w was a turbulent one, picked up in the streets of Liverpool,
and made up of men of all nationalities. Terrific rows would arise in
the forecastle, and differences between the sailors were often settled
by square stand-up fights. The petty officers seldom interfered; one
old boatswain remarking, when he heard the noise of blows in the
forecastle, "Blast them, let 'em slug one another's heads off; it will
keep 'em out of mischief." And it generally did, for the combatants
were usually fast friends the next day.

As soon as the new ship was cleaned up, and put in order, drill began.
The men were all green; and hard, steady work at the guns, and with
the cutlasses, was necessary to fit them for service. The decks
resounded with "right," "left," "head protect," "right overcut." The
men were slow in learning; but the officers were Southerners, devoted
to their cause, and were tireless in getting the crew into shape.

After several days of cruising and drill, a vessel was sighted which
was unmistakably American. One of the sailors tells the story of her
capture graphically. "On the morning of the 5th of September the cry
of 'ship ahoy!' from the masthead brought all hands on deck. Sure
enough, about two miles to the leeward of us was a fine barque, at
once pronounced a 'spouter' (whaler), and an American. In order to
save coal,--of which very essential article we had about three hundred
tons aboard,--we never used our screw unless absolutely necessary. We
were on the starboard tack, and with the fresh breeze soon came
alongside. We had the American flag set, and the chase showed the
stars and stripes. A gun was fired; and, as we came within hail, we
gave the order, 'Back your mainsail; I'll send a boat on board of
you.'

"'Cutter away,' and the boat came down from the davits, and we pulled
for our first prize. It soon became a vain thing, and tiresome; but
this our first essay was a novelty, and we made the stretches buckle
with our impatience to get aboard. The bowman hooked on to the chains,
and we went up the side like cats. When we got aft, the captain asked
in a dazed sort of manner, 'Why--why--what does this mean?' The
master, Fullam, replied, 'You are prize to the Confederate steamer
"Alabama," Capt. Semmes commanding. I'll trouble you for your papers.'
Now, this man had been four years out, and had no doubt heard of the
trouble at home; but he couldn't realize this, and he stared, and
said, 'Confederate government-