, rank, or country.

Captain Wilson received the welcome he so richly deserved on his arrival
at Liverpool, from the mercantile as well as all other classes. The
Council of the Mercantile Marine Service presented him with a gold
medal, and silver medals with suitable inscriptions to the steward and
cook; they also each of them received a purse with twenty guineas, and
170 merchants of Liverpool bestowed on Captain Wilson the sum of 2000
guineas; whi